Bedding as started in central mi

[Mbirdsley]

short report more of a current condition report for anybody in Michigan area. 

Went out yesterday 5/16 to a new to me lake about 45 minutes away. Lake was called crystal lake in Montcalm county (central Michigan). Crystal  Lake is gin clear, fairly deep, and a decent sized lake. widest point is probably a mile wide. Fished for 7 hrs. Only managed a hammer handle and a couple smaller bass up shallow. Most of my success came on ned rig using the discontinued z-man craw dad-z on 1/8 ned head 
 

Looks to me the males have arrived shallow and are starting to make beds.  I see a bunch smaller fish up shallow only saw a couple 16 inchers.  I’m assuming the girls have not arrived yet water temp was 57 degrees at the surface when I left. Tried fishing the beds best I could after nothing else could get going.  I was in my tin can so, with a 12-15 mph I was getting blown all over ( can’t wait for a heavier boat)

 

however, we are forecasted for 3-4 inches of rain so who knows what happens 

 

[TnRiver46]

Cool deal, I will be getting married very close to that lake in September 2021 

[Mbirdsley]

Yeah that rain did have an effect.  We are having record floods right now.  The Tittabawassee just crested at like 35 feet After a dam failure on wixom reservoir.

 

 

oh yeah brings you to Michigan? 

[MIbassyaker]

On 5/17/2020 at 3:48 PM, Mbirdsley said:

’m assuming the girls have not arrived yet water temp was 57 degrees at the surface when I left.

 

We've been slow to warm up to the west of you, and I haven't see any water over 50 degrees. -- the last place I was on, Friday last week, was 48 in the shallows around noon, with a number of 1-2 pound bass willing to gobble a chatterbait.  A couple days before, on a bigger lake, the pike were going nuts; bass activity much less.

 

Things should be really heating up (literally and figuratively) right now and through the weekend.  I'd stay off the rivers though!  I'm headed to a little natural lake tomorrow that the timing should be good for....we'll see.

 

On 5/18/2020 at 2:42 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Cool deal, I will be getting married very close to that lake in September 2021 

 

Oh?  @Mbirdsley & @12poundbass, should we crash it?

[12poundbass]

6 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

Oh?  @Mbirdsley & @12poundbass, should we crash it

I’m only 20 minutes away from Crystal lake so we can crash it. 
 

Last week I fished Sneaky lake and it was 56-58 degrees at 1 when we left. We then launched at my lake and the temps were 63-66 degrees. I think I saw some males making beds but the water is so stained on my lake you can barely see them. I’ll be out this weekend on my lake, no way I’m going on a public lake this weekend! 

[TnRiver46]

Bring it! Point Betsie light house! Haha

[Mbirdsley]

15 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Bring it! Point Betsie light house! Haha

Dang how far west are you for water to be that cold?

 

pt.betsie Is where I proposed to my wife. My profile pic is of fishing Lake Michigan. 
 

Yeah we can crash it !!!!

Saturday were going To her moms and right there is Murphy lake which is a good sized lake. Along with a couple of smaller lakes around.  I usually take the boat with us.  I drop them off and Murphy lake is 5 minutes away.

 

Yeah, no the Tittabawassee will be un fishable for a very long time.  I always wanted to fish lake wixom but, probably won’t get too now. 
 

your right it should be on fire as long the lake isn’t chocolate milk.  I’m hoping it will clear up by Saturday 

[TnRiver46]

13 hours ago, Mbirdsley said:

Dang how far west are you for water to be that cold?

 

pt.betsie Is where I proposed to my wife. My profile pic is of fishing Lake Michigan. 
 

Yeah we can crash it !!!!

Saturday were going To her moms and right there is Murphy lake which is a good sized lake. Along with a couple of smaller lakes around.  I usually take the boat with us.  I drop them off and Murphy lake is 5 minutes away.

 

Yeah, no the Tittabawassee will be un fishable for a very long time.  I always wanted to fish lake wixom but, probably won’t get too now. 
 

your right it should be on fire as long the lake isn’t chocolate milk.  I’m hoping it will clear up by Saturday 

Last we were there was Sept 2015

 

[MIbassyaker]

21 hours ago, Mbirdsley said:

Dang how far west are you for water to be that cold?

 

Grand Rapids.  Small lakes, so temps are a little more volatile. And not measured later than around noon. But still, I've been kind of shocked at how cold it is. Catching up now, but still behind compared to usual temps at this time.

 

Not exactly on fire Thursday but lots of bed activity and shallow roamers. Better this morning though on a different lake; caught about 12, with the best around 3lbs.

 

On 5/21/2020 at 7:06 AM, TnRiver46 said:

Bring it! Point Betsie light house! Haha

Ah, the "other" Crystal Lake (bigger, better known, picturesque, vacation-land). A good 2 1/2 hours north of me. Nice place for a wedding - congrats!

