Besides small crankbaits, what have you guys had luck with for smallies on the Lower Manitou in late June?

Mepps spinners?
Spoons?
Leeches?
Minnows, alive or frozen?
nightcrawlers?
Gulp?

Anything else?

Thanks!!!

I picked up some nice size smallies about that time last year (where the current was moving well) with white chatterbaits. The bonus was a few decent northern too.

Your pretty much on track with the baits you mentioned. I personally dont like using minnows for bass, if using bait, rather my 1st choice of live bait is leech then a crawler. Leeches are spending though since your not able to bring them across the border with you, have to buy in Canada. However, I would suggest bringing some crawlers with you as they are cheaper in the US if you want to have bait and mabey pick up a few leeches in Canada. (make sure crawlers are packed in either worm bedding or shredded newspapers, no dirt to cross the border). Your typical mepps, small rapala,rattle traps, etc will all work. End of June, good chance the bass will be ending the spawn or finished up, if they are not shallow up working the beds look towards alittle water and off the drop offs and rock points. When the spawn is completed and if they are in summer mood, generally you'll find the smaller bass up along the banks and the bigger bass deeper. Have fun on your trip.

thats for the mention on the chatterbaits, I over looked them, I have a couple bigger ones that I throw for Muskies but I will have to pick up a couple smaller ones.

Are there any crawfish in the lake? If so, some tube jigs and crayfish colored lures might be pretty good.

I think that the wild card will be the gulp. Either they will hammer it or ignor it.

I grew up throwing small mepps, it's still my favorite bait for bass and Northerns.


Thanks Guys. anymore advise is great!

LM,

With the late ice out and the low water temps that I am expecting, those smallies might be just getting done with the spawn. I hope that we hit it right and they are active.

10,000 casts-it is possible that the bass could still be in "spawning" mood and very active for your trip when you are there. Theres really no bad time, just a matter of where the bass are. Never know with those bass. Ive seen them before Spawn the end of June. Late ice out should in theory push back the spawn back but never know. All depends on the weather after ice out too. I remember 1 year, mabey 5-6 years ago on one of the bass lakes we fly into. The bass were starting to coming onto there beds earily June, a cold front move in shortly after, the bass would move off, then the weather would turn nice again, the bass started to come back on the beds, another cold front moved in, bass moved off. This process went most of June which made things tough that year, generally speaking prime spawn dates are anywhere from last week in May to Mid June. Can be earilier or later. Im in Dryden right now and we are getting lots of rain today which is hurting the ice bad today. Forcasts of cooler weather is expected to move in though around the area next few days. Another bait to consider bringing, sluggo's. Bass love em. If you do hit the time when the bass are not active and being sluggish, dont be affraid to fish deep as they could have moved down. Try 15-30 feet and see if you have any luck, not a sure thing but seen times it pays off moving out to deeper water in that situation. Ive learned weather such as a cold front can effect a bass, in my opinion, way more than a walleye in how they act.

Similar-

Would mind e-mailing please?

mark.hoffmann@comcast.net

Thanks!

Done

Whats the likelyhood of seeing Moose and Bear on the Manitou? I would imagine pretty good? Are there any spots that are better than others to see them?

We see bears about every three trips on the way in on the gravel road. Moose maybe every four or five trips or so. Saw one swimming across the lake one trip - those are some big puppies when they come out of the water! One of our guys has seen a wolf on shore while fishing in the boat.

Seeing wildlife? Earlier in the season seems better than summer for us. If you are one of the first ones in on Cedar Narrows you will more than likely see a bear. They seem to hang out near the road early morning in the spring. I saw a bear along the road my first 8 trips up. It was a nice little streak
We also saw one last year swimming across the narrows in the the stretch. Almost got him with the net
Moose? I don't like seeing them on the road..they hurt vehicles bad!! I think I have seen about one a year....

Hello 10K casts,

I have been fishing on the Lower Manitou for 30 years. I have stayed on different parts of the lake and the best bait I have found, and I have used them all, is the 1/4 once bullet head weghted Kalin "Cotton Candy" colored 5 inch Grub. This thing knocks them dead. Make sure you buy the darter head gig heads because it does make a difference. Just cast it out there and make sure you avoid those snags in the shallows. Slow retreive is best and it works in both shallow and deep water. You do not have to gig the bait just straight retreive. You can find this bait on-line at Bass Pro Shops. Buy a lot of bags because the people you are with will want them as well.

If Bass fishing gets slow for you I would also try a Zara Spook. Make sure you have the right rod for this bait. The Bass will break water for this one. Not to mention Muskie.

Remember to catch and release all those Bass you are going to catch.

Good luck!!

Hey Hiddenbay,

I'll be fishing your namesake in a week and a half - can't wait.
Hope the water's up. Have you ever tried Phairs?

Hiddenbay,

Thanks for the great info, I'll be sure to pick up some of the Kalins and darter jigs! also, we always C&R!

Similarlsland

I have never tried Phairs? What are they? If you are fishing is a week and a half you are going to have some cold water. If I was you I would be casting black and silver Rapala's in the shallows and you may pick up Lakers off the points. Great action!

Good luck!