I was just wondering if anyone has any info out there on the approximate time of the smallmouth spawn around lake one. I know this year should be pushed back a bit due to the large snowmelt, so if anyone wants to render a guess at it, let me know. Thanks

I think the smallies will be spawning from june 9th to june 16th according to my experience. Good luck.

If the smallies are spawing that time of June, will I be getting males or females too?

I'm curious if you think the females will be biting or if they will have gone deeper to relax.

Are smallies hitting top water during that time?

Last year during the last week of June... the larger smallmouth I caught had spawned out... That was toward the end of the week of the 20th. Although, earlier in the week I caught some 15 inchers that were still fat and acting aggressive... even saw some doing their spawning routine... I would imagine that the smallmouth there spawn at different times according to lake depth and water temp. Probably start around the first week in June and ending towards the end of June... The largest one I caught (20 inches), that was spawned out was in a shallower lake in about 8 feet of water around some boulders on a flat, close to the spawning coves... the largest I caught not spawned out (17-18 inches) was near running water in a deeper lake... and the ones on the nest were in the deeper lake. All the nest we saw in the shallow lake were empty! Good Luck and remember to turn the big females loose...
Bruce

She'll be feeding at times and most definitly be defending the nest.

On the top water part of your question... Yes!!! last year during that last week in June, I caught smallmouth on a black Jitterbug... anytime it was cloudy, early in the day, or in the afternoon... as late as 10:30 in the morning and as early as 3:00 in the afternoon... throw that thing across a hump, ledge, or reef... and hang on... Most were 13 - 15 inchers but, what fun when they hit it!!!!! Taking some of those Hocus Locus up this year... ought to be a blast!!!
Bruce

It's funny when asking questions or talking about the spawn. I have heard everything from the end of May to the end of June. I'm sure it will happen somewhere in between. I just want to find my 20+ inch girl and I only catch and release smallies (muskies too).

As for different times on different water, I'm sure that is correct. I have been river fishing for Bass in Illinois, one river which is shallower has the bass really moving. They are even hitting buzz baits on the surface already.

The other river I fish has very little action, maybe a fish a trip if I am lucky. I don't like fishing with minnows much, I like more artificial lures.

I hope I catch it (no pun intended) just right when I am fishing in the BWCAW the week following June 12th.

Thanks for the info.

I'm going into lake one next friday (may 21), so according to this advice, it will be pre-spawn time for bass. Any thoughts on what sort of approach I should have on catching some nice bronzebacks?
will jigging plastics at 10 ft. be the way to go? Minnows? Leeches?

Willy

I was just wondering if anyone has any reports on recent smallmouth fishing. I am heading to triangle, one, two, etc. next week and would appreciate any new info that anyone has. Much appreciated...

-Chris