The first year our group headed up to bwca we went to basswood and did very well on catching big smallmouth. The past couple years(on different and smaller lakes) we have been catching bass nonstop but nothing over 18 to 19'' and while we are having fun we would like to target big ones only. Any one have suggestions on what lakes or areas to fish other than basswood? We are not opposed to going to basswood again but we all like to see new areas every year.

thanks in advance,

chris

Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!

Bigger fish require different tactics.

I think basswood has many opportunities for BIG FISH. I don't know when you are tripping, but you have a better chance of bigger fish in early spring and late fall.

Summer offers great opportunities for big bass, but they are mostly deep. On occasion, you will fish them in the shallows, but for the most part, once they finish their business in the spring, they move rather quickly to more protected areas off deep points, and reefs.

In the spring, we target the areas LEADING to the spawning areas. These are the leadin type areas...points, ledges, and reefs leading to areas that will provide the best spawning areas. These targeted fish are generally prespawn and will be feeding up to develop eggs. If you miss the prespawn and spawn, these fish will be in the same area for a few weeks. During that time they are recovering from the rigors of spawning, and are usually aggressively feeding.

In the fall, I try to find areas where fish coming from summer areas can find and aggressively feed. Reefs and Points close to shallow feeding areas, are GREAT. Timing and weather make a big difference.

I've not been there "late" enough and will be adding trips in the future in Late September and early October.

Hope this helps.

Later,

Geo

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!

"

Nice Fish.......

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!


"

Whadda fish!

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!


"

Nice fish Neil.

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!


"

+1

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!


"

Thats what I am talking about! We caught several that size in basswood and I am hoping to repeat that just on another lake.

quote GeoFisher: "Bigger fish require different tactics.

I think basswood has many opportunities for BIG FISH. I don't know when you are tripping, but you have a better chance of bigger fish in early spring and late fall.

Summer offers great opportunities for big bass, but they are mostly deep. On occasion, you will fish them in the shallows, but for the most part, once they finish their business in the spring, they move rather quickly to more protected areas off deep points, and reefs.

In the spring, we target the areas LEADING to the spawning areas. These are the leadin type areas...points, ledges, and reefs leading to areas that will provide the best spawning areas. These targeted fish are generally prespawn and will be feeding up to develop eggs. If you miss the prespawn and spawn, these fish will be in the same area for a few weeks. During that time they are recovering from the rigors of spawning, and are usually aggressively feeding.

In the fall, I try to find areas where fish coming from summer areas can find and aggressively feed. Reefs and Points close to shallow feeding areas, are GREAT. Timing and weather make a big difference.

I've not been there "late" enough and will be adding trips in the future in Late September and early October.

Hope this helps.

Later,


Geo


"

We have similiar tactics i see! We slayed them this year on pietro (september 7-14) and most of the larger fish were putting on the winter feed bag and sitting in about 6-10 fow. We had several 60 plus fish days just nothing over 19inches. We did however get into some really nice pike on turtle. Several in high 30's landed and a couple in the fourtys (guesstimate) were brought to shore but not landed. haha

quote shock: "

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!



"

+1 "

Whew, dude! Beauts!!!

quote lbt5000: " The first year our group headed up to bwca we went to basswood and did very well on catching big smallmouth. The past couple years we have been catching bass nonstop but nothing over 18 to 19'' and while we are having fun we would like to target big ones only. Any one have suggestions on where to fish other than basswood? We are not opposed to going to basswood again but we all like to see new areas every year.


thanks in advance,

chris"

You have the right lake you just need to adjust when you go. Late may early june, and October are when the hogs play.

General rule of thumb is the more time spent on the water, the better the odds of catching a trophy smallie. Also, the biggest trophy smallies are generally in larger lakes (like Basswood). But this doesn't mean small lakes don't hold trophy smallies. Over the years, I've caught many of my trophies in smaller lakes that do not see as many paddlers. I've also found more trophy smallies in Quetico than in the BWCA.

