I need a fishing report for Big or Little Portage Lake please...

[Hunt4Ever]

Can anyone update me on the fishing at these lakes? I'm interested in crappie and walleyes. I know it is pretty hot to fish, but it still beats working!

Thanks

[Papa Smurf]

I fish Big Portage frequently in the summer for panfish but if memory serves me correctly, the length of the eastern shoreline is good for walleye according to the map in Tom Huggler's lake map publication. Last spring, I saw some nice crappie milling around in the sheltered area near the boat dealer just left (south) of the public launch; however, I am a horrible crappie fisherman and I don't know where to locate them in the warmer months.

Big Portage is great for plump gills and pumkinseeds summer through fall around weedbeds. Certain weedy areas along the eastern shore hold lots of perch too (8-10 feet of water). Hold the boat still and they will congregate right under you and you can watch them strike. Also, there are rock bass in there big enough to stop your heart if you're using light line!

Btw, I'm referring to the Big Portage Lake that's on the Huron River and not the one in Waterloo Rec. Area.

[Hunt4Ever]

Thanks Papa Smurf. We got out last night and did well on the gills. We only kept 3, but they were bigger than my hand.

I cought a nice smallmouth, my buddy cought a nice largemouth. We were after crappies and gill, so they were put back to grow bigger. I cought the smallmouth on 2lb line, it was a great fight.

Your correct about the rock bass. My buddy cought one and when he was bringing it in I thought it was another smallmouth. A very big rockbass.

We were fishing the sunken islands in the southern half of the lake. If anyone wants the GPS numbers I will post them. We marked both spots. We just anchored on the island and fished the sides. We marked fish all evening in the 13-20 foot range over the 20-30 foot drop off.

We used small jigs tipped with minnows and plain old leaf worms on a slip bobber.

I hope to get out again soon.

(I got to get a boat!)

[Papa Smurf]

Hunt4ever,
I wish I could give you more info on the lake but most of my time has been spent in the corner by the public launch; by the time I get myself on the water after driving from Toledo I only have a couple of hours to fish before dark! I fish from a canoe so I don't want to spend more time paddling than fishing.

You can also access Baseline Lake from the public launch. Just turn right from the ramp, go under the bridge and make a left in the Huron River (stay away from the dam to the right). Baseline is just upstream a few minutes. I've only fished there for an hour or so one day before paddling back to Big Portage so I'm not sure how the fishing is overall.