Has anyone been on Elk or Torch lately? I'm heading up there the end of the month and i've never been. Is there any kind of technique or depth to focus on right now?
Id can the Elk Torch thing and go out on Traverse Bay should be getting good out there.
I'm heading up to Grand Traverse bay Monday morning early and staying until Thursday. I'll post a report when I get back.
Probably most Elk and Torch bass will be done bedding. Maybe still some on Torch. You can probably catch some bass near the spawning rock flats on either along and down the break. Probably some around points, which some of those tend to also be rocky spawning spots.
Might be easier to fish Skeg. Shallower with wood and reeds, particularly on the East end. Clam Lake can be fun too. Especially if the wind blows hard. Both of these have largemouth and smallmouth bass. Muskies too, including some big ones. Lots of pike.
Actually the lakes up here are hot hot hot. My lake(Birch ) is at 70 surface but is fluctuatin due to the cooler nights. Been all over Bellaire, torch, clam and elk this past week. Some beds are on, some are empty. It's been a screwyyyy spring up here weather wize. Lakes go up 5 degrees daily but will fall almsot 10 degrees at night due to cool nights. This week it has staied warmer at night so the lakes dont let off as much heat as they have been. Sorry I detest summer fishing on Skeg. It gets over pounded like you wouldnt believe, but there are good fish in that lake. If your going to fish the chain. I would reallyyyyyy suggest giving Bellaire a shot. Torch is the hardest of the chain to fish. Ya usually get 1 week a year where bass fishing is productive. Then they scatter and go way deep and move all over the lake. Rember it's 18 miles long and a mile or so wide so they have tons of room to roam . Tomorrow is a charter trip back to Bellaire so there will be a accurate tale and water temps.
I fished Elk Tuesday and there were a few spawners left, but nothing spectacular. I would think Torch would be better. If you want to catch a lot of decent bass go to the southern flat on east Grand traverse bay. The fishing is amazing out there right now with beds everywhere you look. When you come up you should be able to find the 3 and 4 pound males cruising that flat.
I'm going up north for a weeks Vacation to Cheboygan next week.I'm wondering if little Traverse bay any good for Smallies? GTB is much farther and I'm only about 10 minutes from LTB.
I would appreciate any advice :) thanks
http://www.fishweb.com/maps/emmet/littletravers/index.html (http://www.fishweb.com/maps/emmet/littletravers/index.html)
Duane
Looks like Traverse bay is gonan be a best bet. Bellaire and Clam are into the low to mid 70's temp wize and not much seems hungry. Bellair itself is veryyyyy cloudy. Either they got a ton of wind, and we didn't really, or the pollen is very heavy over there. The water clarity is only aroudn 4 to 5 feet. The walleyes seems to be interested in spinnerbaits and a muskie, But thats about it for 2 days. Hopefully they straighten out by the weekend and decide to start eating a tad more.
I've heard rumors about big smallies in Little Traverse, but only been there once or twice long time ago near the nuclear plant (don't try that now ;D ) hot water discharge. Lots of minnows. Small bass and salmon/trout. It has been on my return and check it out list for some time now... eventually. If you go, I look forward to a report!
I'm sure little traverse will be good. Look for big flats and weeds. The bass spawn in and around weeds and on sand flats more now then ever due to the gobies. If all of the beds you find are empty then move onto the rocks. I hope this helps.
Brent
I just got back from fishing the east arm of Grand Traverse bay. Fishndooder was not kidding when he said there are beds every where. My son and I caught alot of fish. All fish were between 3-4lbs. Our biggest was 4 1/4 on the boga grip. Water was 68 Monday and today it was between 72-74. We noticed more empty beds today, but there are still beds with fish on them.
Also Kevin Van Dam was fishing there yesterday pretty close to us. It looked like they might of been doing some filming.
KVD is up north for three days of filming for Bass Pro Journal. He was on a small northern lake on Monday and then was heading up to the Bay for a couple of days. Check out my blog on teardropbass.com for some pics.
Quote from: fishndooder on June 25, 2009, 12:19:15 AM
I'm sure little traverse will be good. Look for big flats and weeds. The bass spawn in and around weeds and on sand flats more now then ever due to the gobies. If all of the beds you find are empty then move onto the rocks. I hope this helps.
Brent
Thanks Brent!
I'm up here now and just read the weather report, it is calling for winds up to 5 mph 2morrow morning! I geeked ;D and ready to throw some BLT Gobies on beds... it has to be one of the best "bites" in fishing! Thanks again for your tips, I will let you know how I do....
Duane
No problem. If they are still on beds down there dont be affraid to go within 100' of the shoreline. Right out in front of the swim zone for the state park is good. If they are spawned out and you can't find fish move north. you should be able to find them on beds to the north due to the colder water.
Brent
PS I have a red and white ranger maybe I will see you out there.
My Dad and I got out for a few hours this morning and we were able to get 3 over 4lbs (biggest 4.6 lbs) and a few over 3lbs (one 2 pounder on a crank). Some were on beds and most weren't.
What a beautiful place!
Thanks again and thanks to Mark as well!
Well, the trip was a success. Elk and Torch are both real nice lakes. I can't wait to get back and fish just for fun and explore a little more. I only managed 3 keepers but they were big. The winner had just over 16 pounds. Thanks everyone for the comments, much appreciated!
I am going to high jack this thread for a minute.
I am considering going up to the bay this Sunday. Its a 4 hour drive for me though. Is there anyone that can maybe let me know if its going to be worth it?
I caught 30 on saturday all were on beds. The spawn is pretty much done on the south end of east bay, but is just starting to the north and is about a week in on west bay. If you come up you should be able to catch fish.
I hope this helps
Brent
Thanks!
Just curious, what kind of depth do the smallies like to bed in up there?? Thanks
From two feet to twelve feet or deeper. Basically from the shore on out and that's pretty much it. Average probably 4 feet. When you're bed fishing you have to cover lots of water. Most of my bed fishing is done with the big motor and I run over fish that spook and then I turn the big motor off circle back as the fish is circling back. Works very well for smallies. Largies are a different story. Most important thing is about three different shades of polaroid lenses. You will find that you can see beds better with certain colors and that varies with the lakes you fish. Can't emphasize the polaroids enough. Spotting beds is also an acquired skill. Many also employ devices to look in the water with for deep beds. In a tournament you had better have your beds GPSed, because in the morning, before the sun gets up the beds are really hard to spot. When the sun gets higher it gets easier, but the wind usually picks up then and that ripple, not to mention waves makes spotting the beds unaided very difficult. I have found my GPSed beds from year to year most often are the same, 80% or higher beds are there year to year, like swallows to Capistrano.
You can see how shallow this bed was. A smallie was defending it from some gar pike. Gar spooked. Very hard to see the smallie though.
Thaks for all the info Dan. Not sure when I'll ever get up there to fish the beds, but I am always looking to learn more. Just seeing that bed gets me going. lol