Fall Smallie Fishing Burt/Mullett

[FireTiger]

Thinking about making fall trip up to the area.  Wondering if 3rd week of October is too late or if we can expect decent fishing?  Any info is appreciated.

[LennyB]

It's been my experience that you can't plan a trip based on a date from previous years experience. I have made my fall journey to Northern Michigan every year since the early 90's and every year it is different. One year the fishing will be fantastic (50 plus fish per day, 70 degrees, sunny with a gentle breeze) , and the same week the following year may be very tough (10 fish per day, 25 mile per hour wind, 40 degrees and pouring rain). Anymore, I just watch the weather the week before and plan my trip accordingly. If there's a lot of wind or a hard front comes through, I fish the smaller lakes or the protected areas. I also like to have a backup plan for Largemouth in case the big Smallie waters are shut down and vice-versa. If you have to lock a date down, the third weekend is as good as any. Fishing can be good from the onset of fall all the way to ice-up. The key to being successful is being versatile. If you go to the big lakes and don't catch them in the first hour or so, your probably not going to. Leave and go to a different lake and maybe a total different area. When a lakes on its on, and when its off its off.   

[djkimmel]

Check this video out from www.GreatLakesBass.TV last October up there - last weekend - and see if you think it will be worth it? I did have some miserable cold wet, days leading up to this but in the end I decided it was worth it.

[LennyB]

Man, I can't wait to go!!!

[djkimmel]

Many people don't have a real flexible schedule so they have to make the best of it but I follow as much of your advice as I can. There's lots of interesting lakes and rivers up there to fish. We are spoiled. Thank goodness.

[Dan]

I could bring the cinnamon rolls from my favorite bakery and haul the camper and the boat up for a rendezvous... that looks like fun!

[djkimmel]

Here's a little more of the actual details of my simple approach to fishing up there in the fall to late fall:

[TCook]

That was a goodun Dan! Is spinnerbaits all you throw up there lol or was it the overcast conditions you had? Whats the earliest you found the smallies to be up in the fall? Do you know how much the water temp has dropped up there since this cooler weather trend has kicked in?

[djkimmel]

I don't have a temp update but I used to go up there around Labor Day and had some pretty good days. I started going later and later to get bigger bass because that's when my old traveling buddies could go.

It was so cold and rainy last year that I could only fish so slow. I was freezing for 4 days before the rain finally started to fade away. And I like spinnerbaits, but often, if I have patience left, I can catch a bunch on tubes and grubs too. Sometimes, I do believe one approach is more consistent than the other - how much is my personal preference verses actual - I'm not sure.

I just prefer to fish faster and enjoy it more so I do it when I can. Sometimes the spinnerbait works best and sometimes the bottom stuff works best. Sometimes it changes throughout the day or week.

That second day after the rain finally stopped, I really spanked them on spinnerbaits. It was way more fun for me than slow baits. With the really bad overcast, they were fairly scattered in small groups so I think I caught more by moving down the lake steadily. I did find two groups were I caught some bonus bass on tubes and darters. I think in one spot I caught 5 or 6 on bottom baits after the school pulled off the rocks - the wind moved me while I was fighting a good bass and the group followed lazily along a little behind it.

I'm seeing some fall indications at home already with some of the critters I feed. If it stays this way most of the time, you'll probably have a whackfest up there during the Lake Drive unless you get hit by really bad weather in the two or three days before. They change pretty fast up there in my opinion though. Not the swarms, but more than enough for big 5-bass limits.

One thing I have definitely noted over the years on Mullett and a little on Burt - spinnerbaits work better for me way more often in fall and suspending jerkbaits work better more often in the spring. As always, no set 100% all-the-time rule, but it's been a fairly flat curve.

One other tip - when it has been windy, overcast and the water has color - I stick to painted spinnerbaits. When it has been calm, sunny and the water has settled down and cleared up quite a bit, then I go with more natural. Not that big a tip I know, but it has been another fairly consistent pattern for me on those lakes over the years in the fall. In the spring, I almost always use painted.

[FireTiger]

Thanks for the info.  My vacation time is not flexible this year it's either third week of October or nothing so we will come no matter what the weather.  Last year we did Skegemog and Elk same time Mark Zona was up there filming and the weather was miserable and fishing mediocre.  We have heard good things about Burt/Mullett and we had already seen Djkimmel's vids and a few others.  95% sure we are gonna make the trip any recommendations on lodging?  We will have a Nitro Z8 with us so obviously a boater friendly place is a must.

[djkimmel]

Then you were up there the same time I was and probably saw me and didn't even know it.

Depends on your budget for a place to stay. I stay real cheap at a small place with limited parking way up on the West side of Cheboygan, partly so I can have breakfast at Alice's Restaurant. I'm usually the only boat there so it works out. I can send you the info.

