Ford can be tough to find the crappie. When you do they are usually quite deep. Try the East basin near the dam. The drop offs from shore are fast and most of the cover is old trees submerged along the shore. I only used minnows out there. You have to spend some time to figure them out. Electronics are key.

For walleyes the best option is trolling. Try the old river channel. Standard lures...diving rattle traps, harnesses etc.

 

Is this one of the "electronics" you're talking about? Thanks.
http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-fish-finder-62675.html

 

Welcome to the site!

Sapples gave you some good info. The original river channel can be productive for eyes, and deep structure for crappie. There are some big bluegills in there too, but they can be hit or miss.

If you don't have electronics, there are some maps available that will show the old channel. I found one online a few years ago, but that bookmark was lost when my old computer died.

Good luck!

 

Also Ford is really good for channel cats. There is a huge population. I'm not sure where you are on the lake but You can most likely get some from your dock at night.

I'm coming back to the states for vacation in August. I'll be out there in a 14 ft grumman. By then maybe you could figure out a few secrets and show me a thing or two for some panfish over a couple beers.

 

Thanks everyone for the advice, very grateful for the info.....@sapples..pm me and we can figure out something. .. I live in the Lakeshore apts complex and I dock my boat there...right now there are some bull bluegills real shallow in 3-5 ft...especially over submerged trees...tossing small ice jig with waxies under a slip float..have been killing then past few days..but hopeful to find some crappie and walleye with the info you guys shared...will try later today..will post if any luck... tight lines all!!!!

 

definitely troll the old river channel with harnesses behind 1.5 oz bottom bouncers. I caught tons of walleye when I fished there about 5 years ago. Lots of smallies and channel cats this way as well. Mybe i'll go fish it again one of these days.

 

I decided in an hour or so im going to hit up Ford for the first time. Lived down here for a few months now and only a few miles from it, so figured why not. I enjoy catching anything, but ill be looking mainly for eyes. I'll let you know how I do!

 

Back with my report, okay night on the lake. Started off going to the bay just north of the launch, hooked some white bass and saw tons of carp. then went to the island and beyond, did some casting and trolling with cranks, more white bass. Then ended up in the old channel by the dam, 25ft caught a 17" walleye. Was using bottom bouncer, clown color harness with a green worm.

Wasnt fishing for the white bass/perch, whatever people call them, caught easily a dozen and feel it could have been in the hundreds if you targeted them.

 

Awesome report. Did you have any way to take water temps? Wondering how hot the surface is there. And if you dont mind, when did you hook the walleye? Trying to figure out how much light i should try if i end up there next week.

Back with my report, okay night on the lake. Started off going to the bay just north of the launch, hooked some white bass and saw tons of carp. then went to the island and beyond, did some casting and trolling with cranks, more white bass. Then ended up in the old channel by the dam, 25ft caught a 17" walleye. Was using bottom bouncer, clown color harness with a green worm.

Wasnt fishing for the white bass/perch, whatever people call them, caught easily a dozen and feel it could have been in the hundreds if you targeted them.

 

Awesome report. Did you have any way to take water temps? Wondering how hot the surface is there. And if you dont mind, when did you hook the walleye? Trying to figure out how much light i should try if i end up there next week.

Sorry, no way to take water temps. Hooked walleye probably around 8:10 if I had to guess. However I didn't start trolling till probably 7:30 or later with the bouncers, up until then I was on the far side of the lake. Its kind of a bummer, they close up early so cant fish right till dark. People at the gate said they close at 8:38 (odd time?) so I was off the lake by 8:30.

As of now I think im going to give the lake another shot today. Not sure yet.

 

No sweat bout the temps, any information is really helpful when trying to nail down a pattern. Good luck if you end up out again. Ford lake is looking more and more attractive as the price of gas continues to rise. Cant be driving all over.

Sorry, no way to take water temps. Hooked walleye probably around 8:10 if I had to guess. However I didn't start trolling till probably 7:30 or later with the bouncers, up until then I was on the far side of the lake. Its kind of a bummer, they close up early so cant fish right till dark. People at the gate said they close at 8:38 (odd time?) so I was off the lake by 8:30.

As of now I think im going to give the lake another shot today. Not sure yet.

 

No sweat bout the temps, any information is really helpful when trying to nail down a pattern. Good luck if you end up out again. Ford lake is looking more and more attractive as the price of gas continues to rise. Cant be driving all over.

This is the main reason for me, its only a few miles away.

