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Posts: 146
Location: Alsip, IL | Anyone ever broken 50 in the UP of Michigan. Been fishing up there all my life, fairly seriously for about 10 yrs, and very seriously and almost exclusively for muskies for about 4 years. I have a cottage up there and its my home away from home and for the amount of time I get up there I feel I put good numbers in the boat. Usually in the neighborhood of 30 to 40 skis a year with about 18 full days of fishing up there. I hear of locals telling me of the insane numbers of 50+ fish and even see a few new pics of 50's in the bait shop I go to every year. just curious if any of you guys fish up there and have bagged a 50 up there, or if I should book some guided trips to a percentage body of water. |
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Posts: 8781
| They are out there. Seen a few in the area that could have gone 50, and know some reputable folks with a lifetime of experience there that have caught one or two. It's definitely not impossible. But I suspect the locals and bait shop owners may be pulling your chain a bit about the regularity and the numbers of 50"+ fish..
If you want to book a guided trip to learn new waters or get some insight into the waters you fish, by all means, do it. You won't be sorry. But if you're looking for someone to find you a 50" fish, I'd suggest you head West. Or North. |
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Posts: 146
Location: Alsip, IL | Yea in 20 yrs of fishing up there I'd be confident in saying I've seen 3. 2 were while fishing for other species with light tackle so I had no chance. 48.5 is the biggest I've personally landed. I'll never quit trying that's for sure. |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | Your best shot at a 50" in the U.P. is in the St. Mary's River. There's usually at least one 50 that's speared out of South Manistique every winter according to the locals (I hunt in the area but haven't fished it yet). Brevoort Lake has big girls in it as well.
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Posts: 6
| Heck, come on down to Vilas Co, WI. I know were a couple 50"'s might be hanging out. Anyone that says that 50's are regularly caught are takin' you for a ride. |
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Posts: 146
Location: Alsip, IL | I'm in Iron county MI which is a stones throw away from Vilas I often think about taking the short ride over there. Although I hear there is a bit more fishing pressure out there. I know during my annual June trip it is not uncommon for me to be the only boat on a 3500 acre reservoir that I fish on. There is nothing like that feeling. If I were to head toward Vilas for a week this year what are some good bodies to get started on? |
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Posts: 6
| I'm a big fan of fishing the Cisco chain for big fish. Pulled a 42 out of Mamie last September and we saw 2 30" pike. My fishing partner missed a huge muskie that we never saw. All I had for reference was the boil behind his bucktail that seems to last forever. I had a few follows as well, and that wasn't optimum fishing conditions either.
I've seen several big muskie there and the last couple years the weed beds have been huge while people only fish a small portion of them. Vieux Desert has some big fish in it, but it can be hard to fish since it's a giant open lake with no real windbreak. The only muskie I pulled out of there last year was a 37", but it was a cold morning with fog on the lake and it was the only muskie fishing I did on that lake for the year. I'm jonesing to get back up there. I live in the Chicago area, but have been going up to LoL for the last 25 years.
Also, I hear Palmer has some big fish, but I've never fished it. I prefer Tenderfoot as it's quieter. Not as big of fish in Tenderfoot, but there's a fair number. If you're looking for bass or pike on a beautiful lake, check out Black Oak. It's got some beautiful clear water. |
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Posts: 6
| Not that you would need one, but if you want a guide for the area, a friend of mine has been guiding that area for over 30 years. From what I've seen his rates are cheaper then most and we've been with him for about as long as I've been up in that area. Mostly because we come up as a group and don't want the hassle of hauling our own boats, and bait. |
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Posts: 146
Location: Alsip, IL | I to live in Chicago so I know the ride is a killer. I doubt I'd hire a guide in that area. Getting fish in the 42 to 45 inch range has been good for me over the last two years, I have multiple that size. But nothing over 46 since 2010. Would be nice to get a four footer again. I've heard the Cisco chain is good just never made the drive from my place. I'm gonna have to broaden my horizon this year. Lac Vieux is on my list. |
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Posts: 6
| I love the chain. If you make a habit of heading that way and do want some insight let me know. I'll shoot you my guys info. He lives right by Vieux Desert |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | No big fish in the U.P.  |
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Posts: 146
Location: Alsip, IL | I've got one spot on the Brule flowage where I know a big one lives. Not a 50 but Def over 45. And I still have no clue why. I've risen this fish 3 times now probably within 20 yards every time at different times and there is nothing really desirable there. No sharp drop, nothing fancy about the shore. Idk but it's a way point I always go to. Hopefully in 10 more years I'll have a few more spots like that. How would a 14 foot deep v be on lac Vieux? Dangerous or doable? |
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Posts: 48
| Nothing to see here. Move along.
