Park Profile: Proud Lake Recreation Area

Every day we grind away at work, itching to get to the weekend so we can do something we love.  If you're reading this post then kayak fishing is one of the things you love and you can't wait to get on the water whenever possible. But when you can go kayak fishing, where do you go?  Do you fish in your normal haunts or do you try some place different? Maybe turn your fishing day trip into a kayak camping trip?  Possibly you try someplace where you can target some new species of fish.  No matter what you choose, you have to decide where you'd like to go fishing.

If you're in southeast Michigan, Proud Lake Recreation Area might just be the place you try out next.  With 104 acres of fishable water between upper and lower Proud lakes there are plenty of opportunities for you to land some fish.

Every spring the D.N.R. stocks brown and rainbow trout into the Huron river just below proud lake which draws quite a few anglers eager to catch a few trout on the fly.  Then there is the last Saturday in April which signals the opening of trout season and what some people call stock fest. This is the time when people can catch and keep the trout stocked in the Huron river and Proud lakes. This creates a unique fishing opportunity that only last a short time as anglers tend to fish the river out pretty quickly.  However, don't be dismayed because there are always a few big holdover trout hiding in the depths Proud Lake waiting to be tempted by a wayward crank bait or worm.

If trout fishing really isn't your thing or you just can't make it out to the park in time to enjoy the trout fishing madness, don't worry.  Upper and Lower Proud Lakes are filled with plenty of gamefish including: Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Bluegill and Perch.

Not only that, throughout the year the park's 130 camp sites are available for you to get away from home. Especially as the temperatures cool and the and the bugs begin to die off, a fall comping trip is the perfect opportunity to sneak in some hunting as well.  The two lakes are surrounded by 4000 acres of marshes, meadows, bogs, pine plantations, and large expanses of natural forest more than half of which is open to hunting.  Every September small game season opens up the hunting opportunities for game like squirrels and rabbits. Then, October comes around bringing bowhunters into the park hoping for a chance at a whitetail deer. But that's not it, the park is home to wild turkeys, pheasants, and a few species of waterfowl, so check the hunting regulations before heading to Proud Lake to with a shotgun or bow in hand. 

If you're just looking to get your daily dose of outdoors then you might take some time to hike some of the parks 21 miles of trail system.  Walking isn't the only way to explore the beautiful scenery, horseback riding or mounting biking are great ways to increase your enjoyment.  Proud lake even host some very unique experiences year around like midnight lantern walks in winter, to see upcoming events you'll need to "like" the park facebook page.  The park has a very diverse habitat. This makes it an ideal place to bring a camera and binoculars for a little birdwatching.  

Finally, once the snow falls and winter arrives you can do a little cross country skiing or break out the snowmobiles to zoom along the 10 miles of snow mobile paths. 

For more information on Proud Lake Recreation Area: Click Here!

Product Review: Vimov Saltwater Fishing Pliers

Company Description:  Vimov Saltwater Fishing Pliers (2 Pack), Stainless Steel Titanium Plated Multi Tool 

Multiple Function: The fishing hook cutter can remove and repair hooks, cut steel leaders, hold tiny line and open split rings. The pliers are also capable of cutting, stripping, pulling and crimping as well. With the Vimov pliers you have the option to change treble hooks on crankbaits or clamp sinkers. Besides this these pliers can be a backup for a knife in case of fishing line entanglement when scuba diving. 

• The titanium plating process makes these fishing pliers corrosion resistant, colorfast, UV resistant under use in saltwater and other harsh environments.
• Small Jaws of the split ring pliers are designed to hold the tiny hooks and grip thin fishing lines firmly. 
• Hard and solid line fishing hook cutter is sharp enough to cut braid, mono filament, fluorocarbon, fly line and nanofil.
• Portable and lightweight: This fishing tackle is only 5 inch long, you can put it in pocket conveniently. Split ring pliers fishing is much more suitable for anglers with small hands, like female or teenagers.
• Fine Hand Feeling: Ergonomical molded grip handle make the fly fishing pliers very handy to carry and make you work efficient and freely.

