Best Bass Fishing In Michigan: 5 Places To Catch A Giant Smallmouth

Fishing can get tough in those winter months. But, if you are lucky enough to live in a place where your lakes don't freeze over, here are seven lures that will help you with some awesome winter fishing. Remember to focus on the regular winter spots, including moving water, deep holes, and the tailraces below a dam.

Don't Look Past The Line

Braided line holds water more than monofilament or fluorocarbon, so if the water temperatures dip below freezing. It becomes a hassle when ice sticks to the line. Fluorocarbon well in the winter can become brittle in the winter months, so many anglers prefer using monofilament in the winter months.

1) Lake St. Clair

BassinBill with a Lake St Clair tank smallmouth.

This large lake is situated between Lake Huron and Lake Erie and sits partially in America, with the rest in Canada. It's widely recognized as one of the best smallmouth bass fisheries, but there are plenty of fat largemouth in the St. Clair River and many marshy areas in the system.

The lake is unique for Great Lakes region fisheries as it is relatively flat and shallow throughout the entire lake. There is grass just about everywhere, meaning the smallmouth could be anywhere on the lake. Typical smallmouth lures like tubes and drop-shot rigs excel here, but there can also be an excellent bite with crankbaits and jerkbaits when the conditions are right.

2) Lake Erie and the Detroit River

While they are connected to Lake St. Clair, the Michigan portion of Lake Erie and the Detroit River offer a vastly different fishery. They are heavily influenced by current and chock full of big smallmouth bass. The mouth of Lake Erie is a great fishing area as the flowing river creates a top place for fish from the lake to set up for their next meal.

The Detroit River offers a great fishing opportunity set against the skyline of Detroit, making it a unique setting to fish for bass. The heavy current and frequent boat traffic make for challenging fish at times, but tubes and drop-shot rigs will account for many big smallies that fight even harder in the current.

3) Grand Traverse Bay – Lake Michigan

There are some excellent fisheries around Traverse City, Michigan, but the bay gets the most attention as a world-class smallmouth fishery. It's divided into two sections, a western and eastern arm. Each is capable of being the best on a given day and they are both full of smallmouth bass.

The water in the bay is exceptionally clear and includes shallow, sandy waters that appear more like the Caribbean with beautiful blue water. Due to the clear water, finesse tactics dominate here, but anglers can also catch bass on spybaits and jerkbaits.

4) Saginaw Bay – Lake Huron

Well known for walleye, Saginaw Bay is big water with treacherous conditions at times. But, it is also a fantastic fishery for smallmouth bass in the open bay and largemouth in the shallow wetlands found in some parts of the bay. It's a unique fishery with plenty of fishable water and light competition from fellow bass anglers. Again, walleye is king in this part of the state.

5) Burt & Mullett Lakes

These twin lakes are well known for big smallmouth bass and the Michigan state record smallmouth, a 9.98-pound behemoth, was caught in the Indian River that connects the two lakes.

The two lakes are excellent and the clear water makes it a perfect place for sight fishing for big smallmouth and the late spring and early summer bass tournaments produce some huge bags of fish.