Looking for trip of a lifetime, giant smallmouth 2024
Don Dixon reply :
From St. Louis MO. we are looking to come north for a week, seeking big smallie's, we are considering Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Top of the list are Lake Saint Clair, and Mille Lacs, we are bringing a bass boat and thinking about end of may or first of June.
Any suggestions would be helpful, thanks so much.
FryDog62 reply :
LSC, Green Bay and Mille Lacs are the obvious choices - but big water. If you aren’t familiar with it, would you consider a guide the first day to get depths, lures, patterns down?
Bluebasser86 reply :
The Great Lakes would be the obvious choice, but I'd be looking for a guide with a bigger boat no doubt. Maybe fish with a guide on the Great Lakes for a couple days and find some smaller water with big fish potential the rest of the time as a back up in case the big water isn't an option?
drew4779 reply :
Hard to beat St. Clair or Erie.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
I've gone a guided trip up in Door County on Lake Michigan. It was an awesome experience.
However, I've heard fantastic things about Smallie fishing on the Wisconsin river waaay up north. There's a guide service I've seen YouTube Vids of that showcase the waters (and potential guiding) really well. Smguide1.
You don't have to feel limited to big waters where winds can literally shut down a trip. That would be heartbreaking after all that travel. Or, as others have said, maybe hit both and have a the more sheltered rivers as backup? It's all about what you want!
Personally, if I ever do another guided trip, I'd go to a river like the Wisconsin or Eagle River. I really enjoyed my experience on Sturgeon Bay, but it was very challenging to fish well and feel satisfied with how windy and nasty it got. Especially with only a single day guided.
roadwarrior reply :
WRB reply :
What is your benchmark weight for a giant Smallmouth?
Tom
Don Dixon reply :
On 2/11/2018 at 11:04 AM, FryDog62 said:LSC, Green Bay and Mille Lacs are the obvious choices - but big water. If you aren’t familiar with it, would you consider a guide the first day to get depths, lures, patterns down?
For sure, a guide would be the ideal plan. Our boat is a 20'02 Triton with a 225 not huge but not small.
What do you think of Sturgeon bay?
On 2/11/2018 at 2:16 PM, Bluebasser86 said:The Great Lakes would be the obvious choice, but I'd be looking for a guide with a bigger boat no doubt. Maybe fish with a guide on the Great Lakes for a couple days and find some smaller water with big fish potential the rest of the time as a back up in case the big water isn't an option?
Is a 20'02 triton terribly undersized for St. Clair?
On 2/11/2018 at 9:36 PM, drew4779 said:Hard to beat St. Clair or Erie.
We don't know it, but have been told it can be dangerous with shallow water, I'm also concerned my first big trip up north, and I'm in Downtown Detroit for a view. LOL
On 2/12/2018 at 7:57 AM, WRB said:What is your benchmark weight for a giant Smallmouth?
Tom
7ish would be pretty awesome. But big numbers of really good fish would be hard to beat. Everything will be catch and release, unless we get into some walleye.
WRB reply :
Dwight Hottle member who is at Lake Erie and A-Jay in MI would but who I would contact for info on big Smallies. 7 lbs is a very rare Smallmouth.
Tom
Dtrombly reply :
St Clair
Erie
Dale Hollow
Don Dixon reply :
On 2/12/2018 at 11:42 AM, WRB said:Dwight Hottle member who is at Lake Erie and A-Jay in MI would but who I would contact for info on big Smallies. 7 lbs is a very rare Smallmouth.
Tom
I agree, but you have to reach for the stars. My dad lived in So Cal for the last 35 years, fished around San Diego a lot, then up to Big Bear, and Dixon I think. So you would recommend these guys? Thanks much
WRB reply :
On 2/13/2018 at 5:53 AM, Don Dixon said:I agree, but you have to reach for the stars. My dad lived in So Cal for the last 35 years, fished around San Diego a lot, then up to Big Bear, and Dixon I think. So you would recommend these guys? Thanks much
They are BR members you can PM along with John Franko depending on where you plan to fish.
I recall a Ron Dixon is the Pieces bass club in San Diego about 45 years ago and I managed Holloways boat landing at Big Bear lake about 50 years ago, how time flies.
Tom
RMax reply :
Chequamegon Bay has some really big smallies as well as nice pike. In the area, you could also go hunt some other species as well as sight see. It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited and was well worth the drive. You have potential to stop at smaller water along the way there and back.
Further North reply :
I think Minnesota and Michigan are your best bet, without question. 
A-Jay reply :
On 2/18/2018 at 10:14 AM, Further North said:I think Minnesota is your best bet, without question.
