We have anchored our boat on the sandbar and cast out towards the rapids with slip-bobbers, a hook with either leeches or nightcrawlers. The current moves the bobber toward the rock shore and bang - a smallmouth on your line.

In June our sandbar will have crawfish, which is a favorite of smallmouth. One day in June, we had a gentleman stop by and ask if he and his grand-daughter could fish for smallmouth off our dock. After a few hours the little girl had caught a a bunch of nice smallies.

She was using a small 2 1/2" blue floating rapala. Blue simulates the color of the local crayfish. However, most popular colors will also work. Other anglers have worked the rock piles and the shores of the bay with shallow-diving crankbaits, bladed spinnerbait, jig and pork combinations, buzzbaits and fat plastic worms.

The water is naturally stained from the Rapid River, as it flows through Tamarac swamps. Some will say you can't catch smallmouth in muddy water, which could be compared to stained water, but dark water makes the bass less spooky and dark water bass are more likely to attack a lure invading their territory.

This season lasts about 3-4 weeks in the bay, then they migrate into the river. Experts say water temperatures at 70 degrees and populated with crayfish are good conditions. With all conditions in order, you can pull out smallies all day. Average size is 2 - 4 pounds. Typically early June into July is a time when you have stretches of the Rainy River or Clementson Bay all to yourself for some of the best smallmouth bass fishing anywhere.

Fall fishing has given up some nice 5-pound smallmouth. Many anglers have been jigging in 17' of water, a jig tipped with an emerald shiner and have caught a trophy size bass. There are rock piles also in the river that hold the bass, walleyes and northern. Down river from us is an area where there are pilings in the middle of the river from the old logging days. They just cut the top of the pilings off and anglers have found this a good place to fish for smallmouth.

Since our area is widely known as "The Walleye Capital of the World" many anglers forget about fishing for smallmouth. If you enjoy a good fight, smallmouth is the way to go. Smallmouth bass is open continuous on the Rainy River since it is International Waters, with a limit of 6.

Be sure to check our web-site for updates this spring and summer for smallmouth and walleye fishing.

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