The six boat ramps around the lake allow easy access. The Fergus Falls DNR has more information on Green Lake, and Mel's Sport Shop (320-796-2421) in Spicer is a good source for info.

SOUTH TEN MILE LAKE
A western Minnesota lake along the Otter Tail and Grant County border, Ten Mile is another little-known smallmouth jewel.

This is a 1,400-acre body of water that has had a 21-inch minimum-size regulation on its smallies for four years. Bronzebacks seem to be prospering with the protection. Before the new regulations were implemented, South Ten Mile had good reproduction, but few fish survived to larger sizes. Now, DNR assessments have found that nearly half the smallmouths are over 15 inches, an excellent average size. The lake also has a few largemouths, but big rock bass and nice-sized pike are more numerous. Rock bass pushing 10 inches are common, and pike from 25 to 32 inches are also abundant. If that's not enough species diversity to keep you occupied, the lake's walleye population is also quite high.

The smallmouths can be found in the hard-bottomed areas of the lake, especially in the 8- to 15-foot depths. South Ten Mile also has large stands of bulrushes on the south and west sides of the lake, and during early morning, some fish relate to these shallow, weedy areas. If the surface is flat, early-morning topwatering can be exciting and productive.

There's a boat landing at the south end of the lake. Contact the Fergus Falls DNR at (218) 739-7576 for more information.

ROOT RIVER
The Root is a beautiful, limestone-laden stream in southeast Minnesota's scenic bluff country. It offers good smallmouthing for 55 miles from Chatfield down to Rushford.

The Root is floatable by canoe, but during late-summer and early-fall dry spells you'll have to drag over some shallow riffles. Too much water is a more common challenge. Heavy rains on the stream's agricultural watershed cause it to run turbid. Periods of low rainfall offer the best fishing.

Fishing the Root for years, I've long regarded it as a great "numbers" destination. When conditions are good, a lot of 10- to 14-inch smallies are likely. However, 18-inch-plus dandies are also possible, especially in the lower reaches downstream of Lanesboro in Fillmore County. Early-season fishing -- late May and June -- is good if water visibility is at least 18 inches. July and August is more consistent, and 1/16-ounce jigs and bottom-bouncing flies are hard to beat during the summer.

Angling pressure is only light on the Root, and weekend recreational canoe use is seldom more than moderate. A dozen bridges span the stream offering access.

To find your way around any state waterway, get a detailed map like the Minnesota Atlas and Gazetteer by DeLorme Mapping (207-865-4171). A state canoe guide is helpful and available through the DNR Rochester office at (507) 285-7176.

Learning to read the water and figuring out the best techniques can be confusing for the beginning stream angler. Taking a stream smallmouth school from the Minnesota-based Smallmouth Angler Fishing Service (www.smallmouthangler.com) is the best way to quickly learn the tricks of river smallmouthing. Anglers practicing catch-and-release have significantly improved Minnesota's smallmouth fisheries. But the good times will only last if we continue to let 'em go and let 'em grow. That fine fish you release this year may be the lunker you catch next year!

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Minnesota DNR Information (lake reports), www.dnr.state.mn.us or (651) 296-6157; U.S. Geological Survey (river levels), www.usgs.gov/state; Smallmouth Angler Fishing Service (smallmouth guiding, schools, information), www.smallmouthangler.com.