[girlsfishtoo]

Hi All,

Planning a last minute trip up north with the boat this weekend and am having a tough time deciding. I know Torch Lake is beautiful, but is also deep and rather hard to fish successfully. So, I need to pick between Burt, Mullet, and Black Lake. I did search the forum before adding this topic, but most of the reports and tips for this area were for spring/early summer fishing.

Have casting rigs and lures for bass, pike and musky so any or all of those would be great. I know we missed the spawn but am curious to know if anyone has had summer success on these lakes. If so, what area and what method/lures worked well.

Any tips and opinions would be greatly appreciated!

I have a decent Lowrance sonar/GPS unit (LCX26c) with the MMC chip for Michigan lakes so I should be able to get a good read on either of those lakes. But, I am not really set up for trolling so we would be casting all the time.

Thanks much!!

 

[motocross269]

I don't think I would go to Black lake this time of year...I fished it for a weekend in the spring and it is a pretty tough lake to read..The locals call it the dead sea..The bass Fishing was good in the spring, but I could see how fish would be hard to locate later on in the year...

I really like Burt and Mullet...I would consider it one of the premier multi-species inland lakes in the state...I can't help you much for summer time fishing on Burt and Mullet but there are plenty of resources available..

Grand and Long Lakes in Alpena are great fishing lakes, and fish pretty easy in the summer..

 

[eaglelarry]

Mullet and burt are great lakes in their own right. Mullet gets deeper the farther south you go on the lake.Northern shore is quite shallow.Alot depends where you're staying. How long you're staying.
Since you have an 18 footer, nothing stopping you from fishing both lakes, as well as a number of small lakes in the area.

 

[Zib]

For the past 2 years I've been hearing guys cry about how bad the fishing has been in Black Lake. When I've been up to my parents place in Presque Isle the guys in the bait shops are always talking about the poor Black Lake fishing. Hell I was in the UP in Curtis & a guy was crying about Black Lake there too.

I haven't fished Black Lake myself so this is all 2nd hand info.

 

[Eric C.]

Don't write off the Torch Lake chain. You can access Lake Skegemog and Lake Bellaire from Torch Lake both those are not as deep and should provide decent fishing. I have heard really good things about Bellaire though I haven't personally fished it much. Good luck and report back.

 

[VinceR]

I would have to agree with Eric. Don't be so quick to write off Elk/Torch. The other lakes that are accessible from Elk/Torch (Bellaire, Clam, and especially Skegemog) have maybe some of the best summer fishing of all the lakes that you have mentioned. Skegemog will have some great smallmouth fishing (muskie, too), and Bellaire and Clam can produce some good largemouth.

They are small enough to cover in a fairly short time, and they are not too deep. The trip up the Torch River from Skeg is nice, too.

Crooked and Pickerel Lakes (via the Crooked River, from Burt Lake) will fish pretty good this time of year, too. Not to mention, the ride up the Crooked River to the lock at Crooked Lake makes for some great sightseeing. There are some fish in the river, too.

 

[Woody95]

I would re-think the plan, not to discourage you but heres the story. Black has been in the tank for a few years. If you like small pike, fish there. I would have said Mullett until this spring. There was a big fight up there between the locals and the native tribe in the area. The native tribe won the court battle that went on for a few years. The tribe proceeded to net Black, Mullett, and Burtt because some dumb judge said they had the rights to do so because there ancestors lived on the lake. Sounds dumb, but that's how the system works. So..... to prove a point to the locals, they netted their azzes off.

I have a buddy that use to fish the bass tour that now lives on Mullett year around. He trolls walleye on mullett near the islands. (two great bottom contours the locals named) He can't catch a fish. He catches 1 walleye a month when in the past he limited every trip out (twice a week) since he was a kid. He canceled our yearly ice fishing weekend this coming winter because of this. I fished those lakes a ton because of this individual, so I trust his knowledge of the lake, fishing, and more importantly, local politics.

He says the locals have turned to the big lakes for their fishing.

good luck in your adventure!

 

[DaveS.]

burt,, smallie city,, same basics as st clair,, walleye,, bucktail jigs keep it vertical,, bbs with harnesses slow troll or drift if you can. good luck

 

[flynhigh]

Ive fished Burt a fair amount in the summer over the last 6 years. My buddy has a cabin there, and he has figured out the walleye pretty well. The spot is real specific, and so is the method. I dont want to give out "his" hotspot to the whole world, so send me a PM if you want the details.

 

[girlsfishtoo]

QUOTE(Eric C. @ Jul 22 2009, 08:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Don't write off the Torch Lake chain. You can access Lake Skegemog and Lake Bellaire from Torch Lake both those are not as deep and should provide decent fishing. I have heard really good things about Bellaire though I haven't personally fished it much. Good luck and report back.

Skegemog sounded great with the stumps and all, but I am a little concerned about my boat. I have an extra long shaft on my Optimax(due to the deep V) and am worried about wrecking the prop or worse. Motor draws about 24" and was wondering if I could successfully navigate that area. Any thoughts?

