5 favorites: Schlapper's favorite lakes

Wisconsin native Pat Schlapper’s course to the Bassmaster Elite Series started with a win at the Wisconsin B.A.S.S. Nation State Championship on the Chippewa Flowage. He went on to win the B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Regional at Minnesota’s Lake Vermillion and earned an invitation to fish the 2020 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Pickwick Lake, which he won in dominant fashion.

In his second year on the Elite Series, Schlapper has proven himself capable of catching big fish, like his largemouth weighing 10 pounds, 5 ounces, caught at Chickamauga Lake. The angler also notched a Top 10 at the recent Santee Cooper Lakes event.

Here, Schlapper is ready to share five of his favorite fisheries and the lures he prefers for each.

Schlapper views the Upper Mississippi River from Pool 4 to Pool 8 (Redwing to La Crosse), as a very diverse region with a good mix of heavy cover, backwaters and offshore structure hosting strong numbers of smallmouth and largemouth.

Favoring spring and fall, Schlapper knows he can catch fish on everything from topwaters to dragging to swim jigs. His favorite lure for the river is a 1/4- to 1/2-ounce Kureiji Sakana swimbait with Big Bite Baits Pro Swimmer trailer.

The 2021 Elite was Schlapper’s first visit to Lake Champlain, and he quickly recognized the diversity of this picturesque lake straddling the New York and Vermont border. Sampling everything from deep rock to shallow vegetation, Schlapper also appreciated the lake’s well-kept ramps, charming towns and scenic surroundings.

Whether he’s looking for smallmouth or largemouth, Schlapper said a drop shot with a Big Bite Baits Smallie Smasher would be his first choice. It’s not always a winning presentation, he said, but it’s very consistent.

Calling Sturgeon Bay (Door County, Wis.) a uniquely clear water fishery, Schlapper said this is where he has a legitimate chance to bag a 7-pound smallmouth. Put it this way, in spring tournaments, competitors scoff at bags less than 20 pounds.

Noting that the fish group tightly, Schlapper expects 50-fish days with many 5-pounders common. In this scenario, he likes a 1/16- or 1/8-ounce black marabou jig.

Calling Lake Vermilion his overall favorite fishery, Schlapper said this big water body resembles a Canadian Shield lake and holds good numbers of largemouth and smallmouth. The latter, he said, are known for a beautiful bronze coloration.

Vermilion’s immense size affords many options for habitat, depth and fishing styles. Day in and day out, Schlapper prefers catching his fish on a green pumpkin Big Bite Baits tube.

Despite his minimal experience, Schlapper said he’s been a Pickwick Lake fan since his B.A.S.S. Nation Championship win. At the 2021 Elite on Pickwick, he did well the first two days before a mechanical issue sunk his third day.

Schlapper said he likes the availability of all three bass species option, but having grown up fishing rivers, he favors smallmouth in heavy current. Here, he likes a 4.75-inch Big Bite Baits Pro Swimmer on a 1/2- to 1-ounce jig head.