waterfoul

You are all way to nice!! Throw is no-fish catching butt in the lake and tell him you'll pick him out when he agrees to try other areas. No really now... if you are equal partners in the entry fee... you should have the right to fish the whole lake, not just the outer 20 feet of it! Sounds like this guy needs to grow as a fisherman. If that fails, try my first suggestion. ;D

I find topo maps fairly usless for fishng.... I think what Mac is looking for is aerial photographs. If you were in Michigan I could help you out with this site: http://www.aerialgraphics.com/lakelist.htm

I catch a LOT of fish on Senko's and the K&E pre-rigged worms in the ponds around my area. Especially like the black with white stripe or the Orange K&E's. Senko's normally the 5" in a color that matches the water/bottom of the pond. The K&E's can be killers when retrieved slowly... catch the occasional hand sized blue-gill on them too...

I agree on the "anything crawfish" looking. I've caught many 4 lb plus smallies on crawfish crank baits...

Water is still cold up here in Michigan (heck some northern lakes still have ice!!). But locally all the lakes are open... and there are a couple with early bass seasons on them. Thinking of heading to one this weekend... what are good cold water bass baits?? What is the best technique for fishing them? I understand that cold water makes fish slower to react... so slower is usually better. I don't often fish this early... I usually wait till about Mem. Day but I have the itch to fish!!! Mike

Jump in with your landing net and start chasing them! ;D Just kidding.... keep trying baits I guess. Senko's??? Seem to attract even the most stuborn fish.

Yeah, be stealthy. I normally fish pond banks standing 5 feet or more from the waterline. I grew up fishing ponds and creeks... and even now I can still sneak up on a fish or 3!! Lot's of fun. ;D I also find that small spinnerbaits like spinning grubs and such work well in ponds. But like others said, natural colored plastics ( I especially like black with white stripe K&E Bass stoppers) and green or cinnamon colored Yamasenko's. Senko's are my all time favorite baits. Mike I also have an old aluminum boat that needs a little work. Transom wood is rotten and needs to be replaced. Can be had with a merc. 9.9 hp outboard and oars if you are interested. Make me an offer!! Even comes with a trailer.

I too have caught some good smallies out of Lake Champlaine... mostly the northern end of it near St. Albans as I have family living there (cheap vacations!!). In Michigan, the Muskegon River and Muskegon Lake are good, and some of the northern lakes can produce. I fish Glen Lake in Lelanau county regularly (parent's have a cottage there) and have on occasion caught smallies on the order of 5 lbs. I normally boat at least one per trip in the 20" 5 lb category. And man do they JUMP!!! Hit like a load of bricks and try to rip you out of the boat. FUN!! I get these mostly trolling rattle traps in the chartruse or crawfish colors.