I have an Idea if you guys are game. Its not a big fish lake but needs harvest of pike . Muskegon county's Big Blue Lake has a 5 fish limit with no size limit on up to 5 . You can only keep one fish over 24 inches. We normally put those back . The average size has started to rise a bit since the special regs. Michelle and I got 9 a couple weeks ago with 20 flags and we put back several that were like 14 inches and one bigger one. We kept nine fish 19 to 22 inch . After wards we can have a fish fry at our house and the guys can tour the shop talk Muskies . etc. Fish and Fries, byo beverages. I have a bait shop right down the road where everyone can meet for tip up minnows. I have all three hot spots on the lake mapped with my Lowrance H20. I can also have a Quad and sled there. It would have to be on a Saturday as the bait shop is not open on Sunday. Let us Know if interested and how many. We can handle about 12 people in the house and another 10 in the lure shop. Catch Pike , eat pike . Sound good? Ill also give a seminar on boning out those y bones in the Pike Fillets. Mike
The lake is clear and has so many weeds that the Pike just spawn like crazy in there. I think Muskies would help cut the Pike numbers down but as it is a guy can get 5 in an hour on three tip ups. They average about 20 inches. Last year the D.N.R. added the slot to only one fish over 24 inches. They eat real good. We call them pop corn Pike. It is the only lake we keep Pike from. Let us know if this will work for the ice trip. Looks like we have a few who like the Idea so far. Mike and Michelle
That Sounds Like A Great Time! If You're Serious About This, I'll Make Sure Something Gets Written Up In The F8 That Is Supposed To Be Going Out Shortly So Members Who Aren't On The Forum Can Join. Mike, Email Me All The Info When You Get A Chance. Your Home Address, And Location Of The Lake & Bait Shop. And Preferred Times.
I cant get the Quad as every ones trailers are buried in 10 feet of snow. I cant even see mine. I can get a power auger and have my sled. I think the bait shop opens at 8 or 9 Ill call them tomorrow. The Bait store is called Long Range Archery and it is south of Twin Lake on M-120. That would be the best place for everyone to meet then train it over to the lake. They have the perfect size shiners for that lake. If anyone else has a power auger it would be a huge help as the ice is over a foot thick now. Depending on how many guys we might have to split up into a couple of groups to all be on good water. There are two real good spots about 10 minutes walk from the boat launch. I have them marked out on my Lowrance H20. I also have nice little flashlight type depth finder. . But yes we are serious. It will be fun. Parking might be a little tough here for more then 10 cars . But I think we can manage. A lot depends on much more snow we get here as I am running out of places to put it. As long as no one is pulling a trailer I wont have any trouble . Guys should car pool anyway to save money. Ill post on Monday and get the baitshop opening time. Mike
"Jim tenHaaf" said:
Ok, so how does this look?January – Chicago Muskie Show
February – (Ice Fishing outing)
March – Banquet and Ice-Out
May – Ovid Cash Tournament
June – (Detroit River – Wyandotte)
July – (Combo Muskie/Bass Tournament Fundraiser. Titt chain or Margrethe)
August – (Sheepshead/Drum Tournament on Macatawa)
August – Munuscong outing
September – (Antrim Chain Outing. Lower chain this time?)
October – Bruce Memorial
November – (Fall Hawg Hunt – N. Channel)
December – Holiday Party/Lure Swap
Ultimate show is also in March.
This is a pretty ambitious schedule, are there people volunteered to run this many events? Four tournaments in one year is a huge undertaking, especially if a bass tournament is in there.
Here is the skinny on The bait shop. They open at 8:00 am. This is where we all need to meet unless you dont need bait. Then 9:00 am at the Deremo Park Boat launch on the north shore of Big Blue Lake. Ill post a map area of Blue Lake and directions to both the bait store and the lake. It would be best if everyone just met at the bait store then trained it over to the lake.
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There is a map right on the web page for Long range archery. Simple directions are Us 31 north from Muskegon to the Fremont exit which is M-120 Holton Road. turn right on to 120 follow 120 to Long Range archery which in on the Right . If you are coming from the north you will want to take M-120 south out of Hesperia or grab 120 just west of Fremont.
Anyone gearing up for this should use a jigging rod with jigging lures or tip ups. I use 1/0 vmc round bend cone sharpened hooks. Similar to the hooks on a 7 inch Crane bait. I use 50 pound Mono leaders and 30 pound mono main line. The line test I use is a little on the heavy side for these fish but they dont care. The water is very clear and mono seems to get bit more. Bring split shot, a clip on depth finder, slush scooper, Auger if you have one. W e really need a second power auger with a 10 inch hole size blade for tip ups. I have one. This will save an unreal amount of time. I have three main areas of this lake mapped out for easy location of the weed edges. The Laws regarding the lake are special regs. You may keep up to five Pike with no size limit but only one over 24 inches. We put those 24 and up fish back. his helps get some bigger Pike back into this lake. W e are helping this lake by removing excess smaller Pike. The Bluegill and Crappie fishing in this lake has suffered because of all these hammer handles. Walleye have been planted for 15 years and they just get eaten as soon as they put them in. There are a few Walleyes in the lake though so be advised. If you are good at jigging walleye you can do both by fishing a couple tip ups and jigging for eyes. There are some Blue Gill and Crappie but good luck finding them. One last thing W e could use an extra fryer and a gallon of oil if the count gets over 12 people. Mike and Michelle
"Will Schultz" said:
[quote="Jim tenHaaf"]Ok, so how does this look?January – Chicago Muskie Show
February – (Ice Fishing outing)
March – Banquet and Ice-Out
May – Ovid Cash Tournament
June – (Detroit River – Wyandotte)
July – (Combo Muskie/Bass Tournament Fundraiser. Titt chain or Margrethe)
August – (Sheepshead/Drum Tournament on Macatawa)
August – Munuscong outing
September – (Antrim Chain Outing. Lower chain this time?)
October – Bruce Memorial
November – (Fall Hawg Hunt – N. Channel)
December – Holiday Party/Lure Swap
Ultimate show is also in March.
This is a pretty ambitious schedule, are there people volunteered to run this many events? Four tournaments in one year is a huge undertaking, especially if a bass tournament is in there.
Oh, Trust Me- I've Got A List Of People I Will Be Approaching At The Banquet To Get Them To Help. [smilie=biggrin.gif]
"jawtag" said:
[quote="Jim tenHaaf"]
I could go either way I guess.
🙄 I'm not sharing a shanty with Jim!
I can't make it on either of those two days. something to think about is a lot of people might be doing something for valentines day, I know I have to on the 15th.
Not all of us have those kinda women that do cool stuff, like go to concerts, and leave the kids behind for weekends, and have sweet custom fishing rods delivered to an upscale hotel for valentines day tho ya know. 🙄
I can make the afternoon on the 15th, but not the 22nd.
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