Hey Dan.....Any thoughts as to when you may have your annual DK Open???? My daughter and I are going to come out and fish. After reading some of the threads from the old forum, it sounds like fun. Are you planning to go back to Lake Ovid. Never been on that lake but I hear there are some big largemouth there. I guess I have a bad case of cabin fever. Need a fishing fix. Trophy bass computer game just isn't doing it for me. I need the real deal. Being an auto worker for DCX, I had today off and I went out to breakfast this morning with my daughter and she wants the spring to get here so she can try out her new rod and reel she got from Santa. She is ready to fish and so is her Dad......
BD ;D
i want to fish it this year also... seems like the new thing is to give away a boat for first place... a new Ranger Z21 would be great... although i am sure the entry fee would have to go up to 30.00 or something like that.
how about Cass lake for us easterners...
ss
Cass Lake, Orchard Lake, or any of the other good lakes in Oakland County would be good. Hey, how about Belleville or Ford???? Better yet, what about Tipsico or the Pickney Chain (Portage Chain) or even the Halfmoon Chain. At this point of the winter, I just want to fish................
BD ;D
never fished Tipisico but it is a pretty looking lake...
I guess I better start looking at the tournament calendar and matching things up. We could do a poll for the lake after some more guys put up some choices. Ovid was fun. It's a drive, but we had people there from way up north and to the west too.
I wanted to make it last year but it conflicted with other tournaments that I was in. I would like to make it there this year as long as it dosn't conflict with other divisions I am planning on fishing.
I'll be there. We had a great time last year. I liked the fact that is was away from home and I got to camp out for a couple of days. Anywhere is fine with me Dan.
It would be great to get thirty (30) boats there.? How many did you have last year Dan????? It could become one of the Premier Bass Tournaments in Michigan, Dan.? Everybody who is anybody would be there.
Imagine That!!!!!
BD? ? ?8)
For many reasons, it was tough to meet many of our needs. I think we had 13 members there that day. Things were a little bumpy, but overall, it seemed like we all had a good time seeing who was who and catching some bass. I got a great picture of everyone that was there on the old forum.
I'll do my best to come up with a lake and date with the least amount of conflicts. Probably best later in the year again, but that is up to everyone not just me.
Throw out some lakes and I'll check out the circuits anglers are talking about to see the date of least resistance.
how about Kent. that is half way....... we could all tie our boats to POORBOY and fish as a big raft party... i am partial to Cass since it is about 3 miles from my house..
so many decisions and it is only Jan....
think spring..
I will second for Kent Lake or Cass Lake. Both are great lakes with good largemouth and smallmouth populations. Both have a ton of fishable water. Both are close to home ;D.
PoorBoy himself :-\'
Cass is cool if it is later in the season...Kent is always good regardless of date because of the 10mph speed limit. If everyone hooks up to Poorboy's boat, then maybe someone can show him how to catch fish out there... :D
i can catch fish out there, just not when anyone else is around. im a loner Dotti, a rebel.
PoorBoy himself :-\'
Poorboy's Playhouse..the secret word for today is Kent Lake...haa--haa... where did you get that bike Poorboy?? :P
"Tell 'em Large Marge sent ya..."
I love that line...but it got even funnier after discovering that my limo bus driver on my wedding day was a "husky" woman named Marge. She kinda looked like a truck driver, and drove that thing like Gravedigger...no kidding...I swear we flattened a couple compacts on the way to the reception...
All those lakes are good.? I think you could maybe try to do it like the first Bassmaster Classic where all the anglers were on an airplane headed there and Ray Scott did not announce it until then.? You could do it by email and let everyone know the day before.? Or just put a bunch of lake names in a hat and pull one.? Go with Kent, Cass, Belleville, Ford, Ovid, Tipsico (which is not that far from Kent), Whitmore, Fenton, Halfmoon Chain, Portage Chain, Lobdell, Orion, Lakeville, etc.? If you want a mix bag of Smallmouth and Largemouth then Kent, Cass, Belleville, and Ford best fit that.? All the rest are good largemouth lakes although there are smallies on Halfmoon and Portage.? There are so many.? All good.? So hard to choose.? Life is full of important choices............ ::)
Most of them are all good lakes. Just a matter as to what part of the year it happens will dictate which lakes are a little better.
Do you guys prefer to catch more 'McCarters' or bigger 'cheetams'...?
Or is it bigger 'McCarters' or more 'cheetam'...? I get confused.
Basically, do you prefer a lake with lots of bass, or a lake with a better shot at some big bass?
Quote from: djkimmel on January 18, 2006, 11:14:59 PM
Do you guys prefer to catch more 'McCarters' or bigger 'cheetams'...?
Or is it bigger 'McCarters' or more 'cheetam'...? I get confused.
Basically, do you prefer a lake with lots of bass, or a lake with a better shot at some big bass?
one as close to my house as possible. Cass because i can sleep longer... and lots of smallies...
kent because it is close to my work and i can practice after work.. or go watch Revto fish on lunch hour...
i know the Ranger Boat may be a little out of your budget but i can get you a deal on one of these...
i have contacted the dealer about the live well and cup holders..
