Fletcher's Pond with Wife and Newborn?

[mschmidt]

All,

I have read a lot about the good fishing at Fletcher's Pond, thus the wife an I are considering spending a week on the lake with our newborn (5 weeks old) while my wife is on maternity leave. My wife and I love to fish, but I don't know if she would like to spend the entire week on the lake. My question is: Is there anything else to do up there? Good restaurants, hiking, shopping, etc.?

As well, where is a good place to stay? We will need to rent a boat for the week as well so keep that in mind. We may or may not bring our dog.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

[mschmidt]

I did some research and Lyon's landing seems to have the best prices on a cabin. $25/night. There is one opening July 15th-20th. They have a pontoon for $45/day available the 17th-19th and other small boats the other days. What do you guys think? Should I jump on it or wait until mid-late August when they have other openings?

[iceman10]

Jacks landing is another option ,they have reasturant & bar on premises . We stay over labor day week & enjoy the fishing :coolgleam ! Good luck !!!

[automan4025]

You might have to go into Alpena to find decent food or shopping.

[mschmidt]

thanks guys... we booked the trip at Lyons Landing for the 15th -20th. I got a pontoon for 3 of the days and a 14ft boat with motor for the rest. I am pumped!

[ozzgood2001]

my dad was there this past holiday weekend! WEEDS WEEDS WEEDS worse hes ever seen up there which means not good. until something is done with the weeds up there i dont even desire to fish it! its out of control up there but the bass are big and the pike are plentiful!!!

[mschmidt]

ozzgood2001,

How did your dad do?
Any tips, locations, bait of choice?

Mike

[ozzgood2001]

we stay up by the dam at paradise lodge so being the complete opposite of lake who knows whats goin on. now he did land several 2 lb plus bass usin crawlers...hes a simple kinda guy and lots of lil gills. now he did mention good pike were being taking over by you but did not mention bait or lure.

[mschmidt]

thanks

[Bassman Dan]

mschmict,
I fished fletchers in August last year and a few weeks ago also. Don't let the weeds bother you. Here is the recipe I use every year and has never failed no matter when it was. Start at Lyons landing and drift down the main channel of the river throwing spinner baits or weedless spoons and those weeds won't bother you much. You will catch plenty of bass and pike. The two of you should be able to get 10 to 30 bass or pike a day easily. The bass there are big and the pike are very fiesty. Also can't think of a better place for gills.:D

[Bassman Dan]

ozzgood2001,
You are missing out not going up there. I never fished that part or the pond much but if you start by Lyons landing and drift across the lake you will probably have the best bass fishing experience of you life. In my opinion it is the best bass fishing inland lake in MI. The weeds have never bothered me.

[dafuriousfisherman]

im goin up to fletchers last week in august CANT WAIT!!!:fish:

[CL-Lewiston]

There has always been weeds & stumps. Not near the stumps of the 50s.

Eurasian millfoil has gotten in lately. They have put the weevil in but it takes several years to control.

[Mr Jinx]

There has always been weeds & stumps. Not near the stumps of the 50s.

Eurasian millfoil has gotten in lately. They have put the weevil in but it takes several years to control.

Yes it does and it cost them quite a bit to do that as well. I heard the major landings got a bill for several thousands each to do that. At least there working on a solution to the problem. Only other real choice is chemical treatment but in a 9000 arce lake could be an issue. Too stumpy for mechanical removal as well.

[mschmidt]

Any other tips/hot baits/tricks/locations will be greatly appreciated. I will post pics when we return! Less than a week away!

[mschmidt]

As well, what lb test line is recomended and should I use mono or fireline? What about leaders for pike?

[Bassman Dan]

I alsways use 8lbs trilene XL (mono) or even stren. I never have a problem with break offs. If you use a baitcaster go ahead an up it to 10 or 12lbs if you want. You wont need anything stronger then that. The bass are big going up to 6 & 7lbs. The pike aren't that big though. The biggest I caught there was 30-inches. I had no problems getting him in. I've caught a few pike in the 30+ class on 8lbs mono with no problem. You will need to have your drag set properly. If the pike goes under the boat loosen the drag accordenly while fighting the fish. As for steal leaders, that all depends on the lure you are using. I mainly use safety pin style spinner baits for bass and pike there. If you are using spinner baits you will not need a leader. I've caught many pike on these and never had a pike get over top of it. If you are using spoons or inline spinners definetly use a leader. I would suggest sticking with the safetly pin style spinner baits as use will catch plenty of nice bass and pike on them.:)

[mschmidt]

thanks Bassman

[jstfish48162]

get some 5" Senko's and 4/0 hooks. rig texas style (weedless) and throw them on a heavy baitcaster around the lilypads and along the river/creek channels. i have been fishing up there for over 10 years and have never used a steel leader. i mainly throw buzzbaits, spinnerbaits,shallow crankbaits and Senko's.:fish:

[Papa_Ron]

Well now, to listen to all you guys talk, I'm betting that my next 'family fishing outting', may just well be on Fletcher's. I know of Fletcher's, have heard the name many a time over the years, but have never been there. Didn't realize it is so popular and such good fishing. I'm certainly going to have to seriously consider it! Glad to read all your posts on it! I'm indeed hoping for at least one more family fishing outting before Summer's end!