And whatever you do - don't go to Michigan - that place is a Dink Factory
@Further North
Fixed that one for you . . .
A-Jay
Further North reply :
On 2/18/2018 at 10:31 AM, A-Jay said:@Further North
Fixed that one for you . . .
A-Jay
Same here. 11,000 smallies per mile...not one of 'em over 10".
Further North reply :
...and that's just on the roads...
MickD reply :
On 2/18/2018 at 10:31 AM, A-Jay said:And whatever you do - don't go to Michigan - that place is a Dink
You might want to look at my profile pic.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/19/2018 at 6:16 AM, MickD said:You might want to look at my profile pic.
Nice fish.
I live & fish in MI - I was making a joke.
Even get a few myself now & then.
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 2/19/2018 at 7:35 AM, A-Jay said:Nice fish.
I live & fish in MI - I was making a joke.
Even get a few myself now & then.
A-Jay
I hope you'll forgive me buddy.... Everybody those giant smallies were caught on Lake Menderchuck!
MickD reply :
On 2/19/2018 at 9:03 AM, 12poundbass said:I hope you'll forgive me buddy.... Everybody those giant smallies were caught on Lake Menderchuck!
So where is Lake Menderchuck?
Scott F reply :
On 2/20/2018 at 6:07 AM, MickD said:So where is Lake Menderchuck?
It’s right next to Lake Nunya.
12poundbass reply :
On 2/20/2018 at 6:07 AM, MickD said:So where is Lake Menderchuck?
There's at least one in every state.
On 2/20/2018 at 6:11 AM, Scott F said:It’s right next to Lake Nunya.
This is true.
RichF reply :
Im surprised nobody mentioned Ontario.
1simplemann reply :
What about Rainy Lake? It has a good reputation for numbers and quality.
Dwight Hottle reply :
On 2/21/2018 at 1:12 AM, 1simplemann said:What about Rainy Lake? It has a good reputation for numbers and quality.
I'll let you know this May. Our group of four have a week planned in May on the Canadian side at Labelle's Birch Point Camp. Infisherman rates it highly.
1simplemann reply :
On 2/21/2018 at 2:14 AM, Dwight Hottle said:
I'll let you know this May. Our group of four have a week planned in May on the Canadian side at Labelle's Birch Point Camp. Infisherman rates it highly.
Mille Lacs and the Great Lakes have been getting a lot of press the last few years. Rainy Lake might be a sleeper spot for SMB. I've personally never been there but I have always heard good things about that place. On GE, the place looks like SMB heaven.
FryDog62 reply :
On 2/21/2018 at 1:12 AM, 1simplemann said:What about Rainy Lake? It has a good reputation for numbers and quality.
I fish Rainy most every year. Numbers are good but 2-3 pounds is average. A 19 inch, 4 lb smallmouth is typically where it tops out. Anything around 5 lbs is do-able but fairly rare. If you look at the bag limits and largest smallmouth caught in the annual Fort Frances tournament you’d see much the same.
If you’re looking for the biggest smb in Minnesota, Mille Lacs is bigger overall for sure. But better get there soon, word is out and pressure is becoming an issue.
walleye13 reply :
I've fished Rainy for the past 17 yrs, and twice a yr the last 6. Fry Dog is correct. I've caught 5 over 20" in that time, a 20.75" my best that weighed 5-9. My partner last May got a 20" er as did a different partner in Oct '16. They are definitely there, but not a weekly or annual occurrence. That being said, the quantity of 16-19" fish is outstanding. Like Fry Dog said, if you are strictly after trophies, there are bigger fish elsewhere. However, the multi species action on Rainy is also what keeps me goin back. If you spend a week targeting smallies, better than average chance you will get a 28"+ walleye and/or a 40"+ pike in the process....
FryDog62 reply :
On 2/22/2018 at 1:00 AM, walleye13 said:I've fished Rainy for the past 17 yrs, and twice a yr the last 6. Fry Dog is correct. I've caught 5 over 20" in that time, a 20.75" my best that weighed 5-9. My partner last May got a 20" er as did a different partner in Oct '16. They are definitely there, but not a weekly or annual occurrence. That being said, the quantity of 16-19" fish is outstanding. Like Fry Dog said, if you are strictly after trophies, there are bigger fish elsewhere. However, the multi species action on Rainy is also what keeps me goin back. If you spend a week targeting smallies, better than average chance you will get a 28"+ walleye and/or a 40"+ pike in the process....
