Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

Tournaments => FLW Fishing => BFL Bass Fishing League => Topic started by: djkimmel on June 10, 2008, 01:34:52 AM

Title: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on June 10, 2008, 01:34:52 AM
SEE UPDATE BELOW - THIS IS NO LONGER ACCURATE - djk 6/24/08 Confirmed with Anthony Wright that the Michigan BFL will start next year at Lake Charlevoix instead of Mullett Lake. FLW Outdoors wants to give those giant Mullett and Burt Lake bass a break for a year. And check out the giants over on Charlevoix too!!
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will not start at Mullett Lake
Post by: motocross269 on June 10, 2008, 06:21:42 AM
I think that is a good call.......Something different..
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will not start at Mullett Lake
Post by: MBell on June 10, 2008, 10:59:13 AM
I heard the same as well.  However I also heard that they are returning to Burt/Mullet for 2010.  Charlevoix can be even better if we hit it right.  Will lake michigan be open since there is no lock?  I'm assuming it would be.
-Matt
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will not start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on June 10, 2008, 01:40:09 PM
Yes, Anthony did confirm we'd be back to Mullett in 2010. I hope Aloha SP works with us as well again.

I know I will have no reason to ask about making Lake Michigan off limits since it is open. The MDNR has no issues at this time, so it will most likely be open barring small craft warnings.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will not start at Mullett Lake
Post by: dashaver63 on June 10, 2008, 03:43:39 PM
I was going to make this my last season fishing all 5, but might have to rethink things now. How does Charlevoix fish in June? Will it be another bed tournament?
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will not start at Mullett Lake
Post by: MBell on June 10, 2008, 05:07:18 PM
Same type of fishing with way more fish.  It will be easier fishing as far as numbers go.  I could see a jerkbait bite competing with the bed bite.  Burt/Mullet put up great weights but it can be a difficult place to fish, it's not easy you really have to have confidence and know what to look for.  Charlevoix will be easier on a lot of guys.  It will be a more expensive trip though, I did Burt/Mullet this year for what I consider cheap.
-Matt
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will not start at Mullett Lake
Post by: dashaver63 on June 10, 2008, 08:49:29 PM
That could be interesting. I know the boaters have alot more invested in these tournaments, and I'm in no way complaining about it, but sitting in the back of the boat watching the boater pull fish off beds gets a little frustrating after a while. I threw a jerkbait so much last Saturday, my wrist is still stiff. I did get my fish, and worked my tail off for it, which is all I was hoping for.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on June 24, 2008, 12:50:39 AM
Well, there's plenty of time for things to change, but why wait?!? I confirmed today that FLW Outdoors has decided to go back to Mullett Lake and Aloha State Park in 2009 after all.

Cheboygan wants us back bad and the awesome Michigan Department of Natural Resources staff are making even further accommodations so we can have another great event. In addition, the same wonderful people from Cheboygan are going to feed us not just Friday at the pre-tournament meeting, but ALSO SATURDAY at the huge (expected) weigh in! Just too good to turn down so back to Burt and Mullett we go for 2009.

Lake Charlevoix is a very good fishery, but you need to go to the great fisheries that throw out the red carpet like Cheboygan does. I thought this year went very well. Next year should be better.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on June 24, 2008, 01:26:28 PM
Glad you like it.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: motocross269 on June 24, 2008, 07:58:58 PM
I am a little dissappointed only because I was hoping a change may throw off some of the hotshot sticks up there that have the bedding areas memorized like the back of their hands...But it hard to complain about the opportunity to fish a lake where 27lbs won it...
It's all good...
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: TCook on June 24, 2008, 08:07:09 PM
I dont think charlevoix would of been a bad choice for 09. A week before the BFL on Burt/Mullett it took 27.18 to win on charlevoix and 26.59 took second. This was only an 11 boat BAU tournament too. Maybe a change of scenery would of been the right move when looking at the results of the past 3 tournaments. Although the same guys will likley be on top there as well, from what I understand its a similar deal. Not to mention taking some stress off the spawn at Burt and Mullett for one year might be a good idea.

