Lake Michigan
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Lake Michigan Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Lake Michigan. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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Largemouth BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonFallStructureBouldersIt was a warm fall day quite calm on Lake Michigan fishing a pier with a rock breakwall in Portage indiana. We were not getting any bites using moving baits, so we slowed it down and threw a larger worm wacky rigged. It took a couple of casts but finally got a good one to take the bait.
- Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueSpinnerbaitsSeasonFallStructureDocksWe got lucky bringing my bass rod, being in the right place, at the right time while salmon fishing. The bait fish were jumping all over, and knew it’d primetime for a natural baitfish spinnerbait to catch me a hawg of a smallie, and I was right! They also chased after some chrome topwater too, but didn’t commit to bite.
Matt BelletiniBronze AmbassadorSpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueDamiki RigSeasonSummerStructureOpen Water/BasinThe new XBraid Sinking 8lb is a must have for any jig and minnow presentation in deep water. It sinks much faster than traditional braid allowing you to use lighter jig head creating a more natural presentation. I was targeting suspended fish 28-42ft down over 80-120ft. They would follow the heavier jig heads, but would not bite. The sinking braid allowed me to get the lighter 3/16 jig head down faster. The low stretch braid also gave me a better hookups on long casts compared to a straight fluorocarbon. Getting the hook into these old 6lb+ smallmouths can be difficult with their shoe leather mouths. It’s a bit pricey, but definitely worth it for this technique. I used an Albright knot for my leader and had no issues.
JjGraBronze Ambassador
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonFallStructureBouldersAlso Nightcrawlers Or small Plastic
- Species
TroutTechniqueTrolling Shallow (0-9')SeasonFallStructureRiver ChannelsThe fall salmon run has been going on for a month now and I got my chance to troll for kings the 10th through the 14th of September. They were definitely up river and were hitting anything firetiger colored. I trolled using 20lb Fluoro running about 25-30 feet behind me. I used J13's, FlickrShads, reef runners and storm lures and found most success on smaller profiles such as the flickr shads. Most were found running shallow in deeper pockets in the rivers.
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonSummerStructureBouldersThe smallmouth in Lake Michigan have come back down the rivers and out into the harbors and main lake. Breakwaters and off shore rock piles have began loading up with eager to bite fish. Gobies hang around and all over these big boulders placed around piers and make them a great place to start. Pitching dropshots around these boulders has been the number one way to catch them. But be prepared to go through a lot of tackle. Tubes on the outside of the boulders have also been productive as well. Baits with larger profiles have been helping deter the small fish and the Venture Lures Supervisor is my go to when looking to upsize my bait on a dropshot!
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonFallStructureHumps
Schools of Smallmouth were working hard bottom humps feeding on crawfish and goby. The key this day for my clients was drawing the bait across these areas at different directions and keeping our distance.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueNeko RigsSeasonSummerStructureBoulders
I was utilizing the free rig technique in my time on the Milwaukee river. Casting up stream near boulders was productive for me. I like the Geecrack bellows gill in 2.8" size. Electric shad is a great color for clear to mildly stained water.
