We recently had a discussion about secret spots, which coincided nicely with me going to my favorite one: The Rock. And no, I don't think I will tell anyone where it is.

To me the Rock is a sacred place. It is the single most reliable smallmouth hole I have ever found. And I am sure the reason that it remains this good is because the access is problematic. Suffice to say that you need carry the boat or canoe over a small concrete wall. To me it is worth the trouble... because it keeps out everybody else.

The bass were on fire last Saturday. In the end I counted 21 bass larger than 14". Three of those hit the 17" mark, matching my previous best for this lake.

All of these bass came off the Rock. I fished other places in the area but the only large bass came off of this piece of structure.





I caught a few bass on an #8 x-rap.


And one nice 'eye on a DT-4. This was the only nice fish that didn't come off the rock. This eye was in about 8' of water.


The #5 popper was far and away the best lure that day. And it was so much fun to fish I didn't even mind the missed strikes. Notice the Rock in the background.


Then again, in a place as beautiful as this, who cares about a few missed strikes?

Great report. Nice smallies too but them fall color pictures are really cool!

Hey, I totally recognize those trees!! I saw the same red and yellow ones this weekend!

Okay, maybe not, but it looks like a spectacular place with plenty of bonus fish. Nice!

To bad your graph doesn't have gps...you might have gave away the spot in one of those pics...

Lake smallies. Look to crowded for me though. lol

Nice report....I'm loving the big smallies of the fall right now too. The big ones sure do get active this time of year.

I got a pair of big ones out of the St. Croix on Monday, 19.5" and 20". Pics to follow.

I'll give you my secret pot for smallies, since I haven't fished it in years, but it's in Sand Bay on Lake Michigan, just 1/4 mile from my ex-mother-in-law's place outide of Sturgeon Bay, WI. Just bounce a jig (tri-color-crawfish) of the bottom, and hang on. Biggest one I've ever caught was there, 28 inches, and on 4 pound test. Took me 25 minutes to land it. One of the best fih of my life!! Nice fish T, maybe I can talk you into taking me there sometime.

28" smallmouth? Are you kidding? I have heard of some big bass from that lake... but 28" is the largest one I have ever heard of!