Fish the Mitt

My father was the reason I began fishing. However, it was more perch and panfish and never anything else. My love for Bass fishing is completely self-taught up until finding this site. From there, it blossomed into what it is today. Fishing, like any thing else, must be passed on and passed around as to not lose it in a generation or two. Peers are invaluable in learning as much as you can but going out yourself and being on the water, is second to none. The most important part of that though, is to pass this on to others. - which ia what makes this site so wonderful.

If you're going to fish deeper water, try to target structure of some sort (fishfinder?). What you've highlighted is just sloping depths and not indicative of anything outside of the depth changing. Now, if you go to navionics and really zoom in, I would look for shallow, thick cover near drop-offs. However, I've already done it for you and to be honest, there doesn't seem to be alot of emergent cover on this lake. (disclainer: unsure how old the google map is) If I were there; and I'm no pro or even an expert, I would start shallow early am and work my way deeper as the day progresses (moving back shallow toward nighttime). If you don't have a fishfinder to target structure, paddle and throw a 1.5/2.5 crank until you hit fish. There's not a whole lot for me to go on here. But again, I'm no pro. I don't read maps for a living either Perhaps others would have some input but to me, it's an open, coverless, lake. Now, if you were fishing nighttime, there is one spot I would most definitely hit. E/SE of the saddle in the center.

Bass will be shallow if there are reasons to be shallow. Look for the signs. If there is nothing indicating a huge shallow presence, feel free to focus deep. Like many have said, a lot of what anglers do is start shallow early and progress out as the day goes on. Conversely, as the day approaches evening, begin to make your way back in. However, for me, my gameplan would be dependent on how the lake looks now-a-days. So, with that in mind, I figured I'd help you along:

Because murder is illegal and it's cheaper than counseling.

Nice videos! I'm the opposite - haven't landed a smallie in a few weeks. I'm in predominantly LM territory though. If you want to do some good nighttime LM fishing, I'm going out this weekend. You're welcome to bring the kayak down!! Haha But seriously...

My opinion: hot days = find cooler water. This can be deeper, like you mentioned, or shallower water with good cover to shade. I've had great success fishing shallow cover during the past few hot hot days I've been out. I even won a friendly bachelor party tourney (10 ppl) and I was 1 of 2 in a kayak (the rest boats). Stayed close and worked the shallows. If the entire area is shallower, I will work it all. Pitch/punch and/or work any openings I have - dependant upon the type and thickness of cover. If any of the cover is relatively close to deeper water or a known channel, I'll work the snot out of that edge as well.

Never been to Kent but was just nearWixom this past weekend (fishing the Tittabawassee between Wixom and Smallwood). When it's this hot I focus on two areas during the day: deep or cover. I focused on cover since I was in the smaller part of the Tittabawassee. There's alot of it on that stretch - and I did well wacky rigging a senko in open areas of said cover or on the edge of cover. I won the bachelor party tourney we had (10 ppl) As for Wixom, I've always had luck near the bridge across from Strykers and by the East dam. Also, don't be scared to drop below the dam and fish. They got nice fish in there if you can cast it that far (due to the recent changes to that area, it's harder to fish the dam). Welcome to BR!

How's everyone been doing? I've taken a small hiatus from fishing to figure out a few life decisions (leave my job? Build a house? Etc..). It's been hot, that's for sure.

I appreciate the response. I do roll cast every now and again (mostly when trying to go under something [tree limb, dock,e tc..] but haven't tried it yet when working heavy cover. I will try it out and see if it offers me a better alternative than the high and short (while thumbing the spool).

Mid-summer Michigan (or anywhere for that matter) means heavy cover growth. There are some local bodies of water around me that have substantial pad growth in which I wanted to start pitching some stuff through. Now, I'm also newer to pitching through heavy pads but my question is more about the kayak aspect. 1. Kayaks, as everyone knows, are low to the water. When you're not in one that allows standing, the low profile restricts rod angles. It's proved hard to pitch jigs/punch rigs/etc.. from this low angle. Now, part of pitching is close proximity accuracy and more silent water entry (as opposed to the normal flop in the water). I can cast high and short and thumb the cast spool to provide me a close alternative but it's not the same. Is there a specific way any of you do this? 2. Because of the low profile to the water, the rod height/angle; relative to surface, is much different. When higher, the retrieve/twitch is more perpendicular to the surface. When lower, it's more parallel (causing more issues with stems/pads). Essentially, I'd just like some input. Whether you have a kayak or not, is there something I could try? Something you do? As always, I appreciate any and all responses!

I'm confused. You seem so sure but have nothing to base it on. At this point, can you tell us what body of water this is? Perhaps that might help clear things up.

I'm sorry, you lost me at "Go Blue"....

And mine wasn't implying that either. I have a feeling both you and Catt misunderstood what I was going for. Perhaps it was in my wording. Eitherway, my point was as a newer angler, I have not developed any absolutes (in regards to gear/equipment) as I 'personally' feel I've got much to learn before doing so. To me, absolutes derive from tried and true experiences. For example, Catt states he will have a TRig and J&C tied on 24x7. I believe that comes from Catt's tried and true experiences. I, being a newer angler, lack the experience to be remotely certain about anything. Therefore, I have no absolutes. I am learning daily. Now, and again, that is MY opinion and holds true only to me. I do not speak for or on behalf of anyone else and certainly meant no implications to such.

Absolutes imply a willful disregard to learn and grow as an angler. I have no absolutes. Every trip, every cast, every moment, is a learning experience. Now, I am not a seasoned angler so my unintended provocation is not meant to deter nor offend. In time, as I grow as an angler, perhaps I will develop absolutes - but for now, I'm a sponge. Get me wet!

Total guess. The vote options are too specific for everyone outside of those that keep exact track. 0-49 50-99 100-199 200-299 300-399 400-499 500-rockstar

Count me on the Google search tally. Anything fishing related in a Google search will have a BR thread - or at least that's how it seems. Once I read some of the articles and browsed the forum, I decided that I needed some of this in my life. After 2 months of trying to create an account, I finally had to reach out to Site Support - she created my account and I haven't looked back since.

As for why the DNR drained the first one, I couldn't tell you. If you're curious, call your local branch office and inquire. As for the second lake, I definitely wouldn't call that tiny. I mean, it's not huge but you'd be surprised what some small bodies of water hold. Give er' a shot!

Went out today for a couple hours before the grill out started. Went to Nestor Lake (Clare Co). It's a smaller body of water and 50% lilly pad. Tried a hb frog on top but wasn't getting any action so I switched to a t-rigged zoom worm in the pockets. It wasn't long before I rigged er' wacky with a senko and worked the lilly pad edge. That seemed to be the trick today. Caught a half-dozen so the day wasn't terrible. Nothing with size but again, it was a good 4th of July!!

The fact that a lot of bodies of water don't have substantial crawdad populations debunks that theory. However, in the end, I wouldn't worry about it. I was out a week ago and I got a half dozen strikes on my frog. It was a heavily padded body of water though so I expected a bit better day in the hot sun there than elsewhere. I'm not a huge top water guy though (I know I know) so I don't have a solid input on the matter.

Welp, I'm from 90mins south and I've never been so..... I think you're out of luck bud! :S

When? @A-Jay. Any recommendations?

Are you sticking to just GTB or just any water in the area?

Well, more like the 16th largest in the state Anyways, when will you be up there? I know of a certain individual that is from that area..... *cough* *cough*

Thermocline: a steep temperature gradient in a body of water such as a lake, marked by a layer above and below which the water is at different temperatures. A thermocline is the transition layer between warmer mixed water at the water's surface and cooler deep water below. Google