Kabetogama Lake definitely has good enough numbers of smallmouth bass that you should be able to catch some if you target them. Most anglers catch smallmouth bass here on accident while targeting walleye. Your best chances for catching good numbers of smallmouth bass will come in the spring and early summer when they can be found in the shallows on what seems like this lake’s endless shorelines. Big bass are common on the lake with 3 to 4 pounders available and some bigger fish too.
Fish the Bays
This lake has a lot of bays and these areas will warm up quickly in the late spring / early summer. Fish the rocky areas with warmer water and you’ll find some smallmouth bass early in the year. As summer approaches, the offshore bite tends to be much better.
Fish the Islands
You have plenty of islands here to fish for smallmouth bass. Find the rocks with some drop-offs into 15 feet of water or deeper and you should find some smallmouth bass. The wind can definitely play a role in positioning the smallmouth bass as well on these islands.
Fish the Points
You have a lot of points on the main lake and with all the islands here. Points with some rocks and some deep water nearby are great places to search when looking for smallmouth bass.
Fish Reefs
If you can find the on the reefs in the fall when they school up in huge numbers, this can be a good time to catch a lot of quality sized bass as well. You can find bass on the reefs throughout the summer as well, but they school up in very big numbers in the fall.
Fish the Rocks
Yon won’t have a hard time finding rocky structure here. Rocks are all over the lake, so plan on fishing lots of rock when looking for smallmouth bass here.
Fish the Wind Blown Structure
With so much main lake structure, the you can just let the wind dictate where you fish and do really well. Target the wind blown points and islands with some rocks and deeper water near the shallow water.
Best Baits for Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass will eat a variety of different baits. Minnows, nightcrawlers and leeches are definitely the best live baits for smallmouth bass.
When it comes to artificial lures, you have lots of options. Soft plastic crayfish, twin tail grubs, worms and minnow baits are very effective. Hard baits such as crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinners also work great.
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Live Baits for Smallmouth Bass
Best Rigs for Smallmouth Bass
With so many different soft plastics to use, you have so many different rigs that work great for smallmouth bass. The drop shot rig, a simple jighead, standup jigheads and scrounger jigheads are some of the best rigs for smallmouth bass. To see our full list, take a look at our best rigs for smallmouth bass page.
Best Techniques for Smallmouth Bass
There are so many different techniques you can use for smallmouth bass since they can be found shallow, deep and anywhere in between. Anglers usually cast for them, but jigging, drop shotting and drifting are also some great techniques for smallmouth bass.
To learn more, take a look at our best techniques for smallmouth bass page.
Learn More About Smallmouth Bass
Our smallmouth bass fishing section has tons of tips on the best lures, live baits, where to catch them and how to catch them.
Visit our smallmouth bass fishing website to learn more.