Edited by 906ESOX 3/2/2014 4:29 PM
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Posts: 209
| the changes in the weather are amazing !!!
a very odd year in weather in general
QUOTE]mecoltin123 - 2/27/2014 12:09 AM
Anyone ever broken 50 in the UP of Michigan. Been fishing up there all my life, fairly seriously for about 10 yrs, and very seriously and almost exclusively for muskies for about 4 years. I have a cottage up there and its my home away from home and for the amount of time I get up there I feel I put good numbers in the boat. Usually in the neighborhood of 30 to 40 skis a year with about 18 full days of fishing up there. I hear of locals telling me of the insane numbers of 50+ fish and even see a few new pics of 50's in the bait shop I go to every year. just curious if any of you guys fish up there and have bagged a 50 up there, or if I should book some guided trips to a percentage body of water. |
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Posts: 295
| If you're after big fish the easy way, head to Detroit for the opener. The sheer amount of fish is mind boggling. You can see 3 50 inchers caught by guys from shore in a couple hours down there. Don't forget to dangle your dawg around the boat for a few turns at the end of every cast, you can contact an unreal amount of fish just farting around with your bait boat side with your other hand in your pants. |
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Posts: 2753
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | bryantukkah - 3/14/2014 1:37 PM
If you're after big fish the easy way, head to Detroit for the opener. The sheer amount of fish is mind boggling. You can see 3 50 inchers caught by guys from shore in a couple hours down there. Don't forget to dangle your dawg around the boat for a few turns at the end of every cast, you can contact an unreal amount of fish just farting around with your bait boat side with your other hand in your pants.
Now that's a boatside technique I've never heard of before.... Do you grip both rods tightly when you set the hooks?
Have fun!
Al |
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Posts: 209
| I have always thought of buying a cottage up there but when I do the cost / benefit im better staying at a resort hiring a guide as it comes out much cheaper
Bill
mecoltin123 - 2/27/2014 12:09 AM
Anyone ever broken 50 in the UP of Michigan. Been fishing up there all my life, fairly seriously for about 10 yrs, and very seriously and almost exclusively for muskies for about 4 years. I have a cottage up there and its my home away from home and for the amount of time I get up there I feel I put good numbers in the boat. Usually in the neighborhood of 30 to 40 skis a year with about 18 full days of fishing up there. I hear of locals telling me of the insane numbers of 50+ fish and even see a few new pics of 50's in the bait shop I go to every year. just curious if any of you guys fish up there and have bagged a 50 up there, or if I should book some guided trips to a percentage body of water. |
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Posts: 295
| ESOX Maniac - 3/16/2014 6:21 AM
bryantukkah - 3/14/2014 1:37 PM
If you're after big fish the easy way, head to Detroit for the opener. The sheer amount of fish is mind boggling. You can see 3 50 inchers caught by guys from shore in a couple hours down there. Don't forget to dangle your dawg around the boat for a few turns at the end of every cast, you can contact an unreal amount of fish just farting around with your bait boat side with your other hand in your pants.
Now that's a boatside technique I've never heard of before.... Do you grip both rods tightly when you set the hooks?
Have fun!
Al
I think it has more to do with my mental focus actually, beer, cigar, sandwich, cell phone, in my pants, any and all seem to work right when I'm starting to think nothing else will. Makes me wonder if I just drifted down river with a beer in my hand figure 8ing and farting around with my bait all day how well I'd do... To heck with all this laborious casting and retrieving garbage anyways. |
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50's in the UP?