Smallmouth Bass

East Jordan provides access to excellent smallmouth bass fishing in Lake Charlevoix. The lake's rocky shorelines, points, and drop-offs provide ideal habitat for these hard-fighting fish. The best time to target smallmouth is during the late spring and early summer, particularly during the pre-spawn and spawn. Look for them in shallower water near rocky areas and gravel beds. As the water warms, they move to deeper structure. A local tip: try using drop-shot rigs with small plastic worms or tubes near rocky points. Another effective technique is to fish crankbaits or spinnerbaits along weed edges and drop-offs. Smallmouth in Lake Charlevoix are known for their aggressive strikes and powerful runs. While not as numerous as largemouth, the smallmouth here average a good size, with fish over 5 pounds a real possibility. The Jordan River also holds some smallmouth, but Lake Charlevoix is the more consistent producer.