Bass locations for opener

[mrpike1973]

Hello everyone so this weekend any tips on bass locations? I myself have seen that on shallow lakes they are still on the weed edges with just a few venturing out shallower. On deeper lakes finding them on the inside weed edges. With the cool weather coming up thinking wacky worming, small jigs to start with and then get to more reaction lures. Anyone else want to share some ideas or what they are seeing in there neck of the woods.

[Djsnej123456]

The cooler temperatures could affect the fishing for sure. If it were me, I would head to the west side of the lake since that side should have the warmest water right now.  I think the key may be just slowing down and fishing slower with the colder temperatures. Jerk baits With long pauses, Mid depth crank baits, possibly dragging a football Jig and spinner bait. If you don’t have any action shallow right away I would definitely check the first break line in the 6 to 10 foot range.  Main lake points, secondary points and break line near large flats.  I will be fishing Saturday on a lake I’ve never been too. It’s a real small lake so crowds should be nearly nonexistent also I want to go there because there was a 2019 fish survey that resulted in pretty good quality numbers of good size fish. So I figured why not give it a shot. Best of luck to you out there. I will check in after Saturday and let you know how it turned out, hopefully with some pictures.

[mrpike1973]

Sounds good I have been finding the west and north sides of the lake warmest also. Good luck and hope to hear how your opener goes. I as well go to smaller lakes with less people

[DonkeyHodey]

I assume you're talking largemouths…

I'll likely be chasing smallmouths in the Missi with shallow spinnerbaits. 

(I started landing some bycatch hogs trying to catch the end of the sucker run (using nightcrawlers) this past weekend.  The river went "pop" this weekend!--warmed up almost instantly by at least 10 degrees and now the fish are going ape!)

[Austin12345]

where on the miss is a good spot to shore fish 

[Djsnej123456]

Lake city Mn , lake pepin Mn side along the rocks for smallmouth???

Edited May 7, 2020 by Djsnej123456

[DonkeyHodey]

7 minutes ago, Austin12345 said:

where on the miss is a good spot to shore fish 

Where you at?  (It's a pretty big river ya know...)

I'm in St. Cloud.  There's great shore fishing around SC.

 

The stretch from the St. Cloud Dam (By SC state U) for ~20 miles downstream is a world class small mouth fishery--there's a lot of public land on both sides of the river right near the dam and lots of easy parking.  (The west side (SCSU) has a nice cement fishing pier:  the east side is really rocky--wear good shoes/boots though cause you'll be clamoring over rock.  (I prefer the east side)).

The area below the Sartell dam has the area where the Watab river dumps in and that is always full of smallie fisherman when the dam is running (which it is now)

People catch quite a few North of the Sartell dam, but that's a tougher area to find good public land...

 

River Rats are an interesting breed:  I find ~half of them have no clue what they're doing (and consequently catch little), but the other half are usually happy to chat and share their tips. 

(unlike lake fisherman who tend to share secrets about as well as a mafia hitman)

Q:  "Whacha catching?"  A:  "fish."

Q:  "Where ya catching 'em?"  A:  "the water."

Q:  "Whacha fishin' with?" A:  "pole."

[Djsnej123456]

Lol, Donkey I hear ya. I grew up fishing rivers, but moved to MN and fish mainly lakes now.  I will tell anyone who asks what lake and what I was using. They still have to catch them even if I tell them. I’m a bass fisherman and could care less if I’m spilling the beans. Fishing is meant to be enjoyable by all. There are plenty of fish out there to be caught. I’ve many times been fishing from shore catching fish and have kids/adults ask what I’m using or how I’m doing it when they are having no success. I don’t mind given tips or baits to set them up for success. 

[Djsnej123456]

I’ve also never fished that Saint Cloud area. Have always wanted to float that with my kayak and hook into some good Smallies 

[DonkeyHodey]

2 hours ago, Djsnej123456 said:

I’ve also never fished that Saint Cloud area. Have always wanted to float that with my kayak and hook into some good Smallies 

You should!  (FYI the river is PERFECT right now--It's a little high and like it a little high; the dam has a nice flow of water but not too crazy)   Put the yak in at SCSU (there's a boat access) and see if you can't get somebody to pick you up at an access ~10-20 miles downstream.  Pack a lunch/beverage and prepare to have fun.  (oh, and be prepared to lose a few lures...  the river is hungry.)

