Stress Relief

Well I just finished tabulating the damages from Christmas and I needed a little stress relief exercise so I figured writing about fishing would ease the pain. Well I had a few items on the wish list for santa including a cranking stick, a cranking reel, an assortment of crankbaits, a few spro bronzeye frogs and some fluorocarbon fishing line. Now I understand santa not wanting to damage the fuji guides on a new cranking stick but there is no reason he couldn't deliver on the rest of the goods.

The good news is I did get a BPS gift card so the buying season will officially be under way in a few days. I guess I have no one to blame but myself at Christmas because I am very picky about what gear I'll use and everyone is afraid to buy me the wrong thing. My wife tried a few years back but when she came home with a mister twister gift pack, a spawn bag assortment and a flying lure kit, I think I let her know my disgust.

I have buddies that each year get awsome combos, new electronics and high dollar rain gear but then they have nothing to buy for themselves, where's the fun in that? Well I'd like to hear from others and see if I'm the only one left to fend for myself or if I'm in the majority.

By the way, I will be updating the site here pretty soon so look for that to happen within the next few weeks. I have a new computer and am still learning my way around so be patient. I would also like to start analyzing next years' scheldule in the coming weeks, as well as discussing possible rule changes at the next club meeting.

Dates announced for 2010

With Bill Maurer calling the shots as tournament director this year he did not waste any time taking care of his first order of business. These dates are tenative but unless something big comes up then plan on them. They are as follows:

May 9th Baw Beese

May 23rd Hardy Dam

June 13th Michigan Center

June 19/20 Cadillac and Mitchell

July 18th St. Clair

July 25th Muskegon

August 8th Wamplers

August 22nd Devils

September 12th Lake Ovid

A couple of back to back tournament weekends this year jumped out at me right away. I'm not sure how that will impact the participation but it is a little different from last year when we had decent sized layoffs between events. And the St. Clair - Muskegon weekends being so close will definitely be interesting considering they are vastly different fisheries.

The Hardy Dam event seems like it will be held a week later then we have been there in the past but I think that's due to Memorial Day being late this year, May 31st. They should still be on their beds up there and we may even see a little spawning on Baw Beese the first of the month.

Overall I think Bill did a good job and it is a good start to the 2010 season. I know it seems a long way away but it always seems to sneak up on me anyway. Hope everyone has a good holiday and start thinking about the January meeting which will cover tourney and club rules.

2010 Schedule

After much debate we have a tournament schedule for 2010 set in stone. There is one new lake on the docket and a few we havn't been to in a while. The format is also different than the 09' version in that there will be 10 total events, two being pre-season catch and release, six locals and a two day out of towner. The dates of these tournaments will probably be released sometime in January after the tournament director puts the schedule together but at least we know where we're going. So here are the lakes:

Pre-Season:

Hardy Dam

Baw Beese

Locals:

Michigan Center

St Clair

Devils

Wamplers

Sleepy Hollow

Muskegon

Out of towner:

Cadillac / Mitchell

Lake selection meeting

This coming Thursday will be our normal December meeting and it is traditionally the one in which the lakes for next years tournaments will be selected. This is in my opinion is the best meeting of the year for two reasons. One, it kicks off a new season and gets me looking towards spring already and secondly it actually gives us a good idea of what we are in store for once the open water season actually arrives.

I like to do a lot of map study and do a lot of prep work during the winter months and knowing where we will fish next year makes that a little easier. I'm the type of nerd who will be looking at google-earth maps in February trying to find isolated weedbeds and points on certain lakes that I did not know existed. I'll start researching old fishing forums looking for prevailing patterns for our lakes and I will definitely start buying tackle that fits our schedule.

As far as the schedule goes, I don't want to try and influence anyone but I have my ideas of how I'd like the schedule to look. As well as picking individual lakes, we also set the format of the schedule at this meeting and I would love to see the club go back to 10 tournaments. I felt like I didn't fish that much last year (my wife disagrees) and I would consider two catch and release events as well.

Last year we started with a local pre-season lake and then went the Hardy Dam in May which I thought worked out pretty decent. I like the idea of staying local for an early season tournament because the fishing should be pretty good anywhere so why drive two hours when good fishing exists close to home.

