Favorite inland Lake

[Savage]

What is your favorite inland lakes, and why?  You can add in what the best lure to throw is, if you want to

I want to keep it to inland lakes, so I don't see a whole bunch of LAKE ST CLAIR.

I would have to claim Grand Lake in Presque Isle county as my favorite, with tubes being the #1 bait of choice.  That lake is just packed full of mosnster smallies, and a few scattered largemouth.  You can wail on 'em from ice out through late fall.  There are all types of natural lake structure, but the 2 best seem to be rock reefs and weed beds near the drops.

Hard to beat!

[robtheboatman]

 Mine has to be Wixom lake.  Throwing zara spooks in the fall.  Monster smallies, and largemouths.
Rob

[Revtro]

Great Question!!!

Mine would have to be Lotus in Oakland County.  It's part of Maceday.  It has smallies and largemouth.  Senkos are my bait of choice because of the water clarity. 

My second choice will get a "boo" for sure from most of the guys probably, but I like fishing Pontiac Lake.  The fish are mostly dinks, but there are lots of them.  I've had a lot of memorable days out there with friends catching upwards of 20 to 30 bass.  It's an easy lake to catch bass on, so it's great to bring kids to.  Just don't fish it on summer weekends.  It's a zoo.

Ovid isn't on the list yet, because I've only fished it a couple of times, plus I hate the no-wake speed limit, but it has all the elements of a typical "Bassmaster Magazine" lake.  The couple of times I fished it, I really enjoyed all the structure to fish in that lake.

How about someone takes a poll of their least favorite lakes.  Perhaps if we post our least favorite lakes, some guys who have done well on them can help the rest of us figure out how to make them our favorite lakes.  I'll create a post for that.  These are both very productive questions.

[Dan]

I would have to say that Duck Lake at Interlochen State Park is my favorite. My favorite, because it is one of the nicest state parks in the system, and most importantly the park sits between Duck and Green Lake. Both have great smallmouth fishing. Just north a few miles is Long Lake another great lake with everything from big smallies to decent walleyes. Just around Long Lake (Instead of heading left to the Long Lake access stay right) you end up at Boones Long Lake Inn. You will never find a bigger platter of perch and if you buy one of their steaks you will be amazed at it's size. They don't advertise,  just word of mouth is sufficient. A big place and yes there is usually a line. The Hoffenbrau in Interlochen has a fantastic Sunday brunch. From Duck Lake you are only 20 minutes to Gander Mtn. in Traverse, and in another 10 minutes you're dumping the boat in Grand Traverse Bay. Everybody knows about the Bay's potential. Within 50 miles of Traverse is a host of other great smallmouth waters: Elk, Torch, Skegmog, Leelanau, Crystal, Bellaire, Charlevoix to mention a few. Staying at the park gives the kids tons to do, and if the wife takes a notion she is only 20 minutes from a big mall and slightly farther to two casinos. If you are on the fly, the park has two cabins that each sleep 4. One cabin is in the north campground and the other in the south. The north cabin is litterally spitting distance from the ramp. The south cabin is a much more scenic site. Over looks the lake and really is a nice spot to sit around a campfire while your boat is charging. The cabins book early so make sure you reserve one if you're interested. If you are so inclined, you can go across the street to the world renown Interlochen Music Camp. You'll hear them on the water and they often bring in some very well know performers for concerts.

[yukonjack2]

I like em all when the Fish are biting - see the other post when they are not - lol

I am close to Orion and spend the most time out there - seems the fishing has dropped off though since the LMB virus problems the last few years.

I spent a little time on Crooked lake in Petoskey - not much time spent fishing, but it looks awesome - and the Emmet county State Park - camp petosega is all newly redone anand a great place to stay.? I am looking forward to the BFL on Burt/Mullet, but its just too far to run to Crooked - darn.

(you spelled it wrong...)

[Bulletproof]

Its funny you mention Grand.  My grandparents are deciding whether or not to build on Grand or Long?  I fished Long for 5 days straight this summer over the 4th of July.  What a beautiful lake and some awesome smallie fishing.  Never fished Grand but drove around it plenty of times and it looks purty nice!  So do they build on Grand or Long?

[Cy]

I would say right now my favorite is Hardy Pond, on the Muskegon River in Newaygo County for those you that don't know it.  It has an awesome Small Mouth population and some really good Northern fishing.  I wore my buddy's out there with a spinner bait last spring.

My second favor is probably a White Lake in I think Muskegon county.  Mostly Large Mouth but lots of good cover and good water.

