I found open water here in Genesee county. Caught five Wednesday and three on Saturday. All from shore or fishing pier. Getting ready to try one more time today. Snow coming tomorrow and Wednesday.

Did any of you catch the Z-train last night with Brent Ehler? Holy cow what a show! 

 

It definitely wasn't in norther Michigan like they said...there isn't any good smallmouth fishing in Michigan. ??

Yea - I did see that.   

You know I like to catch a fat brown bass now & then, so I enjoyed that one quite a bit.

And I REALLY APPRECIATE that there was no mention of where they where at.

Besides having world class smallie fishing, it's also quite beneficial that once on the water, most all the lakes up here look pretty much the same.

Did someone say 'paint a tube ?'

A-Jay

I guess he's caught some flack in the past about mentioning where he was. So he keeps quiet now. 

 

Painting a tube....that left me scratching my head. As you know I haven't chased after the brown ones for very long, so maybe you can answer,  does the subtle orange paint really make that much difference to the fish or is it more of a confidence thing? 

I really got a kick out of the left handed throw. I rewound it 3 times and laughed hard all 3 times! ?

I'll have to check that out.  I missed it.

On 3/2/2018 at 7:42 PM, Abby said:

Myers lake has some real good bass in it. I graduated from gvsu but that was way back in 93.

On 3/3/2018 at 9:06 AM, 12poundbass said:

Yes it's a private lake unfortunately. Looks like it could be a good lake too. Where are you located again?

On 3/4/2018 at 5:03 PM, MittenMouth said:

I’m down in Grand Rapids. Only lived over here for a few years, fished the east side of the state much more than the west. 

 

Just NW of Rockford, around Sparta -- Long, Lime, Camp, & Half Moon all ought to be open.

I was just at Lime yesterday....wide open. Actually I can't tell you the last time I've seen ice on a lake.

I drove around one afternoon about 3 weeks ago and stopped at those four and a few others, and they still had some ice at that point. Unfortunately, that was also the last time I saw any lake of any kind.

Finally got out Tuesday to bank fish at one of the area rivers, and nabbed my first several bass of the year on the move from wintering areas to spawning grounds (at least that seems consistent with the particular location I was at).  Best of 10 on small swimbaits:

 

Less successful was a short kayak trip thursday to a small lake that usually warms pretty fast --54 surface temps, but only one 12.5" (but fat) largemouth in the shallows on a chatterbait.

 

But that at least tells me where things are sitting at the moment...2018 is on!

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

Been out in Oakland 4 times now, Pontiac/Cass/Maceaday/Pontiac since I live within 3 miles of all of them. All after work for only a few hours but I still haven't caught a bass...  Idk if it's me or the fish guys, but talk about frustration.  Not going to stop me though, heading out again a few more times this week weather pending.

Tie on a jerkbait and do this . . . .

A-Jay

I've been out a handful of times. My first trip out was to Wixom with a buddy and most fish came shallow as we were jigging everything that wasn't open water. A few came on a bladed jig as well, but I put that away due to the pike not leaving it alone, and some on a jerkbait.

 

I also hit up Herrick and nailed about a dozen largemouth with an underspin (Keitech 3" trailer), and a few on a jerkbait and crankbait.

 

I've also been to the Beaverton Dam, the Wiggins Dam, Croton Dam, and Hardy Dam, and all I caught there was walleye (still fun).

 

Water temp on Wixom was 49-51 so we targeted a lot of transition points (main lake points and secondary points mostly), with a few stops at some small ledges.

 

Currently working on my boat. Replacing the plugs and need a new cranking battery!

The fish were active today. Went out to one of my favorite lakes in the kayak and put 20+ in the boat with a jerkbait. None of the fish were over 18", but it was a good feeling to put a beating on them my first time out in a boat this season.

Is all the ice gone yet in the northern LP?

 

Yeah, I haven't seen any since Monday of this last week.

Yes.

A-Jay

No launch for me Friday or this weekend. Friday a major cold front came in and brought 60 mph winds and knocked power out. Consumers Energy was saying Sunday for restoration. Left work early to go get a generator, hooked that up (wrong the first time). Got power back at 11 yesterday. By 12 realized I killed the washing machine with my screw up Friday. So that was a $500 mistake! Got the house back to normal yesterday afternoon. Today is yard work and my sons flag football game. Some day soon the boat will be launched.

Same boat for me (pun), Had to replace my washer, now wrestling with water pump on boat motor, lawn mower won't run, window motor went out on jeep, and the Tigers suck this year..

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!!!  

I too am in TC Mon-Wed for (work). 

 

Went out lastnight to the Boardman side of the Sabin Dam. I was targeting trout so the Browns we got were expected. The pike... not so much. Switched gears once it got dark, fished the shore for bass but came up empty handed. Might try the Sabin side tonight, but with them lowering it (to remove the Dam), I'm unsure if anything will be there.

I haven't checked myself but if heard water temps. Are close to that magical number, and with the full moon I think tomorrow will the green bass begin the spawn? 

Already spawning here on the east side, New moon tomorrow, full moon on the 29th.

Largemouth males were on beds last Wednesday near Lansing.