If You Could Fish Anywhere in Michigan This Weekend

[Eric]

If you could fish anywhere in Michigan this weekend for bass, where would it be, and why? 

I am looking to go fishing this weekend, but haven't fished much this time of year.  So, I am hoping to glean from others opinions to which body of water I might be able to find a bunch of bass to catch.

If anyone wants to go, I'll have an empty seat.

[Genie]

Lake Ovid - Mr. Kimmel is an expert there!

[Revtro]

This answer may surprise many, but I'll be fishing Pontiac Lake today.  I love St. Clair, but this time of year (especially this year) the lake is wasted and the fishing is at it's worst.  Trust me, I've been out there a lot the past 2 weeks.  So being tired of not catching them, I'm gonna go to Pontiac Lake, where at least I know I'll catch some small ones.  It's an easy lake to fish and has a ton of small bass and a few decent ones. 

Kent Lake is also fishing fairly strongly at this time.

[Eric]

OK, I'll scratch St Clair.

How about Erie or anywhere up north, anyone?

I need my smallie fix.

[dartag]

after fishing in michigan the last 2 days i would say Miami Beach would be a nice place to go fishing next weekend.  just glad all the ice on my boat melted yesterday.  the cold high wind on cass even dried it out little.  good thing spring is only 6 months away.

ss

[Eric]

I espect they are really biting up to Miami Beach.  I know there are some big fish coming out of Burt lately, and I would imagine Mullett is pretty good, too.  Good call Steve (even though you were trying to be a smartazz) 

1 vote for Mullett, anyone else?

[motocross269]

If I could get away I would fish some of the good smallie water up north, Grand, Long, Burt, Mullet, charlevoix...etc

[TCook]

I would go back to leelanau, im not sure if the fishing would be as good as it was a month ago when we averaged 20-25 smallies a day with a 4 pound average (not including the monsters we lost), but that was an absolute blast. I dont see why it would still not be good there but if not any of those lakes up north near traverse city would be my choice without a doubt. if you by chance decide to go that way I would be interested in joining you and splitting the cost. Maybe fishingpollock could chime in and let you know if the bite is still on there?

Tim

[TCook]

I just read a report on another site from a guy who spent 4 days fishing lakes near traverse city and he said they had atleast five 5 pounders every day and two over 6, and his buddies cought two well over 7. He went on to say that the fishing is just getting going up there and to get up there as soon as possible because the fishing is amazing right now.

[Eric]

I would be game to go back to Leelanau.  I had considered that, just because of how poorly I did last time, and I don't admit defeat that easily.  My brain is much bigger than theirs.  Eventually I will outsmart them.  I would welcome your company.  TC is only 2 hours, so we could go Saturday morning? 

[Chewy]

If you could find a way to get on it I would have to vote for Lake Isabella.

[rufus]

The mouth of the Detroit River and the north shore of Erie gets going really good this time of year. Small areas in front of what used to be the "green house" in anywhere from 5-15 fow. The community holes in the mouth of the river get stacked with them as well.

[Eric]

I can go to Isabella anytime, pretty much.  That's only about 30 minutes away.  That would be awesome fishing, both LM and SM.  I hadn't thougt of that.  If I don't make a road trip, I will proabably do that.  Good call.

[Chewy]

Eric,
     Is Isabella still a private lake or is there a way to get on it legally.  I fished a tournament up there about 3 years ago that you helped me out on.  It was one of the best inland lakes I have ever been on.  I imagine the smallies are stacked up out there right now.  If you go I wish you luck. 

[Dan]

If I were in Michigan I would have to agree with TCook and probably be on Leelanau. However, I'm typing here in Athens, Alabama. We fished Wheeler Lake down by Wheeler Dam up the Elk River. Caught a bunch of 14-16 inch fish about 25. A few small smallmouth, but we had a blast. We fished Dale Hollow and I caught my first Kentucky Bass. We're heading to Orlando tomorrow. Just a 630 mile drive. We hope to fish the Harris Chain, and East Lake Toho before the BASS Nationals which start on the 6th. I will be uploading the second installment to our Florida National Adventure tomorrow morning. Need a wifi connection. The computer I'm on now doesn't have a FTP, Fetch is what I use, to upload the files to the teardropbass.com website blog. Should have the new entry up tomorrow when we stop at McDonald's for coffee. They have wifi down here.

[Skulley]

With water temps on Belleville at about 57 last weekend, I would go there, Ford, or the Hot Pond down in Monroe.

BD           

[Eric]

Chewy,

Lake Isabella is still private, but I know several people who have access rights, and they like me well enough to let me go whenever I want.


Someone want want to let the smallies at Leelenau know TCook and I are on the way.  They are in big trouble.  Pictures of an awesome weekend and giant smallies on the way.

Skeeterman,

Anyone you want us to hi to for you while we are in TC?

[Eric]

Whoever sent the message, they definitely got it.  Or maybe the weather screwed it all up.  After deciding a trip somwhere was going to happen, I had been monitoring water conditions, weather forecasts, and fishiong reports for a week.  Everything seemed perfect for TC.  The forecast for Saturday was mid 50s and 100% sunshine.  It was 100% sunshine for about 15 minutes after sunrise, then about 100% clouds and wind the rest of the day.  We caught 1 nice one and 2 shorts and gave up about 1:30 or so.  Everything came at the edge of the break, not really on anything, on drop shots.  Called Dan and he said to try Green.  We eventually found it and fished until about 6:30.  Never saw a living organism of any kind.  No fish, no minnows, no craws, perch, bluegills, smelt, no nothing.  Rather than stay up there and endure another day of that, we came home to fish Isabella, at Chewy's suggestion, Sunday.  Started out and caught one about 5 minutes after we started on a jerkbait.  Pulled a minnow out of its mouth to amtch the hatch.  Never caught another one for hours.  Caught about 6 more in the last hour on tubes and beavers in the sand with patches of sand grass. 

The weekend was great, we had a ball, but fishong was absolutely terrible.  One 4 pounder a day was definitely what we had in mind.  I think if the forecast would have really happened, we'd have caught them real good, but it wasn't, and we didn't.  Still a great weekend, though.

Better luck next year.

[Dan]

I'm surprised that Green wasn't kinder to you. Did you fish the shallow flats? We're laying up here in Orlando. It was 85 and sunny yesterday. Met a bunch of guys who have begun to show up for the Nationals on the Kissimmee Chain. Today Don takes the shuttle over to the marina and can stow his gear in one of the Tritons. The National anglers are actually breaking in these Tritons for the guys who will be fishing the Bassmaster's Classic. Later today they have the official registration and then a seminar on the boats going over the electronics, etc. Tomorrow is the first day they get to practice. They don't get a dawn to dusk practice either. They get bussed over to the boats and have to be back to take the bus back. I think they get eight hours of practice each day. I've been taking pictures and doing the daily blog on the teardropbass.com website and will continue doing that from down here in Orlando for the next week. I'll be riding as an observer for the three days of the tournament and taking pictures. It's a rough job, but someone has to do it.

[Chewy]

Eric,
I'm sorry you didn't do better on Isabella.  I'm kinda suprised.  The only time I have fished it was during a cold, snowy, windy day and we hit them pretty good.  Maybe it needs to get a little colder to get them schooled up?  At least you were able to get out and catch a few in November.