in 2015? BWCA goers were the main group pushing for this.

Published by Outdoor news weekly.

Smallmouth bass
In addition to the early catch and release proposal, the DNR also is proposing to remove the fall catch-and-release regulation for smallmouth bass in the northeastern part of the state. Currently, the smallmouth bass season shifts to catch and release only in early September.

Under the proposal, anglers in the northeast – north and east of Highway 53 – would be able to harvest smallies during the time anglers in the rest of the state have to release them.

While it would apply to that entire portion of the northeast, much of the interest has come from people who make fall trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

“We’ve heard from people every year that it affects a lot of Boundary Waters users,” Drewes said. “In a lot of those lakes, a meal of fish while you’re on a canoe trip falls on the backs of those 10- to 13-inchers.

“Relaxing that regulation in the northeast wouldn’t have natural resources consequences, and it would allow for additional recreational opportunities for Boundary Waters users,” he added.l. Smallmouth bass In addition to the early catch and release proposal, the DNR also is proposing to remove the fall catch-and-release regulation for smallmouth bass in the northeastern part of the state. Currently, the smallmouth bass season shifts to catch and release only in early September. Under the proposal, anglers in the northeast – north and east of Highway 53 – would be able to harvest smallies during the time anglers in the rest of the state have to release them. While it would apply to that entire portion of the northeast, much of the interest has come from people who make fall trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. “We’ve heard from people every year that it affects a lot of Boundary Waters users,” Drewes said. “In a lot of those lakes, a meal of fish while you’re on a canoe trip falls on the backs of those 10- to 13-inchers. “Relaxing that regulation in the northeast wouldn’t have natural resources consequences, and it would allow for additional recreational opportunities for Boundary Waters users,” he added.

Great, but I don't know eats those mudrats. As an invasive species they should be open year round with no limit.

they taste as good as walleye, nowhere near as good as pike though.

quote kanoes: "they taste as good as walleye, nowhere near as good as pike though."

Much better than walleye. They're soo sweet. Just the little ones.

quote kanoes: "they taste as good as walleye, nowhere near as good as pike though."

+1

quote Arlo Pankook: "

quote kanoes: "they taste as good as walleye, no where near as good as pike though."

+1"

+2

I tried cooking them several times and they always taste muddy to me. My favorite fish to eat is Trout, followed closely by Pike. Also they are a pain to filet, I'd rather filet one pike or lake trout before a whole mess of smallies for the same amount of meat.

quote BearDown: "I tried cooking them several times and they always taste muddy to me. My favorite fish to eat is Trout, followed closely by Pike. Also they are a pain to filet, I'd rather filet one pike or lake trout before a whole mess of smallies for the same amount of meat."

They are tough to fillet. I don't eat a lot of fish (perhaps one every three days), but the smallmouth's backbone is a rocky ride for the fillet knife.

quote PINETREE: "

quote kanoes: "they taste as good as walleye, nowhere near as good as pike though."

Much better than walleye. They're soo sweet. Just the little ones."

+1, BTW walleyes are also an invasive species here in Cook county according to the DNR, but nobody seems to mind.....

quote missmolly: "

quote BearDown: "I tried cooking them several times and they always taste muddy to me. My favorite fish to eat is Trout, followed closely by Pike. Also they are a pain to filet, I'd rather filet one pike or lake trout before a whole mess of smallies for the same amount of meat."

They are tough to fillet. I don't eat a lot of fish (perhaps one every three days), but the smallmouth's backbone is a rocky ride for the fillet knife."

Ride your blade from the backbone down to the ribs and then down and OVER...not through...and you will be surprised how easy the fillet comes off. A bit more work, but not hardly worth mentioning. As for taste, I will take a 12" smallie right along with any walleye for the table; I've never found them to taste "muddy". One of the best fish meals I've ever had was a plate of smallies out of Alton...everybody in the group enjoyed them!

quote 2old4U: "

quote missmolly: "

quote BearDown: "I tried cooking them several times and they always taste muddy to me. My favorite fish to eat is Trout, followed closely by Pike. Also they are a pain to filet, I'd rather filet one pike or lake trout before a whole mess of smallies for the same amount of meat."

They are tough to fillet. I don't eat a lot of fish (perhaps one every three days), but the smallmouth's backbone is a rocky ride for the fillet knife."

Ride your blade from the backbone down to the ribs and then down and OVER...not through...and you will be surprised how easy the fillet comes off. A bit more work, but not hardly worth mentioning. As for taste, I will take a 12" smallie right along with any walleye for the table; I've never found them to taste "muddy". One of the best fish meals I've ever had was a plate of smallies out of Alton...everybody in the group enjoyed them!"

I have filleted hundreds if not thousands of bass. They are only a tiny bit more involved than walleye. Above poster has it right. Just follow the ribcage down and no problem. As far as taste goes, I have done blind taste tests with walleye 14-18", and small bass 12-14", on the same plate. Friends and family could not tell the difference. I find walleye longer than 18" and bass over 14" not as good to eat and release any caught above these lengths.

quote georgelesley: "

quote 2old4U: "

quote missmolly: "

quote BearDown: "I tried cooking them several times and they always taste muddy to me. My favorite fish to eat is Trout, followed closely by Pike. Also they are a pain to filet, I'd rather filet one pike or lake trout before a whole mess of smallies for the same amount of meat."

