This area is an awesome smallmouth bass destination, however, it gets overlooked by many anglers who come here to chase walleye or muskie. There are several lakes that offer good smallmouth bass fishing for numbers and big fish too.
Abram Lake
Abram Lake is a good smallmouth bass lake. Early in the year, target the shorelines and then move to the islands, points and offshore structure from mid-summer through fall. Anglers catch good numbers of bass here and big bass are here too.
Big Vermilion Lake
Big Vermilion Lake has become a very good smallmouth bass fishing lake. Early in the year, anglers catch big numbers of them with 100 fish days possible. When the bass go deeper, it gets a little tougher if you can’t find them on the offshore structure. Get a good map and find the reefs for the late summer through fall bite and you’ll catch some nice fish. It’s not just a numbers lake. There are some very big bass in this lake.
Botsford Lake
Botsford Lake is a very good smallmouth bass lake. Many anglers will make the boat ride over to target bass here. Anglers that target them can catch good numbers of them with big bass potential too.
Lac Seul
The east end of Lac Seul actually provides anglers with some incredible smallmouth bass fishing and it’s not just a spring / early summer bite either. Some anglers get dialed in on the offshore spots that hold big schools of smallmouth bass and these fish can get huge. Anglers see a lot of bass over 4 pounds on this part of the lake.
Little Vermilion Lake
Little Vermilion Lake is an outstanding smallmouth bass lake. Anglers catch lots of smallmouth early in the year when these fish are all over the shorelines. When the bass move deeper, they can be harder to catch for many anglers, but if you know how to pattern smallmouth bass deeper, you can still catch a lot of bass here from mid-summer through fall. It’s a big numbers lake with lots of big bass too.
Minnitaki Lake
Minnitaki is home to some impressive smallmouth bass fishing. Anglers can catch good numbers of them with lots of big fish here too. With all of the islands, points and offshore structure, you have so many spots to fish once the summer pattern sets in. If you can get here early in the year, the fishing can be outstanding along the rocky shorelines.
Pelican Lake
Pelican Lake is a good-sized lake that covers more than 5,700 acres. Water flows into Pelican Lake from Abram Lake via Frog Rapids. The English River then exits the lake on the northwest side via Pelican Falls. The Vermilion River flows into the lake on the west side.
Anglers catch lots of different fish here. The fishing is good for walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass. Lake trout, muskie, perch and whitefish are here too.
Cedarbough Lake
You can access this lake by floating through a small creek. It is a very deep, cold water lake that is home to lots of muskie, northern pike, whitefish and big smallmouth bass.
Closs Lake
You get into Closs Lake with an easy land portage. Muskie and smallmouth bass are abundant here. Anglers catch so many fish here with 50 bass days possible and multi-fish days for muskie being common. It is truly an awesome muskie and bass lake for numbers with some bigger fish too.
Maskinonge – Hooch – Cloudlet
These 3 lakes are connected to Little Vermilion Lake via a creek system. Fishing is awesome in these lakes for muskie, northern pike and smallmouth bass. These are good numbers lakes with some big pike, bass and mostly smaller muskie.
Learn More About Smallmouth Bass
Our smallmouth bass section is huge with information on the best live baits, lures, where to catch them and how to catch them. Visit our smallmouth bass page to learn more.
