NumenOn the Water
Date: 8-6-16
Date: 8-6-16
Body of Water: Clear Lake, Mecosta County
Boat: Numenon
With: Alone
Target: Largemouth Bass
Time: 1 - 3 PM
Conditions: Clear and bright; a bit of wind, 85 degrees F and 84 degree water
I was hoping to find some quiet new water, preferably with smallmouth bass, and I thought Rogers Pond on the Muskegon River might fill that ticket. With Croton and Hardy Ponds further downstream attracting all the attention, I thought this sleepy little reservoir might provide a chance at some brown bass while also offering a respite from the relentless development and boating activity of West Michigan's small, public waters.
Arriving at the ramp at the Crack of Noon, I was greeted by a fiasco. I didn't stick around to find out what was going on, but the Sheriff and an ambulance were busy, and the ramp was otherwise clogged. I quickly changed gears and headed towards Clear Lake, perhaps 15 miles to the east. I'd never been there, and I doubted it had smallmouths; but I suspected it would be quiet and offer a new challenge.
As I motored out, I was pleased to see that this Clear Lake was appropriately named. I was surprised to find that my Humminbird GPS mapping system provided a fairly detailed map; I motored over to a subtle point that dropped off into some of the lake's deepest water.
My second flip with a drop-shot got intercepted by a small keeper bass in about 14 feet of water. That was just good luck, though, because I could only muster one additional bite from a similar-sized largemouth in the next couple of hours. One boat was doing well on numbers of panfish in over 20 feet of water, and another fishing boat reported a slow bite "since they'd sprayed the weeds."
I was hoping to find some quiet new water, preferably with smallmouth bass, and I thought Rogers Pond on the Muskegon River might fill that ticket. With Croton and Hardy Ponds further downstream attracting all the attention, I thought this sleepy little reservoir might provide a chance at some brown bass while also offering a respite from the relentless development and boating activity of West Michigan's small, public waters.
Arriving at the ramp at the Crack of Noon, I was greeted by a fiasco. I didn't stick around to find out what was going on, but the Sheriff and an ambulance were busy, and the ramp was otherwise clogged. I quickly changed gears and headed towards Clear Lake, perhaps 15 miles to the east. I'd never been there, and I doubted it had smallmouths; but I suspected it would be quiet and offer a new challenge.
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| The Sheriff, an ambulance, and a full parking lot... not what I was looking for when I sought new, quiet waters. |
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| Clear Lake, Mecosta County |
As I motored out, I was pleased to see that this Clear Lake was appropriately named. I was surprised to find that my Humminbird GPS mapping system provided a fairly detailed map; I motored over to a subtle point that dropped off into some of the lake's deepest water.
My second flip with a drop-shot got intercepted by a small keeper bass in about 14 feet of water. That was just good luck, though, because I could only muster one additional bite from a similar-sized largemouth in the next couple of hours. One boat was doing well on numbers of panfish in over 20 feet of water, and another fishing boat reported a slow bite "since they'd sprayed the weeds."
What do I have to say about this?
Oh well, it was pleasant enough. The lake might have some potential under different conditions; this was a tough test! And I heard some chatter about crappies and pike, too, so I might have to revisit this lake again, some day.
Oh well, it was pleasant enough. The lake might have some potential under different conditions; this was a tough test! And I heard some chatter about crappies and pike, too, so I might have to revisit this lake again, some day.
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