I had a great trip last June where we fished smallmouth who were on the beds in the rocky shallows. This year we're going in a bit later in the month and I'm thinking we might be fishing the post spawn. How do you catch smallies when they're not spawning? My other trips to the BWCA involved spinning gear and deeper water fishing later in the summer so I have no idea what to expect when fly fishing post-spawn bass.

I go in August and September and never have a problem catching them on poppers.

Post spawn smallies can be tricky. Right after the spawn, look for them on drop offs and points adjacent to the spawning flats. They may also be suspended out in the deep stuff. That said, post spawn smallies will smash a topwater in 20 feet of water if they're eating. That can be a big if though. Keep in mind that the entire population doesn't spawn at the same time, and fish may be in different modes in different parts of the lake. Start shallow, then hit the points and dropoffs, then take it out deep probing the entire water column.