Lake Superior SM fishing

[bigmojet]

Does anyone fish the southern shores of Lake Superior for SM. I go up to Grand Marais and Munising fish camping every year on inland lakes and every year say I am going to try it but never do. Locals don't offer much info and DNR hasn't helped much either.

I've read some things that once you get  over to Wisconsin waters on the big lake fishing can be fantastic. Can you imagine hooking some big Smallies along the Pictured Rocks  National lakeshore?

[djkimmel]

I would think there has to be some in the right pockets or bays. They probably rarely get fished!

[scot21x]

Hey There,

That is a great question.  I have wondered the same thing.  Every summer I visit my inlaws in Houghton/Hancock area.  I have not made it out to Superior yet.

I would have to agree with Dan, they are probably out there, you just have to find them.

I emailed some guides up that way and they had no info for me on smallies in superior.

[djkimmel]

I'm sure I have heard there are big smallies along the peninsula. What is the channel that cuts through there? That's where I would fish.

[smbassman]

Portage canal has smallies, some big ones too.  I think most of the Superior shore drops off deep too fast to maintain a smallie population.  If you were around shallower bays then I think you would find smallies like they have in Wisconsin & Minn. 

[skeeter6217]

I drove through the UP at the beginning of June 2010 and spent the night at a hotel. The next morning when I woke up I saw a bunch of bass boats. I asked one of the guys where they were fishing and they said the big lake. They told me the smallmouth fishing in Superior is some of the best in the world at the beginning of June. They also said once the spawn is over it's really hard to find a single fish.

[djkimmel]

Portage canal - that's the place I've heard is good for big smallies. I have to think there are small populations in certain places that don't get fished often.

[djkimmel]

I drove through the UP at the beginning of June 2010 and spent the night at a hotel. The next morning when I woke up I saw a bunch of bass boats. I asked one of the guys where they were fishing and they said the big lake. They told me the smallmouth fishing in Superior is some of the best in the world at the beginning of June. They also said once the spawn is over it's really hard to find a single fish.

That sounds about right. Thanks for joining.

[Bender]

I drive across the UP every winter and always wonder about fishing up there. I have a personal list of lakes that I want to fish and after doing some research I am adding Chaquamegan Bay and the Apostle Islands to that short list. If the fishing isn't great at least it looks like some incredible sights to see at the islands. I think that I will plan a trip to go there next June/July, maybe stop by Lake Gogebic since I've always wanted to check that out too.

[djkimmel]

Sounds like a good plan. I'm betting a few people will enjoy fishing reports from that trip!

[bigmojet]

East of Gogebic near Watersmeet look for Marion Lake. Been a couple years but topwater SM fishing is fantastic early and late in day with loons and bald eagles keeping you company.

I am definitely gonna try the  bay around Grand Marais and the island off Munising this year.