GUN LAKE
If you were to conjure up the perfect bass lake, you'd probably summon up something pretty similar to Gun Lake. The 2,680-acre lake located in Barry County holds islands, weedlines, humps, flats, dropoffs, docks and other structure largemouths love. Gun Lake has plenty of forage for bass to fatten up on, too.

"I would have to believe that Gun Lake is one of the top largemouth bass lakes in the state," said fisheries biologist Jay Wesley of the MDNR's Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit.

Despite this great environment, Gun Lake largemouths are difficult to catch at times. They tend to move a great deal throughout the season. Early in the year, look to the shallows around Yankee Island and in Bairds Cove, Robbins Bay and Pickerel Cove. Look for bass in the shallow canals that warm up first and in shoreline structure under docks and boat moorings.

As waters warm during the summer, the bass retreat to deep-water humps and dropoffs. Finesse fishing with light line and smaller jigs are the ticket then. Deep-water bass on Gun Lake often are tightly schooled. Find one school and you're likely to find a whole bunch of them. Schooling bass generally weigh from 1 to 3 pounds, but you can pluck the occasional 5- or 6-pounder from the pack.

Angler access to Gun Lake is excellent. Boat ramps are located at Yankee Springs State Recreation Area and at a county launch site off Marsh Road on the southwest side of the lake. For park hours and other information, contact the Yankee Springs Recreation Area in Middleville at (269) 795-9081.

AUSTIN LAKE
Covering about 1,000 surface acres, Kalamazoo County's Austin Lake is not a huge lake, but it gives up some big largemouths across its shallow territory. The bass -- 7-pound giants are not unheard of, and 4- and 5-pound bass are routine -- bulk up on bluegills, chubs and small perch found in the lake, which has few spots deeper than 15 feet.

"Austin Lake fishes best early in the season before the weeds take over," said MDNR fisheries biologist Jim Dexter. "The bass can be found just about anywhere because of the weeds."

Austin Lake's shallow, weedy environment limits many bass anglers' techniques to little more than plunking baits in the openings in the weeds. Experts recommend pitching small 3-inch K&E Rival worms into the holes. Where you can find the room, topwater baits, such as the Rapala Floating Minnow and the Rebel Pop R, bring explosive strikes when twitched across the open pockets.

For maps, fishing reports and tackle, contact D&R Sport Center in Kalamazoo at (269) 372-2277.

COLDWATER LAKE
Branch County's Coldwater Lake is one of a series of lakes that includes Marble, East Long, Archer and Middle lakes. Covering 1,610 surface acres, Coldwater is the best bass lake in the chain.

"Coldwater Lake is one lake that I'd have to rate as one of the better largemouth lakes in southern Michigan," said the MDNR's Jay Wesley. "Despite the pressure Coldwater Lake gets from out-of-state anglers, there are still some very nice bass in it. It has excellent largemouth habitat."