T
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: dashaver63 on June 24, 2008, 08:21:42 PM
Hopefully maybe next year we can have a somewhat normal spring and catch a full blown spawn. I just hate the 6 hour drive. It is an amazing fishery, how many times do you see an inland lake outside of Falcon give up a 27lb. bag, or even a 26lb. bag to finish SECOND! I guess I'll just have to win that Ranger at the Regional and go as a boater next year!   LOL
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: MBell on June 24, 2008, 09:23:05 PM
Quote from: motocross269 on June 24, 2008, 07:58:58 PM
I am a little dissappointed only because I was hoping a change may throw off some of the hotshot sticks up there that have the bedding areas memorized like the back of their hands...But it hard to complain about the opportunity to fish a lake where 27lbs won it...
It's all good...
Charlevoix would have been good fishing but no way the accomodations would have been as good, way more expensive.  Don't let those burt/mullet guys get in your head, I've only fished the lake 5 days in my life and took 5th this year.  It probobly would have been the same guys at charlevoix anyway, it's all bed fishing. 
-Matt 
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: motocross269 on June 24, 2008, 09:38:25 PM
True.... those guys are good on all the smallie lakes up there...
I had to cut back a little this year so I am only fishing the last three BFLs...Next year I plan on doing the whole series again.
There is a ton of Camping and reasonably priced motels at Burt and Mullet..So no complaints there...I have been looking at motels in the Charlevoix area for a Team Bass tourney and everthing there is limited or a little pricey....
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on June 24, 2008, 11:03:23 PM
We often stayed down the south arm in East Jordan. Better pricing in the past and more angler friendly. Been a while though.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: jcox7 on June 25, 2008, 10:25:54 AM
Sometimes reading this stuff is funny Same people always at the top come on Chad caught 27 lbs to win last year he only caught 3 fish. Trevor came in second and didnt fish last year, Matt came in fifth and he didnt last year,  Sure Hardy does well every year but no matter where you fish this is going to happen (ie) see Clapper Balog Trombly......

If you dont think that you can find the winning bag it is simple dont complain just dont try.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: motocross269 on June 25, 2008, 11:38:18 AM
Quote from: jcox7 on June 25, 2008, 10:25:54 AM
Sometimes reading this stuff is funny Same people always at the top come on Chad caught 27 lbs to win last year he only caught 3 fish. Trevor came in second and didnt fish last year, Matt came in fifth and he didnt last year,  Sure Hardy does well every year but no matter where you fish this is going to happen (ie) see Clapper Balog Trombly......

If you dont think that you can find the winning bag it is simple dont complain just dont try.

I wasn't complaining....Hardy would be in contention on Charlevoix...The guy is untouchable on all northern lakes....But since you opened that can of worms...
If you want to get into the big water guys..IE Clapper, Balog, trombly etc...I think they have to many tourneys on the Big water.  4 tournaments out of 5 are on Lake Erie/St Clair... years ago we fished Wixom, Muskegon, Saginaw Bay, Coldwater chain etc along with the big water...This IMHO showed who the most well rounded anglers where....I would have liked to at least see the Grand River stay on the schedule...Don't get me wrong the top anglers in the state are awesome everywhere, but we have pretty much eliminated Largemouth competition from the BFLs...But I am only one of 400 anglers that fish the BFLs and that is just my opinion (which this forum allows me to express)(not my complaint)
The BFLs are the best run tourneys and the best anglers in the state fish them....So yes I will continue trying to catch a winning bag ...No matter where they go..

Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: TCook on June 25, 2008, 12:15:38 PM
Quote from: jcox7 on June 25, 2008, 10:25:54 AM
Sometimes reading this stuff is funny Same people always at the top come on Chad caught 27 lbs to win last year he only caught 3 fish. Trevor came in second and didnt fish last year, Matt came in fifth and he didnt last year,  Sure Hardy does well every year but no matter where you fish this is going to happen (ie) see Clapper Balog Trombly......

If you dont think that you can find the winning bag it is simple dont complain just dont try.

