New in 2017

I'd just like to quickly acknowledge some of the new stuff, tactics and experiences that I enjoyed in 2017.  The breadth of this "newness" isn't all that astonishing, but I think the depth to which I pursued/employed some of these things/experiences/concepts was new, in and of itself.  Once gain, my 2017 Fishing exceeded my expectations in many ways.  "New" stuff, locations and techniques certainly enhanced my experiences and appreciation.

Lures

My Christmas 2016 stocking contained a couple of Duo Realis spy-baits.  I'd specifically requested these, thinking about Lake St. Clair smallmouths.  But when my first, early-March trolling session for pike was not producing as I'd hoped, and a jerk-biting bass had already revealed itself over Reeds Lake's shallow weeds in the very cold water, I picked up my spy-baiting rig for the first time.   Within the first few casts, I got hit, and hit hard!  I missed this fish, but not too much later, I somehow hooked and landed a very light-hitting, heavy pre-spawn bass.  It was a great confidence builder for me with these lures, and they produced nicely for me in some tough, cold-weather conditions.  I've still got a lot to learn with them, but they've earned a permanent spot in my boat.

The Duo Realis spy-bait (top, in perch color) was a reliable producer in tough, clear cold-water conditions.

Shallow, pre-spawn pike love to eat spy-baits.  It's difficult to choose to throw an expensive lure on light line with no leader, but I caught many pike without ever getting bitten off!

Everybody east of Lansing seems to be crazy about walleyes.  Having caught a few on tube baits while targeting pre-spawn bass on Lake St. Clair, I decided to add some crawler harnesses and Gulp! baits to Numenon's storage areas.  I decided to deploy these a few times over the course of the season.  It usually turned a slow day into an enjoyable experience.  I'll have to admit, a Mack's Smiley Blade seemed to outproduce traditional spinners, and is super easy to deploy.  

All this stuff earned a near-permanent place aboard Numenon.  For some reason, the combo on the bottom featuring the green Mack's Smiley Blade was a killer!

I broke down during the late summer, and with St. Clair's Big Rubber Season approaching, purchased some Swedish Pig Shads from https://www.kanalgratis.se/en/.  My biggest regret for the season is that I did not parlay these into a big Esox photo opportunity.  If that's the worst part of the season, I've got no real gripes!  And I did have a strike, a few follows, and faith in the potential of these subtle swimmers.  Maybe 2018 will provide that photo.

Presentations

My season began with some three-way rig-trolling for pike.  This isn't exactly a new technique, but I rarely use it, and we did catch the targeted species on our first trip of 2017.  The hardware and sinkers are now always in the boat!

This old-school, bottom-tapping combo caught the first fish of 2017.

I wish I had more to say about The Technique of Silent Capture.  I probably said enough about it, above; spy-baits are the real deal!  I look forward to expanding my experience with spy-baits, especially in tough conditions, in 2018 and beyond.  With no closed season for pike on Lake St. Clair, I might choose to chase them there early in 2018.

I found out that I also enjoy fishing Blade Baits in cold water.   This technique paid off handsomely with a couple of nice fish on tough days.  Again, this isn't exactly new to me; but developing some confidence and site-specific knowledge with them, is.  They are always in the boat with me, and I suspect that if I can find some early-season smallmouths on Lake St. Clair (i.e., before the jerk-bait bite and general shallow-water invasion), these could be the ticket to a pile of nice fish.

My last nice bass of 2017 ate a blade bait in over 30 feet of water.

In 2016, I taught myself to successfully fish lipless crank-baits in cold water by using a Carolina-style retrieve; just a slow pull with the rod followed by picking up the slack.  This forced me to slow down and keep the bait (Berkley War-Pig) on or near the bottom, just like the venerable Carolina Rig.  I felt every tick, bump and strike; and caught some awesome largemouths!  In 2017, I extended this to Carolina Cranking, retrieving crank-baits in cold water in the same manner.  It paid off immediately and repeatedly!  This strategy fully plugged a hole in my repertoire between jerking and lipless cranking.  It filled lots of other holes, too, over the course of the season.

You can learn a lot from fish like this!

