central Michigan / Clare area

[theweasal]

Greeting fellow fisherman,
I was wondering if anyone had any insight into any decent fishing in the central Mich. area. I'll be taking my wife's little brother (10) out fishing on Friday or Saturday (8 / 5or6). Just wondering if anyone had any insight on any good area's to keep the kid amused and catch some fish to keep him interested in fishing. Thanks Jeff

[Jr.BowmanMI]

how close are you to houghton lake? I know a nice bank spot... Josh

[Ralph Smith]

Try crooked lake, but you got to get there early or late. They have a time for the ski-ers and pwc's to start and end, so the the fisherman can have some time on lake without the crazy's. Also right down the road is perch lake, which is a hard launch unless you have a small boat. Small lake but lots of bass in there. Got a 12" crappie while trolling a number 5 husky once.

[Codye23]

Crooked lake should keep him busy, we catch small pike in there and bass around the docks, and their is tons of bluegill. What size boat do you have ?

[Fatherof3]

FiveLakes near clare has a pretty good bass population. Throw plastic worms near the weeds. Straight out from the launch is pretty good. Of course this time of year with all the heat and traffic its a little tougher everywhere.

[theweasal]

I have a 14 foot Grummen. Is Crooked lake accessable to drop in with a car? Thanks for the following information. I'll check up again tomorrow before I head up there. Thanks again. Jeffery Oh yeah, Houghton lake is probably 35 mins. due north. Not a bad trip if he won't get bored. Took him out fishing where we went camping a couple of weekends ago and he couldn't catch anything. I caught some small bass and small bluegills. Maybe I'm a bad teacher. Thought I'd try it again.

[bully06]

Check the Harrison area, Budd Lake, Long Lake, Arnold Lake, Cranberry Lake etc. There known their 20 lakes in 20 min.

[wecker20]

There is a public launch if it's the crooked lake I'm thinking of(Lake Station) I used to hate this lake until I fished it a little more and started to like the lake. Then they dropped it from our schedule.

[theweasal]

Thanks for the information. Fished Perch Lake this morning around 16 feet of water. Fishing was okay. Kinda ran in spirts, catch three or so, think you've sitting on the honey hole.... then no fish. Time to move..! Thank you all for the information. Gonna try crooked tonight. I'll post a reply if the fishing is better than average. Jeffery :dizzy:

[Jr.BowmanMI]

how close are you to long lake. We got a cabin just north of that. Good fishing on the orv trails in muskegon river... Josh

[theweasal]

I'd hate to let the cat out.... BUT! the fishing for bass is really good on Five Lakes, off Beaverton RD. in Clare Co. Talked to another guy and it's been said that the ice fishing for crappie is good too. If you in the area, there's a weed line around the 20 foot area near the big drops. Great fishing and a public launch. I'm gonna go again on Thursday morning.