The stretch is loaded with fat, feisty smallmouth bass and they are a joy to catch!
(...and If you catch nothing, it's still a beautiful stretch of river and a day well spent!)

 

2 hours ago, Djsnej123456 said:

I will tell anyone who asks what lake and what I was using.  Fishing is meant to be enjoyable by all.

You're a good one--Spoken like a true River Rat!

[Austin12345]

Oh sorry I should have said that I live near White Bear Lake

[mrpike1973]

I like to help people catch fish too I'm a sucker for a family going out. I almost run out of tackle giving them what they need  pay it forward I say.

[Djsnej123456]

I agree Mrpike. Several years ago I was on my boat when I caught a bigg’in under a dock, 5lbs 4 oz. There was roughly a 10 year old kid bobber fishing from a dock a couple docks down. When I pulled it out of the water the kid lost it, lol. Couldn’t believe how HUGE of a fish that was. I asked him if he wanted to hold it. He said yes of course. Grinning ear to ear he was so excited.  Something so small makes a big difference to some people, especially kids. This is why I love the outdoor!!

[Djsnej123456]

The season is about to start for me. The lake to myself... Good luck everyone, be safe and hope to hear about it!!!

[Djsnej123456]

Great start already!!

[Djsnej123456]

Well, opener couldn’t have gone any better. Fished 4 hrs with the first two hrs of non stop action. Ended up catching 13 bass and one cigar sized pike, lol.  These pics were some of my good ones. Only 3 of my fish were under 15 inches. Lots between 15 and 17.5 inches. Real quality fish. Bladesd jig was the ticket for all but two fish. Other two came on a jig.  The water was 57 degrees about 5 degrees warmer than I expected. It was a tiny southern MN lake so I guess you can expect it to warm up a lot quicker.  How did everyone else do???

[Djsnej123456]

Also the fish I caught came real shallow. Less than 3 feet. They were also grouped up in certain ares. They rest of the shoreline spots were dead. Wind blown shorelines was the ticket also.

[Austin12345]

Holy crap man looks like you slayed em bladed jigs or chatterbaits as I call them are some of my very favorite baits at this time of year when I am casting otherwise I am actually useing a slip bobber with a fat head or shinner for bass I catch them and this may sound silly but I find them more effective then ones from the bait shop they are more natural I feel like plus they are free!!

[Djsnej123456]

Yeah chatterbaits catch them good spring through fall. Especially with a little wind. I’m strictly a soft plastics guy but if a guy likes using live bait I’m all for it.  The spawn will start rolling here shortly in southern MN. Maybe a week or so some will start.. Fish are already shallow so lots  of ways to catch them

[Austin12345]

Ya I use chatterbaits in the wind cause you get a bit more weight then plastics other techniqes I like are running a sqaure bill over grass or on the edge of cover frogs are fun when it is dead calm I really like it when it is real hot out with no wind and then I like this thing called a neko rig which is basically a fancy wacky worm with a nail weight on one end if you search up videos of it you will see the amazing action it has and then I have also tried the new Toyko rig and I am starting to be a fan of that so some days these new rigs work and you can tell why they are gaining popularty but there are some days you just can beat the simplicty of a square bill or chatterbaits   

[Djsnej123456]

Yea I know all those rigs. I throw a neko rig often on outer weed edge with a magnum trick worm. I havnt gotten into the Tokyo rig craze yet but it’s great in milfoil lakes. I’m a swim jig and frog guy.

[gim]

I found the fish I caught in super shallow water too.  The temp seemed to be about a degree warmer there.  Unfortunately I didn't stumble upon this area on purpose and it took me 2 hours into my trip to find it.  I went 2+ hours with only 2 fish and then all of the sudden caught 4 more and lost 2 this area.  Wish I woulda tried it earlier.  Nothing big, 17.5 inches was the biggest largemouth but it was nice to target a real gamefish again instead of pannies.