Features:
Titanium Plating Process: This fishing multitool is corrosion-proof, corrosion-proof and high hardness. It doesn't matter if you're fishing in saltwater or in a pond the Vimov fishing pliers are a handy tool to have with you.

Lightweight: At just over 2 ounces, they can be conveniently taken anywhere.

Comfortable Handle allows for use without fatigue or slipping.


Specs:
Color: Black
Material: Stainless Steel& Plastic
Length: 5 Inch
Craftmanship: Plating fishing pliers titanium
Weight:2.11 oz
Package Include: 2*(Fishing Pliers+Nylon fishing pliers sheath)

Price: 16.99 for 2 Pack

How I used: Initially I purchased the Vimov pliers to check out their qualiy.  As well as to see how they would hold up to everyday usage. However when I received the pliers I noticed that they are much smaller than a normal pair of fishing pliers at only 5 inches in length. Which in turn limited the scope of their use in my eyes. 

Normally I carry two pair of needle nose pliers with me in case I need to remove hooks from fish or anything else.  One pair is a simple pair of hemostats and the other is heavier pair of needle nose pliers. The Vimov pliers have taken the place of my smaller hemostats as they are small enough to serve the same purpose with a few extra benefits. 

The Vimov pliers are small enough get hooks from deep within the throats of small panfish.  While also picking up some extra duties throughout the day.  The line cutter sharp and efficient enough to cut braid, mono and flourocarbon with no problems.  I didn't have a reason to try out the hook cutter on the pliers but from what i can tell it will do fine cutting light wire hooks but not thicker hooks that you may use for saltwater or bigger catfish. 

The split ring pliers works great on the small split rings that standard pliers tend to be too big for. While the split shot closers are perfect for small size 00 split shot used for fly fishing. And what's better? They come in a two pack so I can keep one on me and the other in the kayak as a part of my kayak tool kit. 

Overall the Vimov pliers have surpassed my expectations when it comes to functionality and coming in a set of two. However there is one thing I've found to be a problem with the Vimov fishing pliers that is they're fragile based on their design. Most multipurpose fishing piers have one thing in common and that is they all have a triangular shape. As a result most plier manufactures leave no empty space between the fulcrum and tip of the jaws which causes the two sides to rest flush atop of each other when the pliers are closed.  This simple design was missed with the vimov fishing pliers leaving a weak spot where the pliers don't meet.  As a result if gripped too tightly you'll get stress breaks in this spot.  In fact if I squeeze them too tight I can see the metal bend just a bit. 


Review: I would definitely recommend the Vimov fishing pliers to anyone who ask.  However I would recommend them as a back up tool rather than a primary pair of pliers.  This is due to the size which makes them uniquely agile when it comes to unhooking smaller fish but they don't offer the length needed to unhook a deeply hooked larger fish. 

The multitool functions of the pliers are awesome giving you one more reason you'd be happy with this pair of pliers on your hip.  All of the tools function as needed which will only make fishing easier. 

I haven't had any issues with corrosion as of yet so I can not speak to how corrosion resistant they are. However I try to keep all of my fishing tools clean at all times. So I believe they'll hold up great for me under normal usage.

The overall strength of the product is the only aspect of the Vimov pliers that I call into question. So if you do purchase a pair make sure you try not to be too heavy handed with the pliers.

Pros: Corrosion resistant, lightweight, small enough for small hands, multifunction; small enough for removing hooks from the mouths of smaller fish; a good backup pair for larger pliers

Cons:  Not very strong can break when used with too much force.

Kayak Fishing Tips: Tips For Trolling With Deep Crankbaits

In the last two years I've been trying to perfect walleye fishing from a kayak.  A bit of a tough task since I haven't perfected walleye fishing from a boat or shore.  However, since kayak fishing has become my primary way of fishing it's time I figure out the best ways to target walleye.

Initially I started kayak fishing for walleye by trolling with crawler harnesses and Lindy rigs. In the spring and early summer I had pretty good success catching walleye this way.  However, once the summer came on in full I noticed that my catch rates slowed.

