Largemouth Bass

Tawas City offers some surprisingly good largemouth bass fishing, particularly in the backwaters and connected lakes of the Au Gres River system. This area's unique because it's a mix of shallow, weedy areas ideal for bass ambush points and deeper, cooler pockets where they retreat during the hotter months. Early spring, right after ice-out, is prime time as the bass move into the shallows to spawn. Fall can also be excellent as they feed aggressively before winter. Look for them around submerged timber and lily pads. A local tip: the DNR boat launch on the Au Gres River provides excellent access, but be aware of shallow draft requirements for larger boats. The bass here tend to run a bit smaller on average, but what they lack in size, they make up for in aggression. Use weedless lures and be prepared for a fight in the thick cover.