Long Lake Log

Well not the best of years at Long Lake (near Traverse City).  The first couple of days we were fishing in too deep.  It seems the cool May has kept the fish in waters more shallow than we found them in years past.  My son comes through on one of the first couple of days with this 18 inch walleye. 

I had the white stripe on for most of the week while my dad an my son had all the fun.  I did net the most fish during the week, ha, ha.

Later, I finally get into the act with my first walleye as we find the sweet spot in 10-15' of water at a new (really an old) spot.

Finally on the last night I pick up a few more.  The larger one was caught on the end of the last pass of the last night fishing,.... kind of a sign that it was time to call it a week.

Of grave concern is that we caught a total of 11 walleyes this week and all were keepers.  The scary thing is that no undersize walleye were caught.  In past years we would normally catch and release 2 undersize walleye for every keeper that was caught.  This doesn't bode well for the future of this walleye fishery.  No fish including walleye have been planted here since 1995 according to DNR records.

June 29, 2000

Maybe the best night of fishing overall.  My son leads off with a 16 inch walleye, and quits fishing.  I stay out till dark to convince myself that I still know how to catch fish and catch several undersize walleye, 1 15" walleye, and at dark, a 18" walleye.  Most of the walleye were in about 20' of water and caught on ????? colored 3 hook night crawler harnesses.

Now there's a fish dinner

June 28, 2000

Oldest son Tyler catches first big fish an 18 inch walleye.  Fights it with his Zebco 202 for quite a while.  The fish pulls the rod under water a few times.  I am glad to get the net around it as it would have been a disaster to lose the fish for him.  Three undersize walleye were also caught and released.  I save face by catching a 15 inch walleye and a perch.

The fish is half the size of him.

June 27, 2000

1 18" walleye, 1 perch, and 1 undersize walleye (released), were caught.

Youngest son catches first fish, a bluegill on Mickey Lake.  He catches an undersize bass there as well.

June 26, 2000

Three keeper walleye, 1 undersized walleye (released), and 1 perch were caught.  All walleye in about 15-20 feet of water using ????? colored night crawler harnesses.

July 2, 1999

Caught another 12" perch.  Later I hooked a fish that felt like the biggest one all week, then the line went slack and I pulled in my rig only to find one hook left on my night crawler harness.  I need to go back next year and catch those northern pike to get some of my tackle back!

July 1, 1999

Caught and released 2 undersize walleye.  Got one 15" walleye and two small perch.

June 30, 1999

Went to town and bought a fillet knife sharpener.  Caught a 15" walleye and a 16" walleye.  Got a pike almost to the boat when it came off.  Caught and released a 14" walleye. 

June 29, 1999

Cold front passed through.  Same spot again.  Caught a 15" walleye and a 17" walleye.  Thought the 17" walleye was a snag for until it was almost to the boat.  I was my drag set very tight and I think the boat actually got pulled towards the fish. 

June 28, 1999

Fished same spot same tackle, same technique.  Caught and released 3 undersize walleye.

June 27, 1999

First time out for the week.  Trolled at a drop off in the south-west portion of the lake in ~15' of water.  Used silver three hook night crawler harnesses exclusively.   Fished for three hours and caught a 16" walleye, a 15" walleye, a 12" perch and a 8" perch.  Several undersize walleye were caught and released.  Lost several harnesses to what I thought were pike but never saw the fish.