Fletchers Pond

[love2fish]

Does anyone know how the bass fishing is in May on Fletchers Pond?  Going May 12 & 13 and looking forward to catching some bass.

[fiker]

Should be pretty good.  I"ve never fished it in May, but it's a good Bass lake.

Just watch out for stumps, they sneak up on you real sudden like.

[love2fish]

There is a lot of water.  Any place I should focus my time?  I was planning on throwing spinnerbaits and 5" lizzards.

[Potter]

Got a map?  Old railroad grade (I think) crosses the river channel.  Northwest part of main lake if I remember correctly.  Following that grade from channel to shallower water should put you on fish.  Although there are A LOT of fish in that lake, so if the wind is not too bad you should be fine in a lot of places.  That stump comment is no BS.  Be carfeful!  Great Lake!  Good luck.

Potter

[mchesney]

I was there late May last year and did very well. There's a launch on the northeast arm of the lake (Moore's launch I think)...we did excellent straight out from there and north up to the RR bed. Water was still pretty cold so they didn't wan't to chase anything. Eventually we figured out a wacky rigged senko was the ticket but you almost had to deadstick it. Weightless on the fall and let it sit on the bottom for a little bit before moving it...was catching very nice fish all over doing that. Also, we seemed to have better luck out in the middle of that northeast arm (water's gin clear, lotta trees/laydowns, 4-6 ft deep) or the western side of it following the creek channel. Great lake...lotta bass and pike as well and don't try to get on plane...there's stumps EVRYWHERE!
As far as the main part of the lake...didn't catch a dang thing.

[mikesmiph]

Thats the area I fish most of the time too. Great part of the lake. If you go out of Moores, tell Chris I said hi. My name might help, you never know. Hes an old friend.

[mchesney]

If you pull up google maps and look at the satellite view you can just make out the railroad bed as it enters from the northeast part of the lake, straight across east to west.

[Frank]

so i have a story...

we do this trip up to my cabin in hale every july.  just guys, beer, and fishing, usually 2 lakes a day, all lakes we never fished before.  we're running out of brand new lakes after the years so sombody says "ya gotta hit fletchers pond, it's not too far and its the best in the state".  So we go...  4 guys in my new (to me) 18" ranger, 55lb motorguide on the bow.  we were told to "watch out for the stumps", no big deal and were off to have a great day.  What we were greeted with was a 7 mile long forest that somebody filled with water.  they didnt even bother to cut the trees down first, they look like they eventually just fell over.  there is no point in turning the gas motor on, why do that to go 4 feet.  we just pushed off from stump to stump.  35+ MPH winds all day long, 3 foot waves.  and not one fish until dark.  we got stuck on 4732 trees, i counted, they are not stumps really, they are small clumps of forest strewn about every yard or two.
oh, if you go there on a day with no wind, it would probably be amazing.

Frank

[Durand Dan]

Every time I have been there the wind has been an issue. And in a lake that shallow the waves go right to the bottom. The railroad beds are actually in two places. The one mentioned here and another to the east of the launch maybe 3/4 to a mile coming off the north shore as I remember. I have found the best way to fish it is drift with refreshments. Not my favorite way to fish, but effective.

[love2fish]

Wow!
Thank you all for the feed back.  I hope the wind will be calm.  I think I will bring my 35lb MinnKota and rent a boat! 

[denewcomb]

Don't let Chesney fool you. He has his helicopter fly in a fresh batch of golden shiners everyday and wacks the bass with them. At least that's what I decided last year as he schooled me handily on that lake. Are you in for Traverse City this year?

[mchesney]

Heck yeah I'll be there!! You'll be schoolin' me on smallies though...

[love2fish]

We found some fish spread out on the lake but did the best (smallmouth) on the railroad bed using tube lures.  Thanks for all the tips.  We had a windy day but it was great to spend a whole day on the water.