8pt172

We fished last Mon and Tues and water was 57-59 degrees near TC. We saw a few beds and caught a couple with the start of tail wear. So a few Big Girls spawned around the New Moon. The rest will definitely be spawning on all the lakes except on the GT Big Bays next week around the Full Moon(May 29) . I imagine with the warm weather forecasted this week, there could be some spawning on the Big Bays if there isnt a huge South wind that blows all the warming water out of the bays. I will be there Monday to see what the 2 GTB's have to offer. Good LUCK!!!

Spent today on a lake near TC and my buddy caught his PB SMB 5.3 lbs. He actually did it twice with a 5.0 twenty minutes earlier. We caught 30 SMB and 1 nice Walleye. Started out throwing swim bait, then mixed in the tubes, and the 2 biggest came on a twin tail Yamamoto. The big gals are getting really close to spawning. I think by this weekend they will be done. Water temps 56-57.5

I was finally able to get lawn cut between the rains and now I have a couple days Mon, Tues and possibly Wed to spend on the water in the TC area. Looking to hit 3 or 4 lakes depending on what we find on Monday. Hope everyone is able to spend this BLESSED Mother's Day with their Mom (if she is still with us). My Mom turned 78 on Thursday!!!

From the looks of the color of the water and the back ground, were you able to identify the lake that Z caught the 7.3lb? I asked you about this lake in a message earlier.... I believe it is the same body of water that Kim Stricker did well on a spinner bait last fall on Hook and Look

Love all the different options.... My go to has been the 3.8 swimbait in sungill. I can drag it across the bottom to mimic a gobie or slow roll it over sand grass, or count it down and fish the pelagic summer bass, suspended fish. My back up is the obvious tube in various shades of green and browns, depending on the color of the water. In Green bay the darker shades, especially brown with some orange, worked best, but in the gin color water of TC area, the lighter shades of green were the hot colors, as A-Jay described above.

If you could only use 1 artificial lure for SMB all year, what would it be, what color, and what different techniques?

SMB will never overtake the LMB in the majority of waters in the US. The reason for the SMB explosion here in MI and near by States is directly related to the invasive gobie and zebra mussel. SMB are site feeders and the clear water has allowed them to feed more efficiently. Add the protein rich gobie and even the invasive crawfish in some waters, they are growing faster and much larger. Just look at the recent State of MI records for SMB. Both bass have their niche environments, unfortunately the SMB niche is much smaller. SMB are also less adaptive when water goes from clear to very stained. Not the LMB, they can be found in all conditions. LMB are not effected by poor water quality as is the SMB. SMB are like the trout species, canary in the coal mine, but not to that extent. As water quality drops so does the Smallmouth. For the record I much prefer to catch SMB over their green cousin. But as a Biologist, the Largemouth bass is like the rock bass, they are everywhere....

I agree, I have the 73sv and the 93sv up front. Great GPS, very easy to learn, and best overall unit for $600

I agree SMB are better fighters on the line. That is because they have much wider thicker tails. They are built to swim in Current and must be fast swimmers to chase down their prey. LMB are more ambush feeders. LMB are much more adaptable and are not as sensitive to environmental factors. SMB are more of a niche species where the LMB has a much wider range and more adaptive. Just like the Whitetail deer versus the Mule deer. They are much more adaptable and can thrive in a wider range of environments. Thus more a dominant species.

Fish Biologists would tell you that any single fish can be aggressive. However as a species LMB are more aggressive and dominate the other Bass species.

LMB are more aggressive and dominant. Like the Whitetail deer is to the Mule deer.

I agree, if you have room in your boat and it's easy to rewire for a 36 volt system, I would go with the beast 36v. Just like in outbound, always go with maximum.

Just west of you in Rockford. 13 mile rd

I had the Motorguide 24v and recently upgraded to the Ultrex on my G3 deep v. I stayed with the 24v because of battery room and the boat was wired for 2 batteries. Last year I fished all day and never ran out of power on big water with lots of wind. As we know the new digital motors draw very little compared to the old motors. If I had a larger fiberglass boat I would definitely go with the 112. But the 80# is more than enough for an aluminum boat.

