Just a little tease - Mullett Lake Smallmouth Bass Video

[djkimmel]

Here's just a little taste of my upcoming video fishing report for my unplanned, unannounced late fall northern Michigan trophy smallmouth hunt - two days up on maybe, possibly, probably, my favorite lake, at least for just this thing - Mullett Lake. I fished it October 24 and 25, 2010 coming out of a horrible cold front that included rain, sleet, hail, falling slush, more rain and lots of wind. I may end up with a couple videos from this trip. We'll see. But for now just this short little teaser... hope you like it!

[TCook]

Allsome! That really gets my blood pumping!

[Firefighter Jeff]

That was a tease alright.  Where's the bad weather???  You were there Sunday and Monday, I was near there the follwing Friday and Sat.  And we had highs in the mid 40s and a lot of wind in the afternoons!!  What were the water temps??  Friend of mine was on Burt that Monday and said he had 57 degrees.  It was 49, five days later when I was there.  Looking forward to seeing more video.

[djkimmel]

It was 51 to ~53 late the week before until Monday. Overnight for some reason Mullett warmed up to 55 - 56 that morning already. I haven't figured that out!?! The rain the previous 4 days was not warm (I didn't think). Definitely not the sleet, hail, falling slush and wind driven waves! Those bass can change fast because of the weather sometimes.

You know I can't tape in the rain. I actually fished a few hours late Friday on another lake. Rained the whole time. I fished most of the day Saturday on another lake. It rained from about an hour after I got there until I left so no pictures or video there. It rained most of Sunday except for about 2 hours (not counting the early morning when I was sleeping ).

I worked outside up there all day Thursday and most of Friday in quite a bit of the hail, sleet, rain and falling slush. Yuck!

Soon as I get the first full video done, I'm going to post it up here with some pictures. Also do an article on my blog on WFN.tv with your pics and mine, and the video about our great fall smallmouth bass fishing in general we have all over northern Michigan!!

[MadWags]

Looks like you gave that Grandt C10 a workout!
Way to go!

[Musky]

Nice video!!!  Looks like the smallies were getting their feed bag on.  Can't wait to see the rest...nice work!!!  Do you ever fish Douglas Lake when you are up there?

Musky

[djkimmel]

Looks like you gave that Grandt C10 a workout!
Way to go!

Wags - there was steam coming off that C10 by the time me and the bass were done with it that day (it was already a little warm from Friday and Sunday but the constant rain kept it from glowing)!!! AWESOME rod! AWESOME!! Best spinnerbait rod I've ever used! I will discuss this in the full video.

[djkimmel]

Nice video!!!  Looks like the smallies were getting their feed bag on.  Can't wait to see the rest...nice work!!!  Do you ever fish Douglas Lake when you are up there?

Musky

I've never got them on Douglas as good as I do on Mullett. I don't really like the ramp and parking situation either so I only get there about once every 3 years. Maybe 4 now since the last time I drove over there. So many good lakes up there!

[djkimmel]

Talking about that light and sensitive Grandt 7 foot C10 All American casting rod, it is a pure pleasure to throw spinnerbaits for flats and Great Lakes smallies. I say several times on tape how I could actually feel the blade rhythm change right before I got nailed. So I was ready, cocked and loaded for the bite.

You could feel everything so good when those smallies started fighting. They were fighting about as hard as I've had them fight there in a long time. Partly maybe because they were all so darn fat! Several times (I'm almost embarrassed when reviewing tape) I would slam the hooks home and immediately say, 'big bass' because they felt like toads! Then I'd see them and scratch my head...?? That's not the bass I felt... They were just fighting so hard!

With the sensitivity of the rod, I could react better when I felt them change, especially when they turned to jump. I'm pretty sure that is the most jumping action I've had there in a while. They don't always jump a lot in cold water, but the fish were really reaching for the sky Monday!

Even Sunday, the biggest one I caught jumped 7 times (after I reviewed and counted on the video)! When I landed it I said 5 but I was pretty excited at the time!! I lost another big TOAD Monday when it jumped between the trolling motor and the bow of my boat!

The C10's action made it easy for me to put a bunch little pops and jumps in the spinnerbait too. A number of times, I got nailed right after I'd do that. Coincidence? I don't think so... A light, sensitive rod like that makes your feel of the lure and action second nature. Makes fishing so much more enjoyable.

[Mike S.]

You know, Dan, I REALLY miss my Grandt.  Since I broke it on the 11th, I have has to fish with other rods, and I hate the rods that I once loved.  I stole my buddies Grandt.  I've caught more fish on it than he has!  But anyways, nice video.  Wish I was fishing from the back of the boat at that time.  Don't get many smallies that size over here on the west side.

[djkimmel]

Well, I hope to pick up another Grandt Rod or two this spring.

Someone asked about a group trip up to Mullett next spring. I don't know my schedule yet and I may have to be somewhat last minute flexible depending on some possible new outdoors work, but I will be up there sometime in the spring barring absolute impossibleness (is that a word?). If I know ahead of time when I'll be up there, I'll pass it along. Sometimes now I have to go during the week.

[MadWags]

Well then, just get along with your bad self.

[djkimmel]

I try. Of course, I'm not the bigtime rocker like you are!!

[Firefighter Jeff]

Well, I hope to pick up another Grandt Rod or two this spring.

Someone asked about a group trip up to Mullett next spring. I don't know my schedule yet and I may have to be somewhat last minute flexible depending on some possible new outdoors work, but I will be up there sometime in the spring barring absolute impossibleness (is that a word?). If I know ahead of time when I'll be up there, I'll pass it along. Sometimes now I have to go during the week.

Planning ahead is tough with my job.  You talk about needing to be flexible.  Well, I am already half way through the vacation picking process for next year. If you had the dates now for the Spring and Fall DK opens and any other trips, I'd be all set. lolol  Once vacations are picked here in another month nearly all the days from Mid May to Mid September will be taken.  But, I still get to fish a bunch during the week!!!  That's one of the best parts of this job  !!

[djkimmel]

Well, from what I know at the moment, I will probably have to stay flexible. I may be able to do some scheduling after a meeting tomorrow. We shall see. We all have our challenges. Fishing a bunch during the week isn't all so bad!!

[tociar]

Nice video! Love to catch those smallmouth.  Makes me count the days till i come back up to Erie.  I'll be there 3rd week in April.  Y'all are lucky to have so many good lakes around you.  I'm curious, when does Mullett and other lakes turn on in that area May or June, and when is the best time to come in the fall?  I usually make 2 to 3 trips / year to Lake Erie starting in April, again in May and then again in October.  My spring trips are terrific in catching Smallies on Lake Erie.  However, the October trips haven't been as successful due to high winds.  Would be interested in St. Clair or another Michigan Lake for a fall trip; so would appreicite your feedback.   Again, thanks for sharing the video.  Look forward to hearing from you.  Thanks, ~Tony~ in Tennessee!                                       

[djkimmel]

St. Clair can get real windy too then (fall). We had that abnormally calm wind last week that was awesome.

Up north on the inland lakes can get good mid to late May depending on weather into late June. And then again a week or two after Labor Day on into the end of October depending on how cold it gets up there for how many days in a row. The big lakes up there can get pretty rough too. If you plan a week, plan on 1 to 3 days getting real wet or looking for a smaller lake or river.