It is important to understand the National School of Fishing is a neutral vender environment. Meaning the products shown here are products we personally use and have approved. Certainly, there are other products which would be effective and you may have your favorites. Rule of thumb. Use what works for you and if you're uncertain, the products here will perform well.
Hot Spots
Deer Lake Video
$12.95
plus shipping/handling
Deer Lake
Also known as Deer Lake Basin
Lake is actually a resevoir created from a
damed up stream.
Acres
Aprox 952
County
Marquette, Michigan in upper peninsula
Michigan DNR species
Northern Pike, Bluegill, Crappie,
Walleye, Largemouth Bass,
Smallmouth Bass
Maximum Depth
35 feet
Marquette
To puchase the video, in addition to others, click directly on the DVD image. This will take you to the DVD Store.
Deer Lake Video
$12.95
plus shipping/handling
Each time we visited, it was only necessary to use a selection of jig heads tipped with plastic and some hard bait. One thing stood out and repeated itself each time we visited. We had considerable more catches using jig heads with eyes than without. It also seemed painted heads were preferred over not painted. They also seemed to prefer a certain color. It may seem inconsequential, but if I learned anything in 42 years, give them what they want. We talk about how you do that elsewhere in this site. The baits shown are from our Angler Fundamental Participants. Again, use what works for you. The colors and jigs are matched to what worked well at Deer Lake. Also, notice in Tackle Box Animation how the curly tail is attached. I have found over the years that by attaching the grub with tail down it entices more strikes, on the retrieve keeps the jig upright, and on the fall causes the jig to oscillate back and forth drawing greater attention to it mimicking a dying minnow.
Salmos used were #4. They come as sinking or floating. The sinking type is weighted and sinks to the bottom if not retrieved. The floating stays at the surface if not retrieved. Each has its advantages. Both were used but the sinking allows more depth control and change in retrieve speed. The floating forces more retrieve speed to attain desired depth. Each situation you face is different. By having the choice of a sinking or floating lure gives you considerable flexibility in adapting to your particular scenario.
Eye Ball Jig Head
Northland
Whistler Jig Head
Northland
Curly Shad
Bassassasin
Deer Lake is one of the best inland reservoirs for walleye in the state and for good reason. I have spent a great deal of time on this lake shooting several TV shows and have never caught less than 30 walleye. During one show, we lifted in over 100. The size of the walleye tends to be 2 to 5 lbs. There is a reason why. Dear Lake has always had an issue with mercury content. I expect as a result from a history of mining. Years ago, the reservoir was drained in an attempt to lessen the mercury content. Once refilled it was decided to introduce walleye to the lake. It would be a catch and release lake only. I believe those rules still apply today. These rules have been responsible for a tremendous population of walleye and have limited their growth. If you enjoy catching walleye, Deer Lake is your lake. If you want to learn how to catch walleye Deer Lake is a great place to learn. Point of interest: It has been my experience there is no shortage of walleye in this lake. However, it tends to be a very finicky and light bite. Actually very different from what you would expect.
It has been several years since having fished the lake and at that time, the only DNR launch was a two track requiring four wheel drives for larger boats. There had been plans to put in a new one as I understand.
Deer Lake has a high concentration of walleye. I venture to guess one of the highest per acre of any Inland reservoir in the state. When we first visited the lake several years ago, we were the only boat on the entire lake. After shooting several TV shows on the lake, I expect there is a little more traffic. However that shouldn't discourage you, there are plenty of walleye to be caught. Take note that the lake is a catch and release lake only.
Also effective was the use of crank baits. However, one needs to qualify cranks or hard baits as they are often called. Just because it carries the designation of a crank bait, does not mean it's going to be effective. Three important factors come into play in each fishing scenario. That is size, action, and color. Some will even ad smell but in my studies smell should be considered independent of size, action and color as it can be a stand alone in the big picture of things. What about smell?
When considering the big three size is number one. Here is where opinions can play out. I treat opinions differently than most. I try to debunk them, even my own. Time on the water has shown size is the first instinctive reaction fish discerned. They don't have the properties of reason but they do react to objects seemingly to big or too small deciding to or not to pursue based on their level of hunger and aggression.
