My Top Ten Smallmouth Bass Fisheries: Part 2

By Andrew Ragas

My compiled list of top ten smallmouth bass trips and destinations has a few things in common, which are personally important to me: The abilities to produce sustainable boatloads of trophy fish; Public access without heavy angling pressure; Minimal travel time and the fewest expenses so that it’s easier on the pocketbook; and record fish size potential. Because I haven’t been everywhere nor seen everything yet, I have divided my selections between places I have fished, and places I must fish soon. Along with fishery information and some photos to back it up, I also include some informational websites and guide listings for each location, so you have no excuse not to start planning.

In part 1 of this 2 part story, I began writing about my top ten smallmouth bass fisheries. Due to the amount of content, I ran out of space to include the remainder of my story. Continuing on with my two part series, I present to you the second and final chapter highlighting big bass and bucket lists.

Part II – The Bucket List

Places I haven’t yet fished, but will sometime soon.

5 – Menominee River, Wisconsin

Erik Lennartz with his largest ever river smallmouth bass; a 6 pounder caught from the Menominee River in October 2012.

This Wisconsin/Michigan boundary river is a favorite of many bass anglers as it contains nearly 100 miles of prime smallmouth fishing and wilderness aesthetics.

Formed by the confluence of the Brule and Michigamme Rivers near Florence, WI, the Menominee flows about 120 miles from the swamps and forests of Northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the waters of Green Bay. More than 100 tributaries enter the Menominee River, and numerous campgrounds and boat access points cater to serious smallmouth bass anglers.

Once serving as a highway for timber transport, the Menominee is no stranger to smallmouth bass anglers. Anglers rely heavily on lures that mimic crayfish due to a rusty crayfish infestation that has done nothing but benefit the fish populations.

It’s hard to imagine that a 2009 DNR survey produced an astounding 16 inch average size length fish on the Menominee River. Furthermore, it’s astonishing I have never taken the 90 mile trip down Highway 70 East to fish this river. Having acquired a new flat bottom river boat, the Menominee River has now become a priority to explore and a must-fish place for me in 2013. Mike Mladenik Guide Service – http://www.mikemladenik.com

4 – Chequamegon Bay, Wisconsin

Picturesque cliffs and rock walls surround some of the nearby Apostle Islands, where submerged rock reefs rise from the cold depths of Lake Superior. With so much rock to choose from, the smallmouth bass of Chequamegon Bay actually prefer the warmer underwater sand dunes and downed wood of the eastern shore instead.

Chequamegon Bay is a popular fishing destination, though nowhere close to being as popular as some of the more famous areas Wisconsin has to offer. Other than its distant location, I can’t understand why. But because it’s a quick 90 minute Northwest drive from my grounds of the Northwoods, I’d be foolish to never fish here. After visiting the city of Ashland for the first time in August 2012, I promised that I will fish here on a weekly basis as soon as I buy myself a bigger, more seaworthy boat. That day will come soon.

About a decade ago, trophy regulations (22 inch minimum) were instituted on the bay which revitalized native populations, and grew it into a trophy fishery. Five pound fish are a regular occurrence thanks to successful management. Fish average a solid 3 pounds most days, and chances for one over 8 pounds might be as good as anywhere in the country. Ashland Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce – http://www.visitashland.com Chris Beeksma Guide Service – http://www.getbitguideservice.com

3 – Lake Erie, Ohio – west and east basins

I’ve fished in Ohio but only for walleye and steelhead. Why I’ve failed to try smallmouths is a head scratcher.

It’s large, dangerous, and intimidating to the novice Great Lakes angler. However, it is the smallest, shallowest, and most fertile of all the Great Lakes, and contains the biggest and best smallmouth bass populations of them all. To have a chance at winning a tournament on Erie, the winning bag must come close to 50lbs.

While big smallmouths can be found throughout Lake Erie including the deeper Eastern basin, its Western Basin around Port Clinton, Sandusky, and the Bass Islands is one that has the more famous reputation. Each spring, smallmouth bass are caught in numbers on offshore rock piles and humps while the water is still unbelievably cold. Drop-shotting soft plastic gobies, hair jigs and blade baits are the three primary lures. The weather gets brutal, the fish can be tough to locate because they like to travel and roam, but catching them can be easy once they’re located.

When the bite’s on, anglers can boat over 100 fish per day, and odds are growing that one of those fish will top 7 pounds. Fish over 9 pounds have been taken on Erie, most notably by Randy VanDam, and most recently an 8.91 pounder caught in November 2012 by Drew Solinski. Experts believe that world-record-class fish will happen soon. Braun’s Outdoors – http://www.braunsoutdoors.com Erie Outfitters – http://www.erieoutfitters.com Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce – http://www.portclintonchamber.com

2 – Rainy Lake, Northwest Ontario

If solitude and scenic beauty are your two main qualifications for a smallmouth paradise, then nothing can match the Rainy Lake area of Northwest Ontario. I thought I saw Canada’s epicenter of wilderness smallmouth bass with nearby Lake of the Woods, but Rainy Lake contains more and bigger fish thanks to the surrounding Voyageurs National Park.

