fishing for tips- tips for fishing

[southerntransplant]

A little backround info on myself. I grew up in the deep south about 26 miles north of New Orleans. I moved up to south dakota 2 years ago. I really didnt start getting back into fishing till last year. Down south throwing bright colors and big plastics and spinners were the key to getting large bass. Now that i live in ST peter and make frequents trips up to carver county. Im looking for tips on these picky bass. The water clarity keeps me out of my element. I am just wondering on how well different baits and rigs work up here.

Texas rig

carolina rig

drop shot

crank baits sizes

buzzbaits/spinners

wacky rig

colors for all baits- dont know much about the feeding habbits of the fish up here

I also want to compliment the way this forum is set up. I got turned on to this site by a couple of the resident catfishermen. I am also looking for people willing to take out a poor boatless college kid, will help pay for gas or other costs. Now I know the best way to find out this info is to get out and fish and I am doing alot of that lately. Just wanted a heads up on some proven colors/ techniques used up here and I would like some info for Small mouth bass. I heard alot of great things about these guys and would really like to catch some. Any info would be helpful Thank you

[BSMN1]

Transplant,

For your comfort I am happy to inform you that my #1 bass'n buddy moved here from Southern La. about 15 years ago and he tells me he wouldn't trade the fishing here for there (Toledo Bend) EVER!! I'm just in North Mankato so we should be able to work something out.

Do NOT let the water clarity scare you, I assure you what you did back home will work here if you just think "downsize...patience".

[Deitz Dittrich]

You are correct in that the fishing here is different. Much of what you fish down in southern states are resivoirs(damed up rivers) and we are 99% natural lakes. The main difference is moving water. Down south the feed is all about moving water and currents. Here is about weather and weeds. Many resivoirs have very little for weeds.

As stated above, do not let water clarity put you out of your element. Embrace it and use it! Natural colors, natural looking lures. Use the fishes eyes to pull them to your lure!

All your normal lures that worked down there will work up here as long as you remember that weeds are your friend.

as far as size of the lure, match what you feel the fish are feeding on.. in the south fish often feed on shad.. which is a larger baitfish.. we dont have shad.. .our bass feed mostly on Smaller sunfish, perch, and crayfish.(those would be the big 3 in my opinon)

[dan2957]

Welcome to Minnesota, the bass fishing university of the world. I too am a southern transplant so I know what you are going through. It took me a few years to figure out what it takes to catch fish here in the artic.

The bass here relate a lot more the weeds than back home. One thing to keep in mind is that a bass is a bass so instead of fishing the mouths of coves (drop offs)in the summer look for middle of the lake structure like submerged islands. I look for submerged islands with cabbage and milfoil.

Thick shallow weed lines hold fish too. In the summer I look for what I call walls of milfoil along the shore line. Often the milfoil will stop growing in 4-6 FOW depending on water clarity. Throwing a jig along theses walls can produce some nice fish. Another thing I like when fishing milfoil to look for clumps of milfoil. Working a jig around the clumps works well for me.

As far as color goes, I like using more natural colors. Remember to match the food source, sunnies, blue gills and crappies seems to be the main food supply. I like to use crankbaits in baby bass patterns here. When I fish with plactics junebug, watermelon, motor oil, tequila sunrise are my favorites. Chartruse seems to work well in clear, deeper water if you like throwning that color.

I live in Wright County and fish just about everyday so let me know if you want to give the west metro a try.

[basssmasher*]

may not be of much help here, but i belong to a very small bass club and EVERYONE in this thing throws blue fleck worms or red shad.. i don't follow the course but then again maybe why i'm sitting in 9th place instead of 1st!! lol.. My tip is throw your confidence bait of choice but try the natural colors also as stated above

[southerntransplant]

Thanks guys for all the info. I will be going out in 30 mins I set up a smaller more portable kit for myself. I am in carver county right now and going to try lake lotus and lake ann, Later tonight My girlfriend told me of this inlet on minnetonka that i caught little bass on last year. Maybe there back and just a little bit bigger. I will be back in the metro suburbs saturday night if any one want to go fishing sunday. Thanks again for the info.

[basssmasher*]

too bad you arent closer southern or I'd hook up with ya.. you need to come out west and hook up with smallmouth