[jstfish48162]

hey Papa_Ron,
don't count out a trip for this year. good fishing will continue for a few more months. i love fishing there so much, i have driven there on a Friday night, arrive at 6 a.m., rent a boat, fish until 6 or 7 p.m., take a couple hour nap in car and then drive home. very convenient to have a lake with that good of fishing with boat rentals at 6 or 7 locations on the lake. you can catch fish on any part of the lake, but certain areas produce more or bigger fish at certain times of the year.

anyone know the secret for getting the crappie on Fletcher's?
very cool and simple method......done at night. tie a clear plastic practice float to your main line. then tie a 14" to 16" leader of 4lb or 6lb mono on the other end of the float. tie a small dry fly or popper to the tag end of leader and cast around shore in 3 to 4 FOW. the crappie go crazy for this rig.

good luck......may have to get up there soon myself. great place to take kids. the panfishing is non-stop.:fish:

[Papa_Ron]

Thanks jst. I'm definately going to keep Fletcher's in mind! I was checking out the Resorts around the Pond, looking to see who & where I might rent a Pontoon from. Only found one place ("Jack's Landing") with a Pontoon. If there are other options for renting a Pontoon there I'd be grateful for the insight! Kind of hate it when there's just 'one' choice...but oh well, so-be-it, if that's the case. 'Must' have a Pontoon though, as there will likely always be a minimum of five of us, to even a couple more, 'possibly'. Our family 'loves' getting together for some Pontoon fishing!

[jstfish48162]

have you called the other resorts, or just checked their listings? sometimes, they will pick up new equipment, and not update their listings. you can also stay at one resort, and rent a pontoon from another. plus, most will have a "combo deal" when you rent boat and cabin at same resort. a little "phone time" will be needed.:fish:

[Papa_Ron]

No....have only looked at their website listings so far. That's a good idea..."calling them to check more in depth. Thanks

[dafuriousfisherman]

planning on goin to fletchers first weekend in sept. still be good fishin there??

[jstfish48162]

oh yeah.....just a word of advice....that is Early Goose Season and there are alot of geese that use the lake......2 + 2 = Goose Hunters. just be careful where you fish. the North End gets alot of waterfowl hunters, and parts of the South End. the main lake will be good, along with near the resorts.

smallies and largies should be on the feed for the upcoming colder months. also, the perch put on a good show in the fall as well. should have no problem catching good fish.

[dafuriousfisherman]

thanks jst appreciate the input :cool:

[mschmidt]

Papa Ron,

We rented our pontoon from Lyon's Landing... keep in mind I have not seen it yet. I will let all of you know about the trip when we return. Thank you so much for sharing all of this information. I know we will have a great trip.

Mike

[dafuriousfisherman]

have fun mschmidt good luck fishing but dont catch em all :fish2:

[Papa_Ron]

Papa Ron,

We rented our pontoon from Lyon's Landing... keep in mind I have not seen it yet. I will let all of you know about the trip when we return. Thank you so much for sharing all of this information. I know we will have a great trip.

Mike

I'll look into "Lyon's" also. Thanks! Hope you have a fantastic experience! Looking forward to your report!

[shwatec]

the weeds are not bad in this lake, I wish there were more weeds acutally
anyone who says this lake is too weedy doesnt know how to fish the lake. It is different in that most of the lake is 5 ft. then you have a river channel that runs through it that is around 12ft. If you drift the lake you will drift in and out of the channle and hit pockets and spots where it 5-10 ft deep full of cabbage weeds. Drop plastics, or run spinners through these and your in for a full day of catching Large Bass and aggressive huge pike. I was up there this past weekend and had a pike snap my steel leader. I suggest firline and a steel leader on all pike fishing including spinners. You will loose a bunch with getting hung up on the logs along with numerous with the pike swallowing them. I would say 5 easy without a leader. I have never spent a weekend without catching at least 1 bass over 4lbs and a pike near 10lbs. Its a great time out of the lake

[ozzgood2001]

i never said i dont know how to fish this lake..... ive only fished since i was like 12..... it is WEEDY and fishing is great..... i go to the same spot each year and limit out on big gills when no one else can find em, but i havent went in the last few years cause i am tired of chopping vegetation that was NEVER there when i was a kid. i also stay at Paradise Lodge so its like a whole different lake down at the dam end.....

