I'm fishing Lake Michigan for Smallmouth this weekend.  I'm going to run a C-rig with a Carolina Clacker in the middle and a Gulp Goby on the end.  My question is....because the water is so clear on the lake could I use a foot or so of fluorocarbon from the leader to the hook?  I ask because I know fluorocarbon sinks and I want that goby suspended off the bottom.  Would a foot a fluoro cause it to sink or should I be ok?  Thank you for your input!  

Regards,

Duma

i think it'll sink anyhow, but would use a longer leader in clear water- 20-30 inches maybe.

Duma,

Being a bottom prey fish species of the Great Lakes, I would suggest a 1/2 oz. football head stuffed inside a Goby Coffee tube to be the best presentation of a Goby.  However, with the water temperatures in Lake Michigan this time of year I would opt for a hair jig and you're going to have to very deep, as water temperatures can't be much over 40 if that I would guess (could be wrong).

Take care,

Steve

thats a good call but the c-rig allows me to cover more area and search out the fish.  i think 2 feet off the bottom dragging that weight kicking up sand is a smart play and I'm such a believer in Gulp products, they really do get me more bites

I would think a drop shot would be a much better choice in this situation.

it will be once i locate the fish

I personally wouldn't be looking for numbers, I would be looking for that 6 pounder this time of year.      Personally I feel you would be able to cover as much water with a football head, while also not making them "catch" the bait as much as they would have to with a long leader.  Again, the water temperatures have to be really cold, as at best you are just after ice out if the bays are even free of ice yet.

Steve

i'd probably use a little faster search bait like a crankbait or jerkbait then go to a c-rig or drop-shot once you found then. that's just me...

they tend to group up on the rockpiles off the harbors and near the breakwalls even this time of year.....ill have a shaky head rig ready to go as well as a shad rap jerkbait....people dont realize (even here)  that lake michigan holds some beautiful smallmouth (even some LMB) and it isnt purely a salmon fishery

More people realize it more than you think, maybe just not so much in the Chicago area.  I've spent some time on many of the Great Lakes, and the fishing is great.

Steve