Cfruel

[fishstick]

I'd have to say the portage chain in pinckney...largemouth and smallmouth and you cant catch them about anyway you want!!! also lots of different lakes to choose from with my favorite being big portage

[djkimmel]

Can I do favorite for largemouth and favorite for smallmouth?

If so, then Ovid for largemouth and Mullett for smallmouth.

[chase5004]

I would have to say the Canadian Lakes chain in Mecosta Co. (to date) It doesn't seem to matter what the day might bring, I can always seem to put some fish in the boat. It is a Largemouth lake with a lot of pike.

Pat

[blakstr1]

Bulletproof-  I would tell them to build on Grand, I know people on both...as a property owner the people on Grand are much happier.

My favorite lakes are either of those Grand and Long(Alpena)..It depends which one I'm fishing to decide which ones my favorite...they are both awesome!

[fishon1219]

Wixom lake is my favorite for sure. Even though I only get up there once a year, there is always the possibility of a 7 pounder. There is every type of structure you can think of up there. A good population of both large and smallmouth, and some nice pike for a bonues. The lake is so big it dosent seem to be bothered by the fishing pressure either. Beautiful lake.

[McCarter]

Kent Lake.  Like Wixom lake, kent has every type of structure and cover you could ask for.  It fits any style of fishing, and the fish are plentiful as usually willing to bite.

I have caught some real 'Giants' out there, both largemouth and smallmouth.  Plus, its a short 8 minute drive from my house to the launch.  and there are no jet-ski monkeys or powerboat junkies to ruin the day.

PoorBoy himself

[smbassman]

Smallies - I would say any lake up north from Benzie county to Alpena and north.  All of those I have fished have great potential and can produce huge fish and good numbers.

Largemouth -  It is a secret I wouldn't announce on the internet.  I only fish it about once or twice a year to keep it a secret, but for quality and numbers it couldn't be beat.  My biggest has only been 5#, but the average size is 2-3# and I spoke to one guy that caught and released an 8#.  He would not bring another fisherman with him to keep it a secret.  Unfortunately, there is a campground/resort on the lake and the last time I was there several of the groups staying there were catching and keeping baskets full of bass (most not legal length).  It is a small lake in eastern Genesee county and that's all I am saying.

Oh yeah, my second best inland lake is my pond(about 6 acres).  Lots of bass, gills, some perch, crappie and at least one walleye(24") and one Pike(38"-16#s).  I swear there are growth hormones it that water with the size of fish in it.  Best of all - very little fishing pressure

[blakstr1]

 :)SMBASSMAN

i officially nominate your pond for the site of our 2006 Club Banquet...The pond.. ...i mean you are exactly what the club has been looking for! he,he.

[dartag]

Union Lake because it is right out my front door...   smallies and largemouth.    Cass is my second choice because it has the same bottom structure and is only 5 miles away...  got to learn St-Clair this spring for ABA and BFL.... 

[spinninbug]

My favorite inland lake I have to say is Hamlin Lake north of Ludington for largemouth,  my favorite smallie lake would have to be Pere Marquette and out to the mouth of the pere heads.  Also Portage lake in Onekama is a pretty good smallie lake,  both lakes have access to lake michigan,  I know some of you guys were talking about fishing lake michigan in here,  it's pretty awsome if you know where to go and find them. 

[Hooksetter]

I would have to say the Portage or the the Half Moon chain. Both have smallies and largemouth, although Portage seems to have a better population of smallies. Both have lots of fishable water.

Also, Thompson Lake in Howell. Lots of largemouths.

[Bulletproof]

Bulletproof-? I would tell them to build on Grand, I know people on both...as a property owner the people on Grand are much happier.

My favorite lakes are either of those Grand and Long(Alpena)..It depends which one I'm fishing to decide which ones my favorite...they are both awesome!

I was kinda leaning towards Grand myself.  They like both equally so maybe i can win them towards Grand.  Talk about a nice retreat to spend the weekend at a few times in the summer.  They will get sick off seeing me and my boat on their dock for sure.

I'm assuming Grand fishes a lot like Long?

If you were forced to pick a lake bwtn the 2 which one would u go with?

[Savage]

I'm assuming Grand fishes a lot like Long?

If you were forced to pick a lake bwtn the 2 which one would u go with?

I lived in Presque Isle county for the first 20 years of my life, and would without a doubt say that Grand is the lake to live on.? Long Lake fishes great, but it's basically big and long (good name! ).? Grand on the other hand is much more scenic, with rugged islands and secluded coves (cripe, this sounds like a travel brochure ).? They both fish just flat out awesome, you will wonder where all the fish are coming from.? Right now the fish are bigger at Grand...

You can see below why Blake and I love Grand so much, we took first and second there last season