Mid & Northern Michigan Lakes

[Coop]

Hey all,

Anyone have any recommendations on specific lakes in the Mid-Michigan Area that are strong pre spawn fishing lakes? Im trying to set up a couple of 2 day trips up north for some strong fishing.  I already have notched off some time to hit Burt & Mullett of course, but looking for maybe a very underrated option that I can do some early catch & release fishing.

[Waterfoul]

Hey all,

Anyone have any recommendations on specific lakes in the Mid-Michigan Area that are strong pre spawn fishing lakes? Im trying to set up a couple of 2 day trips up north for some strong fishing.  I already have notched off some time to hit Burt & Mullett of course, but looking for maybe a very underrated option that I can do some early catch & release fishing.

There really aren't many "mid-Michigan lakes."  Most decent sized lakes are either on the west side (Muskegon, White, Hardy Pond, etc...) the east side (Wixom, Sanford, etc...) or north (Duck, Green, Burt, Mullet, Long, Hubbard, etc...).  There are always the Traverse Bays of course.  But the center of the state is kind of sparse for decent sized lakes.

Based on the recent Major League Fishing tournaments I think we are going to plan a trip to the Hubbard/Long Lake area this summer.  Never been up that way.  I'm sure I won't be the only one after watching the pro's catch so many fish during that tournament.

[Coop]

I definitely need to know when an event is going to be held up there. I will go for certain. Yeah Hubbard & Long look like nice bass lakes. I been recording and watching the MLF events from up there in Alpena. Looks like those are some nice lakes with some big fish. Im a medical device rep and traval to most hospitals all over north and southern Michigan and have been in Alpena at the hospital often. Just never thought about fishing those lakes. But if there is a group headed up, im definitely game.

[gmetime24]

For mid michigan I would go to Sanford and wixom lakes. These are killer bass fishing lakes mixed with largies and smallies. Both are reservoirs and especially with Sanford you want to learn the main river channel. On the north end you can get yourself into trouble if you get too far outside the channel

[Coop]

Yeah, im pretty familiar with Sanford. Not so much with Wixom or Secord though. I live only 15 mins from Sanford. That's why you gotta love the Lakemaster Chips! lol

[djkimmel]

Lake Lancer maybe? Haven't been there in awhile and only a couple times. Houghton Lake and Higgins Lake for sure. Houghton largemouth start earlier. Smallmouth slightly later though not much depending upon the weather. Higgins Lake a little later.

Many of the lakes from there North are good fishing lakes for one or both bass. When they get good depends upon the spring warming trend and how good it coincides with full moon periods - the bass will moves towards spawn regardless but a warming trend with a full moon sometimes makes the movements much bigger.

Prespawn can start pretty early on Southern Michigan lakes depending upon the weather, but some of the best can occur before our bass season opens. Anyone who wants to change that read through the Michigan Bass Season board and help us change to a year-round bass season of some type. There's no scientific reason for a closed statewide bass season, but some people are scared of change.

[Big dreams]

I live 5 minutes from Wixom and fish all of the lakes around mid Michigan.  Smallwood is a good spawning lake.  Secord is my favorite but not for spawning.  The biggest bag I have heard about in recent day is up on Hubbard Lake by Alpena.  I can't recall the numbers but it was ridiculous.  Potter was telling the club about it.  Whatever it was, I remember my jaw dropping.

[Coop]

Djkimmel - I cant agree with you any more about the bass season. Pretty ridiculous that we even have a closed season at all. Were one of the few states in the country that are this unreasonable. Too many people that think it effect the spawn of the fish etc.. if it was such an issue, there would be less widespread prespawn bass fishing. I swear this state is so "high on its horse" when it comes to some of the hunting and fishing regulations. Were out there on an island which is not fair at all...

In regards to this season and the early spawn.. Not really counting on it. I wouldn't put it past the weather this spring that the main bass spawn wont come until well into catch and release and almost not until the actual bass opener and the start of the majority of tourneys.  There should be some nice bags brought in this year in some of the early tournaments. Probably be texas riggin / Carolina rigging / & slooooowwwww jerkbait bite on catch and realease opener. its sure gonna be an interesting beginning of the season.

[djkimmel]

I really like Secord Lake in the mid to late fall. I sure hope I can make it back up again one of these falls. Still haven't made it to Smallwood. It's on the list.

Last time I was on Hubbard in the spring I didn't catch any giants but a number of 4+ and very happy numbers of 1.5 to 2.5 smallies just ripe for the pickin' one after another with enough between 2.5 and 4+ to make for a memorable few days of bass fishing!

Guess I'll have to make a fall trip up there again one of these years to check on the fall heft. Hard to head that way with all those other great lakes to the East and straight North (my favorites!)! Plus! I keep hearing about totally new lakes I just have to visit! If I keep meeting new people my lakes I need to fish list will just keep growing! It's already pretty long.