Photo by Ron Sinfelt.

You don't need to travel far to try some of Michigan's best largemouth bass fishing if you live near one of our state's big cities. There is excellent bassin' just a short drive from Detroit, Lansing and other metro areas.

Here is a look at waters not far from our big cities that have large numbers of largemouths, and there is a good chance you can catch a lunker or two.

LAKE OAKLAND
"Oakland is a very good largemouth lake," said Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Jim Francis. "Largemouths in the 3- to 4-pound range are fairly common, with 6-pounders available."

Lake Oakland covers 255 acres just north of Pontiac and south of I-75 in Oakland County. For a lake so close to Detroit, the bass fishing can be incredible.

"Lake Oakland is a good bass lake in July," said Ken Meeley, a tournament angler and owner of KD Outdoors bait shop. "The lake has both good numbers and sizes. You can catch 30 or 40 keeper-sized bass on some days, or a few 5- and 6-pounders in a day's time."

Oakland's bass tend to be deep thinkers.

"If July is hot, look for the largemouths to either suspend off the ledges or down in the deeper holes on the lake bottom," Meeley said. "A thermocline doesn't usually develop, so the bass can take advantage of the cooler deep water."

The state-owned boat ramp is off Dill Road on the south side of the lake. There is a small launch fee. For more fishing information, call the Lake Erie Management Unit at (248) 359-9040, or KD Outdoors at (248) 666-7799. For tourism information, call the Metropolitan Detroit Visitor's Bureau at 1-800-DETROIT.

KENT LAKE
Southeastern Michigan anglers have one of our state's best bass lakes right out their back door. Year after year, Kent Lake in Oakland and Livingston counties pumps out largemouths in spite of the heavy pressure from tournaments and weekend warriors.

"Kent is a good lake for largemouth bass, and it stays that way from year to year," DNR fisheries management biologist Jeff Braunscheidel said. "It gets weedy in the summertime, but if you look for spots that aren't weed-choked, you can pick up bass with spinnerbaits and crankbaits. If you stick to these areas, the fishing is good."

A 23-inch largemouth bass was registered in the catch-and-release Master Angler Awards in 2005 from this 1,200-acre lake loaded with ideal bass habitat. A Jitterbug fooled this trophy-class fish.

Kent is ideal for smaller boats because of the 10-mph speed limit. It lies within the Kensington Metropark, so a park pass is required. Kensington is open between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. A ramp is available on the north side of the lake, which is located on the north side of I-96 between the Milford and Brighton exits.

For more fishing information, call the Lake Erie Management Unit at (248) 359-9040 or Kensington Metropark at 1-800-477-3178. For area info, call the Livingston County Visitor's Bureau at (517) 548-1795.

WAMPLERS LAKE
Wamplers is often overlooked as a largemouth lake, but it has a decent bass population, according to the DNR's Francis. Wamplers Lake is on the Jackson-Lenawee County line in Walter J. Hayes State Park, so it isn't far from home for Jackson- and Ann Arbor-area anglers.

"The average largemouth bass we see coming in to be mounted from the Coldwater Chain averages between 20 and 23 inches," said Pat Heinamin of Heinamin's Taxidermy. "Coldwater is the largest lake and the best bass lake in the chain, and there are some nice largemouths in there."

"When we survey, we're looking primarily at panfish, but we do get enough of a look at the predators to take an educated guess about their populations," Francis said. "There are bigger bass in Wamplers than the surveys show, and it has the reputation of being a good bass lake."

Largemouths here will retreat to the shade of the outside weedlines that are bordered by deeper water. Wamplers is 780 acres of relatively clear water, so keep that in mind when selecting a lure.

Access is within the state park, and a park sticker is required. The boat ramp is north of the entrance off Wamplers Lake Road. Call the Lake Erie Management Unit at (248) 359-9040 for additional fishing information. Lodging and camping info can be obtained by calling Walter J. Hayes State Park at (517) 467-7401, or the Jackson County Tourist Bureau at 1-800-245-5282.

DEVILS LAKE
Devils Lake in northwestern Lenawee County is one of Michigan's most overlooked waters when it comes to largemouth bass fishing.