Thanks,

I am relatively new to this forum and am not sure how to reference old topics. So my question is: I just picked up a Garmin echomap chirp 93sv and it came with the CV52hw transducer. Is there any significant difference in the picture compared to the GT52 which has a 3rd element for down view? Are the side views the same? I fish in freshwater less than 40 feet.... thanks

I do well with the Hot Pink x rap

Here in West Michigan, we just got 2 more inches of snow last night. Last year we were 80. The key to getting the water to warm up quickly is for the nights to stay warmer. It can get up to 60-70 degrees but if the nights drop back in the 30's, then it kills the temps. A few warm rains will definitely help, but we need to get rid of the snow and cold run off asap. I anticipate a spawn at least 2 weeks later than last year. Many lakes in the UP still have ice fishing going on.... all the snow in WI will definitely prevent a quick warm up. I was planning to fish Sturgeon Bay in mid May, but now looking at end of May

The water temperature will be your deciding factor.... With this super cold and late spring the fish could still be in prespawn. There are a few lakes in the area that warm up much quicker and maybe easier to fish if the winds kick up. I have done well this time of the year with sungill colored Keitech swim baits. Kalin grubs in green with some orange or yellow markings. If the wind kicks up a little, a Ayu jerkbait can be the ticket. Tubes are also a great bait once the fish start locating and locking on to the beds. If you find a GIANT on a bed, chartreuse salamanders will definitely get bit hard. I would not hesitate to drag walleye sucker minnows around behind the boat, you never know what will take hold. Feel free to PM me a few days before you leave and I can let you know what I have been seeing. I try and get up there a few times during the Spring shallow bite.

I have tried many different colors for smallmouth, and hands down the best I have found is the sungill. I think the color best matches the yellow perch and small walleye that these Springtime SMB love to eat. Crayfish are still dormant and Bluegill are still out deep.

I have used this grub before Gary Y bought out Triple S. My favorite color is 297 and I will put a little orange or Chartreuse when the water has color or the crayfish are in their molting colors. We killed the SMB and Walleye last summer on Mille Lacs. It was about 50-50 with the tube. But they definitely caught several more walleye. What is your favorite color?

If you are going after Memorial Day, I would skip Sturgeon Bay. The Big Females will be done spawning and out in deeper water recovering from the Spawn. It is a real late Spring in MN so Mille Lacs will be a late spawn. They still have 20+ " of ice. The best time to fish Sturgeon bay is before the big tournament out there in late May. I was there in late August 17 and we caught a lot of nice SMB and a ton of Walleye on tubes, swimbaits and top water. The biggest was 6.6lb. We also caught several nice pike and missed a couple Giant Muskies. I think I read you decided on TC area. You can always run to Little Bay deNoc in the Upper Penn if you want to try something different. The bass should be in Pre-spawn and easy to find. If you go to Mille Lacs, give John a call at Rocky Reef Resort, he will put you on the bite.

I fish the TC area a dozen times a year. I camp often at the State Park which is directly across the street from southern end of the East Bay and the popular sand flats. (There are numerous hotels, so you should be able to find something). This area gets pounded on the weekends. As some have said, the wind is the key. Sunny and a very light breeze is the best. The sunshine really gets the SMB fired up. A a light ripple will break up your boat and movement. If the bass have not yet moved up on the flats, look for edges to fish. There are many visible spots when looking at the aerial on google maps. I have the best luck ,when fish are looking to spawn, with tubes, super flukes, and salamanders. They will clobber the salamander when on the beds. If the water is still in the low 50's the jerk bait can produce amazing days. Try a natural color and the other person go with the Hot Head or Clown in size #10 X Rap. The bright colors can be dynamite, so don't be shy. The Linder boys love the bright colors. If the wind comes up there are many good lakes to fish, Duck, Green, Long, to the South and all the smaller chain of Lakes to the NE. If the weather is cloudy and rainy, hit one of the smaller lakes for Largemouth. The SMB seem to get lock jaw when the weather turns lousy. You need to make long casts away from the boat. The water is Gin Clear and the fish can see forever. So approach your spots carefully. PM me when you are getting ready to head north, I can let you know what the fish are doing. I plan to fish that area as soon as the lakes in the area hit high 40's for the swimbait and metal bait bite.

Thanks, how is the fishing on St Clair been? Are they on the beds yet? I talked to a guy who fishes primarily Walleye and he said the Smallies are just moving up on the flats this past week on the inland lakes in the TC area. Unfortunately, he didn't care to share any specifics. It has been a really cold spring up there, so I may try and hit Walloon or Charlie....

I only have 1 day to fish this weekend and it is Sunday. I am going to be in the Traverse City area. What lake would you recommend to fish for Smallies this time of year? I know the Bays are really cold yet in the 40's. Thanks... and good luck to all who get out this weekend!!