The only problem is the Q lakes are harder to get to, and many are starting to get fished out....:-)

quote Basspro69: "

quote lbt5000: " The first year our group headed up to bwca we went to basswood and did very well on catching big smallmouth. The past couple years we have been catching bass nonstop but nothing over 18 to 19'' and while we are having fun we would like to target big ones only. Any one have suggestions on where to fish other than basswood? We are not opposed to going to basswood again but we all like to see new areas every year.



thanks in advance,


chris"

You have the right lake you just need to adjust when you go. Late may early june, and October are when the hogs play. "

I should clarify some. The first year we went to basswood the first week of june and did very well with the big fish and knew we were fishing the spawn. The past two years have been on different lakes and have caught incredible numbers but no true monsters.

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!


"

Nice smallie

Yep, there are no big bass in Basswood, better look elsewhere :-)

This is coming from a non smallmouth guy FWIW, but on average I catch several 19-21 inch smallies fishing for walleyes. The consistent thing I notice is all of them have been relatively deep compared to where you would normally catch/fish smallies.

The only time that did not apply is fishing rapids in early spring in Quetico, the big ones stack up in that warmer water but are very spooky--get too close and they are gone---longer casts into likley spots produce well.

I can catch 50 smallies in a relatively short amount of time fishing topwaters or shallow most of the year but they rarely are bigger than 16 inches.

T

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!


"

THAT'S a BIG bass!

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!


"

It really is.

quote Arlo Pankook: "

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!



"

It really is."

Look at the tail on his forearm. It's a beast.

Question: Where to find the bigger smallmouth?

Answer: On the end of Quetico Mike's line.

quote missmolly: "Question: Where to find the bigger smallmouth?


Answer: On the end of Quetico Mike's line."

+1

Go deep. Lot's of bass around the shoreline's, but 9/10 of smallies I've caught over 20" have come suspended from middle of the lake humps & points chasing schools of midlake baitfish.

Having a sonar helps a ton, but crisscrossing a new lake with a deep diver will get you in the ball park. It takes a bit of work, and it's more like fishing for salmon & trout in the Great Lakes than what most trippers would think of as "bass fishing", but the season up here doesn't open until July, so if you want MULES you have to fish open water.

Oh and BTW, deep water smallies aren't shy about coming shallow to hit a bait, it may feel weird fishing a topwater in the middle of the lake in 20-30fow, but those suckers get some acceleration going by the time they hit the surface. Some incredible strikes while everyone else is fishing along the shore.

Okay. How do you delete one of your own posts in here? Doh!

Terry

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!


"

I don't know whether to say "sheesh!" or "uffda!"

My trouble with finding big bass is my love of catcthing lots of bass. At one high quantity lake I fish, the bass average 16.5 inches, so they're not small and they're super-duper abundant. A hundred fish per person per day is the standard. However, I rarely catch 20-inch plus fish and I'm slowly understanding (Yep, I'm slow to understand.) that I don't fish deep enough. That said, I don't know that I'm willing to fish deep enough because I like catching lots of fish.

quote missmolly: "My trouble with finding big bass is my love of catcthing lots of bass. At one high quantity lake I fish, the bass average 16.5 inches, so they're not small and they're super-duper abundant. A hundred fish per person per day is the standard. However, I rarely catch 20-inch plus fish and I'm slowly understanding (Yep, I'm slow to understand.) that I don't fish deep enough. That said, I don't know that I'm willing to fish deep enough because I like catching lots of fish."

Without knowing much about this lake, it could easily be over crowded.

I have a ton of lakes that I fish where numbers is not a problem but size is. If you have a few hundred acre lake that is no problem to catch 100-200 a day, maybe that lake needs some thinning.

Obviously there are a crap ton of other details that go into that determination, but I have a LOT of my lakes that I fish locally and up there that are harvest exclusive lakes...........meaning anything legal gets the knife.

