walleye13

Good report Dwight. We are at LaBelles now. The bass are on fire and moving from points to spawning areas quickly. Last couple days have been great on top waters...lost count after 70 fish each day. Through 4 days 2 of us have 9 fish over 19" (19.75", 4-10 best) and 17 over 18". Good jerk bite today, finally got some wind and clouds. Water temp up to 65 everywhere today. Full moon Wed, fish will be on beds shortly.

I've fished Rainy for the past 17 yrs, and twice a yr the last 6. Fry Dog is correct. I've caught 5 over 20" in that time, a 20.75" my best that weighed 5-9. My partner last May got a 20" er as did a different partner in Oct '16. They are definitely there, but not a weekly or annual occurrence. That being said, the quantity of 16-19" fish is outstanding. Like Fry Dog said, if you are strictly after trophies, there are bigger fish elsewhere. However, the multi species action on Rainy is also what keeps me goin back. If you spend a week targeting smallies, better than average chance you will get a 28"+ walleye and/or a 40"+ pike in the process....

Good insight Paul. Interesting perspective on the displaced fish issue. Thanks for sharing that.

Good topic AJ, I'm with you 100%. We deal with a similar issue at Lake of the Ozarks with Largemouth where they have tournaments year around irregardless of the spawn. The icing on the cake was last April when they had the 2 day Big Bass Bash. While this is an amateur event only (no pros allowed), the payout is for the 30 BIGGEST bass every 2 hours for 2 days. I realize they cannot predict the weather when they schedule such events, but last year the fish were solidly on beds during that time frame. Can you imagine how many big females were taken off beds and relocated by 2400 boats with 2 anglers each? The relocation alone is a touchy subject for me anyway given the high number of tourneys on this body of water. I'm on the lower end of the lake, which gets 90% of the fishing pressure in the winter....and as long as the main channel isn't iced over they are having a tournament!! These aren't little 15 boat club tournaments either. Usually at least 50 boats who haul their 5 fish limits 15-20 miles back to the weigh in. Sorry for the rant...

Wow Dwight! I think some of those were the first pics you showed me of Erie smallies when we first met at Merlands on BOQ. I've been drooling ever since! The 5-15 in my pic is still my PB.....had a good guide that day! Hope we you are doing well my friend...

Congrats on the boat selection A-Jay. I've been looking at the same thing. I currently have a Lund 186GL w/175 Opti Pro XS. Love the boat and the big water capability, but a bass boat platform would suit my style better. This new Lund looks like the best of both. I do have reservations though about going back to aluminum after being in a glass Lund for the last 6 years...

I agree with Dwight. We see the same thing on Rainy Lake in Ontario, which I fish spring & fall. Walleye & Smallmouth co-exist well, although big fish seem to peak on different years. Big walleye years are typically average bass years and vice versa. Both feed readily on crayfish, perch, & rainbow smelt. Same as Mille Lacs, biggest threat is spring netting.

Congrats Dwight. Not sure how you guessed the weight since you rarely see any bass under 5lbs! Looks like a sweet stick.....enjoy.

Dwight, I feel your wind pain. We had 6 straight days of 20-30mph west wind when I was at Rainy Lake early Oct. Maybe the smallmouth Gods felt sorry for me and let me catch a good one when I got back home?? Jeff, I caught the smallie in my Avatar on my first trip to Erie with Dwight. He is one heck of a guide!! That fish was short and fat and just under 6lbs....5-14.

Sorry, pic did not attach....will try again

Got this big gal on Pool 14 yesterday...19.5". This size is not uncommon in upper pools in WI and MN, but very rare down our way. Water temp 47. Caught on a 5/16 Strike King swim jig with 5" Kalin grub trailer.

Beauties Dwight....with that kind of girth they must be eatin "Silver Gobies" too! Terry

Ha! That's a big horse shoe....Baccarac to Michigan to Erie. I told Dwight I just want to be in the same area code when you two are together. Hoping some of that big fish carma will rub off!

"Big Fish Andy" and the "Smallmouth Commander" Dwight in the same boat sure ups the odds of that happening! If I was a betting man (which I am), that would be my "Favorite Pair"...

Kudos to the Red Sox but Dwight would have to grow a gnarly beard to wear that hat!! Not be a bad idea though, then he could have his own reality show...."Smallmouth Dynasty" Happy New Year to you guys - Terry

A-Jay, maybe I can send Dwight a White Sox hat?? The black & white would match Mark's shirt design perfectly!!

I know this is supposed to be smallies only, but all we have in NW Illinois this time of year are Mississippi River saugers!!

Thanks Dwight! "Walleye13" comes from my PB walleye on Bay of Quinte...13lbs-4oz. Also when and where I met Mr. Hottle who showed me those first jaw dropping pics of Lake Erie smallies. I've been a "Dwight Disciple" ever since and now he's got me chasin "Smallie7"....