After the Chicago show and seeing all the big fish mounts I have changed course in my goals for the year. Catching a 40 pound Musky is my top priority for 2009. I dont care now if I only catch one fish all year. The areas I feel in Michigan where 40 pounders roam include the Elk Chain,The Indian River system, St. Clair/Detroit river, St. Marys river, Thornapple and Hudson, Long Lake, Sanford and Wixom.
Does anyone have any other suggestions where possible 40 pound Muskies could be within Michigan or Indiana maybe Ohio? Also when to target the lake would be helpfull. This is the Members only forum but if you would rather Pm me thats fine. I have thought about Tippy in Indiana also Loon which is a deep lake. Ohio has Leesville,Milton and several others like West Branch that have produced 40 pounders.
My plans include hunting for early season pre spawn fish in the northern regions and late fall fish in the south just before Ice up. I will be on Georgian Bay for three days as well. We have three 5 day trips to St. Clair planned.
There are several long shots I will taking as well, The Whitefish bite in White lake and Muskegon lake could easily bring a Lake michigan piggy into any one of those drowned river mouths during that Whitefish run. I will try it at least twice.
Any other Ideas????? Mike and Michelle
Nothing like setting the bar high and if it has to be in Michigan, OH or IN then the odds of doing this in one season are only slightly better than winning the lottery. I know people with lots of big fish to their credit that haven't gone over 40# in Michigan in their life, let alone a single year. 40# is something very special that doesn't come along very often.
If this was a goal of mine there would only be one logical approach. I would want to catch her casting so I would save all my money from ice out to September then fish a select few lakes in MN for four weeks in the fall.
If trolling is OK then going east for those four weeks would be my choice.
Go east… The question is how far do you go… I am going back this summer. 8 days, 8 fish raised or caught well over 50", a 35-37 pounder boated, and a 38-40 pounder boated is a pretty good history… One or two more of these trips in the summer, and I might be ready to shift my focus to fall and go for that one mid forty pounder…
I want to fish a few lakes around Minneapolis next summer when we visit relatives, maybe Waconia but also want to try Spider lake too..
They definitely are fun fish late season, I caught my first back on Thanksgiving day.
I want to catch one out of Bankson this year and definitely want to spend a few weekends out on the east side of the state.
Will, Chad, I know that 😀 But I can only go on a couple of long trips this year. Yes Minnesota has them so does the Larry But I have to live here for while yet ha ha ha . Its a lofty goal yes. But we all know they are here in low numbers in a few spots. Looking at what I have close by The Chain and Thornapple are my best bets for a 2 to 3 hours drive for a shot at this fish. St. Clair is a 1 in 200 shot for me. As I have not caught 200 from there yet ha ha ha . I have a standing invite to fish with Sal on the Larry,Joe McComber as well. Getting all the way over there is another story.
My local fishing will be directed only at lakes that have produced or may be able to produce a 40 pounder. I came real close in 2007 the same week Shelly popped that 51.
So come on guys, Lets discuss Saginaw Bay 
The St Marys river It doesnt matter to us trolling or casting. Where are the Michigan slobs even if the numbers are a thousand to 1 against. If you had to get one in Michigan where would you try???? Mike and Michelle
"hemichemi" said:
😯I'm ecstatic with a 20 lb-er. 🙄 Maybe someday I'll run with the big dawgs.
Hemi, you at least have to be on water that holds them… More time on thorn… I surely don't have that success here in Michigan. I am thrilled to get one fish in the 25-30 lb range each season. This year I fished well under 100 hours and really don't have too much flexability on when I fish. However, when I go, I try to be on water that has the potential….
Well we are going to fish up there a lot this year,its only 2.5 hours away. Problem is the time frame. Up north I am looking at narrow windows when the fish are that fat. For instance a 53 inch fish can be over 40 pounds until her eggs are gone and late in the fall as she is building egg mass and slurping ciscos and whitefish. Weather always seems to be a huge factor up there. Southern lakes have open water much longer into the late fall so I am thinking on working down state and into Indiana and Ohio in December. We might load up the Aveo and drive to the Larry for 5 days and fish with Sal and Joe .
Everytime I look at the Tit chain I think of what Gabe said a couple years ago about big muskies below the dam at Sanford. I suppose its time to go to Saginaw Bay and look around the river mouth this Spring. There have to be some real slobs that come up into the river to spawn and Ill bet there are local bait shops with stories about Walleye fisherman catching incidental Muskies . They have to be there.
Murray will be able to produce one in the near future but I think she will be a smart cookie. Will probably caught her a couple times already. I caught one that was right at the 30 pound mark in 06 Give her 5 more inches and more girth? 2012? maybe. Hudson has a few , Thornapple has a few, Macatawa has a few maybe. I know one thing , I wont be wasting time on little puddles this year. Mike
Well it didnt take long at all. I joined a Saginaw bay forum moderated by A Captian Dan. Out of three responses I got pictures of one 40 inch Musky caught on a crawler harness and a 20 pound class pike. I talked on the phone with several others that fish Walleyes over there who have been bit off by what they think were huge pike or muskies.
Some very interesting facts about the Bay. It used be dirty cloudy water but zebra mussels have cleaned it and weeds are now present through out the Bay even in 18 to 22 feet of water. They also have and are enjoying a return of the Whitefish in great numbers. Most of the Bay is Shallow like Lake St. Clair and in many cases even shallower. Reefs and other structure abound as does ample quantities of forage to grow a super tanker.
The facts are no one over there is targeting Muskies and very few guys target the big Pike. I am starting to get excited about a mixed bag of Huge Walleye, Pike and maybe even several Muskies. I am ordering a detailed map of the Bay and plan on studying it and will meet with this Captain Dan before the open water and determine where to start my hunt. This is going to an interesting season. Mike and Michelle
Last few seasons I have wanted to troll MKG channel with a foil whitefish I have that has a metal lip. Bang the rocks with it. November winds have me running for cover most of the time. After Murray Thanksgiving Day, I never got out again. If you want a behemouth, go up to Birch Island Lodge and get a small pike on, off Wadrope Island, east side. Just wait abit to see who shows up. Might be a 60 lber by now. (I asked and catching a record this way is legal, if you UNINTENTIONALLY did it.)
I plan on a couple days of trolling the Muskegon and White Lake piers in November when the White fish are in. Ill be pulling some big lures in many colors. Perch, fire belly, Whitefish, sucker, Walleye and someting real bright like a Clown. Michelle and I caught a pile of those Whitefish this fall. Very good eating. If a Lake Michigan Piggy is ever caught on purpose I would think this would be one of the times when it could happen. The other time would be pre spawn off those same River mouths in Lake Michigan. Mike
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