Hello! I have a big tournament here on October 1st. My friend and I are going in blind so any info is appreciated! I have good experience with clear water smallmouth but not this lake at all. Thanks!

 

@A-Jay I know you mostly fish north of here but what can we expect late September early October? Any other insight is appreciated! Thanks!

14 hours ago, JWall14 said:

Hello! I have a big tournament here on October 1st. My friend and I are going in blind so any info is appreciated! I have good experience with clear water smallmouth but not this lake at all. Thanks!

 

@A-Jay I know you mostly fish north of here but what can we expect late September early October? Any other insight is appreciated! Thanks!

 I have fished Lake Charlevoix, just not this season.

It's pretty big, and can get a little nasty on a hard NW & SE blow.

Weather can be anything, but I'd expect 30's or 40's in the early morning & 50's and if you're lucky 60's during the day. 

Any wind will make it feel much colder.

 

I'm never fishing for a limit of keepers so no help there.

That time frame for me is all about ONE Thing - POINTS. 

Points early, Point mid day, and points in the afternoon.

The locals will know and will be on the best ones.

I'd get on one and camp on it all day.

If it's calm enough and the water temps are above 50, could be early morning topwater bite.

Otherwise just about everything I'd throw is RIGHT on the bottom and moving.

Tube

Swimbait on a jighead (3.8 / 4.3 Keitech AYU).

Rage Bug on a swing head

Mid-deep running crank (which can be a few feet off the bottom and still get bites). 

A Bladebait or a rattlebait on the bottom. 

 

If the points get covered up, look for some grass in 6-10 ft

and stroll a spinnerbait, a vibrating jig or a flat sided crank bait over it. 

A jerkbait is always an option as well.

 

Hope that helps

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

 I have fished Lake Charlevoix, just not this season.

It's pretty big, and can get a little nasty on a hard NW & SE blow.

Weather can be anything, but I'd expect 30's or 40's in the early morning & 50's and if you're lucky 60's during the day. 

Any wind will make it feel much colder.

 

I'm never fishing for a limit of keepers so no help there.

That time frame for me is all about ONE Thing - POINTS. 

Points early, Point mid day, and points in the afternoon.

The locals will know and will be on the best ones.

I'd get on one and camp on it all day.

If it's calm enough and the water temps are above 50, could be early morning topwater bite.

Otherwise just about everything I'd throw is RIGHT on the bottom and moving.

Tube

Swimbait on a jighead (3.8 / 4.3 Keitech AYU).

Rage Bug on a swing head

Mid-deep running crank (which can be a few feet off the bottom and still get bites). 

A Bladebait or a rattlebait on the bottom. 

 

If the points get covered up, look for some grass in 6-10 ft

and stroll a spinnerbait, a vibrating jig or a flat sided crank bait over it. 

A jerkbait is always an option as well.

 

Hope that helps

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

 

Thanks a ton! Definitely gives us a starting point in practice! Would you expect these fish going be be out deeper or shallower?

3 hours ago, JWall14 said:

Thanks a ton! Definitely gives us a starting point in practice! Would you expect these fish going be be out deeper or shallower?

You're welcome. 

Hard to say and almost always depends on where the baits at. I won't even fish an area if I'm  not getting perch following my baits.  No bait, there's no reason for the smallies to be there.  

Also, insiders tip, check she docks you launch from as well as any docks near points. You're looking for crayfish parts of top of them left behind by birds eating them.   Could clue you in on where to fish and what to do when you get there.

#jigs

Boom.

A-Jay