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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- Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueDeep Diving Crankbaits (13'+)SeasonSummerStructureShaddeep cranking around schooling shad
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonSummerStructureBoulders
Deep drop shot for post spawn smallies.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueTubesSeasonSummerStructureRock Pile
hopping around big rock piles
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSummerStructureRiver Channels
Didn't get the boat out Sunday morning but got out to check out a few of my old shore fishing river spots on the Sheboygan River. First spot of the day was hot as I had 2 pike very early in the trip, and then got 3 smallies on back to back to back casts. Biggest one (pictured below) went about 16 inches! forgot how fun it was to fight these chunks in current. casting upstream and letting it fall downstream while slowly reeling along/just above the bottom produced best.
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueNeko RigsSeasonSummerStructurePilingsI knew there’s some spots around Chicago seawalls and harbors holding fish, but I’ve been on a mean streak of catching little dinks. The Neko Rig also gives me some better size results when it’s hot and those seem to only bite on a dropshot. The light melon color CAME THRU with some somewhat clear water and caught me some FAT smallies that day. Mission accomplished!
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHard JerkbaitsSeasonSummerStructureBoulders
Morning started bluebird skies, clear, and calm water in Chicago and made the fish very picky. Only bit a drop shot until about 10-11am. One little dink by one of the piers. After that we got some pretty hefty winds out of the southeast that caused quite the commotion, but the water was clear. I knew that the wind and clear water made the perfect recipe for a jerkbait. Grabbed the most natural color I could find in a smaller profile because I saw some tiny baitfish swimming around and they pounded it! Caught a solid 3.5 pounder (pictured) with a crowd of tourists and had a MUCH bigger one snap me off because I forgot to re-tie my leader before I fished more rocks.
CheenouBronze AmbassadorSpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueSoft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)SeasonSummerStructureBouldersSlow reel
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueFinesse JigsSeasonSummerStructureBoulders
Specifically targetted the boulders and structure of the Chicago harbors and Lake Shore walk for the duration of this fishing trip, and wanted to try my luck with bottom contact and things like cranks as I had only really tried drop shots and my go-to jerkbait. All fish I caught using the finesse jigs followed a pattern of being on a sea wall, being in water that was at least deep enough to not see the bottom. Both in harbors closer to big lake exit. The cranks were a riot along the lakeshore rocks. Granted fish were always cruising, and there was little consistency, I did find a riled up school, and got to watch the whole lot of them fight over my crank. Didn't seem to matter how deep the rocks and structure were, as long as you passed them over the rocks and kept moving. Once you find one fish, you usually find them all, gotta cover ground!
