The smallmouth bass fishing on the Great Lakes is some of the best in the country. Lake Erie might have Lake Michigan beat for big fish, however, you can definitely make an argument for Lake Michigan when you start talking about the best “big smallmouth bass” destinations in the country. In many of the bays, it is not uncommon to see 5 pound smallmouth bass with bigger fish in the 6, 7, 8 and even 9 pound range possible. It is truly an amazing fishery for big smallmouth bass. Below are some of the best smallmouth bass destinations along Lake Michigan.
| Bays de Noc | Grand Traverse Bay |
| Charlevoix, MI | Rowleys Bay, WI |
| Door County, WI | Sister Bay, WI |
| Egg Harbor, WI | Sturgeon Bay, WI |
| Ephraim, WI | Washington Island, WI |
| Fish Creek, WI |