Kent Lake pike?

[fishinthed]

When I was a kid Kent Lake was being stocked with pike, but it seemed they weren't really established there, though I had once lost a real nice one (about a 3 footer).

I was skimming through a book on SE Michigan fishing spots, and saw some recent creel survey data for pike in Kent Lake that was pretty impressive: good numbers and size.

So, do any of you fish for pike -- or catch them while targeting other fish -- in Kent Lake?

I just may head out there to get me some gators if it's really become that good.

[Little Roober]

I caught one the last time I fished it...Like 7 years ago...26ish inches i believe.

[Carpman]

I know Jerry (A guy who's there everyday) got one through the ice this year but unsure of the size.

[DE82]

First let me say I'm not speaking from experience here but one of my best friends before he moved to Montana loved fishing Kent Lake in his canoe for crappie. There wasn't a trip I can ever remember talking to him about where he didn't catch a few pike mixed in no matter if he was using jigs, minnows, or crankbaits. Given that I'm sure you could catch them with little problem in that lake. I've never fished it much but it's my understanding that it's turned into a very good fishery over the years. I just can't tear myself away from the crappie and walleye in island lake or trout in the spring mill pond to try it much. - Bryon

[RichP]

So, do any of you fish for pike -- or catch them while targeting other fish -- in Kent Lake?

just in ice fishing season. I only hit Kent 2 or 3 times a year nowadays, but when I'm jigging for pannies in the shanty I usually also have a tip-up in operation. Probably have accidentally caught more bass on the tip-up than pike at Kent, and the pike that I have caught I do not think ever went beyond 30" ...But I've heard of some bigguns being taken there...

[fishinthed]

Thanks for the info, folks. Keep the info coming.

I think I'll give it a shot -- and also see how some of the techniques that have been working for the Lake St. Clair smallies work for those nice bass in there.

I just can't tear myself away from the crappie and walleye in island lake or trout in the spring mill pond to try it much. - Bryon

Walleye in Island Lake and trout in the spring mill pond? Hmmm. I was never aware of Island lake having walleyes, if that's the same Island Lake not far from Kent Lake where I used to go swimming. Seemed too small to be a good spot for 'eyes.

Is that the pond in Milford you're referring to, Bryon? Is there good action during the mid-summer there?

[DE82]

Thanks for the info, folks. Keep the info coming.

I think I'll give it a shot -- and also see how some of the techniques that have been working for the Lake St. Clair smallies work for those nice bass in there.



Walleye in Island Lake and trout in the spring mill pond? Hmmm. I was never aware of Island lake having walleyes, if that's the same Island Lake not far from Kent Lake where I used to go swimming. Seemed too small to be a good spot for 'eyes.

Is that the pond in Milford you're referring to, Bryon? Is there good action during the mid-summer there?Spring Mill Pond is in Island Lk. Rec. Area and the DNR has been stocking it for some time now with Trout. I've seen trout that were over 10lbs cruising the shallows there but never caught any that big there.

Walleye just in more recent years have been stocked into Island Lk. I've caught them when I'm crappie and Gill fishing on normal panfish tackle like small jigs and cranks. Pike are also in Island Lk as per stocking. The ONLY problem I've found with Island Lk is no way to get a boat on it unless you know somebody who lives on it. I always take my canoe. If your fishing from shore, your not likely to get into the walleye or crappie there but you'll play with small gills and bass all day long. - Bryon


EDIT - I forgot to answer your question about how the action is at Spring Mill Pond in the summer. The action is decent, you will get a lot of bass when targeting trout, no matter what you use IME. - Bryon

[Bender16v]

I seem to catch a few pike here and there in Kent, but nothing very big. My friend did catch one around 40" earlier this year though. I run into them mostly on the ~10' flat about halfway between the West launch and the I-96 bridge.

[Windnots]

I have seen one just under 40 inches come out of there. It was a buddies dad that caught it, and it was years ago. He also caught it while targeting crappies. I went there last week just screwing around under the bridge for panfish and watched what appeared to be two different pike, both largish jumping south of I-96.

[RJSwirlz]

I don't know about the numbers, but I know there's some nice ones. We caught two 30 inch plus pike last summer right by the bridge while bass fishing. Its tough to tell by the little picture, but there's definitely some pig's in Kent.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/thumbs/SwirlyPike1_640x480_.JPG (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=71410&ppuser=17430)

[msunolimit]

Here you go, an easier to see version of the pic.

NICE FISH!

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/SwirlyPike1_640x480_.JPG

[ManxFishing]

I fished there once this year
I myself was after Bass, Had a problem with the front trolling motor.

