Kent Lake

[Durand Dan]

Anyone been by the launch at Kent in the last couple of days? Went out on Lobdell today and it was about 60% open

[huston]

I went out there yesterday and the launch was open but I still saw ice floating around, some in big hunks.  I came in from Buno Road, so I drove thru the park before I went to the East Ramp. I saw ice in some small bays too.

[McCarter]

just got off kent.  fished from 4:30 pm til 7:15 pm.  didnt catch any walleye but did manage a 3.5 lb smallie on pointer 100.  surface temps ranged from 40-42 degrees.

McCarter himself

[MadWags]

You go booooooy!

[DennisB.]

Ice gone???

[Durand Dan]

I'll be there in the morning. I'm hoping the carp bite is on 

[McCarter]

There was still quite a bit of ice on the lake when we left last night.  We fished from 10:30 - 7 pm hoping to get a walleye on the last day of the open season but all we could manage were those darn out of season pesky smallmouth.  got a total of 9 ranging from 1.5 lbs to 3 lbs.

Anyway, back to the ice.  The northern end of the lake as well as 80% of the west end from about the i96 bridge to the west launch is still under ice.  It is very thing and most should melt and break up after today and tomorrow.  plenty of water to fish tho.  But now we must turn our attention to the rough fish and pan fish as there is nothing else in season now.

McCarter himself

[McCarter]

the carp are already playing in the shallows and surfacing over deeper water.  i wish i would have brought the chick peas!

McCarter himself

[DD1700]

How do you guys rig up for carp?I've cought a few but most on accident.Thanks Dennis.

[bassaddict]

I was told for early spring use (jerkbait jigs rattletrap) anything red around the river channel. Anyone else agree? I was told that bass feed early on craws. Cant wait to hook into my first bass. Not shavin the beard till it happens. A little initiative to get one early.

[djkimmel]

Please remember - you can talk on this forum about fishing for anything in season, but no public discussion about bass fishing results, plans or activities in Michigan until the last Saturday in April when the season officially opens.

When people joke about it too obviously even, I get complaints from people who follow the letter of the law - something I have also chosen to do to keep up our existing good relationship with the MDNR and other parties that can affect our future opportunties.

You can talk about going fishing, walleye fishing, or crappie fishing, etc, but please do not even mention if you caught bass in Michigan if there is ANY chance it will appear that you were actually targeting bass.

Please consider that when people come to a bass fishing forum and see other people talking about catching bass in the closed season, many will assume that we are purposefully breaking the law and talking about it in public. There are important reasons why I want to avoid even the possibility of any misunderstanding. Thank you!

[motocross269]

I was on Kent lake for a day last year...I was surprised at how many large bluegill I saw cruising around....I need to get my daughter down there for a day of fun fishing...

[djkimmel]

I've also heard it has excellent crappie fishing. I don't know if I will get over there this spring. cameraguy showed me some known crappie hangouts a few years ago, but I don't think we caught any that day. It was later in the year verses the spring crappie spawning season.

I know my first trip I will be able to take is scoped out for another sometimes excellent spring crappie lake in early April. I do plan on fishing Kent more this year because I like the complexities and the variation in species. Probably won't get there until sometime in May

I do need some good bluegill pictures. I might have to use some of my time looking for those...

[DennisB.]

Crappie on kent is real good, we get on them good through the ice every year but I never make it back for spring for some reason. I Crappie fish in earnest untill bass opens but Bellville is a better lake for them right after ice out, fords pretty good too.

[Durand Dan]

Tipsico has some awsume Hybrid Gills. I've caught several in the spring on an ultra light with small crankbaits. A few over 1LB.

[djkimmel]

I did not know that. I have not been on either of those lakes. If I get a chance sometime in the spring, I'll post up a question or two.

[djkimmel]

Tipsico has some awsume Hybrid Gills. I've caught several in the spring on an ultra light with small crankbaits. A few over 1LB.

Are those shellcrackers? The MDNR has planted them in a number of lakes. I've caught some whoppers in years past out of Duck Lake - Calhoun Co on small jerkbaits that looked like bluegills on steroids!

All this talk about fishing is murder!! I pretty much like to catch any kind of fish that is nice enough to get on my hook. Not much of a fish eater, but I like to catch 'em!

[McCarter]

I have seen more carp caught on a hula grub (mostly by cheetam) than any other lure.  Probably because its a bottom bait, but still i havent seen carp caught on any other bottom bait as much as a hula grub (again, mostly by cheetam).

If your not into livebait or vegetables, maybe try that.

McCarter himself

[Cheetam]

I have seen more carp caught on a hula grub (mostly by cheetam) than any other lure.  Probably because its a bottom bait, but still i havent seen carp caught on any other bottom bait as much as a hula grub (again, mostly by cheetam).

If your not into livebait or vegetables, maybe try that.

McCarter himself

It's true...   Oh, and he has probably seen more dogfish caught on a tube too...(again, me).

[djkimmel]

Giant dogfish in Kent Lake!!!