Early smallmouth on Rainy

I’m thinking of getting an early bass-fix this year and am lured by the continuous season for bass on Rainy.

I haven’t fished Rainy before, so I’d love to get some advice on where to start. You don’t have to give up your honey hole, just some general info would be helpful.

Around April 29, I’m guessing smallies will be pre-spawn looking for warmer water on shorelines with some nearby deep water access. Agree?

thanks in advance

I would agree…but if the weather turns cold, those fish would be in the deep water, stacked like cordwood. Jerbaiting in the shallows, drop shot/float and fly the deep. That would e my best guess

I haven’t focused any energy on Smallmouth that early in the season. I will say I run into some big Smallies on accident when fishing large pike in some areas. It is my believe Most fish are Pre-Spawn this time of year or amongst spawn fields.

I remember a show some years ago when some big name in bass fising, I think Jimmy Houston came up and fished Mille Lacs in June (I hope), it was a really late spring for up there apparently. They were fishing the back-back bay in Vineland along 169. Shallow, dark bottom, basically the first water to heat up. They were casting and draggin jigs and leeches, they absolutely slayed them, some real toads. Again, I am assuming it was on or after bass opener, but if memory serves the cattails were still pretty brown.

I think if you can time the water temperature climb correctly you will do well shallow, too early and you will be probing the depths outside the bays, picking fish vertically from the staging areas.

Depending on how this spring goes there still may be ice on the lake at the end of April. The average ice out date is May 3rd. The shallower bays could be open by then but who knows. I’m just letting you know you may be limited in where you could fish or the lake could be wide open like 2010. Mother nature is fickle in Man Land. One day is 25 with snow, the next is 70 and sunny. Be prepared for it all.

As far as smallies go they don’t spawn until the water temps get to at least 60 degrees so fish that are shallow early in the year are mainly looking for more comfortable water temps and food. I’ve run into my biggest smallies early in the year.

Good luck

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I remember a show some years ago when some big name in bass fising, I think Jimmy Houston came up and fished Mille Lacs in June (I hope), it was a really late spring for up there apparently. They were fishing the back-back bay in Vineland along 169. Shallow, dark bottom, basically the first water to heat up. They were casting and draggin jigs and leeches, they absolutely slayed them, some real toads. Again, I am assuming it was on or after bass opener, but if memory serves the cattails were still pretty brown.

I think if you can time the water temperature climb correctly you will do well shallow, too early and you will be probing the depths outside the bays, picking fish vertically from the staging areas.

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A few years back (maybe 7) I was slingin’ for ski’s back in that same spot around Muskie Opener and right out from the culvert in the back of that bay (I think the culvert that runs under the highway) there was a drop off to some deep rocks and reeds (mabybe 7-8 feet). While I fished I saw two guys pitching to the reed and rock clumps and pull out countless 5-6 pound bronzebacks. Saw quite a few camera flashes that day.

Would the river be better for smallies that early in the season?

I have no experience with Smallies on the river that time of year, but my presumption would be too early.