Largemouth Bass

Manistee, Michigan offers some surprisingly good largemouth bass fishing, especially if you know where to look beyond the famed salmon runs of the Manistee River. Focus your efforts on inland lakes like Manistee Lake and Portage Lake. These lakes offer classic largemouth habitat: weed beds, lily pads, docks, and submerged timber. Spring, from late May through June, is prime time as the bass move shallow to spawn. Fall can also be productive as they feed up before winter. For a local tip, try targeting the canals and channels connecting Manistee Lake to the river; these areas often hold bass seeking refuge from current. Be aware that Manistee Lake can experience significant boat traffic, especially during the summer months, so early morning or weekday trips are recommended. The largemouth in these waters tend to be relatively aggressive, responding well to spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Texas-rigged plastics.