vacation lake help?

[Percha Man]

Well its my second anniversary next week 5-13-03 to be exact to the end of my hunting and fishing daily career ended. Well I still go almost daily fishing and most all weekends but not for days at a time like before the po dunk shotgun wedding where all my privliges were now decided by my daughter wanting to go and my wifes honey do list. Well we got a sitter for the kid and being that our family vacations have revolved more around me missing out on some great outdoors time to see niagra falls or the great birch run weekend shopping frenzys she wants to get a cabin by a lake and go fishing. Well I am caught so off guard because this is detroit river time and she wants to go to a inland lake. If anyone has had a idea of a good lake inland with a mixture of easy to catch bluegill to heavy lake trout or walleye or anything to keep us busy during the day. (night fishing is out of the question i need time for some other desires but it would be nice to have something extra for us to celebrate after a day on the lake.). Plus she like fishing and she likes to be able to actually catch them. She likes bass and catfish but those spots are for me and her and she wants to head out for the weekend.
I need the place to have a cabin or rooms and also boat rentals or boats provided. Please if you know a spot let me know and if its a secret PM me. Thanks in advance. I will be going in two weekends so I need a few ideas to run past her.;)

[bluedevil]

Saw this earlier. Might want to check it out. Just a thought.Cabin for rent (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39083)

[TrailFndr]

Its a busy lake but Houghton will have cabins available as weel as boats, fishing for Walleyes and panfish is usually pretty good, along with the pike and bass when in season

Here's a link to help find cabins...

Houghon lake Chamber of commerce (http://www.houghtonlakechamber.org/members.htm)

Click on Lodging to find a place

Hope it helps

[Percha Man]

Thanks guys Im still in the process of looking and will keep them in mind.

[Fishfoote]

Granted - I'm bias, but Hubbard Lake is an awesome place for a vacation. There's quite a few places to stay around the lake - cottages and resorts, and East Bay Ed can hook you up with a boat rental. My friends own the Sands Resort (989) 727-2711. They have lakefront cottages and a place to dock the boat. The cottages are pretty nice, I've stayed there several times with various groups of family members. That said, since it's your anniversary (or should I say your wife's anniversary?) Church Hill Pointe (989)727-2030 is a great place to go if you want to keep the domestic chores to a minimum. They too are on the lake, and have a really great dining room that over looks the lake and the food is great. They've got a dock for the boat. Church Hill is a bit on the pricy side (wouldn't do it for a pure "fishing" vacation), but my wife really liked the rooms and atmosphere - rates very high on the marriage points system. Good Luck!

[FishTales]

I was up to Houghton Lake over the weekend, 3 guys fishing from noon till about 6:30, one sunfish and one small pike about 18 inches long.
I have been there before and had no problem catching 'eyes, perch, rockbass, smallmouth, bluegill, sunfish, pike.
They wiped out the weeds in that lake and it's only my opinion but i think the fish got wiped out as well.
I would like to hear some good reports about Houghton Lake to change my mind.

[Percha Man]

THANKS FISHFOOTE AND EAST BAY ED. HOPE FULLY IF ALL GOES WELL ILL BE IN HUBBARD LAKE THIS WEEKEND. THE WEEKEND OF 16TH THROUGHT THE 18TH WE WILL BE AT A LITTLE SAUBLE LAKE AND LITTLE SAUBLE RIVER. NEVER BEEN THERE BUT IT WAS A GIFT SO I CAN HOPEFULLY GET TO GO TO THE SANDS OR CHURH HILL OR WHATEVER THE WIFE WANTS AS LONG AS FISHING IS THERE TO KEEP ME FROM RUNNING BACK TO THE DETROIT RIVER.
I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW HOW IT GOES. ( THE FISHING PART THAT IS.) THANKS FOR THE HELP. NOW WHATS THE BEST FISHING OUT THERE AND ANY TECHNIQUES?

