Waugoshance/Wilderness smallmouth tips?

[kroppe]

Taking the family up to Wilderness State Park for a 3 day camping trip, and taking the boat with us. I want to get into the smallies, I hear the fishing is great up there. Can anyone give me a general idea where to start? North side or south side of the island chain? East or west end? I assume the normal smallmouth stuff works, like tubes/jigs, rapalas, big spinners, etc.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Robert W. McCoy Jr]

Take some pic's

[MSUICEMAN]

ta hell with pics, take me!!!! :D

[gregm]

Was up in that area about 10 years ago (Beaver Is's/Wagoshance pt). The bass were on their downward slide at that point and I was a bit disappointed from what I was expecting. We actually did much better in Charlevoix than out on the big lake. Everyone was blaming the coromants, I'm not sure if they are soley to blame, but we did witness them hammering fish in the shallows. I'm not sure if the population is recovering or not. The underwater structure at that place is maddening, there is just so much water, its hard to figure out where to start.
I would strongly suggest meat fishing (live bait) to get an idea of where they're at. Maybe starting off with softcraws.

Hope I didn't rain on your parade, but that's my only experience with the place. It is beautiful up there.

Good Luck!!!!

[Jimbos]

Kroppe, I was just talking to some locals who live just outside of Cross Village and they were telling me that due to the lower water levels, that it's almost like fishing seperate lakes there now, with a lot of water now hard to get to.

[Hamilton Reef]

kroppe, We fished Wagoshance Point many times when ever we were working sea lamprey streams in the area. We drove to the very end of the state park road. In all the years of high and low water the best lure for us was the Rebel crawfish. I remember one evening I used a larger lure than my partner and we had a C/R contest for the evening. I lost 29 to 27, but for the two of us catching 56 bass was a blast.

[kroppe]

Thanks for all the replies. With the water level down, and not being familiar with the submerged hazards, we may try trolling Little Traverse Bay.