Croton pond

[ready2fish]

I haven't fished that water (soft) in many years and decided to try it yesterday morning, The water temps were 55 deg with a much colder air temp.I was trying to go after crappie and wasn't sure how them waters are for catching them, all I ended up catching after a couple of Hours were 1- 22" pike, 1- 7 1/2" bluegill and my trolling motor, I remember someone saying they had been on there and to watch out for floating logs, well i was flying across the lake and hit a small one, after that i noticed quiet a few more so watch it :yikes:

Is there a good numbers of crappie there

[sfw1960]

Try the small pond - river channel edges - use to get quite a few while chasing perch.
:D

[Westlakedrive]

Look for some small bays or cuts especially up the river this time of year should be great.

[eyesforever]

Look for some small bays or cuts especially up the river this time of year should be great.

the stumps in the lil pond, weed edges w/ drops.

[ready2fish]

thanks for the good tips :fish:

[sfw1960]

Look for some small bays or cuts especially up the river this time of year should be great.
I don't know about Wes' abilities....
:evilsmile
the stumps in the lil pond, weed edges w/ drops.
But Dave knows what the hell he's doing.....

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Westlakedrive]

All right I cant dispute the above post:
Having caught a Master angler crappie as recently as November (I actually fish for them sometime) should qualify me.
Also camped on Hardy Pond last year during Memorial Day weekend and if you hit the right cove it was loaded with crappie.

[shametamer]

ya can't miss Dave..he's the guy who's knees are buckling from the weight of the limits he pulls from that pond!!!!:evilsmile

[Westlakedrive]

ya can't miss Dave..he's the guy who's knees are buckling from the weight of the limits he pulls from that pond!!!!:evilsmile

When you get to be Dave's age I am not sure if you can tell for sure why his knees are buckling. :lol:

[shametamer]

When you get to be Dave's age I am not sure if you can tell for sure why his knees are buckling. :lol:

I dunno..you see him at the casino when he hits a royal or 3 diamonds..he makes mike vick..look old,crippled and slow:yikes: robert(walleye champeen and west coast legend) on the other hand, we know is buckled and bowlegged from all the electronics he carries and he runs with!:p

[ready2fish]

doe he know Croton well or all lakes

[shametamer]

dave=eyesforever...croton is his 'home' water

[ready2fish]

dave=eyesforever...croton is his 'home' water

and i thought he was someone that could walk on water, lol

[sfw1960]

All right I cant dispute the above post:
Having caught a Master angler crappie as recently as November (I actually fish for them sometime) should qualify me.
Also camped on Hardy Pond last year during Memorial Day weekend and if you hit the right cove it was loaded with crappie.
It's not like we've fished against each other competitively or anything....
Anybody can catch 'em from th' frEEk....Even ED!!
:lol:
Hardy - is NOT Croton and many folks (including Dave) will tell you they DO NOT fish the same.
:p

and i thought he was someone that could walk on water, lol
On Croton , he probably CAN.
:mischeif: :bowdown: http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Westlakedrive]

I dont think that you can say they dont fish the same. The same techiniques work for certain species regardless of the lake you are fishing.
This allows anglers to pattern species from lake to lake.
Hardy water is different from Croton water thats obvious.
However, if you find a certain water temp/depth/clarity environmental conditions that hold crappie on Hardy then find the same environmental conditions on Croton they will both hold the same type of fish. Its a biological certainty.

[bassdisaster]

About the only thing certain about fishing, i don't care the species be it bass, walleye, pike, perch or gills, if you don't GET YOUR LINE WET YOU WONT GET BIT!

Nuff said! LOL


BD

[sfw1960]

I dont think that you can say they dont fish the same. The same techiniques work for certain species regardless of the lake you are fishing.
This allows anglers to pattern species from lake to lake.
Hardy water is different from Croton water thats obvious.
However, if you find a certain water temp/depth/clarity environmental conditions that hold crappie on Hardy then find the same environmental conditions on Croton they will both hold the same type of fish. Its a biological certainty.
Thank you for stating the obvious Wesley....
:lol:
Certainty sCHmertainty....
I didn't suggest WHY they fish different - I said that they DO.
:tdo12:
Now maybe you can see WHY they fish differently , as the conditions on Hardy vary greatly from Croton on any given day.

