Root is hot.

The smallies are hitting just about anything you put in the water. Not big but a few in the 13 -14 class. I live about a half mile from the Root. Neighbor kid told me about how many they have been catching this week. Thought sure. Took the spinning rod down, they hit everything. Spinners, raps, came home and got fly rod. You ever flet a 10 inch smallie hit a soft hackle fly on a 4 weight rod? If you would like to have a great time try from Allens bridge to Moens. 2 -6 hour trip depending on how much you fish. Bring the wife,kids, and some tubes. Please rember that most of the shore line is private prop. Didn’t have much problem here until the last few years. If its empty, it lighter, so take it out.Good luck

hey art, thanks for the report .

glad to hear the fishing good down that way. i’ve been fishing the zumbro lately and the smallmouth have not been cooperating like where earlier in the summer. i think it might be because of the extreemly low and clear water, but that’s just a guess. all the fish are bunched up in the few pools that are left. you can see tons of fish, a lot of them nice ones (16-18″), but they won’t bite a darn thing.

You’re absolutely right Art! but it’s not just the Root, almost all small rivers and streams are comming alive with Smallies. If there is a rocky bottom and some moving water, chances are there will be a Small-Mouth holding somewhere.
I have found great action on the Straight, Ceadar, Cannon etc. But alot of small fish, about the size of my hand, I did catch a 17″ smallie on the Straight Sunday. If there is a small river or stream that connects to the Mississippi in your neighborhood, you may be sitting on a Bronzeback gold mine.
John Eggers

With river and stream levels sooo low these fish are EXTREMELY vulnerable!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE practice catch and release!

Thanks

Jim W

Thanks Jim, forgot to add that.

I fished the Root for smallies with a friend Sunday PM. Water temperatures were 78 degrees. That’s way too warm for trout and certainly plenty warm for smallmouth. Hopefully this predicted cool down will last a while.