MI Opener is getting close!!! 2024

logger reply :

Hey fellas I am just out of my mind waiting for the opener. Its been such a long, cold, awful winter here in Northern MI. Many of our lakes still have ice. Where are you guys planning on going for the opener? My wife and I will be on Sage Lake in Ogemaw County.

10 days and counting...

paragon reply :

I can't wait. I think I may have worn out my welcome in my own house. Time to get out. I think I will stay colse to home ( Oakland Co. )

for awhile, but I venture up your way a couple times a year.

hey logger good luck.

Ballistik reply :

I am going crappie fishing tomorrow ( wink wink ) all catch and release of course but I have to get out. Cabin fever just about killed me this year.

Paragon where at in OC ? I am in OC also milford area.

paragon reply :

ballistick

I live in troy. I fish alot of the state parks in northern OC, we do real well from float tubes fishing the places most won't or can't go.

I must confess I've been crappie fishing (wink) myself.

A-Jay reply :

logger

I'm up in Otsego County - The lakes are just starting to open up this week. To say I'm ready - would be accurate ~

A-Jay

Ballistik reply :

Well Water temps where from 52 at about 10 am and upto 56.5 by 2. We did not catch any Crappie ( oh Darn ) they just wouldny hit on 1/2 oz spinners and spooks ;D. But the bass went crazy. Michbass cought a 4 lber and I cough 2 3-lbers and about 4 1-2 lbers and 4 pike. I honestly couldnt belive the bass they where agressive, even going after spooks. So I guess we have to call today a bust since we didnt get any crappie.

Cant wait to try and go out again tomorrow and try to catch crappie again.

A-Jay reply :

Ballistik

Man - sounds lik a really tough day - I've heard those Crappie can be quite elusive this time of year - well, keep at it - your luck is bound to change sooner or later . . .

A-Jay

logger reply :

Hey Ballistick those crappie can be real challenging, don't get frustrated by catching those bass

I saw open water on Lake Margrethe today in Grayling on the way to work. NO ICE! I am getting my boat around this weekend and I may be "crappie" fishing by next Wednesday. I have a buddy from Novi who will be in town.

A-Jay where in Otsego are you fishing? I live in Oscoda County and work in Antrim.

Paragon where do you head to when you come north?

A-Jay reply :

Hey logger

I'm in Gaylord - 2 minutes from the Lake . . .

I'm headed out right now to check the "Ice Status".

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Over the winter I picked up an Old Town Predator Canoe (square back) and hung a minn kota on the stern.

I am just dying to launch it and wet a line . . . .

A-Jay

A-Jay reply :

YES ! ! ! After an extended cruise through the area, several lakes are completely melted off - and I am "going Fishing". . . . .

I would expect some company out there tomorrow, but who could blame us ! ! ! ! 8-)

So For now - I'm a Crappie fisherman too !

A-Jay

pieman123 reply :

I'll be going somewhere around Washtenaw county.

paragon reply :

Paragon where do you head to when you come north?

bhorlings reply :

Just went "Crappie" fishing on Muskegon Lake. The only thing that bit was two 3.5 lb smallies and four 2+ lb Largemouth oh yeah... a few rockos too.

I was so disappointed!

A-Jay reply :

What would we Do - if it weren't for them Crappie ?

So starting this Saturday - will we still be fishing for the elusive Crappie ?

A-Jay

bassdocktor reply :

I was driving around in Allegan and Van Buren county today and noticed alot of people that seemed to be out "crappie" Alot of people seem to have been out lately.

Ballistik reply :

Quote
What would we Do - if it weren't for them Crappie ?
So starting this Saturday - will we still be fishing for the elusive Crappie ?

A-Jay

Pike opoens next saturday and catch and release for bass also opens.

logger reply :

Quote

I like to fish Wakely lake, when its open. I know that there is a restricted season on the lake. But it is alot of fun.

No kidding? I tried Wakely last year for the first time and had a riot. I ended up making sereavl trips there after that. Too bad we can't fish it until Jun 15. Do you take a canoe or kayak? I wheel a old jon boat on a makeshift cart down there.

