Spring
Spring bass fishing is generally good, bass are in their pre-spawn and spawn patterns and can be caught in very shallow water. The bass spawn is dictated by water temperature, normally between 55° F – 65° F. Typical spawning times on the Clearwater-Pipestone Chain of Lakes can be from the middle of May through the latter part of June. This is the time of year when smallmouth bass are close to or on the nest or bed. There has been a lot of controversy as to whether or not people should fish for spawning bass or not. We believe if fishing for bass on their beds, ensure they are landed quickly and released immediately so they can return back to the bed.
During this time of year almost every lure imaginable works. Topwater fishing is one of the most productive methods; floating Rapala’s, Zara Spooks or similar lures are usually fantastic choices. When you are fishing topwater its good to keep a second rod handy with a worm or a crankbait tied on. Most of the time if you miss a strike on topwater and cast back right away with a worm or burn a crankbait through the same area you will connect 90% of the time.
For the fly-fisherman, spring is an excellent time to be fishing with top-water and sub-surface flies for the shallow water bass.
Pre-Spawn
When fishing pre-spawn smallies focus on the first deep water associated with shallow water flats. It may be a point or ledge that drops into water 10-30 feet deep. These locations act as holding areas for both male and female bass on spring days when the water temp is creeping towards 50 degrees. When the water hits the mid-50s, the biggest smallmouths will begin to move in onto the shallow flats to spawn. Fish jigs, grubs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and split-shot worms on breaklines off flats and points for smallmouths.
Spawn
Generally, the Northwest side of lakes warm up first. The spawning area must have direct access to the sun’s rays, so look for shallow flats protected from rough water. The male smallmouth will build a nest up to 3 feet in diameter in small gravel, often next to solid objects such as wood, boulders and weeds in water 2-15 feet deep. Generally speaking, the bigger the bass, the deeper the water and the earlier they will spawn. After the spawn, the male then guards the nest for several weeks to allow the fry to grow and swim freely; the female will usually move off to the first available deep water.
Besides topwater lures, fish with suspending jerkbaits like the Rapala Husky Jerk and X-Rap. Soft plastics such as a watermelon colored tube jig dragged by the bed, will entice an angry strike. Spinnerbaits work well on the first spawners of the year; you can catch BIG females this way, white and chartreuse are good color choices.
Post Spawn
Post spawn bass typically are tough to catch. They spend the first few weeks after the spawn recuperating, after that, they start feeding again. Post spawn generally doesn’t happen in our lakes at the same time due to differences in water temperature. Post-spawn smallies will remain close to shallow rocky areas of the lake until the temperature of the water warms considerably. Islands, points and shoals are the three preferred spots to begin your smallmouth search, starting each area up shallow and moving deeper until you connect with fish. Topwater plugs, crankbaits and jigs are the preferred baits early in the season and “matching the hatch” by using crayfish, shad and perch colors is a sure-bet to entice fish into the boat.
Summer
Summer fishing can often be a “hit and miss” attempt due to whereabouts of the fish during this time.
This is the time of year that can be the hardest for most smallmouth fishermen, the water temperature is usually well into the lower 70′s. Early morning and evening periods will usually find fish in shallow water aggressively feeding – this is where topwaters really excel and will lead to heart-stopping explosions on the surface. After the sun comes up and the water heats up they will migrate back down to deeper water.
Daytime smallies will retreat to the safety of deeper water and will relate to depths from 10 to 45 feet deep or deeper. The one thing they will relate to is structure, and having a dependable fish finder on board will become your underwater eyes. Look for underwater humps, deep weedbeds, ledges and deep points; work these areas with either Texas rigged or Carolina rigged worms, deep diving crankbaits or jigs over these underwater magnets. Due to the schooling nature of the smallmouth bass, once one is caught, there are sure to be more to come.
Fall
Fall time is a time for trophy smallmouth bass and great catch numbers, the action can be furious and exciting! Fish at this time of year gorge themselves on crayfish and minnows in anticipation of the cold winter months. Smallmouths are more likely to be in large schools at this time than any other time of the year. Remember that small mouth bass often group together by size. So, if you find a smaller-sized group, there will rarely be a bigger smallmouth among them, move on to find the bigger fish.
Searching for these hungry fish is the key to catching them. Points, under-water humps and rock reefs will hold smallies at this time of the year. Begin your search by finding water in the 20-foot depth and continue working until you hit 45 feet. Fall smallmouth will relate to water this deep and once you catch some, the remainder of the lakes’ fish will be holding at this magical depth. Rat-L-Traps, cranks and jigs are the artillery for the fall fisherman, and using a marker buoy to stay with the school and at the optimum depth will increase your chances of catching a good number of bass.
Live Bait
Usually the smallmouh on Clearwater-Pipestone Lakes cooperate with artificial lures, but at times when they are finicky, live-bait fishing is the only option. Minnows, leeches, crawlers and crayfish work very well; you can fish them on a slip-bobber, tipped on a jig, drop-shot or live-bait rig. Depending on the structure where they are holding you can fish vertically or cast along the edges of structure. Quite often Little Moose Lodge guests do well in the evening fishing from our docks with a slip-bobber live-bait rig.
Recommended Rods and Reels for Smallmouth Bass Fishing
Jig/Light Lure Fishing- 6’ to 7’ medium light or medium spinning rod/reel combo with 6-12lb line
A fast-action rod will give a good immediate hook set. Especially in clear water, use a clear fishing line such as Vanish fluorocarbon.
Live Bait Fishing- 6-1/2’ to 7-1/2’ light spinning rod/reel combo with 8-10lb line
A medium action rod works well; use a clear abrasion resistant line, a lot of the fishing is around the rocks.
Casting Crankbaits- 6-1/2’ to 7-1/2’ medium bait casting rod/reel combo with 8-15lb line. Use a fast action rod and a high speed reel, Use a low stretch monofilament line or a braided line. Although not as durable, a spinning rod and reel combo is also suitable.
Trolling- 6’ to 7-1/2’ medium or medium-heavy bait casting rod/reel combo with 12-20lb line
Braided line such as Power Pro works well.
Lures and Tackle
- Deep diving crank baits such as Rapala Down Deep Husky Jerk, Shad Rap and Cotton Cordell Rattlin Spot in silver, crawfish, and pearl accented colors.
- Shallow water crank baits including the Floating Rapala, Husky Jerk, X-Rap Slash Bait in white, perch, shad and crawfish colors.
- Spinner baits in white, black and chartreuse, Indiana and Colorado blades.
- Top water lures such as Heddon Zara Spook, Tiny Torpedo, Zara Puppy and Arbogast Jitterbug, white, silver or frog are top color choices.
- Mepps spinners in various sizes and colors.
- Lipless Rat-L-Traps in perch, blue-silver, fire tiger and crawfish color patterns.
- Assortment of Berkley Gulp or Powerbait soft plastic flukes, twister tails, tubes and worms in various colors including white, watermelon, pumpkinseed, chartreuse and pearls.
- Terminal tackle size 2, 4, & 6 hooks, 3-way swivels, weights, slip bobbers, snap swivels, barrel swivels, bobber stop, 8lb fluorocarbon line for snells and leaders
- Polarized fishing glasses, floating markers, measuring tape, camera and fillet knife.
