OK - I'm heading out to wet a line - so just as the subject line proposes:

Here's some supplemental information. I'm in northern MI. Current weather is partial sun and clouds warm with air temps in the low 50's. Water temps range from mid to low 50's as well. Both bodies of water are very clear and home to both smb and lmb. The deeper lake has trout in it and is almost 100 ft deep. The shallower body of water has a max depth of 30 ft. Both produce well at times. I've taken by PB lmb in the deeper lake and my PB smb in the shallower one; seems back wards doesn't it ?

Fish in the deeper lake are suspended at least half the time which makes them really hard to get at, at least for me. The shallower lake has a bit more shoreline cover.

So which one do you go with and why ?

A-Jay

You are in the late fall to winter transition. This signals to me that the weeds in the lakes are turning brown with a few deeper weed lines still green and that is where I would start.

The type of baitfish the bass are feeding on becomes important during this period (every period). Demersal bait fish that live in and around cover are affected by the change in cover; young of the year bass, walleye, crappie and perch, plus chubs will leave weed beds and become a food source. Pelagic baitfish like herring or alewife, minnows, crappie, perch, juvenile white fish already school up and use the deeper water areas. Crayfish or crawdads migrate to areas where they can hide in rocks or burrow in clay or mud.

Lots of prey choices for the bass and you need to determine what they want and where they are located.

Mid water column lures like crankbaits, jerk baits, traps, structure spoons, swimming jigs, dart heads, Senko's all work, Bottom lures like jigs and worms that target bass feeding on crawdads work.

Good luck.

Tom

Hit the shallow lake first. Since it will ice over first the fish population in that lake will be putting on the pre winter feed bag before the deep lake does. Besides after the shallow lake starts to freeze you will still have the deep lake to fish. If you can graph the suspended fish depths in the deep lake you could fish for them vertically. Or since your still young & in good shape you could troll for them via paddle power. It is real easy to target depths from 10-20-30 with just diving plugs. Throw on a snap weight & you can get 40-50. There are guys/girls in Wisconsin that row troll for muskies up until ice over. Good luck with your quest & stick a pig!

That's great advice Mr. Hottle. I honestly would have opted for the deeper and warmer scenario, but you taught me a different perspective on this. Thank you.

Sorry A-Jay, I'm not trying to steal your thread, but I had to thank Mr. Hottle on this one.

I would also fish the shallower lake. Shallower fish tend to be more aggressive and easier to catch in my experience. I've never had much luck catching suspended fish either.

Thanks for the advice and input guys.

OK- so I opted for the shallower lake. Wind was blowing a bit and the water temps were right at 50'.

Smb were on the feed, swimbaits specifically.

A-Jay

A-Jay I told you to stick a pig & you stuck two! WTG.