Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

Lets do this up! We have until almost the end of June 2012 before they'll let the 'cat' out of the bag - before B.A.S.S. officials tell everyone and the Elite Series anglers where the big 'Mystery Lake' that was 'impounded some time ago' is! It is a fairly good chance that a few of the 2012 Elite Anglers will be happily closer to home for a change.

Vote in the poll where you think the Elite 'Mystery Lake' will be and tell us why you think it will be one place over another. If we have to wait a while to see if Michigan finally gets an Elite Series event or not, we can at least have fun with it!

I personally think B.A.S.S. will truly pull off a 'Mystery Lake' event if they go anywhere other than Escanaba. (Anyone know someone high up in the Escanaba leadership? ;D )

I guess I'm going with Winnebago. 380 miles from LaCrosse

Detroit river because its the tournament mecca up north

It would be nice to see them there, but practically speaking, they are fishing back to back weekends. That means the top ten will be fishing Sunday and then have to drive 586 miles to Detroit. That's a ten hour drive and I just don't see them doing that.

I'm going with "bago" because it's large enough for a hundred boats,  both smallmouth and largemouth, a very diverse fishery with the main lake (kind of like erie with rock humps and such) and other places up the rivers looking for largemouth in reed patches, slop, and everything else you can think of.  The fish aren't huge but it would take probably 17 lbs a day to win.

Quote from: Dan on September 06, 2011, 07:12:43 PM
I guess I'm going with Winnebago. 380 miles from LaCrosse

More like 150 miles but I think that is too close. Escanaba is only ~300 miles.

Quote from: markgoetsch on September 06, 2011, 09:27:17 PM
I'm going with "bago" because it's large enough for a hundred boats,  both smallmouth and largemouth, a very diverse fishery with the main lake (kind of like erie with rock humps and such) and other places up the rivers looking for largemouth in reed patches, slop, and everything else you can think of.  The fish aren't huge but it would take probably 17 lbs a day to win.

I can't disagree with al your rationale. I'd even like to go there one of these days. Though they've never been there before, I'd be less surprised if they go there than Minnetonka though I think it is more like they go to Green Bay instead. Slightly. I'm betting they feel they owe Escanaba another shot...

I would have to say, I may now be leaning toward changing my vote to Escanaba, but a vote made is a vote played.

I didn't think you'd fold for a while yet! ;D

Quote from: djkimmel on September 06, 2011, 06:44:55 PM
...the big 'Mystery Lake' that was 'impounded some time ago' is!...

I'm confused. Where was the quote "impounded some time ago"? And if this is an accurate quote then how can the Mystery Lake be at Escanaba?

Here's a link to the original announcement by B.A.S.S. for the 2012 Elite Series schedule: http://www.greatlakesbass.com/tournaments/index.php/2011/09/01/bass-announces-2012-elite-series-lakes

This is what B.A.S.S. announced about the 2012 Elite tournament #7:
BASSMASTER ELITE #7
Dates: June 28-July 1
Venue: It's a secret ... for now.
Host: We're not saying, but they'll be ready.
Size: Big enough!
Impounded: Some time ago.
Notes: It's been a while since B.A.S.S. had a tournament at a "mystery lake" — especially one of such potential magnitude. The first six Bassmaster Classics were held at mystery sites — qualifiers didn't know of the location until they boarded a plane and were in the air — but that all ended in 1976. Since then, the mystery lake events have been rare ... until now. What makes this one special is the impact it's going to have on the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race. Because this will be the penultimate tournament of the year, the race will be down to just a few contenders, and because none will know of the destination until just before the practice period, finding bass quickly and figuring out how best to catch them right away is going to be paramount. The 2012 AOY race will be given a trial by fire.

I think the two comments about size and impoundment are a little tongue-in-cheek because the water will be very large - the Great Lakes - and the Great Lakes were 'impounded' some time ago when the massive ice fields receded leaving water in new depressions formed by their weight and gouging. They say the Earth is still rebounding even now from the immense compression.

Of course, I have a big Great Lakes bias too so I may be reading into something that is much simpler in reality. I am a nerd...

Wow that is quite a leap but you might be right. I suppose that BASS really doesn't really want to give any kind of clue about the lake's location.

It could go many, many ways... which is why I thought a poll would be fun! My main reasoning for believing it is Escanaba is it is close enough and they kind of owe them an Elite event after booting them off the schedule due mostly to complaints about cost and distance to get there.

Definition of PENULTIMATE

1
: next to the last <the penultimate chapter of a book>

Quote from: Dan on September 08, 2011, 10:17:28 PM
Definition of PENULTIMATE

1
: next to the last <the penultimate chapter of a book>

There you go again... throwing out the big words!!

I'm going with Big Bay. I was ther for an Everstart several years ago and the community did it up right!

