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Fishing Reports
(If you have read this part before go straight to the report)
Hi. I'm Smitty, owner of the Walleye Lodge located on the north shore of beautiful Lake Gogebic (Go-ge-bic). Gogebic is the largest lake in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan located in the western end with about fourteen thousand acres of water to play on. My reports generally include the north end of the lake, and Bergland Bay where we are located. We are primarily a Walleye lake with some real nice jumbo perch, and an under fished supply of small mouth bass, and some huge northern (forty six inch, twenty six lbs. last year with a nickname like Jaws!!!) Depths can reach forty feet in the deep trough on the east shore or try the huge table in the middle running around twenty-three feet. Bergland Bay's main attractions offer protection from the big winds and beautiful weed beds, which make for some great year round fishing.
July 6, 2010
Well we had a political fishing week, a lot of hot windy air!!! White caps for four days straight made for a slow week of fishing, it was hard to hold in the weeds even with two anchors. Some nice fish were caught but it was a tough fish. Lake is holding to normal summer levels and the weed beds continue to expand. Another round of May fly’s with a heavy hatch as well. Fish are in there summer mode and are on the move. Things have calm down some so will give it a try this afternoon if the rain holds off; my grandson is chomping at the bit (for another fishing lesson).
Had to put out the NO VACANCY sign, so a big thanks to all who shared their weekend with us we truly appreciate it.
Hope all is well on your end of the line, D’s still running specials on the rooms this is the summer to come and enjoy the Western U.P... Great fishing, beautiful lake view rooms, 150 water falls, picking agates along the shores of Lake Superior, the Porky’s, Lake of the Clouds to name a few things to do. Fish safe and bring the kids along the lake is warm and the swimming season is off and running and with the low water it’s great. We will give you the latest fishing info as we know it at check in, drive safe. We have rooms open and will do what we can to make your stay a good one.
Thanks,
Smitty & D.
Walleye Lodge & Motel
Toll free 1-866-464-3242
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June 29, 2010
YUM, YUM, and GOOD it’s hard to beat a fresh meal of Gogebic Perch. The bite has been good and no one is fishing. We were the only boat in the bay and could only fish two lines. The perch we kept were perfect size 13 ½ to 12, and in excellent shape. Had one in the 15 inch range but due to my stupid actions he swam out of the net. Would have released him any way but I like a few pictures of the big boys. A couple of Walleye also jumped into the live well so we had a nice feed. Weeds are to the surface now and almost too thick in places to fish. Lake level is up a foot as well so we are about right for this time of year. Our guests this week drove right over the fish to go fish the flat’s but had little luck. Early week guests found some real nice ‘eyes along west shore and missed two monsters that sent them back a second day to find them. We have a nice group for the week end so have to sharpen up the fish house knifes as there will be some nice fish caught. Hope all is well on your end of the line, D’s still running specials on the rooms ($25 single, or two for $40) this is the summer to come and enjoy the Western U.P. . Great fishing, beautiful lake view rooms, 150 water falls, picking agates along the shores of Lake Superior, the Porky’s, Lake of the Clouds to name a few things to do. Fish safe and bring the kids along the lake is warm and the swimming season is off and running and with the low water it’s great. We will give you the latest fishing info as we know it at check in, drive safe. We have rooms open and will do what we can to make your stay a good one.
Thanks,
Smitty & D.
