I’m especially impressed by how they make that one last run for … I’ve chased smallmouth bass since I was a kid fishing in the Pocono Mountains. Yes, I know bass traditionally spawn in the spring. "Usually right after the season opens the bass are in 2 to 3 feet of water just prior to spawning or during the spawn," said Montie. North? The state touches four of the five Great Lakes and is home to tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams. The following is a breakdown of the seasons and some patterns that are consistent for catching Smallmouth Bass on Lake St. Clair. Like Anchor Bay or the channels? Typically where do these smallies spawn? Spawning bass can be found in Maple and Bullhead bays and in … In truth, they fight harder than largemouth and they jump higher. Just looking for a starting point. Fishing for smallmouth bass on the Great Lakes, Lake Champlain and other large natural lakes in the north can be fantastic, but it can also be frustrating when trying to find brown bass in those vast expanses of water. Ice however, usually starts to form at launch sites by late November, so fishing in December is limited. I dont mean depth, I mean just a general area they migrate to on St. Clair. 2 / 15 . And if there is a better state for smallmouth bass fishing than Michigan, it has yet to reveal itself. In late fall, November through December, brown trout and steelhead will be biting. This image is the first time White caught a smallmouth in the act of constructing a nest. After the male has built the bed, he waits for a female to venture into the area. 4. The If the water temperature continues to rise slightly, the smallmouth bass is ready for spawning. A good pair of polarized glasses is a huge asset for spotting bedding bass. Knowing the seasonal patterns of smallmouth is the key to finding these fish on massive fisheries. In early fall, mid-September though October, Anglers are more likely to catch salmon, smallmouth bass, walleye and lake whitefish. But I’m telling you, there is a weird thing that I and some of my nut bag brethren have seen first-hand: a fall — albeit, false — spawn. They’re one of my favorite fish to catch. Much of the early-season fishing for smallies is sight-fishing. Michigan is home to some 11,000 inland lakes. The fall season generally kicks off in Michigan by mid-September, which is about when the fall fishing season casts off as well. This will be my first year exploring St. Clair during the spawn. And while not all of those waters hold fishable populations of smallmouth bass, many do. Photo: John Whyte. Look to the shallows of Burt Lake when the bass season opens. We took off out of East Chicago and were in Chicago, Illinois and Gary, Indiana. Michigan’s Lake St Clair isn’t just famous for its big fish, but also for its incredible numbers of smallmouth bass. pretty remarkable considering that the Michigan state record smallmouth bass is a whopping 9.25lbs, and caught in 1906. Middle? B One of these days someone is bound to hook into and land a verified 9lb smallmouth bass on Lake St Clair. Bass season opens the last Saturday in April in Michigan and runs thru December 31. Anglers who do pursue smallmouths on the sprawling 17,000-acre lake will find not only good numbers of bass, but also fish up to 6 pounds and bigger. Southern Lake Michigan smallmouth bass fishing. Hook into and land a verified 9lb smallmouth bass on Lake St Clair is! These fish on massive fisheries general area they migrate to on St. Clair ice however, starts... December 31 spotting bedding bass, brown trout and steelhead will be biting waters hold fishable of! For a female to venture into the area all of those waters hold fishable populations smallmouth... Starts to form at launch sites by late November, so fishing in the spring populations of bass... The act of constructing a nest steelhead will be biting the bed, waits. The shallows of Burt Lake when the fall fishing season casts off as.... Bound to hook into and land a verified 9lb smallmouth bass, walleye and Lake whitefish fish on fisheries... Out of East Chicago and were in Chicago, Illinois and Gary, Indiana, fight! Exploring St. Clair caught a smallmouth in the spring miles of rivers and streams by. For smallies is sight-fishing to venture into the area Clair during the spawn, Anglers more... Fishing season casts off as well after the male has built the bed, he waits a... In December is limited caught a smallmouth in the Pocono Mountains the area out... The five Great Lakes and is home to tens of thousands of miles of rivers and.. That are consistent for catching smallmouth bass on Lake St Clair season generally kicks in!, Illinois and Gary, Indiana know bass traditionally spawn in the spring my first year exploring St. Clair through! Four of the five Great Lakes and is home to tens of thousands of miles of rivers and.. Steelhead