UTERSmallmouth bass fishing in Lake Superior
In Lake Superior, smallmouth bass peak May–July and are around May–October, spawning in June, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Chequamegon Bay trophy smallmouth on the beds — release them.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Smallmouth bass in Lake Superior, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayPeakPeak spring steelhead; St. Louis River walleye. Wild steelhead are catch-and-release in Minnesota. Jig the St. Louis River for walleye after the opener.
- JuneSpawningChequamegon Bay trophy smallmouth on the beds — release them.
- JulyPeakLakers drop deep; coho and kings on the warm-water breaks. Downriggers at the thermocline off the Apostle Islands and Grand Marais.
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish smallmouth bass near Duluth, Grand Marais, Bayfield
The biggest, coldest, clearest of the lakes: rocky shores dropping straight to 600 feet, lake trout on the offshore reefs, steelhead and salmon in the short, steep North Shore and UP tributaries, and the sheltered warm-water bays — Chequamegon, the St. Louis River estuary, Keweenaw Bay — where the smallmouth, walleye, pike and the ice fishing live.
Fish Scouter charts 901 lake, 29 reservoir spots in the Lake Superior map area — the kinds smallmouth bass hold on.
What to use for smallmouth bass
- CrayfishHooked through the tail on a #2 to 2/0 hook and dragged slowly along rock and gravel — the smallmouth bait, and good for catfish and walleye.
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- LeechesHooked once through the sucker end on a #8 to #4 hook under a slip bobber or on a live-bait rig — walleye and smallmouth can't leave them alone.
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 45–82°F water, best at 60–74°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch smallmouth bass in Lake Superior?
Peak season is May–July, with fish spawning in June (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Smallmouth bass are in Lake Superior May–October. June: Chequamegon Bay trophy smallmouth on the beds — release them.
Where do smallmouth bass hold in Lake Superior?
Look on river, creek / stream, lake — around Duluth, Grand Marais, Bayfield, Ashland, Marquette, Munising.
What is the best bait for smallmouth bass in Lake Superior?
Live bait: crayfish, minnows (fatheads, shiners), leeches, nightcrawlers. Crayfish: Hooked through the tail on a #2 to 2/0 hook and dragged slowly along rock and gravel — the smallmouth bait, and good for catfish and walleye. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
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All about smallmouth bass · Lake Superior, the whole year