Locations

I saw a lot more of Lake St. Clair and her moods.  There's a lot more to see.  She's been tougher to crack than I expected, but I have had more than enough success to realize her potential.  And, perhaps more importantly, I have faith that this potential can be realized on any given cast; especially the next one!  

Lake St. Clair seduction

I have fished Benzie County's Crystal Lake for decades, but just about always for trout.  And usually then, as a backup for other dreams based on typical weather conditions.  But I've known about her big bass for years, and have even caught a few while trout fishing.  I hit Crystal Lake specifically for smallmouths in early June.  I think we were just a tad too late for the best fishing; but we still had some very fine fishing.  I've got a tons of waypoints; it's just a matter of going back! 

Good buddy BL with his largest smallmouth from our trip to Crystal Lake.  An annual trip Up North with BL in search of brown bass is another burgeoning tradition, cemented in 2017.

I fished Michigan's Torch-Clam-Bellaire Chain of Lakes for the first time in September, 2017.  Of course, I'd been aware of them and their potential for decades, and I even used to fish Intermediate Lake (connected, and just upstream) pretty hard.  The fishing on my "new" chain wasn't easy; but my average smallmouth was awesome, I lost a giant, and I also caught a targeted muskie and some pike.  As a bonus, Lake Bellaire (admittedly, probably my favorite of the three) is very close to BL's deer camp.  Hmmmm...

Lake Bellaire

Coming "home" on Clam Lake

Torch Lake is aptly named.

I'd also like to recognize the Huron River Metropark System; nice, reliable facilities on a variety of lakes, all seemingly well-maintained.  Worth the annual fee, in my book.

Other

I guess I should note that my 2017 Physical Re-location provided a basis for many of these new experiences.  The work days are longer, but our new home is our haven; plus, there are so many new waters within a day's reach.

Is there anything more restful than watching whitetail fawns from your living room?

I already mentioned an Annual Spring Trip with BL for up-north bass.  He's netted many fine bass bass for me; I'd love to return the favor.  Repeatedly.  We'll see which lakes we choose in 2018, but we will have our choice!

When it is cold and/or miserable outside, why not enjoy a Hot Lunch, Kanalgratis-Style?  I've often been too busy fishing to even think about eating, but I learned this year to occasionally slow down, eat and warm up.  Hot dogs, tinned spaghetti, Dinty Moore or similar; the calories will keep you going!

Inaugural 2017 Hot Lunch aboard Numenon

Hot Dog Selfie at Sea

A gifted me with a Berkley Surf Wagon for my late summer birthday.  While most locals proclaimed it to be fabulous and cool, they may have been just being kind to my dotardly ways.  Regardless, it sure made hauling a variety of gear up and down the hill a lot easier!

Berkley Surf Wagon

My new work schedule introduced Flex Days in 2017; a weekday off every two weeks!  I converted some of these into some fine fish, and even more of them into fine days fishing.  My Flex Experiences were elevated when I received a Pup Tent for Fathers' Day.  I kind of ran out of Summer to use it too much in 2017, but this simple gift will be put to good use for the remainder of my career, I am willing to bet.

Beautiful Flex Day; Beautiful Pike

Now have Pup Tent; willing to travel!

2017 Fishing Wrap

This has all been chronicled from here through there, but why not have it all in one place?  These thoughts are in large part driven by my readily available pictures, but I can't sit here on this bleak, wet November evening and not conclude that I've enjoyed yet another fine fishing season.  I know for a fact that I had my best bass season ever, and I enjoyed lots of stripers during two quick trips to Maine!  Trout were entirely absent; but there's only so much time!


March; All of my fishing was on Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids.  I started the open water season during the end of pike season, but quickly switched to Catch and Immediate Release bass fishing when I caught a couple of quality bass in very cold water on March 5.  I caught a bunch of pike, too, while fishing for pre-spawn largemouths.  

I'd just missed what I presumed to be The Fish of the Day when felt some heaviness on my Spy-Bait.  It turned out to be this fine bass; she was a true harbinger of good things yet to come in 2017.

Spy-baits (top) and jerk-baits (bottom) produced in 2017 from Day 1; and handsomely throughout the colder waters of Spring 2017.

Pre-spawn and spawning pike love this spy-bait!  What a way to spend a weekday afternoon!