Secondly, there are a few favorites of mine and there is no reason why we can't fish these bodies of water multiple times. Michigan Center for it's close proximity and St. Clair due to the fact that it's only the best lake in the state would qualify for multiple visits. And as far as pre-season lakes, Devils comes to mind because we havn't been there lately, it's close and there should be big smallies on beds that time of year. Seems like an easy decision to me.

I've got a few ideas on out of towners and would love to go to Burt/Mullett again but the BFL is there the second week in June which was when we were there the last time. I'd hate to drive all the way up there and miss the good bed fishing by a week. Wixom is ok but we go there a lot so I would not be dissapointed in a Hamlin Lake, Cadillac/Mitchell or even a fall September Hardy Dam option. Some things to think about I guess which is all I'll have for the next few months. Only 143 days until the opener. Hope to see everyone Thursday and bring your dues.

Buying Season

With the fishing season officially ended for the season many anglers go into a slight depression this time of year until the spring thaw a few months from now. While it is tough to wait, there is no better time to re-stock the ammo for next year so I like to call this period the "buying season". Usually I wait until after the holidays and start taking inventory and making plans for what I need to re-stock and what new things I need. But I have recently found that the holiday season is the time to take advantage of some great deals.

This year is no different for me and when fellow tournament angler Duane Mroczka called with a geat clearance deal, I could hardly pass it up. I am now the proud owner of a 7' 0" MH Fenwick HMG baitcasting rod that will be awsome for spinnerbaiting next year. Merry Christmas to me. I know that I still need a second combo for cranking so I will keep my eyes open. The kids' stockings may just be a little lighter this year.

So when most fishermen are watching old fishing videos and reading articles, I'll be charging up the old visa and getting ready for the first big thaw next spring. It never ceases to amaze me how I stare at my tackle all winter long but when that open water finally hits and I'ts time to pull out the equipment, nothing is ready to go. Well I hope that changes this year and I already have a reel on my new spinnerbait rod. I'm gonna be ready come April.

Banquet a success

The annual awards banquet was held last weekend at Knights Steak House in Jackson and as far as I'm concernced it was a big success. We had about 35 in attendence and everyone had a great time and it solidified the reason why I'm in the club.

All the awards for each tournament and AOY were handed out but there were also a few special ones as well. Kathy Maurer won the Dale Popp award which is a spotsmanship award and Scott Rice won a lifetime achievement plaque for his work over the years in the club. These are prestigious awards and the recipients were very deserving.

The club has a few weeks off but the December meeting will be held on the 10th and we will be picking lakes for next years tournaments so hopefully we'll get a big turnout. I look forward to this meeting every year although it never goes the way I think it should. Hopefully we go back to ten tournaments but that's a discussion for another day.

As far as the fishing I've been out several times lately but only had limited success. The water temps were in the high 40's Wednesday and I did catch about 6 fish including a 3.5 pounder out of Columbia but the bite has definitely slowed. I hate to say it but I may be done for the year. I know the weather is still pretty decent and I vowed to fish as long as the bass were still biting but it was pretty slow the other day. I'll still keep my rods in the boat for a while but it's not looking good is all I can say. I'll post any decent catches if I get out.

Still Fishing

Just wanted to keep everyone posted on local fishing conditions in case a few of you want to get one last outing in before winterizing the boat. I've been out at least once a week all through October and the fishing has been pretty decent of late. Actually, the water temps have warmed up over the past week and I registered 52 degrees yesterday.

I've been getting out on Lake Columbia lately through a good friend of mine who has lake access and it is an awsome lake. Yesterday Dwayne Mroczka and I caught close to 20 fish in a little under three hours with the biggest being over 3 pounds. Most of our fish came on shallow running crankbaits and the majority of the action has been coming in the back end of cuts and channels. I think since these areas are the warmest still and contain most of the baitfish is why these areas are productive.

Columbia does not receive the pressure like the public lakes and it has a little stain to it and seems to fish like a southern impoundment a bit as far as I'm concerned. I've never been on the lake early in the year because it gets pretty busy but it is a great crankbait lake and the fish on average are quite big. Our biggest last year was a 5.6 pounder by my fishing partner Mike Maske but I've heard bigger ones have been taken. I'll continue to fish here as long as my contact lets me so I need to stay on his good side. I've also heard decent reports of bass still being caught on Michigan Center and on Clark but I have a hard time going anywhere but Columbia. I also have an opportunity to fish a small private lake south of town next week that has a reputation for hogs so I will report any big ones.