For those of you that are lucky and can fish for them in the northern part of Minnesota, have you been out chasing them lately with the warm weather we are getting? I'm going to give it a shot just north of Duluth. With the warm weather and sun, the smaller bays and protected coves with wood and rock should be holding some fish.
Tight lines!
Page 15 of the Minnesota Fishing Regulations. East and north of Hwy 53 in northern minnesota is open to bass fishing.....smallmouth and largemouth. The season opens up at the same time as the regular opener. Don't know why it would be open earlier, but my guess is that it is for all the people that head into the boundary waters area where there are alot of smallmouth. It would suck to head up there during opening weekend and week and not be able to catch any smallmouth That is just my theory otherwise I don't know why it would be open earlier.
Otherwise your right about fishing for northerns and accidentally catching a smallmouth. Done it lots while fishing for northerns in the St. Louis River. But DNR officers would probably catch on if you were just catching smallmouth one after another in one spot. If you are, then it's just best to move on and leave the fish be. Tho I've never heard of anyone getting in trouble for doing something like that.
