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Bob Gwizdz: Pre-spawn bass fishing offers great fun and has not hurt the fishery in Michigan

Ben Nielsen shows off a pre-spawn smallmouth bass. Modern regs have produced fine bass’n opportunities in Michigan. (Photo by Bob Gwizdz)

Catch-and-keep bass season is still a ways off in Michigan, but the best fishing of the year may be right now.
“No doubt about it,” said Ben Nielsen, who hosted me on his bass boat on Hardy Dam Pond in mid-April. “Fish are coming out of their winter pattern, they’re hungry, their metabolism is speeding up, they’re going to be spawning soon, and they’re putting on the feedbag.”

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