They are tough to fillet. I don't eat a lot of fish (perhaps one every three days), but the smallmouth's backbone is a rocky ride for the fillet knife."

Ride your blade from the backbone down to the ribs and then down and OVER...not through...and you will be surprised how easy the fillet comes off. A bit more work, but not hardly worth mentioning. As for taste, I will take a 12" smallie right along with any walleye for the table; I've never found them to taste "muddy". One of the best fish meals I've ever had was a plate of smallies out of Alton...everybody in the group enjoyed them!"

I have filleted hundreds if not thousands of bass. They are only a tiny bit more involved than walleye. Above poster has it right. Just follow the ribcage down and no problem. As far as taste goes, I have done blind taste tests with walleye 14-18", and small bass 12-14", on the same plate. Friends and family could not tell the difference. I find walleye longer than 18" and bass over 14" not as good to eat and release any caught above these lengths.
"

I'd like to see you guys do this. When I fillet a bass, it feels like I'm driving a Porsche on a rutted gravel road.

Yep, just do your best to leave the ribs attached and do everything else the same as a walter.

I know the TGO loves smallmouth,we could have a good fish fry,his favorite.

Being sincere, I think they are very sweet tasting,maybe like in the middle of the summer when the water is warm for a extended period of time they may take on a off-taste. Also for the size of a smallmouth compared to other fish you don't get the meat you would off a northern pike or trout. A small trout you actually get a lot off of it for its size.
It is one of my favorite to eat and I try to keep them 16 inches or under.

I don't really care for walleye, either. They sure are easy to fillet tho. For my tastes, they just don't compare to trout or pike. And it saddens me that because short sighted people thought they could 'imorove' fishing in the northland they may have ruined trout fishing for all future generations. Although the trick did work for the lodges of a hundred years ago who supposedly stocked the original small mouth. Southerners sure flock up here for them.

how small mouth could be the ruin of lake trout

quote georgelesley: "

quote PINETREE: "

quote kanoes: "they taste as good as walleye, nowhere near as good as pike though."

Much better than walleye. They're soo sweet. Just the little ones."

+1, BTW walleyes are also an invasive species here in Cook county according to the DNR, but nobody seems to mind....."

I think I've read they (walleye) were introduced in a large portion of the cook county lakes in which they presently appear but that there are some lakes more on the western reaches of the county that have natural walleye...i may be wrong though.

quote kayakrookie1: "

quote georgelesley: "

quote PINETREE: "

quote kanoes: "they taste as good as walleye, nowhere near as good as pike though."

Much better than walleye. They're soo sweet. Just the little ones."

+1, BTW walleyes are also an invasive species here in Cook county according to the DNR, but nobody seems to mind....."

I think I've read they (walleye) were introduced in a large portion of the cook county lakes in which they presently appear but that there are some lakes more on the western reaches of the county that have natural walleye...i may be wrong though."

According to the local DNR station chief here in Grand Marais, there were no native walleyes in any inland lakes in Cook county until they were stocked.

quote PINETREE: "I know the TGO loves smallmouth, we could have a good fish fry, his favorite.

Being sincere, I think they are very sweet tasting,maybe like in the middle of the summer when the water is warm for a extended period of time they may take on a off-taste. Also for the size of a smallmouth compared to other fish you don't get the meat you would off a northern pike or trout. A small trout you actually get a lot off of it for its size.

It is one of my favorite to eat and I try to keep them 16 inches or under."

I would love to see everyone eat about 10,000 of these scaled rodents whenever they came up, to help clean the lakes of this "pollution!"
Now that would be sweet!!!!!!!

correct me if i'm wrong,doesnt smallies season open up the same as walleye-pike-lakers northeast of hwy 53(arrow head/ely area) on the may opener, but closed elsewhere. but its catch and release in the fall statewide. is there a difference if you kill a 4lb female in the spring compared to the fall. granted smallies arent on there beds till early june but believe me they start staging just after ice out, caught many big females on openers, i guess i never understood why one is more important then the other. and when it comes to filleting smallies leave the rib bones in there like nails cut down to the ribs slide your knife back when you pass the rib bones slide the knife all the way through cut to the tail then work around the rib bones, your knife will thank you :) there isnt much meat left once you get pass those cow like ribs. i say yes to run it the same as pike-walleye,sometimes in the BW there the only ones that cooperate for food. release the big ones.

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote PINETREE: "I know the TGO loves smallmouth, we could have a good fish fry, his favorite.

Being sincere, I think they are very sweet tasting,maybe like in the middle of the summer when the water is warm for a extended period of time they may take on a off-taste. Also for the size of a smallmouth compared to other fish you don't get the meat you would off a northern pike or trout. A small trout you actually get a lot off of it for its size.

It is one of my favorite to eat and I try to keep them 16 inches or under."

I would love to see everyone eat about 10,000 of these scaled rodents whenever they came up, to help clean the lakes of this "pollution!"
Now that would be sweet!!!!!!!

