Pretty Lake in Mecosta Co?

[FrickerDude]

Headed there at the end of the month for a week, rented a cabin on the lake.  Any know anything about this lake?

[djkimmel]

You'll be right next door to the popular Martiny Chain. I've never been on or heard anything about Pretty Lake but plenty of people fish Martiny Chain for bass (and pike, of course). Some good bass in those lakes though it has a reputation of being tough fishing at times.

[Eric]

Pretty Lake isn't very pretty.  Nor bassy, really.  Mecosta is close by and that would be my first choice for quantity and quality.  Followed by Chippewa.  You will drive tight by Horsehead on your way in (more than likely).  That has 157,230,297,392 bass in it.  Not many are very big though.  Martiny is overwhelmingly sprawling and tough fishing. 

[FSUCJDoc]

Don't forget about Jehnsen Lake nearby, especially if you like to slop fish. Chippewa is an all around good choice though. Nerve liked Horsehead and the pontoon patrol at night is annoying.

[djkimmel]

Okay... what is the 'pontoon patrol?'

[FrickerDude]

Thanks for the info.  Not sure how much I will be pulling the boat in and out of pretty lake.  The cabin has a boat lift so it may stay in that lake all week.  But if I get bored I may explore some of the others that are close by.  I will only be able to get out for a few hours in the mornings while the kiddos sleep in so we will see.

[FrickerDude]

Pretty Lake isn't very pretty.  Nor bassy, really.  Mecosta is close by and that would be my first choice for quantity and quality.  Followed by Chippewa.  You will drive tight by Horsehead on your way in (more than likely).  That has 157,230,297,392 bass in it.  Not many are very big though.  Martiny is overwhelmingly sprawling and tough fishing. 

Well I had a great vacation on Pretty Lake.  I thought it was purty and "bassy".  We had a nice cabin and the beach was just a few steps from the door.  My kids had a blast playing in the sand and water.  Having a covered boat lift was awesome!  I got out on the water Sunday-Thursday in the mornings for about 4 hours each.  Each morning I managed anywhere from 12-16 bass and of course several pike.  A majority of bass were 16-17", biggest (that was landed) was 19"  just under 4 pounds. 

I would start the morning burning a swim jig or throwing top water with limited success, but as soon as I worked out to the deeper water I would find huge schools of gills and crappie with my electronics and would switch to dropshot .  I caught probably 90% of the fish in 14'-17' of water just off of deep weedlines.  It was fun dialing in on a lake I never fished before.  I tried different baits in the deeper water but always went right back to the dropshot.  Even had a young kid and his Grandpa pull up to me to tell me they were tired of seeing me pull in nice fish every time they drove past me, and asked what I was using.  I gave the kid a quick lesson in tying a dropshot rig and gave him a couple packs of baits and some sinkers to get him started. The Grandpa was very grateful of me taking the time to help the kid out.

My 9 year old daughter went out with me a couple times in the evening and caught her first whopper plopper bass and even got her to throw a dropshot and she pulled in her first ever pike on it!  She was super excited.

I even took our dog out one evening, who learned how to swim in 15' foot of water after following my buzzbait out of the boat.  It's not easy pulling a 85 pound bull dog back into a boat.   

It was a relaxing and great vacation.

[djkimmel]

Well, that sounds great! Glad you had a nice vacation and even caught a bunch! I like new lakes too.

[cameraguy]

Nice report. Good job providing some instruction and gear to the grandpa and kid. Sounds like you have taught your daughter well, also. Can't fake those smiles!

[Firefighter Jeff]

   Great report Kyle !!!  Where's the picture of the wet dog   LOLOL  Especially awesome of you to set that boy up !!!   I try to do the same whenever I can.        What were you using on your ds rig bait-wise??? 

[FrickerDude]

   Great report Kyle !!!  Where's the picture of the wet dog   LOLOL  Especially awesome of you to set that boy up !!!   I try to do the same whenever I can.        What were you using on your ds rig bait-wise??? 

I used a little bit of this and that.  Xzone Slammers were my number one, some dream shots, Half shells, darters and just good ol twister tails.  most nights I would gather up the spent baits and fix them with some mend-it,  toss them in an empty bag and reuse them the next day.  Then when I needed a new bait I would reach in the bag and use what I grabbed.  Recycle and reuse, they were not too picky.

[21XDC]

I assume you caught the drop shot fish on your new combo.... If so, How do you like it so far?

[FrickerDude]

I love it Mike!  Super sensitive and light,  and still plenty of power!

[Firefighter Jeff]

What rig did you end up with Kyle

[FrickerDude]

What rig did you end up with Kyle

Abu Garcia Orra S 20 Spinning Reel and an Abu Garcia Venerate 7' ML Spinning Rod