From St. Louis MO. we are looking to come north for a week, seeking big smallie's, we are considering Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.  

Top of the list are Lake Saint Clair, and Mille Lacs, we are bringing a bass boat and thinking about end of may or first of June.  

Any suggestions would be helpful, thanks so much.

LSC, Green Bay and Mille Lacs are the obvious choices - but big water.  If you aren’t familiar with it, would you consider a guide the first day to get depths, lures, patterns down?  

The Great Lakes would be the obvious choice, but I'd be looking for a guide with a bigger boat no doubt. Maybe fish with a guide on the Great Lakes for a couple days and find some smaller water with big fish potential the rest of the time as a back up in case the big water isn't an option? 

Hard to beat St. Clair or Erie. 

I've gone a guided trip up in Door County on Lake Michigan. It was an awesome experience.

However, I've heard fantastic things about Smallie fishing on the Wisconsin river waaay up north. There's a guide service I've seen YouTube Vids of that showcase the waters (and potential guiding) really well. Smguide1.

 

You don't have to feel limited to big waters where winds can literally shut down a trip. That would be heartbreaking after all that travel. Or, as others have said, maybe hit both and have a the more sheltered rivers as backup? It's all about what you want!

 

Personally, if I ever do another guided trip, I'd go to a river like the Wisconsin or Eagle River. I really enjoyed my experience on Sturgeon Bay, but it was very challenging to fish well and feel satisfied with how windy and nasty it got. Especially with only a single day guided.

 

What is your benchmark weight for a giant Smallmouth?

Tom

21 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

LSC, Green Bay and Mille Lacs are the obvious choices - but big water.  If you aren’t familiar with it, would you consider a guide the first day to get depths, lures, patterns down?  

For sure, a guide would be the ideal plan.  Our boat is a 20'02 Triton with a 225 not huge but not small.  

What do you think of Sturgeon bay?

 

18 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

The Great Lakes would be the obvious choice, but I'd be looking for a guide with a bigger boat no doubt. Maybe fish with a guide on the Great Lakes for a couple days and find some smaller water with big fish potential the rest of the time as a back up in case the big water isn't an option? 

Is a 20'02 triton terribly undersized for St. Clair?

 

11 hours ago, drew4779 said:

Hard to beat St. Clair or Erie. 

We don't know it, but have been told it can be dangerous with shallow water, I'm also concerned my first big trip up north, and I'm in Downtown Detroit for a view.  LOL

47 minutes ago, WRB said:

What is your benchmark weight for a giant Smallmouth?

Tom

7ish would be pretty awesome.  But big numbers of really good fish would be hard to beat.  Everything will be catch and release, unless we get into some walleye.

Dwight Hottle member who is at Lake Erie and A-Jay in MI would but who I would contact for info on big Smallies. 7 lbs is a very rare Smallmouth.

Tom

St Clair

Erie 

Dale Hollow 

18 hours ago, WRB said:

Dwight Hottle member who is at Lake Erie and A-Jay in MI would but who I would contact for info on big Smallies. 7 lbs is a very rare Smallmouth.

Tom

I agree, but you have to reach for the stars.  My dad lived in So Cal for the last 35 years, fished around San Diego a lot, then up to Big Bear, and Dixon I think.  So you would recommend these guys?  Thanks much 

23 minutes ago, Don Dixon said:

I agree, but you have to reach for the stars.  My dad lived in So Cal for the last 35 years, fished around San Diego a lot, then up to Big Bear, and Dixon I think.  So you would recommend these guys?  Thanks much 

They are BR members you can PM along with John Franko depending on where you plan to fish.

I recall a Ron Dixon is the Pieces bass club in San Diego about 45 years ago and I managed Holloways boat landing at Big Bear lake about 50 years ago, how time flies.

Tom

 

Chequamegon Bay has some really big smallies as well as nice pike.  In the area, you could also go hunt some other species as well as sight see.  It was one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited and was well worth the drive.  You have potential to stop at smaller water along the way there and back.

I think Minnesota and Michigan are your best bet, without question.

13 minutes ago, Further North said:

I think Minnesota is your best bet, without question.

And whatever you do - don't go to Michigan - that place is a Dink Factory

@Further North

Fixed that one for you . . .

A-Jay

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

@Further North

Fixed that one for you . . .

A-Jay

Same here.  11,000 smallies per mile...not one of 'em over 10".

...and that's just on the roads...

19 hours ago, A-Jay said:

And whatever you do - don't go to Michigan - that place is a Dink

You might want to look at my profile pic.

On 2/18/2018 at 5:16 PM, MickD said:

You might want to look at my profile pic.

Nice fish.

I live & fish in MI - I was making a joke.

Even get a few myself now & then.

 

A-Jay

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Nice fish.

I live & fish in MI - I was making a joke.

Even get a few myself now & then.

A-Jay

I hope you'll forgive me buddy.... Everybody those giant smallies were caught on Lake Menderchuck! 

21 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

I hope you'll forgive me buddy.... Everybody those giant smallies were caught on Lake Menderchuck! 

So where is Lake Menderchuck?

 

3 minutes ago, MickD said:

So where is Lake Menderchuck?

 

It’s right next to Lake Nunya.

44 minutes ago, MickD said:

So where is Lake Menderchuck?

 

There's at least one in every state.

41 minutes ago, Scott F said:

It’s right next to Lake Nunya.

This is true.

Im surprised nobody mentioned  Ontario. 

What about Rainy Lake? It has a good reputation for numbers and quality.