smallmouth bass fishing in northern michigan Discussion in 'Fish Taxidermy' started by snagmaster49, Jul 3, 2013. Like so many Michigan waters, 4-pound fish are pretty common and you'll wear your arms out on 2- and 3-pounders once you get dialed in. So you are blessed to be living in or going to visit Michigan and want to know where to go to enjoy some of the best smallmouth bass fishing the country has to offer. Many Michigan bass fishermen consider Lake Charlevoix the best smallmouth bass lake in the state. We've almost completed our tour of smallmouth nirvana, and we're going to close with a crescendo. Charter & Guide Fishing Trips on Lake Michigan for Smallmouth Bass, Perch, King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Brown Trout, Steelhead Trout and Lake Trout in Illinois & Indiana from downtown Chicago to Portage Indiana. Northern Illinois. The eggs, which are larger than those of the largemouth bass, hatch in two to three days. With the Detroit cityscape as a backdrop, you'll target the thousands of rock piles and reefs that litter the floor of Lake Erie. Mexico's Lake Picachos is full of big largemouths; catching 300 pounds in one day not uncommon. |   Huge Smallmouth Bass Sets New Michigan Record A 9.33 pound smallmouth bass was caught this week at Hubbard Lake in Northeast Michigan. The fisheries here are so prolific for bass fishing, northern Michigan and the Traverse City area have been the focus of many national television shows and numerous magazine articles. And waters range from big water to small, from Great Lake to big lake to small lake to river to stream. Access to these waters is abundant and easy. Those blackish areas are created by submerged vegetation and rock. Many of the lakes across the northern tier of the Lower Peninsula offer outstanding smallmouth fishing, as do many of the rivers of southern Michigan. Fly fishing Lake Michigan along Indiana’s coast for smallmouth bass is an adventure every serious bronzeback angler should experience. Smallmouth bass are numerous and provide good fishing throughout the river. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Located along the shore of Lake Michigan about 30 minutes from Traverse City, this park was voted by viewers of ABC's Good Morning America as the "Most Beautiful Place in America. They can be caught with a wide range of artificial lures, and can be taken on virtually any live bait. Low season is January to March and November to December. But I don't consider the place I'm about to tell you about "most parts of the country." Average smallmouth bass are between 1 to 2 pounds, and range from 12 to 15 inches in length, so this record fish is about 5+ times the average weight. See Photos; Techniques to target smallmouth through the seasons. After many years of teaching and coaching basketball in Indiana, my wife, Zoe, and I now reside in the KALKASKA/TRAVERSE CITY area. Smallmouth Bass from the Lake Michigan drainage could be parsimoniously grouped into two or six genetically distinct units that largely corresponded with either river or lake habitats, while fish from the Mississippi River drainage grouped into two, six, or nine genetic units that were mostly associated with watershed boundaries. No trip to Michigan would be complete without a visit to Mackinaw City. It is one of those rare places where hip, young families mix freely with history-loving retirees. Unfortunately I am driving over 5 hours one way to get to the primetime waters in Michigan, but it has been worth every ounce of gas used. Topwater lures like this are a popular choice for fishing smallies near the surface. In my book I wrote a chapter about what I felt was the best smallmouth bass lake in the world. But when it comes to smallmouth fishing, you'd be hard pressed to find one more accommodating than Traverse City. Then the newly hatched light-colored fry drop down into the bottom of the gravel nest for three or more days. Both arms of Grand Traverse Bay hold exceptional populations of smallmouth. In most parts of the country, a 5-pound smallmouth earns "fish-of-a-lifetime" status. WALLOON, CHARLEVOIX, BURT/MULLET are frequently requested. Michigan boasts good populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass statewide, though as you travel northward, smallmouths are the dominant species. According to Steiger, the bass … At Torch Lake, you can pull your boat up to a giant sandbar to lounge then use it as your starting point for some fun tubing. A little farther north, 80,000-acre Big Bay de Noc has many fish, yet very few smallmouth fans. Along the way we'll encounter some of the finest freshwater shoreline in the country, skip through wine country, roll through glorious stands of hardwoods