That's what I heard. If I had enough time and gas money, I might drive up there for some pictures and video. It is a long drive for still being in Michigan but at least it would be IN Michigan. We got to get the ice broken on the top of the B.A.S.S. somehow!

I voted for Winnebago. For one, it is a great mixed bag fishery. Two, it's not far fromla Crosse. Three, payback for changing no-cull rule. Last but not least, it's home to big sponsor, Mercury.

Is that your final answer?

Uh...yeah, I guess.  :P

Saw you at the game for about 1.5 seconds. That game gave me a headache! But a good headache!!

Is anybody, other than me, considering Marshaling next year. I may shake the dice and sign up to Marshal the Mystery Lake.

I'm planning on marshalling the mississippi river.  I want to see how the elite break down and fish it.  I've fished it before and it'll be fun to see how they fish it.

It will be interesting to see how they handle the Marshaling for the Mystery Lake.

I like the person who picked Lake Ovid!

If you are going Mark make sure you are a BASS Federation member so you can register in the early registration that only Fed members can access. November is the month to join the Federation. I talked to Paul Sacks and he said that was the month and that they could work out a deal so an individual can join. Right now there is not a format for a person who wants to join and be a member without joining a club. Don't know why that is. Seems like they would have a path that individuals could take.
If you sign up early, and are in the top 50 you get to Marshal 3 days instead of two. I also have a few suggestions how you might end up on the fourth day. A few secrets I've learned in order to get in one of those TV last day boats.

Oooohhh... we like the secret methods. You can tell us. We won't tell anyone else!

pm sent. ;D

I didn't get it?!?

So far, they are really doing a great job of keeping this a mystery. Maybe it isn't even set yet?

somewhere else.

Where do you think they are going?

Fort Madison, IA
The Mighty Mississippi River

You think they'll go from the Mississippi River to the Mississippi River? I hope not! That would be boring.

I agree, I'm also signed up to Marshal that event and really would rather not be on the Mississippi.

Somewhere else.  BASS has given Escanaba the Northern Divisional twice to make up for the missed Elite.  It is the best fishery I have ever been on but I just think BASS will be headed elsewhere. 

Quote from: djkimmel on January 20, 2012, 01:57:56 AM
You think they'll go from the Mississippi River to the Mississippi River? I hope not! That would be boring.

i didn't know they were on the mississippi before that.  i guess i have to change my answer.

Quote from: Jay-MadWags on January 20, 2012, 05:10:55 PM

Quote from: djkimmel on January 20, 2012, 01:57:56 AM
You think they'll go from the Mississippi River to the Mississippi River? I hope not! That would be boring.

i didn't know they were on the mississippi before that.  i guess i have to change my answer.

Wondered about that. They will be coming in a matter of a day or so of travel time from the Elite Series event in La Crosse Wisconsin on that part of the Mississippi River so that limits the reasonable travel distance. Most of us think it does anyway.

Lake Minnetonka.  That is where they will go.  It is not that far from La Crosse.  Great population of both LM and SM bass.

dont know if it will be at st clair, i believe the flw tour is there that weekend

Now... that would be something, wouldn't it?

I'm going with east and west GT bay. Plenty of hotels to accomidate the anglers, families and  everyone else. A good launch on west bay at clinch park.

Someone else needs to pick Green Bay.  My pick feels lonely. ;D

I have to go with Djkimmel on this one. It is my understanding the federation changed the state fish off from there to St.Clair this spring. Why would they do that? I'm sure there are plenty of "reasons", but I think I'm onto them. If I was a pro I would be studying up on Big Bay. What do you have to lose? It won't do a lot of good now because there going to announce it Wednesday it looks like. I hope it is in Escanaba. I will be there. If I can figure out how to marshal that will be awesome. The only thing that will get in the way is work.

They must have lodging figured out since it would be tough to get that many rooms in the middle of the summer.   Maybe they will all be staying at selfridge or one of the bases in the UP.   

YES!!!!!.....nailed it!!!...Looks like my pick was lonely but the right one!!!

I guess the rest of us don't know what we're talking about. Probably just too far to drive in that short of time. Some people thought they would 'reward' Wisconsin for getting rid of the no cull rule for tournaments. Don't know if that is why they did it but I hope they don't get bad winds.

You can't run the lee shoreline on Green Bay for quite a ways (if they launch out of Green Bay). You have to run right up the middle until you pass the giant bars on both sides miles out. Been a while but it was near 10 miles though it seems maybe a little less. Brutal if you get a bad wind. Not a ton of bass inside that part of the Bay but maybe one of these anglers will find something many others didn't?

I wish we could find more parties willing to make Michigan more competitive in getting major national events. I've been trying but it ain't easy.