Smallmouth are a signature species in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, but didn’t swim there a century ago
Smallmouth bass are the most popular sportfish in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, possibly trailing only the walleye in time, money, and legend among today’s anglers. But this wasn’t always the case.
As often happens in history, the rise in popularity of smallmouth bass reflects a combination of intentional efforts by both professional and amateur (“bucket”) biologists, as well as the compromises and regulatory quirks shaped by political considerations. Our story begins at the start of the 20th century, when sport fishing and hunting developed into a leading attraction for visitors to canoe country.
