does anyone know what the smallmouth population on lake michigan near south haven is like and whats the best way to find them
Beyond the Kalamazoo River mouth (I've never fished it myself) that whole area is a mystery to me.
There is a guy out that way who dives Lake Michigan. He has some footage of some very big ( 6 - 8 lbers from what i have heard ) smallmouth hanging on a wreck in deeper water. I dont know the guys name. But i might be able to get it. Ill see what i can work up.
On a side note, i was at Hooters Novi last night and we got to talking fishing with our waitress. Her biggest bass was a 20 lb smallmouth caught on lake Michigan on her first cast. Then she called my biggest ( 5.69 lbs ) smallie too small and laughed at me. Gotta love it!
PoorBoy himself :-\'
Size matters!
I have read some articles about some of the smallie fishing up in Grand Traverse Bay.? I really want to go try that out.? I guess those waters are teaming with them and they are not fished for often.? Of course you hear of Big and Little Bay De Noc.? They are supposed to be outstanding not just for Walleye, but for Smallmouths too.? I want to try both those areas someday.? Sounds like a good excuse to take a vacation up in those areas.? Those Sportsman Connection CD's that have the fishing maps actually have spots pinpointed in Lake Michigan.?
I know there are big smallies starting to show up in Chicago Harbor.? I have fished around there with my brother-in-law when I have visited my sister and him. Did okay. Crankbaits and tubes. And north up the west shoreline to Wisconsin.? Of course how about Green Bay.? Lake Michigan may end up being World Class Smallmouth water some day.? I think it has a good start.
BD? ? ;D
I have seen some big limits ( smallies ) come from the Kzoo river but I dont have a clue were in the river they are getting them from
I have a clue that the guys running down there are all catching them off the channel rocks by the lake. I haven't actually seen them or ever run there. It's a looonnnnggg run and I would expect there's not too much room for more than a couple-three boats. I just don't like the idea of running 40 miles to crowd in on two or three guys that always run there. Seems like a lot good water has to be on the way.
They don't always make it back either... not too fond of that.
Some exploring needs to be done for sure.
Grand Traverse has some huge smallies, but they aren't everywhere just like the rest of the Great Lakes. I'm way behind the curve up there too. That 29 pound plus stringer last year was pretty impressive!
I've only fished Thunder Bay twice, but there are some toads up there too. Same thing - lots of 'dead' water. I keep falling back on - we are lucky, lucky anglers...
UAWBigDog
Here is the first three places from a Saturday Tournament on East Grand Traverse Bay. The Tournament was on 7-9-05 1st 22.83lbs 2nd 20.98lbs 3rd 20.44lbs. I live 20 minutes from the bay's but, I haven't spent very much time on them to learn them yet, thats the plan this summer. I got one fish last year that was close to six lbs. What I've been doing is just driving until I see fish then they aren't that hard to catch. I think there is a lot of dead water but every time, I have found rock or weeds, I have seen fish.
I have heard lots abotu the area in Traverse but never had a chance to fish it. I may be hitting the area though this summer or fall. Should be fun.
Those are some pretty good weights.? Looks like the bays are coming into their own.? Lots of rocks, shoals, humps, etc. Pretty good smallie habitat.
BD? ? ?;D
PB, I guess Hooters doesn't hire waitresses by how much they know about fishing...... must be how much they know about owls?? ;D
Anyway, I've only been over to the West side once, up on Grand Traverse Bay. I only found one, but he was a toad. Just need to get some work in up there.
Like I said, I have never fished the bays. Only read a lot of articles about it. I want to try it.
BD ;D
It's BIG and the water can be clear past 35 feet visibility. Your line shadow can actually spook the fish. If you do find them, you may have a day to remember. I'm behind the curve up there too - I think I've been on the bays about 5 times.
I will say one thing - when you look North towards the open lake, if you see 'bumps' on the horizon, it's time to head in to the ramp. Take my word for it...
Bumps on the horizon, that reminds of a lesson i learned on lake erie in 04. At first i thought it was cool. It is kinds cool when you see it. But it was a tough way back in.
PoorBoy himself :-\'
I had that happen to me last year on the bay. Thought it was cool when I saw it coming and kept on fishign then all of a sudden I realized man this kind of sucks and got soaked on the way in. But I was happy to make it in. It was hard to leave those smallies alone when they were bitting.
That is a lesson well learned PB. I got caught out on Erie a couple of years ago. It was nasty. Broke a windshield. Luckily nothing else was lost.
BD ;D
If you want to fish the Traverse area you may want to consider Interlochen State Park. One of the nicest state parks around. It's right across the street from the world renown music camp there. The park is stradled by Duck and Green Lake. Some mighty nice smallies in both lakes. Then just down the road north a few miles is Long Lake. Again some nice smallmouth water. In our September Classic you need twenty pounds to be in the top five. From Interlochen you are only 30 minutes or so from the bay. The bay is the bay and the fish are there, however it can whip up so having some inland lakes to use as blow off water especially quality lakes like Duck, Green and Long can be vacation saving. The state park at Interlochen has two cabins that you can rent if you get your reservation in early. They are small but sleep 4 and have electric to hook up the boat etc. The south cabin is the best. Over looks Duck and is quite picturesque. The north cabin is right on the road to the launch and can be a little noisy, but it is within a stone's throw of the ramp literally. If you want to fish the bay aim for just after the 4th of July. September isn't bad either with the later fall opportunities super but iffy weather wise. Caught my first six pound smallie on the bay although us west siders don't have the access to Erie like you guys do. The bay is nice, but you guys got smallie heaven with St. Clare. You may want to mark you big lakes maps around hog island for those big early June stringers in the 30 pound class. Am a 34 year about to retire teacher who plans to spend more time catching up to those Traverse City guys who have that area pretty much to themselves. Just talked to a buddy that said Tony D. from Traverse was in the top 5 the first day of the recent Okechobee event. Stumbled on day two, but still cashed a $10,000 check. Way to go Tony!
Isn't Hog Island restricted somehow?
The fishing guide say's that the season opens on July 1 thought December 31.
That's all I could find, its to late to concentrate that much.
Not catch and release only, or one fish only, or something like that?
I also figure that could be a BIG BOY run in a bass boat out there. Don't know that I'll ever be that BIG a BOY unless someone in 'authority' guarantees me that the wind will not blow stranding me in the middle of Lake Michigan.
Haven't check out Hog Island but I too have heard it is restricted. Just heard a rumor that it was a good early June hot spot.
I was on a club tournament about 8 years ago when I first got started in tournaments. I had a friend tried to make the run from East Jordan out to Hog island. He was running out and didn't slow down for the bumps on the horizon and ended up filling his boat with water. He said it was all he could do to get turned around and get started back. I was going to try to run out there but, I figured out my boat didn't hold enough gas to make it out and back. That is one time I was glad I only had an 18 foot boat that held 30 gallons of gas.
I don't know how many times on the Great Lakes over the years I've already gotten there and now I'm looking at a loooonnnnggg rough ride back to the trailer that I don't really want to make... At least the fishing seems to make it worth it sometimes...