SMALLMOUTH BASS

With July just about here and the ceiling of summer temperatures in sight, I often find it to be this time of year when bass fishing is at its best. I am not an expert in bass fishing, though when I am looking for a light flaky fish for dinner sometimes a smallmouth bass is the one of the best menu items. I have not yet gotten to the point where I am landing keepers consistently, but I have learned a few things that often result in a catch. With residents and visitors who still might be looking for an activity to spend your summer days, consider trying your hand at one of the most coveted sport fish.

Bass are very similar to Pike, in that they are not picky eaters. Both fish may interrupt a simple attempt to catch perch or bluegill from the dock on a minnow or worm. However, you can increase your chances of attracting bass by targeting particular environments, using certain baits and going out on very warm sunny days. Bass tend to enjoy lures which exhibit a lot of action.

They are a fish which are not only curious with their eyes, but also their mouths. Sometimes all that it will take for a bass to bite a lure is for it to land on top of the water. Because of this, lures which are topwater and cause lots of commotion such as whopper ploppers or frogs are very attractive for bass. You for the most part will not need to twitch or sway your fishing pole; most top water lures will create the action needed while reeling them in.

If a fisherman prefers lures which remain underwater, they should consider using Rapalas or rubber worms or jigs which move constantly when reeled in. However these lures may often become tangled given bass’ preferred habitat. Bass enjoy heavily vegetated areas that are rife with weeds, lily pads and sunken trees. Experienced fishermen may be able to use their lures with minimal snags, but considering the price of lures currently, it is a gamble I myself have become weary of.

Areas around Copper Country which contain these habitats are boundless. Anglers can find ideal bass habitats along the shallow ends of the Portage Canal, Lake Roland and Gerald, Rice Lake and Otter Lake and River. Not all habitat for bass is inland however, with the mouths of rivers such as the Falls River in L’Anse sometimes being locations of quite large smallmouth bass. However, when it comes to going to any area and seeking bass, it is important to look for the weedy and woody areas.

Bass enjoy sticking around weeds and sticks as they wait to ambush animated prey. Amateur anglers should consider practice casting lures without hooks near weed beds and nearshore downed trees. Learning to land lures right before ambush spots for bass will increase your chances of attracting them and not entangling expensive lures into the vegetation. Even if a bass will not immediately respond, you will see it will only take a few cranks of the reel for the fish to bite.

If you are able to land a keeper (14 inches at minimum in the state of Michigan) then congratulations, you also have great dinner plans for the night. There are endless ways to prepare bass, and larger ones will have such wide fillets which may require more than one sittings to eat. The easiest way to prepare bass is to drop the fillets into scrambled eggs and then into some fish fry coating. Drop the coated fillets into an oiled pan or fryer and enjoy with a side of French fries or a baked potato.

However bass is such a light flaky fish that it does not take much to make it a healthy meal. A squeeze of lime and a little salt and pepper will go a long way, and it is well paired with fresh vegetables and rice or potatoes. The meat can also be broken up and used in tacos, though I would recommend adding cilantro or a tiny bit of taco seasoning to the fish if this is your preferred dish. Just keep in mind of how much bass you consume based on the location of your catch, and refer to the 2025 Eat Safe Fish Guides to see how many servings of bass are recommended per month.

So if you are a new angler or a dedicated trout or salmon fisherman looking for something new to try within the hobby, consider casting out for some bass. The fight a bass offers is an aggressive one that is unique among fish, and will switch directions every few seconds and jump from the water multiple times. Once that bass hits, you quickly understand why it is among the most sought after fresh water sport fish.