What were the walleye doing different that was causing me to miss out on fish? The walleye had changed their forage to one comprised mainly of baitfish. With that in mind I started paying closer attention to my fish finder. The fish finder showed me that the larger fish were suspended at intermediate depths between 8 and 20 feet of water.   No wonder I wasn't catching any walleye.  The fish were suspended above where my bait was.  Not only that but they were also suspended just below schools of bait fish.

This walleye behavior made me change my tactics.  I went from fishing crawlers harnesses in deep water to trolling crankbaits that matched the size of the bait fish.   Having located the walleye I decided to long line troll with deep diving crankbaits behind the kayak.  Below are some tips that helped me put my walleye in the kayak while trolling.

1. Use a crankbait that dives the depth you need
The first thing you want to do is pick a crankbait that dives specifically to the depth you desire.  For me this crankbait was the Berkley Flicker Shad.  Since I was trying to catch fish that were hanging in water between 8 and 20 feet deep the flicker shads diving depth of 8 to 14 feet of water is one of the main reasons I picked it.  However there was another reason I picked the flicker shad as my crankbait of choice.  


2. Match the hatch
The other reason I picked the Flicker Shad is because it matched the size of the baitfish the walleye were feeding on.  At that time of year the bait fish I was marking were all in the one to two inch size range so matching that size was key to catching the walleye that were feeding on them from below.

3. Use the right line weight to maximize diving depth
When I initially switched to trolling flicker shad I trolled with two rods running parallel to each other. With this set up I noticed I was only catching walleye on one of my rods. While on the other I was catching white bass which were slightly above and mixed in with the walleye. That told me that my crankbait on the other rod was not getting deep enough to attract the attention of the walleye.

My problem was pretty simple and required a simple fix. The two rods I was trolling with had two different line weights, 10lb and 14lb.  The rod with the 10lb test was running the crankbaits deeper than the rod with 14lb test line. So a quick line replacement before my time out fishing was all it took to fix the problem of the shallow running rod.

4. How much line you have out affects diving depth
Every company that makes crankbaits will have a corresponding dive chart on their website.  This tool is something you cannot afford to overlook if you're gonna long line troll cranks from a kayak.  So make sure you are checking the chart to know how far your crankbait needs to be behind you to achieve the depth you desire.  It's a simple thing that will keep you putting fish in the yak when you'd otherwise be just getting exercise paddling over the fish.

5. Don't troll two floating crankbaits at the same time
Probably the most frustrating thing that happens when long line trolling crankbaits is you often get lines tangled when you stop to reel in a fish. For me there was absolutely nothing more frustrating then reeling in a fish only to have it spin my yak into my second line causing me to get the lines tangle up. As a result I have stopped trolling two deep cranks at once. Now I always run a deep crank on one rod with a live bait rig such as a bottom bouncer and harness or a three way rig with leech or minnow dropped directly below me in order to avoid line tangles due to excess line out.

6. Use lead tape to cause crankbaits to ascend slower or suspend
The last thing I found when trolling with deep cranks is that I stopped paddling the crankbaits floated to the surface eliminating the possibility of additional bites. To keep you crankbaits in the strike zone longer after you stop add a little lead tape to the bottom my cranks. The lead tape will get my cranks closer to neutral buoyancy so they won't float up so fast or just suspend when you stop paddling.  At least on two occasions this helped me land a fish that probably wouldn't have been willing to bite otherwise.

Hopefully these simple kayak trolling tips will help you put more fish in the boat.  While they may seem simple they are pivotal pieces of the puzzle that is fishing.  Tight lines and make sure you take a kid fishing the next time you go.

Southeast Michigan Lakes That Are Stocked With Rainbow Trout Annually

Michigan is one of the best states to live in if you're an outdoorsman or woman.  There is no shortage of public land for hunting and camping.  Not only that but there are thousands of lakes to explore and fish from.  Not to mention the great lakes present unique fishing opportunities unlike anywhere else in the world.