 

Ford is a gem that gets overlooked a lot. Very little pressure.....especially in spring and fall. Can get funky with algae bloom in summer, then it disappears with frosty fall weather. Try the channel by the walking path up to where the river dumps in for walleye in spring.

 

So guys I went out yesterday and trolled a harness with nightcrawlers...over the sunken bridge and ended up with 2 small 12" walleye, which I threw back and 1 7" crappie, which ended up being thrown back once I got back to the dock.... still trying to figure out where the old river bed is....but will try again this weekend.

 

People at the gate said they close at 8:38 (odd time?) so I was off the lake by 8:30.

Oh and if i had to guess this is half an hr before true sunset time

 

Oh and if i had to guess this is half an hr before true sunset time

yeah probably around then. by the time we left the front office was all closed up, not sure if they actually lock up the place or not.

Anyways, went back out again tonight. Me and some buddies hammered the smallmouth. Just working shorelines anywhere drop-shotting plastics. Was having fun throwing it within feet of the shoreline and right away having something grab it. Nothing real big, largest was 16.5", average maybe 13". Only tried going for eye's for maybe 45 minutes with no luck besides a few more white bass.

 

So guys I went out yesterday and trolled a harness with nightcrawlers...over the sunken bridge and ended up with 2 small 12" walleye, which I threw back and 1 7" crappie, which ended up being thrown back once I got back to the dock.... still trying to figure out where the old river bed is....but will try again this weekend.

http://ypsiarchivesdustydiary.blogspot.com/2011/07/aerial-views-of-kings-flats-early-1930s.html

 

Not reel familiar with ford lake what size boat can that lake handle? And where is the launch? I live in westland. My father used to work at the ford plant in Ypsilanti and I remember his friend used to catch walleye right by the plant.

 

The launch is at Ford Lake Park off Huron River Dr. on the south side of the lake. Launch is about a mile and a half west of Rawsonville Rd and can handle boats of about any size.

 

Ford is a gem that gets overlooked a lot. Very little pressure.....especially in spring and fall. Can get funky with algae bloom in summer, then it disappears with frosty fall weather. Try the channel by the walking path up to where the river dumps in for walleye in spring.

Awesome spot if you can stay away from the lure gremlins...

 

welcome to the neighborhood - i live a half mile up the river from ford lake. After reading the comments I feel everything is spot on; I just wanted to add two things: 1. I find that smallies in the area are really suckers for things that mimic crawdad/crawfish/crayfish. 2. from ice out to early may the fishing between the boardwalk and the golfcourse is quite productive.

 

welcome to the neighborhood - i live a half mile up the river from ford lake.

Hey, you must be my neighbor. I still have a lease on one of the lofts right near puffer reds even though I'm temporarily over seas. Not sure if I ever met you, but I was always down on the water street trail fishing with an all liver german shorthair. :coolgleam

 

Hey, you must be my neighbor. I still have a lease on one of the lofts right near puffer reds even though I'm temporarily over seas. Not sure if I ever met you, but I was always down on the water street trail fishing with an all liver german shorthair. :coolgleam

Lmao... Never though I'd read the words Puffer Reds on a outdoors forum!

 

Haha ya I know, but everybody in Ypsilanti knows it.

 

While i'm at it, can anyone tell me of the Pike/Muskie action on Ford, or if there even is any? I thought I would have hooked at least a Pike out there by now. Only one I saw chased my lure right to the boat and was maybe 10-12".

I know they planted some years back northers but i'm not sure they're growth rate and how populated they were before out there.

Next I need to find out where the Perch are on this lake.. Looking at DNR fish survey from 2006, seems like the lake has some great Perch numbers. I know some people call the white bass white perch, but the survey clearly labeled it yellow perch.

 

While i'm at it, can anyone tell me of the Pike/Muskie action on Ford, or if there even is any? I thought I would have hooked at least a Pike out there by now. Only one I saw chased my lure right to the boat and was maybe 10-12".

I know they planted some years back northers but i'm not sure they're growth rate and how populated they were before out there.

Next I need to find out where the Perch are on this lake.. Looking at DNR fish survey from 2006, seems like the lake has some great Perch numbers. I know some people call the white bass white perch, but the survey clearly labeled it yellow perch.

I got you... I haven't seen a pike come outta Ford lk ever. Not saying their not there, I haven't personally seen it. Musky on the other hand I have seen and some true HAWGS at that. I found a dead Musky about 4yrs ago that was pushing 50in! Ford holds jumbo perch but I've never caught them in numbers.