Walleye Lodge & Motel
Toll free 1-866-464-3242
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June 22, 2010
Another weeks gone and never wet a line. The first month of the Chamber Fish Pole Giveaway is in the books and as always some great fish were entered. The winners are for the Walleye 27.5 inches and weight at 6#9.8oz. Northern 38.5”, wt. 15#1oz. Bass 19.75” wt 3#5oz & Perch 14.0” wt 1#5.5oz. There were a lot of other nice fish entered so thanks for entering & maybe this month will be your turn. I saw the rod & reels at the bait shop and they are nice combos. Our guests are still catching fish, despite a large mayfly hatch and the fish will hit the summer mode after the hatch. Weed beds out front are ready and with the low water level they will be in abundance and extra thick. I think it’s going to be the year of the big perch with the Hog Fishing Tourney in March cancelled, there should be some real HOG’S in the weeds. Fishing pressure remains very, very low and sometimes it seems like I’m the only boat in the bay. Do to gross miss-management by a short term owner, our books are in bad shape so if you want a great deal on a room ($25 single, or two for $40) this is the summer to come and enjoy the Western U.P. . Great fishing, beautiful lake view rooms, 150 water falls, picking agates along the shores of Lake Superior, the Porky’s, Lake of the Clouds to name a few things to do. Fish safe and bring the kids along the lake is warm and the swimming season is off and running and with the low water it’s great. We will give you the latest fishing info as we know it at check in, drive safe. We have rooms open and will do what we can to make your stay a good one.
Thanks,
Smitty & D.
Walleye Lodge & Motel
Toll free 1-866-464-3242
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June 14, 2010
Well, we made it through what was one of the worst openers in many years. A few nice fish taken but a lot of hard luck stories as well and the real proof can be found in the fish house pails. (Normally four, less than one this year) Very low lake levels and no wind, in my mind played a big part, as we marked a lot of fish. If you wanted to feed the rumor mill a poor opener was all it took. I will address two of the main rumors in this report. First, that the DNR removed Walleye from the lake. I heard as many as ten thousand. This is not true they took no Walleye, and they would not do so without talking to the many groups that have a stake in the lake and foremost their own biologist. I talked with Steve Scott & George Madison from the DNR and they too have heard the rumors. They both would have first hand knowledge of any fish moving projects and assured me there were none. With all the disease and modern methods to work with fish raising capabilities, this would not be an option. Please do what you can to but a stop to this rumor it does no one any good and could hurt business on the lake and surrounding area. The second rumor is that the Tribes took many more fish than was authorized. A count was made as in the past and they came up with 104,000 adult walleye in the lake. This set the legal number for the tribes at 3,360 fish that could be taken. The actual count was 3,341 taken. This information was provided to me by Jim Williams the Tribal Chairman. Now there are also rumors of dumping fish off, illegal netting, etc. if you have any proof or can help in any way to stop this practice, if it is happening please let me know. They did have a live net out for three days but took no Walleye, only a few suckers and perch (around 20 of each) The DNR & the Tribal Authorities are more than willing to help as this also makes for poor relationships and does no one any good. Weather you support the programs or not they are what they are, however we can help by keeping a watchful eye. There are new groups such as ‘Walleyes Forever’, who are looking to work with us to maintain a strong fishery, and have the resources to do so. I hope this info helps you to better understand the truth and we can stop or at least slow down those who would rather stir the pot than have anything meaningful to put in it. Reports from across the U.P., Wisconsin, and Minnesota indicate that walleye fishing has been slow. The walleye are here and fishing should improve in the coming days and weeks ahead. Be safe, wear your life jacket, check fishing your equipment so it’s in top shape- don’t want to miss a nice fish cause of old line or a hole in your net and above all… have fun and enjoy the beautiful serenity of the western UP!
Thanks,
Smitty & D.
Walleye Lodge & Motel
Toll free 1-866-464-3242
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June 1, 2010
Fishing is like the U.P. weather if you don’t like it wait a day. It’s good to very good now and the bass are on fire. I picked up twenty walleye and had a few to cook for breakfast, when I got in and was pretty happy, the guy’s in eighteen had forty the morning before. Lots of small walleye in the fourteen inch range but they will be good in the fall. Tom got into some bass a few days ago and had a few at eighteen, boated a dozen or more legal fish and kept a few for lunch. I was never a big bass fan till some southern boys cooked some up and they were real good. We had some today and they were really good. So try some spring bass they may surprise you in a good way. Stick to the seventeen and under for your best luck. Neighbor boy had a nice mess of perch and the weed beds are filling in nicely so that will improve each week. Add a few big northern as well so we are very happy on our end of the line hope all is well on yours. Fish safe and bring the kids along the lake is warm and the swimming season is off and running and with the low water it’s great. We will give you the latest fishing info as we know it at check in, drive safe. We have rooms open and will do what we can to make your stay a good one.
