Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass fishing near Onsted, Michigan, is exceptional, especially in the clear waters of the Irish Hills lakes. Focus your efforts on lakes like Cambridge, Clark, and Vineyard Lake, all known for their healthy smallmouth populations. The pre-spawn and post-spawn periods in late spring and early summer offer some of the most exciting action, as the smallies are aggressive and feeding heavily. Look for rocky points, drop-offs, and submerged structure. Tube baits, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits are all effective lures. As the water warms in the summer, smallmouth tend to move into deeper water, often relating to rocky humps or weed edges. A drop-shot rig or a Carolina rig can be deadly in these situations. A local tip: many of these lakes have clear water, so using fluorocarbon line can be advantageous. Also, be mindful of zebra mussels, which can be sharp and can damage your line. The smallmouth in these lakes are known for their fight, and fish in the 3-5 pound range are not uncommon.