garelval2

Anybody got water temps for lakes in SW MI? My local pond was 48f a couple days ago, it's very shallow. Not sure if I can trust that reading for lakes aswell...

So, I see on the DNR's website they stocked a bunch of fish in a very small river/creek near my house. Will those trout migrate down river, or stay year round in that tiny river?

About 25 minutes south, Wayland. I hope to have more Michiganders writing on this forum, tips and tricks from northerners Not just southern input.

I have always been interested hooking into one of those awesome fish, but I have no idea what it's like. I live in Michigan, close-ish to the grand river that runs through Grand Rapids. Where do I try fishing for steelhead, or how far do they go upstream? What water temp triggers the run, when should I look for it? I've caught trout before, and understand they are skittish of heavy line. What kind of (Spinning) tackle does one use? What should I expect, Lots of anglers in a small area? Hours of casting without a fish? I Understand catching Muskie takes many, many hours if not days, is steelhead the same? And I forgot, I frequently roam around the Kalamazoo river, not sure if that has any good runs. Thanks for your time! garelval

I tried spinning the head around, and sticking it up front, but it pulled the boat sideways. I thought maybe it wasn't deep enough in the water, so I dropped it down, but that didn't help either. Any ideas?

I bought a 12ft aluminum V bottom boat, it's currently all I can afford. I've got a 40lb minn kota transom mount trolling motor. This past year I was able to get out alot more, but was struck with a very patience testing problem. The boat is incredibly difficult to control in any kind of breeze, I would guess it has something to do with its' weight. I weigh 150ish and with my hefty battery and trolling motor, there is about 225lbs in the back third of the boat. This 12ft-er has a middle bench along with a front, and a back bench. Needless to say, I am confined in a small space with all my equipment, because I must reach the motor to operate it with one hand. On the lake, I'm not real sure how much the bow is actually in the water. My usual fishing technique is trolling docks in the morning, but it is super hard without a foot pedal. If I got a foot pedal that would most likely increase my ability to troll and fish but would that solve the problem of wind too? So, I am looking for ANY tips you may have, whether it requires purchasing equipment, or making something. I am also looking to take out the middle bench when it warms up, it is quite a hindrance. This is a boat I pulled from the internet, I would take a picture of mine, but it is covered in snow. Tis is extremely similar to mine except for the back motor, as I previously stated I use a trolling motor. Interestingly enough, the front seat also cracked at the same spot, which I re-enforced. Thank you for your time!

So, I got a baitcaster from a neighbor and I would like to set it up with 30lb power pro braid. I have read about people using/not using a leader, some say it makes a difference, and some say it doesn't. Personally I don't want to deal with the leader, but, I thought I would get educated about the leaders used on braided line just in case. First off, would I just tie regular line directly to the braid, or do I use a tapered leader similar to a fly fishing leader? If I do use a leader what # should I use?

Thank you all! This has helped tremendously! I hope to catch alot more bass in the, very near, future!

I am rather in-experienced when it comes to bass fishing with soft plastics and jigs, and I have a few questions. 1. When it comes to colors, what colors should be in my tackle box as a must? Also, how do I choose which colors for what day/lake? 2. When fishing soft plastics and jigs how much movement should I use? 3. How do I pick a natural bait? Do colors have to do with this?