This bass wasn't 23 inches long, but she was easily over 5 pounds.  She was just one of many lunker bass to come aboard Numenon in 2017.

April; I couldn't go anywhere else, and once again, all my effort was on Reeds.  The convenience and quality of Reeds Lake fishing kept me plenty happy.  Plus, we'd just sold our home of 20+ years; I was going to miss this gem!  I needed to enjoy it while it was still so convenient!

My first bass of April was no joke!  More success jerking on Reeds Lake!  This was a beautiful Sunday morning with friend BL aboard.

When the jerk bite slowed, I expanded my areas by searching for pre-spawn bass with rattle-baits (top) and cranks (bottom.)

My first War Pig rattle-bait fish of 2017 was a real good one.

Just a few casts later, this verified 6-pounder ate the same bait.  Within the half hour, War Pig produced a virtual limit of well over 20 pounds of largemouth bass.  This wasn't my heaviest limit ever, but it was close; and it certainly came in the shortest time span, and all on the same bait!

This bass anchored another fine virtual limit, but one I had to really work for, and one compiled on a variety of baits.  Different days on the water provide an opportunity to learn different lessons.

May; My Lake St. Clair fever was fueled by my previous experiences there and our move to mid-Michigan.  It's only 90 miles away and now within a sane day-trip radius.  It's proven to be more difficult to unlock than I expected, but it still has produced good experiences and/or nice catches just about every trip.

New job, new work schedule, new water and perhaps The Premiere Fish of 2017; a Master Angler, 6-plus-pound Lake Saint Clair smallmouth.  She ate a specifically chosen crank-bait on a pretty tough day.  She made the day!

A short move and a few casts later, this tough channel cat smashed a spinnerbait in shallow, muddy water.

June; This is always a month of transition in Michigan, but by shifting the focus to the clear lakes of Northern Michigan, I prolonged my spring bass fishing enjoyment.  I hit several lakes with a couple of buddies, and made a solo trip to Grand Traverse Bay.  So much water, so little time!  By the end of the month, everything had shifted into summer mode, and any of the easy local fishing was done for a while.

BL scored this nice smallie on our inaugural trip to Crystal Lake in Benzie County.

The following day found us on Douglas Lake.  Fishing was a bit tougher, but we caught some nice bass.  This particular one wasn't the biggest, but she sure was the roundest!

Simple, fun weekday fishing on a new lake with my girls; what else could one want?

Late Spring Beauty

Father's Day brought me a little pup tent, a State Forest Campground and a trip to Traverse Bay.  This set me up nicely for another Flex Day fishing trip the next day!

Traverse Bay wasn't easy, but provided a beautiful setting for some nice smallmouths.

When the bass fishing on Lake St. Clair is in a post-spawn funk, why not enjoy some white bass between walleye bites?

July; If my local fishing suffered, it was only because of holiday travels and time spent in Maine.  No complaints from me on this, I spent just about every dawn and dusk on our dock, fishing for mackerel and striped bass.  Mackerel (i.e, bait) were locally scarce, but the bass were there in numbers, and I caught them while I could!  Returning to sweet water near the end of the month, I continued to catch some nice weekday fish on Reeds Lake.  I didn't think I would choose to drive back there just to fish, but I did, several times over the remainder of the season, and I will likely continue to do so.

Our dock in Maine has many moods.  Every day, every tide is a bit different.

I enjoyed lots of action for some pretty decent stripers on our first trip to Maine for the summer.

I returned to Reeds Lake on another Flex Day and enjoyed some quality deep cranking.

August; I explored new lake a couple of times, and I shared super nice day on the water and meal with my youngest daughter.  Other than that, heat, work and lethargy kept the lid on any local fishing excitement.  Fortunately, we returned to Maine for a short visit, and I continued to experience a pretty good bite from the stripers.  Mixed in with the schoolies were some pretty decent light-tackle fish, too.

M returned from school and summer adventures to share a day in the boat and to catch her first bass in quite a while!

Our second trip to Maine for the summer provided some additional fast action for stripers.  This was the biggest of my season.

