Michigan Lakes in the BASS top 100 lakes for 2014

[fiker]

#9 Grand Traverse Bay
#16 lake St. Clair
#39 Burt Lake
#43 Thunder Bay lake Huron
#56 Lake Erie
#57 Lake Michigan
#82 Lake Charlevoix

Lake St. Clair dropped from #1 last year but is expected to be in the top 10 again next year. 

I"m not sure how much science is involved in picking this list. 

[TimH]

From my understanding that the ranking is based on surveys that are given to pro anglers, outdoor writers, and from feedback they receive from the BASS council.  Nevertheless, we are so fortunate to be so close to so many world class fisheries.  Yes, it was an off year for St. Clair, but it is still one phenomenal lake.  The best way to realize how great LSC is, is to go fish other lakes.

Thanks for posting this.

[djkimmel]

This year wasn't off. B.A.S.S. also asks the state federations and the various state fisheries agencies.

[djkimmel]

PS: Lake Charlevoix should be way up the list but I don't mind that it isn't. Just leaves a LOT more bass for the rest of us!!

[TimH]

This year wasn't off. B.A.S.S. also asks the state federations and the various state fisheries agencies.

I should have clarified my statement about St. Clair being off this year.  It was off from the sense that the "community holes"  didn't produce as they usually did, but the quantity and quality of the catch didn't change.  This year took a lot more searching and time on the water to find the fish, but that was 100% from the brutal winter and bizarre weather this year.  All anyone needs to do is look at what Mini did this year on tournaments to see that LSC still has huge numbers.

[djkimmel]

I must have the right friends! I saw quite a few anglers banging the toads this year! The early season winning weights were above average for that time of year too.

Plus! The largemouth bass weights and catches were way up earlier this year! I'm expecting some surprises for people in the next season or two.

From what I'm seeing - the anglers who adjust the quickest are catching bass really good. Some I know were catching them last year too. I think as more anglers adjust to the ever-changing lake that is Lake St. Clair we'll find out the bass fishing is pretty good, and always has been.

I don't mean anything contrary on this but in talking to all my contacts last year who really know what the bass are doing, the bass were there to catch all along and the anglers just weren't catching them. The big lake changes a lot.

It's actually more rare to see the exact same thing work multiple seasons the same way in my 30 years out there. I can look back and remember so many amazing things that have come and gone out there. It just took me a while to realize that change is more normal out there than the same. It's easy to think the same things have worked over and over for many long years... but the people who are winning the tournaments consistently over multiple seasons will tell you differently. Lake St. Clair is the innovator's and 'change is good' type's paradise.

Look at how hot spybaiting was this year as it caught on. Most people didn't know what it was early last year. But... but!! I had angler after angler tell me last season that they were catching lots of 'skinny' bass on the same old bottom bumping baits but when they caught a Big One - it was usually on a suspending jerkbait or other presentation up off the bottom! I kept thinking, 'then WHY AREN'T YOU THROWING A JERKBAIT ALL DAY?!?' I almost came out of retirement...

Good thing I didn't because some anglers figured out this spybaiting is a good presentation to use for bass up off the bottom that are eating minnows above them. I'll have to try it next year but doing that all day is probably going to require more coffee for me. Plus, since I'm retired, I don't mind catching any size bass. They're all fun. Also, I did have a number of friends who had great years last year, and they were catching lots of fat bass, and some even told me they had the best big bass year they've ever had out there last year. That's fishing for you.

So what's the innovation, presentation, and bass to target next year? That is the big question... good luck finding the answer.

[djkimmel]

I guess one example to clarify what I'm saying about the perception of fishing quality verses what is actually there - I know for a fact there were numbers of bass including lots of quality bass right were many of the pros fished during the Elite Series last year. Best anglers in the world, right?

Yet... they weren't catching them. Every good angler I talked to told me that 'I know' if the bass were there these guys would have caught them. Problem is... I actually know the bass were there... and these guys did not catch them. Of course I couldn't say, 'hey! The bass are there. You're just fishing the wrong way to catch them.' Because they aren't allowed to get help from someone not in the tournament.

Plus, it was very interesting for me to watch these anglers try to catch bass that I know are there, and see if they could figure it out. Because very few anglers did figure it out for some reason last year. There's still anglers telling me there's no way that's true. But way... I saw the bass. They were there. The anglers just didn't catch them.

I guess sometimes the bass do win. Believe me, there's still bass out in St. Clair I'd love to catch that I haven't figured out how to catch either despite lots of effort. So yeah, it was very interesting for me to watch the Elite Series anglers try to catch similar-acting bass. Was hoping for revelation.

I guess I got revelation. Sometimes the bass even fool the best. Not quite what I was hoping for. But the good news is, there's still more to learn.