[Fishfoote]

I'll defer to Ed for current conditions. The lake contains pretty much all warm water species. I generally stick to trolling crawler harnesses around looking for walleye and catching a mixed bag. It's a great bobber lake - find the weed beds (east bay and just south of the hardwoods in the sw corner) you'll have some fun. The water is very very clear - if you got a underwater video system, bring it along. My wife, daughter and I will likely be up this weekend too. I'm probably going to try to target some smelt in Ossineke and mushrooms in Spruce:D Gotta take care of the short season stuff first.

[Percha Man]

Thanks for the reports and how to's it sounds like a cool lake. I hope I'll get up there.

[east bay ed]

percha man,
if i was going out this weekend i would fish walleyes in 15 to 20 foot of water pulling crawlers or minnows witha single beed. or cranks( jr thundersticks and rapalas). in the late mornings i would try the shallow water in the north end of east bay and along the south west side for pike. in the afternoons try east bay and off the hardwoods for perch in about 15 feet of water.

i have a tournament next saturday (may 18) so i will be on van etten lake saturday pre fishing.
hope to see you when you are here.

[ice fishin nut]

Dont go to Hubbard Lake,,,,,, it does'nt have any fish in it!!!!! I'll attest to that, and I'm sure that "another" someone will tell ya the same!!!!;)

[TrailFndr]

IFN,
Just cause YOU don't know how to catch fish, don't mean that there are not any fish in the lake...I saw ALOT of fish pulled outta there and even got a couple myself that trip.

Thats ok though...you WILL learn...eventually LOLOL

[Sixshooter]

Hubbard Lake is an excellent choice. You should be there before the Hex Hatch which is good. A group of friends and myself went up there a couple years ago in mid/late june and the Hex hatch was going somewhat...There were wiggler caseings all OVER the place. It was crazy.

They walleyes seem to love those crawler harnesses pulled behind the boat. I found that a double hook rig worked best, I caught a lot of fish on the back hook.

There is a big point that shoots out from the West side of the lake I think it is. It points towards the only real bay on the lake. But there is a double drop off around the point and zip up and down the shelf with your worms and you should get some fish.

Also there are boxes of debris they have sank all around the perimiter of the lake. On sunny days you can see them down ther plain as day. Good fish cover...I always marked good fish around them. Also jigs worked really well. It seems the primary forage in that lake is crayfish. Imitate crawdads and you will catch fish. We were fishing for smallies half the time with tube jigs and were catching walleyes as an added bonus....It is a fun lake. However, the night life leaves a bit to be desired...

Hope you have fun, hope the weather is good....Hope the fish, and wife, cooperate...

Also when we were up there you seen your fill of A-10 Warhog aircraft...But they still look cool flying over the lake.

Peace and good luck.

[Fishfoote]

Crayfish is unbelieveable in Hubbard. I've actual become quite the crayfish cook!....Robster the Lobster has become my cookout handle - nothing tastier than a platter of fresh dads;)

[outdoorzman1]

east bay ed ,

What tournament is going to be on Van Etten lake a walleye or bass tournament?

By the way Hubbard Lake is an EXCELLENT choice not only for spectacular fishing but the area is beautiful. Can't go wrong with it!!!!

[east bay ed]

sixshooter,
well the nights just got a little longer with the hl tavern burning down. but we still have plenty of loose women around.

outdoorzman1,
thunder bay walleye club is having a walleye tournament on v.e. sunday the 18th from 7am til 3pm. two years ago we did really well there, but last year stunk. for me at least.
no doubt hubbard is a hidden jewel. a breakfast of walleyes and crawfish is hard to beat.

[Fishfoote]

Drove by the place last weekend - had to stop the truck and weep:( 70 years of history gone...

[ice fishin nut]

I was only kidding about there being no fish there...... I am looking forward to fishing it this summer!!!! (hopefully I'll do better than I did last winter;) )

[IT pimp 2002]

Did the stone bar burn down?
Or are you speaking of another?
The musician at the stone bar can get a little fould mouthed but still a fun young crowd.

[Fishfoote]

Yes, the Stone Bar burned down:(

[Sixshooter]

They had some good burritos there...thats too bad...