This however, does not mean that anyone that shows up with a rod and reel is going to fill out on trophy-sized bass. Once located, smallmouth will hit Rapalas or similar crank baits, Mepps and other spinners. They also love live bait rigs tipped with leeches, minnows or crawlers. So if you want action like you've dreamed about, head to Ely. Like the smallmouth, they are known for their scrappy qualities on the end of a line.
Most bass anglers prefer artificial lures but largemouths can also be take with live bait.
In the heat of summer, try catching a couple dozen small frogs and toss them towards some lily pads. This combination can be murder on all species of fish, but bass especially, can't seem to pass it up. Generally known to inhabit weedy areas of lakes in water depths of 15 feet or less, northerns are found in all our area waters. Northerns can be taken on large trolled lures - spinners, plugs, spoons and on sucker minnows. As they are primarily daytime feeders, it is common on some lakes to land,photograph, and release 25 or more of these fighters in a single day.