Center Lake - 6/15/08

Michigan Center Lake was stop #2 on last years tournament trail. The mid-June event came only a week after Center hosted the SCMBC spring open where double digit limits were the norm. The club event figured to be another shoot out but as usual, things changed and only two limits exceeding ten pounds came to the scales. I managed to weigh in a 10.78 limit but Bill Mauer sacked 11.49 to win his first event since his Burt Lake victory in June of 07'.

Bill did not start in Center but ran to Moon and Dollar Lakes instead to dodge some of the fishing traffic. "I started with topwaters and thought they'd be on em' but never got bit. I caught a few on a senko and never threw anything else the rest of the day." He caught three keepers early running and gunning with the stick worm but finally moved into Center around noon and quickly finished out his limit. He wasn't targeting anything specific but covered lots of water and presented the weightless worm to as many fish as possible. "I didn't catch a ton of fish which was suprising but I got one good one." The good one was a 4.12 oz sow that bit as he set his rod under his arm to light a cigarette near Dreyeas Point. "The line took off and I picked up the rod and set the hook." It culled a 14" fish and sealed the win for the Michigan Center resident.

Gear Notes: 5" Yamamoto Senko (watermelon/gold flake) and 4/0 Eagle Claw hook.

Maurer used 30lb Power Pro braid fished on a 7' quantam rod and Shimano Stradic spinning reel

Meeting Thursday

Remember everyone, Thursday March 12th is the next club meeting at Art Moehn. We will be discussing entry fees for the catch and release tournaments and President Honsinger will address the "state of the club" topic. Looks as if all the lakes are open now so it won't be long until i'm out testing the new gear. Crappie fishing of course.

LAKE FENTON 2008

When the 2008 SCMBC schedule was announced, Lake Fenton figured to be a bed fishing event for both the largemouth and smallmouth that swam in the lake. But a severe cold front hit just before tournament day and it actually even snowed for a few minutes which is pretty rare for mid may. Most anglers struggled with the changing conditions but the 2007 reigning Angler Of The Year Jim Rice Jr saw things play right into his hands. Jim Jr targeted deeper, staging fish enroute to a 10.07 lb limit and first place finish. "I didn't bother with bedding fish, these were definitely pre-spawners."

Jimbo had a few spots from last year and a few new ones he found in practice this year that he worked over. These areas were mainly deeper weed edges and points that he fished slowly with his patented brown grub. "The fishing was pretty slow and I think I only caught 5 keepers all day." But his patience paid off in weighing in the heaviest of only 4 limits caught during the contest.

Winning gear: Brown unnamed grub with a 1/4 oz jighead paired with a spinning combo and 10 pound trilene mono

2008 YEAR IN REVIEW

Coming this week I hope to review all of last years tournaments including patterns, lures and different techniques used during the 2008 season. Part of being in a good club is being able to learn from each other and what better way to do that than hear from various club members who had success last year. So hopefully I'll be able to gather my information in the next few days and start posting some real fishing talk. Check back soon.

2008 WINNERS

FENTON JIM RICE JR. 10.07 lbs

MICHIGAN CENTER BILL MAUER 11.49

CADILLAC SCOTT RICE 13.60

CADILLAC SCOTT FERRIS 13.25

GULL LAKE JERRY SMITH 4.97

MARBLE SCOTT FERRIS 7.02

ST. CLAIR MIKE MASKE 15.02

RANDALL JIM RICE JR. 8.39

RANDALL SCOTT RICE 3.53

AUSTIN LAKE SCOTT RICE 9.37

Mike caught these "Hogs" searching new water

With the Club visiting two new lakes this year and Center being visited in April, we essentially will have three new bodies of water to investigate this year. With limited practice time, how do you break down new lakes in such a short period of time? Mike Maske (2008 St. Clair Winner) and I had such a dilema in the fall of 07' when we were invited to a new lake to fish a small tournament. We decided to put on our favorite "search baits" and cover as much water as possible. The results were Mikes' two biggins pictured above and a 5 fish limit over 17 pounds.
Maske used a 1/2 oz white Nichols spinnerbait that day for his search lure.

When I get on the lake this year to pre-fish for Center, Hardy, Goguac and even St. Clair my bait of choice to cover water quickly will be a Zoom Super Fluke. I can fish fast with this bait and bury the barb inside the plastic so I don't need to hook any fish. The Fluke will catch fish but will also draw lots of followers that I don't catch but that will give their locations away, hopefully to return tournament day and seal the deal.

I usually use white or pearl Flukes with a 4/0 hook and throw it on 10 pound flourocarbon. My combo of choice is a 6'6 medium rod and baitcasting reel. Depending on the conditions I will also use a jerkbait, spinnerbait or walking topwater bait as my "search lures" but it's hard not to hook fish with these baits so I try and stick with the fluke if I can. This is a great confidence lure for me and I know if the fish are shallow then they'll usually react to this bait.

OPEN WATER COMING

The weather is cold now but the 5 day forecast looks quite warm. Last year we didn't have full ice-out until about the first weekend in April and with all the ice we have now it should be the same this season. Bays, channels and shallow cuts will be the first to thaw and in the past I have caught bass in these areas when there was ice still on the main lake. Accidently when I was crappie fishing of course.

Hit the BPS spring sale Monday morning and dropped $230, mostly on a new pair of Solar Bat sunglasses and flourocarbon fishing line. I have a few tricks up my sleeve this coming season and will start to expand on the fishing aspect of this site during the next few days. Come on 50 degree days and rain.