I have had a setback. > I checked my aluminum boat for leaks and the entire center seam is seeping. The boat is 40 years old so I am sure things have dried out. I'll be using the trusty RTV caulk and I'll retest tomorrow. If this doesn't work I may need some suggestions.

paragon reply :

Logger

We fish from float tubes. That lake is great. We used to camp right there by the lake, I have caught bluegill there on tube jigs the size of dinner plates.

To bad about your boat, can you fix something like that.

bhorlings reply :

Went crappie fishing again last night. Couldn't keep the bass off my wacky worm. They kept hitting it before the crappie could. Happened 9 times!

MALTESE FALCON reply :

Hey Greg,

You know where I'll be. There's a spot for you and your dad if you can get down here.

Rick

Ballistik reply :

Hey you dam Malt you heading out to St Clair this weeknd also ?

MALTESE FALCON reply :

No, this weekend will be taken up with family things. I will be uncovering the boat in between all my chasing. I should be ready for next weekend though. I have the batteries charging as we speak.

Falcon

paragon reply :

Well I got out yesterday and didn't catch one crappie. But we did catch a few of those bass we were talking about.

pieman123 reply :

I went out for about an hour and didn't get a bite :'(

A-Jay reply :

It was Blowing a Gale here this weekend so I chose to work on the "honey-do" list instead of trying to deal with that wind - it was crazy ! But I'm planning on a couple of mid-week sessions next week . A quick check of the water temps at a few local spots looked Real promising . . I got a "Huddlebug" order I'm really hoping to feed to any and all willing participants !

A-Jay

grimlin reply :

I got out saturday.Managed to catch a baby smallmouth.

The wind was brutal. It showed me how much i still suck at baitcasting.

paragon reply :

I fished the wind on sat. from a float tube on a small lake, if you can beleive it. I was suprised to see taht I had no problem with my RevoS

not one over run or backlash. I dont think I can give KVDs line conditioner all the credit. 8-)

logger reply :

Well I haven't made it on the water yet. But the boat is now leak free. There were terrible conditions up here anyway. 20-30mph winds and sub 40* cold.

Rick,my dad and I will definitely be giving you a call we had a blast last year.

Did anyone have a good opening weekend? Any pics?

detroit1 reply :

Hey guys- good to get fishing again. Went out sat. (windy), 9lm,2sm,8rb, and 2 of those crappie. Not much size, but ul & 4# line helps. I was surprised at the water temps. being pretty high for this time of year. I used to vacation on Otsego lk, like to fish Margrethe, Houghton, and Clam lk. when i can. I normally fish southern Oakland co. Personal bests to us all.....

logger reply :

Detroit 1 I would love to pick your brain on Margrethe. Its one of the lakes I plan on trying this year considering I drive by it everyday on my way to/from work.

A-Jay reply :

I'll be on Otsego Lk This afternoon - and perhaps Wednesday morning as well - hope to see a few smb up shallow . . . . .

A-Jay

A-Jay reply :

Fairly stiff breeze and water temp between 46-49. Managed 1 dink smb on a jerk bait at noon today. Found 3 pairs of smb on beds. I was worried it was happening too fast - well that's just not the case in this area - still plenty of time - I'll be out every few days -

A-Jay

logger reply :

4/30/08 1st trip of the season.

Location: Mio Pond (Backwaters of the AuSable river)

Time: 5:30-8:30 pm

Water Temp: 49-51

I started the day fishing the cove all (under 5 feet deep) where the ramp is. This has been a great spot for me over the years and it was no different yesterday. I started by trying out my new MH Bionic blade rod with a suspending X-rap in black and silver. On literally my fifth cast under an overhanging tree the rod loaded up. It wasn't a monster hit but when the smallie realized she was hooked she took off and gave a great fight. Brought her to the boat and put her to the scale... 3lbs even! Man I thought she was going to be closer to 4lbs she looked like a little football. (I have a pic on my phone I'll post it tonight)

Not 15 casts later wham! I set the hook and brought nothing back but my line. I am assuming a pike robbed my x-rap. So I tie on a different xrap, and cast for another 30 minutes or so with no action then bam, another pike smacked it and ran off with my second x rap of the night. I honestly haven't lost 2 lures on that 10 lb line in the 2 years I have been using it (I just spooled the new line on 2 days ago talk about frustrating!) Anyway so now its 6:30 and I am out of hard jerk baits. So I started throwing a fluke which I have never ever had any luck with. I think being out of other options made me really give it some time and I got pretty comfortable with it over the next hour or so. By the time it was all said and done I boated 3 more hammer handle pike, but no more smallies. Didn't see any beds, but I didn't push too far up the creek that dumps into the cove either. My guess is the action is only going to pick up from here. The boat was bone dry and the old 68 Johnson fired up on the 3rd pull and purred like a kitten. Really felt good to be on the water again.

paragon reply :

Logger its always nice to catch fish first time out.

