UTERSmallmouth bass fishing in Lake Michigan
In Lake Michigan, smallmouth bass peak May–July and September and are around May–October, spawning in June, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. May: Sturgeon Bay and Door County pre-spawn giants — early season is catch-and-release in Wisconsin.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Smallmouth bass in Lake Michigan, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayPeakSturgeon Bay and Door County pre-spawn giants — early season is catch-and-release in Wisconsin.
- JuneSpawningGrand Traverse Bay sight-fishing.
- JulyPeakOffshore kings and Skamania steelhead. Spoons and flasher-flies on downriggers over the thermocline; Skamania summer steelhead in Trail Creek.
- AugustAround
- SeptemberPeakThe salmon run. Pere Marquette, Big Manistee, the Root and the Kewaunee — skein and spawn, flies in the flies-only water.
- OctoberAround
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish smallmouth bass near Chicago, Michigan City, St. Joseph
The salmon lake: open water to 900 feet with kings and coho over the thermocline, the river mouths and pier heads of Michigan's west coast where the runs stage, the shallow southern end where the spring coho come in, and Green Bay — a walleye, pike, muskie, perch and whitefish fishery all its own.
Fish Scouter charts 434 lake, 75 reservoir spots in the Lake Michigan map area — the kinds smallmouth bass hold on.
What to use for smallmouth bass
- CrayfishHooked through the tail on a #2 to 2/0 hook and dragged slowly along rock and gravel — the smallmouth bait, and good for catfish and walleye.
- Minnows (fatheads, shiners)Hooked lightly through the lips or behind the dorsal on a #6 to #2 hook under a slip bobber for crappie, perch and walleye; a big golden shiner on a 2/0 to 4/0 for largemouth, pike and stripers.
- LeechesHooked once through the sucker end on a #8 to #4 hook under a slip bobber or on a live-bait rig — walleye and smallmouth can't leave them alone.
- NightcrawlersWhole on a #6 to #2 hook under a bobber or on a bottom rig; threaded on a spinner harness drifted for walleye. The bait that catches everything in fresh water.
- Leader10–20 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/2 oz
- Braid10–30 lb
Feeds in 45–82°F water, best at 60–74°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch smallmouth bass in Lake Michigan?
Peak season is May–July and September, with fish spawning in June (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Smallmouth bass are in Lake Michigan May–October. May: Sturgeon Bay and Door County pre-spawn giants — early season is catch-and-release in Wisconsin.
Where do smallmouth bass hold in Lake Michigan?
Look on river, creek / stream, lake, bridge — around Chicago, Michigan City, St. Joseph, Ludington, Manistee, Milwaukee.
What is the best bait for smallmouth bass in Lake Michigan?
Live bait: crayfish, minnows (fatheads, shiners), leeches, nightcrawlers. Crayfish: Hooked through the tail on a #2 to 2/0 hook and dragged slowly along rock and gravel — the smallmouth bait, and good for catfish and walleye. Tackle: leader 10–20 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/2 oz, braid 10–30 lb.
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All about smallmouth bass · Lake Michigan, the whole year