With water temps hovering between the upper 40's - low 50's the 2011 season is nearly over. That being said I'd like anyone that has the chance to get out from Nov. 1st on to post their report(s) so we can have some information as to the successes/failures seen during the late-fall to winter transitional period.
If possible please include the following information:
**Date/Time Fished
**Lake/Fishery Name
**Water Temp.
**# of Bass Caught with estimates of length/weight
**Techniques that yielded success
I'll be heading out Wednesday AM so hopefully I'll be back on here tomorrow evening with a good report.
Good Luck & Godspeed!
11-1 Kent Lake, Milford, MI
4:30 P.M.-6:30 P.M.
49* water, fairly windy with a chop on the water
Caught only one on a spinnerbait, only other bite was on a jig and lost it. Nothing on jerkbait or traps.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v412/bender16v/KentBass.jpg)
I'll be out Sunday... let you know the results.
Woodland Lake in Brighton today. 4-6:30 P.M. They are pulling the docks out tomorrow.
49.5-50.0* water temp and still fairly windy.
Caught one largemouth (14") on a spinnerbait and 4 more around 13" on a jerkbait. Also caught 2 pike on the jerkbait. Missed the only bite I had on a jig. i was out there Sunday for 2 hours and caught 4 LM, all 15-16" on a jerkbait.
We went to a small private lake near Lapeer yesterday afternoon in kayaks. Sorry I forgot the name but it is pretty small. Unfortunately we did not have a temp gauge but somewhere near 50 degrees is a good guess. We caught 5 LM in about 3.5 hrs of fishing. Our biggest went around 14" on a KVD crankbait. The others came on wacky worms (all were 12" or less) and we lost another one around 14" on a jig.
Fished Pentwater Lake Monday with Ed. Caught around 50 fish or so, mostly smallies in the 2-4 lbs range... mostly on gobie immitating baits. We even caught some vertical jigging in 45 FOW. Deepest I've ever caught a bass. Water temp was around 48 degrees.
Heading up that way again this Sunday and possibly Monday.
Penalty on ROI. You anglers don't need to do exactly what he suggested. He can be a bad influence sometimes! ;D
Let's get some more new posts with a little detail and maybe a few pictures please!! I know some of you are whacking them good!
I fished Manistee Lake last week Thursday. The bite started out pretty good. We had a double with twin 4-6's, then I caught a 5-5 and a 4-14. We ended up with about twenty five smallmouths, but our biggest fish hit early and then the bite died as the front moved through. Fish were caught on Senkos, texas rigged beavers, and swimbaits.
Only 1 fish (3 1/2 # SM) on Arcadia Saturday and the wind beat the heck out of me on Sunday with no fish.
Fished muskegon lake today. Water was between 45 and 49 there was no "hot water" being made so that killed the bite I went to find. We did catch 2 little smallies one 14 inch largemouth. Then drove home fished the Grand river near Lowell. Water temp was mid 40s. Killed the smallies caught 20 to 30 all 3 - 4 pounds also caught a steelhead and 2 northerns. All fish were caught on darters or chrome traps
If the weather gives me even a half a chance on any Sunday or Monday between now and Christmas... I'll head north one more time.
Fished Orchard on Sunday afternoon from noon to 4pm. Wind was 15-25mph and sustained which made staying in one spot a challenge. Bright and sunny all day. Ended up getting 4 LMB 14-18" and 2 SMB 15" on jerkbaits with a bonus pike on a 6XD. Water temp was 50-53 degrees. Probably the last time I'll have the boat out this year but I might get back out on the kayak this weekend.
Fished Lake Mac last week for 1 hour, caught 2 keepers both about 18 inches and all of 4 pounds, fattest largemouth I've ever seen this time of year. Both bites came with a jig sitting on the bottom while I was texting my girlfriend! Water temp was 48 degrees in the area I was fishing and both bites came off wood. I've been fishing the Kalamazoo River every other chance I've had to get out on the water and the smallmouth fishing is spectacular; vertical jigging presentations in all the holes has been the ticket. The largemouth are still following the baitfish but seem to be moved into the deepest part of their general areas for the winter. Smallmouth have been anywhere between 12 and 20 inches, largemouth the bigger ones seem to be fed up and have only ranged between 12 and 17 inches.
Quote from: djkimmel on November 05, 2011, 03:09:39 AM
Penalty on ROI. You anglers don't need to do exactly what he suggested. He can be a bad influence sometimes! ;D
Let's get some more new posts with a little detail and maybe a few pictures please!! I know some of you are whacking them good!
Well I guess I'll just have to call FOUL on your penalty then! Might be hitting up some Steelies this evening; hopefully I'll have a few pics of some chromies for all the homies. And I'm nothing but a Positive Influence all the time..
Off and on snowing up here in NW corner, would be a good Steelie day.
Went out to Mona Lake this past weekend and finally caught some fish on the Red Eye Shad - it took me adding some Invisible UV Fluorescent Paint patterns to the bait to get them to eat it! Only caught a few but they were all good chunks. Water temps were 47-49 and every fish was caught on the wind-blown side in 2-4 ft. of water with lipless cranks (yo-yo was the only way to get them to eat it) and chatterbaits. A few pics below.....
(http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/392286_300412169976465_100000230523173_1201570_833958118_n.jpg)
C. Vandermolen with a Mona Lake Largie
(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312898_300413026643046_100000230523173_1201571_381959716_n.jpg)
It is looking like CHROMIE time here in the next few days; rivers should be chalk full of fresh Steel by now............ If you haven't had the chance to hook up with some FRESH winter run Steelhead I suggest you give it a whirl - next 2 weeks should be 10+ fish days for those with boats that can get on the Muskegon, Grand or Kalamazoo!
The Fall/Winter Steelhead Run in Southwest Lower Michigan is phenominal!
Downtown Grand River Steelie from last Nov. courtesy of R. Krupp
(http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=2052&pictureid=13165)
K-zoo River Chromie from last Nov.
(http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/8334_100251079992576_100000230523173_4127_1666467_n.jpg)
I got out on Arcadia about 4 pm yesterday. As soon as I launced the boat the winds kicked up to 20 mph+ and made fishing difficult. Had only one bite and nothing to show for it.
Still a penalty ROI!!!
It is easier for other anglers to find unique posts titled with something related to the fishing report being provided rather than trying to find one post that has a bunch of different lakes, days, reports mixed together. I'd really appreciate it if you guys can start new posts with your fishing reports. Good practice for next year's fishing reports contest too!
Please...?
Thank you.
OK, OK. After I fish Sunday and Monday I'll post new reports! With pics!!
THANK YOU! Thank you. ROI can be a bad influence. Not real bad. Just a little bad. People really do like reading the fishing reports, especially with pictures or video. Especially this time of year when so many our winding down and/or switching to other activities.