Thanks,
Smitty & D.
Walleye Lodge & Motel
Toll free 1-866-464-3242
Back to Top
May 21, 2010
Well, we made it through what was one of the worst openers in many years. A few nice fish taken but a lot of hard luck stories as well and the real proof can be found in the fish house pails. (Normally four, less than one this year) Very low lake levels and no wind, in my mind played a big part, as we marked a lot of fish. If you wanted to feed the rumor mill a poor opener was all it took. I will address two of the main rumors in this report. First, that the DNR removed Walleye from the lake. I heard as many as ten thousand. This is not true they took no Walleye, and they would not do so without talking to the many groups that have a stake in the lake and foremost their own biologist. I talked with Steve Scott & George Madison from the DNR and they too have heard the rumors. They both would have first hand knowledge of any fish moving projects and assured me there were none. With all the disease and modern methods to work with fish raising capabilities, this would not be an option. Please do what you can to put a stop to this rumor it does no one any good and could hurt business on the lake and surrounding area. The second rumor is that the Tribes took many more fish than was authorized. A count was made as in the past and they came up with 104,000 adult walleye in the lake. This set the legal number for the tribes at 3,360 fish that could be taken. The actual count was 3,341 taken. This information was provided to me by Jim Williams the Tribal Chairman. Now there are also rumors of dumping fish off, illegal netting, etc. if you have any proof or can help in any way to stop this practice, if it is happening please let me know. They did have a live net out for three days but took no Walleye, only a few suckers and perch (around 20 of each) The DNR & the Tribal Authorities are more than willing to help as this also makes for poor relationships and does no one any good. Weather you support the programs or not they are what they are, however we can help by keeping a watchful eye. There are new groups such as ‘Walleyes Forever’, who are looking to work with us to maintain a strong fishery, and have the resources to do so. I hope this info helps you to better understand the truth and we can stop or at least slow down those who would rather stir the pot than have anything meaningful to put in it. Reports from across the U.P., Wisconsin, and Minnesota indicate that walleye fishing has been slow. The walleye are here and fishing should improve in the coming days and weeks ahead. Be safe, wear your life jacket, check your fishing equipment so it’s in top shape - don’t want to miss a nice fish cause of old line or a hole in your net and above all… have fun and enjoy the beautiful serenity of the western UP!
Thanks,
Smitty & D.
Walleye Lodge & Motel
Toll free 1-866-464-3242
Back to Top
May 12, 2010
Back from Florida for the Walleye Opener and it should be a good one. But first a word of caution, the lake is lower than I have ever seen it and we can’t use the boat launches in Bergland, you can get the boat off OK but it is very shallow as you leave the launch site. Locals say it was 1986 last time it was this low and never in the spring. Some rain in the forecast but it will take six plus inches to bring it back. Watch the sand bars, and stay clear of Bergland Bay east of the old boat launch, lot of dead heads. We added two sections of dock but still not in the water we normally have, the good news is we are a sand bottom. What will the low water do for the fishing is the big question, as the weed beds along the shore held a lot of bait fish and a lot of the beds are dry or very low? I have a few ideas and we have a veteran crew coming for the opener so we will be on the fish in a short time. It’s nice when they all work together.
We have to get our ducks in a row as the Spring Tourney starts on the 22nd. It’s a two day tourney and is for the Walleye mainly but they do pay for a big pike (36” min) & a big perch (15” min) if one is caught. Top ten Walleye are in the money and first prize is $1,000.00 and tenth is $100.00, with the rest spread between. Forty bucks get you in, a nice hat and some munchies at the prize presentations on Sunday & hopefully a check. We have rooms open and will do what we can to make your stay a good one.
Thanks,
Smitty & D.
Walleye Lodge & Motel
Toll free 1-866-464-3242
Back to Top