If you're not from here, I'm sure Michigan has its on sportsmans mystique for you.  If you're a fly fisherman or woman then you've heard plenty of stories about the fly fishing the Au Sable river for big rainbow and brown trout.  Maybe you've read magazines about the great musky fishing on Lake St. Clair and it is one of your must visit fishing destinations. Either way Michigan fishing has made an impression on fishermen far and wide.

With so many different great places to fish and such a large variety of species to fish for, it's pretty easy to miss out on some of the more unique fishing opportunities available right in our back yard.  For example if you're live in the southern lower peninsula fishing for rainbow trout is something you may overlook because most of the great trout waters are a few hours north of you. As a result of this rainbow trout maybe one of those species you just don't think twice about pursuing. Well, if that's you then it's time you put trout back on your radar because throughout the state the Michigan DNR stocks trout annually to keep our fishing opportunities diverse.  Below is a list of the bodies of waters that are stocked annually by the Michigan DNR for our fishing pleasure.


Hillsdale County:

Bear Lake

City: Cambria Township
Surface Area: 117 Acres
Max Depth: 50 feet


Bear lake is actually part of a chain of lake which includes Bankers Lake, Wilson Lake and Bear Lake.  This 117 acre lake is the largest of the three and the only of the three that receives annual stocking of rainbow trout usually in numbers just over 8,500 fish. 

While bear lake is known for its perch fishery, every year it is stocked with trout. Given bear lakes size and depth the trout released here be a bit more transient than those in smaller lakes.  So if you're planning on fishing Bear Lake for trout bottom fishing with dough bait is not a bad idea.  Trolling with spoons, spinners and minnow baits will be effective as well.

Bird Lake
City: Frontier
Surface Area: 113 Acres
Max Depth: 64 feet

Bird Lake is a 113 acre gem of a lake located in Jefferson Township whose main attraction is its stocked trout fishery.  The trout stocked are on average 10 to 12 inches in length however occasional 20 inch holdovers are throughout the year.  Most people enjoying the trout fishery from shore use some of the more common baits used for stocked trout, such as Berkley dough bait, Pautzke balls o fire eggs and crawlers.  While those fishing from boats opt for trolling with spoons, spinners and minnow baits to catch their limits.

While the stocked trout fishery may be the main attraction for this lake, Bird Lake is not a limited fishery.  Bird lake contains many of the fish we all like to chase including: black crappie, bluegill, largemouth Bass, norther perch and yellow perch.

However no matter what species of fish you are seeking you'll want to keep in mind that you will not be having this lake to yourself during the fishing season.  Bird Lake gets a fair amount of from pleasure boaters and other people enjoying the lake so the best time to fish would be weekdays when traffic is low.  For access there is a boat launch on the south side of the lake, in Shadyside, and bank access on the north side in Fountain Park.


Hemlock Lake
City: Reading
Surface Area: 140 Acres
Max Depth: 64 feet
Hemlock lake is an 140 acre lake located 4.7 miles from reading in Hillsdale County.  Hemlock is the northern most lake in a chain of 3 lakes connected by small channels, Hemlock Lake, Carpenter lake and Long Lake with Hemlock being the only one of the three which receives annual trout stocking. 

Noted by anglers for its walleye and trout fishing, Hemlock is mostly fished for walleyes that can range up to 10lbs and stocked rainbows averaging 15 inches. Hemlock also has some pretty big pike and bass lurking in its depths. So be aware that while you're pitching spinners for trout there is a fair likelihood that you'll hook into a bass or pike. At a max depth of 64 feet the trout in this lake can be just about anywhere in the water column that has sufficient forage and comfortable temps.  So make sure you're fishing different depths when chasing the trout that are planted in Hemlock lake.  In fact trolling is a great option for picking up fast limits, but that doesn't mean shore fishing won't get your limit of rainbows. 

The only thing to keep in mind about hemlock lake is that it gets a fair amount of boat traffic.   However in the spring around the time of the trout opener many pleasure boaters are still parked inside their warm living rooms.

