For details on bait shops, lodging and amenities in the area, contact the Alpena Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-425-7362 or online at www.alpenacvb.com.

GRAND TRAVERSE BAY
Traverse City is a popular destination for summer tourists. If you like catching big smallmouths, it's somewhere you might want to consider visiting this summer.

"It's probably the best-kept secret in the world," said avid smallmouth angler Roger Borgeson. "It's nothing to cast in the afternoon and catch 50 bass." Borgeson said the bass aren't very picky either. You can throw crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Beetle Spins or jigs -- whatever -- and the bass will jump all over them.

The best fishing is during July and August, which makes it the perfect time to jump right in and wade wet. East and West bays are equally productive. Key is to look for rocks or scattered reeds. The structure is where the smallmouth's favorite food -- crayfish -- live. Find one and you'll find the other. Borgeson said he has personally caught smallies well over 6 pounds from the bay, and knows of fish over 7 pounds being caught. Bass in the 2- to 3-pound range are pretty typical.

The shoreline of Grand Traverse Bay is highly developed. There are several boat launches scattered along the peninsula where anglers can gain access. For information on public access, bait shops and accommodations, contact the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-872-8377 or online at www.tcvisitor.com. To book a guide, contact Dave Rose at (231) 276-9874 or at www.wildfishing.com.

LAKE ST. CLAIR
Not all of Michigan's premier smallmouth waters are located in the north country. Indeed, Lake St. Clair is considered to be one of the best smallmouth lakes in the U.S.

"Lake St. Clair really changes from year to year," said touring bass pro Gerry Gostenik. Gostenik said that one year you might find bass concentrated in the river channel in 20 to 40 feet or water. The next year the bass might be relating to the expansive flats that the lake is known for. It pays to be mobile, use you electronics and cover a lot of water until you hit on a pattern.

"The No. 1 bait on Lake St. Clair for smallmouths is a tube jig," said Kelly Bridgewater of KD Outdoors in Waterford. "The fat salt-impregnated tubes work best. They have better action the way they fall and dart. The brand is not that important." Two colors seem to produce the best on St. Clair -- silver/glitter and pumpkinseed. One color imitates baitfish and the other crayfish, both of which are smallmouth favorites. Key is to vary the retrieve until you hit on pattern. Swim, rip and pop, jig, hop the jigs until the bass tell you what they want. Stickbaits and topwater lures excel, too, when conditions are right and the water is calm. Bridgewater said that bass in the 5- to 5 1/2-pound range are common, although the average bronzeback will be closer to 2 pounds.

Prime locations on Lake St. Clair change almost daily. A good starting point is from the Metro Beach Metropark to 9-Mile Road in the weedbeds there from 8 to 11 feet of water. Other productive spots include the mouth of Little Muscamoot Bay, the islands off of Long Point Bay, the mouth of the Middle Channel, Big Muscamoot Bay and the mouth of the Clinton River. There are countless other canals, cuts and bays that harbor smallmouths.

For more information on finding and fishing Lake St. Clair smallmouths, contact KD Outdoors at (248) 666-7799. Michigan's has some world-class smallmouth fishing. Make it a point to experience it this summer.