 

On 5/21/2020 at 6:14 AM, 12poundbass said:

 I’ll be out this weekend on my lake, no way I’m going on a public lake this weekend! 

I never go anywhere Memorial weekend. Yardwork for me.

 

[12poundbass]

43 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

I never go anywhere Memorial weekend. Yardwork for me.

We went out tonight on our lake, 66 degrees was the temp and we were the only boat on the lake. Living on a private lake has its perks. I could hear jet skis and speed boats on the other two lakes near me. I’ll be fishing like crazy the next three days on my lake and enjoying it. 

[Mbirdsley]

I’m hoping to be fishing big crystal for small mouth in 2 weeks.  Will probably also fish the big lake with my brother.  
 

Big platte and little platte are good bass lakes.  Big platte is similar to crystal.  Biggest rock bass I have ever seen.  You look down in the water and think they are bass.  Big platte also has huge smallies. 

 

little platte is shallower and only avg probably 6 feet.  Has really large mouth fishing.  
 

I expect water temps to be in mid 50’s on crystal and big platte.  Little plate low to mid 60’s. 
 

I have not been up north on Memorial Day in a couple years.  Last 2 years we stayed down here and i fished Murphy lake. Just hoping for the lake not to be chocolate milk 

[Michigander]

On 5/21/2020 at 11:10 PM, Mbirdsley said:

 

Yeah, no the Tittabawassee will be un fishable for a very long time.  I always wanted to fish lake wixom but, probably won’t get too now. 

 

Our two day end of season tournament was supposed to be on Wixom this year. Assuming we even get to have tournaments, that's not really going to work unless they've rebuilt the dam by October.

Crystal Lake always runs cold, even in late July. I'm heading to Lake Lansing tomorrow morning, which is a warmer lake, so I hope the fish are active.

[TnRiver46]

8 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

We went out tonight on our lake, 66 degrees was the temp and we were the only boat on the lake. Living on a private lake has its perks. I could hear jet skis and speed boats on the other two lakes near me. I’ll be fishing like crazy the next three days on my lake and enjoying it. 

The Tennessee River is 62 degrees by my house currently 

6 hours ago, Mbirdsley said:

I’m hoping to be fishing big crystal for small mouth in 2 weeks.  Will probably also fish the big lake with my brother.  
 

Big platte and little platte are good bass lakes.  Big platte is similar to crystal.  Biggest rock bass I have ever seen.  You look down in the water and think they are bass.  Big platte also has huge smallies. 

 

little platte is shallower and only avg probably 6 feet.  Has really large mouth fishing.  
 

I expect water temps to be in mid 50’s on crystal and big platte.  Little plate low to mid 60’s. 
 

I have not been up north on Memorial Day in a couple years.  Last 2 years we stayed down here and i fished Murphy lake. Just hoping for the lake not to be chocolate milk 

Funny you would say that about the rock bass..... we stayed in a cottage on big platte and check these out! Only boated one smallie but lost a big fat round one. 

 

Also, there are solid black squirrels in Michigan ........... 

[Mbirdsley]

15 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

The Tennessee River is 62 degrees by my house currently 

Funny you would say that about the rock bass..... we stayed in a cottage on big platte and check these out! Only boated one smallie but lost a big fat round one. 

 

Also, there are solid black squirrels in Michigan ........... 

yeah those are the biggest rock bass I have ever seen.  Crystal lake has a crap ton too.  Good for kids because, it is constant action.  Plus both those lakes a deep and cold.  I here they taste excellent out of both lakes. 
 

fished Murphy to day water temp was almost 72 degrees.  I get the feeling the spawn is over there.  I saw lots of fish shallow but, didn’t look like they were guarding any thing.  I put a report in the latest catch page.  Highlight was I caught my first fish ever on a swim jig and swim jig I made. From pouring in a mold to putting the skirt on.  I lost probably a 20 incher on the same swim jig.  Last cast of the day nailed a fat 16 incher 

 

oh yeah lots of black squirrels.  It’s just a color phase of. The grey squirrel 

[Michigander]

Was out at Upper Brace Lake/Stuart Lake yesterday. Water was very clear and 64-67 degrees. Definitely had males on beds and the big girls were hanging out in 3 ft of water but would jump down the drop-off into 10ft once they saw the boat. Saw several 4-5lb fish and one that would have been in the 6lb class. Picked up one nice one (18.5") on a drop shot in 13ft deep weeds, was vomiting crayfish during the fight. I think the spawn itself is mostly done there and they are in bed guarding mode. Also saw them chasing bait balls on the sonar. Even got some taps on my big swimbait, lol.

 

Side note, the Diawa Legalis that I polished the drag washers on worked very smoothly as the fish was surging on 8lb test FC. Was also testing Hitena Bass Raptor line which was a joy to fish with.

[Mbirdsley]

I guess, I didn’t know how each lake is kind of just on its own schedule. I’m kinda surprised how far along spawn is allready. We have really only had a week of warm weather.

