A calm evening is the perfect time to work a surface lure to catch largemouth bass on many Michigan lakes. Photo by Mike Gnatkowski.

One of the appeals of fishing for largemouth bass is the variety of ways you can catch them.

The challenge is to input all the variables into your brain and formulate a plan of attack. You need to consider the type of structure you'll be fishing, the time of the year, the attitude of the bass, fishing pressure and recreational boating pressure. Put it all together, and there are plenty of Michigan lakes where you can catch some big largemouth bass.

Following is a selection of Michigan lakes where you'll want to have your entire bag of largemouth bass tricks ready to go.

PAW PAW LAKE
"Paw Paw Lake near Coloma is an excellent largemouth lake that sees a fair amount of fishing pressure from the bass clubs and the locals," stated Randy Van Dam of D&R Sports Center in Kalamazoo. "The lake offers a lot of variety when it comes to largemouths. It varies seasonally, but you can fish deep weedlines, breaks, classic points and it's a great dock lake."

Paw Paw Lake has a maximum depth of 90 feet and its irregular shape provides plenty of nooks and crannies where bass anglers can escape. The 857-acre lake is very accessible, with public access sites on the east and west shores. Once on the lake, you can catch bass just about anywhere and by any means.

A productive summer pattern is to work the deep weeds in 17 to 20 feet of water with crankbaits and jigs. There are many docks that hold largemouths throughout the year, too. Try pitching your favorite jig or plastic combination for some exciting shallow-water action. Points also are a big draw on Paw Paw Lake. The shallows right off the boat launch on the east end are a prime early-summer location.

"It's the kind of lake where you can catch 'em all over," Van Dam said.

One unusual feature of Paw Paw Lake is that it has a landlocked population of alewives that the bass love.

While most of the bucketmouths will average 2 to 3 pounds, fish in the 5-pound range are not uncommon. Although Paw Paw Lake sees a fair amount of boating activity, you can often find the lake's largemouths in relatively shallow water because it is usually stained. A variety of spinnerbaits, plastics and crankbaits will produce on Paw Paw.

For information on accommodations, bait shops and amenities near Paw Paw Lake, contact the Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council at (269) 925-6301 or online at SWMichigan.org