Action is next. It does not take long to size up the offering and then decide if its movements are characteristic of the food chain of that particular lake and strike. Last is color. If size is right and the action looks good it's not likely, their trying to determine if the color is correct. If they were doing that then many of the rainbows we throw at them would go totally unnoticed. How many pink minnows have you seen swimming?
The hard baits shown are from the Salmo Family of lures. Having experimented with many sizes and types the Hornet attracted more strikes. It creates more of a slow tight smooth wobble which is different from many. Whatever the reason it attracted strikes and was consistent each time we were on the lake.
Hot spot A is what I call Walleye Island. I have no idea if the Island even has a name so I named it. Swimming Jigs tipped with curly tail grubs around this Island and hot spots B & C is very effective. What do I mean by swimming jigs? Rig up your jig as shown in the Deer Lake Jig & Grub animation. Make as long a cast as you feel comfortable with, longer the better, and let the jig sink. It is very important you maintain a tight (no slack) line from rod tip to bait. This doesn't make any difference to the fish but it sure does to you.
Slack line causes these issues:
: Lesson angler’s ability to exercise a controlled fall of the bait
: loss of contact between angler and bait (Feel)
: Hook set is diminished having to take up line slack before contact is made
: Line drifts causing bait to leave target zone
: Won’t feel contact with the bottom after allowing the bait to sink
Once you hit your target, allow the bait to sink, in this case, to the bottom. Begin a lift, drop, retrieve method. Lift the bait with rod tip without reeling. At the top of your lift reel in slack line (amount of line taken up when lifting only rod tip) while dropping your rod tip toward the bait. Allow the bait to drop again. You determine how much. This continuous action will create a stair step return effect. The bite will generally come on the drop and it will be a light pickup. These walleye don't seem to smack the bait. Light pick up is the key and you have to be able to feel the bite.
Certainly, there are other techniques but the walleye seemed to favor this method. Interesting this technique was favored each time we visited the lake. Cranks (sinking) we also used crank baits and found the bite to be very different from what you expect. Of course, who knows what to expect. What is important is to make mental notes on what worked and what didn't. In this case retrieving the crank, then pausing a second or 2 before reeling again, was not what they wanted. You needed to fish the crank much the same as though it were a jig and grub tail combo.
This pattern was consistent each time we visited. See Hard baits video. There are many ways to fish cranks and we address those in other sections of this site. For now, what worked on Deer Lake is our focus. When making your cast make it only as long as the distance needed to cover the depth zone you need to reach. Any longer and your chances of a good hook set are diminished.
See Fig C1. It is VERY important you understand the characteristics of the crank you choose to use or your fishing blind. In this case using a weighted crank was an absolute key to success.
A weighted crank offers several advantages.
: Enhanced sensation of feel for bait
: Less problems with slack line
: Better control and manipulation of bait
: Better able to detect pick-up (in this case)
: Control depth zone
: Crank falls imparting action
Cast passed your target allowing the bait to sink to desired depth then begin lift and drop technique just as you did with the jig/grub combo. Different but it work and can be adapted to other scenarios. Know your rates of decent. In other words, know the crank characteristics. Simply stated fish the crank like you would the jig/grub combo. These fish did not smack the bait, instead choosing to pick it up and run. Even though the pickup was more discernable than the jig/grub combo was, you need to stay sharp. You will need to experiment with some issues such as time between lifts and drops, distance retrieved before dropping again and depth zone covered. The key here is the technique used. Like it to fishing a worm or jig but using it like a crank.
Deer Lake is a dream lake and should not be missed. I did not discover this lake until about 2005 and what a find. I don't want to give the impression you just wet a line and you're going to catch fish, but its close. You want to catch walleye then make the trip. Get all the information you need from the Marquette Tourist Council. They will be happy to send it by mail. I hope we have been able to help. Wet a line and have some fun. Don't forget to visit our site again. Many more lakes are coming you don't want to miss.
