I am headed to Michigan next weekend. I was going to fish BFL but had no link to a boater. So I pulled out of that. I will be there and looking to see what advice. I will be near the portage chain of lakes near Pinckney. Any one have any other lakes that are doing well on the fall bite?
Lake St. Clair would be a good, though challenging choice.
Quote from: Pns638 on September 13, 2011, 03:10:08 PM
I am headed to Michigan next weekend. I was going to fish BFL but had no link to a boater. So I pulled out of that. I will be there and looking to see what advice. I will be near the portage chain of lakes near Pinckney. Any one have any other lakes that are doing well on the fall bite?
The Portage chain's not bad
But I myself think the better fish are a few lakes up
Kent's close and it has some nice fish
Why is St.clair challenging? Just wondered, I accually never fished it.Only Lake Erie and the River.
The first time I went there on my own EVERYTHING looked good! Even on a lake full of fish like St. Clair though, they can't be everywhere. At least not in good size and numbers everywhere.
Early fall can be challenging because the lake is so big and the bass are moving a lot day-to-day and hour-to-hour. If you do find a school though - Wow! It's worth it!
I've had some good years where it felt like I had tennis elbow from September through October! Back when I used to go there a lot anyway.
I really like the Portage Chain and have been fishing there quite a bit recently. There is a lot of water out there, just be very careful in the river between the lakes. Generally stick close to the right hand shore when going up the river. Just before entering Strawberry Lake (if you go that far up) stay very close to the rock wall on the right. The river is very shallow and there is no dredged or marked channel, as I have found in most navigable waters in other states.
Kent can be really good too and isn't far away.
I always like Portage Chain though it has been 5, 6 maybe 7 years since I last visited. Used to fish there a lot because of the great variety of fishing waters reachable by boat.
Quote from: djkimmel on September 15, 2011, 03:47:38 PM
I always like Portage Chain though it has been 5, 6 maybe 7 years since I last visited. Used to fish there a lot because of the great variety of fishing waters reachable by boat.
I myself love the party store between the lakes
I grew up on the portage chain. I was hoping for other lakes to be mentioned. Kent seems like it could be fun. Any one been out there at all. Are the fish shallow now
Try Lobdell Lake. Haven't been there this year but it is a pretty good bass lake most of the time.
Quote from: Pns638 on September 16, 2011, 10:16:57 PM
I grew up on the portage chain. I was hoping for other lakes to be mentioned. Kent seems like it could be fun. Any one been out there at all. Are the fish shallow now
I fished Kent 2 weeks ago
Lots of small fish in front of the beach
didn't find much down by Buno rd
the best bite was on the break line on the deep hole in front of the west launch
or the sand hump by the island by the e-way
But it's alllot cooler these days
I fished Kent for 2 hours from shore on Thursday evening and did pretty well, caught 6 with the biggest being a 3 or 4# smallie. I went there last night in my boat and it the bite was OFF, I only caught 2 shorts. I imagine the cold front caught up with them but it should be warming again this weekend so I imagine they will be back on the feed soon.
Woodland Lake is a pretty good option in that area. You may give that a try. Lake Chemung although not one of my favorites is another.
Quote from: BIGSHOW on September 15, 2011, 12:12:05 AM
Why is St.clair challenging? Just wondered, I accually never fished it.Only Lake Erie and the River.
I have always gone to Erie more in the fall BIGSHOW. I have always felt that Erie fishes better in the fall and LSC fishes better in the spring. There are others that would say the opposite. There are some other inland lakes that are better in the fall than in the spring. For example, Ford Lake fishes pretty good in the spring but really turns on in the fall when the water temps drop into the lower 50's. Belleville is good in the spring, tough during the summer, and then turns on again in the fall. Woodland is a better fall season lake. Long Lake in Oakland County is good all season long. Orchard really shines in the fall. White Lake in Oakland County is good in the spring and then again in the fall but does have some great top water fishing through the summer. It's really a matter of what you prefer. I have spent a lot of time on the water over the years and do have my preferences. I like fall fishing a little bit better than spring......at least for largemouths. That's why I say I like Erie and the Lower Detroit better in the fall. If the smallies aren't on, you can always catch some pretty hefty largies up the river. Time on the water is what it's all about at the end of the day to coin a phrase. That's just my opinion.
BD ;D