Michigander Posted November 17, 2020 Posted November 17, 2020 Based on DNR data, there's a lake about 30-40 minutes from me with a few 7lb+ largies in it. I know the lake pretty well as it's on my regular local tournament circuit. My winter plan is to try and catch one of these big girls this winter from the kayak, at least until the ice over stops me. I have a few areas of the lake that are most likely to hold them in winter. Summer they could be anywhere but based on my mapping of the lake there's only a handful of areas that look like potentially food dense wintering spots so I can at least eliminate 98% of the water off the bat if my map analysis is correct. I'm going to pick up an 8" and 6" Little Creeper Trash Fish because those are allegedly soft enough plastic to still have action the very cold water. I just got in to swimbait fishing this year and did mostly hard baits with a mix of success. As the Trash Fish aren't the cheapest lure on the market, anyone have any color recommendations that have worked well in Michigan for this type of bait? Also, any proven winner swimbait recommendations for Michigan winter bass fishing? Quote
Super User J Francho Posted November 17, 2020 Super User Posted November 17, 2020 In fall, I target smallmouth. For large mouth, I pick spring, specifically prespawn/spawn period. Largemouth are fickle during cooling times. 2 Quote
Michigander Posted November 17, 2020 Author Posted November 17, 2020 Just now, J Francho said: In fall, I target smallmouth. For large mouth, I pick spring, specifically prespawn/spawn period. Largemouth are fickle during cooling times. Yes, I like smallmouth in the fall too but there aren't many really big ones near me as I'm in the middle of the state. I'm doing this as a December/January/February project. Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted November 17, 2020 Global Moderator Posted November 17, 2020 Which direction from you is this lake? Asking for a friend. ? 1 Quote
Michigander Posted November 17, 2020 Author Posted November 17, 2020 44 minutes ago, 12poundbass said: Which direction from you is this lake? Asking for a friend. ? West. It's Jordan Lake in Lake Odessa. There's probably two in there so I can share. ? Looks like a straight shot down 66 for you! 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted November 17, 2020 Super User Posted November 17, 2020 Following A-Jay 1 Quote
Michigander Posted November 17, 2020 Author Posted November 17, 2020 3 minutes ago, A-Jay said: Following A-Jay No tips? Or just none you're willing to share? ? Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted November 17, 2020 Super User Posted November 17, 2020 2 minutes ago, Michigander said: No tips? Or just none you're willing to share? ? I have caught a Green bass close to that size in northern MI. It was 10 years ago and is still my MI PB Green Bass. The pic didn't make it through the many BR server up grades, the thread remains intact. That catch was in May not December/January/February. We are well into hard water up here by then. So sorry, but no first hand experience to share here from this guy. A couple of other deals though. First, I'll be very interested in the results of your expectation that you've already eliminated 98% of the water. And second, while fishing from a kayak, please consider wearing gear designed to safely swim in near freezing water temps. If you go into it-- you'll be glad you did. Stay Safe A-Jay 3 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted November 17, 2020 Super User Posted November 17, 2020 32 minutes ago, Michigander said: No tips? Or just none you're willing to share? ? I have responded here but for whatever reason my reply needs to be approved by a moderator. Guess that's what happens when I add GPS coordinates So we wait A-Jay 2 Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted November 17, 2020 Global Moderator Posted November 17, 2020 1 hour ago, Michigander said: West. It's Jordan Lake in Lake Odessa. There's probably two in there so I can share. ? Looks like a straight shot down 66 for you! Sure is! 1 Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted November 17, 2020 Super User Posted November 17, 2020 9 minutes ago, A-Jay said: I have responded here but for whatever reason my reply needs to be approved by a moderator. Guess that's what happens when I add GPS coordinates So we wait A-Jay DONE 1 Quote
Michigander Posted November 17, 2020 Author Posted November 17, 2020 57 minutes ago, A-Jay said: I have caught a Green bass close to that size in northern MI. It was 10 years ago and is still my MI PB Green Bass. The pic didn't make it through the many BR server up grades, the thread remains intact. That catch was in May not December/January/February. We are well into hard water up here by then. So sorry, but no first hand experience to share here from this guy. A couple of other deals though. First, I'll be very interested in the results of your expectation that you've already eliminated 98% of the water. And second, while fishing from a kayak, please consider wearing gear designed to safely swim in near freezing water temps. If you go into it-- you'll be glad you did. Stay Safe A-Jay That's a shame that the picture didn't survive but the story was great to read nonetheless! I was able to be on the lake until mid-January last year before the ice kicked me out, and they are calling for a fairly mild winter this year too so hopefully I will still have a similar timeline. I have mapped the whole lake with the Garmin in my Triton and have a ton of hours on this lake in warmer weather so I'm pretty familiar with it. My expectation that I've eliminated water is based on the research I've done about winter transitions and large bass behavior. So we'll see if I'm totally off base or not. Safety is very important to me. My kayak is very stable, I have a safety plan to mitigate risk, and appropriate gear. I've got some cold water experience/training under my belt so I'm very cognizant of how powerful cold water is. 1 Quote
oysterk Posted November 20, 2020 Posted November 20, 2020 Good luck! What sort of areas in the lake are you targeting specifically? Just curious Quote
