My family and I own a condo in Ludington, and it is near a lake called Pere Marquette lake. I am stuck from the shore, and there is this big, Lake Michigan style pier that goes into the lake. There is some rocks by the side of the pier that runs all the way to a steep channel that goes into Lake Michigan. And on the other side there is a marina that is only fish able on one side of the pier, and another marina off of the main lake that is around 10 feet deep. I’ve heard there is good Smallmouth fishing there, but I’ve never gotten one there in a year, so does anyone have and bait recommendations and/ or strategies? And also the water at the end of the pier is like ~20 feet. The forage are crawfish, Shad, alewives, perch, and some species of shiner. Thanks!

This isn't a direct correlation, but shore fishing for smallies on the great lakes is really difficult.  In Chicago, I can have good to great days fishing the harbors in late March thru mid April.  Usually not numbers, but large prespawn females almost always over 3lbs.  Hair jig, finesse jig, dark sleeper, 3.3" keitech, traps, & jerkbaits have given me the most success.  That said, once they bed up, shore fishing is a lot more miss than hit for me.  I think it's because they choose different water this time of year.  You might be in the same predicament.

 

scott