GREAT two days on houghton lake(w/ pics)

[youngguns]

Just got back from a trip to Houghton lake and the fishing was outstanding. The first day we caught 60 pike ranging 16 to 33 inches, 30 walleyes from 16 to 23 1/2 inches, and a few nice bass. The walleye fishing was kinda slow in the morning but at noon the bite turned on and it was the best walleye fishing i have ever had, we even had a quadupual (4) headed on.(there was only me, my brother, and my dad) the walleyes were caught on crawler harnesses and the pluertha of pike, and even some crappies all came on crankbaits. The second day was a little slower than the first but we still managed 10 nice keeper eyes and 60 pike again. This was some of the best fishing we have ever experienced. In addition to the walleye and pike we caught tons of huge gills and sunfish, we couldn't get one under 8 inches. Both days we fished out in front of lymans in 7-9 feet of water, that was the key. Once you got into deeper water you quit catching fish.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/542/4646h-l_lunker.jpg?4858 Biggest eye of the trip
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/527/4646kev_pike.jpg?7176 Can't Touch This with the a nice 30 inch pike.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/527/4646matts_pike.jpg?8936 Me with a nice pike.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/542/4646matt_average_eye.jpg?2835 average eye around 18
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/4646Kevin_s_lunker.jpg?2367 The biggest bass of the trip.

[salmonslammer]

Great catch!!!! I have seen some great days like that too on houghton. I was hoping to get up this week and take the kids fishing, but alas the work thing is getting in the way again:mad: Oh well maybe next month.....

[jstfish48162]

great fish guys.....those are very healthy fish. any pics of the gills or crappie?

[youngguns]

Sorry mr.jstfish we took a pic of the first 8 inch sunfish but once they started to get bigger and more numerous we just released them without a pic, they actually were kind of a nuicence because they hit so hard you thought you had a walleye attacking your harness. The 5 crappies we caught were all 10 inches caught on pike crankbaits.



http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/529/4646sunfish.jpg?679
This was probaly the smallest sunfish caught at around 8 inches

[I'llbeoutside]

Great catch guys!!! I had a blast w/ the bass and pike up there a couple of weeks ago but walleyes were not to be found(a few small ones). We did catch some gills that were huge too. We fished the south side mostly. Where is Lymans? I will be back there next year for a long weekend at least. Great place to take a youngster fishing.

[Can't Touch This]

Lymans is a bait shop, located strait out from it is the south shore weed bed....that is why it is so good.

[ds619]

just a quick question what color harness were you using thanks

[fmontie]

Have never seen fishing on Houghton Lake so HOT!!!! Last year's weed killing really made a difference. Predator fish like pike and walleyes should fatten up since the baitfish have no place to hide.
For walleyes, target water 9' depths surrounded by 10' to 12' depths. Use your marker bouys to mark your shoal. Drift harnesses only if wind conditions are right. For calm or light winds, cast crankbaits or spoons. Jointed shad raps are killer.
My sons, Can't touch this and Young Guns, are finally out-fishing their "old Man". I really enjoy taking pics and videos of our adventures.

[youngguns]

Mr.ds619 the color harness that would catch the eyes was a hammered gold. Gold was the key because i was using a chartuse one and not gettin anything but my brother told me to switch to gold and it made all the difference. Actually the name of the exact crawler harness is a Matty Joe harness in the christmas pattern. Matty Joe's are made in a little shop in south eastern Michigan and they are by far my favorite harness.

[ds619]

Thanks for the info. I just talked to my father in law who lives up there said he was out in front of Lymans but deeper water trolling the crawfish colored hot n tots they did pretty good but they did not slay em like you did. As far as I can tell the fishing is better since they treated the lake. Great job and thanks for the info.