Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Great Fourth Of July
Just a beautiful fourth of July with wall to wall people, thanks for coming north. The fishing has been good in most lakes with gills biting along with bass.
The fireworks were great this weekend and the air-show at the Cherry Festival was awesome.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
If you didnâ??t fish over the holiday weekend you missed one of the best of the year.
Large bluegills are starting to get harder to find. Most of the males have vanished. Gills are still bedding in some areas but sorting has become the rule. Sunfish are usually larger than the gills and mixed in the same areas. Live baskets with near limits are common.
The penetrating sun (finally) has changes the tactics for crappie fishermen. Early mornings and just before dark theyâ??ve been near the surface. Regardless of the depth, often you can see schools splashing as they feed on bugs or minnows. These conditions make limits possible. Normally during the day they go deep. Use your electronics or try vertical jigging while drifting. Catch a couple and theyâ??ve given their depth and location away. Usually thereâ??s a school.
Tim Littlefield from Cadillac knows how to find crappie. Heâ??s pictured with a good one caught on Lake Cadillac.
The deeper depths also offer opportunities for descent size perch. When your fish finder marks schools just above the bottom, theyâ??re likely perch. You still have a sort but 8â??s and 10â??s are there.
Bass fishing for this time of year has been good. Those using live bait are catching them by intent and often accidentally while fishing for panfish. Artificials are also working well. Senkos and other worm style plastics have been effective, especially the watermelon or pumpkin colors. Large mouths in the 14 to 16 inch range are the norm. Most small mouths running over 16 inches. These are money fish for the tournament fishermen who practice catch and release.
Most pike fishermen are happy. Mornings provide best action. Lots of numbers, but lots of throw backs. Catching pike of any size is fun. Most keepers have been in the 26 inch class, with a few over 30 inches reported.
Other species are showing up. Numbers of large rock bass, bullheads and Master Angler size bowfins are being caught.
The lake levels are still high, but are slowly getting back to normal.
The weathers good! Fishing is good! Take advantage of it.
Next entry: KIrtland Warbler
Previous entry: Fourth of July Fishing Report