Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

Has anyone fished the canals near Anchor Bay this time of year? My neighbor moved and gave me his 12ft aluminum. Was thinking of shooting up and down the canals near me. Is it worth it? Do the largemouth hang out there all winter? Jigs or t-rig creature baits?

I am not sure about Anchor Bay.  I was out on Wixom lake yesterday and couldn't buy a bite on the main lake.  I went as far back as I could in one cut and was able to land two small largemouth.  Water temp was 48.  If the wind wasn't so bad on the main lake, I would think you would find them out there in deeper water.  But I am close to clueless at this point.  Hoping to get back out there next weekend.

Two weekends ago I hits some of the canals between the Crocker launch and Metro.  I was pitching a Havoc Pit Boss in green pumpkin and then in "california" color.  My third pitch in the first canal and my line starts moving quickly.  I set the hook and realized it wasn't a bass, its a musky.  After a few minute fight I was able to get it to side of the boat.  It had to be between 42" - 45" and had two small lampreys on it.  I removed the lampreys and my hook and released it out of the net and back into the water.  This is fourth musky since last fall (3 last year, 1 this year) I have caught while pitching a bit boss in canals.  Other than that musky, I caught nothing else the rest of the day.

Maybe we should change your screen name to TimM??

I like fishing the canals this time of year when I can. The Anchor Bay area is my favorite. I usually fish for crappie and bluegill. It's common to have some largemouth bass mixed in fairly often. When I've fished for largemouth on purpose in the deepest, stable water I've done okay a number of times though on really bad weather turns it can be slow to nothing.

Also like Black Creek late in the year for panfish and largemouth bass. Even have caught them on blade baits later in December a couple times.

From what I'm hearing the canals are slower right now this year than normal. It may pick up shortly when it gets a little colder if we don't get too terrible weather.

I hit the canals near Burke Park in New Baltimore and one by Ruedisale Pointe Park for about 3 hours on Sunday. No luck. Ended up more as a pitching practice session. Still haven't got that down yet.

Well, you were fishing anyways. Something I haven't done in about 2 weeks, and I'm missing it.