Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

Please vote for your favorite body of water choice for the 2008 DK Fall Open West. The lakes are all easily fits for ramp space and if we were to do White or Mona, fishing would be limited to those lakes - no running.

I'm not sure yet about Thornapple River as far as the ramp info. I know there is a decent ramp, but not who runs it and any particulars, but it could be a decent option since I've heard it has a good bass population (river run reservior). Anyone have ramp details on that (Slipkey)?

Please vote if you are pretty interested in going. I hope that you'll consider going no matter where it is rather than only go if it is here... or there. Thanks!

I just had to vote for Hardy, it's the closest to me! I'll travel anywhere, but I assume that Hardy will get the best turnout because it is the most centrally located choice.

I'd like to try Hardy. I've heard a lot about it.

The only thing to watch at hardy that time of year is they have boat races always around  the 20th of sept. and it is a 2 weekend thing so I would check that out. To get info you can cal the mecosta county sherriff dept. And if it is so there is a long no wake area around brower park if that is where you are planning on taking off from in the afternoon for weigh in. and it is about a 40 minute no wake ride

What part of the lake do they race on? Is this a no wake just for the race? I don't recall a no wake in that area before - just up by the bridge.

From what I can find on the net. Hot Boat Weekend is the 2nd weekend in Sept. Which would make it the 13th/14th. Can anybody confirm that?

There is a small no wake area by Brower.  It is at the mouth of the marina full of giant houseboats across the river.  5-10 minutes max if you want to go up the river.  The only other one on the river is up by Davis bridge.  I have no info about the boat races though.

Mona is by the most under rated lake in the state. it would be awsome to see the weights that would be pulled from there.

are you talking about the thornapple above the dam in Ada? i think that is all private access but have heard its an excellent fishery. i have a buddy who is a zoning admin in ada and i keep trying to get him to get us out there.

Quote from: Durand Dan on August 19, 2008, 05:20:10 AM
From what I can find on the net. Hot Boat Weekend is the 2nd weekend in Sept. Which would make it the 13th/14th. Can anybody confirm that?

That would be nice - those boats are loud and raucous!

Quote from: Eric on August 19, 2008, 09:43:09 AM
There is a small no wake area by Brower.  It is at the mouth of the marina full of giant houseboats across the river.  5-10 minutes max if you want to go up the river.  The only other one on the river is up by Davis bridge.  I have no info about the boat races though.

That's what I remember - I've been there 5 times or so. I don't have it memorized in sharp focas.

Quote from: chrisvmo on August 19, 2008, 07:48:42 PM
Mona is by the most under rated lake in the state. it would be awsome to see the weights that would be pulled from there.

I haven't been there in 4 or 5 years, but I always liked the lake. It can be a little weird at times, but what lake isn't. Good numbers and quality of smallies, largeheads (and BIG pike) in the past.

Quote from: thedude on August 19, 2008, 10:05:34 PM
are you talking about the thornapple above the dam in Ada? i think that is all private access but have heard its an excellent fishery. i have a buddy who is a zoning admin in ada and i keep trying to get him to get us out there.

No - different part I believe. I'm talking about the big part right underneath I-96. I always thought that ramp down below the highway there was public, just not MDNR? If I screwed the pooch on that, I'll have to apologize and remove it from contention. I just like rivers; it's probably new to most of us and I've heard it has good numbers of bass?

I picked Hardy,  not because it is the closest to us but because I'm very familiar with it and love fishing there almost as much as hamlin!!!  Although I would go to any of the waters that were listed.

Now we just have to wait and see what the dates are.  We are booked the 20th and the next weekend is the youth hunt,  we might still be able to work around that though.  But we have two boys that we have to take.  It's really important to them and us.

just fyi kellogsville is having a charity tourney on hardy sept 20th

Quote from: bailipanga on August 21, 2008, 04:36:42 PM
just fyi kellogsville is having a charity tourney on hardy sept 20th

I thought their event was the weekend before?

it's the 20th..mike put the wrong date..he's fixed the other post

I voted for White, I've read too many good things about it. That's if the 4th is chosen as the date. I can't make the 20th. I have a previous commitment that I can't break. If the 20th is picked you should cancel my vote.

Willie

If it's on the 20th... put me down for White.  If the 4th... then Hardy.

And the Thornapple is not a viable choice in my opinion... very dangerous to navigate if you've not fished it many, many times.  There are stumps and shallows everywhere that you won't see till it's too late.

Edit:  I had a guy come into the store today with a prop he WRECKED on the Thornapple.  One blade was more than half gone... the other two torn up pretty bad.  Just an FYI.

I didn't see Erie as a choice............ :o   Erie in October is AWESOME!!!!    ;)

BD          ;D