"

quit sugar coating it TGO. i just watch this show about a guy that nets pike out of the rivers in alaska and how it as hurt the king salmon population. why anybody would introduce pike to an awesome trout fishery is beyond me. :( if you get rid of the smallies whats gonna happen to the rusty crawfish population ? what a web.

I think its interesting that if you asked some of the absolute best fisherman in the world, Al Lindner, Kevin Van Dam, Roland Martin and many more, all of them would tell you that Smallmouth Bass are their favorite or in their top two fish to go after.

quote Basspro69: "I think its interesting that if you asked some of the absolute best fisherman in the world, Al Lindner, Kevin Van Dam, Roland Martin and many more, all of them would tell you that Smallmouth Bass are their favorite or in their top two fish to go after."

A couple years ago, I fished a stream that emptied into a bay. The walleye stacked up there and I spent the morning trying to find something they wouldn't hit and failed. I'm returning to that spot next June, but I'll only tender one morning to it. The other 13 belong to bass, as it should be.

quote Basspro69: "I think its interesting that if you asked some of the absolute best fisherman in the world, Al Lindner, Kevin Van Dam, Roland Martin and many more, all of them would tell you that Smallmouth Bass are their favorite or in their top two fish to go after."

I would agree with the statement: "they are some of the best KNOWN fishermen in the world!"
But did it ever dawn on you that the reason it's their favorite fish, is because they're really easy to catch?? :)

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote Basspro69: "I think its interesting that if you asked some of the absolute best fisherman in the world, Al Lindner, Kevin Van Dam, Roland Martin and many more, all of them would tell you that Smallmouth Bass are their favorite or in their top two fish to go after."

I would agree with the statement: "they are some of the best KNOWN fishermen in the world!"
But did it ever dawn on you that the reason it's their favorite fish, is because they're really easy to catch?? :)"

For some of us that is good. Fishermen or fisherwomen come in various skill levels and I know where I rate,but that is O'kay.
Now if walleye would hit a top water bait than I would be converted.

Man oh man, PT!!
We gotta get you some serious therapy!!!!! :)

quote PINETREE: "

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote Basspro69: "I think its interesting that if you asked some of the absolute best fisherman in the world, Al Lindner, Kevin Van Dam, Roland Martin and many more, all of them would tell you that Smallmouth Bass are their favorite or in their top two fish to go after."

I would agree with the statement: "they are some of the best KNOWN fishermen in the world!"
But did it ever dawn on you that the reason it's their favorite fish, is because they're really easy to catch?? :)"

For some of us that is good. Fishermen or fisherwomen come in various skill levels and I know where I rate,but that is O'kay.
Now if walleye would hit a top water bait than I would be converted."

Walleyes do hit top waters. I fish F13 Rapalas and every couple days, over the years, something would hit the lure that produced a "chink" sound and make the lure pop up a tad, like bluegills do when they're hitting a lure they can't swallow. Well, I don't fish lakes with bluegills, so I wondered what was hitting my Rapalas until I got a "chink" hit and then the fish hit again and managed to hook itself: a walleye. I'm not saying it's the most productive method to catch walleyes, but you tossed a small enough surface lure, you could catch them: an F13 is a pretty big lure.

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote Basspro69: "I think its interesting that if you asked some of the absolute best fisherman in the world, Al Lindner, Kevin Van Dam, Roland Martin and many more, all of them would tell you that Smallmouth Bass are their favorite or in their top two fish to go after."

I would agree with the statement: "they are some of the best KNOWN fishermen in the world!"
But did it ever dawn on you that the reason it's their favorite fish, is because they're really easy to catch?? :)"

LOL I forgot how complicated it was holding a beer in one hand and watching your bobber go down when your fishing for walleyes, that takes some serious skill :-) p.s. A guy I work with used to fish the P W T for a few years and his favorite fish is Smallies.

Thanks for that update pinetree. I hope the rule changes since I like to trip in September and like to eat rats with scales. Smaller bass are tasty and easy to clean using this Method

quote AndySG: "
Thanks for that update pinetree. I hope the rule changes since I like to trip in September and like to eat rats with scales. Smaller bass are tasty and easy to clean using this Method "

It is a good change if it happens and so few more fish would be harvested it would be insignificant.

You know when you use surface lures for smallmouth bass you jig it a little to the right than to the left,just like Polka dancing TGO.

How about legalizing the use of gill nets for smallmouth bass, with every one that ends up netted being either eaten or thrown in the woods away from campsites? :-)

All other fish would have to be released immediately, and netting could only occur on lakes with no native largemouth populations.

quote PINETREE: "You know when you use surface lures for smallmouth bass you jig it a little to the right than to the left,just like Polka dancing TGO."

Nice try, but I DO NOT KNOW of what you speak!!
Fishing for Bass or dancing a polka are both disgusting activities, unless you have a GOOD EXCUSE for doing either!!
The only GOOD EXCUSE is having a blood alcohol reading of about 9!!
And that's 9%, not .09%!! :)

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote PINETREE: "You know when you use surface lures for smallmouth bass you jig it a little to the right than to the left,just like Polka dancing TGO."

