For any of you fellow Minnesotans out there where are some good places to bass fish around the twin cities? From either shore or on a boat? And what do you normally throw on each lake? Thanks in advnace

I posted this already on another forum. But here are some of my best lakes.

 

Clear lake (Near Forest) Great bass, walleye, tiger , northern fishing. (This is my best lake and sorry... no tips on hot spots for this lake)

 

Eagle lake (Off 169 and 63rd) great lake for northern, musky, and small bass here and there. (Fish the rock piles and the shallows for bass) To many big toothy critters in the middle and sides. Frogs are great on this lake, and you can pull in some monster northerns in the shallows. I caught a 30 incher in 2 feet of water.

 

Washburn (This is in outing) But I have pulled in several 5 and 6 lbs off this lake. (Also great walleye and northern) (If you want to take the trip up north for this lake let me know and I can give you some spots.)

 

Golden lake in Circle pines. Fish from shore (West golden lake Rd, there is a small clearing in the houses, and you can fish from this spot.) (Or in a boat, but no inboard/outboard allowed) I have seen 6lbs pulled as well as 30+ in catfish and Northern. and reed area on this lake and you will find a 3+ lb bass hiding.

 

Lake De Montrerville (Pine springs area.. Not a bad drive) (This is a catch and release only lake for bass) BUT HOLLY hidden gem. Great sport lake. I have fished this a couple times and found some nice monsters right off the landing (* This lake is a great lake so get there early. I say this because the launch only has around 10 spots. There are NO OTHER spots to part on the side of the road. I got there around 4:30 one morning and the spots were filled up before 6 am.)

 

Of course you have your Forest Lake, White Bear, Minnatonka Lake, but I stay away from these bigger lakes and stick to the smaller ones)

 

What I throw. Anything and everything. I like to stick to a white Northland spinner (With a narrow willow blade, NOT the Colorado style) With a white double tail grub as a trailer. But when this fails I switch to many of my other pieces of tackle. A 6in Carolina rigged worm, A Pink Meeps inline spinner, A Spro frog, or a football jig with a trailer to name a few. When you are looking for that monster and it isn't hitting what you are throwing, switch it up.

 

Also the technique i like to use is throwing my spinner and letting it sink for a couple, and retrieve it. This gets what maybe off the bottoms attention, but I always see the strike on the top once it is near the boat. It is important before taking your lure out do a figure 8. I have gotten a lot of reluctant bass to hit on the swing around.

 

Another suggestion get a hold of the DNR and ask for a Twin Cities Water Recreation fold out map. I got this handy map off one of the DNR officers at White Bear Lake. The map shows all the lakes in the cities area, and also list where the landing (If there is one) and white kind is it (Soft, concrete,)

< These two bass in the pic

 

Taken from Clear lake (Near Forest) one a 6.2lb  21in the other 6lb 20in 

 

Are you a catch-and-release or in it for the eating?
 

< These two bass in the pic

 

Taken from Clear lake (Near Forest) one a 6.2lb  21in the other 6lb 20in 

 

Are you a catch-and-release or in it for the eating?

 

Catch and release for sure