Angling families who want to bring their own boat will find good launch facilities at Metro Beach Metropark. Great bass action can be found in 8 to 11 feet of water from the park all the way to 9-Mile Road. There are countless other weedbeds, cuts, bays and canals that harbor fish at one time or another. Productive spots include, but are certainly not limited to, the mouth of the Middle Channel, Big Muscamoot Bay, the mouth of the Clinton River, the mouth of Little Muscamoot Bay, and the islands off Long Point and Huron Point. If you don't want the hassle of bringing your own rig, there are many guides operating in the area. Bass pro Gerry Gostenik is one of the best. Contact him at www.greatlakesbassfishing.com or at (313) 319-0100.

For information on amenities, things to do and accommodations in the Detroit area, contact the Metro Detroit Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-DETROIT or on their Web site at www.visitdetroit.com.

HAMLIN LAKE
Hamlin Lake is a favorite of vacationing angling families. It's easy to see why.

This 5,350-acre Mason County lake is famous for its great fishing. Nearly half of it lies within the boundary of Ludington State Park, its sand dunes and its hiking trails, plus it's close to Lake Michigan's beautiful beaches and the amenities of Ludington. Ludington is also arguably the best charter and sportfishing port on the Great Lakes. Several first-rate trout streams are close by as well. Ludington has the car ferry Badger, great eateries, beautiful golf courses, White Pine Village and plenty of other places to see and things to do.

"Fishing has been fantastic on Hamlin Lake the last few years," claimed Bill Stechschutte, who owns Country Haven Resort on Hamlin Lake. "The lake has really cleared up over the last few years, and there seems to be a lot more weeds than there used to be. I think that's part of the reason the bluegills have been doing so well. The Mason County Walleye Association continues to stock walleyes in the lake and they're making a big comeback. The DNR just planted muskies in Hamlin last year, so there's just about every specie you can imagine in the lake."

The big draw for visiting anglers, especially in spring and early summer, is the panfish. "The bluegills were down for a few years, but they've made a big comeback," Stechschutte said. Panfish move into the shallows in May to begin their spawning chores. Anglers can wear polarized glasses to spot the beds in shallow water. The fishing is uncomplicated. A slip-bobber with an ice-fishing jig or a teardrop with a wax worm will usually do the trick. Your kids will have an awesome time filling a bucket with the 7- to 9-inch bluegills and sunfish that are common. The bayous on the east side of the lower lake are great places to prospect for panfish, especially when the wind is blowing. Hard-bottomed areas up near the dunes are good places to look, too. Panfish migrate into the shallower, weedy, warmer upper lake in the spring. Platter-sized crappies are available, too. Calm, still evenings are a great time to skirt the edges of the weedbeds by casting small Beetle Spins or floating a minnow under a slip-bobber for the 10- to 14-inch specks.