Wacky Rig Fishing on Gun Lake
Gun Lake · Michigan · Midwest
Gun Lake is a 2,400-acre glacial lake in southwest Michigan that attracts anglers seeking quality largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing. The lake features deep basins, rocky points, weed beds, and shallow bays that create ideal habitat for bass throughout the seasons. Known for consistent catches and healthy fish populations, Gun Lake is a favorite among Michigan bass anglers seeking both quantity and quality.
A Yamamoto Senko or similar soft stick bait hooked through the middle so both ends fall and quiver independently. The wacky-rigged Senko falling through the water column produces a fluttering action that triggers strikes on the fall constantly. Exceptional in shallow water around docks, laydowns, and vegetation.
Wacky Rig Setup for Gun Lake
| Rod | 7' medium spinning rod, moderate-fast action |
| Reel | 2500–3000 spinning reel |
| Line | 10 lb braid + 8–10 lb fluorocarbon leader |
| Weight | No weight (classic) or 1/16–1/8 oz wacky jig head for deeper water |
| Hook | #1–2/0 wacky hook with O-ring on worm |
Seasonal Tactics on Gun Lake
Lake: Spring on Gun Lake brings aggressive bass as they move shallow to spawn, with excellent topwater and crankbait action around weed edges and shallow cover. Post-spawn bass relating to deeper structure and transition zones offer reliable fishing throughout May.
Wacky Rig: Spawn and post-spawn — drop next to every dock post and laydown. Natural and green pumpkin.
Lake: Summer bass retreat to deeper water and weed-lined channels, requiring anglers to focus on structure-oriented presentations like drop shots and tube baits. Early morning and evening topwater sessions near weed beds can produce explosive strikes.
Wacky Rig: Dock shade in morning and evening. Drop and count it down on the fall. Many bites come before it hits bottom.
Lake: Fall is a prime season on Gun Lake as bass feed aggressively in preparation for winter, with excellent results around rocky points and deep weed edges. Crankbaits and swimbaits excel as bass school and chase shad throughout the lake.
Wacky Rig: Transition fish around remaining shallow structure. Watermelon and natural colors.
Lake: Winter fishing is challenging but possible for hardy anglers who focus on the deepest basins and structure using finesse techniques like drop shots and live shiners. Some success can be found near deeper vegetation and drop-offs during mild winter days.
Wacky Rig: Add a small nail weight to get deeper, fish like a drop shot. Less effective than rigged alternatives in cold.
Best Conditions
Dock fishing, shallow clear water, post-spawn beds and staging areas, finesse situations, any time bass are in 2–12 feet
Use an O-ring on the worm — thread it on the middle and hook through the O-ring, not the worm. You'll catch 5–10x more fish per bait because the worm won't tear.
More Techniques for Gun Lake
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