Smallmouth Bass Fishing - Great Lakes

[djkimmel]

I think the smallmouth fishing on the Great Lakes has been better than ever over the past 10 years on average. I think it's trended better overall since 1994 with some real high points on various parts of various lakes, but still better overall than 10 years ago. What do you think? Make your feelings known.

If you think it's worse overall, why? Discussions are an excellent way to learn about various opinions and here things about the various parts of a topic such as all the various parts of the Great Lakes and what is happening with them now. As much as I'd like to, I can't fish every part of every Great Lake. It'd sure be fun though .
Thanks.

[BPACH]

I have never fished the Great Lakes for Bass. I have never even thought of it. I spend some time up around Tawas Bay during the summer and maybe I should try it. What sort of tactics do you use?

[djkimmel]

Tawas Bay can be REALLY good. Spinnerbaits are good to start with until you find them. Just fish the sand flats between the river and the MDNR ramp/harbor. Their are rock patches and weed strips along there (look for the open spot along shore near the factory building) that attract a lot of smallies at times.

You should get some on spinnerbaits most of the time. Then slow down and fish tubes and things like Senkos/Sluggos/flukes through the same areas. They can be in 3 or 4 feet out to 8 feet of more.

There are bass up into the bay farther along the sand drops too sometimes all the way out towards the North end of the bay. These fish come in and out a lot though.

Last years federation tournament was won at least one day in Tawas Bay.

[Andy]

I have some friends comming up from the south and thay will be fishing LSC the 2nd week of June thay would like to know if thay could fish the south shore and not get in trouble. I told them that there is no need to spend there time on the south shore becouse the mile roads should be going hot and heavy. Any info on this is would be helpfull.

[djkimmel]

I'd be a lot more anxious about fishing Canadian water before their season opens for bass than the US side. The Mile roads will be loaded with bass in mid-June.

The MDNR is cracking down on 'bass' anglers right now on St. Clair so they will need to consider this if they fish it before the 3rd Saturday in June. Afterwards, no problems and great fishing.

Canadian (South shore) doesn't open until the last Saturday in June. I'd recommend they start out from the blue sea wall marina at 11 Mile Road and work South towards Nine Mile bar/Gauklers Point. from 4 feet out into 9 feet, they should throw spinnerbaits (start with chartreuse), suspending jerkbaits, red spots/traps and tubes.

If it's bright and sunny, just throw to any dark spot. If harder to see, throw the faster lures until you catch a bass. Then work that area over really good for more. Some bass will be spawning, but many may be eating mayflies and roaming the flats. Definitely try topwaters early if mayflies are hatching.

[Andy]

Are the Canadians giving the preseason anglers a hard time too?? So it is not a good idea to fish Canadian Waters before there season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[djkimmel]

The rumor is they plan to really crack down on out of season bass anglers. I don't know how well they are manned. I rarely see them out there. My guess is that the more common areas like Mitchells Bay and Belle River for example will see the most action.

It makes me more nervous since they are a foreign country and there laws a more strict than ours as far as what it takes to violate some and confiscation of equipment for evidence.

It's probably not worth the risk for me personally, but many guys go over there and fish bass. I was stopped about 3 years ago by the mouth of the Detroit and told them I was perch fishing. It was the weekend before their opening day and I had caught a few perch already to keep in the well. That was good enough for that crew.

Like the US side, I think some publicity and some old-fashioned anglers who believe fishing for bass out of season is really bad thing have put increasing pressure on the COs to enforce the season more - kind of an attempt to justify the season in the first place.

[Andy]

Thanks Dan I,ll e-mail them this info.

[mark]

I would vote, but I haven't fished the great lakes since I was 6. However, I believe from what my relatives and friends have said that it is much better. These fisheries are awesome now.