I dont get whats so funny with pointing out that there are a handful of guys that seem to be really locked in on Burt and Mullett? When I look at the results over the last three years I see Telguska finishing 1,1,4 Pipkins 1, 3 (in 07) Bond 3, 8, 4 Snyder 6, 5 Modrack 10, 7, 8. Even though these guys would likley be on top elsewhere, I dont see what a change could hurt.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: Team houston on June 25, 2008, 12:45:04 PM
Even though I am a lowly co-angler and have been fishing Redman since the late 80s I would prefer 1 LM tournament a year.(grand,muskegen etc.) But when you have the best SM fishing in the world,bar none, 3 or 4 of the tournys need to be there. Thats my opinion
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: motocross269 on June 25, 2008, 01:03:12 PM
I am just a Co also..At least for one more year...I have a boat, but I know that the quickest way for me to learn some of the big water tactics (NOT SPOT Stealing but Tactics)...Is to fish from the back of the boat for at least one more year...I have been on the water alot this year working areas, but I still need to get some big water confidence in both driving the boat and fishing tactics before I go as a boater..
I fished Redman a little in the late 80s also....Then things in the military started heating up and i just didn't have time to fish any more...I am now just getting back into fishing since I retired a couple of years ago...So far it has been a blast, things have changed a ton..
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: motocross269 on June 25, 2008, 06:27:13 PM
One other side note..I was looking at the results from Burt and Mullet..And one other thing that was outstanding about Chad Pipkens win is that he worked with his Co Angler Cody Harris to ensure that he had a big bag also...18lbs...Great job to both of them..
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: j690 on June 25, 2008, 06:38:14 PM
will the tbf state fish off be there again ?
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on June 25, 2008, 06:42:55 PM
Jcox7... I'm going to take away your pot-stirring stick!!!! Seriously, there's no need to downplay anyone's comments. We all have thoughts running through our heads that are perfectly valid from our various points of view... and often common all over the tournament fishing world.

I like having a largemouth/smallmouth water on the schedule too that isn't smallmouth dominated. I expect we may get back to that. Especially if we provide input in numbers to the right person - our tournament director. He really does listen to our input and he WANTS our input. WHEN HE CAN, he will act on it.

Since he works for a large organization that has many tournaments in many regions in many levels, he can't always do whatever he wants. He does listen and consider though, I promise. I recently was contacted by a major city in Michigan that is dying to host a big tournament. Big enough to attract FLW's attention. Problem is, they don't have any water or facilities big enough nearby to host a 100+ boat event. Oh well... we did discuss a few wild options anyway.

The point is, FLW will try to get where they seem to get the most numbers, least complaints and don't mess up their other schedules and directors at the same time.

Matt - sorry I was tuckered at the end of Saturday and totally missed your excellent finish - congratulations!
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on June 25, 2008, 06:43:42 PM
Quote from: motocross269 on June 25, 2008, 06:27:13 PM
One other side note..I was looking at the results from Burt and Mullet..And one other thing that was outstanding about Chad Pipkens win is that he worked with his Co Angler Cody Harris to ensure that he had a big bag also...18lbs...Great job to both of them..

I noticed that too and thought it was very nice.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on June 25, 2008, 06:46:42 PM
Quote from: j690 on June 25, 2008, 06:38:14 PM
will the tbf state fish off be there again ?

