Smallmouth Bass

If you're looking for some hard-fighting smallmouth bass, Escanaba's Bays de Noc are a great place to start. These waters offer a diverse range of habitat, from rocky shorelines and submerged timber to expansive weed beds, all holding smallmouth. Focus your efforts around these structures, especially during the pre-spawn and post-spawn periods in late spring and early summer. During the summer, target deeper structure with drop-shot rigs or Carolina-rigged plastics. In the fall, as water temperatures cool, smallmouth become more aggressive and can be caught on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jerkbaits. Keep an eye on water temperature, as even slight changes can affect smallmouth behavior. A good access point is the Gladstone harbor, providing easy access to the northern parts of Little Bay de Noc. Don't be afraid to experiment with different presentations to find what the fish are keying on.