Smallmouth fishing

[Fawkinnae]

I'm always looking for some opportunities to become a better smallmouth fisherman. A couple of things have been running through my head lately.

I recently read an article in the April/May issue of In-Fisherman about goby-style baits. I thought it was a pretty interesting article and I was wondering if anyone else had read it and if anyone has any first hand experience with those type of baits.

The second thing is, I have two different trips that I go on - one is to the English River and the other is the east end of Rainy Lake. I know that they are both excellent smallie fisheries but I think I may be missing out on some opportunities for bigger fish. I tend to mostly fish the shorelines for smallmouths and I do O.K. but I don't catch as many big fish as I would expect to in those places. On Rainy in particular I will occasionally catch a better fish while fishing for walleyes but it's a bit of a mystery I'm wondering how some of the rest of you approach smallmouth fishing on a lake like Rainy. In terms of structure, depth, bait, etc. I'm guessing the English River would be similar.

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful suggestions.

P.S. I pick up my boat on Saturday and I'm peeing in my pants I'm so excited.

[Randy Kaar]

a new boat?

randy aka bh

[Mayfly]

Doug....

Why don't you come spend a day with me on Mille Lacs after the bass opener, that is if you are looking to catch some nice smallies!

Here are a couple my brother caught.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Fawkinnae]

Doug....

Why don't you come spend a day with me on Mille Lacs after the bass opener, that is if you are looking to catch some nice smallies!

Here are a couple my brother caught.

Sign me up baby.

[Fawkinnae]

a new boat?

randy aka bh

No I put my boat in storage so the kids would have a place to keep the car over the winter.

We've been separated now for about 5 month. It's very hard on me. I try to write her a letter at least once a week but I haven't gotten a single letter in return.

[Randy Kaar]

 

randy aka bh

[Fawkinnae]

randy aka bh

Why does love have to be so sad?

[Randy Kaar]

yep..  you treat em so well and not even a phone call..

randy aka bh

[Fish Guide]

PLenty of opportunities in central mn alone, I have many very good smallmouth haunts besides mille/Rainy.  Plenty of hours on Rainy as well.  Mississippi River as well is full of nice smallies, Id send some pics, but just imagine 18-20" smallies on nothing but non live bait and lighter tackle.  If I have time I could help you out, Capt. Josh

[Cousin Kyle]

I fish Koronis in Paynesville The crow River dumps into it and also runs through into Rice Lake.  It is stocked with Smallies.  Right after opener I tend find them in 10 - 15 feet of water on sand flats.  They nest all over the flats, I drift with a crawler and on a clear day you can see them hanging out chase and take the bait.  I do not recomened strictly sticking to casting the shores for smallies I swear by drifting past them in the middle of a lake.  But casting the shore is still a ton of fun.

Also I read the In Fisherman article a I have not tried the Goby fake bait yet but I definitely will be.  I will let you know how it goes.  Good luck this summer!

[Tami]

What are "goby-style baits"?

[Bobby Bass]

Goby-style baits should go over big time here in the bay of the Big Lake

[Cousin Kyle]

Goby Baits -
http://www.berkley-fishing.com/dyn_search.php


Here is a good swim bait video also. 

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1463341044/bctid1344510927

[Tami]

Thanks Kyle for the info

[Fawkinnae]

PLenty of opportunities in central mn alone, I have many very good smallmouth haunts besides mille/Rainy.  Plenty of hours on Rainy as well.  Mississippi River as well is full of nice smallies, Id send some pics, but just imagine 18-20" smallies on nothing but non live bait and lighter tackle.  If I have time I could help you out, Capt. Josh

Capt'n Josh I would welcome an opportunity to fish smallies with you this summer.

[Fawkinnae]

I fish Koronis in Paynesville The crow River dumps into it and also runs through into Rice Lake.  It is stocked with Smallies.  Right after opener I tend find them in 10 - 15 feet of water on sand flats.  They nest all over the flats, I drift with a crawler and on a clear day you can see them hanging out chase and take the bait.  I do not recomened strictly sticking to casting the shores for smallies I swear by drifting past them in the middle of a lake.  But casting the shore is still a ton of fun.

Also I read the In Fisherman article a I have not tried the Goby fake bait yet but I definitely will be.  I will let you know how it goes.  Good luck this summer!

Capt'n Cousin Kyle I have never fished Koronis. It is the coolest looking lake and I'm not sure why I havn't been on it. It would be a blast to fish it with you sometime this summer.
Best of luck this upcoming season.

[Fish Guide]

just give me some notice--but you cant do any weird stretching in the boat, LOL

[Cody Gruchow]

i dont have any smallmouth lakes around here at all that i know of, maybe minnetonka but again i dont know, always interested in them just dont have the money right now to go searching for random lakes, i have only caught 2 or maybe 3 smallmouths in my life 1 on lake clitheral, 1 on the cannon river i think it was and 1 6 pounder off the crow river in delano, that one was the sickest fish ive ever seen.

[Fawkinnae]

just give me some notice--but you cant do any weird stretching in the boat, LOL

Whoooaaaa. What kind of crazy condition is that?
Who ever heard of not stretching before taking on a river full of muscular smallies.