I bet there's often as much as a 5 degree difference between the two (especially comparing the little pond to Hardy).
Water clarity is NEVER the same on the two .
Croton seems to have much more standing timber than Hardy - albeit I have NOT scoped Hardy extensively with my Aqua Vu.
Bottom compostion is usually different too.
:p
If they are so similar - WHY does Hardy have a greater walleye population than Hardy??
Why are there (seemingly) so many more hammer handles in Hardy that Croton?

Croton's probably a better bet for specs and gills for SURE.

Ask Dave!
;)

[Westlakedrive]

If they are so similar - WHY does Hardy have a greater walleye population than Hardy??
Why are there (seemingly) so many more hammer handles in Hardy that Croton?

Croton's probably a better bet for specs and gills for SURE.

Ask Dave!
;)

It seems I am right brained and you are left brained. :lol: I pretty much agree with your analysis.

I am assuming Hardy has a greater walleye population than Croton? But if I wanted to catch a keeper I would go to Croton first.
You answered your own question- why are there more hammer handles in Hardy....because Croton is a better bet for specs and gils.

[sfw1960]

It seems I am right brained and you are left brained. :lol: I pretty much agree with your analysis.

I am assuming Hardy has a greater walleye population than Croton? But if I wanted to catch a keeper I would go to Croton first.
You answered your own question- why are there more hammer handles in Hardy....because Croton is a better bet for specs and gils.
Both are diversified fisheries with excellent forage bases , so this doesn't explain the differences Mr right brain....
Sounds like you & I should do some competitive fishing on BOTH ponds , huh???

:evilsmile

[Westlakedrive]

Both are diversified fisheries with excellent forage bases , so this doesn't explain the differences Mr right brain....
Sounds like you & I should do some competitive fishing on BOTH ponds , huh???

:evilsmile

I was thinking about that. Croton would be a good place for a crappie tournament. Its all the rage down south.

Whatever the species though you may have to handicap me a few pounds. I was at Dave's garage sale and bought some of his fishing tackle a while back. Unfortunately I wasnt smart enough to realize he was only unloading all the tackle that didnt work on Croton pond. :D

[eyesforever]

When you get to be Dave's age I am not sure if you can tell for sure why his knees are buckling. :lol:

Hey, I'm not old, just "age challenged".:lol:

[eyesforever]

ya can't miss Dave..he's the guy who's knees are buckling from the weight of the limits he pulls from that pond!!!!:evilsmile

Not today Bill!

[eyesforever]

[QUOTE=sfw1960;2708523]It's not like we've fished against each other competitively or anything....
Anybody can catch 'em from th' frEEk....Even ED!!
:lol:
Hardy - is NOT Croton and many folks (including Dave) will tell you they DO NOT fish the same.
:p


On Croton , he probably CAN.

Ah, shucks mam'm, twarnt nothin'. ;)

[eyesforever]

I was thinking about that. Croton would be a good place for a crappie tournament. Its all the rage down south.

Whatever the species though you may have to handicap me a few pounds. I was at Dave's garage sale and bought some of his fishing tackle a while back. Unfortunately I wasnt smart enough to realize he was only unloading all the tackle that didnt work on Croton pond. :D

Well uuum, uhhh, you got me there Wes.:lol: Buuuttt, them rods work O.K.

[eyesforever]

It seems I am right brained and you are left brained. :lol: I pretty much agree with your analysis.

I am assuming Hardy has a greater walleye population than Croton? But if I wanted to catch a keeper I would go to Croton first.
You answered your own question- why are there more hammer handles in Hardy....because Croton is a better bet for specs and gils.