It depends on who you ask Dan.
If you ask jeff, then he would say more mccarters, but bigger cheetams.
But if you ask anyone else in the world, they all know that mccarters are big fish and cheetams are little bittys.
Unless you are refering to carp in which case a cheetam is a huge carp ( or dogfish ) caught on bass tackle and perhaps at one point in the fight thought to be a new state record bass.
:D ;D ;) ::) ;D :-* 8) :o :P
PoorBoy himself ;)
Ok...Poorboy is my bud and all, but we need to separate truth from fiction regarding "Cheetams" and "McCarters"...he doesn't really have visual evidence of his own (kinda like bigfoot, yeti, and the Chupacabra), so I had to pull a few of mine as examples:
Vs...
OR...
Ok...I'm done Hijacking this thread.. :D
Unbelievable, the things you can do in photo shop these days.
If i ever figure out how to get my pictures hosted, i will show you guys some 'unedited' kent lake pigs.
:D :D :D
PoorBoy himself :-\'
Kent and Cass are great lakes, but I'd love to see the tourney at a lake that isn't as highly pressured as either of these two. That's why I liked Ovid. We were practically the only boats there and the lake didn't seem like an overly pressured fishery. It would be cool to find something like that in mid-Michigan where maybe some of the more Northern guys would have an easier time making it. Just my 2 cents.
Kent and Cass do get a lot of pressure, but not at that time of the year.? I cant tell you how many days i have had the whole lake to myself in october and november.?
Honestly, i dont care where we have it.? I liked having it at ovid last year because it gave me an excuse to get out there and fish it.? I had been wanting to fish that lake for a while, but just never made it out there.? As long as it no more than a 2 hour drive, i will be there.? Which brings Wixom Lake to mind.
I would say we should have a poll on this but i think the guys in the greater detroit area outnumber the ones to the north and our brothers to the far west.
Lets get a few more lake suggestions and then have a poll just to see what everyone is thinking.
So far we have:
Kent Lake Livingston/Oakland County border
Cass Lake Oakland County
Union Lake Oakland County ( thanks steve )
Belleville Lake Wayne County
Ford Lake Wayne County
Lake Ovid County unknown
Tipsico Lake Livingston County
Whitmore Lake I wanna say Livingston County, not sure,
Lake Fenton Genessee County
Halfmoon Chain Livingston County???
Portage Chain Livingston County??? Cool chain of lakes, lots of smallies and largies.
Lobdell Lake Genessee County
Lake Orion? County unknown
Lakeville Lake County unknown
Any other suggestions?
PoorBoy himself :-\'
Wixom and Sanford might be worth a look...
hey poorboy you forgot Union Lake... good fishing, the launch and crossing the road to park suck, but we could cook hotdogs on my dock..
ss
Where are Wixom and Sanford Lakes? Perhaps a good way to talk about this would be for guys who have fished these lakes to describe them a bit so we can get an idea of what kind of fisheries they are. Lake size, launches, big fish, lots of fish, lots of cover, shallow, deep, clear water or dark water, reservior, natural lake, boat speed limits, etc.
BTW - I love fishing lakes I haven't been on before. I enjoy the challenge. So I'm up for pretty much anywhere guys want to go. It was a fun time last year. One other suggestion. The fall worked ok for many of the guys, but if the weather is a bit warmer, maybe we could BBQ in addition to the tourney. So maybe earlier fall would be good.
Wixom and Sanford are both up in Mid-Michigan bewteen Midland and Gladwin..I know thats quite a haul for alot of you... Both are adequate for big tournaments...
Of the listed I like... Cass, Ovid, Lobdell. Cass gets very little pressure in the late fall, never been to ovid, and lobdell can fish big.
-Matt
THose are all good lakes. I will attend as long as it isn't constricting one of the divisions I am fishing.
Lake Orion and Lakeville Lake are both in Northern Oakland County.? They are both largemouth lakes and they both hold big fish.? I think Lakeville fishes bigger and gets less pressure.? Orion is a big bass lake too but gets much more pressure.? Lakeville is full of lumber.? Stumps, fallen timber, you name it.? ?
The Livingston, Washtenaw County lines run right down the center of Whitmore Lake.? Whitmore is located off US 23 at the Pickney Exit.? It is mostly a largemouth lake but does harbor a few smallies.? It does fish big.? It is exceptionally good in the fall after Labor Day.? During the season it is very busy with pleasure boaters and fisherman and jet skiers and every other wingnut in the area.?
Tipsico is on the Livingston/Oakland County line and is actually on the Oakland County side of Tipsico Lake Road.? I shot a turkey there last year during turkey season.? I was coming back from fishing the lake early in the spring and a hen was crossing the launch.? I had my ten gauge in the back of the truck and well the rest was dinner.........
The Halfmoon Chain covers both Livingston and Washtenaw Counties.? It depends where you go in the Chain.? The Portage Chain is in both Livingston and Washtenaw Counties.? It depends where you go in the Chain.?
