JPS

[JPSavage]

I would welcome some advice on pre-spawn and post-spawn smallie patterns. I fish and live in northern Minnesota near Park Rapids....Thanks

[sami0115]

i fish in P.R. (Potato) quite a bit. the smallies spawn right in the open (not much cover like weeds). they are up on the sand flats near the shore and on the sunken islands. there is some great structure near all of these areas that i would look for. lots of boulders and the cabbage should be coming up by then. plus they may be hanging in open deep water nearby. i would try hard and soft jerkbaits in these transition areas. also i think that tubes, jig-n-pigs and plastic creature baits would work on the boulders nearby. i have also had great luck with Yum Dingers (senko type bait) rigged texas style weightless. cast and let it sink and wait for the line to go runnin'. i will be up there quite a bit this spring and summer, let me know if you want to hit Potato sometime.

[JPSavage]

Hi Sami, I fish Potato a lot ......Was a bit in awe of the number of spawning beds in that south arms west side last spring .....I mean too many to count....I'd love to get together with you and hit Potatoe or a couple other lakes I like here..........John

[sami0115]

it is amazing. and there are almost that many on the east side of the main body as well. and very good numbers on the numerous sunken islands. 4th of july weekend last year i caught and released 50 smallies on that east side alone in about 4 hours. i think they were just finishing spawning. it was amazing, "senkos" and plastic creature baits. i would love to fish with you sometime this year if it works out. i will be up there almost 10 times from spring to fall.

andy