BASSIN’ THE EAGLE RIVER AREA

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Let me say this right up front: there is no area in Wisconsin with a larger variety of bass (both smallmouth and largemouth) lakes than the Eagle River area. For years, bass were the ignored species up here while most anglers went for walleye and for the mighty musky. Oh, sure, there were a few guides that did some smallmouth fishing, but very few seemed to have a big interest in our bass. Orville Small, one of our revered old guides called himself "Sam the Bassman". He was the exception, however, and way ahead of his time.

We now realize that both smallies and largemouth can be pursued all summer long with great success. As baits and techniques have improved, so has the yearlong take of these great fighting fish. Catch and release came early to the bass fishing community, and it has really helped to keep the stock of these fish from being depleted with increased angling pressure.

We experience great smallmouth fishing almost right from the start of the open water season. As the water warms after iceout, the large female smallies start cruising the shorelines, especially on sunny warm afternoons. You can find some trophy fishing from mid May on into the middle of June right on these shorelines. Since the season is open to catch and release only, taxidermists have learned to make great replica mounts of these trophy fish.

You can catch these big cruising females with minnows or leeches, or with artificial imitations of either of these baits. During the spawning season the females will help guard the beds, and hit any minnow imitation that comes near the bed. Remember to handle these fish with care, especially during the spawn. The smallies will spawn in water from 2' to 10', and their beds are recognizable as basketball sized round spots on the bottom.

Catching largemouth in the spring is easy, too, with these fish in shallow water also. The biggest difference between smallies and largemouth is that the largemouth will seek softer bottom area to do their spawn. If you have area on the lake you're fishing with bulrushes, or shorelines with a lot of downed trees and brush you will likely find largemouth spawning in these areas. These great fish will hit just about anything during this time period, but minnow imitations such as Rapalas, plastic worms or leech patterns or spinnerbaits work the best. As we get further into June, both fish move a little, but not too far. The smallies merely mover deeper off their hard bottom spawn areas to the nearest dropoff rock areas. They will stay in these areas all summer long. They feed quite aggressively on leeches or any crayfish pattern for the whole summer, and can be caught on crawlers or leeches under slip bobbers. Many anglers have had success on tube jigs in these dropoff areas also.

The largemouth move into the weeds and heavy cover for the summer. They don't mind warmer water temperatures at all, so they will stay surprisingly shallow if there is good cover. Look for heavy weeds in the 3 to 8' range for these fish all summer long. Nightcrawlers or crawler imitation patterns work best for these fish, but spinnerbaits work quite well all year also.

The great thing about bass fishing for both of these fish is that there are many times where you'll get great "rod bending" from these bass during periods that are just not good fishing for any other species. They have rescued many a guide's day from slow fishing for other species. They are a great fish to start a kid fishing for, providing almost guaranteed action for young anglers.

You can book an Eagle River Guides Association guide for bass yearlong and be assured you can get bass. Even a half day will introduce these great fighters to the bottom of your boat.

Good luck and good fishn'

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