Nice try, but I DO NOT KNOW of what you speak!!
Fishing for Bass or dancing a polka are both disgusting activities, unless you have a GOOD EXCUSE for doing either!!
The only GOOD EXCUSE is having a blood alcohol reading of about 9!!
And that's 9%, not .09%!! :)"

LMAO Jim! When you hate something, you REALLY HATE it! When you go fishing do you take a bucket of sulfuric acid along to dispose of any bass you catch?

quote arctic: "How about legalizing the use of gill nets for smallmouth bass, with every one that ends up netted being either eaten or thrown in the woods away from campsites? :-)

All other fish would have to be released immediately, and netting could only occur on lakes with no native largemouth populations."

I love smallies, but I would be for for the removal of smallmouth in any future lakes where they are not currently found by any means necessary. They are a dominant species and take over ecosystems where they are introduced. For the rest of the lakes I would allow a ten fish limit on smallies 13 inches and under, which would promote a trophy fishery while maintaining other species at the same time.

I love smallies,but do have a big worry about their presents or future presents in trout water of any kind,they don't belong there.

quote PINETREE: "I love smallies,but do have a big worry about their presents or future presents in trout water of any kind,they don't belong there."

For a few summers, I fished two lakes separated by a mini-isthmus a couple feet across and a few inches high. One lake held lake trout. The other had smallmouth. The laker lake was deep. The smallie lake was shallow. Now, there had to be times the two lakes were one and a smallmouth made it to the laker lake and vice versa, but bass and lakers really do prefer different structure.

Yes but for part of the year their range does overlap,and smallmouth love little trout and forage food that trout like.
Different times I have found cisco's or call them tullibee's inside of smallmouth bass stomachs. Also surprisingly while trolling deep I have caught a few smallmouth. What they doing down deep in cold water,I guess that is anybodies guess.

There is Stream trout lakes like Ahsub the DNR abandoned stocking brook trout because of the smallmouth that somehow got into the lake..

quote PINETREE: "Yes but for part of the year their range does overlap,and smallmouth love little trout and forage food that trout like.
Different times I have found cisco's or call them tullibee's inside of smallmouth bass stomachs. Also surprisingly while trolling deep I have caught a few smallmouth. What they doing down deep in cold water,I guess that is anybodies guess.


There is Stream trout lakes like Ahsub the DNR abandoned stocking brook trout because of the smallmouth that somehow got into the lake.. "

I have seen those icky vermin smallies in 55 FOW while scuba diving many years ago, and people fishing trout on Lac La Croix in the winter have caught them in 85 FOW.

quote PINETREE: "Yes but for part of the year their range does overlap,and smallmouth love little trout and forage food that trout like.
Different times I have found cisco's or call them tullibee's inside of smallmouth bass stomachs. Also surprisingly while trolling deep I have caught a few smallmouth. What they doing down deep in cold water,I guess that is anybodies guess.


There is Stream trout lakes like Ahsub the DNR abandoned stocking brook trout because of the smallmouth that somehow got into the lake.. "

Not sure that is a fair comparison. I don't know of any brook trout that grow to 40+ pounds and live at 200+ feet down.

In general with a deep lake, these fish are in different parts of the water table if you will. Yes, they will overlap in early spring and late fall but for the most part the bass are shallow (20 feet and up) and the lakers are deep, 60 feet and below. The lakers are chasing the big cisco and whitefish while smallies small minnows, crayfish and insect hatches.

The same 'overlap' could be said with essentially ANY other two species in the same lake. What about walleye and pike? Guess what. They also eat all of the above. And when the walleye and pike get really big they too will chase the same big baits as the lake trout. Should we ax them too?

The key here is the food supply of the lake, not necessarily the species in it. If the lake is diverse, has good depth and is managed properly all species can live together as they have been for thousands of years.

I had an MNR study here a few years ago (these guys are Canadian fish and wildlife) and they said essentially the same thing as some people had a mis-conception that the bass were taking over some lakes. Not true they said. A healthy lake can support many species.

Again, since nearly all fish eat the same things during the season comparing one to another isn't an indication of one being any better or worse than another.. If you want decimation, go out west and read reviews of pike getting introduced into a salmon fishery. Yikes.

Bottom line. If you want to only catch one kind of fish then stock a lake with just that fish. Once you introduce ANY other fish then there is a natural tendency for both species to compete for the same food supply. Heck, that can also happen with just one species. But as long as the food supply is ample then all can do quite well. It's the food supply that is the key here. Case in point. I have one lake that has thousands of tiny bass (10-13 inches) because of the limited food supply. But get this. That lake also has lake trout and they are thriving (eating some of the smaller bass). So the bass are getting hosed in this situation, go figure!

This site is mighty lucky to have Fisherman Ted. Ted, one day when I'm too old to fish on my own, I'll come stay at your place.

quote missmolly: "This site is mighty lucky to have Fisherman Ted. Ted, one day when I'm too old to fish on my own, I'll come stay at your place."

Too old to fish?

Never!

I agree with you Ted,Stream Trout lakes are different than deeper lake trout lakes,and I think stream trout lakes have a more negative reaction to bass etc.