Michigander Posted November 20, 2020 Author Posted November 20, 2020 40 minutes ago, oysterk said: Good luck! What sort of areas in the lake are you targeting specifically? Just curious Thanks! My first two areas are on opposites side of the lake, thankfully I can launch at a park or the actual boat launch to get close to the one I'll focus on for the day. This lake has kind of U shaped points that go from 2 ft to 30-50ft. One spot is a U out and the other is a U in, if that makes sense. I'm going to devote a day to each spot initially and just try to cover it at every depth and from every direction. I'm going to work ambush points like timber and docks (if there are any left) until the sun gets high and then I will work shallow to deep, hoping to find the bass trying to silhouette food against the bright surface. In the warm times, I observe the most diversity of species and the highest abundance of bait at these two locations which are both significant lake features. The bigger fish of the tournaments we fish there also often come off of one of these two areas. If those don't pan out, there's a ragged drop off situation with some localized rocky areas at the base (only rocks I know of in the lake). So while less diversity and bait, there are better lake bottom features. If nothing pans out, I will probably repeat the cycle again. If that fails after six trips, it's back to the drawing board because I clearly need to reevaluate myself. Ideally, I will have gained some insight after almost 40hrs in three places. 1 Quote
Michigander Posted November 22, 2020 Author Posted November 22, 2020 Day 1 Launch time 8:30ish 34 degree air temp per truck Water temp unknown (forgot thermometer) Wind 1-3mph per Google Spent about seven hours paddling and casting. There were some playful Smallies jumping occasionally, but other than a seagull and a swan I didn't see any life. This lake had two chemical weed kills over the summer and the side I started in was just a blank sandy bottom with occasional strands of scrub weed. I'm good with abandoning that whole side of the lake. Will start next time on the other end that still had some vegetation last time I was there. While no fish, it was a beautiful day to be on the water! Also found out when I got there that my tape measure and digital scale are missing, so I would have been a sad panda if I actually landed my quarry. 2 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted November 26, 2020 Super User Posted November 26, 2020 On 11/17/2020 at 2:35 PM, Michigander said: That's a shame that the picture didn't survive but the story was great to read nonetheless! Ok first off I have to apologize for being a knucklehead. Secondly, my CRS has advance quite a bit more than I thought. Totally forgot I have the Master Angler Award with The Only (non-digital) Pic I have of her hanging in the tackle room. Not the best pic; tried to 'clean it up' a bit. Taking a pic of a pic doesn't leave much to work with. Either way . . . Finally I may not have been 'totally accurate' as to where this fish was actually caught. Lake Menderchuck isn't on any of the DNR maps so . . . A-Jay 2 1 Quote
Michigander Posted November 26, 2020 Author Posted November 26, 2020 7 minutes ago, A-Jay said: Ok first off I have to apologize for being a knucklehead. Secondly, my CRS has advance quite a bit more than I I thought. Totally forgot I have the Master Angler Award with The Only (non-digital) Pic I have of her hanging in the tackle room. Not the best pic; tried to 'clean it up' a bit. Taking a pic of a pic doesn't leave much to work with. Either way . . . Finally I may not have been 'totally accurate' as to where this fish was actually caught. Lake Menderchuck isn't on any of the DNR maps so . . . A-Jay That's fantastic!! Thanks for sharing! My second trip for this project is tomorrow, so hopefully I can get a great picture as well! 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted November 26, 2020 Super User Posted November 26, 2020 1 minute ago, Michigander said: That's fantastic!! Thanks for sharing! My second trip for this project is tomorrow, so hopefully I can get a great picture as well! Thanks and Good Luck. We have clouds & high temps in the mid 30's tomorrow. Hope you have it little better. A-Jay Quote
Michigander Posted November 26, 2020 Author Posted November 26, 2020 Just now, A-Jay said: Thanks and Good Luck. We have clouds & high temps in the mid 30's tomorrow. Hope you have it little better. A-Jay Thanks! Forecast is showing mid 40s, I'll take it! 1 Quote
Super User MassYak85 Posted November 28, 2020 Super User Posted November 28, 2020 On 11/26/2020 at 12:12 PM, A-Jay said: Ok first off I have to apologize for being a knucklehead. Secondly, my CRS has advance quite a bit more than I I thought. Totally forgot I have the Master Angler Award with The Only (non-digital) Pic I have of her hanging in the tackle room. Not the best pic; tried to 'clean it up' a bit. Taking a pic of a pic doesn't leave much to work with. Either way . . . Finally I may not have been 'totally accurate' as to where this fish was actually caught. Lake Menderchuck isn't on any of the DNR maps so . . . A-Jay How big do Largies have to be for the program? In MA it's 21", 20" for Smallies. Quote
Michigander Posted November 28, 2020 Author Posted November 28, 2020 Just now, MassYak85 said: How big do Largies have to be for the program? In MA it's 21", 20" for Smallies. I don't believe there's a minimum as long as it's a keeper in Michigan. They seem to just take the biggest ones entered for the year. Quote
Super User MassYak85 Posted November 28, 2020 Super User Posted November 28, 2020 15 minutes ago, Michigander said: I don't believe there's a minimum as long as it's a keeper in Michigan. They seem to just take the biggest ones entered for the year. Oh gotcha. For MA they'll give you a pin if it meets the minimum length criteria for the species (again, 21" for Largemouth) and then at the end of the year if your fish was the biggest submitted that year for the species you get a gold pin. Whoever submits the most eligible species in the year gets an angler of the year award and they have a ceremony for them and all the gold pin winners. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted November 28, 2020 Super User Posted November 28, 2020 25 minutes ago, Michigander said: I don't believe there's a minimum as long as it's a keeper in Michigan. They seem to just take the biggest ones entered for the year. There is a C & R category in MI where there is a minimum length. A-Jay Quote
Michigander Posted November 28, 2020 Author Posted November 28, 2020 9 minutes ago, A-Jay said: There is a C & R category in MI where there is a minimum length. A-Jay I stand corrected, just looked it up. LMB min is 22" SMB min is 21" 2 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted November 28, 2020 Super User Posted November 28, 2020 16 minutes ago, Michigander said: I stand corrected, just looked it up. LMB min is 22" SMB min is 21" Only thing left to do now Is smash a 24 inch green bass ! A-Jay 1 Quote
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