Jackson County:

Farwell Lake

City: Hanover Township

Surface Area: 213 Acres

Max Depth: 43 feet
Farwell lake is actually one of two connected lakes, Farwell Lakein the south and Pine Hills Lake in the north.  Farwell Lake at 213 acres is a pretty large lake that receives annual trout stocking thus holdovers are pretty common in this lake and the trout have plenty of places to go once released into the lake.  On average the trout released into the lake are 6.25 inches long however there are some pretty big holdover rainbow trout in this lake with some fish up to 24 inches long. 

Not only is Farwell a good trout lake it also has plenty of crappie, smallmouth and largemouth to fish for.  So don't be shocked if while you're pitching spoons or spinners you land some nice largemouth as well. 

As this is a pretty large lake there is a decent amount of usage from pleasure boaters and other anglers throughout the year as well as quite a few private homes around the lake.  So be prepared to share the lake with locals if you plan on enjoying this fishery.  Also there is boat access but that access is through a launch in Pine Hills lake in the north.  

Swains Lake 
City: Southeast Albion
Surface Area: 74 Acres
Max Depth: 60 feet
Swains Lake is a primarily a panfish lake with anglers coming to it to fish for the bluegill and crappie that populate the lake.  However what many of the locals will not tell you is that this lake is also stocked annually with over 5000 trout.

Swains is directly across from Swains Lake County Park campground and picnic area which make a convenient holding spot for those traveling to fish Swains. I haven't personally fish Swains lake so I can't say much about the fishery here but please feel free to comment with any tips for trout fishing Swains Lake that you may have.  

Lenawee County:

Allen Lake
City: CambridgeTownship
Surface Area: 63 Acres
Max Depth: 45 feet
Lenawee County's 63 acre Allen Lake is another lake that is actually a part of a chain of lakes.  This chain including Wolf Lake, Allen Lake and Meadow Lake.  As a result this gives the trout close to 200 acres of lakes to roam through once released into Allen Lake.  

Allen Lake has the usual suspects when it comes to other fish species present ie. bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass and pike. However the stocked trout are the draw to this lake so if you're fishing Allen Lake on the opener be prepared to not be alone.  Especially if you're planning on fishing around the boat launch.  

If you're gonna fish Allen Lake I suggest fishing it from kayak so you can find the trout that have ventured away from the boat launch and haven't been spooked by boater traffic. 

Deep Lake
City: Located In Onsted State Game Area
Surface Area: 65 Acres
Max Depth: 50 feet

Deep Lake is another of the trout lakes that I haven't fished personally so I can't give many tips from my personal experience.  However from what I've gathered from people I know who do fish this lake I can say the following.  For trout the usual baits work however many people are catching their limits of trout with wax worms or the eggs and bacon combination of wax worm and dough bait.  Small minnows, crawlers and fly tackle are also great options for pulling the trout from Deep Lake. 

Deep lake does have a boat launch on the western end of the lake for those wanting to get cover more surface area of the like while fishing for trout.  I do recommend kayak fishing or boat fishing this lake if possible as there are plenty of private homes around it, limiting the amount of shore access.


Livingston County:

Appleton Lake
City: Hamburg Township
Surface Area: 56 Acres
Max Depth: 38 feet

Situated inside of Brighton Recreation Area, Appleton lake is a 56 acre lake who's prime attraction is annual trout stocking.  On average the DNR stocks trout around 6.25 inches in length however larger hold overs are commonly caught. Appleton has a concrete boat ramp with parking or 10 rigs and toilets at the landing for anglers. 

Appleton is located within close proximity to many other lakes within the recreation area making it a good starting place to camp if you're wanting to do a weekend of camping and fishing with different options to choose from.  Just like the other lakes anglers will be using the usual baits for stocked trout ranging from, Berkley dough bait to inline spinners. 


Spring Mill Pond
City: Brighton
Surface Area: 5 Acres
Max Depth: NA
Spring Mill Pond is a small lake inside Island Lake Recreation Area.  At only 5 acres it is the smallest of the lakes in southeast Michigan, that is stocked annually with trout. However what lacks in size it makes up for it with fishability.