September; This can also prove to be a difficult, windy transition month, but in 2017, I experienced the hottest weather, as well as some of the best fishing, of the season.  A and I shared a few days on new lakes in Northern Michigan.  I enjoyed easy access to some fine, quality water, including a few mornings with Numenon already in the water and ready to go, docked behind our simple rental house!  Consistent with 2017's theme, the fishing was never easy, but through a continuous and concerted effort, a few very nice fish came to hand.  Returning "home" to Lake St. Clair, I enjoyed a pleasant day searching for new, offshore bass spots.  For the first time this season, calm winds allowed me to go anywhere I desired.  This trip made me realize how big and varied this water really is.

Sunrise on a new lake; what might happen?

It took me quite a while to get my first bite on Lake Bellaire, but it was worth it!  Once again, the fishing wasn't easy, but I enjoyed bites from quality fish during my couple of days there.  I will be back!

Another quality Lake Bellaire smallmouth; a bit later, I lost my largest bass of the year when it jumped in classic fashion and threw my Senko back at me.

My first and only muskie of the year came under unexpected circumstances; hot temperatures and on a busy, unfamiliar lake with a low muskie population density.  But one never knows; one might as well try!

I was drop-shotting for bass, but this beautiful pike made my day on Lake St. Clair!

October; I succumbed to muskie/Esox fever.  I started the month with an hour of deceptively easy and productive high-speed trolling.  The remainder of the season turned into a grind.  My last bass of the season was another quality Reeds Lake largemouth, as I took advantage of a lull in pike action to try some deep-water blade-baiting in the rapidly cooling water.  I will need to do more of that in the future!

My season shifted gears as I launched into this first October sunrise.  I was targeting Esox with high-speed trolling tactics.

I enjoyed surprisingly good success on October 1.  I was looking for muskies, but quality pike kept me busy and happy.

My first choices for high-speed trolling spent a fair amount of time in the water.  The Shad Rap (bottom) became a productive staple.

Another Lake St. Clair sunrise; I hit the water filled with optimism, but ended my LSC season with a series of skunks as I continued to pursue pike and muskies.

I'd included a casting rod and my blade baits in case the Reeds Lake pike trolling got too easy.  I'm glad I did, this was the nicest fish of the this Flex Day!  And I should mention the blue landing net; a winter gift, it reduced my boat side losses to zero and paid for itself in lures not lost.  Thanks, A!

Hot Lunch, a 2017-born Numenon tradition on miserable weather days. 

Another tough day, but another fine bass.

Big Rubber!  I am sure that I have the information to confirm that I am a significantly worse angler when throwing these lures, but they seem to be the consensus approach for Lake St. Clair muskies in the fall.  I do think that some day, one of these lures will produce a personal best Esox on Numenon.  And I did have that day on LSC where I enjoyed a touch and three additional follows... I'll continue to throw them, I am sure.

November; The weather has closed in, and with holiday travels and an uncertain forecast beyond next weekend, I have winterized and stored Numenon for the winter.  I managed a single November on-the-water session in windy, wet conditions.  I interrupted my Big Rubber casting with a couple of quick trolling sets, and the Giant Shallow Shad Rap scored again.  It was only another squeaker/keeper-sized pike, but catching this fish was certainly better than closing the series with a set of complete skunks.

Not necessarily the specimen I'd hoped to finish my season with, but welcomed aboard anyway.  I'm pretty sure I've run out of time; in fact, I just winterized and otherwise put Numenon to sleep for the winter.  I'm not happy about that, but I have to admit, I had a good year with her.  I look forward to 2018 and beyond; and I'm quite certain that some good things will happen early in 2018.

What do I have to say about this?

If nothing else, this illustrates that I am a truly fortunate guy in many respects.  I already know this, but how often does one stop and actually utter such a sentiment?  (Not often enough!)  I've got the means, drive and abilities (as well as familial support) to do all this for fun, and my new work situation has probably only enhanced these pursuits.  What ever small disappointments I might have about the season (too much time fishing by myself, no personal best muskie to end the season, no international smack-talking photo of an Esox with a Swedish Pig Shad in its maw), these pale in comparison to the therapeutic value of the time invested in this pursuit, the beauty of the sunrises, sunsets and natural settings, the beauty and wonder of the fish themselves, and even the time I've spent reflecting on and valuing these experiences.

So, on to the holidays, and then on to 2018!  I expect a fast start and good things!  Cheers to all!