I'll be camping with a big group of my family in a few weeks near Hamlin (Cartier Park). I'll be with a bunch of people who do not musky fish, and between the difficulty of this lake for muskies and my love of all species I am not even going to attempt to target them for this trip. I'd like to target walleyes and pike for the most part, and was really just wondering what advice those of you who have spent time out there might have? What launches would be best? I've never fished it and I'm not going to have a ton of fishing time to figure the lake out, but I do have the Lakemaster chip for my Humminbird so that should help. Any other advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks
my best walleye tactic has been suicks and phantoms [smilie=shakehead.gif]
but have found them on the big point on the north side of the narrows… which seems to be a hotspot for panfish also (have moved mutliple muskies in that area too).
We used to fish a bass tourney out there too and had the best luck early in the day near sea walls with smaller jigs and plastics…
My best spot for pike action has been the first couple coves on the south side just to the east of the narrows, near cabbage.
We were doing ok on walleye trolling the edge of the drop between north and south bayou at dark a couple weeks ago. But I havnt been there in 2 weeks so the weeds might be higher. We were pulling black and silver huskys behind boards. The state park launch would be closest to you. If you wanna fish the upper lake though I would drive to Wilson or victory.
troll or cast body baits in 8-18 FOW in areas with scattered cabbage in the lower lake in the evening for wallyes. Troll crawler harnesses in deeper water during they day in lower lake. Chart blades always was best for us. Bass = easy button everywhere, except the less abundant smallmouths will be deep in lower lake that time of year. Pike are mostly tiny hammer handles so never really tried to catch too many, they seem to like the thickest cabbage areas. there are some bigger pike that are scattered in deeper water in the lower lake that time of year.
I can echo everything these guys said. Your biggest issue for trolling right now is going to be the chopped weeds on the surface. Even if you don't need boards, use them to catch the weeds for you.
We also appear to still be in a hex hatch as well.
Don't discount trolling Ludington harbor and the Pere Marquette channel at night for walleyes since you're trailering anyway. But you didn't hear that from me.
The Victory Park launch may not be usable. I was out there last weekend and had to use the launch west of there. I tried my hand at walleyes and had no luck. Caught plenty of rockbass trolling crawler harnesses in front of the dunes. I may be back tomorrow night and will let you know if I locate anything.
-Dan
Only boated one 17" walleye, and a smallmouth drifting harnesses in 15-20fow on the east side of lower Hamlin. There are plenty of weeds to dodge on the surface. The rockbass and small perch were annoying as well. Let me know if you have any luck on the walleye up there. That lake has been my nemesis for walleye since this winter.
-Dan
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