Fishing For Smallmouth Bass at Fallasburg Park

Fished the early evening hours of April 19, 2025. It was breezy, but mostly sunny. The air temps were in the 50s, but were tolerable. A white Rooster tail was the hot lure today. Targeted areas with structure, focusing mostly on underneath the wooden bridge. With a slow retrieved against the current, managed to locate two smallmouth bass. One of them was quite nice in size and color, as seen in the above YouTube video.

When fishing in Michigan, it’s important to make sure that you have the right fishing gear. Be sure to check out YUMEOWL’s Fishing Plier Set (Amazon Affiliate link).

Spring Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Fishing for smallmouth bass in the Spring can lead to great results. However, do so carefully. While it is catch and immediate release season in Michigan, these fish are either preparing to spawn, spawning, or post spawn. These fish can be quite fragile. Handle with care!

Spring Smallmouth Bass Fishing Tips

Spring in Michigan marks the start of some incredible smallmouth bass fishing opportunities. As waters warm and bass move from their winter depths toward spawning areas, anglers who understand these transitions can experience trophy-class fishing. Here’s a quick guide to help you target Michigan smallmouth bass this spring.

Understanding Spring Smallmouth Behavior

Spring smallmouth fishing in Michigan follows a predictable pattern that can be broken down into three distinct phases:

Pre-Spawn (45-55°F)

Bass are moving from winter holdover areas to staging areas near spawning flats. They’re actively feeding to build energy reserves for the spawning process. This is often when the largest bass of the year are caught.

Spawn (55-65°F)

When water temperatures stabilize in the mid-50s to mid-60s, smallmouth create nests in shallow areas with gravel or sandy bottoms. Males become territorial and aggressive during this period.

Post-Spawn (65°F+)

After spawning, smallmouth recover in deeper water near their spawning areas before establishing summer patterns. They’re often found near drop-offs adjacent to spawning flats.

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The Weather

It was around 60 degrees with overcast skies, and storms in the surrounding areas. The water was quite shallow and stained. Even the pond above the dam was significantly lower than it has been at this time for several years. Without decent rainfall, come summer, these rivers may be mostly unfishable due to low water levels and elevated water temperatures. It’ll be an interesting summer. Hopefully we pick up some decent rainfall in the coming months and avoid fish die-offs.

Results

While locating holes where fish were holding was difficult, we did manage to catch a couple of small Smallmouth Bass utilizing Mepps spinners. If the bite is difficult, Mepps spinners can be among the only things that will trigger a bite. I like to drift them downstream while reeling slowly, allowing them to swing through holes behind structure where I think that there may be fish.

About The Park

Leslie E. Tassell Park is a small park along the Thornapple River in Cascade Township (just outside of Grand Rapids). It’s a nice park that features two small parking areas. Picnic tables and a picnic shelter make this a nice stopping point for a canoe or kayak trip down (or up!) the Thornapple River. The park can be found at: 2900 Thornapple River Dr SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.

Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Many of Michigan’s rivers and lakes offer awesome smallmouth Bass fishing opportunities(including our Great Lakes). While it’s not a species we target heavily, it can make for a nice change of pace from chasing stream trout. Bivvy Creek (our fly fishing brand) is releasing some bass poppers! Be sure to check them out here.

Reading More

While we’re in the midst of fishing season here in Michigan, that’s not all we’re up to! Be sure to check out our essential backpacking gear list. Also, for survival and disaster preparedness tips, check out our sister website, diysurvivaltips.com.

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Gear List

• Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Rod and Reel Combo
• Mepps Aglia Plain Spinner
• Panther Martin Best of the Best Spinners Kit

The Weather

The weather was mostly cloudy-interspersed however with periods of mostly sunny. Temperature was 62 degrees Fahrenheit. Humidity was 64%. Wind was around 1 mph North. Overall a beautiful day for fishing.

Since the Rogue River access points are off of a trail, I opted to pack everything and put waders on once I found a good spot to enter the river.

Michigan Fishing Report

Only fish that managed to be caught this morning was a small, smallmouth bass. The bass was caught on a spinner that was drifted over some logs in the water and hit while reeling it in slowly. While I was looking for trout, I didn’t see any in any of the holes I was able to wade to. Walking back, I did hear from someone who had seen a Coho salmon caught last week. With some deeper holes in this stretch of the Rogue River, I could see them holding fish as they try to push up stream. However, the water was clear today and there weren’t holes in this particular stretch holding large fish.

SJK Strike Fishing Vest

Features of the SJK Strike Fishing Vest 12 pocket layout offers maximum functionality Neoprene collar for added comfort Mesh body improves breathability Front hook/loop rod holder Quick release buckle closure Center back net keeper Custom logo treatment

Other Fishing Reports

As always check out the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ weekly fishing report here. They cover a lot more ground that we do. Check out our list of fishing webcams and reports! Looking for fly fishing gear or tenkara fishing gear? Check out our new fly fishing brand, Bivvy Creek!

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We fished here during the weekend of September 8 and September 10, 2023. The weather on September 8th was beautiful. September 10 saw cool and rainy skies, but nothing heavy.

Bois Blanc Township Marina

Since this was essentially the start of the off season, there was room to fish between the boats along the wharf. While there were some small fish (I believe young smallmouth bass), larger fish weren’t present until the end of wharf. That’s where I located this nice northern pike. A Rapala Deep Husky Jerk would be a great bet if you go out.

