Looking back at the 2011 fishing season

Weather was the deciding factor this year, a cold rainy start to the season delayed most of the fishing until the second week of June. Once the season got going it started with excellent fishing and a number of limit catches and the hopes that the action would continue for most of the summer. Then July hit with 90-100 degree temperatures and a surprizing huge run of alewife. This was great to see as I havn't seen them that thick in the last twenty years, and it is great for the lake, but try to get a fish to bite a lure while going through schools of thousands of baitfish isn't easy when all they have to do is open there mouth for the real thing. This gave us hopes of a big salmon run, as we did see some 30+ lb salmon caught and some high 20lb brown trout in August, but then the winds hit and did not give up limiting most of our fishing near shore for the end of the season. The salmon run was disappointing again and there doesn't seem to be any answers, but I think a lot of this years class fish were caught in June and there just are not that many to return at the end of the year after the reduction in stocking. Spoons were the lure of choice this year , the bright multicolors, white, and some greens worked the best. We did venture out to the 550 + depths for rainbows and the action was excellent but the weather limited the days we could get out there. The higher winds did give us the chance to see a lot of the ships traveling Lake Michigan, when the lake got rough many of them travel closer to shore and it was neat to see them go by while we were fishing. So, it looks like the pattern of the last three years is that the best fishing action has been in June. Thanks to Everyone that came out fishing with us this year, we look forward to seeing you again. We had a lot of fun out on the water this year. I change gears now and start the duck and goose hunting season down in Iowa. This year I'm working with the new Maxx Outdoors and teaming up with Chad Belding from the Fowl Life for a couple of shows on the Sportsmans channel, should be some awsome action.
Best Fishes,

Well our season is not over yet, and it won't be till I can't get the boat thru the ice to get out there. We have had an awesome year. We caught lots of Bluegills, Perch, Pike, and some Crappies. This was my first year to try for Crappie. I didn't do as good as I expected to do, but we managed to get some. We went to the Fall Slabfest at Gun Lake. We met some of the nicest people you could ever expect to meet. Yankee Doodler & wife Carol, ready2fish,steelguy, Dar & his Son. Hermin, Kevin, Billbob, and of course Slab and his wife. This was our first outing with folks from this forum, but it sure won't be the last. All in all Crappie2& I have had a wonderful fishing & camping season. But it ain't over till it's over!! Thanks for all the tips you guys have given us, it's very much appreciated.. Larry & Sandy...