First the Brook trout-Rainbow trout are stream trout lakes and yes they are shallower.
These lakes that were invaded by smallmouth are lakes in Minnesota that are stocked with these trout species at a fairly small size.Now these stream trout lakes as they call them be it bass,northern pike will cannibalize on the trout that are from 3-8 inches when stocked. The majority of these trout will not survive to cacheable size.
In the BWCA you can add Skull.and Rogers,along with Ahsub and others that are not the quality of stream trout lakes they once were.

In north central Minnesota a stream trout lake by Outing MN. was reclaimed with chemicals a couple of years ago after largemouth bass were introduced by one individual and his actions decimated the trout population.


On lake trout much depends on size of lake etc.. But just look at lakes that have no other predator fish but lake trout,usually they have many more trout present. Also in many lakes lake trout inhabit the same area for at least 9 months for much of the time.
Sure overall the trout will be deeper but lake trout utilize much of the same area for food and smallmouth at times like TGO said smallmouth will go deep searching for food.

Yes studies have shown smallmouth bass-lake trout competition and negative effect from smallmouth,and if I get time I will produce a couple later on today(going out snowshoeing now).
Yes there have been other studies on certain individual lakes findings were inconclusive. Each lake is different.

All said and done I still love smallmouth bass fishing in the BWCA-Quetico but they have spread far enough and in some cases to far.
Yes I hope quality bass fishing remains in many waters.

quote FishermanTed: "

quote missmolly: "This site is mighty lucky to have Fisherman Ted. Ted, one day when I'm too old to fish on my own, I'll come stay at your place."

Too old to fish?


Never!"

Too old to lug my canoe through the woods. Of course, one is never too old to fish. When I'm rickety, I'll stay at one of your lovely cabins and have one of your strong guides take me to the fish!

quote missmolly: "

quote FishermanTed: "

quote missmolly: "This site is mighty lucky to have Fisherman Ted. Ted, one day when I'm too old to fish on my own, I'll come stay at your place."

Too old to fish?



Never!"

Too old to lug my canoe through the woods. Of course, one is never too old to fish. When I'm rickety, I'll stay at one of your lovely cabins and have one of your strong guides take me to the fish!"

Me too, I might have to fish for walleyes though because it only takes one hand to reel them in :-) T G O your thoughts

Ted on the pike(northern pike) hard on trout,I agree 100% I have seen various lakes,be it stream trout in lakes or lake trout effected by them or depleted very much.

quote missmolly: "

quote PINETREE: "

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote Basspro69: "I think its interesting that if you asked some of the absolute best fisherman in the world, Al Lindner, Kevin Van Dam, Roland Martin and many more, all of them would tell you that Smallmouth Bass are their favorite or in their top two fish to go after."

I would agree with the statement: "they are some of the best KNOWN fishermen in the world!"
But did it ever dawn on you that the reason it's their favorite fish, is because they're really easy to catch?? :)"

For some of us that is good. Fishermen or fisherwomen come in various skill levels and I know where I rate,but that is O'kay.
Now if walleye would hit a top water bait than I would be converted."

Walleyes do hit top waters. I fish F13 Rapalas and every couple days, over the years, something would hit the lure that produced a "chink" sound and make the lure pop up a tad, like bluegills do when they're hitting a lure they can't swallow. Well, I don't fish lakes with bluegills, so I wondered what was hitting my Rapalas until I got a "chink" hit and then the fish hit again and managed to hook itself: a walleye. I'm not saying it's the most productive method to catch walleyes, but you tossed a small enough surface lure, you could catch them: an F13 is a pretty big lure."

I catch eyes every now and then on topwater up in Quetico. Either in moving water or at night. Typically on a pop-r. I have also caught saugeyes on pop-rs here in Ohio, but it is rare.

quote Basspro69: "

quote missmolly: "

quote FishermanTed: "

quote missmolly: "This site is mighty lucky to have Fisherman Ted. Ted, one day when I'm too old to fish on my own, I'll come stay at your place."

Too old to fish Never!"

Too old to lug my canoe through the woods. Of course, one is never too old to fish. When I'm rickety, I'll stay at one of your lovely cabins and have one of your strong guides take me to the fish!"

Me too, I might have to fish for walleyes though because it only takes one hand to reel them in :-) T G O your thoughts"

I suppose you can reel walleyes in with one hand if you only catch tiny fish!!
When you acquire the skill to catch the big ones, it takes two hands to bring them in. :)

quote PINETREE: "Yes but for part of the year their range does overlap,and smallmouth love little trout and forage food that trout like.
Different times I have found cisco's or call them tullibee's inside of smallmouth bass stomachs. Also surprisingly while trolling deep I have caught a few smallmouth. What they doing down deep in cold water,I guess that is anybodies guess.