[shwatec]

dont get bent out of shape, just didnt want the wrong idea that this lake is weedy, kent lake is weedy, ive never thought of fletchers as weedy .

[ozzgood2001]

you cant get me bent out of shape lifes to short lol but saying that that someone that thinks fletchers is weedy dont know how to fish it pretty much called me out..:) but kent...never fished it refuse to pay the outrageous launch fees so i got no clue how weedy it may be

[shametamer]

ah kent...they chemically treated her on the 28th of june and always seem to have their 'weed dredge ' going....south of the beaches weeds are non existant practically..north of the beaches its like a jungle..we were just out doing a shakedown run..sunday............fishing is not grand ..couple baby bass..one pencil..pike..couple tea cup gills and about 4 kayaks!:lol: .......P>S>..oh and one rather mean musky...said he was from down south..swam a few dams and was looking for a fellow named chad! he had 'blood in his eye'!!!:hide: .............p.p.s.yeah fletchers always gives up fish...but the smallies seem to be less n less each year...but ya wanna get a wallhanger largemouth..its about as good as it gets inland.

[Mr Jinx]

I agree with Ozzgood. It is WEEDY as hell down by the dam end. I don't even bother heading down that way. Fish the coves across from the public launch and over by Lyon's Landing. Always catch bass and pike. You pretty much have to try and not catch fish to be unsuccessful on this lake.

[mschmidt]

All,

We are back... I will keep this brief (yea right) as I am swapped at work.

Weather: Good, hot the first few days and only a couple brief storms. Wind picked up sometimes and blew from a different direction everyday.

Cabin: Good, small but had everything we needed, except air conditioning. We made due with the fan.

Fishing: Great, I will elaborate more later.

Boats: 14ft aluminum boat and motor was old but did fine. Pontoon needed a canopy but other then that, it was sweet.

Baby: Excellent, slept through the nights, started making new sounds, smiled at me for the first time. Never really made a peep on the boat.

Wife: Excellent, she was a trooper putting up with the 4:30 alarm clock to be the first on the water every morning. Put up with all the fishing even though I could tell she was getting tired of it after the third day.

Me: One of the best vacations of my life.

I will post pictures of some of the fish we caught tonight, but I will give you the low down now:

As I said the weather was tough with varying wind direction and speeds. We had 30mph out of the South one day, then 10mph out of the North the next. Thus, I never really figured out a good pattern. We had some full sun days and some cloudy days, drizzle another.

Though, no matter what the weather was doing I always seemed to catch roughly the same amount of fish every day. I would say I personally caught about 15 nice bass and pike each day (half and half). Some days 10 others 20. Most of the fish had good size to them, but no trophies (they all got away!). A few pike reached 3 ft and a couple bass close to 20". After the first few days I really only targeted them from 6-9 in the morning and 6-9 again at night. That was the only time I could get a consistent bite to keep the wife entertained. She skipped a few of the trips the last few days. People around said the fishing was about average for the week. I couldn't imagine it being better. As for baits, the winner of the trip was a Baby-M crank in autumn brown. Other Baby-M colors were hot too. Spinnerbaits worked well anytime. I also caught pike on spoons, mepps, etc. The weeds were tolerable for me. I started to remember better spots on the lake as the days went by. The wife did not like the weeds. The harder I reeled I seemed to have less of a problem and caught more fish.

Some highlights were:

Day 1: Lost a monster next to the boat (broke 8lb test), next cast I caught a 29" pike that inhaled my crank. I ate him due to him not making it. Also, stopped the boat just short of shore (100 yards) and landed another 29" pike in 3 ft of water in front of everyone on shore.

Day 2: Fishing in the middle of the afternoon just before heading in, had a 28" pike absolutely hammer a spoon about 3 ft from the boat in front of our eyes. As well, the wife landed the biggest bass of the trip ~5lbs 20" on a bobber and chub. This was cool.

Day 3: The wind calmed in the morning fishing by myself and I could see the fish coming to hammer my bait. Waves… then open mouth, then… kaboom. I lost 3 monsters in a row and two baits. I switched to leaders after this. I had a 3ft plus pike mangle a spinnerbait to the point where it was not functional anymore. I lost him next to the boat.

Day 4: Evening bite with a spinnerbait yielded me 4 nice bass on 4 casts before an approaching storm. I also caught a weird looking catfish.

Day 5: The wife landed a 29" pike fishing with a worm off the side of the boat for perch. This was great. I had a fish that would have been on my wall slip thorugh my hands. It was about a 16" crappie caught on a 3/4 oz spinner bait. Damn thing fought like a smallmouth.

Day 6: Best fishing day as it cooled off. Wind was rough but ripping a Baby-M hard through the weeds produced a bunch of nice fish. Caught numerous 6lb pike and kept one that died. I froze the filets and brought them home.

Overall, it was great and we will do it again. Likely only a weekend or 3-4 day trip though.

