North Lake/Silver Lake

[RyGuy525]

Sucked it up pretty good today!:rant:

Started the day off by breaking the tip off one of my favorite rods:rant:

We made it on the ice by 8 o'clock at north Lake and fished there until about 1. We fished from right of the launch out to 21 FOW. Didn't even mark a fish until we got out to the 21 FOW and they turned out to be 5-6 inch dink perch that were very reluctant to bite. We ended up with about 10 dinky perch for out effort there. Also a few of the perch were leaking eggs already. They were not fully matured eggs but they were deffintly coming out. Very odd for this time of year! We also set 2 tip ups with the little perch we caught and never had a flag.

On to Silver lake we go...Got there about 1:45 and started out on the bay to the right. The ice was very iffy there but we tip toed our way out to 20 FOW and covered everything in between there and shore and never marked a fish. Then we went over to the Island And fished about 10 holes. Never marked a fish or had a fish come into the hole. Talked to a few guys one said he got his limit 2 guys had a pretty nice pile of fish on the ice and everyone else we talked to said they never even saw a fish. All and all the day of catching sucked but the fishing was good!

[Gutz]

That does sound a little weird about the perch. I wonder if the ice out threw them off? Been awhile since I looked at the life history of a perch but I think they spawn pretty early but not that early. My buddies didn't do too much on South today. I didn't get a chance to get out today. I was thinking about heading to North or Silver tomorrow but one of my buddies has never been to another lake nearby so I think I'm going to take him there. I'll be in the Clam Guide with the white MS bluegill logo (thanks again, John) if any one happens to be on the same lake and wants to say hi. Radio 7-0.

-G

[RyGuy525]

I have to work tomorrow but good luck if you get out. I think im done with the inland fishing for a little while. Time to hit st.clair.

[Wilson]

From what I was told, the ice in front of the island locked up on Monday. I was thinking the same thing about the deeper water, Yesterday when we started checking the ice we only had about 2" off the island, so we just stuck to the bays, 6 good inches of ice!

[Gutz]

Also, I don't mean to be secretive about the lake I'm going to tomorrow. It's a popular lake that most of you that fish around North/Silver have probably fished but somebody else introduced it to me a long time ago and I make it a habit not to post specifics about places other people have showed me. If it's something I found on my own, that's another story. In case in anyone cares.

[ibthetrout]

I was out at Silver and only had one bite in 5 hours! Drilled probably 30 holes! Others around me were having the same luck. I had planned to go to North lake this morning, and still will. But based on that report I am not going to stay long if I don't catch anything.

[sigman]

Havent been to silver in years but we used to fish the bay when you go over the hill down to the lake to the left. Pretty good hike but we used to kill the pike all day. Kept us busy. We used to keep a shanty on the lake. We would get at least one 10lb plus every year and an 18lber being our best. By the way me and Crappie Depot did OK again in Oakland county on Saturday. Our biggest gill being just over 10in. Quite a few 8 1/2's. Only 15 keepers but the crappie didnt show up at dark like they have been. Only caught one.

[Darren1]

I got to North for the first time Yesterday at around 2 pm. Ice was 6-7 inches and fished in about 15-20 FOW with a tip-up in 10, just deeper than the cabbage weeds. I too caught many little perch and no gills. I caught 1 keeper pike on a Golden Shiner, and one hammer handle. Good afternoon on the ice. A guy fishing by me was at the west end of the lake and ice was only 2 inches. I am a transplant from Northern Michigan (Gaylord) and love to catch pike. Any info on local (Pinckney) lakes would be greatly appreciated.

[RichP]

strange about the perch, out of all the years fishing North I'm not sure I've ever caught one there before.

don't give up on the pinckney/waterloo rec areas Ryan, keep trying, and eventually you'll find a honey hole in one of the lakes. And when you do, friendly word of advice, don't talk about it here. ;)

[Gutz]

I got to North for the first time Yesterday at around 2 pm. Ice was 6-7 inches and fished in about 15-20 FOW with a tip-up in 10, just deeper than the cabbage weeds. I too caught many little perch and no gills. I caught 1 keeper pike on a Golden Shiner, and one hammer handle. Good afternoon on the ice. A guy fishing by me was at the west end of the lake and ice was only 2 inches. I am a transplant from Northern Michigan (Gaylord) and love to catch pike. Any info on local (Pinckney) lakes would be greatly appreciated.

If you like pike through the ice, I would think about Big Silver, it's got a ton but no public access for boats when the ice is gone.

[Darren1]

I appreciate the info! Where do you suggest getting on the ice. Blue Fishtrap Pro with a red outfit if you see me out there. Stop by and say hello!

[Gutz]

It has public walk-in access all year but it's 100+ yards from the water. I think you can carry a canoe or something in but I'm not sure. But back to the hardwater...Silver is off of some road I can't think of off of Dexter Townhall road about 1-2 North of N. Territorial on the West side of the road. It is clearly marked, if I remember right, as a DNR headquarter which is good because you will need to buy a state sticker to park at Silver which is past the HQ 1/4 mile or so. I haven't been out there in a few years but I didn't do very well last weekend so you might see me out there.

[RyGuy525]

I wasen't overly impressed with Silver personaly....Never even saw a fish in 3 hours and we moved a lot!

[Gutz]

Yeah, that's one of the reasons I haven't been back in awhile but I know there are some fish in there and I remember the last time I fished there I kept losing crappie minnow rigs to northerns which is why Darren might like to try it.

[RyGuy525]

I jigged a large jiggin rap trying to get a pike and never had one come anywhere near the hole...

[Darren1]

Thanks Gutz for the info! I will do some research on my end as to what road to use to get to that location. I think I will have an opportunity to get out after work on Thursday.

[Long Spurs]

Try 7 to 9 [fow]. From what I have seen in the last week. You would think they would be on the deep weed edges, but what I found they are not. Try the shallow side of the weeds, if not right in them! Good Luck!

[Darren1]

Thanks Long Spurs! I will give that a try. Its pouring warm rain right now so not sure if Thursday is going to be the day. I appreciate the info! good luck out there and be safe!

[hardwatersteve]

Great lake to fish if you can find the gills, can be tough but when you do game on. Fish the lake from just before dark till a couple hours past and you will knock the crappies dead, I myself only fish North lake late in the evenings and after dark and have no problems catching the specs, the lake is loaded with them. Fish between the two points strait out from the launch with minnows.