So I made a trolling pass going in
Over 15' FOW 40' back (10' down)
Took a 30" right off the start on a bone colored Wiggle Wart
And then I took 2 nice smallies (18' & 19")

I really don't like how the double charge (truck & boat) to get in the there
So I don't fish there but once or twice a year

Seems like if you trolled by the X-way over the deeeper water
You would do very well

[shametamer]

ya find the northerns from i-96 to buno rd...spring n fall..during the summer i would stick with the deeper water(fishing piers along south shore/north of i-96)..decent size shiner or sucker minnow...while waiting them out you can cast for the bass in same area.....we generally target the walleyes..but usually take a pike or 2..we'll be there on the 4th....they gotta be bigger here than millecoquins,caribou or houghton..caught more shorts than i care to count recently....9 of 10 undersize..lol/////////////// if you have a boat trolling can be effective...firetiger or hot perch colors..harnesses, cranks etc

[sigman]

I fished there once this year
I myself was after Bass, Had a problem with the front trolling motor.

So I made a trolling pass going in
Over 15' FOW 40' back (10' down)
Took a 30" right off the start on a bone colored Wiggle Wart
And then I took 2 nice smallies (18' & 19")

I really don't like how the double charge (truck & boat) to get in the there
So I don't fish there but once or twice a year

Seems like if you trolled by the X-way over the deeeper water
You would do very well
Same charge at Lake Erie Metropark

[fishinthed]

Thanks for all the replies.

That's a real nice one, RJSwirlz! :fish:

The place has great habitat for pike, so I'm not surprised it's come into its own. And I know about the monster bass, huge carp, and big crappies in there (caught personal best 22.5", 5lb smallie there). Definitely gotta re-acquaint myself with it. I'll probably start by trolling the drop-offs around the deeper original lake area and river channel with one line out for pike and the other with a pike-friendly big bass rig, and cast to a few of the 'ol bass shore fishing hotspots.

I already have the Metroparks stickers (which cost $20 for the car, $24 for the boat/trailer for the year), so I'm good to go.

[Roosevelt]

kent lake is an all round great lake for fishing...especially trolling.

I saw what the DNR was pullin outta the traps a couple years back. Lotsa bigguns and some fine eating too. pike, LM, SM, eyes. Nice gills and crappie too. I've caught rainbows and browns as well. one lady nails em. Another guy nails good size perch too but he won't tell me where. it's a big lake w' few good spots to fish. There's lotsa tiny perch.

this time of year I fish for pike by the docks in the deep water. at about the 20' mark. i've trolled real fast in the prop wash and the pike come right up and nail em. Mostly cranks. The natural rebel crawdad is awesome as well as tiny tads. White, silver, red, blue. Flour yellow and fire tiger are good too.

I fish the river channel for eyes and the drops past the weeds for big gills.

I've never fished much for bass there but it is real good and suppposed to be one of the best bass fisheries in the state. i've seen 7 lb'ers come out of there. 5 lbs. is fairly common. IMO!

I used to do real good on the crappies thru the ice but they seem to be more scarce and kinda small the past few years. maybe due to the large amount of of good eatin size pike, bass and eyes.

I've seen many 40+ inch pike come out. My biggest and prolly average pike was 34" or so. They seem to run 27-32 on average. I rarely catch hammerheads there.:) If ya can get in before they open or after dark it's phenomenal. I think it's bogue they double charge for boat and vehic.

please obey the 10mph limit. Most don't and it messes up the fishin. IMO! plus they should do away w' the ferry. The guy drivin has no clue and really interfers w' fishin. Especially for boats adrift that are not under power. He should be fined. LOL!

Alot of people I know worry the word'll get out but the lake is biig enuf it can support itself. Besides 9 outta 10 fisherpeople have no clue what they're doin there in the first place. It's great for carp too. LOL! people actually come from round the world to fish it for carp. I wish they'd take em home but most catch and release.

BTW, you'll get alot more fish from a canoe than anything else. I've fished there my whole life. and my family before me. I've seen many a 48" plus toothy critters come out of there.:fish:

[fishinthed]

Thanks, Roosevelt! I wasn't aware any trout made it in there from the river. I suppose 40 ft deep is enough. Probably all stay right in the deep area once it gets warm.

My dad had caught 25" smallies in there from shore. In the old days it was a walk through the woods to get to the spot, and few people fished there. One spot is still good for smallies.

My motor can't even go 10 mph, so no worries there. And yeah, the ferry driver sux. I think the clown tries to bother fishers ...

[Roosevelt]

I troll aways back for the eyes and he's crossed my lines on several occasions.:sad: plus he stirs up alot of weeds which makes trollin difficult at times.

i was told the trout that make it into Kent have to go down over the dam at the mill pond in downtown Milford. Not sure if that's true. BTW! Mill pond is good for trout and there are some monster pike there. I had one jump right in the canoe once.:yikes:

I've heard they only stock em upstream from that point. Around Moss lake? Again I don't know for sure just hearsay. But they are caught in Kent nonetheless.

i was standin on the big T dock and reeled one in. All the carp fisherman freaked as well as myself. 18"er.

[shametamer]

no pike today...slowwwww.... bass and a couple of fair crappie....lotsa traffic..yeah the old island queen with paddle wheel is history..the new version has twin yammies and the guy drives like a toronto cabbie!:yikes:

[DonnyMac]

I fish Kensington about 2-3 times a month. $20 for the day of rowing and I am good to go. Last summer Using 7-9" rapalas I caught a few in the 30-36" range and one well over 40". The majority coming from the weeds between maple beach and the water slide.