Minnesota is blessed with some of the nation's best smallmouth bass fishing.

The metro area also can be excellent for smallmouth bass. The Mississippi River above the Twin Cities, from Monticello to Elk River, is a well-known Twin Cities smallmouth hotspot.

While the smallmouth only grows to about half the size of the largemouth, it is much more agile, faster and powerful for its size. It eats pretty much the same foods, just smaller specimens. It is without argument one of the finest game fish an angler can pursue. The thrill of the frantic runs and jumps are the source of many a fisherman's dreams.

It's no secret that the upper Mississippi provides world-class smallmouth fishing. It has been written about in practically every outdoor magazine. The strict catch & release regulations in these waters ensure that the bass population stays strong. This is primarily a boat fishery, although boat-challenged anglers can managed during the late summer months when the water levels drop down considerably.

Most anglers do fish from Clearwater to Monticello or from Monticello to Elk River. The fish here average in the 12 - 20 inches range, but bigger fish are always caught each year.