You don't need to travel far to try some of Michigan's best largemouth bass fishing if you live near one of our state's big cities. There is excellent bassin' just a short drive from Detroit, Lansing and other metro areas.

Here is a look at waters not far from our big cities that have large numbers of largemouths, and there is a good chance you can catch a lunker or two.

LAKE OAKLAND
"Oakland is a very good largemouth lake," said Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Jim Francis. "Largemouths in the 3- to 4-pound range are fairly common, with 6-pounders available."

Lake Oakland covers 255 acres just north of Pontiac and south of I-75 in Oakland County. For a lake so close to Detroit, the bass fishing can be incredible.

"Lake Oakland is a good bass lake in July," said Ken Meeley, a tournament angler and owner of KD Outdoors bait shop. "The lake has both good numbers and sizes. You can catch 30 or 40 keeper-sized bass on some days, or a few 5- and 6-pounders in a day's time."

Oakland's bass tend to be deep thinkers.

"If July is hot, look for the largemouths to either suspend off the ledges or down in the deeper holes on the lake bottom," Meeley said. "A thermocline doesn't usually develop, so the bass can take advantage of the cooler deep water."

The state-owned boat ramp is off Dill Road on the south side of the lake. There is a small launch fee. For more fishing information, call the Lake Erie Management Unit at (248) 359-9040, or KD Outdoors at (248) 666-7799. For tourism information, call the Metropolitan Detroit Visitor's Bureau at 1-800-DETROIT.

KENT LAKE
Southeastern Michigan anglers have one of our state's best bass lakes right out their back door. Year after year, Kent Lake in Oakland and Livingston counties pumps out largemouths in spite of the heavy pressure from tournaments and weekend warriors.

"Kent is a good lake for largemouth bass, and it stays that way from year to year," DNR fisheries management biologist Jeff Braunscheidel said. "It gets weedy in the summertime, but if you look for spots that aren't weed-choked, you can pick up bass with spinnerbaits and crankbaits. If you stick to these areas, the fishing is good."

A 23-inch largemouth bass was registered in the catch-and-release Master Angler Awards in 2005 from this 1,200-acre lake loaded with ideal bass habitat. A Jitterbug fooled this trophy-class fish.

Kent is ideal for smaller boats because of the 10-mph speed limit. It lies within the Kensington Metropark, so a park pass is required. Kensington is open between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. A ramp is available on the north side of the lake, which is located on the north side of I-96 between the Milford and Brighton exits.

For more fishing information, call the Lake Erie Management Unit at (248) 359-9040 or Kensington Metropark at 1-800-477-3178. For area info, call the Livingston County Visitor's Bureau at (517) 548-1795.

WAMPLERS LAKE
Wamplers is often overlooked as a largemouth lake, but it has a decent bass population, according to the DNR's Francis. Wamplers Lake is on the Jackson-Lenawee County line in Walter J. Hayes State Park, so it isn't far from home for Jackson- and Ann Arbor-area anglers.

"The average largemouth bass we see coming in to be mounted from the Coldwater Chain averages between 20 and 23 inches," said Pat Heinamin of Heinamin's Taxidermy. "Coldwater is the largest lake and the best bass lake in the chain, and there are some nice largemouths in there."

"When we survey, we're looking primarily at panfish, but we do get enough of a look at the predators to take an educated guess about their populations," Francis said. "There are bigger bass in Wamplers than the surveys show, and it has the reputation of being a good bass lake."

Largemouths here will retreat to the shade of the outside weedlines that are bordered by deeper water. Wamplers is 780 acres of relatively clear water, so keep that in mind when selecting a lure.

Access is within the state park, and a park sticker is required. The boat ramp is north of the entrance off Wamplers Lake Road. Call the Lake Erie Management Unit at (248) 359-9040 for additional fishing information. Lodging and camping info can be obtained by calling Walter J. Hayes State Park at (517) 467-7401, or the Jackson County Tourist Bureau at 1-800-245-5282.

DEVILS LAKE
Devils Lake in northwestern Lenawee County is one of Michigan's most overlooked waters when it comes to largemouth bass fishing.