spslewis Posted January 3, 2019 Posted January 3, 2019 My cousin and I have fished Lake St Clair the last two springs. Caught about 60 smallies last year in 2 1/2 days of fishing. In 2017 about half that many. Learned the lake a little more last year. I am from PA and usually fish Erie for smallies. This year, we were thinking of venturing a little further north of st clair. Reading about many lakes like Burt, Hubbard and others. Very confusing on where to try. We were planning on an early May trip. may just head back to St clair, but wanted to get some opinions on where else to possibly check out. Thanks in advance for any info. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 3, 2019 Super User Posted January 3, 2019 Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ I live in northern Lower Michigan (Otsego County) and fish several of the lakes in & around this area. Most any lake north of rt 72 all the way up to the Bridge, has some population of smallmouth. The bigger lakes have the bigger fish but because of their size, they are more affected by weather and make finding fish during a short stay a little more challenging. Catching 60 smallies in 2 days sounds like a great time and it's not something I've ever done on any of the water I fish. But there are some really big fish to be had in many of these lakes and that's really more my style. Unfortunately I can not say definitively which lake may be better than another - however I do prefer the larger lakes (such as the ones you mentioned) mostly because they produce the bigger smallies for me. Good Luck A-Jay 2 Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted January 3, 2019 Global Moderator Posted January 3, 2019 Isn't Hubbard where they were catching huge LMB and SMB on MLF? 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 3, 2019 Super User Posted January 3, 2019 Just now, 12poundbass said: Isn't Hubbard where they were catching huge LMB and SMB on MLF? It is. Recently that NW portion of the state (Traverse City Area) has gained some notoriety for it's wide variety of World Class Brown Bass lakes. However, it's that NE portion of the Michigan (where Hubbard is located), despite the repeated MLF coverage, continues to remain a mostly untapped mega-size producing smallie factory. This may be in part purely due to 'access'. It is fairly limited. No Roads man; everything is "The Long Way", which is OK by me. Always seems totally worth every mile I drive. A-Jay 1 Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted January 3, 2019 Global Moderator Posted January 3, 2019 4 minutes ago, A-Jay said: It is. Recently that NW portion of the state (Traverse City Area) has gained some notoriety for it's wide variety of World Class Brown Bass lakes. However, it's that NE portion of the Michigan (where Hubbard is located), despite the repeated MLF coverage, continues to remain a mostly untapped mega-size producing smallie factory. This may be in part purely due to 'access'. It is fairly limited. No Roads man; everything is "The Long Way", which is OK by me. Always seems totally worth every mile I drive. A-Jay I know exactly what you're talking about. One lake I have to drive about a mile down a two track to get to it. The other lake you must back down a two track at least 300' to launch the boat, so you better be good a backing your boat because it's only about 10-12' wide. Like you said it's fine with me, because if there are two boats on either lake including me....it's busy. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 3, 2019 Super User Posted January 3, 2019 26 minutes ago, 12poundbass said: I know exactly what you're talking about. One lake I have to drive about a mile down a two track to get to it. The other lake you must back down a two track at least 300' to launch the boat, so you better be good a backing your boat because it's only about 10-12' wide. Like you said it's fine with me, because if there are two boats on either lake including me....it's busy. (not to be a Hi-Jacker) Yup ! A-Jay 5 Quote
spslewis Posted January 3, 2019 Author Posted January 3, 2019 What about saginaw bay in early spring? Never been there. Any suggestions on where to stay for 3 days and where to out boat in? Thanks! Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 3, 2019 Super User Posted January 3, 2019 42 minutes ago, spslewis said: What about saginaw bay in early spring? Never been there. Any suggestions on where to stay for 3 days and where to out boat in? Thanks! Sorry - Can't help there. A-Jay Quote
Chance_Taker4 Posted January 5, 2019 Posted January 5, 2019 On 1/3/2019 at 8:10 AM, A-Jay said: It is. Recently that NW portion of the state (Traverse City Area) has gained some notoriety for it's wide variety of World Class Brown Bass lakes. A-Jay Its funny you say this because I was going to say two of my favorite places to fish for smallies is Torch Lake and Elk Lake. But I think that has more to do with how clear the water is vs quality of fish. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 5, 2019 Super User Posted January 5, 2019 1 minute ago, Chance_Taker4 said: Its funny you say this because I was going to say two of my favorite places to fish for smallies is Torch Lake and Elk Lake. But I think that has more to do with how clear the water is vs quality of fish. Those two bodies of water are so picturesque and pristine, that just to be out on either is a great day in itself. Any fishing & catching done, is a true bonus. Just Gorgeous ! A-Jay 1 Quote
evilcatfish Posted January 10, 2019 Posted January 10, 2019 On 1/3/2019 at 7:10 AM, A-Jay said: It is. Recently that NW portion of the state (Traverse City Area) has gained some notoriety for it's wide variety of World Class Brown Bass lakes. Are you at all familiar with a lake near Traverse City called Silver Lake? I'm going there on a family vacation in July and can't find much info on fishing there. Otherwise, my brother in law and I will definitely be hitting up Grand Traverse Bay a day or two, which should be fun Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 10, 2019 Super User Posted January 10, 2019 1 hour ago, evilcatfish said: Are you at all familiar with a lake near Traverse City called Silver Lake? I'm going there on a family vacation in July and can't find much info on fishing there. Otherwise, my brother in law and I will definitely be hitting up Grand Traverse Bay a day or two, which should be fun I am not familiar with Silver Lake. But anything over that way "In July" means you'll most likely have plenty of company. Good Luck A-Jay 1 Quote
evilcatfish Posted January 10, 2019 Posted January 10, 2019 15 hours ago, A-Jay said: I am not familiar with Silver Lake. But anything over that way "In July" means you'll most likely have plenty of company. Good Luck A-Jay Yea it wasn't my first choice of location haha, at least we are going after the cherry festival which I'm told is pretty crazy Quote
redmeansdistortion Posted January 30, 2019 Posted January 30, 2019 On 1/3/2019 at 8:52 AM, A-Jay said: (not to be a Hi-Jacker) Yup ! A-Jay Now that's dedication! 1 Quote
RyneB Posted February 2, 2019 Posted February 2, 2019 I head up to Lake Leelanau the first week of June every year for a family vacation. I dont catch the BIG smallies that the Traverse City area is known for, but I catch A LOT of 2-2.5 lbers and a few 3s a day and I usually run into a 4lb range fish every year. Get out early when the mayflys are hatching and the topwater action can be insane. Quote
redmeansdistortion Posted February 8, 2019 Posted February 8, 2019 If you have waders or a kayak, hit the Rifle River. You could bank fish but much of the river runs through private property so you'll need other means to get the most out of it. It's a tributary of Lake Huron with the mouth being in Saginaw Bay. I always hook into a smallmouth when I'm throwing Hot Shots and Wee Wigglers for steelhead and browns out there. Quote
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