2012 Fishing Pictures

I' m sharing a few pictures here from the few fishing trips I took last summer 2012, including a muskie fishing trip my father and sister took early last fall.

Here's the launch at Hamlin lake in western Michigan.  Hamlin is created by a dam on the Big Sable River just before it enters Lake Michigan.  Hamlin is separated from Lake Michigan by a few hundred yards of sand dunes as seen in the background of the above picture.

In these photos we are making our way through Lost lake.  A very clear, shallow section of Hamlin lake that is nearly cut off by a group of islands.  There were many old tree stumps strewn about the bottom of this lake with their root systems exposed.  Needless to say it was idle speed across the lake to get back to Hamlin.  Probably a rich spawning and rearing location for many species including the Large and Smallmouth bass.  A line of Heavy Thunderstorms had just rolled through.  We sought refuge nearby just before the storm hit.

Here I've caught a Rock Bass (Ambloplites rupestris) on a Senko 4" worm hooked Wacky style.

This was a small Northern Pike (Esox Lucius) I caught while casting a number 7 size blade, bucktail made by Musky Mayhem Tackle.  The pike was 22" and released immediately after photo.

This was a nice 17" Largemouth Bass ( Micropterus Salmoides) caught on a Nightcrawler under a bobber.  The gentleman holding his prize catch is Mr. Jack "sprat", as my wife calls him.  He and his family are like family to us.  A great time had by all!

Jack and I were tasked with bringing home fish for a fish fry otherwise we would have released the Largemouth and Smallmouth in next photo.  Despite what many think the Largemouth tasted as sweet as any other fish we roasted over the coals that evening!

This was a 19" Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus Dolomieu) I caught on a 4" Senko worm fished Wacky style.  An incredible battle this fish gave me on a light spinning rod with an extra fast action and a Diawa SS real.  Its drag got a good work out that morning!

This musky (Esox masquinongy) was caught by my dad on the St. Croix river dividing Minnesota and Wisconsin near the Twin cities.  It smashed a top water lure, Top Raider I believe.  It measured 44" and was released immediately.

This Lil guy fell to a Cowgirl bucktail that my sister was throwing in hopes of attracting one of the St. Croix's monster 50 plus inch muskies.

Finally, I thought I would throw in this Picture from the year before, again on the St. croix.  My sister holding her largest musky 44".  Released!

That's it for this last open water season of fishing.  There were a few more trips that were planned but put on the back burner due to work schedule and health issues.