I haven't been there before, but if you are interested in some under the radar smallmouth fishing, South Dakota is on the up and coming. The glacial lakes in the NE have been the hot area. Recently, the state record was broken up there and then the following, it was broken again. I am really excited to give that area a try!
Official Fishing Thread...
- Thread starter madguy30
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I haven't been there before, but if you are interested in some under the radar smallmouth fishing, South Dakota is on the up and coming. The glacial lakes in the NE have been the hot area. Recently, the state record was broken up there and then the following, it was broken again. I am really excited to give that area a try!
Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. Probably have all me out of state trips planned for this spring. Heading up to Lake Geneva in WI for small mouth opener May 5th. Then have cabin booked on Lake Chetek in late May. Not good small mouth but some of the best bluegill I've ever seen, good crappie , and a enough walleyes to be interesting.
If you go to SD this summer please let me know how you do.
I live in Sioux Falls, so it kinda sucks for me when I want to get to these bigger lakes. I have to drive a minimum hour and half to get to a decent size lake, but I make do with what I have around here.
This weather is awful for fishermen. I am heading to BWCA June 2-6 for a smallmouth trip. We are going to Basswood lake and staying there with a base camp. The guide we took last year said it was the place to be so we took his recommendation. Booked with him for a couple more days than the trip last year. Has anyone ever been there? I can't find much information online other than maps.
I hunt Madeline Island every November. It's in Chequamegon Bay, straight north of Ashland. There is fabulous fishing in that bay - not only smallies, but walleye, northern, whitefish (which are super tasty!), and lake trout. Bear in mind that this is big, deep water - the fish you are looking for will be relating to the shore most often. The water is cold, too....maybe only in the upper 50s in deep summer. Enjoy!!!
The two best fishing times are post-spawn and late fall, when most fish are eating heavy before ice-up. If you can find spawning beds, many varieties of fish are guarding those beds and will aggressively attack anything you throw at them. We used to catch huge bluegills this way.
Not sure what everyone's talking about...fishing's always good. There's always various aquatic and land animals, rock formations, etc. around to stare at if fish aren't hungry.
I keep myself occupied with trout streams in the winter. Boosted the experience more with the purchase of a tenkara rod last year to avoid ice getting in the way. Good use and if anyone's interested in an easy way to fly fish for whatever's around without much hassle, I recommend.
That said, some warmer weather will be nice...bundling up and having to put waders on just to fish is getting old. Wet wading and finding different species and having more access to fun places will be welcomed.
I keep myself occupied with trout streams in the winter. Boosted the experience more with the purchase of a tenkara rod last year to avoid ice getting in the way. Good use and if anyone's interested in an easy way to fly fish for whatever's around without much hassle, I recommend.
That said, some warmer weather will be nice...bundling up and having to put waders on just to fish is getting old. Wet wading and finding different species and having more access to fun places will be welcomed.
Yup we routinely pull in 2-3 lb smallies fishing for walleye on many of the lakes up there.. Also a ton of big white bass. Heading up there Memorial Day weekend, hoping the ice is out by then...
Bingo. Finding the spawning beds is never a guaranteed thing and I've learned to schedule trips weeks after the spawn since its so difficult to ensure you're there during it. Plus the post spawn is usually a lot more stable. June for me has always been the ticket
I go on a fly in fishing trip in NW Ontario every June at the beginning of the month. The fishing is always great, but we have been too late for the post spawn bite for several years in a row. Looks like we might hit it this year, unless we are too early. Great trip but you have to pack for every kind of weather.
Thanks. Father-in-law and I spent week in Ashland last May. Had super crappy weather but still caught some nice smallies and northern. Was really hoping for a 6 lb smallie but never got over 5 lb. Will go back some day. I have a 18 ft Lund so we never went on Superior, but usually stayed in NE corner of Chequamegon bay. What do you hunt on Madeline? White tail?
Yes - my family has been hunting up there since 1945. My first year up there was 1969.
Depends on what you are fishing for. Crappie are on fire those 2 months, bass picks up in June usually in my experience.
If you can time the spawn and find the beds right. I prefer Post spawn. Weather is a hell of a lot more stable and its hard to beat the excitement of dipping trees.
We've scheduled our fishing trips around trying to find the spawn in the past. After multiple trips of cold weather and excessive rains causing flooding, we've sworn it off and don't schedule any time before Memorial Day weekend.
