Largemouth Bass

Thompsonville, Michigan, offers some excellent largemouth bass fishing in its inland lakes and rivers. What makes this area special is the relatively untouched nature of many of the waterways. The Betsie River and nearby lakes like Platte Lake offer diverse habitats from weedy shallows to deeper, clearer sections. For largemouth, the pre-spawn period in late spring (May-June) is prime time, as bass move shallow to prepare for spawning. Topwater lures and soft plastics worked around lily pads and submerged timber are effective. A local tip is to explore the smaller, lesser-known lakes in the area; these often hold overlooked populations of largemouth. Access to Platte Lake is readily available via the Platte River State Fish Hatchery, which also provides boat launch facilities. Expect to find healthy, aggressive largemouth that are eager to strike.