Smallmouth bass fishing in Minnesota is nothing short of fantastic, with lakes, rivers, and streams across the state offering healthy bronzeback populations.
Bass are active from early spring through fall. That means there’s almost always a good chance of catching a smallie in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Since 10,000 is too many to fish, we’re here to sift out the very best smallie spots.
The Best Smallmouth Rivers
Smallmouth bass love moving water. Rivers are always a great place to target them. Here are a few of the best in Minnesota.
Mississippi River
Smallmouth bass fishing on the Mississippi River offers a wide range of habitats and varied currents. Understanding the river’s unique characteristics and the behavior of smallmouth bass is key to finding success.
During the spring spawn, smallmouth bass move into shallow riffles, gravel bars, and backwater areas to reproduce. Target these areas with finesse presentations such as soft plastic tubes, hair jigs, and small swimbaits. Look for areas with moderate current flow and rocky substrate, providing ideal spawning habitat.
As temperatures rise, smallmouths move to deeper holes, eddies, and current breaks, often in the main river but not the heavy current. They seek cooler water and spots to ambush prey. Focus on fishing near wing dams, bridge pilings, and rocky points, where the current creates seams and eddies.
In these areas, try Carolina rigs, swimbaits, and topwater lures.
Fall brings another surge in smallmouth activity as fish feed heavily to fatten up for winter, and they’ll often hunt in shallower water again. Target them with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jigging spoons.
In the winter, most smallmouth hold out in deeper pools and are lethargic and harder to fool.
Pay attention to water levels and flow rates, as these factors can influence smallmouth behavior and movement. Also, there are special regulations the stretch from the St. Cloud Dam downriver to Dayton (northwest of Minneapolis).
Rum River
The Rum River winds its way through central Minnesota before emptying into the Mississippi River at Anoka. Target rocky banks, boulder fields, submerged rock piles, river bends, and current breaks as you look for aggressive fish.
Look for areas where the river transitions from shallow to deep water or fast to slow currents. These transition zones often concentrate smallmouth bass moving between feeding and resting areas.
Smallmouth bass are often active near the surface during the early morning or late evening hours, making topwater lures like poppers, frogs, and buzzbaits good choices. Try casting these lures in shallow areas near cover, including rocky banks, fallen trees, and submerged vegetation.
Fallen trees, submerged logs, and root systems can hold smallmouths year-round, especially during periods of high water or when the river is running turbid.
Soft plastic baits fished on Texas or Carolina rigs are great for deeper holes, riffles, and current breaks. Crawfish imitations, creature baits, and finesse worms in natural colors are particularly effective.
Medium- to deep-diving crankbaits and spinnerbaits can also be effective for covering deeper pools, eddies, and rocky structures.
Rum River runs through the north side of the Minneapolis area and has camping, lodging, and all the amenities you’ll need right along the bank. Plenty of bait shops are in the area.
Cannon River
The Cannon River provides ample opportunities for targeting smallmouth bass throughout the year south of Minneapolis. Understanding the river’s flow patterns, structure, and key feeding areas is essential for successful fishing.
The stretch from Dundas to Faribault offers your best odds at tangling with trophy smallmouths.
Smallies congregate in shallow riffles, gravel bars, and eddies to spawn and feed during the spring. Small jigs, soft plastics, and crankbaits are excellent options to throw, especially anywhere you find rocky structure and submerged logs that act as magnets for spawning bass.
As water temperatures rise, smallmouth bass move to deeper pools, current breaks, and submerged structures to stay cool and feed. Bass are likely to hide in deeper holes, undercut banks, and rocky outcrops. Jigging with tubes, dragging Carolina rigs, and casting crankbaits along current seams can be effective.
Fall finds them fattening up for winter. Targeting rocky points, shoreline transitions, and fallen timber can produce epic catches. Don’t overlook submerged vegetation, which also can also hold smallmouths.
