Reeds Lae Report

[Chewy]

Well I finally got up there.  I found the launch OK, it's not marked very well out by the road but with everyones help I knew where to look.  I got there around 6:15am so I was the only one at the launch which is huge.  There is no parking lot there.  I was able to back in off the road no problem because there was little to no traffic at that time. 

The launch is a nice launch.  It has these little decorative stones leading to the ramp.  You can fit two trucks side by side to launch.  It would be kinda tight but you could do it without much trouble.  The launch itself is nice with two docks to tie up to.  The ramp is level and grades down to the water well.

I parked on the street right next to the entrance.  I think it would be tough later in the day because when I left every spot along the street was full.  Not knowing the area well I would have a hard time finding some place to park.

I got the boat in and took a ride around the lake to get a look at it since I have not been there before.  It's a relatively small lake with a quick drop off around most of the lake.  Taking the advise of others and what I read off the internet I started on the sunken island throwing a popper.  There was fish busting all over the place but i think most of them were carp.  I never got a hit on the popper and switched to a buzzbait with the same results.

I then started to throw an old school color of yellow with a brown back crankbait.  I was fishing the break from the 8ft to 12 ft range around the island.  I got my first fish which was a pike a short time after throwing the crank.  I ended up with 4 of the toothy ones.  All 4 were keepers with the big 2 going around 34 inches.

I then busted my first bass on the crank.  It hit hard and jumped right away.  I got it in and tried it on my digital scale.  It read 1.3 lbs.  I need new batteries because I measured it and it was 18 1/2 inches.  I ended up catching 8 keepers on the day.  I apologize for giving lengths insted of weight.  They were 17 3/4, 16 3/4, two 16 1/2's  a 16 and a 15 1/2 and a 14.   I also caught 7 more that were small.

The water temp was 80 to start and ended around 82 when I left around noon.  They just sprayed for weeds on the 18th and the water was a pea soup green with some algae in it.  Visibility may have been 2 feet.  Not many weeds left near the shore line but the island still had green weeds.

I caught all my fish but 3 small ones on the crank.  The small ones came from under docks on a Yum Dinger in watermelon pepper.  Not many under the docks surprised me.  The crankbait fish came from the 8 to 12 foot range but there had to be weeds around.  No weeds no fish.  They were also on a sharp drop.  Gradual drops did not hold fish. 

Overall I really like the lake.  I had two small panfish boats out with me and that was it.  No skiers or jet skis.  I will definitely make the trip again.  Thanks to everyone who helped with directions.

[Redbone]

It sounds like you had a good day to me!   Nice report.

[fasttrack]

Yeah, thanks for the nice report and good job figuring out a pattern quickly! I will say though that the weeds were sprayed earlier than the 18th. The water/weeds were like that already at least a week earlier.

I took my 7yr old out there for a couple hours last Sat. Was able to let him fight a couple 3 1/2 lb'ers and a couple 2 lb'ers which was fun. We got a few on docks and a few on the big island - then it got very hot and he was ready to go.

[Chewy]

I know what you mean about hot!  I ended up taking one of my towels and stuck it under my cap to get the sun off the back of my neck.  I would have liked to dunk it in the water to cool my head off even more but there was no way that water was going on my head.

I really like the lake though.  I haven't caught that many big bass in a day since the smallies were on their beds at Gull Lake.  I hope to get up there again soon.  They must be pretty hard on the weeds in there because the sign on the dock let by the spray company said the 18th.  It doesn't seem to affectthe fish too much because they were FAT.

Have you ever gotten into a topwater bite on there?  I like I posted I saw a lot of fish on top but nothing was hitting.  They could not have all been carp could they?

[ROI Outdoors]

I know what you mean about hot!  I ended up taking one of my towels and stuck it under my cap to get the sun off the back of my neck.  I would have liked to dunk it in the water to cool my head off even more but there was no way that water was going on my head.

I really like the lake though.  I haven't caught that many big bass in a day since the smallies were on their beds at Gull Lake.  I hope to get up there again soon.  They must be pretty hard on the weeds in there because the sign on the dock let by the spray company said the 18th.  It doesn't seem to affectthe fish too much because they were FAT.

Have you ever gotten into a topwater bite on there?  I like I posted I saw a lot of fish on top but nothing was hitting.  They could not have all been carp could they?

Reeds Lake probably has one of healthiest ecosystems in the state so it produces year after year - it's good to hear you had a good time out there.  As far as the topwater deal goes a lot of the fish busting are carp but there are a lot of bass mixed in with there if you can get a close enough look.  I have no idea what the carp are doing but I do have a theory on the bass.....Reeds has more 8-10 inch Crappie in it than any other lake I've ever seen and those chunky largemouth love them some crappie - I've seen 10 inch crappie disappear in an instance from giant largies coming from below the schools like Lions hunting Gazelles in Africa.  I think a lot of the fish jumping are largies trying to "push" those crappies down their gullets - that's my theory because when they jump they jump differently than bass feeding on top; it's almost similiar to when steelhead and salmon jump to loosen their eggs.....

There's a tournament next Monday Evening out there if you're interested.  Also feel free to give me a call next time you go out there - I'll get you some spots to try for the abundant 20+ inchers out there.

Luke W.
616-366-1395

[Chewy]

Luke I will give you that call sometime next week!

[edyer]

Luke, can you hook me up with some of those 20 inters. I need five of them this Friday night so I have a chance against Don.

[Chewy]

Is there a public restroom on the lake?  That knowledge may come in handy if I bring the kids.

[edyer]

There is one right in the park where the boat launch is. It is usually open.

[Chewy]

Thanks Edyer.  That may come in handy.