Patterns for Summer Fishing

[6 lb Smallmouth]

Hey guys,

First off, I've enjoyed reading and pulling quality information from so many of the threads on this board.  Thanks for that.

Here's a question- What are the dominant summer patterns that I should focus on when fishing GTB in the next couple weeks?  What structure and cover should I focus on?  I'm figuring it will be a topwater, shallow-water low-light condition bite followed by fishing drop-offs as the sun gets up.  How deep do you find the fish at this time of the year?  I've always read, fish the green patches of weeds.  Is this the time of the year to focus on weedbeds?  Topwater, dragging tubes, drop-shot, deep-diving cranks, and burning spinnerbaits are the main presentations I have lined up.  Am I missing something?

Naturally, I know the fish I caught in June will not still be around in 5' of water but will the fish be in the same general area?  Do they just move deeper?  Like I've written before, I'm somewhat of a newbie to this Great Lakes smallie fishing so any advice is greatly appreciated.  Thanks.  Paul 

[djkimmel]

One rule about Great Lakes bass (the fish, not the website) to keep in mind is that they do not follow the same rules all the time everywhere. Expect the unexpected. You'll need to do some hunting. Great Lakes smallmouth can be shallower than you expect in real clear water one minute and then drop off the abyss the next. They move a lot up on GTB and I heard last year even more so than 'normal.'

Haven't heard a ton this year and haven't been there. I only know pretty much what you can read in this section. Any place there is bass and not a ton of weeds, I always check the weeds. Always.

My best advice for bass outside of the spawn is bass like to eat so find the food. Find the food and you often find the bass.

[bigmojet]

Its been a banner salmon season on lake mi with big fat gish so i take it the alewives are pretty thick which i bet the smallies follow as well. I would bet on deeper water using drop shots jigging spoons and blade baits.