Best Smallmouth lakes in MN

[gunning]

This year I have the second week in June off , so I was thinking of trying to plan a trip up north to do a little fishing and I want to target some smallies. The thing is I have never really fished a lake that has had smallies in it so I'm a smallmouth virgin, never caught one.

So I'm kind of planning the whole trip around it and I really want to fish a good lake that will give me the best shot at catching some nice smallies. So what do you think the top 3-5 smallmouth lakes are in this state.

[Ely Lake Expert]

I don't know about top 3-5 but I know lake Vermillion has alot of big smallies in it. Though there is probably better. There are some small lakes around where I live loaded with them.

[uzbucket]

sound end of Mille Lacs - caught some hogs outta there last year.

[Thundy]

I think Northern Wisconsin may be your best bet

[kstruck]

Mille Lac's boasts some of the best small mouth fishing in the state, at that time of year try anywhere there are rocks.

I usually visit the boundary waters around the middle of June each year and the small mouth fishing is just incredible, in fact in the past few years there are members of our group who target solely 20" bronzebacks and don't even bother with the walleyes, as for me I have gotten quite sick of them, I know a true fisherman shouldn't say that, but I don't know which is worse a hammerhandle northern or a smallmouth!

So with all due respect to the smallmouth, my vote would go to to the tannin stained waters of the northeast part of the state.

[TonkaBass]

Hmmmm, Pretty tough question to narrow over 10,000 lakes to the best ones for smallies...

here's my vote in no order:

-Vermilion

-Green

-Mille Lacs

[grab the net]

Depending on how far you want to drive from you home?

Closer to home Green/Spicer Minnewaska/Glenwood

Ten Mile/Dalton Ida/Alex

2nd week of June you could still find a lot of fish on beds very easy to locate and catch/photo/release.

[Cherokee Ref]

Gotta think you'd be hard pressed to beat Vermilion. I have only fished the west end, but from what I read, the east end is even better. Tons of reefs, humps and rocky shorelines! Flipping docks catches some big ones, too. That should be a great time to be there, and there are many great places to stay.

[Cecil]

Mille Lacs

Vermillion

Grand Rapids area

[JBMasterAngler]

Mississippi river, rogers area. You'll catch alot of 2 and 3 pounders, with the chance of 4 and 5 pounders. But, these particular river fish will fight way harder than any bass caught out of mille lacs or vermilion!

[Quetico]

The Miss definitely has some amazing smallie fishing. Those smaller sized fish really put up a huge fight on light tackle in stronger current.

The Miss around the cities definitely has some big numbers of fish. We found 25-30 fish days this summer on stretch right in and around the cities. Not many fish over 16". We did get 2 or 3 that pushed 20". Consistent numbers between 12-16".

[goblueM]

+1 for the Miss, pretty much anywhere. Fished it down by Wabasha and it was amazing...Little Falls area was unbelieveable, and in the Cities its pretty darn good too.

Although the biggest two bass I've seen (smallmouth) were on the Otter Tail and the Rainy while scuba diving. Holy cow.

[Chode2235]

We did really well with the smallies that time of year last summer on Vermilion. They were still shallow and on the docks. Easy pickings of some really nice fish.

[thehawk]

it has to be mille lacs. i was out there on a rock pile one day jiggin walleyes and found the smallies instead. I pulled up 20 plus fish and 14 of those were over 20" and had great color. I know a few guys who target the south end for the smallies and rock them in june.

[mudslinger]

I too think Mille Lacs. Mississippi is my favorite but mille may be the best.

[bsherck]

Mudslinger nailed it.

The Miss is easy and close and the fish are almost always willing. Find a rock pile anywhere on Mille Lacs and you've got a shot at a state record...

[JBMasterAngler]

Lake Pepin is pretty good too. Some big ones, and the numbers seem to be going up.

[EBass]

MilleLacs - coz I've never fished Vermillion, Green, or LOW.

[fishinfey8]

Probably not the best, but I would go to Island Lake N of duluth. That time of year is phenomenal with lots of 18' fish caught regularly. Just pitch minnows or cranks into shore until you locate them, then use slip bobbers with minnows or leeches. Sometimes even topwater lures work great. Look for stumps, weeds or softball sized rocks and go to town. I would guarentee the fishing that time of year...

[Juan Grande]

JBMasterAngler,

Are you wading the river in the Rogers/Otsego area for smallies? I have been driving up to Monti, but maybe I should stay closer to home. I don't see many people fishing that stetch of river when I head north on 101/169.

[Irish]

The stretch of the St. Croix up around Rush City is the best smallmouth fishing I have ever experienced. Jerkbaits, topwaters or crankbaits will produce all day long. Or you can anchor in a deeper hole and fish crawler rigs. Great numbers and there are also some real giants in there.

[gunning]

Guys Wow, thanks for all the replies. I was already was planning on taking some day trips up to Mille Lacs this year, I have never fished it. I have already been doing some map recon on the south end of the lake and it there is a ton of structure that looks great.

Vermillion would be nice I hear nothing but good things about that lake. I guess the ultimate trip would be to hit Mille Lacs on the way up for a day or two then just make my way to Vermillion hitting lakes on the way. I don't know if I will have the funds for it but it sure would be fun.

What about Leech, does it have smallies?

[JBMasterAngler]

Leech is good for largemouths. I hear they may be stray smallmouths in there, but don't count on catching them.

Juan, I fish it in a small boat. The landing is right at the mouth of the crow river. There's a set of rapids not that far up that is unpassable, but you can wade through and catch them in the fast water. There's also a set of rapids just below the access, probably can't get back up if you went down. However, the stretch inbetween the rapids is top notch fishing.

[river rat316]

Thats Dayton

[mudslinger]

My lips are sealed from this point forward. The Dayton area has claimed many a props and many nice fish too.