Basics for Finding and Catching Bass - Northern Michigan Summertime Smallmouth

Smallmouth Bass are among the most challenging fish to consistently find and catch. However, getting hands on a big chunk of the Great Lakes special will leave anyone with a taste for more. 

Where To Look 

A Smallmouth in a summer pattern tends to relate to deeper water and is generally somewhere near structure. Structure can include a single rock, a single stump, a log, a tree or a massive rock pile. A great area to start looking, is along a drop-off, color line, or on and around a point. The bass will generally be in small groups of 2-5 fish around the structure. Baitfish are another key factor in finding smallmouth, further information to come. 

Graphing

Graphing is the key to finding summer Smallies. When pre-fishing, I spend three quarters of my time behind the wheel. To start, I idle down the nearest steep drop off, for the most part right along it besides for a gradual weave from the top to bottom of the drop off (generally from 10-25 ft). I find that down imaging is the best tool for searching a drop off, especially when it comes to seeing small groups of fish on isolated structure, however, my screen is always split horizontally to see both side imaging and down imaging just in case. I idle the drop off until I start to see fish, taking note of the depth range, bottom composition, and the type of structure they related to, if any. Also take note of how far suspended the fish were. As I dial in a pattern, I will start to only graph areas that correspond to where I have been finding fish, to add more waypoints to my arsenal. Never be afraid to push out deeper once in a while when graphing, smallmouth are extremely nomadic and can be very unpredictable. 

The Fun Part

Now... the fun part. For most applications, a dropshot is a perfect way to go. After graphing over fish, I prefer to give them a bit to reset. Most of the time, this is not required but recommended especially for finicky fish and pressured fish. Re approach your waypoint from a distance and make casts in the general direction. Fan cast the area and attempt a different angle of approach if no fish commit. Another good option is to run a reaction style bait over top of the fish. A Jerkbait or Crankbait for example. I would not spend more than 5 or 10 minutes at a single spot. Move to another waypoint and find fish that are more willing to bite, the more fish that your bait moves in front of, the better chance you have. If a live imaging unit is available, use this to pinpoint the fish and or structure. Make a few direct casts, but do not make the mistake of getting glued to the screen and spending too long in one spot. 

More In - depth information will be coming this summer on the YouTube. Links within the article lead to information about the highlighted topic. Any questions about this topic or any other topic? Reach out through this page contact form, or any socials.