Thread: John

How did you do on the lake on Sunday? Weather was lousy and I had plumbing to do at the house so I couldn't make it out. I am curious as to how you have done since the cold snap hit. I am suspecting that our fishing is going to start turning around like we talked about. Maybe it will come back to being as good as it was in the beginning of January. Also, like our discussion the other day, the weekend might be setting up in your favor. The ones you were finding that were not hitting may just be ready to come to the bait.

We screwed up though, The team USA ice fishing qualifier is on one of my home lakes this weekend. Sunday it is on Hamlin lake in Mason county (ludington area). 5 hour tournament during the middle of the day top 8 bluegills or Crappie. 7 grand payout plus qualifying for the team USA finals in Minn. Winner of that represents team USA at the world tournament this year. Last year it was in Poland. Sure would be fun to give it a try.

Lastly, after your tournament is over I have a lake I want to try a little bit of evening/night fishing with some lights. We found some really good Crappies during the day in one particular spot. They were cruising for food so you didn't even mark them as they came in from the sides. They were definatly there though. You game?

hey rich we fished all day it was a sloppy mess no one was there so i checked my shallow spot theres diffenently fish there got a 9+sun fish and 2 speks booth over 11 i only fished there 45 mins its looken good just hope no one else is on it to.i left there and went to my best deep water ill be damed if i didnt get 2 moore nice ones in less than 15 min so i left fished some other areas w/suspended fish nothen. im not sure if they were biten good or if its the location didnt catch any any where else.i wont hit the lake untill sat eve just to check make sure every thing is in order.i am pretty confident.is usa going to be there next year?if so im in. not to early to start thinken about it.hypothticly if you were fishen the tournemet what do you think you would be doing. im game to check out that crappie spot havent fished at nite much but im game.i have a shanty dont use it much prob be nice at night..later......john

Funny you ask that question as I was just thinking about what I would do. I think the most important thing is to throw out the notion that it is your home lake and you know where the fish are. The pros actually have the advantage as they do what you and I do. Look at the maps and the other images and pick the spots most likly to hold the target fish. The people who fish this lake (or any other lake that a tournament is on) think they have the upper hand but tend to fish places where they KNOW fish are. Problem is alot of times they end up scratching their heads saying "they were here the other day".

The other thing I would do is what we talked about. Why fish during the morning or evening bite. You know you will catch fish but you run back to the old "they were here last night" bit. I would pre fish it during the same time of the tourney.

I don't know if the tourney will be there next year. If not we can always plan ahead and find where it will be. In some regards I would rather fish an unknown. Makes you learn it a little better. Plus, thats part of the fun. In this tourney you only need the 8 biggest and we both know what those are. This lake sets up more traditional for those fish. Lots of structure in lots of places. You can find em, just gotta find the big ones.

This night fishing bit would be pretty good as the spot is only about 75 yards from where we park the truck. Water is 28ft and it is only about 80 yards across. I say go early and pre-drill the heck out of it.

Good luck this weekend. You know where they are and as I said before, it looks like the weather is setting up in your favor. I may fish Long lake this weekend. I had a friend go there tonight and I am waiting for his report.