 

sucks that flood happened on the Tittabawassee. Who knows how the river reacts when it’s back to normal.  Probably a bunch of new dead heads and holes. That was only 20-30 minutes from me.  Huge small mouths and other kinds of fish.  Sheep head are in now from the bay. they are fun to catch 

 

 

im hoping to hit muskrat this week.  Might be the last one before I go up north on 5th.  Possibly by myself. Won’t be bad I can fish all three days I’m up there 

[Michigander]

Was at Woodland Lake in Brighton today. 6+ hours and only a couple nibbles. Water was warm, high, and muddy. Carp were everywhere all day. We saw one bedding pair of Largemouth but a ton of bass fry/fingerings in the few shallow areas with a couple feet of visibility so I'm thinking that lake is mostly post spawn now. Maybe the carp are getting ready to spawn, they were very active the whole time.

[Mbirdsley]

5 hours ago, Michigander said:

Was at Woodland Lake in Brighton today. 6+ hours and only a couple nibbles. Water was warm, high, and muddy. Carp were everywhere all day. We saw one bedding pair of Largemouth but a ton of bass fry/fingerings in the few shallow areas with a couple feet of visibility so I'm thinking that lake is mostly post spawn now. Maybe the carp are getting ready to spawn, they were very active the whole time.

Carp were frolicking and jumping around on Murphy too in some dense floating weeds.  Must be getting close.

 

 

taking the boat to work Wednesday and will be fishing muskrat for sure.  I’d like to hit the launch by the boat club in Lansing sometime this month.  Need to wait for the grand to go down though 

[Michigander]

On 5/25/2020 at 10:34 PM, Mbirdsley said:

Taking the boat to work Wednesday and will be fishing muskrat for sure.  I’d like to hit the launch by the boat club in Lansing sometime this month.  Need to wait for the grand to go down though 

Good luck tonight, let me know how Muskrat fishes, haven't made it out there this year yet.

[Mbirdsley]

6 hours ago, Michigander said:

Good luck tonight, let me know how Muskrat fishes, haven't made it out there this year yet.

Just got done chased by rain after 3 hrs .  Was doing pretty good landed 1 keeper on a black blue flake Ocho t-riged.  Originally had it tied on my spinning reel and a big one busted me off in the pads. So I rigged it up on my mh Johnny morrris baitcaster combo( first fish on a that) Caught the other one on a wacky rigged  black trick worm. Lost 4-5 on that.  I was throwing the ocho into the pads and wacky worm outside of them or big pockets.  I need to remind my self to not to try and set the hook on a wacky rig, just start reeling 
 

fish were very active water temp was 80 degrees.  Only 2-3 ft visibility.  Last time I was there was end of March and I caught an almost 22 incher in 48 degree water.  I always do well there. Sleepy hollow is a differnt story. 
 

 

seems to me we are pretty much in a summer pattern down here in the southern 1/3 of the LP.  I’m interested  to see what’s up with crystal and platte up north 

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Mbirdsley said:

Just got done chased by rain after 3 hrs .  Was doing pretty good landed 1 keeper on a black blue flake Ocho t-riged.  Originally had it tied on my spinning reel and a big one busted me off in the pads. So I rigged it up on my mh Johnny morrris baitcaster combo( first fish on a that) Caught the other one on a wacky rigged  black trick worm. Lost 4-5 on that.  I was throwing the ocho into the pads and wacky worm outside of them or big pockets.  I need to remind my self to not to try and set the hook on a wacky rig, just start reeling 
 

fish were very active water temp was 80 degrees.  Only 2-3 ft visibility.  Last time I was there was end of March and I caught an almost 22 incher in 48 degree water.  I always do well there. Sleepy hollow is a differnt story. 
 

 

seems to me we are pretty much in a summer pattern down here souther 1/3 of the LP.  I’m intresting to see what’s up with crystal and platte up north 

80 degree water in Michigan? There are a lot of years the Tennessee river in Knoxville never reaches 80 

[Michigander]

5 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

80 degree water in Michigan? There are a lot of years the Tennessee river in Knoxville never reaches 80 

A small inland, darkwater lake like that paired with the heat we've had lately, sure. 

[TnRiver46]

Just now, Michigander said:

A small inland, darkwater lake like that paired with the heat we've had lately, sure. 

Crazy. I like my water 47-49! Haha

[Mbirdsley]

9 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

80 degree water in Michigan? There are a lot of years the Tennessee river in Knoxville never reaches 80 

It was straight bath water.  Actually I think my fish finder is a degree or two cooler than most on temp.  It’s not a very big lake.  I don’t have map on me at the moment but I think there are a couple 25 foot holes but, that’s about it 

[Michigander]

2 minutes ago, Mbirdsley said:

It was straight bath water.  Actually I think my fish finder is a degree or two cooler than most on temp.  It’s not a very big lake.  I don’t have map on me at the moment but I think there are a couple 25 foot holes but, that’s about it 

We're the lily pads grown in yet?