Lake Michigan
Published: Updated:
Lake Michigan Fishing Reports
Filter by
Sort by
Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Blade Baits
Structure
Humps
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Docks
Water Temperature
53°
Conditions were extremely windy making poor water clarity. Smallmouth bite is definitely picking up in the harbors after the last week of nice weather. Still had to work the jerkbait with slow 1 or 1-2 pops waiting about 6-10 seconds between 1 and 1-2 pops. The 110+1 JR in Northern Secret has consistently been my best performing lure when they are not bedding/spawning
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Crawfish
Well, the rivers and lakes have thawed out but it certainly hasn’t felt like spring. Cold temperatures have kept smallmouth in the lower sections of a few Lake Michigan tributaries. Once you find where the fish are piled up they’re usually fired up and ready to eat. Throwing a tube is my number one way to catch these fish, then following through the same areas with a Ned rig later on to show them something a little different. Get out to your local river and get after these fish!
Omnia Community Member
Bronze Ambassador
4/22/22
Species
TroutSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Trolling 10-19'
Structure
Open Water/Basin
Forage
Shad
Went out off of North Point Marina, Winthrop Harbor IL, stayed with in 20 fow read fish at several depths, caught only one on dipsys with orange red flasher and green and silver peanut fly. Out after 4pm.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Boulders
Lake michigan smallmouth are pre-spawn and on the feed! The biggest bass of the year on the south end of lake michigan can be caught right now. My main focus has been on transition areas leading in to spawning harbors and backwaters. Soaking a ned rig and fishing slow in these high percentage areas has been the ticket. Hard to tell what the ned mimics as these fish are opportunistic and will feast on goby, small perch, smelt and aquatic insects. The great thing about a ned rig is that it is so subtle and such an easy target that the fish react regardless of forage base. Water temps are varying between 45 and 50 degrees depending on bottom composition and depth/main lake exposure. Get out there while the action is hot!
Species
TroutSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Docks
Forage
Alewife
Water Temperature
48°
Was not targeting trout but they sure do love a jerkbait. Cloudy conditions with very little wind. I was working the jerkbait a little quicker with smaller less aggressive jerks.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Boulders
Water Temperature
60°
Took a kayak out with a buddy on the far south side of Chicago. It was pretty tough. Lots of boaters everywhere made for stiff competition. But we both caught a few and had a great time
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Points
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
51°
110+1 jerkbaits have been putting in work in staging areas. Mostly deeper water so you really have to make long casts from the bank. Short soft jerks have worked much better than hard fast jerks.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Open Water/Basin
Water Temperature
51°
Throwing the pintail from spro and cutting it half on drop shot or using the full size on a free rig. Again throwing it into deeper water and not putting too much action into it with rod. Just working it slowly from deep to shallow and that seems to be working when it's slow.