Orvis Guide Hip Pack

The Orvis Guide Hip Pack is a nine liter pack for holding fly fishing gear close. Tools to tipPet, flies and snacks, every little thing you need is right there at your hip for easy access. Tie a new fly, clip it, keep on fishing. The hip pack is there to secure it all, so you can continue fishing without obstruction, distraction, or slowing down.

Thompson Lake

Thompson Lake in the central part of Bois Blanc Island offers a nice fishing pier that’s easily accessible. As shown in the YouTube video above, the water around the pier is quite shallow and only features small perch. To the east end of the lake, there is deeper water which (supposedly) holds larger fish such as pike. We fished here on September 8th but had no success in limited time.

Reading More

Check out these urban survival tips from our sister website, DIYSurvivalTips.com.

Michigan DNR Fishing Report for 9-6-2023

Check out the link above for additional Michigan fishing reports for the past week! Have a fishing report you’d like publish on our website, gopackandpaddle.com? Send us a message! Always looking for more reports to publish. We can’t fish everywhere (unfortunately).

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Fishing Report

It was a beautiful but breezy day. Lots of boats still in the water enjoying the second to last weekend of summer. Fished on the north pier in Grand Haven, lakeside. Opted to forgo the channel side due to all of the boat traffic. Used a combination of shrimp, jigs, and spoons. Had little success during the mid afternoon. Other groups of fishermen had the same result. One salmon had been caught off of the pier that morning, but it was slow for everything. Indeed, there weren’t any boats with fishermen out either. The one salmon caught was caught on an alewife. Both bait and game fish seemed to be limited in their numbers currently. Doesn’t appear that the salmon are staging for their fall run quite yet.

Weather

Waves were 1-2 feet out on the pier, aided by gusting winds. Wind was strong out of the north, with maybe a north-easterly direction. Clear skies, no clouds. Air temperature was mid-70s with a water temperature around 60 degrees. Other than the wind, it was a perfect day for fishing. Probably would have been a good day for inland lake fishing.

Reading More

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources publishes a pretty detailed fishing report weekly from around the state. You can find it here. Want to write fishing reports for us? Send us a message! Always looking for more reports.

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Fishing Report

Fished from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 29. The fish were quite active, however, only small smallmouth bass were caught on spinners. The largest fish caught was about 10″. But we caught 8 or 9 other, smaller fish. Yellow spinners seem to be able to catch everything. Check out this Yakima Bait Wordens Original Rooster Tail Spinner Lure.

The Weather

The weather was fairly nice. It was partly to mostly cloudy with temperatures near 60 degrees. We fished just before the rain came in so that more than likely contributed to the successful fishing.

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Be sure to check out our list of essential backpacking gear. It’s camping season!

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Michigan Fishing Report 3-24-2023

Rogue River, Rockford. Not many fish this week. Quite a few people on the river as of Friday afternoon. Probably a main reason that there weren’t many fish being caught. Just not enough room for people and fish. Water is low and clear. Managed to get some drone video.

Grand River, Grand Rapids. Boats and waders have been targeting steelhead pretty regularly around 6th St dam. The Grand was muddy earlier this week.

Muskegon River, Newaygo. Tom of Werkman Outfitters reports good steelhead action.

Manistee River, Mesick. Batcke’s is still seeing steelhead in the system. Go check out their fishing report for more.

Reading More

Be sure to check out the best flies for springtime trout fishing. Since it’s spring. Also, look for interviews with outdoor industry professionals to start being published at our main website, Pack & Paddle Expedition Co. Be sure to read some tips about camping with kids.

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Rogue River, Rockford, Michigan

A few steelhead are in the lower Rogue River. Emphasis on a few. Water was clear and flows normal before this weekend storm front came in. Fishing wasn’t terrible. Some planted trout, and one or two steelhead were caught.

Saginaw River

Walleye are being caught. Hard to miss all of the walleye pictures on Facebook!

Grand River, Grand Rapids, Michigan

6th street dam has seen some steady fishermen action. However, only a few fish are being caught right now.

Manistee River, Mesick, Michigan

Batcke’s Manistee River Lodge reports that new fish have pushed into the river over the past week. Steelhead are being caught on mostly beads, including orange and pink. Need to be translucent though and not opaque. Check out their website here. Check out the current water flow here.

Reading More

Since it is almost spring, have you checked out the best flies for springtime trout fishing? We have some recommendations here.

Tight lines!

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Talked to a couple of guys who had caught a steelhead. Did see another steelhead jump near the dam. But the fish were not in in large numbers. I did manage to catch a small steelhead with a spinner, however, I actually caught the line that the steelhead was hooked to. Please make sure that you’re not leaving that much line in the river. Also managed to catch a couple of brown trout plants. One was a fair size.

Watch Some Highlights

Weather Conditions

• Air temperature was 48 degrees
• Water temp was unknown (but cold)
• Water was clear and normal flow rate
• Sky was partly sunny but quickly became overcast
• Wind was steady with occasional gusts around 15 knots

Reading More

Follow us for fishing reports. If you’re looking for backpacking gear, we have a list of essential backpacking gear over at gopackandpaddle.com. Be sure to check it out!

The post Fishing On The Rogue River, Rockford, MI 3-16-2023 appeared first on Pack & Paddle Expedition.

Manistee River

Batcke’s Manistee River Lodge reports that last week has been very good. Just steelhead. Beads are the story, but stonefly patterns are also working. Pale pinks and pale oranges are the colors that you will want to use. Check out their website here. Check out the current water flow here.

Tight lines and be safe on your fishing adventures this week.

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