There is Stream trout lakes like Ahsub the DNR abandoned stocking brook trout because of the smallmouth that somehow got into the lake.. "

Pretty much everything loves little trout including large trout. Lake trout are extremely cannibalistic, Which is probably why less than one percent of baby trout survive. Not defending smallmouth necessarily, but they are here to stay for better or for worse.I personally love every species I have encountered in the bwca and Quetico.

quote mgraber: "

quote PINETREE: "Yes but for part of the year their range does overlap,and smallmouth love little trout and forage food that trout like.
Different times I have found cisco's or call them tullibee's inside of smallmouth bass stomachs. Also surprisingly while trolling deep I have caught a few smallmouth. What they doing down deep in cold water,I guess that is anybodies guess.



There is Stream trout lakes like Ahsub the DNR abandoned stocking brook trout because of the smallmouth that somehow got into the lake.. "

Pretty much everything loves little trout including large trout. Lake trout are extremely cannibalistic, Which is probably why less than one percent of baby trout survive. Not defending smallmouth necessarily, but they are here to stay for better or for worse.I personally love every species I have encountered in the bwca and Quetico."

+1 Well said.

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote Basspro69: "

quote missmolly: "

quote FishermanTed: "

quote missmolly: "This site is mighty lucky to have Fisherman Ted. Ted, one day when I'm too old to fish on my own, I'll come stay at your place."

Too old to fish Never!"

Too old to lug my canoe through the woods. Of course, one is never too old to fish. When I'm rickety, I'll stay at one of your lovely cabins and have one of your strong guides take me to the fish!"

Me too, I might have to fish for walleyes though because it only takes one hand to reel them in :-) T G O your thoughts"

I suppose you can reel walleyes in with one hand if you only catch tiny fish!!
When you acquire the skill to catch the big ones, it takes two hands to bring them in. :)"

:-)

It's been said many times as it's a fact: smallies are an invasive species in the bwca and detrimental to native fish. We clearly should be able to wanten waste them all but popular opinion will always over ride common sense.

quote Chilly: "It's been said many times as it's a fact: smallies are an invasive species in the bwca and detrimental to native fish. We clearly should be able to wanten waste them all but popular opinion will always over ride common sense. "

Then I will start chucking those walleyes I catch up on the bank too.

quote siusaluki23: "

quote Chilly: "It's been said many times as it's a fact: smallies are an invasive species in the bwca and detrimental to native fish. We clearly should be able to wanten waste them all but popular opinion will always over ride common sense. "

Then I will start chucking those walleyes I catch up on the bank too."

And the muskies.

quote siusaluki23: "

quote Chilly: "It's been said many times as it's a fact: smallies are an invasive species in the bwca and detrimental to native fish. We clearly should be able to wanten waste them all but popular opinion will always over ride common sense. "

Then I will start chucking those walleyes I catch up on the bank too."

That wouldn't bother me a bit :)

quote siusaluki23: "

quote Chilly: "It's been said many times as it's a fact: smallies are an invasive species in the bwca and detrimental to native fish. We clearly should be able to wanten waste them all but popular opinion will always over ride common sense. "

Then I will start chucking those walleyes I catch up on the bank too."

Then I'm going to stuff a quail inside a duck inside a chicken inside a turkey and toss that up on the bank.

Wait, that didn't make much sense did it?

Never mind.

quote missmolly: "

quote siusaluki23: "

quote Chilly: "It's been said many times as it's a fact: smallies are an invasive species in the bwca and detrimental to native fish. We clearly should be able to wanten waste them all but popular opinion will always over ride common sense. "

Then I will start chucking those walleyes I catch up on the bank too."

Then I'm going to stuff a quail inside a duck inside a chicken inside a turkey and toss that up on the bank.


Wait, that didn't make much sense did it?


Never mind."

Makes perfect sense. Be sure to add a pheasant to the mix and have the whole bunch hit a cow which then kicks a horse with a caucasan rider.

quote georgelesley: "

quote missmolly: "

quote siusaluki23: "

quote Chilly: "It's been said many times as it's a fact: smallies are an invasive species in the bwca and detrimental to native fish. We clearly should be able to wanten waste them all but popular opinion will always over ride common sense. "

Then I will start chucking those walleyes I catch up on the bank too."

Then I'm going to stuff a quail inside a duck inside a chicken inside a turkey and toss that up on the bank.



Wait, that didn't make much sense did it?



Never mind."

Makes perfect sense. Be sure to add a pheasant to the mix and have the whole bunch hit a cow which then kicks a horse with a caucasan rider."

Ah, I see I'm not alone in my madness. Let's bwa-ha-ha together!

quote missmolly: "

quote georgelesley: "

quote missmolly: "

quote siusaluki23: "

quote Chilly: "It's been said many times as it's a fact: smallies are an invasive species in the bwca and detrimental to native fish. We clearly should be able to wanten waste them all but popular opinion will always over ride common sense. "

Then I will start chucking those walleyes I catch up on the bank too."

Then I'm going to stuff a quail inside a duck inside a chicken inside a turkey and toss that up on the bank.



Wait, that didn't make much sense did it?



Never mind."

Makes perfect sense. Be sure to add a pheasant to the mix and have the whole bunch hit a cow which then kicks a horse with a caucasan rider."

Ah, I see I'm not alone in my madness. Let's bwa-ha-ha together!"

+1

I think some you may have latched on to one too many bottle bass.

quote PINETREE: "I think some you may have latched on to one too many bottle bass."

