KETTLE RIVER
One of Minnesota's nicer streams, the Kettle combines beauty, quietness and accessibility with fine smallmouthing.

Flowing 50 miles through Pine County, this St. Croix River tributary offers a variety of fishing experiences. The 10 miles of water above the town of Willow River is fine for the on-foot angler and also canoeable during the higher flows of early summer. The next 11 miles of river from Willow River down to Highway 23 is easy to float all season long. Heavily forested banks with rugged outcroppings make appealing scenery, and long, rocky pools will stimulate your fishing instincts. However, don't bother working the entire pool. Most smallies take in-line spinners or a fly-fisher's bright-colored streamer at the head of each pool.

Between Highway 23 and Sandstone, a series of rapids cause many anglers to steer clear of this short stretch of river. The last 10 miles of the Kettle River inside St. Croix State Park is more fishing-friendly. The lower river's dozens of riffles and mini-rapids aren't dangerous, and a lot of bronzebacks relate to them.

The DNR (1-800-657-3929) offers a free Kettle River Canoe Guide map that marks river miles, accesses and nearby roadways.

LAKE MINNETONKA
Everybody knows Minnetonka is a wonderful largemouth bass lake, but not so many people realize that its smallmouth fishery isn't bad either. Sure, 'Tonka's smallies are far fewer than its tremendous bucketmouth population, but savvy anglers can still connect with some fine bronzebacks. And because there are only a couple of smallmouth lakes in the metro, 14,000-acre Minnetonka is one of the few next-door spots that Twin Cities smallmouthers have to fish. While catch rates aren't high, 17- and 18-inchers are common, and even a 5-pounder is possible.

In recent years, smallmouths seem to be expanding in Minnetonka and occasionally turn just up about anywhere. However, the eastern third of the lake is still the most productive. Focus on Wayzata, Browns and Robinsons bays as well as Big Island. Classic rock reefs and points are always worth trying, though submerged weedbeds around hard bottoms are often better. Even that largemouth favorite -- the boat dock -- is good if it's over gravel or rock.

Crawfish-colored crankbaits are good if vegetation isn't too heavy, but spinnerbaits also have their place, and 4-inch finesse worms are hard to beat for finicky feeders. Be willing to go down to 20 feet during midday, but to get the best bite, try weekday mornings when boat traffic is least.

Stop by Wayzata Bait at 15748 Wayzata Boulevard for the latest scoop on Minnetonka bronzebacks.

GREEN LAKE
Green Lake is an oddity. It's large at 5,400 acres, it's only 90 miles west of Minneapolis and it has a superb smallmouth fishery, yet few smallmouth fans are aware of Green's fantastic fishing. And strangely, many local anglers despise the native smallies and view them as a threat to their beloved walleyes.

In fact, these anti-smallmouth folks have been working to repeal the 14- to 21-inch protected slot currently in place, so the smallies can be fished down to what they were in the 1980s. If you enjoy battling big smallies, be sure to get out to this Kandiyohi County lake this season while the fishery is still robust. Naturally, most fish will be under 15 inches, but stout-bodied smallies over 20 inches are also possible, and a few of these lunkers break the 5-pound mark.

You'll find the smallies on the multitude of midlake reefs and humps that are scattered across Green Lake. Rock and gravel humps from 10 to 15 feet deep hold fish all summer long. In the fall, smallmouths move into the 20- to 30-foot zone. Crankbaits that run deep enough to bang bottom are good when fish are active, while vertical jigging with a grub on a 1/8-ounce jighead is effective for more sluggish fish. Patches of aquatic vegetation can also be found in Green Lake and often hold quality-sized pike, including some over 30 inches.