Mike

[mschmidt]

Here are the pics as promised... random order.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/122.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/121.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/120.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/119.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/118.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/117.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/116.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/115.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/114.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/113.jpg

[mschmidt]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/112.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/111.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/110.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/19.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/18.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/17.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/16.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/15.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/14.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/13.jpg

[mschmidt]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/12.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/11.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/mschmidt/1.jpg

[RyGuy525]

Looks like one awesome vacation! I'll have to remeber that in the upcoming years as a must do!

[NickMackin07]

baby-m's are golden up there thats whati used almost the whole time up there this year...also mepps spinners are good too...nice fish by the way did you by chance have cathy take any pics of any of those fish to put on the board???

[Papa_Ron]

Loved your report! Most appreciated! Absolutely terrific photos, just loved those as well! And that little munchkin of yours is so adorable!!!

Well I'm convinced now! When able, my next fishing trip with the grands will certainly be at Fletcher's! If their parents are 'lucky', I just 'might' allow them to go to, lololol.

Sounds like you did indeed have a terrific vacation. I'm happy for you. Were you with another couple on vacation? That little stone cabin looks interesting and cute. Umm....was anything said about maybe having a canopy put on that Pontoon? Boy....'I', really do need plenty of 'sun shade'! The sun tends to bother me quite a bit. Other than that though, and as I said before, just loved your vacation tale! Almost felt as if I were there to, lol.

Thanks a bunch Mike!

[mschmidt]

Papa Ron,

Glad you enjoyed the write up. The pontoons at Lyons are fishing pontoon's thus they do not have a canopy option. I saw plenty on pontoons out there with canopys so I'm sure calling around to all the other places that rent them will find you one. Good luck.

Mike

[ozzgood2001]

Awesome!!! looked like blast! thats what fletchers can do a variety of fish all the time and usually not much of a lull in the action. we would rent a pontoon from paradise lodge (with a canopy hehe) and just go out in the middle of the lake and let the wind drift us for hours didnt care which way we went! oh oh lemme ask did ya find any stumps with the boat prop lol

[mschmidt]

I found a stump within 30 seconds on the first day right in front or Cathy's husband (I assume)... he just laughed. I hit a couple the first day and got a little better as the week went on.

[Ron Howard]

All,

We are back... I will keep this brief (yea right) as I am swapped at work.


Fishing: Great, I will elaborate more later.


Though, no matter what the weather was doing I always seemed to catch roughly the same amount of fish every day. I would say I personally caught about 15 nice bass and pike each day (half and half). Some days 10 others 20. Most of the fish had good size to them, but no trophies (they all got away!). A few pike reached 3 ft and a couple bass close to 20". After the first few days I really only targeted them from 6-9 in the morning and 6-9 again at night. That was the only time I could get a consistent bite to keep the wife entertained. She skipped a few of the trips the last few days. People around said the fishing was about average for the week. I couldn't imagine it being better. As for baits, the winner of the trip was a Baby-M crank in autumn brown. Other Baby-M colors were hot too. Spinnerbaits worked well anytime. I also caught pike on spoons, mepps, etc. The weeds were tolerable for me. I started to remember better spots on the lake as the days went by. The wife did not like the weeds. The harder I reeled I seemed to have less of a problem and caught more fish.

Overall, it was great and we will do it again. Likely only a weekend or 3-4 day trip though.

Mike

My Girlfriend and I just found out about Fletcher's and plan on going up next week. (aug 2 - 7th)
Your report sold me on going there. sounds like a great time.
Thanks

[Papa_Ron]

LOL, Ron.....happens to be 'my' first and middle names, lolol.

[stickandrock]

My wife caught this monster on Fetchers last year.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/526/medium/DSC00205-1.JPG

Kidding aside. We had a blast. Over a weekend we boated around 25 fish (bass and pike), but by far that was the smallest. Sorry to say that we will not make it back there this year, but maybe next.

[fishinggirl]

hahahahahah :lol: :dizzy: :lol: :dizzy: :lol: :dizzy:

[fishcrazy]

quite a bit when we go up to visit my wifes folks who live there. It is a great fishing experience. I always look forward to going up there because the fishing is so good. My brother in law got me hooked on ice fishing on Fletchers a couple years ago and that is some fun. It is weedy but you can work a weedless spoon in there ok and when the topwater bite is on there aint much any better than that. I wish I knew of a waleye sopt to fish from shore in that area.

[COCKROACH69]

looks like you had a good time. cute kid (lots of hair=))
& that is one BIG bass maybe next spring i'll get up to the pond

[Raymond S.]

Just got through reading all the posts in this thread. One question, where is Fletcher's pond located?...I've heard alot about it, but noone ever mentioned where in the state it is located?...

[Gillgitter]

Fletchers is in Hilman, Just West of Alpena.