What To Look For 4 smallies

[Smallie]

Smallies, are for the most part hard bottom oriented wheter its gravel, rock or sand.
When on rocks they will genrally hold to the biggest boulders available. It doesn't matter if you have a big boulder a 100 yds away from the actual pile, they will be holding to it.

When thinking smallies you need to fish small baits for the most time. Any where from a 1" crappie tube to even a 5" tube all depending on the time of year and the mood there in. Obviously fishing crappie tubes for them woul be in 50 degree water and under.

They love topwater chug-bugs, stick baits (Husky Jerks), tubes, grubs,and blades,
but make sure you don't leave the dock without a good supply of Mushroom Head jigs 1/8 oz to 3/16oz and good supply of soft plastic trailers.

Remember let am go so they can grow!!!!!

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Cory Putnam
320-808-7722 Cell
320-763-9598 Work

[This message has been edited by Jim W (edited 05-22-2003).]

[LOWinEYEin]

Do they stick big structures around opener?
Could anyone put a little more detail on what to use for bait? I heard that they swim/eat in schools, any truth?

[EBass]

WhaTT,

How ya doing? Yep smallies love structure. And they do school up. Most of the time when you catch one another if not multiple will follow along. It's pretty cool to see.

Are you talking live bait? Leeches, shinners and chubs work well. Most of the time you don't need it. They are a pretty aggresive fish,and boy do they fight.

In the spring go with small lures. During summer and fall largemouth lures work well.

Smallie (the guy) is right on with the info he gave you. I don't know why, but smallies like charturse. Crayfish patterns work well too. But experiment to see what they want at that time.

Where are you going? River or lake?

[LOWinEYEin]

Very open to suggestions, but would prefer
a lake.I am looking for an average depth for opener. Any lake with largemouth has smallies right?

[Smallie]

What where are you from and how far are you willing to drive?

Maybe could give you a few suggestions!

[rascalP]

Boy are you in for a treat. Prepare to be hooked. Tubes are one of my favorites, rigged with a tube leadhead(leadhead slips inside the tube), texas style with a splitshot a foot or two up the line or no weight at all, as long as it sinks with just the weight of the hook, although this is a shallow water(5-6 ft or less) presentation and fished ultra slow. Match the weight to the depth.
As far as where, St. Croix is hard to beat for numbers. Pick a stretch, ANY stretch. Mille Lacs has big ones, south side, just look for buoys and fish around them. White Bear Lake and Mississippi are others that are close. And they're not in all lakes that have largemouths. Good luck and enjoy the fight.

[LOWinEYEin]

Never fished for smallies, never caught one on accident. I don't know what to look for during opener, on a cheap eagle finder. I know they stick to the deeper water, but do they move shallower during pre/post spawn? When do they spawn? Do they move to mud or gravel or sand? And of course what do you use?????

THx

[EBass]

WhaTT,
Tonka has both smallies and largemouths. But the population of smallies isn't the best. But I have caught them from time to time while going for good ol bucket mouth.

If you really want to catch a smallie close to the metro the Mississippi would give you a great shot. Otherwise, Whitebear has them as mentioned above and so does Tonka. I never fished WBL, but on Tonka stick to the eastern bays, Wayzata, Browns, Crystal bays would give you a good shot.

Get a map and look for rocks.

Otherwise good ol Mille Lacs which is where I'm headed this weekend.

Good luck

[Guest]

rascalP,
what general area do you fish on the croix for smallies... we will be walleye fishing down near Hudson area and would like to go after some smallies... are there any good areas around Hudson?

[rascalP]

fishinA,

I usually go north of St.Croix Falls, but I've also fished north of Stillwater and some around Hudson. It's a shoreline bite. Try the riprap especially around the marina's. If you see any kind of eddy, try it. The big round piers up by the power plant can be good and also around and into the discharge channel. You may get into some really fast action on white bass around there. If you see a bunch of gulls hovering around, they give away a good spot. Good luck.

rascal