Later,

Geo

I'd check Chequamegon Bay...

But I'll agree that the best option is to fish deep and fish for something else...

My biggest Smallmouth was on Chequamegon Bay caught while Sturgeon fishing... (my other biggest ones were all fishing for pike, musky or brown trout)

quote GeoFisher: "

quote missmolly: "My trouble with finding big bass is my love of catcthing lots of bass. At one high quantity lake I fish, the bass average 16.5 inches, so they're not small and they're super-duper abundant. A hundred fish per person per day is the standard. However, I rarely catch 20-inch plus fish and I'm slowly understanding (Yep, I'm slow to understand.) that I don't fish deep enough. That said, I don't know that I'm willing to fish deep enough because I like catching lots of fish."

Without knowing much about this lake, it could easily be over crowded.

I have a ton of lakes that I fish where numbers is not a problem but size is. If you have a few hundred acre lake that is no problem to catch 100-200 a day, maybe that lake needs some thinning.

Obviously there are a crap ton of other details that go into that determination, but I have a LOT of my lakes that I fish locally and up there that are harvest exclusive lakes...........meaning anything legal gets the knife.

Later,


Geo"

I don't think it's overcrowded. A 16.5 inch bass isn't a stunted runt. As a kid, I fished farm ponds teeming with runts. It's just not a trophy lake. It does produce 19 inchers and the very rare 20-inch fish and likely, there are big ol' gals out deep.

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!


"

Very nice fish! Knife....+2 :)

quote MagicStik: "

quote neilrmal: "Knife Lake and South Arm have always treated me well!



"

Very nice fish! Knife....+2 :)



"

Belly on that bass!

quote missmolly: "My trouble with finding big bass is my love of catcthing lots of bass. At one high quantity lake I fish, the bass average 16.5 inches, so they're not small and they're super-duper abundant. A hundred fish per person per day is the standard. However, I rarely catch 20-inch plus fish and I'm slowly understanding (Yep, I'm slow to understand.) that I don't fish deep enough. That said, I don't know that I'm willing to fish deep enough because I like catching lots of fish."

You need to fish Mille lacs then, you can catch numerous bass with many over 20 inches. I have never caught a smallie under 16 inches on this lake.

Good call on Mille Lacs BassPro. Some true "football" fish in that lake....big belly fish! 4.9lb and 5.0lb SM.....and they get much bigger than these two fish.

quote MagicStik: "Good call on Mille Lacs BassPro. Some true "football" fish in that lake....big belly fish! 4.9lb and 5.0lb SM.....and they get much bigger than these two fish.








"

That one on the right could block for Adrian!

quote MagicStik: "Good call on Mille Lacs BassPro. Some true "football" fish in that lake....big belly fish! 4.9lb and 5.0lb SM.....and they get much bigger than these two fish.








"

Nice fish Majic, I love Mille lacs Smallies they all look like overstuffed footballs.

Those are huge Magic!

Not in the same league as the fish above but here is what you missed yesterday...that and shoveling snow out of the boat.



Think she was enjoying the shiner run?

Nice! Get it on a crank or shiner? Next year target the smallies up there too? ;)

Magic

Trolling DTD's upstream.

My wife and I got into a slew of piggy smallies on Ensign a few years back also. I had replicas made of two of her fish. Unfortunately we haven't been able to replicate the bite we had. By far the best smallie bite I have ever seen.

Magic

quote Arlo Pankook: "
Those are huge Magic!


Not in the same league as the fish above but here is what you missed yesterday...that and shoveling snow out of the boat.





Think she was enjoying the shiner run?"

Whoa! And wow!

quote missmolly: "

quote Arlo Pankook: "
Those are huge Magic!



Not in the same league as the fish above but here is what you missed yesterday...that and shoveling snow out of the boat.







Think she was enjoying the shiner run?"