Yuppers, on the keepers. Have never, and I mean never, caught a short in Croton. Hammer handles in Croton are all eaten by the BIGGIES in there. :lol:

[shametamer]

Well uuum, uhhh, you got me there Wes.:lol: Buuuttt, them rods work O.K.

whatcha doin dave? greenin these younguns?or suckering them for a BIG SCORE?we got kids as old as robert and grandkids as old as wes!:mischeif:

[eyesforever]

whatcha doin dave? greenin these younguns?or suckering them for a BIG SCORE?we got kids as old as robert and grandkids as old as wes!:mischeif:

Who, ME? Would I do such a thing:16suspect? Yeah, and we have one pushin' YOUR age Bill. OMG, Wes may be right on the age thing:lol:.

[ready2fish]

I was thinking about that. Croton would be a good place for a crappie tournament. Its all the rage down south.




now that would be fun :fish:

[eyesforever]

Thank you for stating the obvious Wesley....
:lol:
Certainty sCHmertainty....
I didn't suggest WHY they fish different - I said that they DO.
:tdo12:
Now maybe you can see WHY they fish differently , as the conditions on Hardy vary greatly from Croton on any given day.

I bet there's often as much as a 5 degree difference between the two (especially comparing the little pond to Hardy).
Water clarity is NEVER the same on the two .
Croton seems to have much more standing timber than Hardy - albeit I have NOT scoped Hardy extensively with my Aqua Vu.
Bottom compostion is usually different too.
:p
If they are so similar - WHY does Hardy have a greater walleye population than Hardy??
Why are there (seemingly) so many more hammer handles in Hardy that Croton?

Croton's probably a better bet for specs and gills for SURE.

Ask Dave!
;)

O.K., they DO fish different. There can be a hugh temp difference...True. Myself ,I beleive it has a LOT to do with water movement in Croton. IE: dam opening and closing. A good rain of 1/2in will snort down the lil river, and bring lots'a mud along=ing clarity. But still think the movement is THE big one, being such a short distance through the lil pond, river to dam. Heck, I even go/not go based on time/water movement, and barometer being steady/up/down.

[eyesforever]

now that would be fun :fish:

Am I invited?;)

[ready2fish]

Am I invited?;)

thats makes 2 of us so far ^^^

[shametamer]

thats makes 2 of us so far ^^^

byron center? you should be our gun and macatawa lakes pro!..how bout gull? wind kickin your way?13 knots and up around these parts

[ready2fish]

byron center? you should be our gun and macatawa lakes pro!..how bout gull? wind kickin your way?13 knots and up around these parts


ya right pro something:)

I didn't go out this morning weather been awful windy the past few days

never been on macatawa lakes or gull but plan on checking out gull. Gun lake believe it or not was my first time 2 weeks back crappie fishing and the bite has been very good, limits every time out but thats probably do to the spawning thing, i just wonder how this lake produces year around. Her are a few pics.

gun lake5-8-09
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/gun5-5-09_Medium_.jpg

gun lake 5-19-09
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/gun_5-19-09_Medium_.jpg

duncan lake 5-20-09

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/duncan_2-20-09_Medium_.jpg

[shametamer]

nice catch! i oughta send you to see my friend Jeff in the yooper he loves crappie but struggles to catch them in the open water season...think i have a couple of master angler patches from gun..lol largemouth bass n rock bass i believe I b tryin to get tothe west coast this summer to see 'eyesforever' wally eye 'sfw' waterfoul and i am eager to try gull on(been years.decades since i dipped a line in her) ever do magician or diamond? certainly u've hit morrison and sessions

[ready2fish]

nice catch! i oughta send you to see my friend Jeff in the yooper he loves crappie but struggles to catch them in the open water season...think i have a couple of master angler patches from gun..lol largemouth bass n rock bass i believe I b tryin to get tothe west coast this summer to see 'eyesforever' wally eye 'sfw' waterfoul and i am eager to try gull on(been years.decades since i dipped a line in her) ever do magician or diamond? certainly u've hit morrison and sessions


eyes are my next fish I'm going to learn :fish2:

now your making me feel bad because i never been to those lakes, i did plan on hitting Morrison lake this spring, the others are on my list to try lakes when i get time

