Chain O' Lakes Michigan

[erau618]

I'm heading up to Michigan for a week and staying on Elk Lake.  I was wondering if anyone from that area has any information on Elk lake and Torch Lake. 

I'm going to be targeting smallmouth since they aren't really around Southern Illinois, but I am open to anything that is biting.

Thanks

Eric

[Lund Explorer]

Have you got a GPS unit with lake maps?

[erau618]

No I do not.  That's on my list of things to purchase in the near future, if I get a new job.

[Lund Explorer]

Okay, that saves me typing a bunch of numbers!!  ;D

Torch Lake, Elk Lake, & Lake Skegomog make up the main part of the Chain of Lakes.  We used to fish this with the Michigan BASS Federation. 

Given the choice, I would concentrate on Skegemog.  Quite a bit smaller (2,700 acres) than either of the other two, and holds a combination of LM & SM Bass.  If I was there this month, I would start in the narrows between Skegemog & Elk lakes.  Nice saddle back and with any kind of westerly wind, you'll get quite a bit of current moving through there.  After that, I'd work the deep weedlines in 16'-18' range.

If you are going to stay on Torch Lake, it isn't that hard to fish.  While it is approx 18,770 acres in size, the average depth is something crazy like over 100'.  That pretty much leaves you to working the shoreline drops or weedbeds.  You may want to have a drift anchor if the wind kicks up out of the North or South.  Just keep covering water until you hit a fish or two and then slow down.

Lures?  Pop-R's in the morning, followed by crankbaits (shad or perch), then soft plastics.  My top choices for soft plastics include 3"-5" Kalins Grubs, Tubes, Yamamoto Grubs, and ribbon tail worms of course.  Top colors have always leaned towards light colors like Avacado, Sand, or Motor Oil.

Good Luck!

[erau618]

Thank you very much.  I have never really fished in Michigan before so this is all brand new to me.  We have rented a place on Elk lake right by Skegemog.  After looking at maps, that looks like the place to be with all of the timber and weeds.  I'll try and post pictures when I get back in town (August 1st). 

Again, thanks for the information.

Eric

[Lund Explorer]

Not a problem.

One last thing.  If you are going up via US-131, make sure to stop at Jack's Sport Shop in Kalkaska.  Great place to pick up info on what's currently going on there.  It's on the left hand side of the street at the north end of "downtown".

These are the guys that used to help the bait monkey keep me overstocked in Kalin's grubs.  They don't carry as many as they used to, but do have quite a few things stocked that work on those lakes.

Also, might want to consider getting a trout stamp if you decide to fish deep while you're there.  Elk & Torch have fairly good populations of Lake Trout, Steelhead, and Atlantics too.