Re: 2011 Fall West DK Open members' bass tournament suggestion

[Dan]

Just the opposite. Go west early, go north at the end of September or October.

[djkimmel]

Doubt I could find any date earlier than September on the west side. Tons of tournaments over there and it looks like next year there will be even more. At the moment, I prefer not to do more than two. Just trying to decide if the west one should be farther north or not.

[bob o]

late september hardy/croton pond or how about tippy dam. i also remember some talk not long ago about hamlin lake too. if we start looking for "on the water" lodging we might be able to find a house/cabin for just the weekend since it will be out of season by late september.

[TritonTR20]

Gull lake would be a good choice

[MadWags]

Have it on Lake Ovid

[Genie]

There's no fish in Ovid.

[bob o]

Gull lake would be a good choice

fished gull this past weekend.

friday = 1 keeper
saturday = 6 boats (4) keepers

i'm sure the thunder storms and the nasty cold front didn't help much either.

sunday moved to thornapple lake 5 boats (2) keepers
tough weekend out west fo sure

[Cy]

Keeping in mind this a year off but I suggest that we go North.  I don't know the lakes up there, so I would leave the lake choice to those of you that know them.  I think trying to have "fun" tournament anywhere on in west central MI in September is always going to be tough.  The lakes have been beat for months and aren't normally giving up good catches in September.  Let's try and get away from the population a little and see what we can do.  I think it is worth a try and if it doesn't work we can always change again.

Cy

[bob o]

Keeping in mind this a year off but I suggest that we go North.  I don't know the lakes up there, so I would leave the lake choice to those of you that know them.  I think trying to have "fun" tournament anywhere on in west central MI in September is always going to be tough.  The lakes have been beat for months and aren't normally giving up good catches in September.  Let's try and get away from the population a little and see what we can do.  I think it is worth a try and if it doesn't work we can always change again.

Cy

ok Fletchers pond it's in the middle of knowhere and there lots of places to stay too. but the fishing has gone down hill the past few years

[TCook]

If you hit it right this is what you can expect from the inland lakes in northern michigan during the fall feed. Here are a few smallies from a weekend in October of 08, in two days skeeterman190 and his buddy had 25 smallies that went 5-6.5 pounds on burt & mullet but most fish came from a small lake near by. Thats about as good as it gets but just a couple fish like that would make your weekend and its likley to happen up there that time of year. There is a reason why we drive so many miles and spend the extra money to go up there, it almost always ends up being our best days fishing of the year. I would think thats the kind of fishing members would want, its a fun tournament and I cant think of a way to have more fun with your clothes on.

Here is the link to his report: http://www.greatlakesbass.com/forum/index.php?topic=4924.0

[djkimmel]

Probably won't get that kind of fishing on Hamlin. Leelenau's might be a little tougher for everyone to learn who hasn't been there before?

I will put up a poll shortly with several lakes to choose from. I'm thinking this one needs to be scheduled in advance. I'm also leaning towards a Sunday so people can fish Saturday. I realize we'll bump into some hunting but there are too many events in September so early October is probably best though a few will be at regionals and such.

[VinceR]

Have it on Lake Ovid

Wags, I love you, man.

But, Genie's right. There are no fish in Ovid.

[1javelin]

Probably won't get that kind of fishing on Hamlin. Leelenau's might be a little tougher for everyone to learn who hasn't been there before?

I will put up a poll shortly with several lakes to choose from. I'm thinking this one needs to be scheduled in advance. I'm also leaning towards a Sunday so people can fish Saturday. I realize we'll bump into some hunting but there are too many events in September so early October is probably best though a few will be at regionals and such.

Leelanau can be a tough cookie to crack, but when Tim and I fished it 3 years ago we smashed em in practice, probably had 25 lb bags both days.  Tournament day not so much, we only had a little over 18!!!  I have not fished the other lakes so I can't say much about them, but North is definitely the way to go.  Maybe Dan can hook me up with a spot to hunt and I can fish all day and hunt the evening!!!

1jav

[1javelin]

A little incentive from one of our own, KVD.
http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/news/story?page=b_blog_VanDam_2010

1jav

[bob o]

i was thinking this morning that it dosn't really matter what lake it's on b/c no matter where we fish some one will smack'em and some one won't get a bite. shoot the spring event on LSC some where skunked others had there limits. we should look for a place where everyone can stay either close to the lake or better yet on the lake and just have a fun time. where ever it ends up i just hope my calander is open for that weekend.