Primitive camping is available along the river, and lodging is available in Faribault. Everything else you’ll need is likely available in Faribault or Dundas.
St. Croix River
The St. Croix River’s rocky shorelines and diverse habitats produce trophy-sized bronzebacks.
Focus on rocky structures like boulders, rock piles, and submerged ledges. Smallmouths often use these areas as ambush points to prey on baitfish and crayfish. Casting crankbaits, jerkbaits, or spinnerbaits along rocky shorelines and drop-offs can bring rod-testing strikes.
Pay attention to current breaks and eddies. Smallmouth bass are known to congregate in areas where slower currents meet faster flows, providing them with easy access to passing food while saving energy. Target these transition zones with jigs, soft plastics, or live bait.
Watch for depth changes and structural features such as points, humps, and submerged timber. These spots can hold smallmouth bass throughout the year, especially during transitional periods like spring and fall.
Experimenting with different depths and cover types can help pinpoint where the fish are holding on any given day.
Popular spots are near the Interstate State Park in Minnesota and its Wisconsin counterpart. Stretches around Osceola and St. Croix Falls are also very good. These towns are primarily in Wisconsin, so be sure to consult boundary water reciprocal licensing rules.
Saint Croix Falls has all the gear you’ll need for the trip. Plenty of lodging and camping is available along the river.
The Best Smallmouth Lakes
Most lakes in Minnesota have healthy smallmouth populations. Here are the best of the best.
Lake Vermilion
Lake Vermilion is in northeastern Minnesota near the town of Tower. It has over 40,000 acres of pristine water dotted with countless rocky points, sunken islands, and expansive flats.
And It has a massive smallmouth bass population.
Spring and early summer are prime times to explore shallow bays and rocky shorelines, where smallmouths congregate to spawn. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and soft plastics rigged on drop-shot or Texas rigs are effective.
As summer progresses, smallmouths often move to deeper water, where drop-offs, humps, and submerged rock piles become key areas to catch bass. Try jigging with tubes, dragging Carolina rigs, or working deep-diving crankbaits along rocky structures.
Fall finds smallies strapping on the feed bag to prepare for winter. This is an excellent time to target them near shoreline drop-offs and transition zones.
The lake has several resorts and campgrounds on its shores. The resorts all cater to anglers and have everything you’re looking for.
Leech Lake
Leech Lake is a celebrated destination for smallmouth bass fishing. This large, picturesque lake is known for its weed beds, rocky points, and submerged structures, creating the perfect combination of smallmouth bass habitat.
During the spring, smallmouth bass often spawn in shallower waters, especially around rocky areas and near islands. Try using soft plastic baits, crankbaits, or spinnerbaits.
As summer arrives, the bass move to deeper, cooler waters. Target offshore structures, drop-offs, and deeper rocky points. Jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, and plastic worms are the lures of choice when working the depths.
Autumn sees smallmouth bass heading to shallower waters again. This period often yields the best catch rates of the year. Spend your time fishing the rocky shorelines, points, and transitions between depths as you look for holding and feeding patterns.
Leech Lake also earned its way onto our list of favorite crappie fishing lakes in Minnesota.
The town of Walker has all the amenities you need. The lake also has plenty of resorts and campgrounds, most catering to anglers.
Mille Lacs Lake
Mille Lacs Lake is one of the state’s premier walleye fisheries and a hotspot for smallmouth bass. It covers over 132,000 acres of expansive flats, rocky reefs, and deep basins where bronzebacks thrive.
The spring spawn draws smallmouths to shallow gravel and rock areas, perfect for targeting with drop-shot rigs, Ned rigs, and small jerkbaits.
As summer progresses, smallmouths transition to deeper structures like offshore rock piles, reefs, and points. Carolina rigs, football jigs, and deep-diving crankbaits all work well. Don’t overlook the weed edges and submerged weed beds, which can hold smallmouths throughout the summer months.
