Early Bass Fishing in the Metro

[hansyfishing02]

Since the weather is getting nicer and opener is coming up, I think it's time to start thinking about bass fishing. I'm getting sick of the same old lakes I always hit so does anyone have any spots that has good bass fishing- specifically good from shore/kayak? Hope people still use this website. Keep care.

[Wanderer]

There are people checking in from time to time.

 

You might get some input if you specify what area you’d like to concentrate on.  There’s always rivers and streams that hold more fish than people give them credit for but lakes within the Three Rivers Parks system come to mind.

 

Medicine immediately comes to mind but there are smaller lakes that would have less boat traffic.  Try looking at a few going out Hwy 5 towards Waconia.  I’ve fished several of them many years ago and done well.  Steiger was one of my faves.

[gimruis]

16 hours ago, Wanderer said:

Medicine immediately comes to mind

I wouldn't go out to Medicine unless you want to deal with recreational riff raff.  The bass fishing out there isn't that great either.  There are much better options in the area IMO.  Just as a heads up if you intend to fish any lake operated by the Three Rivers Park District, you will either need a season pass or a day pass to park with a trailer.  I know the OP said he has a kayak, but I am not sure if he is using a trailer.

 

I primarily bass fish in the greater metro area.  Almost all of my bass fishing is within about an hour of Minneapolis.  I cannot be specific on which lakes I primarily fish, but they are generally pretty good because of one factor: the pressure is lower.  Additionally, during the warm summer months, I would highly advise selecting a day with clouds or rain in the forecast.  The fishing will be significantly better and there probably won't be nearly as many people/boats on the water.  If you want to target smallmouth, you're gonna have to head to a river or Mille Lacs though.  Our rivers were at historic lows last season so many of the smaller ones weren't even accessible.  Luckily that doesn't appear to be the case this season.

 

Early bass fishing is going to allow for some targeting of some heavy pre-spawn fish.  That normally does not occur here.  I intend to take advantage of it.

[Wanderer]

7 hours ago, gimruis said:

I wouldn't go out to Medicine unless you want to deal with recreational riff raff.  The bass fishing out there isn't that great either.  There are much better options in the area IMO.  

I won’t argue the recreational traffic can be bothersome at times but early season not as much.  There are areas the fish load up in that aren’t in the primary cruising zones.

 

As far as the fishing quality goes: I’ve never been disappointed out there.  I used to fish it just for fun, then was absent for many years until I fished a tourney with a friend a few years ago.  
 

We limited early with several double headers, then culled up with some heavier fish doing the same thing I always did.  Didn’t win but cashed a check anyway.  Didn’t do much prefishing either.

 

[gimruis]

15 hours ago, Wanderer said:

Didn’t win but cashed a check anyway.  Didn’t do much prefishing either.

Nice job.

[gimruis]

15 hours ago, Wanderer said:

I won’t argue the recreational traffic can be bothersome at times but early season not as much.

You're right, this time of year its probably not bad.  I was on Tonka on Wed and virtually the entire eastern half of the lake was devoid of people/boats, even though it was a glorious afternoon.  Once the water warms up to about 70 then the riff raff will be coming out.

Edited May 6, 2022 by gimruis

[fishing_the_northland]

18 hours ago, Wanderer said:

I won’t argue the recreational traffic can be bothersome at times but early season not as much.  There are areas the fish load up in that aren’t in the primary cruising zones.

I fish the south metro and the Prior Lakes are a good example of a lake like this. There are some real nice fish on the two lakes and usually the recreational pontoons and jetskis are not out yet. Plenty of fishermen but there is enough acreage to share the water