Anglers can launch a boat at Gogebic State Park on the southwest end of the lake or near Bergland on the lake's north end. Another launch is available at the Ontonagon County Park on the lake's northwest side. For bait, tackle, lodging and boat rental, contact Nine Pines Resort at (906) 842-3361 or online at www.ninepinesresort.com.

LOON LAKE
If you're looking to catch a trophy smallmouth, Gogebic County's Loon Lake might be the place, but it won't be easy.

Loon Lake is one of 36 lakes within the 21,000-acre Sylvania Wilderness Area, most of which are teaming with smallmouths. Most are only accessible by hiking or canoe. There are also special regulations with regard to camping and fishing. There are no motors allowed. Live bait, including scented lures, are prohibited, and fishing for bass is catch-and-release. For more information on special regulations within the wilderness area, contact the USFS Ranger District Office in Watersmeet at (906) 353-4551 or consult your 2005 Michigan Fishing Guide.

Loon Lake, at 375 acres, is one of the more easily accessible lakes within the wilderness area. Loon Lake is a short portage from Clark Lake. A prime location for big bronzebacks is where the lake narrows. Try off the points here. A series of points, coves and bays on the lake's southwest shoreline is a hotspot, too. There is little vegetation in the lake, so bass relate heavily to rocks and logs. In the crystal clear water, they're not hard to spot. The smallmouths will average 16 inches, and bass topping 20 inches are common. You can't keep them to put on the wall, but a picture is worth a thousand words.

Sylvania Outfitters can outfit you with all the gear for a wilderness smallmouth adventure. Contact them at (906) 358-4766 or online at www.sylvaniaoutfitters.com. To make camping reservations within the Sylvania Wilderness area, call (906) 358-4724.

PORTAGE & TORCH LAKES
Portage and Torch lakes in Houghton County have a reputation as being two of the best lakes in our state for giant pike and monster walleyes. The lakes have developed such a reputation for producing big walleyes that the Professional Walleye Tour held a tournament there last year. What the pros discovered is that Portage and Torch lakes have a lot more than walleyes.

"I didn't catch a bunch of smallmouths," said PWT regular Bill St. Peter, "but then again I wasn't really trying." St. Peter said when he did catch a smallmouth or two, he'd move because he was looking for walleyes, but the bass were just about everywhere he fished, particularly on the north end of Torch Lake. "I caught a lot more bass when I was casting in the weeds and rocks." St. Peter said the smallies pounded a twistertail jig he had rigged for walleyes, and his partner couldn't keep the bass off a Mirage Minnow. Most of the bass were in the 3 1/2- to 4-pound range, but a lot of the pros caught even bigger smallies.

Prime smallmouth locales on 2,659-acre Torch Lake are on the south end, off Ereux Point and off the mouth of McCollum Creek. Just about anywhere you find pilings and/or rocks you'll find smallmouths in Torch.

Portage Lake, at 9,640 acres, offers even more smallmouth hangouts. Known smallie hotspots are off the south shore of Torch Bay, off Grosse Point and along the east shore below Dollar Bay. Try the structure west of where the Sturgeon River enters the lake, too. Crankbaits, jigs and live bait all take their share of bronzebacks. You'll find very few other anglers targeting bass.

For lake maps, live bait and fishing reports, contact Superior Bait at (906) 523-4944. Information on lodging and other amenities in the area can be had by contacting the Keweenaw Tourism Council at (906) 337-4579 or online at www.keweenaw.info.

BIG & LITTLE BAYS DE NOC
"The smallmouth fisheries both Big and Little bays De Noc are probably the most underutilized fisheries in the state," said Northern Lake Michigan fisheries supervisor Mike Herman. "Everyone is walleye crazy up here and no one really pays much attention to the smallmouths."

Herman said that he's personally had days where he's landed 109 bronzebacks in 2 1/2 hours of fishing. Most of the bass were sublegal, but that's a lot of action. A few more anglers are catching on to the great bass fishing to fill in the slow times between the nighttime walleye bite, but the fishery is still virtually untapped, especially on Big Bay de Noc.