[shametamer]

eyes are my next fish I'm going to learn :fish2:

now your making me feel bad because i never been to those lakes, i did plan on hitting Morrison lake this spring, the others are on my list to try lakes when i get time

i have lake st clair, erie, detroit river, even saginaw bay as day runs......but i am hopelessly in love with the upper peninsula..and been drawn to long lake (alpena) a little the last few years..basically a fellow fisherman had hooked the biggest small mouth i ever saw(50+ years of fishin) up close and personal there(had to b over 7 lbs)..but if you like the slab crappie..you have to try rainy lake minnesota one of these years.. Walleye????i'm sure THE GURU OF WALLEYE...MR SFWcan learn ya all you will ever need to know to catch them

[wally-eye]

i have lake st clair, erie, detroit river, even saginaw bay as day runs......but i am hopelessly in love with the upper peninsula..and been drawn to long lake (alpena) a little the last few years..basically a fellow fisherman had hooked the biggest small mouth i ever saw(50+ years of fishin) up close and personal there(had to b over 7 lbs)..but if you like the slab crappie..you have to try rainy lake minnesota one of these years.. Walleye????i'm sure THE GURU OF WALLEYE...MR SFWcan learn ya all you will ever need to know to catch them



Heck Bill I taught SFW "almost" everything he knows about walleye......:evilsmile

I still have a few tricks up my sleeve that I haven't taught that young grasshopper yet .......:lol:

Bill ya ever need a partner for the UP give me a bump.......ain't like I'm busy or anything.....since I have all the young un's working and paying for my SSI...:lol:

[sfw1960]

Heck Bill I taught SFW "almost" everything he knows about walleye......:evilsmile

I still have a few tricks up my sleeve that I haven't taught that young grasshopper yet .......:lol:

Bill ya ever need a partner for the UP give me a bump.......ain't like I'm busy or anything.....since I have all the young un's working and paying for my SSI...:lol:
:p
Ah , but Master Y0dA TimD0ggY has left off where the old stingy one has.....
:lol:

I will be a Jed! Mast&R like my Father before me.....:evilsmile
"Mr. Shadalicious" :lol: :evil:

Having to fish against Dave on his home waters sounds like a recipe for a royal @$sw|-|00p!N' though....
I'd have to consult tkpolasek about Hardy first though....
:evil:

[wally-eye]

Was just watching the holy waters for a minute and Wes pulled up with his eye killing shark tooth machine....:lol: 9PM on the dot and he was just putting in, shot the breeze a minute then he left and went to the "left" a ways......nice night, calm with just a tad of a ripple.......he should do good...

[sfw1960]

Yuppers, on the keepers. Have never, and I mean never, caught a short in Croton. Hammer handles in Croton are all eaten by the BIGGIES in there. :lol:
I KNOW That's right!!!
Was just watching the holy waters for a minute and Wes pulled up with his eye killing shark tooth machine....:lol: 9PM on the dot and he was just putting in, shot the breeze a minute then he left and went to the "left" a ways......nice night, calm with just a tad of a ripple.......he should do good...
Maybe on the pike....
:lol:
I talked with him @ wally world a few hours ago - and he said he was going BEFORE the flatlanders filled the lot with their junk for the long weekend....
I told him we should call the LEO's & haggle them to enforce the 8hr parking limit.
:evil:
I got half a mind to get out me channel loX about 3:15AM SAT morn' & collect up a few valve stems from errant vehicles..... maybe the LEO's will move 'em then!
:evilsmile

Spinnerbaits for walleye - like bread & buttaH f0' toast - huh DAN???
:D

[sfw1960]

SO Wes???
How about those fish......

