Lansing Area Bass and Blue Gill Fishing!

[mikemcg]

My dad recently moved to portland which is over by lansing. I planned on taking him fishing for father's day but I haven't got a clue as to where there are good lakes to fish over there. I'm hoping someone can help me out. We usually fish for bass and bluegill. Anyone know of any decent lakes over there or within a reasonable driving distance? Within an hour or so? Thanks!

[Chris_Davis]

I intend to fish Lake Ovid (Sleepy Hollow SP) tonight and Sessions Lake (Ionia Rec Area) tommorow. I'll try and let you know if I have any luck.

[just ducky]

mikemcg-
Need more info....do you have a boat, and if so, what kind (i.e. canoe, small aluminum, etc., outboard or not?). There are several decent lakes for gills and bass around here, but it just depends if you have a boat. Chris recommended Sleepy Hollow, and I would second that. You can even shore fish in many spots there while they're still in kind of shallow. If you don't have a boat, they rent them over by the boat launch. This lake is "no-wake", so if you have a motor, don't go lighting it up or the park rangers will come get you :yikes:

Another little lake to try if you have a small boat is Muskrat Lake just north of DeWitt. There is a DNR public access, and it can be good at times for gills, crappies, and bass.

Lake Lansing is always an option, but it's almost always crowded with pleasure boats. There are a lot of tiny little lakes around the north side of town that you can slide a canoe into and do quite well on gills. If you want info on some of them, bump me a pm.

[mikemcg]

yup we have a boat. Its a 20 foot aluminum. We tried clifford lake and the fishing was horrible. 3 hours and all that we brought in was three small bass and three gills that would fit in my fish tank. We saw a lot of beds but the gills are already off of them. I've never heard of the lakes that you mentioned. I'll have to look at some maps and then try those lakes out. We'll probably go out again this weekend depending on weather.

[Chris_Davis]

Sorry I didn't get back to you, my computer at the house is in rough shape. The weekend didn't end up how I thought it would, exactly the opposite. Lake Ovid was really hot, caught a lot of gills, some monster red ears and some nice bass. Ionia was slow 1 dink gill, a bunch of small diseased looking perch, a small bass and a decent catfish. Either way, it's nice getting out.

[mikemcg]

Ok I'm sold! I'm giving the old man a call and we're going fishing. We almost went to Ionia. I'm glad we didn't, looks like it would have been just as bad as clifford lake. Now the weather just needs to cooperate!