Bruce lake

[Marvin9988]

Anyone know if the lake is thawed out

[abishop]

I would like to know as well. Should be close.

[spencerville]

Is Bruce lake a good bass lake?

[RoeBoat]

I thought every IN lake was loaded with green carp!

[spencerville]

Ya, but I thought I had read the pan fishing sucked there. So I wondered how the bass was...

[fishinator]

Ya, but I thought I had read the pan fishing sucked there. So I wondered how the bass was...

panfishing there doesn't suck if you like paper thin 9" crappie.

[RoeBoat]

Dang, I thought Skinner was the go to for that!

[Spooled85]

I've caught a few bass out of Bruce . Never anything over 2 pounds or so

[abishop]

If looking for bass the slough is where the numbers are. Smallies on lake Michigan by the rocks. Lot of 4 +.

[walleyeboater]

Ahhhh, smallies from Lake Michigan , I wish I knew where to go.

[Spooled85]

You and me both ! I've hunted them numerous times and have only ever caught one and wasn't that big. I know the USED to do good in Michigan City but haven't heard of a good trip in some time

[fishinator]

Ahhhh, smallies from Lake Michigan , I wish I knew where to go.

abishop told you. By the rocks.

[bigr]

I think Bruce is noted for the good Musky fishing. Smaller lake with high numbers and low pressure same with skinner.

[musky8it]

Ya, but I thought I had read the pan fishing sucked there. So I wondered how the bass was...

I think they have allot of stunted growth there, the perch and crappy are small and bass not that big either. I go there to Muskie fish, if I want nice(not giant) crappie, gills, and bass I go to another nearby lake and fish in the shade(all day) when its hot.

[musky8it]

I think Bruce is noted for the good Musky fishing. Smaller lake with high numbers and low pressure same with skinner.

Ya the pressure is pretty low, reason is you can only get about 5-6 trailers in the parking lot.

[spencerville]

If looking for bass the slough is where the numbers are. Smallies on lake Michigan by the rocks. Lot of 4 +.

Large bass at the slough?

[spencerville]

Ahhhh, smallies from Lake Michigan , I wish I knew where to go.

Smallies in St Clair are the way to go... early mid may I've seen 50 fish days with 2 guys... 3lbs up to 5

[abishop]

Ya the pressure is pretty low, reason is you can only get about 5-6 trailers in the parking lot.

There is a guy who will let you park on his property for a couple bucks. Lives on the west side just before you get to the north park of lake. (Think might have directions mixed up.). Anyway across from the trailer park. Think there is enough room for three if parked right.

[Jig_Head]

Smallies in St Clair are the way to go... early mid may I've seen 50 fish days with 2 guys... 3lbs up to 5

Can I get into em by kayak there or you need a bass boat?

[Spooled85]

There is a guy who will let you park on his property for a couple bucks. Lives on the west side just before you get to the north park of lake. (Think might have directions mixed up.). Anyway across from the trailer park. Think there is enough room for three if parked right.

 Just gotta make sure you park to where no one can screw you and block you in !

[musky8it]

Just gotta make sure you park to where no one can screw you and block you in !

I only go during the week days no weekends. Everyone parks with their trailer backed up to the north end of the lot, so far not seen anyone park in front of anyone. But, there's always some idiot out there who will. If they did that's what tow trucks are for.

[spencerville]

Can I get into em by kayak there or you need a bass boat?

Not sure on that, Would definitely have to pick your calm days for a yak. Id say call Sportsmans direct or some other shop and ask them.

[Jig_Head]

Not sure on that, Would definitely have to pick your calm days for a yak. Id say call Sportsmans direct or some other shop and ask them.

Right on. I kayak fish Lake Michigan often for largemouth and smallmouth. Definitely gotta pick the right days

[hookitNcookit]

You and me both ! I've hunted them numerous times and have only ever caught one and wasn't that big. I know the USED to do good in Michigan City but haven't heard of a good trip in some time

Not sure where you are from but I do ok for smallies around the port of In and portage, hammond marina but I like to go to the calumet river in Illinois because I only have an 18’ tracker not too great for the big lake on windy days. I love drop shotting smallies in the river in 20 to 30 ft of clear water! Plus theres lake calumet that holds good bass also, So you have lake cal, the calumet river, and Lake Michigan all accessible from same boat ramp.

[walleyeboater]

Which boat ramp?

[hookitNcookit]

Which boat ramp?

Actually thats the s@&$ty part theres a launch on the river but its before the lock and dam its 7 miles to lake michigan then theres a launch on the lake in calumet park. $27 to launch. the bar is $20 was $10 2 seasons ago go figure

[Spooled85]

Not sure where you are from but I do ok for smallies around the port of In and portage, hammond marina but I like to go to the calumet river in Illinois because I only have an 18’ tracker not too great for the big lake on windy days. I love drop shotting smallies in the river in 20 to 30 ft of clear water! Plus theres lake calumet that holds good bass also, So you have lake cal, the calumet river, and Lake Michigan all accessible from same boat ramp.

Thank you for that information! I am not a bass fisherman by any means but I do love to fish for smallmouth there is nothing like the strike or fight in my opinion. I lived in la Porte for 20 plus years so I fished out of Michigan City quite a bit but now I live down in Wheatfield but do travel to Michigan City area to fish quite a bit out of the big lake I have a 20-foot Alaskan high side so I get out on the big lake quite often

[hookitNcookit]

Thank you for that information! I am not a bass fisherman by any means but I do love to fish for smallmouth there is nothing like the strike or fight in my opinion. I lived in la Porte for 20 plus years so I fished out of Michigan City quite a bit but now I live down in Wheatfield but do travel to Michigan City area to fish quite a bit out of the big lake I have a 20-foot Alaskan high side so I get out on the big lake quite often

Yea I figured you did as I seen some of your perch reports from last year on my fishfinder which I didnt even know existed till this year. I love to perch fish also thats another species I do well on in calumet river and calumet harbor, You can catch multiple species of fish lure fishing my record is 8 in a day. I tried out of portage a couple times but i can only go out on south winds and not too much experience with the big lake. Ive tried michigan city from shore several times for bass never had much luck. Have to try it for perch i see you guys do good sometimes.

[Spooled85]

Yes Michigan City and the new buffalo area can be very good when the conditions are rite for perch ! Caught quite a few 16 inchers last year . And hope to do it again this year. They are not hard to find when they are in shallow most of the time you can see them and I just drift through them or when they're in the 30-foot range I use my graph they are really easy to find on the hard sand bottom. Just use fathead minnows and perch rigs Tony's bait shop there in Michigan city has a good variety of perch rigs .then all you have to do is look for the crowds of boats. Usually by July we are into them PM me when it gets close to the season I'd be happy to meet up and you could follow us out sometime