If you were going to take a 3-5 day fishing trip in search of some good consistent bass, where would you go?
You want to make it a “cheap” trip and don’t want to venture TOO far from the midwest, yet you want to fish something “different” from home waters (Mississipi River – La Crosse area).
What are some suggestions you may have? Could be a place you have been or have wanted to go yourself. 
A couple small lakes in Crosby are awesome if you are into Bass
The Iowa great lakes area excellent smallmouth and good largemouth also the Mankato Mn area lakes numerous lakes that have good largemouth pop.
Are you talking about now or spring/summer?
It’s a question “in general”, not specific to time of year. 
My favorite place is fish is 3 1/2 hours west of where I live (Milwaukee).
Brainerd area, mainly Lake Hubert. No pressure and full of fish. Always have Gull or Whitefish if you want the big water, the river for smallies, or lots of other little lakes.
I would stay in the Hayward area, and make 5 seperate days of great fishing:
Red Cedar
Long Lake
Lake Owen
La Court Orielles
Chippewa Flowage
Sturgeon Bay, Little Sturgeon Bay, Chequamegon Bay
I second the Iowa Great Lakes, hard to beat West Okoboji or Spirit for smallmouth, some of the smaller lakes around here have plenty of green carp in them to keep a guy busy for along time.
I would fish The Bay two days on the east side and two days on the west. I would pick different launches so I could fish up and down the bay without beating myself up. I would do it around the spawn Early June.
Lots of decent lakes north of Brainerd with little pressure. I’ve caught numerous 4 and 5 pound Largemouth and even a 6.5 in this area.
Lake Erie in May. Smallmouth bass fishing at its best.
I have been thinking about lake mason. I hear you have to make it opening weekend cause the lake is full of grass and weeds. It has alot of stumps and it’s not a big lake so you wouldnt spend alot of time learning it. I may do it this yr 
I like the Madison Chain idea, although if I went there, I would have tournament mindset the whole time…I would like to do this all for fun.
Where is Lake Mason?
What kind of lake is Okoboji?
Mille Lacs Lake, Smallies and Largemouth both are huge and underfished.
Shallow sight fishing, Deep water, and Slop fishing, it has it all.
Ron
B.C.
I would second brovarney’s mention of the Madison Chain. It has some great fish in it. Both Large and Smallmouth’s. Also with-in 30 minutes is Lake Wisconsin if you want to switch up for a river bite. If you choose this area, let me know. I could try to make it up and show you around a little, if that is what you choose. Madison has a great swim jig bite on the flats through the middle of June when the weeds reach the surface. It also has a great deep weedline pattern as well. Lake Wisconsin was strong the whole season as well.
Bassman
If you are looking for smallies head up to rainy/ LOW. Chase the foot balls and catch the ocasional shore lunch.
I would fish the Balsam Lake area in Polk County Wisconsin. You have access to larger lakes like Balsam and Wapogasitte. But also many smaller lakes with wonderful underfished populations. For a change up you can hit the St. Croix. Their is a very nice access above the Talyors Falls Dam with access to at least 6 miles of nice smally water.
Can hardly wait!
Lake Mason is just northeast of Madison. It turns into a pasture after the weeds get up and is almost unfishable. It has a good population of fish and is popular early in the season.
Big Green is another prime Bass lake. You can get on either a smallie or largemouth bite. It has options to do everything from shallow to deep, rock, wood or weeds. It is a pretty good lake to let it all out.
How about fishing one of the nations best fisheries. Maybe you have heard of it… The Mississippi River?.
Novel I know but it is one the best I have ever been on.
jc
There are alot of good lakes in the Alexandria, Minnesota area. Polk Co. Wi has a bunch. The Madison chain would be good for a week trip, but the weekends become a morning only thing unless you like being constantly buzzed by skiers and PWC’s.
Without a doubt, I’d go to the Alexandria area. There are dozens of lakes within 30 minutes of Alex with awesome largemouth and smallmouth fishing. Clear water, tanic water, reeds, rocks, docks, deep, shallow…lots of fish and quality fish.
Upper Long Lake in Washburn Co. north of Rice Lake, WI is a real nice large mouth fishery, it also has good small mouth and is a grat place for walleyes. Almost half the shoreline is owned by the Boy Scouts, so there is never a large number of boats there. I’ve fished it for a week in early June for several years, and we’ve never run out of fishing spots. Plus there is a bunch of other lakes and the Red Cedar close by if you want to try other water when you are there.
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How about fishing one of the nations best fisheries. Maybe you have heard of it… The Mississippi River?.
Novel I know but it is one the best I have ever been on.
jc
What fun is fishing the same water all the time? Fishing different waters is probably the most beneficial thing anyone can do.
The Wisconsin River early in the year. Find a reasonably priced motel or camp on one of the Islands in the Muscoda (spelling)area. Also, don’t be suprised if you pick up a few nice Musky or Northern, and the catfishing is great if you want a night bite. Also, very peaceful. The last time I was there we never saw another boat; just a few canoes.
Not exactly serene but the Twin Cities area has some awesome lakes. Minnetonka has it all, clear water, dark water, deep fish shallow fish, big fish. One of my favorites is Waconia. On the east side you have Chisago, N-S Center. Plus, a bunch of smaller lakes to tick from.You could fish for weeks and not hit em all. 
I would like to spend more time on pool 2, to try to figure out those big smallies.
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