Smallies in TC Bays

[Fishwater1]

I'm headed to Northport for a couple of weeks next week. I finally have a boat that I can take out in the bays and want to try and connect with some of the bay's bronzebacks.

Anyone one know how the bite is going? Willing to share any patterns? It will be my first time in the bays so I'm looking to cut down the learning curve a bit.

Send me a PM if you're worried about info getting out.

Thanks,

J

[The Fishing Pollock]

Actually straight out from Northport is a good area. Fish the shelf system out from shore. Try lightlining dropshot rigs and carolina rigs. stick to the cradad colors or chartrue combos. Spinnerbaits might work but it is so clear ya can see a mile down.

[waterfoul]

I've always been told (but haven't tried it yet due to not having a boat to do it in) that the old mission point holds some good smallies. It is just south of straight west out of the Northport harbor (like maybe 1:00 if you want to use the "watch" nomenclature). Been by it several times in my big boat. There is a small island out there too... between the point and N.P.

[SgtSabre]

I fished off of the tip of the seawall at the Northport marina this last friday. To my surprise, I caught something!!! One 12" smallmouth. Had another 12" bite, and something that looked huge take a swipe at my spinner twice and miss it both times.

There was a DNR employee out there one day (not a CO) that told me there are some very nice smallmouth right outside the marina, as well as walleye during the late evening and night.

I've seen schools of what appeared to be some kind of trout roaming about the sandy flats outside of the Suttons Bay marina.

Also, for whatever it's worth, a friend of our family who is a year-round resident there supposedly was informed by the indians that the fishing is very good around the old pilings near the beach in Omena bay. He says whitefish are caught there often.

We all await your report.

[Fishwater1]

Thanks for the feedback so far. It's refreshing to get these responses, espcecially since I have not contributed much to the forum. I most certainly will provide a detailed report regardless of success.

I'm 100% C&R on most game fish (smallies included). Typically I fish muskies and thought about going to Skegemog while up there but I want to spend time learning the waters around Northport.

I didn't realize that there was a fishable population of walleyes in the area. I'll give that a go a few nights too.

Is the submerged island/bar right out from the NP marina worth my time? From a structure standpoint, it seems it would be but I've fished some bars that might as well have been on the moon.

anyway - thanks for the info so far. I'm headed there on the 14th.

[The Fishing Pollock]

Don't forget the pictures!

[wtrwlf]

Hey Fishwater. I was up on Skegemog at the beginning of June. They were having a Michigan BASS tournament. I happened to catch some of their weigh in. Talk about some HOG Smallies. We got into a few, but nothing like that. Never got int any musky but did land a few nice northerns (26-28").

[Fishwater1]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'm headed up today. I'll post a report in a few weeks when I get back (and pictures too).

[Fishwater1]

Good news and bad news.

The bad news first - I had to cut my vacation short and come back to work. Left the family up there and hope to head back this weekend.

Good news - headed out to Bellows island and connected with a few small smallies before having to head in due to weather.

I also dropped the camera down on the 15-20 ft breaks and saw a number of fish - not tightly packed but definitely there. I'll be giving them a go when I get back up there.

[The Fishing Pollock]

Hey Fishwater. I was up on Skegemog at the beginning of June. They were having a Michigan BASS tournament. I happened to catch some of their weigh in. Talk about some HOG Smallies. We got into a few, but nothing like that. Never got int any musky but did land a few nice northerns (26-28").

that has to be the fisrt T on that chain in yearssssssssssssss. They use to come up and launch in ER and fish the whole chain, but since ER has screwed up the waterfront area pretty good and nixed most of the hotels. they havent been there in at least 15 years to my knowldge.

[barry county jim]

How big a boat do you need to reach the fish? I have a 16' semi V fisher with 70 and wondered if I could reach the fish. I know it depends on the weather .

[ALLEYES]

Watch the weather and you should be fine. Finding them out there can be tough, but don't give up and fish the rocks. I caught a 5.25 lb and a 6 lb smalljaw out of west bay a few years back.

[Fishwater1]

I would think you'd be ok around northport area with that boat as long as you do as you said and keep an eye on the weather / water. Bellows Island ("Gull Island") is about 2 mi run from the NP marina. It's still partly sheltered by NP point.

Be careful of the submerged island straight out from the marina. w/o a chart, I can see how someone new would run right up on it. I almost did while running my trolling motor and I knew it was there.

Heading up again this weekend.