Hello long time lurker but I finally joined, yay. I am going to be 34 this year and grew up fishing Portage, Kalamazoo. Mostly bass and bluegills. My grandparents use to live on Austin lake in Portage in the 90s that’s where my fishing journey began as a kid. I fished off and on growing up throughout my life took small hiatus’s here and there and recently got back into fishing heavily last year due to some of our family friends getting us back into it. I fished Allegan county a lot last year, mostly dumont lake, big lake and the Kalamazoo river. I moved back to Kalamazoo last August and have been fishing spring valley park a lot and a secret little pond in the middle of town that has surprised me on what’s in there lol. I am enjoying helping my family to learn how to fish also. My collection of equipment has grown exponentially in the past year, now I own two kayaks and now instead of three rods I have 17 casting rods 16 bait casters and 4 spinning rods and 5 spinning reels and 7 3700 trays full of tackle. I just wanted to introduce myself and say hello, have a good night and I look forward to learning and talking to you guys.

Hello from up in Otsego County 

and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

A-Jay

Thank you A-Jay.

Welcome aboard JM.

Thanks GaryH hope you have a great day.

Welcome from Lansing!

Welcome from the middle of the state in Montcalm county. 

Hello @Jmurphy87 from Northern California, welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums!

Thank you for the warm welcome everyone.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome to the site from Portage, MI! Good to see more people from my town! (Sorry I’m late)

Welcome aboard! ??

 

Most of us lurked before joining. Best bass fishing site

out there, bar none.

Welcome, from Grand Rapids!  I grew up and Kalamazoo and have fished a number of the lakes you mentioned fishing.

Welcome to the forum

Welcome Home!  We're glad you're here.

On 5/20/2021 at 9:43 PM, Jmurphy87 said:

Hello long time lurker but I finally joined, yay. I am going to be 34 this year and grew up fishing Portage, Kalamazoo. Mostly bass and bluegills. My grandparents use to live on Austin lake in Portage in the 90s that’s where my fishing journey began as a kid. I fished off and on growing up throughout my life took small hiatus’s here and there and recently got back into fishing heavily last year due to some of our family friends getting us back into it. I fished Allegan county a lot last year, mostly dumont lake, big lake and the Kalamazoo river. I moved back to Kalamazoo last August and have been fishing spring valley park a lot and a secret little pond in the middle of town that has surprised me on what’s in there lol. I am enjoying helping my family to learn how to fish also. My collection of equipment has grown exponentially in the past year, now I own two kayaks and now instead of three rods I have 17 casting rods 16 bait casters and 4 spinning rods and 5 spinning reels and 7 3700 trays full of tackle. I just wanted to introduce myself and say hello, have a good night and I look forward to learning and talking to you guys.

 

How does Big Lake usually fish?   I went down there for the first time one morning last week (it's about at the limit of how far away I like to go).  I got thoroughly "dinked" -- caught 30 in 6 hours....and exactly one was keeper-sized --a 3 1/2 pounder.   Is that typical?  

27 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

How does Big Lake usually fish?   I went down there for the first time one morning last week (it's about at the limit of how far away I like to go).  I got thoroughly "dinked" -- caught 30 in 6 hours....and exactly one was keeper-sized --a 3 1/2 pounder.   Is that typical?  

I usually get loads of gills out of there, friend got a 18 inch last year out of there. But for the most part it’s really hit or miss. Definitely not the best lake, I would say what you experienced was normal, it can be hard to find them there. Hope I was helpful.

13 hours ago, Jmurphy87 said:

I usually get loads of gills out of there, friend got a 18 inch last year out of there. But for the most part it’s really hit or miss. Definitely not the best lake, I would say what you experienced was normal, it can be hard to find them there. Hope I was helpful.

 

Yeah, the good one I caught was 18.5".  As long as I know there are some in there like that, I'll come back. It's an attractive lake, I was just hoping for a little more size.  I'll probably try again fall or spring some time.  

I’m kinda close to big lake so maybe I’ll try it sometime!

Hey from Southeast MI