BWCA Smallmouth

[FishinFool]

I was wondering what the smallmouth will be like in week or so. Will they be pre-spawn or spawning? If they are pre-spawn will they be up shallow looking for places to spawn? Are they usually active by then and willing to chase some baits?

Thanks a lot

F.F.

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Do you think fish brag about the size of the man they got away from?

[Guest]

Our basic rule is the warmer the air temp the shallower the fish. If it's 75 you'll find fish from 2-12 if it's 55 the fish will be in 10-20 feet maybe even deeper. This assumes the water temp is still in the 50's. I'd fish the first break 8-12 feet with a jig and plastic worm or grub. If the fish are shallow you'll see some up there.

[mark p]

Now that the season has opened and a few people have been out, I was wondering if you ran into many smallies. I assume they haven't spawned yet up in the BW, but are they very active at this time of the year? I'm sure some can be had with slip bobbers etc, but I really enjoy fishing them with cranks and also on top. Can you get them to chase those baits this early?

[scifisher]

Check the regs. I don't think the season for sm bass is open yet. And whatever you do, don't fish them on the beds! Spawning is difficult enough for Bass in the Bdub and in some lakes, hitting the beds hard can really affect the year class.

[mark p]

The season for bass opened on May 15th for those lakes that are north and east of US hwy 53 from Duluth to International Falls. It opens on May 29th for the rest of the state.

I understand your concern for fishing for bass on their beds. From what I've heard it sounds like things are running behind normal and chances are the bass won't be spawning until sometime in June this year. Someone with some experience may have a better/different opinion though.

[Surface Tension]

My experience this opener was that the SM Bass were active. Meaning we didn't have any problems catching them when targeting eyes.