Whoa! And wow! "

+1

posted this one before courtesy of the tennessee DNR 27"

I like fishing for Lake trout and big pike but the biggest Smallie I ever saw I caught in the far north end of McIntyre Lake. Only bass I caught there too.. go figure.

12 in black plastic worm Carolina style bumping on the bottom slowly in 10-15 ft of water. Live shiners of course are the best.

quote shock: "posted this one before courtesy of the tennessee DNR 27" "

Haaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwgggggggggggg :-)

quote shock: "posted this one before courtesy of the tennessee DNR 27" "

Tennessee.......is this from my favorite lake, Dale Hollow??

THAT is a serious fish........SERIOUS.

Later,

Geo

quote GeoFisher: "

quote shock: "posted this one before courtesy of the tennessee DNR 27" "

Tennessee.......is this from my favorite lake, Dale Hollow??

THAT is a serious fish........SERIOUS.

Later,

Geo"

Wow - some awesome fish pics here!! A buddy of mine lives about an hour from Dale Hollow, might be time for a visit....

quote shock: "posted this one before courtesy of the tennessee DNR 27" "

I've shared before that I SUCK at extrapolating fish size from a photo where the fish is extended. If you're holding a 27 inch bass, why would you want to make it seem bigger anyway? It's already Godzilla. So, in this photo, I have a hard time of seeing its true size.

a winter type dnr jacket with her left elbow tucked in just above her hip i dont think she's exploiting anything.

you need to know how to catch them, where to catch them, and how to land them, safely.
they are where all the smaller bass are, you just need to be lucky to grab hold of a big one!
i know big bass lake in quetico, but it will cost you!
we caught and released 5 lb smallies on an afternoon, but i believe weather played a part in that.
you know when you have hit it.

quote 45Auto: "12 in black plastic worm Carolina style bumping on the bottom slowly in 10-15 ft of water. Live shiners of course are the best."

carolina rig in the BW better bring a few of them

charlie brewer head with 4 inch power worm, deadly!

quote bwcasolo: "charlie brewer head with 4 inch power worm, deadly!"

My Number 1 lure for Smallies.

quote missmolly: "

quote shock: "posted this one before courtesy of the tennessee DNR 27" "

I've shared before that I SUCK at extrapolating fish size from a photo where the fish is extended. If you're holding a 27 inch bass, why would you want to make it seem bigger anyway? It's already Godzilla. So, in this photo, I have a hard time of seeing its true size."

Shes not holding it out, look at her right shoulder, shes just holding it up a little so you can get the entire fish in the photo. Even if that fish was behind her you can tell its a beast. Something else id like to mention is that fish would look a lot smaller with me holding it because Im twice her size.

It's a beast. Even with fat gloves on she could fit her fist in it's mouth.

Two years ago we got into a smallie bite, caught quite a few 4lb plus, will get some pictures when I get time. This year we hit them pretty hard on Peitro as well. Both times trips were 2nd week of October.

quote Basspro69: "

quote bwcasolo: "charlie brewer head with 4 inch power worm, deadly!"

My Number 1 lure for Smallies."

By far my favorite bait for Smallies also. Last year they preferred motor oil chartreuse over black . River fish it's camo.

quote Basspro69: "

quote missmolly: "

quote shock: "posted this one before courtesy of the tennessee DNR 27" "

I've shared before that I SUCK at extrapolating fish size from a photo where the fish is extended. If you're holding a 27 inch bass, why would you want to make it seem bigger anyway? It's already Godzilla. So, in this photo, I have a hard time of seeing its true size."

Shes not holding it out, look at her right shoulder, shes just holding it up a little so you can get the entire fish in the photo. Even if that fish was behind her you can tell its a beast. Something else id like to mention is that fish would look a lot smaller with me holding it because Im twice her size. "

Brad, you're so nice to folks that I hate to disagree with you, but she's extended her arms. The average American woman is 5' 4". Let's assume she's average. Now, the smallmouth goes above her eyes down to her thighs, which makes it half as long as she is high, making it a 32-inch+ smallmouth. However, I admitted that it's my failing when it comes to inferring fish length when arms are extended. However, it's harder for anyone to descry size without a standard of comparison. An insect, viewed up close, can look huge until one sees it's beside a marble that towers over it. Anyway, when it comes to spatial extrapolations, I suck.

quote Basspro69: "

quote bwcasolo: "charlie brewer head with 4 inch power worm, deadly!"

