Find the bait, find the bass
August on the Grand is a simple equation: shad balled up over deep water mean bass underneath them. Polarized glasses earn their keep right now — cruise the channel edges until you see nervous water, then anchor within casting range and work the edges of the school.
The twist this week is pike. Big ones are sitting under the same bait balls, and three of our boats this week had smallmouth violently taken streamside by pike that appeared from nowhere. Thrilling, slightly rude, and absolutely worth a wire leader.
What's working now
- Silver and white flashy streamers fished fast through bait schools
- Hollow-body frog patterns over weed edges at first light
- Hellgrammite and craw patterns for midday smallmouth in current
- 10-weight with wire bite guard wherever pike show themselves
Water is warm, so keep fish wet and revival quick. We are running morning trips only on the hottest days — the fish (and the guides) thank you.
Lost a smallmouth to a pike boatside and then caught the pike. Best day of fishing I've had in Michigan, full stop.
