Houghton Lake Report

[unregistered1]

My father and I went to Houghton Lake today, even though the weather report was unfavorable. I live in Bay City and it rained when I got up this morning, but we decided to head out anyway, Weather.com called for scattered showers or thundershowers. We got there and there was fog and it was damp but not raining. As we were launching on the south east side of the lake, there were about 5 or 6 boats coming in! It was about 9am and these guys were done. One of them said, "Hope you brought a rain coat." Which of course I did. Anway, we headed straight for the middle grounds, there were a few other boats there. From the time we got there until the time we left about 5 pm, we caught a little bit of everything. We caught a handfull of largemouths, a ton of northerns, and some HUGE perch! A couple of the perch were 12" and many were 9"-10". We also caught alot of bluegill and rockbass. There was a strange phenomenon shortly after we arrived that freaked me out. There was a dark cloud looming over the lake and it was raining slightly, we heard a small rumble of thunder a couple times. The air was absolutely charged! My fishing line was full of static and actually floated up. You could hear static crackling on the end of my fishing rod! I dropped everything and waited for the clouds to pass. I thought for sure we were going to get struck by lightening. We almost left right then, but the clouds we moving out and there was lighter skys coming. It was a good thing we stayed because it turned out to be a gorgeous day. Plus we caught a ton of fish. Brought home some perch for the fry pan. Anyway, just thought I'd pass along the report. We caught pan fish on crawler pieces on a small jighead with small hackles tied on it. The bass and pike came on hot-n-tots, wiggle warts and mepps #3 spinners in gold, and yellow. Get out there and fish.
Tight lines

[ds619]

we were out there this weekend. saw the cloud you were talking about. already was in cleaning the fish when it came through. drifting leaches for gills, crawfish colored hot n tot in 10-13 feet of water and orange mister twister trolled in 5-6 feet of water caught the eyes. oh and also caught the pike...good job

[gregm]

Man, you're lucky!!!!

That happened to me once in Indiana -- sounded like bumble bees in my fishing rod. It really freaked me out. A few years later I read in Field and Stream that it is the "ground" trying to find its way to the charge in the cloud, if it does, you're dead -- no ifs, ands, or buts, about it!!!.

When it happend to me, we were fishing in a reservoir near a bridge, about 15 seconds later the bridge (150 yds away or so got hit by lightining. I can still feel the concussion and ringing in my years from the thunder and its been 16 years since it happened.

You did the right thing by getting rid of the fishing poles, the problem with Houghton is if you're on the middle ground, there's no place to hide (quickly anyway)

[RJF]

Sounds like staying off the lake on Sunday was a good idea.

Wonder how the Bud Bash at the Limberlost turned out? Several boats at the launch ramp Saturday were asking where it was. I pointed in the general direction. I'm sure you could see it for some distance. Lots of boats usually anchor in the area. Was anyone there?