In my case, I'm punch-drunk on words. I wrote three articles today, which has drained my brain and rendered me incapable of lucidity.

Well...it will be impossible to remove the non-native species from the bwca, short of dumping rotenone into every lake river and stream to kill all fish and restocking the natives.


Removing an adult smallie (or walleye, carp, bowfin, gar, drum, etc) just means that several smaller fish will fill the void (and consume more forage than the adult fish removed). Just embrace them, because they are going nowhere. They are great for the economy of northeast MN, haven't caused the lakers to go extinct (much worse problems to worry about on that front) and make a great meal for many paddlers. They are the main reason I make the trek to the BWCA every year.

And I don't understand how someone can hate the smallies but embrace the stream trout lakes. Those little slime rockets can't handle any predation and have to be restocked every few years. Plus the state goes in and kills off native fish to put them in there.

Ok, rant over.

You make some good points, I love Smallies I just dont want them introduced into any more lakes that they arent in right now. I am for increasing the limit on smallies under 14 inches, that would encourage people who are looking for a meal and would also potentially produce a trophy fishery. Until your comment about stream trout lakes you had a perfect post going, then you lost it :-)

quote Basspro69: "You make some good points, I love Smallies I just don't want them introduced into any more lakes that they arent in right now. I am for increasing the limit on smallies under 14 inches, that would encourage people who are looking for a meal and would also potentially produce a trophy fishery. Until your comment about stream trout lakes you had a perfect post going, then you lost it :-)"

I agree. Also stream trout fish in lakes do not have the potential to spread across the entire watershed.
I like smallmouth,but my point was I don't really want to see them potentially displace other game fish. Some lakes they will have a huge effect(much of that is competing for the same forage base),other lakes it will be mininimal and at times filling niches not really filled before.
They have spread far enough already and in many cases it will be 20 years before the jury will be in on what they did or didn't do to the ecosystem. Some lakes you will see lake trout and walleye numbers change due to direct predation by smallmouth or indirect by forage food competition.
Yes I will make a special trip to fish smallies next spring.But I like the other fish also,and some like lake trout lakes are rare outside of the BWCA or Canada.
Like I say often,moderation is good.

Quote siusaluki23 "And I don't understand how someone can hate the smallies but embrace the stream trout lakes. Those little slime rockets can't handle any predation and have to be restocked every few years. Plus the state goes in and kills off native fish to put them in there."

I think this is a good point. Unproductive lakes could just as easily be stocked annually with native Crappies and Pike.

quote Arlo Pankook: "Quote siusaluki23 "And I don't understand how someone can hate the smallies but embrace the stream trout lakes. Those little slime rockets can't handle any predation and have to be restocked every few years. Plus the state goes in and kills off native fish to put them in there."


I think this is a good point. Unproductive lakes could just as easily be stocked annually with native Crappies and Pike.


"

Actually crappies are not native to quite a few of the lakes.
Much of the point is all lakes do not have to be the same,also most stream trout lakes are small,and probably were not that productive before they were stocked with stream trout.
In fact some of them had nothing in them before,but minnows and maybe a green sunfish.

quote PINETREE: "

quote Arlo Pankook: "Quote siusaluki23 "And I don't understand how someone can hate the smallies but embrace the stream trout lakes. Those little slime rockets can't handle any predation and have to be restocked every few years. Plus the state goes in and kills off native fish to put them in there."
I think this is a good point. Unproductive lakes could just as easily be stocked annually with native Crappies and Pike.
"

Actually crappies are not native to quite a few of the lakes.
Much of the point is all lakes do not have to be the same,also most stream trout lakes are small,and probably were not that productive before they were stocked with stream trout.
In fact some of them had nothing in them before,but minnows and maybe a green sunfish."

Yes but Crappies and Pike are native to the region...it would be nearly impossible to say that they never existed naturally in a particular lake in the BWCA right? Brook trout are native to the region but not Rainbows or Browns.

quote Arlo Pankook: "

quote PINETREE: "

quote Arlo Pankook: "Quote siusaluki23 "And I don't understand how someone can hate the smallies but embrace the stream trout lakes. Those little slime rockets can't handle any predation and have to be restocked every few years. Plus the state goes in and kills off native fish to put them in there."
I think this is a good point. Unproductive lakes could just as easily be stocked annually with native Crappies and Pike.
"

Actually crappies are not native to quite a few of the lakes.
Much of the point is all lakes do not have to be the same,also most stream trout lakes are small,and probably were not that productive before they were stocked with stream trout.
In fact some of them had nothing in them before,but minnows and maybe a green sunfish."

Yes but Crappies and Pike are native to the region...it would be nearly impossible to say that they never existed naturally in a particular lake in the BWCA right? Brook trout are native to the region but not Rainbows or Browns."

The only point I was making it is nice to have some variety and your right,and would be a shame if we lost more ground with lake trout and yes also walleye.

Yes just about any species can overwhelm a system. I have seen many lakes where walleye abundance increases via stocking and than natural crappie abundance drops. Same lakes when the walleye populations dip,often crappies will rebound. Also the reverse is true.

