I would like to head north (and out of the south Texas heat) for some small mouth bass fishing. I've heard that Minnesota is good. Any advice on places, guides, or anything else? Just starting to research, but would like to go in July.

Jay Brainard on Mille Lacs

Josh Douglas on Mille Lacs. July would not be prime time but you should catch enough to keep it interesting. Stay at Nitti�s Hunter Point Resort.

Thank you both. I'll check them out. I'm hoping it's not too late to set something up for July.

If the goal is to avoid the heat, drive further north tha Mille lacs. Go up to lotw or Rainey Lake Ontario. If true giants are the goal Mille lacs, sturgeon bay, st.clair, or st.lawrence river is where I would head.

I went to st Claire last year with Tom keifer - tko fishing. He is an awesome guy and knows his way around the lake. I went mid July and the weather didn�t cooperate. It was cold windy and raining almost nonstop but we still caught lots of fish. My biggest was 4lbs 10oz. I�m Making a return trip in a couple of weeks hoping for some cooperation from the weather this time.

spawning right now on okoboji iowa

Traverse City area of MI. Great fishing and some great wineries.

I fished with Jay last July and we caught 30 fish up to 4 lbs on a bad day. A friend of mine was up there for 3 consecutive days with him and they were catching 50 fish a day up to 5 and 6 lbs.Milles Lacs is awesome.

My son and i went Milles lacs ,the last week in May with RD outdoors, man did we catch the big fish we caught 51 smallmouth, 23 over 4 pounds, 9 over 5 pounds, for the 2 days and one 6 pound fish as well as 27 walleye mixed in with the smallies.

Already booked for 3 days next year with Ron Great Guide. check out his face book page. Here is a picture of my 6 pound fish and a 5-9

Ok. This might sound crazy, but we have only been out of Texas once, about 20 years ago, to Alaska. I started checking but finding it difficult to coordinate lodging, guide and airfare. Several places mentioned have lodging, but guides are booked. It looks like we will have to fly into St Paul and rent a car. But still no match up on a place where we can get both a guide and a place to stay at the same time. How does anybody do this?

You've kind of missed the boat (no pun intended) on peak smallmouth. You can still catch them don't get me wrong, but everything will be post spawn in the lower 48 starting pretty much next week.

I went to Rainey lake in MN last July with my two grown boys and we had a blast catching smallies and pike. We stayed at the Thunderbird Lodge just outside of International Falls. They have boats that you can rent, and some local guides listed on their website that you can call. We are leaving tomorrow headed to St. Clair and are pulling my boat this time. Bass fishing just isn't the same out of one of those v-bottom boats they use up there. Just PM me if you have some more questions.

Thanks for all the help. I did find a place available with a guide so it's a go! Booking the airfare now!

You need to check out Bass Brawl Outdoors. My cousin fished with these guys. Over 350 lbs caught in a weeks time. Plenty of 4, 5 and 6 pounders.