Smallmouth in the Great Lakes

[Hung up Paul]

I'm seeing all these great smallie stories coming from Lake Erie... I'm just wondering if the other lakes are nearly as productive?  Is Lake Erie so rich with smallies because it's shallower than the other Great Lakes??  I grew up on Lake Ontario and my family still owns a cottage there and I visit every Summer.  I just wish that Ontario could be nearly as fortunate as Erie.  As a kid I left the big lake to the salmon fishermen and always fished the tributaries for smallmouth.  Are there smallies in numbers in Ontario or any of the other big lakes?

[roadwarrior]

I'm sure the other lakes have their days,

I have had a few on Lake Michigan, but right

now it's all about Lake Erie. We're talkin'

numbers and size.

Slightly off-topic, a reputable fellow on another

forum reported that he and a friend caught 260

smallmouth, ten over 5 lbs in ONE day!

This was on Lake St. Clair. Our very own GMAN

has fished with the man and backed up his post.

Now, I don't care who you are or where you're from...

that's puttin' on a hurtin'!

8-)

[Siebert Outdoors]

I do not know about Erie but I do know St Clair.  If you hit St Clair right you can wear yourself out and the fish.  It is a phenominal fishery.  This lake is big and you must know where to go.  You can catch a few smallies here and there but if you find "them"  you can put a hurting on them and fast.

Couple of my favorite lures for St. Clair

4" gp tube

4" zoom fat albert,  gp or gp purple, cinn purple

Rattle trap

Those are 3 of my tops.  Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits are also 2 more good ones.

Finding the fish is key to phenominal days. (obvious).  

PS,  I wouldnt think Erie is much different except size.  Clarity and lures are probably the same.

[Scott C]

I was actually wondering the same thing....specifically about Superior.  Me and my father in law are headed to fish in WAY north WI in 2 weeks, and he keeps suggesting that we put my boat (18' aluminum bass style) in Superior.  But i gotta tell ya...its got me really nervous....Superior can get way nasty!

.....But if there are good smallies to be found (and if its a CALM DAY!!!), I might be coaxed into putting in.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I will say this to all.  St Clair waters are completely different then any other lake I've fished.  It is big water.  its like fishing a huge bowl.  If it gets windy it get bad.  Be prepared and be safe.  

Lakes around me do not get anything like St Clair.  With its vast surface area a 20 mph wind will produce good sized waves.  They put freighters on this lake that run the shipping channels.

To compare it to something is like saying fishing Lake of the Ozarks by PB2 on July 4 in the main channel if its windy or worse.

[Chode2235]

There is no way I would put an 18ft bass boat on Superior.  You would have to be nuts.  Superior is far to cold, and too deep.  You can catch plenty of lake trout from shore.  

I do hear wonderful things about many of the rivers that flow into it though.  Go about 10 miles upstream and float it down.

[Scott C]

Well, thats kinda what I was thinking....but I had to ask to be sure.

We are gonna be on the Gile Flowage for most of the time, and maybe head to TFF one day...I'll just tell my F-I-L he can just deal with it. ;D

Edit:  Oh yeah...people have definately accused me of being nuts before!    but not to the point of putting myself or others in harms way 8-)

[thetr20one]

While St. Claire and Erie flow the same water they are very different. Erie has much more rock and cobbles, St. Claire bass relate alot more to weeds. I have fished them both many, many times. Erie more but St. Claire definitely enough to have pretty good knowledge of the whole lake. Both get extremely nasty but Erie has the worst weather of the two. An 18 foot aluminum is not something to venture out on either in rough weather.

[NBR]

Most or all of the Great Lakes have very good to great smallie fishing. I haven't fished them all but have friends who have fished several areas that I mention and I have fished some of them. Lake Huron, Saginaw Bay, the area around Drummond Island, the area around Mackinaw, Little Round Island and Bois Blanc islands. The Les Cheneaux Islands between Hessel and Cedarville.

The North Channel in Ontario, also in Ontario, Georgian Bay. Lake Huron the islands around Hessel in Michigan as well as Drummond Island and up to Sault St. Marie.

Lake Michigan, the point that forms the south shore of the straights. It is Waugoshance. The islands in the straights. Grand Traverse Bay. The Beaver Island group where Hog Island is probably the top rated. Little and Big Bay de Noc. Over in Wisconsin, Green Bay and a lot of Door County.

In Lake Superior, Chequamgon bay at Ashland WI.

I would bet there are dozens if not hundreds or thousands of other localized spots with excellant smallie fishing that have very light pressure. None probably as good as Erie but still very respectable fisheries.

I think it was in the In-Fisherman's book on smallies that said the Great Lakes were untapped. I would agree since they are so vast and it can get dangerous in good sized craft let alone personal fishing boats.

[NorDoor]

The pic in my avatar is a lake Michigan fish.There are numerous bays on the lake side of the Door peninsula that hold many fish over 5 pounds.A jewel of a spot is Washington Island located off the northern tip of Door County's peninsula.We're talking fish over 6 pounds.The season does'nt open until July up there.

[muskyxl]

Lake Ontario has good numbers and large fish. I cant see it being any different whether youre on the Canadian or American side.