2007 Michigan BFL Schedule

[djkimmel]

2007 Michigan Division BFL schedule
Michigan BFL tournament director - Anthony Wright

Event Burt/Mullet St. Clair Grand River Detroit R Detroit R Mississippi R

Marina Pier 33 Metro Beach Riverside Park Elizabeth Park Elizabeth Park Captain Kirk's Marina

City / State ? Cheboygan Mt. Clemens Grand Haven Trenton Trenton Fort Madison, IA

Date 6/16 7/7 7/28 8/25 9/15-16 10/4 - 10/6

Priority Deadline 5/24 6/14 7/5 8/2 8/23

Late Fee Starts 6/6 6/27 7/18 8/15 9/5

Final Entry Date 6/15 7/6 7/27 8/24 9/14 10/3

Anthony made a point to say the schedule was developed after input from Michigan BFL members (around 40 or so email at least that I had heard of and some phone calls). He encourages members to contact him and let him know what they want to fish.

Contact him at:
270-252-1000
or
awright@flwoutdoors.com

[bshaner]

That looks identical to 2006.  I do remember hearing alot of people concerned about the same lakes always being fished.   Did no one suggest anything different?  Next year will be my first year fishing the BFL series, so it doesnt matter to me.  If it holds water, I'll fish it!

B

[djkimmel]

Comments received were over 20:1 in favor pretty much of the same schedule.

[bshaner]

Oh, I dont doubt ya!  Am I going senile though?  Thought for sure I heard opinions voiced about the issue.  Anyway it's neither here nor there, will be the first time fishing them for me, so it will be fresh water!

B

[djkimmel]

There were other opinions and other lakes suggested. No doubt. Just in a very small minority, especially Burt/Mullett which were only missing from something like two 'votes.'

[5alive]

I wish the first date was a week earlier. As it is, it puts that one on opening day of St. Clair.

[Genie]

Which ramp are they using for the Grand River event?

[smbassman]

I wish the first date was a week earlier. As it is, it puts that one on opening day of St. Clair.

I agree with this!  That will definitely mess up a lot of plans for other big St. Clair opener tournaments that don't want to compete with the BFL.

Also, with a warm spring, this could be a little late for the reason people are willing to travel that far north - giant bedding smallies!  No doubt there will be some left no matter what, but it could be tougher. 

[Team houston]

How do you know it will not be a cold spring? Could be a pre-spawn tourny.

[bshaner]

Farmer's Almanac!! 

[smbassman]

How do you know it will not be a cold spring? Could be a pre-spawn tourny.

No doubt there are always a mix of pre, post spawn and bedding fish from early May to nearly July in Northern Michigan inland lakes.  By mid to late June, even if the water temps are still in the mid 60's (cold spring) the fish will still spawn and there will be very few "pre-spawn" fish left.  There should be bedding fish though. 

But if it is a warm spring with a couple stable weather periods, the majority of the fish could be spawned out as early as memorial weekend.

Two years ago was a warm spring like I mention and I was on Burt/Mullet the first weekend of June and there were very few bedding fish left - mostly males guarding fry.  The water temp was already 75+ degrees.

It is just safer to plan between memorial weekend to the 2nd weekend in June to hit the spawn on these lakes.

[djkimmel]

I haven't asked Anthony, but they each work around several divisions so something appears to have pushed our schedule a week later. I'll ask him if I get a chance.

For the Grand River, I imagine he is planning on using Riverside Park. Is there something else looking at that date?

[Bulletproof]

I'm not arguing the numbers turned in.  But I did remember seeing a fair amount of guys mentioning some lakes around the Grand Traverse Area.

What about the gosh darn, good ole' Saginaw Bay, man another year to wait.

[Genie]

Grand River -

Dan, I was at the Grand River event this year and was talking with the director and he mentioned that he would like to use the county launch that is closer to the big lake.  Just curious if he was going to follow through on that.

[SODY]

I hope they do! The launch is nearly as good, with no long NO WAKE zones. FOM Fishers of Men has been using it for two years and it is great with a nice staging area.

We will be there Saturday July 21 st for our third tourney (See posted schedule) and i;m hoping all my old buddies can come out and join us on Friday for our cook out and meeting. Free food for all participants.

After all you will be there practicing anyhow, why not join us. Not that I planned that or anything :-)
Sody

[blazer64]

DJ where exactly are we launching out of on burt-mullet.

[djkimmel]

DJ where exactly are we launching out of on burt-mullet.

Missed this post - sorry. You may have gotten your answer already - Pier 33 Party Store / Summer Moorings Marina - on M-33 at the bridge over the Cheboygan River. Pretty close to old 27.

There is limited parking at the marina, but there may be opportunities to launch Friday night and leave your boat overnight (not your trailer) at one of the open marina slips. Unsure yet if there will be a small charge.

Don't count on electricity - these are large boat outlets that require an expensive adapter to plug into. There may be two posts with adapters and plug strips, but again, don't count on it. If they do it, it will be limited to first-come, first-serve to only a few boats.

Most people will launch up in Cheboygan at the MDNR ramp on the Cheboygan River across the east side of Lincoln St. Allow up to 50 minutes to no-wake down from this ramp to Pier 33.

There may be other options, but I have not confirmed anything with tournament director Anthony Wright on how he wants to do this so it may have to wait until the meeting Friday night as far as multiple ramps and/or launching at Pier 33.

Below is only informational, but not any policy or approval since I can't do that - Anthony may very well limit launch locations to only specific places so confirm with him before making a decision for Saturday morning.

There's a boat ramp with parking for 20 or so at Aloha State Park - 2 to 3 miles from the mouth of the Cheboygan River - takes about 15 minutes to no-wake to Pier 33.

There's an MDNR ramp in the NW corner of Mullett Lake next to the marina there - less than a mile from the mouth of the Cheboygan River. Only parking for 20 or so trailers. There may be alternate parking locations, but that would be up to Anthony to approve.