Northern Smallmouth Lakes

Want to take a trip up north this fall for smallmouth. Looking for somewhere other than Mille Lacs though. All suggestions welcome, Preferably still in MN or NE WI.

Park Rapids area has a number of lakes with good smallies, Big Sand or Potato both have some tanks from what I understand.

I will suggest the lakes in Voyagers National Park.
Great smallmouth lakes, I was up two weeks ago and did well on main lake reefs. That bite will only get better as the temps cool. Another lake in that area that is with the drive is Pelican in Orr. Great smallie and large mouth fishing to be had there.

Attachments:

1. 

   IMG_7647.jpg
   

BigWerm wrote:

Park Rapids area has a number of lakes with good smallies, Big Sand or Potato both have some tanks from what I understand.

Potato does have some tanks but can be a difficult one, especially if you don’t know the lake very well. I spent 15+ years out there and still couldn’t figure them out consistently. I’ve caught a couple 20+ and seen quite a few as well, they just aren’t everywhere. Largemouth on the other hand can be amazing.

Turtle north of Grand Rapids is a good one as well. You could also do the Upper Miss.

Mississippi near grand rapids. Or any where north of little falls. St Croix river north of Hinckley. Rivers are the place to be after this big cool down.

Woman lake should be on the hit list, but i’d still go with Mille Lacs

I would second VNP area. These all came from there albeit in the spring.

Attachments:

1. 

   20180518_120440.jpg
   

2. 

   20170526_092122.jpg
   

3. 

   20180516_111317.jpg
   

I’ll second what Dave said. Try a river instead. They are SO under fished in this state at virtually every time of year.

the river, between Royalton and Little Falls.

Any near longville. little boy, women and so on.

Yeah I’ve fished the river quite a bit and was looking for something different even though I love the river.

fishingdakotacountymn wrote:

Woman lake should be on the hit list, but i’d still go with Mille Lacs

Shhhhh, woman is just full of walleyes, no smallies there

I spent 3 days in early Sept 9/10-9/13 up around Ely. Fishing Shagawa Lake and caught a few really nice Smallies. The bite was tough there and on Fall Lake, I think it had to do with the time of year. Seems like the September Smallie bite is getting tougher with the warm temps going later into the year. We also tried Vermilion and it was really tough. The bright spot was tent camping at the Fortune Bay Casino. $25 per night (no elec) OK showers, use of pool and hot tub. Free use of marina with electric on the docks and free firewood at a community fire pit in the RV campground. The Good Ol’ Days Bar & Grill in Tower is the place to eat, great specials and friendly locals LOL.

We then went to Mille Lac’s and fished 7 hours for 3 Smallie’s. So it was tough there too. Another good Smallie lake is Deer Lake north of Grand Rapids. I fished Woman this spring but it was prespawn and full of Buck Smallies.

If you want to treat yourself, book a trip with Joe Scegura on the Miss near St. Cloud. Unbelievable!!

FryDog62 wrote:

If you want to treat yourself, book a trip with Joe Scegura on the Miss near St. Cloud. Unbelievable!!

I was actually thinking about that. He has given me a few good tips on here and everyone always says he’s a great guide. Might have to do that. Would give me a good idea where and where not I can safely bring my boat on the Miss as well (bass boat).

I hear lake cokato has some real nice smallies in it