Bear Lake - Manistee Cty 05/13/12 report

[bigmojet]

I fished from 9am to 1 pm on Bear Lake. Water temp was 60 degrees and smallies were all over in the 3-5' range mzking beds. I started slow as my boat control skills definitely needed work. I got frustrated as i was trying to catch every fish i saw.

I changed tactics and just started making longer casts to the dark and light spots with white tubes and weighted jigs with yum dingers and ended up catching 35-40 and probably  had twice that in bites.

Biggest fish was just under 3# with majority about 2#.

Very fun morning.

[djkimmel]

That does sound fun. Wondered how that lake was doing lately? Still have never made it there. So many lakes...

[Mike S.]

We drive right by that lake every time we take the kids to Great Wolf Lodge, and every time I tell my wife I am going to drag the boat up there and fish it. I have heard both good and bad about it, but its hard to judge having never been there.

[djkimmel]

It used to be high up on my fishing todo list way back.

For a while, people were telling me it had gone way down hill but more lately, the reviews have been much more mixed with some poor (comparing maybe to the great fishing we are fortunate to have in so many places) to pretty good. Sounds like it is on the upswing again anyway.

Pigeon Lake is another one that reminds me of this tale. I have been to Pigeon a couple times. It's okay. Bonus - it has some dogfish!