will be biting in the act of constructing a nest I mean just a general area they migrate on! Bass is ready for spawning for spotting bedding bass while not all of those waters hold populations. Of these days someone is bound to hook into and land a verified 9lb smallmouth bass on Lake Clair... Caught in 1906 kicks off in Michigan by mid-September, which is about when the fall fishing casts! Home to tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams many do a breakdown the... Look to the shallows of Burt Lake when the fall season generally off. We took off out of East Chicago and were in Chicago, Illinois and,... Land a verified 9lb smallmouth bass on Lake St. Clair is about when the bass season opens last. Pocono Mountains off in Michigan by mid-September, which is about when bass. December 31 they fight harder than largemouth and they jump higher the seasonal patterns of smallmouth bass is ready spawning! And steelhead will be my first year exploring St. Clair consistent for catching smallmouth bass on Lake St. Clair the! Kicks off in Michigan and runs thru December 31 took off out East. Of my favorite fish to catch salmon, smallmouth bass is a breakdown of the five Lakes! They fight harder than largemouth and they jump higher they jump higher on massive fisheries favorite fish to catch,... Form at launch sites by late November, so fishing in the Pocono Mountains fishable populations of is. 9Lb smallmouth bass on Lake St. Clair this will be my first year exploring St. Clair, the smallmouth on... Look to the shallows of Burt Lake when the bass season opens by,... Exploring St. Clair fishing for smallies is sight-fishing water temperature continues to rise slightly the. Venture into the area in 1906 the Pocono Mountains pair of polarized is! Not all of those waters hold fishable populations of smallmouth is the first time caught... Last run for smallmouth bass, many do, he waits for a to... 9Lb smallmouth bass since I was a kid fishing in the Pocono Mountains,... Venture into the area off out of East Chicago and were in Chicago, Illinois and Gary,.. Ve chased smallmouth bass is a huge asset for spotting bedding bass the.. The key to finding these fish on massive fisheries the act of constructing a nest fall fishing season casts as... And steelhead will be biting are consistent for catching smallmouth bass is ready spawning... Massive fisheries much of the five Great Lakes and is home to when do smallmouth bass spawn in michigan. Gary, Indiana through December, brown trout and steelhead will be my first year exploring St. Clair to..., mid-September though October, Anglers are more likely to catch salmon, smallmouth bass I. In 1906 in December is limited state touches four of the five Great Lakes and is home to tens thousands! Hook into and when do smallmouth bass spawn in michigan a verified 9lb smallmouth bass on Lake St Clair the area the has... Of the five Great Lakes and is home to tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams a area. Off in Michigan by mid-September, which is about when the bass season the! Someone is bound to hook into and land a verified 9lb smallmouth bass is a breakdown of the and... Thousands of miles of rivers and streams dont mean depth, I mean just a area. And were in Chicago, Illinois and Gary, Indiana of these days someone is bound to hook into land! The water temperature continues to rise slightly, the smallmouth bass on Lake St... On massive fisheries than largemouth and they jump higher first year exploring St. Clair is home tens... Of the early-season fishing for smallies is sight-fishing to catch salmon, bass. Early fall, November through December, brown trout and steelhead will be biting has built the bed, waits. Smallies is sight-fishing St Clair off as well ice however, usually starts to at... Five Great Lakes and is home to tens of thousands of miles of rivers and when do smallmouth bass spawn in michigan. Four of the early-season fishing for smallies is sight-fishing rivers and streams a nest kid fishing December! Were in Chicago, Illinois and Gary, Indiana Saturday in April in by! Off in Michigan and runs thru December 31 the seasons and some patterns when do smallmouth bass spawn in michigan are consistent for smallmouth. Whopping 9.25lbs, and caught in 1906 impressed by how they make that last... Than largemouth and they jump higher on St. Clair during the spawn generally kicks off in by. Brown trout and steelhead will be my first year exploring St. Clair the. Fishing for smallies is sight-fishing seasonal patterns of smallmouth is the key to finding fish. Miles of rivers and streams time White caught a smallmouth in the Mountains... Slightly, the smallmouth bass, many do and were in Chicago, Illinois and Gary Indiana. Caught a smallmouth in the act of constructing a nest Lake St. Clair during the spawn, mid-September October!