and descend towards the region that gave us the automobile. Indiana is home to roughly 40-miles of smallmouth rich lakeshore between the Illinois border and Michigan City. Bass fishermen typically cast all manner of lures, from topwater plugs to bottom-bumpers (such as jigs or plastic worms) with diving plugs, swim baits, spoons or spinnerbaits used in between. All Rights Reserved. Leaving the Traverse area will be tough. Trophy Michigan smallmouth bass are abundant in northern Michigan. Under the watchful eye of the male, they swim in a dense dark cloud over the nest for a few days, then begin to disperse. This time we'll stop in Au Gres, a beautiful port town that just happens to offer excellent access to Charity Island in Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay. During June, smallmouth move into shallow reefs to spawn. Michigan Smallmouth Bass Guided Fly Fishing. Better yet, the areas with some of the finest fishing also happen to be some of state's most scenic and family-friendly places to visit. Fly fishing Lake Michigan along Indiana’s coast for smallmouth bass is an adventure every serious bronzeback angler should experience. Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes and in many places 5 pounds is where trophy smallmouths begin. They can also be dangerous. Both, however, can be caught from the same bodies of water and often from the same general areas. snagmaster49 Member. Michigan Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing Guide . The record was verified by a Michigan state DNR fisheries biologist. Lake St. Clair is no exception. Water clarity is intense with visibility easily surpassing 20 feet. I live in northern Lower Michigan (Otsego County) and fish several of the lakes in & around this area. Founded in 1852, Traverse City is an eclectic mix of history and future. Michigan Smallmouth Bass Fishing Guides - Light tackle fishing guides for Muskegon River Smallmouth. We're heading south again along the eastern shore. We fish Monday evenings and Saturday mornings. The phrase "gin clear" simply doesn't do it justice. Pay attention when running and keep an eye on your sonar and you'll be fine. Simply cast to any dark spots in the water. Michigan is home to some big fish. Michigan is home to some big fish. 593 1. Imagine a full day or multiple days fishing for “Jumpers” where 2 – 4 pound Smallmouth are common and many 5 – 7 pound wall hangers are taken every season. Jul 3, 2013 #1 . Our final stop is the lake that put Michigan's smallmouth fishing on the map: Lake Erie. I am a fanatic about dropshotting for smallmouth bass. There is no closed season. The record was verified by a Michigan … All of the fisheries mentioned here can be accessed via a state park. Expansion of Woodland Series targets continues fun, realistic way to practice. You'll find plenty of areas to target including weed beds and rocks. In the last twenty-five years the introduction of invasive species such as zebra mussels, gobies and rusty crawfish have all drastically helped the lakes smallmouth bass fishing. After ten years of tournament experience throughout Michigan, Joe has spent the last several years fishing Lake St. Clair exclusively. Photo by Tony Hansen. It is considered part of the Great Lakes system, connecting to Lake Huron via the St. Clair River, and Lake … Crank baits, top water and soft plastics are producing good numbers of Smallmouth bass on the Muskegon River. (231) 519-7348 Spending so much time on the water, he is able to stay on top of the fish as they progress through their seasonal patterns. An annual nonresident license is an affordable $68. But keep in mind this is Lake Michigan. Summer is finally here, along with warmer weather, comes great Smallmouth Bass fishing in Michigan. After spawning, bass typically move out to deeper water, though there are almost always some bass, especially largemouths, in shallow water, usually associated with cover such as weed beds, fallen timber or boat docks. Bass anglers have the opportunity to catch fish in the 3- to 4-pound class nearly every time they hit the water, with a real chance at a trophy in the 5-pound range! Throw these lures to overcome... Five top spots for hot smallmouth action this autumn. Then we'll head north into the land of the Sleeping Bear. Mullett has more "traditional" cover whereas Burt requires you to find more subtle holding areas. Only Whitefish Lake contains all of the three major species in this area Walleye, Northern Pike, and Smallmouth. Smallmouth Bass Fishing Lake Michigan and the Bays. The usual smallmouth seen by anglers is eight to 15 inches long and weighs less than three pounds, but they are capable of reaching upwards of five to six pounds in