[djkimmel]

Meanwhile, very interesting to me to see what next season brings for the Elite Series anglers. My friend Chad Pipkens won fishing a long ways away this year in Erie. But, it's very possible Joe Balog, one of the anglers who told me last year that these anglers would be catching the bass if the bass were there (they were there), looked to be on the way to a dominating win fishing only a few miles from the launch ramp on Lake St. Clair after putting the biggest limit of the tournament on the scales from Lake St. Clair.

Ever wonder how much boat gas and time we might be able to save if we could change our thinking easier than where we think the bass are, or how we need to be fishing?? I think about that all the time. I think about KVD getting some of his biggest wins close to launch sites while other anglers run 10s of miles, or even over 100 miles one-way to catch bass (or try to catch bass) that don't win...? I wonder how many more times that could happen if anglers changed the way they think?

I tried to change the way I think many, many times. It can be a challenge, that's for sure.

[motocross269]

Good points Dan....I Rode with Rick Morris last year in the Elite event and he averaged 18lbs a day 500 yards from Metro throwing a spinner bait....It was enough to get him in the classic....

I've seriously got to erase all my waypoints next year....I didn't do it this year because a lack of time on the water but my old stuff isn't producing the weight anymore.....

The Open this year had some interesting patterns.............  Pete Gluszak fished in a spot I have never seen anyone fish before....We didn't kill them but it was enough that day to give us both a check...It was Shallow......

We need to do a top 20 of Michigan inland lakes........

I'll start....Grand, Long, Walloon, Charlevoix, Burt, Mullet....

[LAPORTE]

We need to do a top 20 of Michigan inland lakes........

I'll start....Grand, Long, Walloon, Charlevoix, Burt, Mullet....

I'll add one .....Belleville

[t-bone]

I'll agree....Grand, Long, Charlevoix, Burt, Mullet

I'll add: Intermediate, Kent, Upper Straits (unfortunate private)

[Waterfoul]

I'll add some none of you have probably fished:

Big Whitefish
Manistee
Kimbal
Portage (Onekama)

[River Walker]

 Dude I live in Ohio and I've fished Manistee Lake NE of Kalkaska and the one in downtown Manistee also.I've also fished Portage,Bear and Arcadia near Onekama,they're all great bass lakes.I caught my personal best smallmouth out of Arcadia a few years back.I also love Burt/Mullet and little Douglas Lake just north of those two.I would also add Fremont Lake with my vote,I can't believe how good the bass fishing can be on that tiny lake.

[Waterfoul]

Dude I live in Ohio and I've fished Manistee Lake NE of Kalkaska and the one in downtown Manistee also.I've also fished Portage,Bear and Arcadia near Onekama,they're all great bass lakes.I caught my personal best smallmouth out of Arcadia a few years back.I also love Burt/Mullet and little Douglas Lake just north of those two.I would also add Fremont Lake with my vote,I can't believe how good the bass fishing can be on that tiny lake.

Wow... you get around!

[djkimmel]

I'll agree....Grand, Long, Charlevoix, Burt, Mullet

I'll add: Intermediate, Kent, Upper Straits (unfortunate private)

In order to add a private lake, you need to take me there as an independent 'reviewer.' Just to confirm it's worthy...

[djkimmel]

Belleville...? Really...?? We are talking about top 100 in the nation, right?

[TimH]

To further clarify my comments earlier about it being an off year for St. Clair, I am posting the winning weights from Monsterquest this past weekend.  This proves that LSC is better than ever and that it is apparently me who has been having the off year and not the lake!

1st Place - Dobson and Greene 28lbs 2oz
2nd Place - Nick Neves and ? 27lbs+
3rd Place - Matt Belletini and ? 26lbs even
4th Place - Mini and Darren Lear 24lbs 12oz

28lbs - 2oz...Good Lord!  Nicely done Dobson and Greene

[Got Fish??]

I feel that most waters in or connected to Michigan. Have the potential to produce  quality fish. Just because your favorite body of water dose not make the national list. We still have one of the best fresh water fisheries in the world

[TimH]

I feel that most waters in or connected to Michigan. Have the potential to produce  quality fish. Just because your favorite body of water dose not make the national list. We still have one of the best fresh water fisheries in the world

Very well said.  All you need to do is go fish elsewhere to really appreciate what we have here in Michigan!!!

[Waterfoul]

I feel that most waters in or connected to Michigan. Have the potential to produce  quality fish. Just because your favorite body of water dose not make the national list. We still have one of the best fresh water fisheries in the world

Very well said.  All you need to do is go fish elsewhere to really appreciate what we have here in Michigan!!!

Exactly... go fish in Indiana if you need proof!