Posted by Greg from elpxy02.ce.mediaone.net on January 18, 1999 at 20:43:21:
In Reply to: Re: Bay De Noc posted by Dave Brandes on January 18, 1999 at 19:58:17:
: Great report Greg!!!
: I'm interested in making a trip up there and have a few questions for ya. How long a drive is it? Is there a place you can reccommend staying at? Did you fish in a permanent shack all day or were you mobile? Anyone catching anything else other than walleyes(not like thats a problem;-)? Did you drive your vehicle out on the lake? Lastly, where the heck was everyone? From the picture(NICE FISH) it looks like it wasn't very crowded. Sorry about all the questions...I'd send you a private email but I think others might be interested in the same info as well.
: Thanks in advance:-)
Firstly Dave, I told Ed if he spoke to you, to thank you for the post a few days back. It was very hepful
i.e. keeping the light down in the tent, adding the jig 18 inches up. It was very useful;-).
As for the questions:
The drive is about 4 1/2 - 5 hours depending on the weather - the last 60 miles you trail the lake and usually
you'll get lake effect snow!!!
There are numerous places to stay. Depending on where you fish. There are 3 larger towns on the east side.
Escanaba, Gladstone, and Kipling. Since we sat out on the ice for about 10-12 hours I really didnt care where
we stayed - it was a dump for a little over 20 bucks, but it was clean and close to where we were fishing.
As for the tents, we all brought our own, so yes we were mobile. However there are numerous operators that will rent you a heated one
and even tow you around a bit. I'm not sure about the price on those, but I ll add a Link for one of the
charter guys up there.( if thats ok ED? )
Species wise, where we were fishing its pretty much only walleye. Although in
years past one of the guys I went with has seen splake, northern and perch in this area. ( we got a teeny
perch ).
Ice was plenty thick 20+ inches. Yes there were LOTS of trucks out there. They even plow roads all over
the bay. As for the lack of people out there, we weren't the usual spots, but believe me, I have never
seen so many shanties before in my life!!!!! I think they've got some good jumbo perch action up there,
and most of the shanties are near shore.
By the way, that wasn't my fish!!. Biggest I got was only 5 1/2. Pictures tommorow. It is definately worth the
trip, but I m not so sure it gets better with the later ice!
Greg