LAKE PEPIN
This wide spot on the Mississippi River is one of very few lakes in southeast Minnesota, and at 25,000 acres and 18 miles long, Lake Pepin certainly deserves your attention.

Beginning just downstream of Red Wing and stretching almost to Wabasha, Lake Pepin holds an array of species. Walleyes, saugers and white bass are the long-time favorites, but in recent years, smallmouths have increased in popularity, as well as in numbers and size. More smallmouths could be partially caused by an abundance of zebra mussels whose filtering seems to clear Pepin's turbid water. Improving fish sizes is likely due to Lake Pepin's 14-inch minimum-size rule.

Dan Johnson has fished Pepin for years, and he recommended focusing on the water downstream of Lake City. He targets Lake Pepin's abundant riprap on both sides of the state line. Crayfish-colored crankbaits often produce in mid- and late summer, but Johnson said shad imitators can be better at times. When the fish -- both smallies and white bass -- really key in on shad, it is important to use lures the same size as that silvery forage fish. This means smaller sizes in the early summer and larger lures in late summer as the shad grow.

There are six boat landings on lower Pepin, if you include those in Wisconsin. For tips on lodging, marinas, tackle shops and dining, try Lake City Tourism at LakeCity.org, or (651) 345-4123.

RUM RIVER
The Rum River is over 130 miles long, but it is nearly as big at the headwaters as at its mouth. That's because the Rum is the outlet for giant Mille Lacs and it has no major tributaries. This means this central Minnesota stream has smallies almost from its very beginning.

The upper 30 miles from Onamia down to Milaca is prime water. Although it's shallow, the Rum in Mille Lacs County has enough rock and wood to support good numbers of 11- to 14-inch fish. Highway 169 and many county roads offer a dozen access points between Milaca and Onamia. The upper stream is often floatable by canoe in early summer, and on-foot anglers can score all season long. The 40 miles from Princeton to Cambridge has more walleyes than smallies, but bronzebacks can be found wherever the bottom has more rock than sand. The lower 30 miles down to Anoka is rockier, and smallmouths of various sizes can be caught.

Naturally, light spinning tackle is effective on the Rum, but this shallow stream is also excellent for fly-fishing. One way to quickly learn the intricacies of smallmouth fly-fishing is to take an on-the-water school. The experts at Smallmouth Angler (612/781-3912) offer excellent instruction.