Expect a tough bite. I have fished it 3 times without a contact. Might just be my luck though.
I have stayed at Dixie Haven, and the Lodge, both did the job.
Lots of different water down there. I personally like Tippy/James the most. I have had the most success on Webster, but it has been a while since I last boated a hoosierski.
Options for lodging:
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The Lodge generally has a group of Michigan peeps hanging out.
With the early date this year the fish should be going good as long as the ice is off. The pre-spawn deal down there is similar to most places with small baits (often bass size) dominating the catch. That's not to say that something bigger wouldn't work but it's hard to beat a flippin stick w/ 65# braid with a small bait like a 6" Grandma or 14 X rap. Fish will be both shallow and deep. Last year we didn't get much going deep (where they should have been) as we started inching up shallow we started finding fish and by the end of the day we had seen a bunch and with a little luck would have added to the MMA victory. The "takeaway" is that you don't want to catch fish the day before a tournament.
Speaking in general terms, if the water is cold and the fish haven't even thought about spawning Webster will be hot and could easily give up multiple fish. If for some reason the water is warm for mid-March and the fish are close to spawning or spawning Webster will be tough and the lakes on the Tippy Chain are better.
"MattG_braith" said:
I too will be fishing it this year. Is there a solid date for this yet? I would like to get down there to pre-fish it early so I need to ask for that Friday off.
Yes, it's set for March 16th.
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It's a great time. I look forward to it every year. We need some new blood down there. It's a definate "first timer luck" there. 
Webster Lake 3/29/2008 – 48.5"
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Last year the water was warm in the 70's the day we pre-fished it.
Me, Jason, and Jim had some action moving a few bigger fish, but not that many the day of the tourney other than a few big fish
My camera was messed up, but here was footage jason captured while taking a break watching me. Fish came outta nowhere and just swiped. Was a little anxious and caught off gaurd
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I've fished it now for the past few years and always love going down there even though I haven't boated a fish. The last couple of years there have only been a couple of fish caught out of 40 people so don't expect hot&heavy action. I fished Webster for the first three years and hated it so now I fish the Barbee chain, but am going to try Tippy this year as well. Smaller cranks and jerks seem to do the best, but we had fish moving on plastic and topwater too last year. Hellpuppy, shallow raider, baby wabull, x-raps, regular dawgs, mini-medussas, etc. Hopefully we get a decent turn out as we need to keep the trophy in Michigan!
"Chris Musselman" said:
Anyone have any idea how much rooms run at the Lodge and if they fill up for the tourney?I can't get in touch with their staff…
Their customer service is pretty bad as they are not there a lot of the time. I have even stayed a night there without talking to anyone at the front desk until noon the next day (almost didn't pay for the room as I went to the office 3 times at night and 3 times the next morning before someone was finally there). Their regular rooms are around $50 and have two queen beds in them. If it gets warm enough, they open the trailers up for around $90 for the first 2 people and then $10 extra per person. The trailers can sleep around 7 people so it can be worth it if you have enough people, but it does get a little tight in the trailer.
"Chris Musselman" said:
Anybody have contacts in Indiana or know just how much Ice is on the lakes down there?
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It's not looking great. Last year I was on the water the last week of February. I'm heading out ice fishing this afternoon, hope to pick up a few gils for dinner.
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