:evilsmile

[shametamer]

Heck Bill I taught SFW "almost" everything he knows about walleye......:evilsmile

I still have a few tricks up my sleeve that I haven't taught that young grasshopper yet .......:lol:

Bill ya ever need a partner for the UP give me a bump.......ain't like I'm busy or anything.....since I have all the young un's working and paying for my SSI...:lol:

yo DAn!! had no idea you could get away for a few days to yooper.....you would have to deal with the tacoma as i have the dodge magnum in storage:p i have this family/kent thing goin on this weekend..then the musky opener on st clair come 1 st saturday in june, dwf tourney on june 14..so it would be after then b4 i head back across the mack...was hopin to slide to the west side(coast) if i can arrange it.....where would you like to try in the yooper?......otter/keewenaw......gogebic/cisco chain......michigamme/parent/independece/bond falls.......peavy/way dam.......bays de doc/indian////,,,,,greenwood,hoist dam.....manistique(big,south and north)/milakokia.millecoquins.....taquamenhon/brimley.....les cheneaux/caribou.......drummond is...i split her up bout 10 ways...unless u want trout...they have casinos around watersmeet,christmas,manistique,st ignace..st ignace and the soo have some pretty fair eateries.....bergland has a couple of decent spots to eat,,burger and beer used to b good at way dam resort..if u felt like hiking and backpacking...craig lake or sylvania are available////////////////best crappie..probably michigamme resevoir./.....best perch..no contest Gogebic///best walleye(biggest) probably portage/torch in keewenaw..most walleye? contaminated deer lake basin most consistent eyes LBD..but with slot..best largemouth..cisco chain....smallies..hmm toughie:confused: lake michigamme,hoist ]dam,bay de noc...best pike..bout anywhere..trophy? greenwood my bet.......musky? peavy..recently..trout? they'll scream if i mention small streams..lol but u wanna get fancy a charter to stannard rock to jig for lakers or the ride to isle royal and chase the coaster brookies...i don't do salmon much..they are incidental...P.S. one of these days i'll have to drag KUSH thru the circle tour of the u.p. to really get a handle on the top eateries!!!!!

[sea nympho]

It coughed up two 21" smallies and a 13.5" perch for me yesterday evening.

It's good to see one of the original "experimental early C&R program lake" doing just fine...if not better than ever.

Nice catch 'o Specs, btw. ;)

[Westlakedrive]

SO Wes???
How about those fish......

:evilsmile

Not sure how many eyes are left in the Freek.
Crappie bite is definitely on. caught half dozen all 12-14.

[ready2fish]

Not sure how many eyes are left in the Freek.
Crappie bite is definitely on. caught half dozen all 12-14.

them some nice size slabs

[Westlakedrive]

I released them all. I think they are about fourth on the list of best fish to eat.
Walleye, perch, gils all have them beat.

[ready2fish]

I released them all. I think they are about fourth on the list of best fish to eat.
Walleye, perch, gils all have them beat.

i have to agree with that

[sfw1960]

Nice job on the specs Wes...
What did you get 'em on??
Your usual hairy critters??
:evil:
10-4 on the eyes - out of about 25 fish landed last W/E fishing with brigeton , not an eye in the mix.
Didn't even see a follow either.
:rant:
If pike & bass are all I'll catch - it's off to greener waters for me!!!
Where are they at Dave???
:evilsmile :lol: :evilsmile

[eyesforever]

[QUOTE=sfw1960;2711502]Nice job on the specs Wes...
What did you get 'em on??
Your usual hairy critters??
:evil:
10-4 on the eyes - out of about 25 fish landed last W/E fishing with brigeton , not an eye in the mix.
Didn't even see a follow either.
:rant:
If pike & bass are all I'll catch - it's off to greener waters for me!!!
Where are they at Dave???
:evilsmile :lol: :evilsmile[/QUOT

Well, ah, umm, Oh, in the FrEEk I wouldn't know. Think maybe they're hiding from all the bassboat trafic? Little slim round here too. I'll know more Tues./Wed though when the "tourists" are gone.:lol:

[sfw1960]

The "tourists" are GONE Dave.....
You do any good??

:evilsmile

[eyesforever]

The "tourists" are GONE Dave.....
You do any good??

:evilsmile

Oh yeh, if you call freezin' your a*& off for 2 doin' good:rolleyes:

[sfw1960]

Oh yeh, if you call freezin' your a*& off for 2 doin' good:rolleyes:
I'd be happy with two the way my season has been goin' !!!

:lol: :lol: