Spinnerbaits and plastic worms are ideal late spring and early summer baits. Weedless spoons sometimes produce in the thick vegetation.

Devil’s Lake is located east of Addison in Lenawee County and may be accessed from U.S. Hwy. 223 or Devil’s Lake Highway.

For more information, contact the Livonia DNR office at (734) 432-1267 or the Minnow Bucket Bait and Tackle near Jackson at (517) 764-1909.

FLETCHER FLOODWATERS
“The best largemouth bass lake in this part of Michigan is Fletcher Floodwaters,” fisheries biologist Tim Cwalinski said. “Bass in the 5- to 6-pound range are taken in the stumpfields and on the south side of the lake near the mouth of the old river. Largemouths and smallmouths will smack a spoon, a Rapala minnow or a big buzzbait. The bass fishing has been coming on strong for several years.”

Spring fishing can also mean hot action along the shallow northern shoreline. Anglers frequently catch bass by slowly moving along the shallow weeds and casting toward the shoreline. Bass in the 3- to 4-pound range aren’t even eye-openers on this lake.

Anglers wanting to fish the stumps will find plenty of them in the lake’s northwest corner.

The 9,000-acre lake is covered with scattered weedbeds and stumpfields that wreak havoc on watercraft. One look at the dents in the aluminum boats rented at Jack’s Landing will make you think twice about launching your own.

Fletcher Pond is an impoundment of the Thunder Bay River in Alpena and Monmorency counties. The average depth is only 6 feet with the old creek channel reaching 9 feet in some places.

A public launch is located on the north side of the lake near Jack’s Landing Road.

Lodging, a restaurant and bait and tackle are all available at Jack’s Landing near Hillman on Tennis Road. Jack’s also provides a private launch for small watercraft for a fee.

For more information, contact the Northern Lake Huron Management Unit at (989) 732-3541 or Jack’s Landing at (989) 742-4370.

LAKE WINYAH
Also known as Seven Mile Impoundment, this lake covers more than 1,500 acres near Alpena.

“Lake Winyah has a very diverse fishery that is overlooked by many anglers,” Cwalinski said. “There’s a fair number of bass in here with fish ranging to 20 inches.”

What makes this shallow lake such a good one for largemouth bass is the habitat. Points, weed lines and plenty of bays and coves allow bass to warm up early in the spring and spawn successfully.

Depths range to about 30 feet near the dam on the eastern end of the lake where the water feeds the Four Mile Pond. Generally, depths don’t go down much farther than 10 to 12 feet, and much of the lake is even shallower yet.

Typical spring buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, plastic worms and minnow baits are the mainstay on Lake Winyah. Bass will be shallow this time of the year and can be tempted with the normal largemouth baits. Deep-diving crankbaits and heavy jigs aren’t necessary.

A ramp is available on the north arm off Long Rapids Road near the intersection of Long Rapids and Deitz roads in Alpena County.

For more information, contact the Northern Lake Huron Management Unit at (989) 732-3541 or the West Point Shore Cabins at (989) 354-8438.

TOMAHAWK CREEK FLOODING
“Tomahawk is basically a miniature Fletcher Floodwaters,” Cwalinski said. “There are a lot of tournaments coming onto the lake as anglers recognize the kind of bass fishery that’s been sitting here underutilized.