[Dan]

Who am I to comment. I've only been to one DK Open. However, if you're considering a northern event you might want to think Interlochen. It's one of the nicest State Parks around. If you don't want to camp, they have several cabins you can rent.
At Interlochen, you are on Duck Lake and across the street from Green Lake. You have Long Lake just down the road 7 miles. You're only about 35 minutes from south Lake Leelanau.
Traverse City is not far away for wives or family if they're not in to the things to do at the State Park. You may even hit it so there is a concert at the world renown music camp across the road from the State Park.
You have some very good eating spots nearby, and I know my eating spots. The Hoffbrau has a super Sunday Brunch. We have fished that area on Sundays till about 1:00 then headed over to the brunch. Makes for a good fishing and social event.
You also have Boone's Long Lake Inn to visit. If you haven't been there, then you're missing a culinary pig out. The Deli at Karlin has the best subs around for your fishing lunch.
The nice thing about that area is protected water. The fishing is pretty darn good. Check out my blog on http://teardropbass.com/ and see the kinds of fish that came off it at the end of August in the Tear Drop Tournament Trail Classic. I also have a number of articles with a bunch of pictures from previous years on those lakes.
You could fish multiple lakes in a weekend. One lake in the morning and another in the afternoon. (Long Lake also has some good walleye fishing for a fish fry.)
They fish both lakes in an October Hawg Hunt held most every year on Duck and Green. You fish Duck for about 4 hours and get to weigh one fish. You drive across the street to Green and fish there for 3-4 hours and weigh one fish. Most weight wins a wad of cash. You could make the DK Open part of that event.
There are days though, like all lakes have, that the fishing is better than another. If you don't chase smallies on northern lakes, then there is a learning curve as well.
If you want to go further north, I would recommend Whitewater Campground on Elk Lake. There you are on the Elk-Skekemog-Torch chain. Some great fishing there as well.
At Whitewater, you're only a few minutes from Elk Rapids. They have a good ramp on Grand Traverse Bay there.
Whitewater is just a short distance from the casino and not too far back to Traverse for the family. Not as much for the kids at Whitewater though.
Whitewater has a nice ramp with lots of parking.
If you're looking for a motel/hotel then your best bet is in Traverse. You'll have a little longer drive to and from the lakes I've mentioned, but it's not so bad.
There are some smaller motel/hotels near Interlochen, but none are all that big. I've never stayed in any of them, so I can't comment on any of them.
Just my two cents.
By the way, not to be picky but it's Hamlin Lake, not Lake Hamlin. It's like calling the big lake, Michigan Lake. I know, I know, it's a picky thing, but it just doesn't sound right to a local.

[djkimmel]

What's the difference between Duck and Green fish and fishing-wise?

[Dan]

Duck has yellow fish and well the fish in Green...

[Dan]

It has been my experience, that Duck tends to have numbers where Green has size. Now Long, which is just a few miles down the road, has both. I've fished up there in the Tear Drop Classics for a good many years. You have to have around 33 lbs. in two days to have a chance to win it. We always fish two of the three lakes. This year is was Long and Green at the end of August. Earliest they've ever held the Classic. Winning weight for two days was 32.5 lbs. The biggest sacks over the years have been off Long.
You may want to toss out your favorite fall haunt, Burt and Mullet. It's farther, but oh man.
When we first started our Classics up there the idea was more of a get together vs a fishing contest. It's changed, but after Labor Day the campground really thins out and you can camp in a group and have a big campfire and make it a more social event. It's some beautiful country.
In terms of catching fish, tie on a white spinnerbait and chuck it a mile.

[1javelin]

You may want to toss out your favorite fall haunt, Burt and Mullet. It's farther, but oh man.
When we first started our Classics up there the idea was more of a get together vs a fishing contest. It's changed, but after Labor Day the campground really thins out and you can camp in a group and have a big campfire and make it a more social event. It's some beautiful country.
In terms of catching fish, tie on a white spinnerbait and chuck it a mile.

As long as you made it near the beginning of October so the tourist time is over, the colors would be in full swing by then up there, and the air would be very crisp, I think this would be amazing.  I would rival this to Traverse City.

1jav