There's some slightly fancier places in Indian River right off the highway close to the Burt Lake launch. Some boaters stay at the Best Western in the Southern end of Cheboygan right on the river. Less than 15 minutes from the two launches on the North end of Mullett. I don't have numbers or remember the names for the places in Indian River. One is Star something or other. Call 800-EXIT 310 for the IR Chamber or check their website - www.irchamber.com

[Firefighter Jeff]

Star Gate motel.  They have a website.  Nice elderly couple run it.  It's a mile or less from the state park ramp on Burt.  Think me and Tim paid $60 for a room with a additional bedroom.  Furnishings are dated but it's clean and the shower head was the best part of the room.  It blasted you with hot water !!!!  lolol 

[djkimmel]

That's the one I've stayed at 2 or 3 times with other people. I think I stayed at the one just off the highway once also but it was so long ago I can't remember for sure. I know many of the tournament guys stayed there when we first started having tournaments there in the mid-90s when we launched out of the various marinas along the Indian River.

[Skulley]

This is some great stuff.  I do need to make the trip up there to fish those lakes one day.  I know I am missing some great fishing up there.  I guess I really haven't felt the need since LSC and Erie are right around the corner from me.  But I did promise myself that one day I would make the trek.  Great video.  I really enjoyed it.


BD                             

[ub2m4]

DJ, what are your favorite jerk baits in the spring?

[FireTiger]

Stargate looks perfect.  Thanks for the info. 

[Firefighter Jeff]

  My pleasure.  Funny story.  When we were up there last fall, we checked in with the elderly wife.  While she was doing paperwork I was looking at all the pictures of guys holding fish.  I only saw one pic that had anyone in it I recognized.  Then she says to me. "You know who that is don't you?" lol  It was her and her husband in a picture with Mark Zona.  I chuckled and said yes I do.
  Tim and I decided to stay a second night.  So that evening I was checking in with the Husband.  While pointing to the same picture he says, "You know who that is don't you?"  lol  I almost lost it.             

[djkimmel]

DJ, what are your favorite jerk baits in the spring?

I get bored easy so I switch around at times just to see if something else is working - at least when I feel like working at it. There does seem to be preferences on different lakes for me anyway. Two really good jerkbaiters I know - 1) Dave Reault would tell you to pretty much stick with Lucky Craft Pointers and 2) Don Watts would tell you to just stick with Rogues.

In the spring, I do fish mostly suspenders - I like the Pointer 100, I like the Staysee or deep-diving Pointer when the bass are following or not really getting other jerkbaits higher in the water column. Sometimes, another foot or two of depth makes all the difference for me.

I like some old suspending Bomber Long A's I have - I've done particularly well with these old clown KVD signature Long A's that I'm running out of. I like the suspending Rogues and up North, sometimes the big Rattling Rogues. On some inland lakes, I do better on the big Husky Jerks for some reason. I like bigger jerkbaits during the smallmouth spawn. Territorial reaction, I think - unless the bass are getting hammered, then I start going smaller.

When the bigger baits aren't hooking them good, I have some smaller Lucky Craft and a Lake Police squirrel that I've caught a ton of bass on. I also do well in shallower water on the next smaller size of the Husky Jerk. I have two of those silver/black that have been dulled to drab by bass.

I used to throw Rattle Sticks and Slap Sticks a lot. Haven't thrown them for a while with all the fancy new baits out. I still have a few but I'm doing well on the baits listed. I keep a few other handy (did I mention I get bored easy). For some reason, everyone once in a while I do well on Yozuris though I don't throw them a lot. I either do good on them or can't get bit at all. I used to have this one redheaded, chartreuse Yozuri that I was catching the fire out of bass on for some reason and then on Lake Hamilton, I cracked it hitting a dock. Never could get it fixed right after that and couldn't find another of the same size and color that caught them very good. I sure wish I knew why certain baits - like my Lake Police Squirrel - catch them so much better even then other copies of the same bait and color? Keep those ones in a different place.

One extra thing I like to do, especially with suspenders, is tie some flashabou and krystal flash on a treble hook and use that on the back. Man! Does that add some extra bites some days! I'm about out of them and need to make some more.

[djkimmel]

  My pleasure.  Funny story.  When we were up there last fall, we checked in with the elderly wife.  While she was doing paperwork I was looking at all the pictures of guys holding fish.  I only saw one pic that had anyone in it I recognized.  Then she says to me. "You know who that is don't you?" lol  It was her and her husband in a picture with Mark Zona.  I chuckled and said yes I do.
  Tim and I decided to stay a second night.  So that evening I was checking in with the Husband.  While pointing to the same picture he says, "You know who that is don't you?"  lol  I almost lost it.             

When Z is anywhere up in the North, he attracts people like flies. Come to think of it, what little I'm around him, he seems to attract people like flies pretty much everywhere!