As the title says, I will be spending next week in Northern Michigan. Target species will be smallmouth, walleye, and northern pike.
I did really well last year with small swim baits in the weeds and cranking the shoreline. Smallmouth were good in the morning / evening on spooks and prop baits. The biggest we caught was right at 3 pounds. There are definitely fish in the 5-6 pound range in this lake.
It is a natural basin lake (shallow around the shore with a consistent, gradual drop-off throughout). Clear water with a copper/brown tinge. Weed beds are scattered throughout the lake and are thick out to about 12-14 ft. There are a few spots with chunk rock and gravel bottom. The lake is long and skinny, running on a north-south orientation. South winds usually prevail with the usual day or two of a north wind.
(If you follow this link, it will take you to a page with a google earth topographical map:
Lake Gogebic Topo Map )
Does anyone have any experience / suggestions on fishing this type of water? The elements in play seem to be dumbed down considering the structure is pretty consistent throughout the lake. I'm trying to figure out a pattern that is different than what the average local or weekend guy hammers all summer. I want to catch some big fish this go-around.
Thanks in advance!
