Here in Minnesota, we are blessed with some of the best bass fishing in the country. While most people associate fly-fishing with trout, we have a lot of customers that only fish for warmwater fish, with largemouth and smallmouth bass being the target species.

Within an hour of our store, there are hundreds of lakes and streams that can provide plenty of action for anglers armed with an eight weight and a few poppers. Here are a few places to get you started.

Turtle Lake, Ramsey County
This lake has a very large population of largemouth bass. Its clear water and shallow weed beds make it ideal for fly-anglers. Boat traffic is high on the weekends and sunny weeknights, so plan your trip accordingly. Most of the bass will be in the 10 - 14 inches range, with a few that could reach up to 18 inches. Lake Independence, Hennepin County If you are looking for a bigger largemouth bass, this is the lake to go to. Although the water clarity is poor, usually less than 2 feet, bass in the 14 - 18 inches range are fairly common. Concentrate your effort on openings in the shallow weeds using noisy weedless flies on a heavy tippet.

Rum River, Anoka County
This is a small river, easily floated in a canoe or pontoon boat or waded. If you must wade, please consider using a felt soled wading shoes. The smallmouth here generally run on the small side, although there are some trophy possibilities. There are several access points between Anoka and St. Francis.

Mississippi River, Wright/Sherburne County
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 the boat-challenged anglers can sometime managed during the late summer months when the water levels drop down considerably. Most anglers would 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.