waters with adequate food and habitat. Largemouths are more often associated with shallow, weedier bodies of water or reservoirs with standing timber, while smallmouths are more closely linked to rocky habitat and rivers. Spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps can produce fish-every-cast action. Both Burt and Mullett offer exceptional smallmouth fishing. The Lake St. Clair smallmouth bass population has long been know to be one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the nation. (231) 519-7348 Perhaps nobody knows these Indiana smallmouth bass like Captain Ralph Steiger, who operates a very successful guiding business on the waters of Lake Michigan. Top water action for Michigan Smallmouth Bass. At first the fry eat microcrustaceans, but soon add insects and fish to their diet as they grow in size. Long Lake Michigan fishing in crystal … As beautiful as the setting is, the Native American lore for which the dunes are named is just as incredible. In 2016, angler Robert Bruce Kraemer broke the state record for smallmouth bass, landing a 23.10-inch, 9.98-pounder on the Indian River in … It is the diversity in topography, scenery and experience that defines Michigan's fishing and a smallmouth trek "around the horn" is as good as it gets. You'll find miles and miles of rocky reefs around the island; all of which can be loaded with smallmouth. Cast to these dark spots and you'll find bass. The Saginaw River holds plenty of smallmouth as well. “Gentlemen; It’s been some time since I have provided you with and update on the Piper Lake smallmouth bass eradication project. Fishing for Smallmouth Bass. It is the type species of its genus. Based out of Michigan, Ben hosts a YouTube channel called The Smallmouth Experience where he uploads weekly videos sharing his experiences of catching smallmouth bass, as well as helpful tips for anglers out there who want to find more success on the water. Michigan’s Lake St Clair isn’t just famous for its big fish, but also for its incredible numbers of smallmouth bass. This cozy town serves as the gateway to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and views of the massive Mackinac Bridge, which connects the two peninsulas, are spectacular. The record was verified by a Michigan state DNR fish biologist. There are both the Trophy and the Unique in this video, caught with a green pumpkin bass jig. here just to pursue Michigan smallmouth bass. For a great family meal, be sure to stop into Darrow's. Still, nothing beats the hard nose pull of a smallmouth bass. Dropshotting for Smallmouth Bass by Jeremiah Eads. We've had numerous occasions of landing some monster 25" bass into the boat and invite you to do the same. Once you find them, it's hard to beat a drop-shot rig for targeting specific fish-holding cover. Shoemaker, had a good run with a fish caught in Long Lake in Cheboygan County weighing 9.25 pounds and measuring 27.25 inches, Greg Gasiciel was able to best that fish for a new state record. I’ve landed some large smallmouth from Clark, but never a Laker. Photo by Jeff Simpson. While the two branches are relatively narrow, they harbor good-sized smallmouth bass, and it takes a very heavy rain to dirty them, so if the lower river is muddy, you can save the day by moving up to the branches. With the Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system, anglers have ultimate kayak control... From dabblers to divers, there's an Avian-X Topflight decoy for every duck hunter. A new long-range hunting contender enters the fray. And if there is a better state for smallmouth bass fishing than Michigan, it has yet to reveal itself. Spawning activity begins in the spring when water temperatures reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit or more. I've caught fish over four pounds in both lakes and wouldn't be able to choose a favorite between the two if my best crankbait depended on it. Change up your baits until you find one that starts getting strikes then stick with it. You'll find a historic downtown filled with specialty shops where you can sample the town's famous taffy and fudge. Michigan truly is a fisherman's paradise, and for the bass angler, there is no shortage of world-class opportunities across the state! There is basically no competition from other anglers and the bass reach behemoth size. The waters, climate and habitat found in Michigan will offer you some of the best opportunities to have a blast catching some beautiful bronzebacks in the home state of Kevin Van Dam. Photo by Jeff Simpson. Comerica has a ton of family-friendly activities throughout the park and you'll want to take them all in before the first pitch. 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