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

Big swing and a miss by me! ?

Heading to Leelanau in 2 weeks. What stage are the smallies in up in that area?

 

No report here, but I think they are about 3 weeks behind this spring up that way.

Yeah they're a bit behind this year. Got this one sunday bedding wear on the tail.

One of the best days of fishing I've had today. I fished the mouth of the Boardman River (West Grand Traverse Bay). Fished 100% with a white Underspin with a 3" white Keitech paddletail. 

 

I caught 15 in 2.5hrs. Top 5 going for 21.5lbs. 

 

Biggest fish, and my new PB, went 6lbs!!

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!!!

25 minutes ago, 8pt172 said:

I will be there Monday to see what the 2 GTB's have to offer.

See my post above. West Bay, mouth of the Boardman (along the seawall and to the bridge) was on fire yesterday. Only 1 fish smaller than 2lbs. 2 smaller than 3. The rest 3.5 and bigger. A few 4s, and a 6lbr.

 

A fished an Underspin real slow along the bottom. 

Thanks!!

I have never fished for spawning smallies. Do they still relate to flats? or are they up on the Sandy points and banks?

Probably the only two similarities between the largemouth and smallmouth spawn, is that they both head inshore, and lures used can be the same (with some differences as well).

 

Largemouth tend to go shallower, and are often found around lots of cover and woody debri. Smallmouth tend to stay a little deeper, in more open water, with a sand/gravel bottom.

 

My .02

Hello,

I am going to be fishing SW Michigan this week.  I'm assuming the spawn is done but a few pics show they still may be a few beddding late.  How far North are you guys?

Greenville (central Michigan). Unfortunately due to work being so crazy this year I haven't launch the boat yet and I've only been bridge fishing a couple times with only one brown bass to report. I was talking with a friend of mine a couple weeks ago and he said the water was 60 in one of the bigger lakes in our area, so I'd guess the spawn might have come and gone. 

 

Today kicks off the season every Michigan angler hates.....boating season! ?

Yeah, this warm weather will definitely bring them out! 

 

Thanks for the heads up.  I am surprised to hear water temps that high. 

I currently reside in the chesaning/brant area which, is in Saginaw county.  Grew up in Owosso and fishing the shiawassee river.  I am in Frankfort area all the time.  In Frankfort my brother and I have a salmon boat.  

 

Second summer with my 14 ft mirror craft that was a wedding gift from Grandpa.  I have been exploring a lot of lakes in the mid Michigan area as of late. 

Not sure if it helps at all, but across the state in SE Michigan, I’m still getting mixed bags of pre/post spawn fish. I’ve heard a lot of people talk about the post spawn the past few weeks, but honestly, most of my fish have been pre spawn. 

 

I fish from the bank, though, so I might be catching em all just before they do their thing. 

Yeah it all depends on where you're at in the state, and the body of water. Down south, that seems about right for most waters. B.A.S.S. Nation on Hubbard this past weekend was won by sight fishing smallmouth on beds. However, the Houghton Lake tournament shows temps 70-74 and next to zero bass on beds. Hubbard is clearer, colder, deeper. Houghton is shallow and warmer.

 

A couple weeks ago I caught my PB up on the West Grand Traverse Bay. A ton of females up shallow at the mouth of the Boardman (all with fat bellies ready to do their thing). Yesterday, I went to the same spot, caught just as many fish... all males. One 3lber that honestly appeared to be mid spawn when she gobbled my underspin. However, there are a ton still in pre-spawn, and still spawning out deeper in the bay (per a boater I spoke with while he was docking at the Boardman slips).

 

It truly depends on location and the body of water. Higgins and Houghton are in different phases. Houghton is shallow and warm, Higgins is deep and colder.  

 

 

 

Do we have any guys from the Grayling area? Specifically with experience on Margrethe? If so, I'd love to pick your brain. 

@A-Jay is from the Gaylord area. I think he might be as close as you'll get to someone from Grayling. 

Have only been on that one in the Old Town Canoe.

 

Can't really help too much  . . . 

 

A-Jay

 

Has the fishing been slow? I'm all caught up on your videos and I'm left with nothing to do on my lunch.

Sending you a pm ~ 

A-Jay

Does anyone ever fish Higgins for smallies?

On 6/9/2018 at 11:25 PM, MittenMouth said:

Does anyone ever fish Higgins for smallies?

Higgins is the epitome of my fishing weak spots. Needless to say, I haven't been there yet. But would like to go this year as I get more confident with deeper water items.

Hows everyone been tackling this warm weather on the water? My weak spot, as I'm more than willing to admit, is deep water fishing. I have no problem finding fish shallow but for the most part, they lack the size of those being pulled from deep water.

 

In Michigan specific, heavy weed bottoms are most prevalent in the waters I fish. Tips? Tricks? Thoughts?