Northwoods Bass 2021 Fishing Itinerary

June month is booked during November and December of the prior year. Contact to get on this year’s wait list. All dates fill completely by April.

July 

Summer fishing patterns are in play. The 4th of July Holiday week delivers the most boat and vehicle traffic too. Heat waves come too, which shuts down the fishing, driving most species deep where they will be un-catchable and non-survivable. With heat and high fishing pressure & boating traffic, I only fish in July before or after the holiday. I will also stay away from popular lakes with heavy recreational (non fishing) boat traffic. My July trips ONLY take place during the third and fourth weeks of the month. This time of season early mornings, evenings/nights, and traveling to lakes off the beaten path are prioritized.

• Night fishing smallmouth
• AM and late PM topwater smallmouth
• Power cranking smallmouth
• Swimbait and suspended open water smallmouth
• Cisco lakes
• Mayfly hatch smallmouth
• Surface frog and slop fishing largemouth
• Crayfish patterns and the molt
• Ned rigs
• Drop shots
• Onboard and offshore

July trip dates get filled most from April through early June. Some leftover dates can remain by July 1st.

August 

The same fishing patterns and strategies from end of July carry-over into August. The fishing improves drastically at the onset of summer peak, as trophy hunting patterns become more predictable. Much of the fishing we do is out in deeper depths; for smallmouth onboard and offshore, and mid-depth and deep structure. I prioritize targeting the deep and cooler-water cisco based fisheries, and lakes with high crayfish populations.

Largemouth fishing peaks on the year too, with us frequently fishing algae-bloomed and eutrophic lakes, targeting offshore locations and 10-15ft grass and weedlines. Depending on water temps and weather, some shallow water opportunity is available early and late in the day.

In August, we prefer targeting trophy largemouth and trophy smallmouth.

• Night fishing smallmouth
• AM and late PM topwater smallmouth
• Power cranking smallmouth
• Swimbait and suspended open water smallmouth
• Surface frog and slop fishing largemouth
• Bluegill pattern largemouth
• Crayfish patterns and the molt
• Ned rigs
• Drop shots
• Onboard and offshore

My limited availability August trip dates tend to fill up by late June.

September

This is the big transition month when all fishing, strategies, location, and lake selection is based on weather and the timing of turnover. Some years we are still fishing shallow water and pounding the flats, while other years we’re already fishing around wintering areas. Following young of the year perch schools throughout the lake often pays off for catching big smallmouth. Paddletails, swimbaits, football jigs, and crankbaits are some of our preferred methods.

September trips begin starting September 15th. It is in-demand by my most serious anglers and die-hards.

September is my favorite month of fishing, and for smallmouth we prioritize trophy hunting and full day trips only. 

• Swimbait and suspended open water smallmouth
• River and flowage smallmouth
• Midday and afternoon fishing times prioritized
• Shallow flats swimbaits and lipless cranking smallmouth
• Offshore and deep grass largemouth
• Vertical jigging smallmouth
• Football jigging
• Blade baits and rip baits

September is full day trophy hunts only where we prioritize seeking the biggest fish of the year. Some days can hold numbers, while others only a few heavyweights per day. September is my second-most popular month of the year, high demand, and most dates get filled by mid August. In 2020, September had a 100% occupancy.

October

I don’t host wintering trips because exploitation of wintering holes and sensitive lake locations isn’t of interest. October fishing is similar to September’s strategy. Except now we enter post-turnover and coldwater period. Many of the same fishing strategies from September are still utilized in early October. After turnover mid-month, almost 100% of our fishing is over deep water, incorporating jigging, casting, and position fishing. Some days we may incorporate the usage of specialized livebait rigging.

Most bass trips for the year are completed by October 15th, but I keep the 3rd week of the month always open before I call it quits for the year as weather and fishing can still be awesome. A pro-longed productive season may still continue into late month and November 1st depending on weather, climate, water temps, and ice formation. We are finished bass fishing for the season by the time water temps reach below 45 degrees. In 2020, my last bass trip of the year took place October 6th.

During October month, the tackle box closes. I also limit my lake selection to a rotation of about 5 to 10 different lakes whose fall patterns and locations have been specialized.

• River and flowage smallmouth
• Midday and afternoon fishing times prioritized
• Shallow flats swimbaits and lipless cranking smallmouth
• Deep water position fishing
• Vertical jigging smallmouth
• Football jigging
• Blade baits and rip baits
• Live bait rigging

October trips are full day trophy hunts, and smallmouth trips only. Midday and afternoon hours are prioritized. We’ll only fish 1 lake for the full day. This is not a numbers month. Live minnows are carred in the boat for insurance purposes. Trips can last through end of the month, weather and water temps permitting.