 

[GIGGLESTICK]

Black lake was okay in late june for perch and bluegills with some smallish pike, but 6 days of fishing 0 walleyes, very disappointing.
I have done good on mullet before but no first hand recent knowledge,
dont forget fletchers pond(floodwaters) I would go there before black lake unless your going waterskiing or tubing, good luck, safe trip

 

[bassfan586]

Troll or cast in front of the uaw campground on black lake. Right on the break. Have caught many nice pike there. Or try the flats on the north end of the lake look for the coontail beds for bass. The is lots of nice structure and cover if you know where to look. Yes black is hard to fish but I know a lot of lakes that are hard to fish in the summer. Just do a search on here for smallies in the summer and you will see tons of questions asking where are all the smallies.

 

[VinceR]

QUOTE(girlsfishtoo @ Jul 22 2009, 03:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE(Eric C. @ Jul 22 2009, 08:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Don't write off the Torch Lake chain. You can access Lake Skegemog and Lake Bellaire from Torch Lake both those are not as deep and should provide decent fishing. I have heard really good things about Bellaire though I haven't personally fished it much. Good luck and report back.

Skegemog sounded great with the stumps and all, but I am a little concerned about my boat. I have an extra long shaft on my Optimax(due to the deep V) and am worried about wrecking the prop or worse. Motor draws about 24" and was wondering if I could successfully navigate that area. Any thoughts?


The Torch River enters Skeg through the area where the stumps are, however the channel is fairly well defined (and plenty deep enough for your XL shaft). The river mouth, here, is where you should start you search for muskies. The rest of the lake has good depth, and you shouldn't encounter problems with draft.

Another area to check would be the east end of the lake, where the reeds are. The reeds grow in fairly deep water, so you shouldn't have any problems there, either. You may find some "skis" and good smallies, here.

For smallies, you might want to try the deep flats on the north side of the lake (west of the river mouth), too. Watch your finder for isolated deep weed clumps.

 

[Calico]

I would re-think the plan, not to discourage you but heres the story. Black has been in the tank for a few years. If you like small pike, fish there. I would have said Mullett until this spring. There was a big fight up there between the locals and the native tribe in the area. The native tribe won the court battle that went on for a few years. The tribe proceeded to net Black, Mullett, and Burtt because some dumb judge said they had the rights to do so because there ancestors lived on the lake. Sounds dumb, but that's how the system works. So..... to prove a point to the locals, they netted their azzes off.

I have a buddy that use to fish the bass tour that now lives on Mullett year around. He trolls walleye on mullett near the islands. (two great bottom contours the locals named) He can't catch a fish. He catches 1 walleye a month when in the past he limited every trip out (twice a week) since he was a kid. He canceled our yearly ice fishing weekend this coming winter because of this. I fished those lakes a ton because of this individual, so I trust his knowledge of the lake, fishing, and more importantly, local politics.

He says the locals have turned to the big lakes for their fishing.

good luck in your adventure!

This drives me nuts!!! How could the judge do this? Payoff??

 

[flapjaw2]

Burt and Mullett have been scorched by netting for sure so I'd suggest plan B. Skegmog is a great lake for casting. The area where the river dumps into the lake is a fantastic spot. If you have a trolling motor (electric) you can cast amongst all that wood for big muskies and just outside of the thickest wood the bass are on patrol. For lures I'd suggest muskie size spinnerbaits (1 oz plus) in white, firetiger or black (dark days)for those big muskies. For the bass the shallow squarebill crankbaits are real killers up there. Stick to the chrome colors for the stained waters and for the clearer lake proper crayfish colors rule. Also on the lake (east end) a weightless senko (or other soft stickbaits) rigged wacky is good on calm mornings and eves. If the wind picks up I'd go with tubes or cranks. Good luck where ever you go, be safe, FJ.

 

[Waterwolfhunter]

Skegemog is a great lake! The stumps area is easily navigable as long as you are paying attention. Great muskie cover! I know a certain someone who caught a state record muskie in skegemog. Don't believe everything you read!! Haha had great success with smallies last summer (August) along the southern shore out from the boat launch. Find weed clumps in 10-12 FOW and bounce tubes off the bottom. Worked great for us. Good luck!

Good fishin'!

 

[weapons of bass destructon]

Guys were spanking the perch on Mullet Lake a couple weeks back. Were fishing the first bay north of Aloha State park using minnows and perch rigs. Saw several different guys coming with nice messes of big perch at the cleaning station at the state park.

 

[belle river fishin]

I don't think I would go to Black lake this time of year...I fished it for a weekend in the spring and it is a pretty tough lake to read..The locals call it the dead sea..The bass Fishing was good in the spring, but I could see how fish would be hard to locate later on in the year...

I really like Burt and Mullet...I would consider it one of the premier multi-species inland lakes in the state...I can't help you much for summer time fishing on Burt and Mullet but there are plenty of resources available..

Grand and Long Lakes in Alpena are great fishing lakes, and fish pretty easy in the summer..

I was on black lake in july and there was some dudes slammin walleyes. They said all of the other lakes in that area are supposed to be better but blake lake really was on fire. Do to no boat I was unable to get after them myself but I did see those guys bring in fish every evening and night. Actually one time I was on my bike and seen them go out around 10 and they were within the hour with there fish !!! I would have told them they were full of it, but I did see the fish and also them carrying the guts to the dumpster every day. There setup was a crawler harness with two split shots about a foot above the harness. Good Luck