The U.S. Forest Service landing is on the north side of the lake just off County Road 8. Grand Marais information can be found online at www.grandmaraismn.com, or call 1-888-922-5000. The DNR's Grand Marais phone number is (218) 387-2535.

LITTLE FORK RIVER
Here is a northern Minnesota smallmouth destination that's so far off the beaten path that very few anglers have even heard of it. Hidden in the flat forestlands of Koochiching County, the Little Fork River offers 100 miles of little-known smallmouth water.

The Upper Little Fork is very challenging to fish due to its numerous shallow rapids. But starting at Samuelson Park near Rauch, the stream becomes deeper, and rapids are limited. From here to the Little Fork's junction with the Rainy River about 100 miles downriver, smallmouths and muskies are the primary species.

The first 50 miles are exceptionally remote, and it requires wilderness camping and at least three days of canoe travel. I love this rugged wild stretch of the Little Fork, where I've been face to face with wolves and caught lunker smallies in the same day. However, the 50 miles of river from Dentaybow Landing to its mouth are much easier to access, and day trips by small craft are possible. Big smallies and hefty muskies can both be caught here, but runoff from thick clay soils cause the Little Fork to become very muddy after rains, so fishing is best if it has been dry for at least a week.

The DNR offers a free map of the Little Fork because it's a designated canoe route, even though it is rarely used for canoeing. These river maps are available through local DNR offices and from the central office in St Paul at 1-888-646-6367. The closest sizable town to the Little Fork is International Falls, www.intfalls.org or 1-800-325-5766.

SNAKE RIVER
Here is a nice east-central smallmouth stream that's much more accessible than the Little Fork, yet seldom crowded. The Snake River flows over 80 miles though Kanabec and Pine counties, and it should be viewed as three distinct river sections.

The Upper Snake from McGrath to Mora has many rocky riffles and rapids, and requires good canoe handling skills to sample its piscatorial wares of smallmouths, pike and walleyes. It's best during early summer when water levels are higher.

The Middle Snake from Mora down to Pokegama Lake has few rapids and can be floated most of the season. But it has a plethora of small northern pike along with its moderate numbers of smallmouths.