Beacon Special Writer

Some trips a fisherman looks forward to throughout the year, maybe even has them circled on the calendar. Perhaps it’s a trip to a new location, and the opportunity to explore new waters. Sometimes it’s a return to a spot that has provided spectacular fishing in the past.  Some trips are as comfortable as an old pair of jeans, familiar surroundings, old friends and the satisfaction of a tradition upheld. 

For a fisherman, the common element in all these cases is the anticipation. Often more than a few nights are spent in preparation, checking that all the gear is in order. Reels get spooled with new line, bags packed with all the right clothes, tackle boxes equipped with just the right stuff. But it’s that last night before you go that holds the most commonality for die-hard fisherman.  If you’ve seen the Disneyland commercial where the little boy tells his dad that he and his sister are still awake because “we’re too excited to sleep,” then you’ve got the idea. 

Imagining what the next day will bring keeps a fisherman’s sleep at bay. Charter Captain Ken Clark likens it to Christmas, so much so that he named his charter service “Fishmas Charters” because “any day you can fish is a Holiday”. Indeed, a recent trip to the tip of the mitten fits that description. 

The annual early November trip to Burt Lake has gone through all the phases, and is now a comfortable tradition. Originally I was tempted there by the pictures of giant perch brought back by Capt. Clark. Yellow Perch is one of the two tastiest fish in fresh water (the other, a subject of much disagreement, will be left for another article) and I wrangled my way in to the following year’s trip.  

A small flotilla of boats meets up at the motel parking lot in the rainy pre-dawn hours as launching plans are established.  All have been to the bait shop for minnows already and now it’s a matter of choosing the launch site. Burt Lake is a big body of water and the wind direction rules out the nearby ramp as a choice. The group then embarks on a soggy tour of the launch ramps of Emmet and Charlevoix counties, finding each of the sites unsuitable, and ultimately deciding on a ramp on the Indian River a few miles upstream from the lake. 

10 fishermen make their way down the long winding river to the lake and head for the deep hole where we are all sure that the perch have been patiently waiting our arrival, eager to take up residence in our live-wells.  As it turns out, our anticipation didn’t match that of the fish.  

Knowing that this trip would become a topic for this column, I began to have second thoughts about the column title. “Catch of the Day” seems a little presumptuous, and puts the pressure on to deliver. What if I don’t catch anything? I could lose whatever limited credibility I might have. 

A few fishless hours into a very soggy day and my boat mate Carl Churchill puts a nice 12” perch in the boat – “Hooray! The curse is broken! Now we’ll get it going.”  I follow up with a 9” and then all goes quiet except for a couple itty-bitty walleyes.  

All the boats chase about the lake in search of something – anything to put in the livewell, we have a fish fry planned that night and without some fish we’ll all be eating nothing but French Fries! Luckily a couple of nice walleyes were landed that day and a handful of smaller perch added to the catch. 

Even more fortunate that some of the group had fished the two days prior and contributed enough in total to feed this hungry group. The combined filets all turned golden brown in the fryer, were washed down with excellent beverages, and a splendid time was had by all.  

The following day proved even less inviting weather-wise than the first, as sleet rapped on the window-panes in the early morning and flags looked as though they would rip off the flagpoles at any time. Sometimes, as they say, discretion is the better part of valor, and we opted out of fighting 3 foot waves in search of un-cooperative fish. 

The following week when I was asked how the fishing trip went I responded with a simple dozen words.

“The fishing stunk.

The weather was awful.

It was a great trip” 

Now I well know that hunters experience the same anticipation for Opening Day. And while I may not join my fellow sportsman in pursuit of venison that day, I do have an Opening Day tradition of my own.  

My opening day begins well before first light. I stop at the Wesco station for a big cup of coffee and find it especially crowded for a Sunday morning, and there is an awful lot of camo on the customers. I see a Dad educate his son that, on this particular morning, the Breakfast of Champions is Jack Links Jerky and not a chocolate donut. Most of the vehicles leave in the direction of the woods, and I head towards Lake Michigan. 

On this morning you have the rare chance to be the only fisherman on the pier, and. as I pull into the parking lot I find that I indeed have the place all to myself.  It’s easy to predict that the pier won’t be crowded, not so much the wave conditions, and the big lake is firing 4 foot rollers right up the channel, they growl through the big rocks and shoot waterspouts up onto the walkway. The pier head is obscured by spray and I opt for a spot closer to White Lake in hopes of finding a tired but hungry steelhead.

I am undisturbed by any other fisherman or by any fish. The Catch of the Day on this morning is a spectacular sunrise over White Lake, seen in the photo above. If you didn’t get to see it from your position up in the tree, drop me a line at bergscatch@whitelakebeacon.com and I’ll send you the full-color picture. Happy Thanksgiving. 

Fishing Report 

Grand Haven - Some fresh steelhead are still being caught off the piers, with some reported flurries of hot action mid-late morning. Try floating spawn or casting rapalas, body baits or small spoons. Whitefish slow over the weekend, but improving

Muskegon - Daytime anglers have caught steelhead off the pier when casting spoons or floating spawn. Whitefish have also been caught in decent numbers in the early morning or late evening.

Muskegon Lake - Night anglers caught a few walleye near the Bear Lake Channel and along the drop-offs when trolling crank baits. Steve Dietz took two nice fish totaling 12 pounds on a Rapala Deep Down Husky Glass Minnow pattern, nice fish Steve!

The northwest corner was giving up some nice bluegills. Perch have been caught around the lake however most were small. Night anglers caught a few walleye near the Bear Lake Channel and along the drop-offs when trolling crank baits. Clown and perch patterns worked best.

Pentwater River - Is still producing some steelhead.

White Lake - Those fishing the channel have caught whitefish but action has been slower than Muskegon and Grand Haven Steelhead have been slow, but some late morning action reported here as well. Perch are being caught but fish are still small.

The river should have some good steelhead in it, and I’m going to find out this weekend for sure. Watch this space for results.