lecisnith

If that's in Traverse City, I've only ever caught largemouth and pike in Bass Lake. Never fished Arbutus.

"THE gas station in Hillman"...I've been there a few times...I was taking my dog out one night and took her out to the treeline which happened to coincide with where the floodlight ended. I looked up and thought I saw a deer walking down the road, which was also just outside the range of the light, only after a quick second I decided that it was walking and not bounding away, so it couldn't be a deer, then I noticed the long tail and decided it was a dog/coyote. It was the next day when I replayed it in my head and remembered that it didn't display any of the trademark trotting action of a dog, especially down a paved road. It was more of a cool stroll. That's when I decided, and am still convinced, it was a cougar. Which would be rare considering they were said to be extinct in Michigan since the turn of the century.

While I have never fished Skegemog in a kayak, I have considered it. Just make sure to wear a pfd because it does get a fair amount of boat traffic. I would shy away from Torch. It is basically an inland great lake.

Depending on the conditions, I wouldn't hesitate to fish Skegemog in a small boat. The lake isn't all that big, and a lot of it stays pretty calm, even when everything else is churning. Torch, on the other hand, would probably require a larger vessel. But fishing on Skegemog is usually a very rewarding time. Highly recommended.

As far as Torch is concerned I haven't had near the success that I would like or feel that I should have. As far as size is concerned, every bass I've ever caught or have ever seen caught out of that lake has been big, 3 pounds or more and seem to fight harder than usual, even for smallies. The problem is finding them. And I've never been able to find them in numbers. I have heard of people having very, very good days, though.

I fish Skegemog and Torch all the time. Skegemog is my go-to.

I think there are about 50,000 members here that could share the nickname "Fancy Pants", then.

Heading out for my first-ever post turkey day outing on Sunday. Supposed to have temps in the high 40s with "light, variable winds". Looks like a perfect storm to go out and get skunked! I think that I'm going to actually be targeting walleye and pike and just hope to run into a smallie or two. Last game of the year, can't hold anything back now.

Greetings from the TC area.

There's really nothing better than catching fish on consecutive casts. Really let's you know you're doing something right. Which, you seem to have a corner on the market when it comes to doing something right for smallies. Nice job, nice fish.

It didn't last long. I have a couple of points on this lake that you can often get a hit on a buzzbait or hollow-bodied frog even in late October and mid March. I figured I'd give it a shot.

Update: No topwater fish this morning. No jerkbait fish today. No spinnerbait fish today. No crankbait fish today. Nothing but four lousy tube fish...but I got a new PB. 4lbs 8oz.

I am headed out in T-minus 90 minutes. I am thinking it's going to be the last opportunity for the season since I'll be dealing with the holiday spectacular the next two months. 65 degrees, sunny, calm. Boy do I want me some topwater smallies this morning...

I think the only time I ever caught a fish on the first cast with a new lure was this summer when I built a modified buzzbait that has a toad trailer. I was tested how it ran in a spot that i knew it wasn't going to get bit, then the first time I decided to test it in a real fishing scenario I caught a good sized bass on the first cast. Second cast the toad lost a foot to a Northern Water Snake. At that point I decided I should probably get a patent...

GD right. Looking forward to some of that action.

I took that as "isn't JUST a smallmouth presentation".

As we Northerners know, things have definitely been a little hit-and-miss. Was out last Thursday and Saturday. Caught a few Thursday, including a couple on a crankbait, which has been very elusive for me in my fledgling bass career. This guy and a 3lb, 10oz largemouth that I didn't get much of a picture of are the first two bass I've got on crankbaits that weren't sub-legal. I also just missed, probably, a 15-20 pound salmon on a tube from a lake that's not really supposed to have salmon, which was the most exciting three minutes I've had fishing in quite a while. Then on Saturday, had a rough day. First five hours, not as much as a bite, except for a little pike my buddy got on a jerkbait. The last hour, I got 7 or 8 in the boat, all over 2 pounds, most over 3, including my "official" PB 4lbs 5oz. The last bleedy one is the 4 pounder. Hey, it made me happy, that's all that counts.

I have to agree with Blue. I have one. It is a very serviceable reel. But I got mine for about $30 on sale, and if you're willing to pay $80 for a reel, if you just do some shopping around you can ALWAYS find a deal for a much better reel at a deep discount.

Are you sure? Looks more like a grimace of displeasure to me. A frowny face of disgust at having to catch and hold such a large fish just so his camera can get it's precious picture. Stupid cameras, they're so needy.

We'll, at least you know when to make the switch and target what's biting. If what is biting is just going to steal your lunch money anyway. I should probably think about investing in some steel leader material.

Nice fish. How does that stack up to the PB last year? Btw, you don't look happy at all. You should really start enjoying yourself more.

It's the Coriolis effect. You're experiencing a phenomenon known as acute geomagnetic reversal that is contained within a 50 yard radius of your person. Quick, go check which way your toilet flushes your Scotch-vomit, clockwise or counterclockwise. If it's counterclockwise you have to reel backwards to get your crank to run straight.

I suppose that's true, and the very reason we have catfish noodlers.

Gotcha. You'll have to explain the practice of "stitching" big worms to me at some point. I'm still a novice at not catching fish. Scratch that. Just researched. Doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun.

Jambalaya...? Is that a new curse word you just made up? I always considered Jambalaya a good thing.