In the fall, as smallmouth bass again return to hunting the shallows, focus your fishing around rocky points, shoreline transitions, and rocky flats.
Small towns around the lake offer bait and tackle and most amenities you may need. Resorts and campgrounds are readily available along the shore.
Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods, straddling the border between Minnesota and Canada, is best known for its world-class walleye fishing and massive northern pike, but it also has a thriving population of smallmouth bass.
With over 1 million acres of water and more than 14,000 islands, Lake of the Woods offers anglers with endless spots to catch trophy-sized bass.
Spring begins the smallmouth bass spawn, with fish congregating near rocky shorelines, gravel bars, and sandy flats in bays and harbors. Targeting these shallow areas with drop-shot rigs, shaky heads, and small swimbaits can produce explosive action.
As summer progresses, smallmouths often move to deeper structures, including rocky points, reefs, and underwater humps. Favorite deepwater tactics include Carolina rigs, tube jigs, and deep-diving crankbaits.
When smallmouth bass return to shallow water in the fall, rocky points and flats and shoreline transition areas are prime spots.
The local towns are full of fishing guides and resorts that cater to anglers. You’ll find everything you need in the area.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), located in northeastern Minnesota near the Canadian border, offers world-class smallmouth bass fishing.
Target shallow bays, rocky points, and sandy flats in the spring. Try drop-shot rigs, tube jigs, and small crankbaits, which can yield excellent results.
Smallies head to deeper water in the summer. It’s the perfect time to use Carolina rigs and jigging spoons, while topwater lures can bring surface-busting action during low-light conditions. Weed beds and sunken trees can hold smallmouths throughout the summer months.
In the fall, smallmouth bass migrate to shallow waters for intense feeding sessions before the winter, turning rocky outcrops, transitions along the shore, and flat rocky areas into key fishing spots. The action can be fast and furious when the chill is in the air.
The BWCAW is a super remote area, so there aren’t many services. Camping is just about the only option.
Rainy Lake
Rainy Lake, located in northern Minnesota along the border with Canada, has epic smallmouth fishing. The lake covers 220,000 acres of rocky, rugged shorelines, reefs, and crystal-clear waters.
Use finesse techniques like drop-shot rigs, tube jigs, and Ned rigs to tempt shallow bass during the spring spawning period.
As the water warms, look for bass congregating a bit deeper around rocky points and submerged boulders. Jigging with tubes, dragging Carolina rigs, or working deep-diving crankbaits along rocky structures can produce impressive catches from the depths.
Early morning and late evening are perfect for topwater lures during the summer. Smallies smash frogs and buzzbaits.
Several resorts line the lake, giving you access to everything you need. Camping is also available. International Falls makes the perfect base camp for exploring the area, which draws anglers all year, including for mid-winter ice fishing.
Woman Lake Chain
Woman Lake Chain, located in northern Minnesota, is another outstanding smallmouth bass fishery. Underwater humps, rock piles, and rocky shorelines provide ideal habitat for smallies.
As with our other hotspots, start your spring fishing in shallow water where smallmouth bass spawn and chase baitfish.
Shallow rocky areas, sandy flats, and submerged weed beds will attract bass during spring. Targeting these spots with drop-shot rigs, tube jigs, and swimbaits can yield epic results.
As water temperatures rise, smallmouths head to deeper water, especially around rock piles, underwater humps, and submerged timber. Drop-offs and points leading into deeper water are prime spots.
Carolina rigs, football jigs, and deep-diving crankbaits are effective presentations. Weedless presentations like Texas-rigged soft plastics and topwater lures working along weed bed edges can produce explosive strikes.
Fall is the time to target rocky points, shoreline transitions, and rocky flats. The smallies are fattening up and often attacking power-fished lures or finessed soft plastics.
You’ll find lodging and supplies on the lakes or in nearby Longville or Hackensack.
Catch More Bass
If you’re still learning, see our simple guide to effective bass fishing.