The smallmouth bass bite continues to be superb here on the upper Mississippi River this past weekend. With water temps dropping nearly 10 degrees over the week, the bite did seem to be slightly slower than in weeks past, but still lots of fish in small very precise spots. Instead of popping 5-7 fish upon arrival, we saw 1-3 fish and then we had to work for them harder than usual. A little slower more methodical approach was needed to coax these fish to respond.
This past Saturday I was joined by fellow members of IDA Jack Naylor and his buddy Randy Schauer (aka…Senko King). They were the recipients of a donated trip to the St. Judes Children’s Hopsital fund raiser. Saturday morning we set sail to some of my milk route spots only to find that were able to pull one fish in 3 stops. With more spots to fish, I figured we best come back later on to these locations and work a little harder on them to see what we could do and take advantage of the morning hours as that seemed to be the most productive period the past several weeks. Finally we arrived at a spot that had some willing smallies in their behavior that I used to seeing for this time of year. As the morning grew older, the bite appeared to get better and better but still was not quite like in week’s past. With the water temps lower, I figured the sun would spark some activity come afternoon hours but we saw the exact opposite. The bite slowed to a crawl on the last hour with short spurts of some aggressive smallies. By Day’s end we tallied 30-35 fish with 3 fish hitting the 20″ mark with the biggest at 20-1/2″ long! Anyday an angler can boat that kind of quality in a day on the river is a good day in my book! Congrats guys on your big fish!
Tubes, YUM Dingers and Jimmy D’s Riverbugs all put fish in the boat for us on this particular outing. I expect the lighter Riverbug bite to shine in the next 2 weeks as this bite starts to slow down. Typically when water temps reach the mid 40’s the smallies seem to go away from the tubes from my experience and start to favor the slow falling presentations of the Dingers or light 1/16th oz Black, White or Pink Riverbugs. I think there is some fantastic days still ahead, but I think we could quite possibly be on borrowed time for near future. We all know what October in Minnesota can and will bring on moments notice. So getting out each time this time of year, an angler needs to savor that outing as potentially the last good bite for the season on these upper stretches.
Thanks again Jack for bidding on my donated trip and glad you guys had a good time and I look forward to fishing with you guys some day in the future.
Come early next week look for a multi species report as James Holst is joining me for a weekend long of chasing fall Smallmouth AND Largemouth Bass!
Great looking fish Steve, I’m not so sure about the mugs behind the fish.
John
WOW, Great report Steve. Good to see you are still getting into some awesome smallies especially three 20″ or better. Judging by the pic’s they are really showing some nice colors and markings. Thanks for sharing and a huge THANK YOU to you and the guys for it being a St Jude benefit trip! Very cool and to a good cause to boot, the sign of true sportmen.
What no walleyes Jack!
Here…a picture from many moons ago. Jon
Great report!! Nice fish Jack!
Steve,
Thanks for the great day on the River, WE both really had a good time, and it was our first time that far up the river.
Thanks, Steve, for offering the St Jude’s trip. For the record, Randy and I came away from the dinner with 3 trips, and am sure it was Randy who had the winning bid for our trip.
The fish are really awesome and very strong.
We had one true Triple, and a double of doubles during the day, which added to the excitement. The fish would occasionally be followed by another fish or two, and it was fun to connect with a few of these Bonus fish.
The RiverPro (the Boat)(but, of course, Steve IS a RiverPro TOO) was a new experience, I could sure see how valueable it would be during shallow water navigating. Steve, you are the first person I’ve ever seen LOOK for logs to DRIVE OVER. Didn’t you promise to do a few doughnuts down the river????? maybe next time…
I’ll add a pic or two from my camera. thanks again Steve for the Great and FUn day on the river, and Randy, thanks for having me along to share our day.
Thanks John, I really don’t have much to work with here..
Jon, yes I had one Walleye, it was not caught, but lasso-d around the head, and pulled in sideways.
thanks for the reminder with your pic, that really was a long time ago, keep in touch.
Jack…
Great report Dee Zee! Man, those two guys in your boat have been on some pretty awesome guide trips tha last couple years!
It really has been some Great Times, and most of those have been St Judes’s Benefit trips. I’m smiling here just thinking about them.
A Great Benefit, and some Great times shared with Great Friends.
It is a WIN, WIN, AND WIN….
Jack…
Glad to have you aboard Jack and Randy. Thanks again for the trip and I look forward to next time we can share a boat again!
I think next year’s donation trip I am planning to fish some SKINNY waters!
HEY STEVE,,,,,GREAT ARTICLE. THANKS FOR DEVOTING YOUR TIME TO THE HOSPITAL,,,,THOSE KIDS ARE PRECIOUS AND NEED PEOPLE LIKE YOU. SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS A GREAT TIME. JACK SENT ME SEVERAL PICS OF THE TRIP AND IT WAS GORGIOUS THAT DAY. GLAD IT ALL WENT WELL,,,,,STEVE BLEICHNER
The day I win the Lotto I’m spending my summers and falls chasing smallies in the upper Midwest and the rest of the year on Fork for largies. Great report and great fish guys!
Why someone would fish for a few PCB and mercury-laden walleye fillets when there are big bronzebacks like those to be had is just beyond me!!
Tom,
I really agree with that. I have always thought of myself as a Largemouth fisherman, but I have caught so many BIG Smallies the last 3 years, that they ARE really winning me over. I can still say I’m a BASSIN guy…
Jack.
Another great report Steve.
It’s about time someone gets that guy chasing largies!