Grand Traverse Bay this coming weekend.... where to fish?

[Waterfoul]

I've never fished either bay up there... and we want to hit it on Saturday (Oct 1st).  The only information I've been able to find has to do with fishing during the summer months... drop shotting 30 ish feet of water and such.  Anyone got a hint as to how to get those smallies this time of year?  Shallow?  Medium depths?  Deep (I doubt).

Thanks for any advice!

Mike

[Redbone]

I was in the east bay over the 4th of July. And all I did was try to stay 13'-15' and was able to just drift. Everytime I floated over the strips of weeds I would use the trolling motor to stay on the weeds and would either get slammed or get followed.  Very fun.  And by weeds I mean about 6''-12'' tall weeds. I'm sure that would not win any tourneys but is still a blast.  I love watching those smallies chase a bait down.  It was summer but I have to imagine that would work in the fall.

Remember its like 20 or more miles to go from bay to bay (I really have no clue how far). But I would pick a bay and stick with it.

[TheFishinPollock]

On east bay its  petoboco south to yuba.   Good droops weeds near the bottom  then they end about 50 ' mark.   Center road launch south is also a good ledge. Bottom of east bay  look for dark patches and you'll find fish.   West bay  , bowers harbor boardman outlet and the yatchet club.    Old mission  all the way around it also. Takes about 16 minutes to go from the center road boat launch on east bay to the end.   Depending on wind  east bay also offers the elk rapids north to crestwell road  area. Lots of ledges

[djkimmel]

They can be deep (25+) this time of year - the big ones anyways. But there always seems to be some along the steep drops and near any weeds. You might gind them in just a few feet one day and real deep the next. Haven't been ina while but I liked dark weed spots and anywhere I passed a big school of bait regardless of depth.

[Firefighter Jeff]

   Ive had a little success on East Bay up near Creswell road.  Not many bites but big fish.  30 to 40 feet of water in October.