Never ever been to Ovid so that would give me a good excuse to go there.? Thompson Lake in Howell is a big largemouth lake.? It is right in Howell.? If the tournament was in October then we wouldn't have to deal with the launch officials which would charge $15 to launch unless you were a resident of Howell.? A lot of other good lakes could easily replace this one because of the launch.? It may be kind of small.
If we were thinking of up near Sanford or Wixom, we also may want to consider Smallwood.? I remember reading in Bassmaster quite a few years ago about a write up in Destinations for BASS.? They wrote up Smallwood as a great fall destination.? I will have to try to find the issue.? I have all of them since I joined B.A.S.S.? I have stopped the wife from trashing them many times.? I consider that grounds for divorce.?
I agree with Revtro......lets pick a lake that is not as pressured as Cass or Kent.? Orchard gets a lot of pressure but does fish big in the fall.? I had a really good fall season out there this year.? Caught a lot of 3 lbers a few 4's and at least two that would have gone 5.?
We have lots of time to decide.......especially if Dan holds the tournament in Sept/Oct.?
BD? ? ;D
Our last regular season club event is on Smallwood this year. We will be there in early September, not quite fall but it should be good.
I guess being from up north and on the west side of the state I would like to see Wixom because that is only a 2 1/2 hour drive for us. We would like to fish it this tournament. I just started on this forum not long ago and didn't realize how much we had been missing. This is great!
It would be nice to have it more centrally located for everyone who would like to fish it. However, Hamlin would be my first choice, but I know not everyone would cherish that drive. So I guess Wixom would be my second choice even though I have never really done great on that body of water however some friends really do well there. I just enjoy fishing so where ever it is we will try to make it.
Houghton Lake might be another good place to fish. It is centrally located. You can fish for both species as well as catch a mixed bag of others. Plenty big enough and alot of campgrounds in the area. just a thought.
Wixom, Sanford, Smallwood, Secord..... all those lakes on the titabawasee chain are really good ones, lighter traffic in the fall, no speed limits or wake zones, lots of little "creek arm" backwaters to fish.? Also they are centrally located (in Central Michigan :)) for the guys from way up north.? Plus, they throw some big 'ol toads.
Speaking of way up north, Spinninbug, in your post you mention "us" and "we".? You got a mouse in your pocket, son? ;D Maybe you have a fishin' partner up there that's on the board too?
QuoteI guess being from up north and on the west side of the state I would like to see Wixom because that is only a 2 1/2 hour drive for us.? We would like to fish it this tournament.? I just started on this forum not long ago and didn't realize how much we had been missing.
As a former "up north" guy, I feel your pain.? I still fish up there quite a bit, in the Black Lake/Douglas/Burt/Mullet area.
spinninbug is a 'daughter' not a son and I believe she fishes as a husband and wife team if I remember right.
That's cool! I though maybe I had the only fishing wife, guess not ;)
Yep Dan you remembered right, the only time I don't fish with my husband I fish with two of my fishin buddies from Jackson, emeryj being one of those. This year I will be fishing with my husband only though we are fishing a team club this year.
I think my husband thinks he's created a freak. He knows when I've been slow at work and come home and talk about what I read online about fishing.
Lots of great choices on where to go.......How about when???? It maybe too early to ask this but.....I want to make sure I block the date for this......no matter where it is.
My wife is a fishing wife. She just won't fish tournaments. She thinks it takes the fun out of fishing. Too much pressure she says. So I got an alternate partner.....my daughter. She is a better fisherman......I mean fisherperson than the bride anyway. She puts fish in the boat and she likes the $$$$ when we do well. But the best part is I get to fish with my kid.
BD ;D
I don't care what lake. I've never had much lunk on Kent, but that's ok. Maybe my partner can show me how.
You might have trouble with the Portage chain out by Pinckney. There's not much of a boat launch (in terms of parking places) and the township has a rule that it not be opened too early. I think it's 8:30, but am not positive.
Ovid was cool last year. A drive for me, but that's ok. I liked it, and will definately go back in warm weather.
Met a lot of cool guys last time. Had a ball. Will definately be back.
I like the September time frame again.
I myself have no trouble making it to Ovid. I understand it is a real good largemouth lake. I have never been there, but would welcome a chance to check it out. I may try to make it out there sometime during this coming season whether it is picked or not.
BD ;D
Quote from: spinninbug on January 23, 2006, 05:17:55 PM
I think my husband thinks he's created a freak. He knows when I've been slow at work and come home and talk about what I read online about fishing.
Hmmm? Sounds pretty normal to me...;D
By the number of posts here it looks like the 2006 DK Open is going to be three times as big as last year. Thats awesome! Last year was a good time. Looking forward to this year no matter where it is.
BigDog, I hear ya! There is nothing like fishing with your kids. I have three daughters, 24, 21 and 19. They all like to fish. They don't fish alot but they like it alot.
For the last 5 years I've spent Fathers Day fishing a daddy-daughter tournament with one of my daughters. I look forward to that more than any other tournament I fish. Last year we managed to win. That was even better. Now my daughter Amber has her name engraved on the traveling trophy that she gets to keep until next years tournament.
My wife also likes to fish and she fishs a few tournaments with me also. The family that plays together stays together!
Life is GOOD!