Otsego Lake?

[MDH]

Hello,

I was supposed to be going up to Cedarville this weekend to do some perch fishing, but I basically got screwed out of staying at my own place! :rant:

So instead I am most likely headed up to stay at my in-laws place near Otsego lake. I will be staying in Waters, MI. I was wondering if the fishing is any good on Otsego right now, and maybe even what to target. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't expect to be given specific spots or anything, but maybe some general advice. (if you want to be specific I'll take that too :lol: )

Also, are there any other lakes within a reasonable range, say 30 minute drive that we should hit instead. We are basically a 15 minute drive west of 75 on the Waters exit.

Thank you very much,

MDH

[Bowslayer]

There are tons of lakes up there w/in a ten minute drive. I have no idea about ice fishing them but I've had good luck in early spring on a few of them. Big Bradford is a good one, Big Lk, and Manuka. Good luck.

[NittanyDoug]

We'll actually be staying in Lakes of the North. Any tips would be great.

[woodie slayer]

you can fish otsego for sturgon all winter..hand lining out of a rented shanty is a blast..

[mjmmusser]

Big Twin has smelt(not alot this year) and perch(tons of 6 inchers) and a few trout.We even got 2 suckers on hali's out there this year.
Bear Lake in Kalkaska County has good numbers of browns.
Intermediate by Central Lake has walleye, pike and a few muskie.
Lake Bellaire has walleye and a few pike.
Manistee Lake is starting to pick up a bit, Pike and a few walleye are being caught.
Bluegills can be had at Indian lake and papoose(watch the ice on papoose since there are a lot of springs in the lake)
Holy Island on lake Charlevoix, a few walleye and perch are being caught from what I heard.
If Clam is froze over, tons of dinky perch can be caught and an occasional pike.
Otsego hasn't been to good as far as I have heard, a few perch and undersized waleye are being caught.
If you have snowmobiles handy, PM me and I'll give you info on a lake where you can catch decent sized perch but not in quantity.
PM me if you have any questions about lakes in the area or get ahold of Linda G.

--Mike

[Linda G.]

I'm not hearing anything about any of the lakes lately.

One, or maybe two, muskies a year out of Intermediate, don't get too excited.

Not very many fishermen, it's been too cold and windy, and watch the ice...snow and wind has made it touchy.

I never hear anything about Otsego at any time of the year except about the crowd looking for sturgeon...and they're fishing those fish out.

[NittanyDoug]

Wow, you guys are really making me rethink wether we should go there or not. I would have thought the fishing would have been real good up there somewhere.