Getting mixed reports on what depths the smallies will be after ice out. Any advice on water temp and when I can start topwater fishing for smallmouth? I'll be up the first week of June.

They will be in the shallows. They may of may not be off their beds by this time. You can catch them right from shore in camp most times. Start fishing for them using top water lures at this time. We go every year the first week in June and it’s hard not catching them. Heddon Zara Super Spook, Mepps spinner,Rebel PopR, Heddon Lucky 13 all will catch them.

Savage Voyageur: "They will be in the shallows. They may of may not be off their beds by this time. You can catch them right from shore in camp most times. Start fishing for them using top water lures at this time. We go every year the first week in June and it’s hard not catching them. Heddon Zara Super Spook, Mepps spinner,Rebel PopR, Heddon Lucky 13 all will catch them. "

Generally agree, but with the following from my experience:

1) They may not yet be ON the beds the first week in June. Weather from now to then will tell the story. I've twice been there when they only moved onto beds the last day or two of our trips, as late as June 10. But I agree first week of June is a very good guess.

2) If they aren't yet actually on their beds, "shallows" means more like 5-8 feet, maybe 10, staging just offshore. At times like this a #3 Mepps fishing slowly (4-6 feet deep?) has been deadly for me. And, I think one is more likely to hook up with big females in that scenario. I also have an idea that right after the smaller males move in and are building/defending nests, one might do well with a little deep approach as I've outlined and have a better chance at trophy females. Savage Voyageur, anything in our experience to back this up?

3) Probably depends a little on your lake....smaller and shallower will warm faster, north bay will likely be a little better than south facing? Big deep lakes will lag behind a little.

And if you hit it right and are in a good spawning area of a good smallmouth lake when they have moved in, it will be amazing. Good luck.

I have a handful of smallmouth articles that have been published on smallmouth fishing in the Boundary Waters.

Zulu Magic - fishing soft plastic jerk baits
Bronze Trophy - fishing for top end smallmouth and different phases of the seasons.
Topwater smallmouthing
Tube fishing current for smallmouth

If interested in any of these send me an email and request which ones you want.

Queticomike@yahoo.com

Thanks for the replies, great tips!

I hope the articles helped. If you have any questions just ask. Good luck!

Early June I would be looking for smaller lakes, shallow bays and warmer water to find smb.