Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Monday, June 02, 2008
Finally Two Nice Days
We finally had two nice days in a row which is very good for fishing to start biting with warmer water.
Hearing good whitefish bite in East Grand Traverse Bay with wigglers working best, Figures as the season ended for wigglers June 1.
Hearing real good reports on bass fishing on most lakes with bluegills reported starting to bed.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
The fish are cooperating. Bass, pike, crappie, gills and even some walleye are finding their way to the net.
Still no reported catches of gills on their beds. However good size male sunfish are being caught. Afternoons have been best, usually in 6 to 10 foot depths, near sand bars or shallow weedy areas. Both coves on Mitchell as well as the north shoreline (skating rink) are producing. Waxworms are out fishing worms.
Crappie fishing is picking up. The east side of Cadillac over the slabs has been good. Those fishing from the City Dock are also getting their share. Usually theyÃ?ve been suspended 5 to 6 feet below the surface. Those fishing the bottom are likely to catch perch. Accidental catches of pike and bass are common for crappie fishermen using small minnows. The largest crappies are normally caught by those casting small Beetle Spins or Road Runners, especially red and white.
Lake Mitchell crappies are also awake. The mouth of both coves and the Blind Island area has been worth while. The eel grass and wild rice is just starting to poke their heads up on the Blind Island hump, making it easier to find.
Bass beds are showing up on both lakes, especially the west side of Mitchell. Sight fishing is easy. Tournament fishermen are having fun. No hot bait so far this spring. Everyone is doing something different, grubs, tubes, crank baits or spinner baits.
Live bait bass anglers are dong especially good. Crawlers or leeches do equally well in the shallows on either lake. There does seem to be a concentration of large mouths around the canal area by Mitchell State Park. Shore fishermen are taking advantage of this.
Pike are still shallow. They must be chasing panfish getting ready to spawn. Lots of numbers but lots of throw backs. Most of the keepers have been in the 26 to 28 inch range. Live bait, use sucker minnows. Artificials, white spinner baits or floating Rapalas.
Rapala Husky Jerks are fooling the walleye on Cadillac. A few purest have been trolling the Four Winns Test Center Area. No limits. But one or two, always over 20 inches.
Take a kid fishing! Enjoy Free Fishing Weekend June 7 & 8, 2008. No license is required. Have Fun!
Detailed maps of current fish conditions are available at the Pilgrim Village Fishing Shop. Stop in.