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Author	Message Text
Murray	04/27/2011 10:31AM   I am brand new here so my first intent is to say "thanks" for allowing me to be a part of this private group. I have had numerous trips to the Quetico but always have focused on walleyes and trout. Of course bass are present in so many of the lakes and we have caught them but only fished for them specifically a few times. Because one of the guys I have canoed with in the past was a small mouth nut and used a top water "devils horse" exclusively I purchased several of them and use them as well. They're a fun lure but I need to diversify. I will be in some decent small mouth lakes this June and my question is.....Do you target smallies and if so, what is one of your favorite lure(s) for small mouth bass? Do you prefer trolling, casting, jigging? What time of day is best for these fish; dawn, daytime, dusk, evening? Thanks for any replies.
fishguts	04/27/2011 10:50AM   Murray, In early June the smallmouth will be biting all day long. We love to "cast to cover" with a popper. Just a warning you may loose some to maurading Northerns! ;-)Have a ball! ;-) fishguts
ZaraSp00k	05/10/2011 10:29PM   try a Zara Spook! In theory it should be good for smallies, or even np. but it is the only lure in my tackle box that I haven't caught anything except weeds. Hence my name, I paid for the thing and want something out of it. Jointed Rapala works good for me in June, the bigger the better. You can control the depth with speed of retrieve, but have found if they don't hit it almost imediately, may as well reel in fast unless I want a NP.
Miami1	04/27/2011 02:18PM   Fishguts has it correct the small mouths in june will bite all day long, I also like the devils horse, if you want to mix it up maybe try some sinkos or other rubber worms. As stated earlier you can hardly go wrong in June. Take lots of pictures and have a good time. By the way what lakes will you be on? maybe we can be some assistance in locating a good camp site. Anthony
TomT	04/27/2011 05:04PM   A twister tail on a jig head is good also spinners like mepps or the safety pin type spinners with some type of swim tail grub on the hook. I caught my biggest smallies on a rapala fat rap crankbait and another on a 3 inch blue/white floating rapala but added about a 1/2 ounce weight three feet up the line. This got it down on the bottom in 25 feet of water but kept the lure (which floated) from getting hung up. Fished like you would a jig this method is deadly.
PineKnot	04/27/2011 05:09PM   My go to smallmouth lure is a 1/4 oz double willow blade chartreuse spinnerbait with a power grub trailer. I use it in the morning and evening, casting right onto the shoreline and retrieving on the surface or just below the surface. I prefer the 1/4 oz over heavier spinnerbaits as I can retrieve slower while still keeping it on the surface. I prefer spinnerbaits over surface poppers because I can cover a lot more water quickly. Sometimes, after getting a strike or two with the spinnerbait, I'll switch to a skitterpop and cast to the same spot. Both lures can produce surface strikes by trophy smallies that can be heart-stopping.
Murray	04/27/2011 06:27PM   Anthony, Thanks for the information. My daughter and I are getting a tow and then making a loop from Bottle Portage over to Ted - up to William - back through McAree and a tow out. Seven Days with two nights each on William and Ted. I've been on a lot of these lakes before but not Ted, Fishhook, Wickstead, or McAree. My son went with me for years and now my 22 yr. old daughter and I are on our fourth trip together. It's wonderful. Any help is always appreciated.
Miami1	04/27/2011 08:40PM   Unfortunately I have only been in that area once about 20 years ago, dang how the time flies! Been going in from the northern entries for the other 20 trips (Pickerel, french,stanton bay,) or Nym. I am shure others can help you out. most importantly have a good time! Anthony