Classic example is the over netted and over fished for walleye RED lake in northwestern Minnesota where one of the best walleye lakes. Walleye population collapses and crappie population explodes to world classic crappie fishing.

Just saying sometimes what you wish for will completely change the fish structure.

I will say this I really don't care for the Brown trout in the BWCA and also within the BWCA the Stream trout lakes are mostly all brook trout because of what you said. probably a few rainbow left because they do tolerate a little warmer water and marginal trout lake.

I think they should stock Mille Lacs with Crappies :)

I love crappies..... (I'm having a thought bubble video in my head right now of me yanking slab crappies in my canoe).

quote Arlo Pankook: "I think they should stock Mille Lacs with Crappies :)"

There there and pretty good fishing in the spring in certain bays and harbors.

I am convinced that smallmouth are an invasive species, which is why I'm launching a snakehead stocking program this coming spring throughout the bwca and Quetico. Those snakeheads will eat the smallies and I'll be hailed as a hero.

"Long live, missmolly!" all shall say.

P.S. - I'll also stock Asian carp so the snakeheads will have some company.

quote missmolly: "I am convinced that smallmouth are an invasive species, which is why I'm launching a snakehead stocking program this coming spring throughout the bwca and Quetico. Those snakeheads will eat the smallies and I'll be hailed as a hero.


"Long live, missmolly!" all shall say.


P.S. - I'll also stock Asian carp so the snakeheads will have some company."

Well somebody will try to balance that with walking catfish.

quote PINETREE: "

quote missmolly: "I am convinced that smallmouth are an invasive species, which is why I'm launching a snakehead stocking program this coming spring throughout the bwca and Quetico. Those snakeheads will eat the smallies and I'll be hailed as a hero.



"Long live, missmolly!" all shall say.



P.S. - I'll also stock Asian carp so the snakeheads will have some company."

Well somebody will try to balance that with walking catfish."

Hah-hah-hah!

Bounty on the bass here! I usually play baseball with the lil pricks! Rough fish for sure. Feed da birds ehh!!!

quote Gillnetter: "Bounty on the bass here! I usually play baseball with the lil pricks! Rough fish for sure. Feed da birds ehh!!!"

Moderators, please delete.

quote PINETREE: "

quote Arlo Pankook: "I think they should stock Mille Lacs with Crappies :)"

There there and pretty good fishing in the spring in certain bays and harbors."

You have my undivided attention :-)

We used to get a few slabs in Cove and Wahkon bay but no numbers.

quote missmolly: "

quote Gillnetter: "Bounty on the bass here! I usually play baseball with the lil pricks! Rough fish for sure. Feed da birds ehh!!!"

Moderators, please delete."

We could always do something similar to this in regards to the SMB problem in the BWCA.

barred owls

I have no horse in this race as I don't fish the bwca, but for those of you who loathe bass and love walleyes, the smallmouth's range is quite limited given the total area of the Canadian Shield. Most of the Shield is too cold for bass. Most of the Shield holds walleyes and trout. Look north, walleye and trout lovers. Your Pandora's Box of Bass has already been opened, but countless walleye and trout lakes await you, the majority of which are never fished.

quote missmolly: "I have no horse in this race as I don't fish the bwca, but for those of you who loathe bass and love walleyes, the smallmouth's range is quite limited given the total area of the Canadian Shield. Most of the Shield is too cold for bass. Most of the Shield holds walleyes and trout. Look north, walleye and trout lovers. Your Pandora's Box of Bass has already been opened, but countless walleye and trout lakes await you, the majority of which are never fished."

They once though much of the Canadian shield was too cold for the Smallmouth too get abundant as they have at present.
Much of Minnesota including Mille lacs which as far back as the 1960's had mainly a small population of smallmouth mainly in the southeast corner of the lake. In the late 80's to early 90's it started to get more abundant around the lake. fast forward to around 2003 and the population is very abundant and still increasing.

Yes the Pandora box is open in the BWCA and like many things its out of my control.
Only time knows the destiny of much of the fish makeup in the BWCA in the future.

quote PINETREE: "

quote missmolly: "I have no horse in this race as I don't fish the bwca, but for those of you who loathe bass and love walleyes, the smallmouth's range is quite limited given the total area of the Canadian Shield. Most of the Shield is too cold for bass. Most of the Shield holds walleyes and trout. Look north, walleye and trout lovers. Your Pandora's Box of Bass has already been opened, but countless walleye and trout lakes await you, the majority of which are never fished."

They once though much of the Canadian shield was too cold for the Smallmouth too get abundant as they have at present.
Much of Minnesota including Mille lacs which as far back as the 1960's had mainly a small population of smallmouth mainly in the southeast corner of the lake. In the late 80's to early 90's it started to get more abundant around the lake. fast forward to around 2003 and the population is very abundant and still increasing.


Yes the Pandora box is open in the BWCA and like many things its out of my control.
Only time knows the destiny of much of the fish makeup in the BWCA in the future.


"

Yes, you might be right. However, right now, there are lakes up north that teem with walleye and trout and have no bass. I know this because I fish too damn many of them, catching only walleye and trout and moving on.