Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass fishing near Deephaven centers around Lake Minnetonka, but unlike largemouth, you'll typically find smallies relating more to rocky structures and points. The lake's numerous rocky shorelines, submerged humps, and points provide excellent habitat for these hard-fighting fish. Summer and fall are prime times. During the summer, focus on deeper water near rocky structures, using techniques like drop-shotting and crankbaits. As the water cools in the fall, smallmouth often move shallower to feed aggressively before winter. A local tip is to pay close attention to wind direction. Smallmouth often congregate on the windward side of points and islands where the waves are churning up food. Also, be aware that Lake Minnetonka has a lot of zebra mussels, so inspect your line frequently for damage. Minnetonka's smallmouth population is thriving, and you can expect to encounter fish ranging from 2-4 pounds, with the occasional larger specimen.