fishing smallmouths

[Flippin' Stick]

I recently moved up here from Florida. Big bass down there. I am looking for some good smallmouth bass areas to fish from shore on the Mississippi river or any other river that has open water this time of year. Lure suggestion would be nice as well. Thanks

[Daze Off]

Flippin'

Not sure about open water areas - although I hear the Mississippi around Monticello power plant is open and good for smallies - but the Rum from the Coon Rapids dam northward and the Rum River are both excellent smallmouth fisheries. Would not be uncommon to get fish in the 20+" range with 15-18" being fairly common.

Good luck!

Daze Off

[BigMike]

Flippin' - first of all Welcome to Fishing Minnesota! I love fishing for smallmouth here in MN and could probably talk about it all day if I had the opportunity.

As for fishing spots this time of year - the weather here is a bit different than FL but there are a few spots that you could possibly get a line wet. Your only bet this time of year will be the Mississippi river. In and around Monticello (north of the cities) can be good and Pool 2 (Ford Dam in East St.Paul and south) can be good shore fishing too. The key now is slow presentations... REAL slow. However - you may have some troubles with line & rod eyes freezing up. Your best bet would be to wait for a day when temps get above freezing during the day. You'll have to hurry if you go to Monticello though - the bass fishing season is only open until the middle of February to unless you want to fish Pool 2 (which is open year round, but is catch & release year round).

Other than that, you'll probably have to wait until the open water season which is really tough for us bass fishermen, but insures a quality fishery here in MN since our growth season is so much shorter than a state like FL.