Rainy Lake draws fewer people than Lake of the Woods, which is a benefit, and according to most offers better smallmouth fishing overall. Rainy absorbs the angling pressure and continues to produce excellent catches of big smallmouth bass year after year thanks to excellent shallow spawning habitat and recruitment.

With a prominent fishery highlighted and showcased by the famous annual Fort Frances Ontario Bass Championship, Rainy Lake is surrounded by wilderness and the sight of other fishermen is rare. Next time on my Lake of the Woods trip, I’m making a quick detour to fish Rainy for a few days.

Fort Frances Bass Championship – http://canadianbass.com

1 – Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Tournament anglers pose with a hefty sack of smallmouth bass. During the SBOBT event, daily sacks can sometimes push close to 30 pounds!

Few waters have the classic look of Sturgeon Bay for smallmouth bass. Shallow, rocky substrate dominates points, humps, and shorelines around the Door County Peninsula and its many islands. With hundreds of shoreline miles of smallmouth habitat to choose from around Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, solitude and trophy fish are hardly surprising. You might be surprised by the average size of bass as they run around 4 pounds.

Sturgeon Bay has become one of the finest smallmouth bass destinations on earth, and has been highlighted in recent years by the outrageous winning sacks during the annual Sturgeon Bay Open Bass Tournament held every third weekend of May. The 2012 event netted 61lbs. for the winning team of Chris and Cory Johnston. I’ve never fished the event nor fished the bay, but I design and maintain the event’s website. So, clearly I should know what goes on out there…. and should definitely fish it soon.

Prime fishing takes place throughout May and lasts through June. Shallow fishing runs hot early, and then fish move out deeper in summer. Dragging tubes and jigging with plastics reaps big rewards year round.

Located north of Green Bay, Wisconsin, off the tip of Door County, Sturgeon Bay smallmouths generally spawn in June, and anytime before, during, and after would be a great time to visit. Sturgeon Bay Open Bass Tournament – http://sbobt.org Bret Alexander – http://www.alexandersportfishing.com Dale Strochein – http://wackywalleye.com/

Honorable Mention, non-specific order

• Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario

Quetico is the poster child for wilderness smallmouth fishing. Special catch and release regulations along with a ban on outboards makes this a special place for smallmouth bass that have seldom seen a lure. Quetico Park – http://www.queticopark.com

Lake St. Clair, Michigan/Ontario

Surrounded by Detroit on one side and Windsor on the other, this 275,000 acre lake has fish along its entire shoreline. Kevin VanDam calls it “The best smallmouth lake in the world. When bass are spawning and I can spot them in the 3- to 5-foot depths and select for larger fish, it’s possible to catch 100 four-pounders in a day.” …… What more needs to be said? Great Lakes Bass Fishing – http://www.greatlakesbassfishing.com

• St. Croix River, Minnesota/Wisconsin

This incredibly scenic, rugged river in northwest Wisconsin is one of the first that comes to mind when you think of river smallies, especially when coupled with running a float trip. Someday I will make a run towards the opposite end of Wisconsin to fish this river that receives very little pressure. St. Croix River Fishing – http://www.stcroixriverfishing.com

• Lake Ontario / Thousand Islands, New York

The Thousand Islands are a group of over 1,700 islands that straddle the United States and Canada border in the St. Lawrence River. All it takes is watching an entire episode of Mark Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show to get you interested in fishing here. 1,000 Islands – http://www.visit1000islands.com/visitorinfo

• Mille Lacs, Minnesota

Minnesota’s second largest lake covers 132,000 surface acres and is comprised of an underfished, little known trophy smallmouth bass population. The lake’s maximum depth is 40 feet and is easily fishable for smallmouth experts and first timers alike. Mille Lacs – http://millelacs.com

• Lake Champlain, New York

According to online acquaintance and renown finesse fishing expert, Rich Zaleski, Smallmouth fishing on Champlain is excellent and unexploited. It’s quite possibly the best combination smallmouth and largemouth lake in the country. Located along the border of Vermont and New York, Lake Champlain contains the best smallmouth fishery of the Northeast, as well as a legendary unconfirmed sea serpent named “Champ”. Rich Zaleski’s Bass Blog – http://www.richz.com/fishing/blog

Down South – Lake Kentucky, Pickwick, Wheeler, Guntersville, Dale Hollow

These waters are year round fisheries that peak during the end of winter through spring. I think these would serve well as a future spring break getaway. If I was back in school, this entire watershed would be my next trip. However, it contains almost too much water for such little time. Miles of shoreline along with home of the world record 11.5 pound smallmouth bass (Dale Hollow) are enough to convince me. Steve Hacker Guide – http://www.smallmouth.com Jim Duckworth Guide – http://www.fishingtennessee.com Cory Allen – Stone’s Throw Adventures – http://www.stonesthrowadventures.com

I can obviously still write about more, but I think I’ve covered enough destinations and future trips to keep myself and everyone else occupied for the next several years to come. It’s no surprise to me that smallmouth fisheries throughout North America have and are experiencing a Bronze Age renaissance.

That was my top ten. What’s yours?