Help with Lk Charlevoix please....

[Due51]

I am taking the family up to Boyne this weekend and we're bringing the boat :chillin:.

I've never fished Lake Charlevoix or any other NW MI lake. Can I get a little general guidance for the area?

Should I bring downriggers? Does the lake give up salmon?
Are walleye in that lake? Should I troll, jig or drift?
What about Bass? Crank baits or jigs/worms?

Anything you're willing to offer would be greatly appreciated.

Due

[Biggbear]

Due51

The area around the mouth of the Boyne River, walleye and smallmouth congragate there, alot of guys troll for the walleye, planer boards with bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses. You may find the fish shallow in the evenings and early mornings. Troll from the City ramp back along the city marina and over toward the Harborage. Another good area is Horton Bay for bass and walleye, and along the drop off by Young State park. There is a little bait shop right across from the city ramp in Boyne City, Dave will give you an honest report and help you out with the areas I'm talking about. The south arm down by East Jordon is giving up walleyes trolling or drifting crawler harnesses also. Good luck!

[RichP]

There is a little bait shop right across from the city ramp in Boyne City, Dave will give you an honest report and help you out with the areas I'm talking about.

Due, one warning about that bait shop -- he keeps awful hours, including the weekend. If you're looking for bait for a morning fish, don't expect to show up at 6-7AM and have him be there (someone please correct me if he has recently improved his hours).

[Dasher]

See report below from Tom's Tackle>>>>>>>>>..

Tom at Tom's Tackle in East Jordan reports anglers are doing well on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix, taking some nice walleyes. He managed two fish more than 28 inches one day last week, trolling a nightcrawler harness. Tom says the fish are generally in 13-15 feet of water and that it is still possible to take fish during the bright hours of the day.

He also notes that anglers are catching a lot of sub-legal fish now on the South Arm - fish of 6-14 inches. This situation augers well for the future of walleye fishing on Lake Charlevoix. Tom notes that some smallmouth bass are now bedding on Lake Charlevoix.

[jstfish48162]

what size boat are you fishing out of? Intermediate Lake is only a few minutes from where you will be....may want to consider that as well. it's a chain of lakes and offers walleye, perch, smallies, largies, musky and standard panfish. the smaller lakes would allow you to get out of bad winds, if Charlevoix doesn't pan out. just a thought

[Due51]

I'll be in the 16ft Lowe with 30hp Johnson. I'm bringing up the downriggers, dipsys, and planer board. We'll also have the bass gear and musky gear.

[JJ Mac]

I'll send you a pm tommorrow with lots of good info. Right now, I'm headed out on the lake til dark. As far as riggers go, they will be of limited use on Lake Charlevoix right now, but they are doing well on lakers on the big lake right out front. No kings yet.

[Due51]

Thanks a lot JJ. I was hoping to hear from you. I read an earlier post that you were the man in the area.

Looking forward to learning something.

Good luck tonight.