Very true, my post wasn’t intended to be negative on Rainy lake overall. There are a lot of quality Smallmouth there just not a ton of true trophies. However that is offset with the multi-species action. Kind of fun to cast for a bunch of 16-18 inch Smallies and snag the occasional 4 foot pike/muskie!! Lots of walleyes and huge crappies to eat for shore lunch too
PatrickKnight reply :
If my goal was a 7lb smallmouth I would spend as much time as I could on lake Erie.
I wish I could get up there more often.
Don Dixon reply :
Grand Traverse bay is the destination, we have Tony Defilippo (ex FLW pro) for a guide the first day.
If anyone has any info on smaller lakes in the area, we're planning some sight fishing, will be down june 2 thru june 9. I'm told it's prespawn on Lake Michigan so we want some spawning bass in the nearby inland lakes. Thanks guys, can't wait to post pics.
52kjhintz reply :
Traverse City area has some really good smallmouth lakes. You have Green / Duck / Ann to the west and Elk / Skegemog / Torch to the east. Found a geam in Birch Lake, over a dozen 6#s caught.
8pt172 reply :
If you are going after Memorial Day, I would skip Sturgeon Bay. The Big Females will be done spawning and out in deeper water recovering from the Spawn.
It is a real late Spring in MN so Mille Lacs will be a late spawn. They still have 20+ " of ice. The best time to fish Sturgeon bay is before the big tournament out there in late May.
I was there in late August 17 and we caught a lot of nice SMB and a ton of Walleye on tubes, swimbaits and top water. The biggest was 6.6lb. We also caught several nice pike and missed a couple Giant Muskies.
I think I read you decided on TC area. You can always run to Little Bay deNoc in the Upper Penn if you want to try something different. The bass should be in Pre-spawn and easy to find.
If you go to Mille Lacs, give John a call at Rocky Reef Resort, he will put you on the bite.
KHNC reply :
i would not go to Erie, especially anywhere near Presque Isle Bay. You will read post after post about 100 fish days and huge smallies. Only when you get there, you will find huge waves, tons of boats, hordes of fisherman and very tough fishing. I had high hopes for the last two years for week long june trips. Very let down. Caught 15-20 fish per day anyway, but nothing over 3lbs. I would look at Ontario or Champlain. I dont plan to go North again for a year or two. Made the drive for the last 4 years up that way. Champlain was the best. Near Plattsburg and north.
S Hovanec reply :
I have a buddy that guides on Ontario and Erie. I have an Erie trip booked with him on Memorial day to look for a 7# smallie. He gets a couple every year around that time.
Boomstick reply :
If you want to go further east, Vermont has amazing smallmouth fishing but probably not the largest smallmouth. First, there is Lake Champlain, but then there's a ton of smaller lakes around the state as well that are largely remote and quiet. Try Lake Seymour, Lake Dunmore, Lake St. Catherine, either Echo Lake to name a few.
I caught my PB smallmouth in a small 20 acre lake in southern VT. I didn't have my scale as I was in a boat and traveling lightly, but was a fat hog that was somewhere around 22" long -- using my arm from fingers to elbow which is 18.5" as a base of measurement.
Don Dixon reply :
I leave next week for Traverse city, fishing with Tony DeFillipo next Sunday. Anybody got any Smallmouth updates for the inland lakes around Traverse city?
8pt172 reply :
On 5/27/2018 at 8:22 PM, Don Dixon said:I leave next week for Traverse city, fishing with Tony DeFillipo next Sunday. Anybody got any Smallmouth updates for the inland lakes around Traverse city?
Buddy is fishing East Bay today, the tournament he bumped into took 26lbs to take first. Water was 60 in close by State Park. Up by Elk Rapids temps were 55.
Most fish are spawning right now on the other lakes in the Area, full moon on the 29th. This year was terrible it went from ice out late April to spawning by June 1st. I much prefer a few more weeks of prespawn fishing.
Ersteman reply :
Don,
How did you do on your Traverse City Smallmouth trip with Tony?
We went July 10th with Tony on the East Bay and landed 35 smallies between me and my 2 brothers.
Most fish were 2.5 to 3 pounds; only caught 2 dinks. Caught about 4-6 fish around 4 pounds as well.
It was a beautiful calm day; much calmer than average days and Tony put us on quality fish.
I was amazed at how well we did as these trips are few and far between for me.
Tony said that our fishing day was not a typical day, so I'm really grateful and fortunate at the quantity and quality.
Needless to say we tipped him very well.
RyneB reply :
Traverse City in the spring. If the Bay is rough, you have several inland lakes to choose from. Hopefully you dont get tired of catching 2.5-3.5 lb smallies on topwater, with an occasional 4 or 5.
cfrye11 reply :
so did you go??
Further North reply :
Weirdness...post got all fouled up...
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