I was just talking to someone about making our way up to Wakely this summer. Do you plan on fishing there at all.

paragon

ps dry boats are great.

pieman123 reply :

I'm planning on fishing the Huron River Saturday. Has anyone else ever fished it?

A-Jay reply :

So are we gonna have mini-hurricanes every weekend or WHAT ? ? ? >

A-Jay

pieman123 reply :

I went out today on the Huron River for about an hour and a half. I got skunked The wind didn't help.

paragon reply :

Quote
So are we gonna have mini-hurricanes every weekend or WHAT ? ? ? >
A-Jay

A-jay I'm starting to it's never going to stop blowing. Maybe Sunday will be a little less crazy. At least its kind of warm.

Ballistik reply :

I made it out today for about 45 mins before the cold air moved in and was getting little one in the canals befoe I cought a 4 pounder about 2 feet from shore on wacky worm. Then it just startined to get to cold for shorts and a wind breaker. But atleast I broke the 4 pound mark now I have to set my sites on 6 pounds.

I was fortunite enough to have my appendix removed april 11th and was forced to take 2 weeks off ( OHHH DARN ) I was out fishing from the fallowing wednesday until I had to go back on the 28th. The weather was great but the wind was rediculus. I have not been able to go out nd actually be able to work a specific spot with out really working the TM. Oh well its better than the hard water under 12 inches of that white fluffy $hit called snow.

Good Luck guys.

A-Jay reply :

paragon - Thanks for sharing in my misery -

I have not yet been able to fish the way I want and need to actually say I gave it a good effort. . . . . . I'm always Blow'in all over the place !

Today (Sunday) looks a little better - I might get out for a bit this afternoon - -

For a change in scenery, I have an uncle who is a Flyfishing guide (for like 50 years) on the Au Sable and Manistee rivers - I might have to go over to the dark side next week

Stay Safe

A-Jay

paragon reply :

A-Jay

Fly fishing is OK as long as you don't wear a silly hat of some kind.

You know what I mean.

Good luck.

A-Jay reply :

Good one !

I thought a silly hat was Required . . . .

A-Jay

paragon reply :

The hats are actually good, it lets us know what kind of a person we are dealing without getting to close.

A-Jay reply :

OK ~ I get it . . . . So it's like a Secret Code . . . .

I'm not a very good flycaster so in the interest of safety and self-preservation I was thinking about the one pictured below -

btw - that's not me

A-Jay

paragon reply :

That should keep the hooks out of the back of your head.

A-Jay reply :

Yes Sir - that's the Idea -

logger reply :

Quote
Logger its always nice to catch fish first time out.
I was just talking to someone about making our way up to Wakely this summer. Do you plan on fishing there at all.

paragon

ps dry boats are great.

I plan to be on Wakely as much as the wife lets me. If you want to try to meet up let me know.

logger reply :

Took my mom and dad fishing this weekend, the wind was horrible. Water temp was up to 52*. We did manage to boat 5 pike and my mom even caught one, so that was awesome. NO bass. Really nice to get to spend some time with the folks since I don't see them that often anymore.

littlefisher reply :

My family has a seasonal lot on Alcona Dam Pond and last weekend was the first weekend we cut move the trailer to the lot. We put the dock in on Saturday and didn't even bother battling the gale force winds that were up there (almost tipped the trailer and ripped a few awnings off). Sunday was better, although a little colder. I got 4, 2 Largemouth and 2 Smallmouth, in about 3 hours. My dad caught 1 smallmouth. They were all average size. One of the smallies was full of eggs just off of a spawning flat so they are definitely on the move. On largemouth was caught right around the same area, she was full also. Water temps ranged from 56 to 59. It was just good to feel a bite and set the hook again. Going out early tomorrow to Sanford Lake to start prefishing for tournaments starting at the end of this month.

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MI Opener is getting close!!! 2024

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