Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

Some good lake options in the last thread I posted.  Informal poll time? I hope I didn't leave any lakes off the list.

Should probably spitball dates too.

Not the weekend of September 7th or September 13th.  I have classic tournaments both those weekends (and quite a few others over this way will as well).

Call it the Central Open.

Mapquest it from your house.   I did Muskegon, Bellville ( why anyone would live there ), boyne city.  All are between 120 and 140 miles.   Everyone would be driving the same distance. 

Quote from: dartag on June 13, 2014, 03:32:19 PM
Call it the Central Open.

Mapquest it from your house.   I did Muskegon, Bellville ( why anyone would live there ), boyne city.  All are between 120 and 140 miles.   Everyone would be driving the same distance. 

Plenty of us west siders drive over for the St. Clair spring event and spend 3 hours on the road vs. the 15-60 minutes most of the guys at that event drive... you guys over there should come visit us on the sunset coast!  The weather is fine and the fishin' is good!  :-)

Bump for more votes (also because I haven't been online much lately and forgot this was here...)

   Bump      ;D

Push

This Portage lake is in Onekama?

Yes

Used to go to the Sleepy Owl Tavern there.   To far from my house but you guys will have fun.

Portage can be fun for sure!  Lots of big smallies and largies in there.  And I can drive there in the morning instead of having to stay overnight.  I'd be up for it... depending on the date of course.  The weekend of Sept. 13/14 will not work around here.  The BBT Classic and the West Michigan Bass Classic are both on that weekend (one Saturday, one Sunday).  Probably some time in Late Sept. or early Oct would be best.

Quote from: Waterfoul on June 13, 2014, 04:48:22 PM

Quote from: dartag on June 13, 2014, 03:32:19 PM
Call it the Central Open.

Mapquest it from your house.   I did Muskegon, Bellville ( why anyone would live there ), boyne city.  All are between 120 and 140 miles.   Everyone would be driving the same distance. 

Plenty of us west siders drive over for the St. Clair spring event and spend 3 hours ..... you guys over there should come visit us on the sunset coast!  The weather is fine and the fishin' is good!  :-)

I agree fully.  If we are going West, some of your best fishing is on traverse bay and Burt mullet in very late September..... Can we add those to the vote list ?

potage

Quote from: Mojo on July 04, 2014, 12:53:44 PMI agree fully.  If we are going West, some of your best fishing is on traverse bay and Burt mullet in very late September..... Can we add those to the vote list ?

The problem with Burt/Mullet and Traverse Bay is that they're so far north and EVERYONE except the Pollock has to drive.  It excludes the west side guys AND the east side guys.  And even the one Indiana guy.  Was kind of hoping for actual west side this year.

If you want to do something central to GR and close off I-96 then Muskegon and White are probably the best options.  The only reason most have chosen Portage is the good population of fish and Smallies.

So.... White and portage can be lqaded in the fall? Good crank, spinnerbait bite?

Rember though. I drove to (shudder) detroit for you's guys  :D

I would make the drive to Portage or Manistee again.  Both fish AWESOME for smalles (Portage has good LM as well).  But that's as far as I would go for a $7 tournament.

Honestly, Manistee is the best kept secret in Michigan most days starting in Sept.  Shhh... don't tell anyone!   ;)

at our classic on portage mid-sept last year, guys who took last place had 14lbs and never fished there before that morning. Top 4-5 places were over 18lbs and several of those bags were LM dominated.  It is a phenomenal fishery regardless of whether the big-lake smallies are in or not.  Late sept into the first weekend of oct would be great timing.  I think you could make a circle around the whole lake with a senko and probably have a hard time not catching nearly 15lbs given the amount of 3lb + largies in there alone.

I'll throw in another option - Templene lake near sturgis/white pigeon. right in zona's backyard.

Never heard of Templene.

Quote from: thedude on July 08, 2014, 04:45:56 PM
I'll throw in another option - Templene lake near sturgis/white pigeon. right in zona's backyard.

Can you get us on Templene?  The "public" ramp is terrible, difficult to use, and has little parking.  Only the Amish like to use it!

i could, but i think they put in a new public ramp a year or 2 ago.

Added Templene for giggles, but it looks like Portage.  Now for a date...

    27 votes, should be a great turnout !!!    :-\'

I guess I could make the drive to Portage. I made 2 trips up there just last weekend....but only one was to fish, and it wasn't quite to Portage Lake.  On a bad drive for this west sider.  I would much rather fish Muskegon though. To be clear, that wouldn't help me win, I would just get to sleep. Lol!