My Number 1 lure for Smallies."

BP-solo what size weight do you generally use ? 1/4 oz ?

I am interested also. BP....maybe start up a new post with detailed info, pics, and a how to video??? :)

Magic

Basswood, Crooked, Lac La Croix, Iron, first week of June.

granite river

quote shock: "

quote Basspro69: "

quote bwcasolo: "charlie brewer head with 4 inch power worm, deadly!"

My Number 1 lure for Smallies."

BP-solo what size weight do you generally use ? 1/4 oz ?"

1/4 ounce most of the time unless theres heavy current, or im fishing it deep. The slower fall is the key I believe.

quote missmolly: "

quote Basspro69: "

quote missmolly: "

quote shock: "posted this one before courtesy of the tennessee DNR 27" "

I've shared before that I SUCK at extrapolating fish size from a photo where the fish is extended. If you're holding a 27 inch bass, why would you want to make it seem bigger anyway? It's already Godzilla. So, in this photo, I have a hard time of seeing its true size."

Shes not holding it out, look at her right shoulder, shes just holding it up a little so you can get the entire fish in the photo. Even if that fish was behind her you can tell its a beast. Something else id like to mention is that fish would look a lot smaller with me holding it because Im twice her size. "

Brad, you're so nice to folks that I hate to disagree with you, but she's extended her arms. The average American woman is 5' 4". Let's assume she's average. Now, the smallmouth goes above her eyes down to her thighs, which makes it half as long as she is high, making it a 32-inch+ smallmouth. However, I admitted that it's my failing when it comes to inferring fish length when arms are extended. However, it's harder for anyone to descry size without a standard of comparison. An insect, viewed up close, can look huge until one sees it's beside a marble that towers over it. Anyway, when it comes to spatial extrapolations, I suck."

The one thing we can agree on with that fish is that it is Huge :-)

quote Basspro69: "

quote missmolly: "

quote Basspro69: "

quote missmolly: "

quote shock: "posted this one before courtesy of the tennessee DNR 27" "

I've shared before that I SUCK at extrapolating fish size from a photo where the fish is extended. If you're holding a 27 inch bass, why would you want to make it seem bigger anyway? It's already Godzilla. So, in this photo, I have a hard time of seeing its true size."

Shes not holding it out, look at her right shoulder, shes just holding it up a little so you can get the entire fish in the photo. Even if that fish was behind her you can tell its a beast. Something else id like to mention is that fish would look a lot smaller with me holding it because Im twice her size. "

Brad, you're so nice to folks that I hate to disagree with you, but she's extended her arms. The average American woman is 5' 4". Let's assume she's average. Now, the smallmouth goes above her eyes down to her thighs, which makes it half as long as she is high, making it a 32-inch+ smallmouth. However, I admitted that it's my failing when it comes to inferring fish length when arms are extended. However, it's harder for anyone to descry size without a standard of comparison. An insect, viewed up close, can look huge until one sees it's beside a marble that towers over it. Anyway, when it comes to spatial extrapolations, I suck."

The one thing we can agree on with that fish is that it is Huge :-)"

And how, cyberpal!

Edit....Sorry, took that link down, could be offensive to some.
If you really want, search youtube for "northern Wisconsin walleyes, Hitler".

quote MagicStik: "I am interested also. BP....maybe start up a new post with detailed info, pics, and a how to video??? :)


Magic"

When I get a chance I will post pictures, just fish it like you would a plastic craw, hop hop swim hop. If the fish are really active you can just swim it and it gets attacked :-)