By fishability I'm talking about the amount of actual fishable area around the pond.  Because Spring Mill is a summer time local swimming spot, close to 40 percent of the lake is swimming beach which leaves 40% of the lake open to fishing from shore or by wading.  Not only is the beach a fishable area but around the shore there is still plenty of open area to fish.  Beyond shore fishing many people fish this lake during the trout opener from kayak or float tube, literally putting themselves in the middle of the fish.

The ample  fishable area makes Spring Mill Pond a great place to take your family the day after the trout opener.  It’s definitely a lake, if fished soon after the opener, that the whole family can enjoy catching their limits.  Not only that but if you’re introducing a kid to kayak fishing this is the perfect little lake to get them started on to curb their fears of big water.

The large amount of fishable area on spring mill pond combined with its small size lends it to being a highly pressured lake on the opening day of trout season and for a couple weeks afterward.  This pressure and the fact that the DNR only stocks on average 1600 trout annually means Spring Mill pond is usually fished out within a couple of weeks. 

Trout anglers on spring mill pond use a variety of baits to catch the trout that roam through the pond all day.  Wading anglers are usually using spoons, spinners or small rapalas to catch their limits.  While shore anglers usually use corn, dough baits, crawlers and minnows to catch their fish.  No matter what you use you’ll have a great chance and adding a couple of trout to your stringer if you’re fishing at spring mill pond.

Oakland County:

Lower Proud Lake
City: Milford
Surface Area: 49 Acres
Max Depth: 37 feet

At only 36 miles west of Detroit, Proud Lake in Oakland County is the furthest east of all of the Southeastern Michigan lakes that receive annual trout stocking.  At a combined acreage of 104 acres upper and lower proud lakes are absolutely beautiful lakes to fish any time of the year.  As the center piece of Proud Lake Recreation Area they get quite a bit of summer time traffic.  However most people fish the Huron River below lower Proud lake for stocked trout. 

This is due to where the fish are released into the lake. The trout are released just at or below the foot dam at the western end of Lower Proud Lake, causing most of the fish released to flow into the Huron River while fewer head up into the main lake.

The fish that flow into the Huron offer one of the more realistic trout fishing settings as these fish often hang in the undercut banks, below fallen trees, and in deeper holes throughout the river. While the trout that flow into the lakes tend to be more transient due to the shallow water and lack of oxygen in deeper areas.

Like Spring Mill Pond if you’re looking to the fish opening night at midnight, be ready for some combat fishing as the area directly below the damn is lined with people at midnight trying to get a fast limit of fish.  While they’re fishing the Michigan DNR are on top of the bridge over the dam making sure people only keep legal limits and are keeping the peace.

If you’re looking to fish some of the more lightly used spots make sure you pack your waders as some of the trails along the Huron River are often water logged if we’ve had substantial rain or snow in the weeks before.  

Anglers fishing proud lake tend to use corn, dough baits, crawlers, minnows inline spinners and small rapalas to land the brown and rainbow trout stocked here.  Additionally this trout fishery doesn’t last long as the trout are often fished out or preyed on by pike within the first few weeks after the trout opener as this is a put and take fishery.

Lotus & Maceday Lakes
City: Waterford Township
Surface Area: 453 Acres
Max Depth: 117 feet
Lotus and Maceday Lakes are actually the northern and southern sides of one lake taking up 453 acres of surface area.  Maceday Lake is unique in the fact that it is a deep, clear and cold lake that can sustain holdover trout allowing some of them to get to pretty big sizes.  It's for this reason that the Michigan DNR plants Maceday annually with not just rainbow trout but also splake and lake trout as well in very large numbers.  For example in 2018 alone the DNR has planted 12,000 Rainbow Trout, 10,000 Splake and the Lake Trout stocking report hasn't been updated yet but I suspect the numbers are just as high. 

If you're looking for season possibilities for rainbows, splake or lake trout Maceday is the lake for you.  Rainbows can be caught by bottom fishing with minnows and dough bait or casting spoons and spinners.  As well they can be caught by trolling plugs along dropoffs or in the shallows during the cooler parts of the season.  If splake and lakers are your quarry I suggest you reach out to one of the local bait shops as I'm not sure of the best tactics for them as I haven't had the opportunity to pursue them on Maceday Lake just yet.