Largemouth Bass

Farmington Hills may be a suburban landscape, but don't let that fool you – there are plenty of largemouth bass lurking in its lakes and ponds. Many of the local parks and subdivisions feature small lakes and retention ponds that hold surprisingly good bass populations. These smaller bodies of water warm up quickly in the spring, making it a fantastic time to target spawning bass in shallow water. Look for bedding areas around docks, weed lines, and fallen trees. Summer can be tougher, but fishing early and late in the day around weed edges and drop-offs can produce results. A local tip: try fishing the ponds within Heritage Park; they're easily accessible and often hold good numbers of bass. Because these lakes are smaller, using lighter tackle and finesse techniques like wacky-rigged worms or small crankbaits can be very effective. The bass in these smaller waters tend to be opportunistic feeders, so experiment with different presentations until you find what they're keying on.