Traverse City

[skeeter6217]

Any word on how the smallie fishing is in the bay? I live 6 hours away and I'm thinking about heading up tomorrow morning and fishing for two days.

[Got Fish??]

Vary cool! I have  to work all weekend. Stop  at any of  the bait  shops in the area. They will know where and with what. The guys at Jack's in Kalkaska should put you on fish.You may have a northwest wind and it may be tuff on the bay. There are many inland lakes  that produce a lot of quality small mouth. In the area of  Traverse City and Kalkaska.

[6 lb Smallmouth]

Post a report when you are finished Skeeter.  I am headed up there in a couple weeks and would love to hear how things are going. 

[skeeter6217]

Was on the east bay for 20 minutes today. Water temp was 42 degrees so I loaded up and went to Long Lake. Too many good lakes around to fight 42 degree water.

Going to Charlevoix tomorrow. Heard the water temp is much better.

[djkimmel]

Things are heating up quick now up there - maybe not the water as much - but the bass are starting to do their thing. That's what I'm hearing about the Bay and all the lakes up there.

[fishndooder]

Was out yesterday and the wind rolled the water... I saw surface temps as low as 39 and around 45 on the spawning flats.  Not good...

[TackleThis!]

 I was on East Bay Wednesday from 8:00am to 10:30am water temp was in the low 40's.  I boated a 5.9, 4.9 and a 4.1.

[djkimmel]

I heard the water got cold, cold but at least if you can find a few fish you might find some big ones. The fishing is a lot hotter on inland lakes and some big, big bass are being caught there too.

[Got Fish??]

I hope the water temp go's up before July 4th week. I will be in Kalkaska for most of the week. I must finish my deck . Hope to fish the other three days. Has any one fished the torch  lake chain? What's thier temps?

[djkimmel]

50s to 60s depending upon the lake. Bass spawning in some and not spawning completely in others.

[TheFishinPollock]

The Bay. Killin um  , both sides  , water is about 58 59  . We had a fantasticccccccccccccccc morning, then it rained on us so we split to get food.  perfect day., Overcast with a light wind.

[6 lb Smallmouth]

The Bay. Killin um  , both sides  , water is about 58 59  . We had a fantasticccccccccccccccc morning, then it rained on us so we split to get food.  perfect day., Overcast with a light wind.

Hey Pollock,

Just curious- I was out there too and was wondering if that is the normal amount of boats fishing on a Saturday.  The area I was fishing had a TON of boats. 

[skeeter6217]

Quick question: I'm heading up to Traverse tomorrow morning and I live six hours away. Should I fish Charlevoix or the Bay? I'm only fishing two days.

[TheFishinPollock]

I'm guessing you were on east bay jerkbait.  And no from what I saw  that was light compared to what it should have been . I was on west bay practicing for wed night's NBAA. Just me a ranger and a strat were out on west bay.   Might make it back out tomorrow depends on how the leg and ankel feel. We got dumped on headed back from power island so we called it a day and went for some good ole taco bell.


Skeeter. If you have 2 days. I would start on the bays  .  Chalivoix is hot too . That is a tuff choice.  It would depend on the wind speeds and direction for me.   With charlie you get the added bonus of whopping some good eye for takehome dinners . 

[6 lb Smallmouth]

Yes Matt- I was on the East Bay.  I had never seen it that busy but most of the times I have fished were during the week.  Fishing has been going very well.  Here's a question- the south flats were in the low 60s with areas by the launch being in the high 50s.  What do think it will be like by Elk Rapids?  I am thinking about hitting that area Monday.  How far behind are those fish compared to the south end of the bay?  I started seeing beds south last Tuesday.  Thanks for any advice.   

[TheFishinPollock]

I would bet that the water by ER is in the high 50's also.   They are dredging our harbor so it might be muddy. Just up a few miles from ER harbor  by creswell road is a good area too.   There were alota boats on east bay cause if I rember right division 38 for NBAA has a tourny tuesday night on east bay outa the center road launch.  Just south of ER is yuba area. Really good spawning flats.

[6 lb Smallmouth]

Matt-
So I took Sunday off since I have been hitting it pretty hard and I thought I would spend the day with my wife and daughter.  Also, I figured there would be a lot of boats out.  I was shocked when driving through TC and saw only 1 or 2 boats out on the East Bay.  I counted 10 just in the area I was fishing Saturday.  If I knew that I would have probably snuck out for the morning since it was perfect fishing conditions.

Anyways, gonna give it another shot tomorrow.  Maybe try out of Elk Rapids later this week.  Do you live in Elk Rapids?  We rented a place for another 2 weeks. 

[TheFishinPollock]

Yea im right outside of ER in kewadin.   Its just a few miles down the road.  where did ya rent a place at?

[bmck25]

Was on the east bay for 20 minutes today. Water temp was 42 degrees so I loaded up and went to Long Lake. Too many good lakes around to fight 42 degree water.

Going to Charlevoix tomorrow. Heard the water temp is much better.

Just curious, How did you do on Long? My wife, two little ones, and I rented a house up there the last week of July, first of August. Love it up there. Fished it last year and caught my PB smallie, 6lb 3oz.

Probably going to try Duck and Green some also. May try fishing the bays some too.

[6 lb Smallmouth]

Yea im right outside of ER in kewadin.   Its just a few miles down the road.  where did ya rent a place at?

We're just a block off 31 in the neighborhood when entering town. A little bit of a drive to the pennisula launch but my wife likes staying in ER.