Just returned from a smallie trip to Basswood Lake via Prairie Portage last week (Sat-Thurs). Water temps rose from around 50F on Saturday to around 56-58F by Thursday after 4 sunny days in a row. Smallies were slamming tubes and anything that looked like shad off wind-blown points and small bays on either side of the points. No wind = slow fishing. Dropping anchor and a good paddling partner was key to staying on the fish. Fish had not moved up to the banks/bays to make beds yet but imagine that is where they will be very soon if not there already. Most fish were caught in 5-15ft of water, usually starting around noon after the water had warmed up a bit. Caught ~150-200 fish in 4 full days ... 6 that were a solid 20"+ with rest in the 15-19" range. good weather, lots of fish, and NO BUGS made this one of the better trips we've had.