Best Holiday fishing near Traverse City

Dave Richey unhooks a nice walleye. Mike Hanson hefts a good cisco.

Which area lakes should provide the best walleye fishing over the Memorial Day weekend? Bear Lake, Long Lake or South Lake Leelanau? Or, how about Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell? All are great choices.

It might be easier to narrow it down to just two lakes. Bear Lake at the town with the same name does produce some spectacular walleye action, but it usually turns on later in the summer or early fall.

Could Lakes Cadillac or Mitchell at Cadillac be mentioned? Of course, and they produce some wonderful moments of great walleye sport, but in fairness to everyone involved, this question really becomes a toss-up between Long Lake or South Lake Leelanau.

A wealth of fishing opportunities await visitors to the Traverse City area.

Studies on South Lake Leelanau show it has good to excellent natural reproduction, and this news has led to ending a walleye fry plant some years ago. The lake has plenty of walleyes, and doesn't need any more. Walleyes are available in several year classes, and angler success is very good.

Zebra mussels have filtered South Lake Leelanau's water, and the improved clarity means anglers should fish with lighter line and troll bait rigs or lures farther behind the boat. Walleyes in the 15 to 18-inch size are common, and South Lake Leelanau produces more walleyes than the water north of the narrows. However, it should be noted that some larger walleyes are caught in the deeper waters of North Lake Leelanau.

Good structure and habitat is present for walleye numbers even though many Lake Leelanau residents feel bluegill and perch numbers are down because of possible northern pike and walleye depredation. Department of Natural Resources studies have been conducted to assess the population numbers of both ends of the lake. The DNR feels there are enough walleyes, and no plants are required until research decides they are needed.

It should be stated that both the North and South portions of Lake Leelanau has walleyes and other game fish species. South Lake Leelanau has 5,370 acres while North Lake Leelanau has 2,950 acres.

Past creel census figures indicate that July and August may be the best fishing months although it's probable that those two months also have the greatest angler interest and angling traffic. Some walleyes of seven pounds have been caught from both ends of the lake but big walleyes are relatively scarce.

Walleye hotspots are found all around the Traverse City area.

Walleye hotspots on the south end are in the 15 to 20-foot depths from Gordon's Point north on the east side of the lake, and in the same depths in Perrin's and Weisler's bays at the south end. Try fishing just south of the boat launch on the west side of the lake. Look for walleyes in the 12 to 20-foot depths in North Lake Leelanau near the boat launch site at the southwest end of the lake, south and west of the boat launch site near the Leland River and in the bay between Brady's and Cemetary points.

Trolling nightcrawler harnesses or crankbaits behind in-line planer boards produce most of the fish. My decided preference is to cast minnow-tipped jigs along structure, and some good success has been had casting crankbaits along the dropoffs as well. Note too that leeches also produce summer walleyes, and bait seems to out-produce lures in both lakes.

Long Lake in Grand Traverse County is another genuine hotspot. At 2,860 acres, it offers excellent walleye structure. For years, this lake had a reputation for producing only small marble-eyes, but more recently, it has delivered some seven-pound fish although the average is closer to three pounds.

Two boat launches, one at Gilbert Park and another off Crescent Shore Road (both on the west side of the lake) offer reasonably easy access. Of the two, my preference is Gilbert Park even though it's necessary to back the towing vehicle and boat trailer across West Long Lake Road and down a ramp to the water. One person should stand out in the road to provide extra warning to oncoming vehicles.

Long Lake is filled with great walleye structure. Look for walleyes on the big 30-foot-deep flats at the south end of the lake. Three hotspots exist off South Island (directly south, directly north and northwest of the island). Check the 15 to 25-foot depths off the big point east of Gilbert's Park. Another 20 to 30-foot-deep flat is found northeast of Gilbert's Park launch ramp. Still another walleye flat is in 15 to 25 feet of water directly east of Long Island. All can be good at times.

Although Long Lake is built up more than South Lake Leelanau, the changing bottom structure makes it far more exciting to fish and offers the prospect of some bigger fish. The scenery with the islands (private) breaks up the monotony of a smooth lake surface.

Fishing techniques are particularly important on many lakes.

Nightcrawler harnesses trolled slowly along bottom are very productive. Orange or gold spinner blades work well, and some trollers favor Hot-N-Tots or Wiggle Warts trolled off in-line planer boards. Be warned, however, that Long Lake is very popular among anglers and boaters. It can be a madhouse on weekends and from 6 to 10 p.m. during the week, and if you dislike personal watercraft and speedboats, an angler may choose to skip this lake and experiment with Bear Lake, which is not as popular.

The best bass fishing occurs in late June and early July in both arms of Grand Traverse Bay. Fish near boulders and reeds in mid- to shallow water. Reefs near Acme, Bowers Harbor, and other areas will offer the best fishing once the water temperatures rises slightly.

So, again, the big question: which lake is best? My nod goes to South Lake Leelanau for sheer fish numbers and the odd chance for a bigger fish. Long Lake wins, hands-down, because of the islands and the different bottom structure.

Anglers can find great sport in both lakes, but do not overlook Bear, Cadillac and Mitchell lakes. Although they weren't covered in depth, these three lakes can be a back-up to Long and South Leelanau lakes. All of them have attractive features, but I'd try any of them early in the morning or just before dark.

The fishing is best at low-light periods, and it eliminates competing with personal watercraft and high-speed ski boats. And, if you fish at night, leave your lights on. It's the law and may help keep you safe.

Title: Best Holiday fishing near Traverse City

Tags: ((Dave, Richey, Michigan, outdoors, fishing, hotspots, Traverse, City, bass, cisco, lake, trout, walleyes, holiday))

Posted via email from Dave Richey Outdoors