Photo by Ron Sinfelt.

Michigan's Northwoods offer quality largemouth bass angling with largemouth bass being more abundant than the average basser realizes. From natural lakes, reservoirs and tiny potholes, most waters sprout some sort of largemouth fishery. Largemouths respond to a variety of presentations; that is part of their popularity. Whether you fish with plastics, crankbaits or topwaters, you can usually find a largemouth to cooperate. Each lake has its own personality, so anglers should refine their presentations. On most Northern lakes, largemouth bass are underfished. However, I would like to stress that most Northern bass fisheries are fragile and catch-and-release should be practiced to ensure quality fisheries remain intact.

CISCO CHAIN
The 15-lake Cisco Chain is located about 13 miles southwest of Watersmeet. Tom Schwankee of Wilderness Bay Guide Service said, "The Cisco Chain has quality largemouth bass and they are underfished, with other species getting all the pressure." Lakes with good largemouth populations include Big Africa, Little Africa, Thousand Island and Cisco.

Because of their smaller size, Big Africa and Little Africa lakes are the first to see hot largemouth action. Schwankee said after the season opens, largemouths are in shallow water presenting a good topwater bite that may continue through summer. By midsummer, however, he relies on plastics.

The clearwater 1,000-acre Thousand Island Lake, takes a bit longer to warm. Schwankee said there is a good spinnerbait bite in the back bays at the north end of the lake. If the spinnerbait bite slows during the day, switch to plastics. Like Thousand Island Lake, Cisco Lake also has a good spinnerbait bite in the back bays. Being a shallower lake than Thousand Island, Cisco warms faster and is less affected by cold fronts.

With most anglers pursuing walleyes, smallmouths and muskies, you will have this prime water all to yourself. The fact that you have a chain of lakes with different lake types allows you to find active largemouths under different weather conditions. For more information on fishing the Cisco Chain, call Tom Schwankee at Wilderness Bay Guide Service, (906) 358-4319.

PRICKETT DAM BACKWATER
I have pursued both largemouth and smallmouth bass throughout North America and besides catching plenty of nice bass, I have encountered some interesting waters.

One of the most interesting places I have fished is the Prickett Dam Backwater, an 810-acre reservoir on the Sturgeon River 12 miles southwest of Baraga. I stumbled onto it one July day when I was blown off Portage Lake. Needless to say, after catching several dandy largemouths, I returned many times.

The reservoir has steep, heavily wooded shorelines that are completely undeveloped and owned by the power company. A boat landing is located on the west-central end of the lake off Forest Road 193.