Uncategorized

Too many fishing options!  We cannot get to all the spots we would like.

Prespawn smallmouth; spawning smallmouth; walleye; whitefish; lake trout and Atlantic Salmon.  I make the choice each year at this time to devote about 80% of my effort to the smallmouth.  Preparation for upcoming clients is important.

This week I have been rewarded with a 6.82 lb. smallie that was on its way to the spawning grounds.  Two other 22″ fish caught on the same day.

If you come soon there are several choices of fishing methods:  jerkbait, bed-fishing and now some spinnerbait fishing.

I will try to update this site on a regular basis but with the hectic times I may be a bit slow.

Check out Coach’s Angle Smallmouth Charters on facebook from time to time.

It was a very good week for smallmouth fishing and there were a few “bonus” fish.

The strong north winds were a hindrance to finesse fishing but the power fishing was very good.  This type fishing is not for everyone but we had very good fishermen on board this week and it was very successful and lots of fun.

We still have a few openings for the first half of May.  Give us a call.

Before the heavy north wind picked up, there was  finesse jig fishing on a deep lake.  After the winds ended the finesse fishing it was breakfast at Mama’s in Alden.  Then on to a different lake for some hardbait fishing in the wind.

What a day!  Quantity and Quality.  6.38 and 5.92 were the two bigs.  Many fish over 18″.  Better than usual under these conditions.

18 degrees today at 7 am.  I decided to wait until 10:30 when it was 33 degrees.  The smallies were cooperating but not totally taking the baits.  Several were hooked on the outside .

They were definitely schooled–where there was one there were several.  In three hours 19 were caught, but a few more were lost.  The water temperature had fallen several degrees this week but it did not change a thing.  Today’s fish ranged from 15″ to 22″.

And, by the way, paying attention to feeding gulls and terns put me close to fish immediately.  It was a prefish day for three parties coming next week–I can’t wait.

Allows us to participate in this early bass fishing.  I like it.

We do not get the numbers we will get later in the season–not even close.  However, we do get some quality smallmouth.  Only nine smallies boated in 3 hours but they ranged from 15″ to 22.5 “.  (Can’t give you a weight on the big girl because neither of my fish scales would function.)

Early bass fishing isn’t for everyone.  It is for me.  All except the northern pike.  Too many encounters this past week with the toothy critters.  Cost me a couple baits!

With the right wind, the smallies are aggressive and willing to chase hard baits.  When the lake gets slick (like Friday) the best approach was grubbing the points.  If you enjoy jerk bait fishing, the next few weeks are for you.

Next week is the TROUT Festival in Kalkaska.  I am pleased to support this  annual event again this year.  A half day fishing trip with Coach’s Angle will be one of the prizes Wednesday evening.  Come to Kalkaska and enjoy the festivities.

Wednesday morning I was bouncing baits off a sheet of ice that had trespassed into my waters.  With no wind, Tuesday and Wednesday were poor days.

Thursday, when the wind did blow, it was totally different.  21 keeper smallmouth and one pike from 11:30 to 4:30.  Most of the fish came from 2:30 to 4:30 as the wind was perfect during that time.

Three smallies over 5 lbs with the biggest weighing in at 5.98 lbs. will allow us to call this a very good half-day of fishing.

Floaters or suspenders; 4.5″ or 5.5″ length; heavy line or light line; jerking or pulling?  And color!  Lots of options to explore before the “set up of the day” (soup du jour?) is determined.  Too much to consider?  The fish will let you know.

Two weeks ago I told my early clients that it would probably be the very end of April.  We scheduled accordingly.  Remember, last year we were ice fishing on April 17.

I was wrong.  Hoping for some quick rescheduling…

It happened relatively quickly–from complete ice cover to enough open water to float a boat.  Obviously we are ahead of last year’s slow start.

And, by the way, the fish were accessible.