Smallmouth Bass

The Twin Cities area offers some surprisingly good smallmouth bass action, and St. Paul is right in the thick of it. The Mississippi River, with its rocky shorelines and current breaks, is the prime location. Target areas around Fort Snelling State Park and the confluence of the Minnesota River. Spring and fall are peak seasons, when water temperatures are moderate and smallies are actively feeding before and after the spawn. During the summer months, focus on deeper, cooler water near submerged structure. A local tip: access to the river can be tricky, so scout out public access points beforehand. Also, be aware of the fluctuating river levels, especially after heavy rains; this can significantly impact fishing conditions and where the smallmouth hold. The smallmouth in this stretch of the Mississippi tend to be scrappy fighters, often displaying acrobatic leaps when hooked.