New Michigan Lake: 90-Minute Bank Plan to Find Carp

A practical 90-minute routine for spring carp fishing on big Michigan water: how I choose a bank, place three rods (shallow/mid/deep), and make changes without ruining the swim.

If you’ve ever arrived at a big Michigan lake and felt overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Big water looks empty until it doesn’t.

The difference between consistent anglers and frustrated anglers is not “secret bait.” It’s having a repeatable routine that:

  • gets lines in the water quickly
  • gathers information fast
  • keeps you mobile until you find fish
  • stops you making random changes

This is my first 90 minutes routine for a new lake or a new area of a familiar lake—built around spring conditions and fishing three rods (margin/shallow, mid-depth, and a deeper insurance rod).

Minute 0–10: Don’t unload the whole truck

The easiest way to waste a session is to build a camp in the wrong place.

What I carry first:

  • rods + net + mat
  • bait bucket (packbait + hookbaits + a few rig bits)

That’s it. The rest stays in the vehicle until I commit.

Minute 10–20: Walk and watch

Spring fish tell on themselves more than you think:

  • a single roll
  • a patch of fizzing
  • cruising in the margin during a warm spell
  • birds dipping on a travel lane

I walk, I look, and I ask one question:

Where is the best-looking bank right now?

Minute 20–30: Choose a bank for the next window

You’re not choosing a forever swim. You’re choosing the best option for the next 2–3 hours.

My spring priorities:

    1. obvious carp signs
    2. sun and shelter (after cold nights)
    3. warm wind into a bank
    4. access to depth

    If I can see shows, that overrides everything.

    Minute 30–45: Set the depth ladder

    Rod 1: Margin / shallow “window” rod

    Only goes in if conditions support it:

    • sun is on the edge
    • water is warming
    • I’ve seen activity

    I keep bait minimal on this rod.

    Rod 2: Mid-depth workhorse rod

    This is the information rod.

    Most spring carp movement and feeding happens in the mid band.

    Rod 3: Deep edge insurance rod

    If the night was cold, or a cold front is present, this rod can save the session.

    Deep doesn’t mean far. It means stable.

    Minute 45–60: Baiting discipline

    Spring sessions are lost by overfeeding.

    My rules:

    • packbait gives you a controlled patch
    • start small
    • build only on feedback

    Minute 60–90: Make one change only

    After an hour, choose one:

    • move one rod (angle or depth)
    • recast one rod (freshen)
    • move swims (only if you truly have nothing)

    What “success” looks like

    In spring, success often means:

    • you identified the best-looking bank
    • you put rods on three bands quickly
    • you created a readable bait situation
    • you got any form of repeatable feedback (liners, shows, fizzing)

    A bite is the bonus. The routine is the long-term win.

    The “if I had to fish one rod” rule

    If you ever feel overwhelmed:

    • fish the mid-depth rod on the most likely corridor
    • minimal bait
    • tidy line lay
    • stop changing things

    FAQ

    “How long before I move swims?”

    If I get zero feedback across the ladder through the main window, I move. If I’m getting liners on one band, I stay and refine.

    “What if I arrive and see one show far away?”

    One show is a clue. Repeated shows are a plan. Use the routine and only relocate if it becomes repeatable.