Although not as numerous as they are upriver, this section offers noteworthy smallmouth action. Also, the river is deep enough in most places that you can use a standard-sized boat.

The northern stretch from the Coon Rapids Dam down to the Lowry Bridge in Minneapolis isn’t dredged, so it’s uncrowded. There’s quite a bit of natural rock for fish to relate to and in the summer, river depths may be quite shallow. In fact, in late summer, I often experience good action while wade-fishing.

In the heart of Minneapolis, the river is deeper and offers unique views of skyscrapers, nearby joggers and an occasional barge. Because this part of the Mississippi is dredged, the best structure is often riprapped banks, tile outflows, bridge piers and dam plunge pools. The three dams in this part of the river are especially good. Downstream of the Ford Dam, walleyes and white bass are common catches. Another productive area is the limestone-studded banks behind the University of Minnesota campus. Unfortunately, one good metro spot is no longer available. The I-35W bridge area consistently held fish, and just days before last summer’s bridge collapse, I caught several nice smallmouths at that very spot. Since the tragedy, the area has been off-limits.

Crawfish-colored crankbaits are consistent summer baits. To most effectively fish the metro or upper Mississippi River, consider a guided trip with Smallmouth Angler ( www.smallmouthangler.com ).

For river maps, call the DNR at (651) 296-6157 or visit www.dnr. state.mn.us .

DEER LAKE
Itasca County in north-central Minnesota is home to a cluster of fine smallmouth lakes and Deer Lake may be the best of the bunch. At nearly 4,100 acres, it certainly ranks as one of the largest smallmouth waters in the area. Combine Deer’s substantial size, its scenic beauty and good numbers of bronzebacks and you have a premier destination. Best of all, DNR surveys and angler reports indicate an improving fishery. For example, a 1995 DNR electrofishing project captured 17 fish an hour. A decade later, the number had grown to 56 an hour. The study also found that the size of the fish had also increased over the years with one-third of the fish measuring 15 inches or better.

The size increase is largely attributed to more anglers practicing catch-and-release than 20 years ago. Besides impressive numbers of smallmouths, rock bass are also abundant in Deer Lake, so expect to catch plenty of those eager biters, especially when using smaller baits.

The mighty muskie is another species Deer Lake fishermen should be ready for. A muskie-stocking program has produced a significant fishery with estimates of one adult fish per seven acres.

To maximize success on Deer, the lake’s high clarity should be taken into account. Naturally, the best fishing occurs in lower light periods of mornings and evenings and cloudy days. On sunny days, be willing to fish deeper than usual and use smaller-sized baits.

For more information, contact the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce at (800) 472-6366 or www.grandmn.com For fishing advice, contact the Fishing Hole in Grand Rapids at (218) 326-2899.

ZUMBRO LAKE
River-rich southeast Minnesota is the only region of our state lacking natural lakes. Nevertheless, it is home to 600-acre Zumbro Lake, a fishy reservoir north of Rochester. Created by damming the Zumbro River, this manmade lake shares some of the characteristics of larger reservoirs. It’s long and narrow with some steep, rocky shorelines and points, and water clarity and levels fluctuate with the incoming flow from two streams.