We won't make that decision until this fall. We had a brief follow up discussion and only the most preliminary discussion about next year with FLW staff. I do think it was more beneficial to both organizations for participation, and the anglers overall as far as time and cost. It will be considered. It also takes both parties to agree before it happens and I don't expect FLW to make their decision right away either.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on June 27, 2008, 09:08:35 PM
Maybe next year... you'll let me catch a 7-pounder?!?
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: skeeterman190 on July 02, 2008, 10:15:22 PM
 Hey this is an old post but i havent had time to get on here so i wanna chime in on this. I fished as a boater got my but spanked cause im an idiot but oh well!!! I WONT HAVE 5.5lbs next year bet on that! It was an education at the least for me up there! I relied to much on buddy relayed info and not enough on my own instinct! I would love to see at least one largemouth tourney put into the schedule. for those of you that know me thats my game and in my mind im DAM@ good at it. but if i wanna make something of fishing and justify spending all this money i better step up my game on the smallies! ill see you all at sandusky smallies or not ill be there! maybe i can find a bag of bucketheads somewhere there~!-skeeterman-
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: dashaver63 on July 03, 2008, 01:48:16 PM
I hate to burst your bubble, my club just had a tournament on Erie last Sat. 5 of us had bags over 15lbs. with the winner having just over 17lbs. (all largies). You just have to know where to look. I like catching smallies as much as anyone, but there is nothing like pulling a 5lb largemouth out of thick, nasty, heavy cover.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on July 03, 2008, 07:28:05 PM
Rumor has it, there's a few really good largemouth holes there too!! Of course, not good enough to beat those huge smallies if everyone can get out...
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: dashaver63 on July 04, 2008, 12:40:49 PM
Not at all Ebond, problem with western basin smallmouth in Ohio waters is that they are difficult to come by after they spawn. I would rather be able to make the long run to Canada the chase smallies too. I know that even the biggest of bags of largemouth won't WIN the tournament, all I saying is the fish are there to be competitive. And I don't think you are a smallmouth snob, just someone that knows what it would take to win the tournament and is not fishing for second. All or nothing. I'm just hoping that if the weather gets bad, that it doesn't get bad enough to lock us in Sandusky Bay. That would be ugly.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on July 04, 2008, 12:58:41 PM
Some day I'm heading over there just to target largemouths for fun in some of the mysterious places I've hear rumors about. I have caught some decent ones in Sandusky Bay when I just couldn't make myself go screaming by Cedar Pt, but I haven't ventured out much other than Port Clinton into the river, the Vermilion River and another farther East - one of the Black, I think??

All I remember for sure about that day was it was so rough out on Erie that some of the frieghters anchored out in the lake for safety, there were more vultures in trees than I've ever seen and I think I found the great lost ball graveyard of fables - I think we saw every kind of sports ball that exist floating in the water in vast numbers... footballs, soccer balls, volley balls, basketballs, softballs and more floating EVERYWHERE... weird!?!
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: dashaver63 on July 05, 2008, 07:06:46 AM
Yes Dan, thats the Black River East of Vermillion. Some of the best largemouth fishing though is right next to Sandusky Bay, in East and West Harbor. The Portage River in Port Clinton can be O.K. but you have to share water with the Jet Express. But the best largemouth comes from various weed beds on Erie herself.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: djkimmel on July 18, 2008, 09:35:36 PM
I've been in Port Clinton. It was so-so. I've done respectable in the back of Sandusky Bay. I have not made it to the Harbors, but I've been told about them for years and years, and keep thinking 'I've got to get there' but haven't made it yet.

I know nothing about the weedbeds in Erie. I think you just gave out a valuable clue! I will have to think about that some...
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: dashaver63 on July 18, 2008, 10:52:13 PM
Dan, Sandusky Bay is not even close to being the fishery it used to be. East Harbor and West Harbor is where it's at. One of the best weed beds on Erie can be found out around Perry's Monument. Other weedbeds close around Marble Head and Catawaba Island are very good also. I have no problem giving these "clues" out, I just like to see responsible C&R bass hunters go out and have a good time and discover just how good Lake Erie's largemouth population can be. I'll help any way I can, and I'm not implying that greenfish can win out there, but you'll have fun with them.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: josh617 on July 19, 2008, 11:34:38 PM
one of these days those green fish are going to be able to win a tournament on Erie. I know some people may think its crazy, but i m sure many people thought the same way on champlain until 20+ bags of largies came rolling in. The last couple of years the largies have had some awesome spawns and the grass is continuing to expand. give it some more time but they re only gonna get bigger.
Title: Re: 2009 MI BFL will start at Mullett Lake
Post by: dashaver63 on July 20, 2008, 09:00:08 AM
The thing about those Erie largemouth is that they are dependable. Smallmouth in Ohio tend to scatter and disapear after the spawn. Plus there are so many sheepshead out there that it's hard to tell sometimes if there are smallies in the area. If I had to stay in Ohio waters for a tournament in July/August, I will be targeting largemouth.