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Posts: 19
| I have decided to change my trip to St. Clair, though I'm afraid that my 18ft Bass Boat won't be able to handle St. Clair. Any advice or information where we can fish on St. Clair or the river to avoid the choppy water, yet still be in range of catching some fish? I've never fished St. Clair but have heard of how choppy the water can be. We are going to stay on the AMERICAN side, thus Canada is off limits to us, not sure if it makes a difference in finding the fish. Any information will help, thank you. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | An 18' bass boat is fine. Just watch the weather and be smart about it. If it looks like it'll get rough, it probably will. If there's any kind of wind forecasted, it'll get rough. If it's a nice weekend, it'll get rough from boat traffic.
With my broken leg, I've been boat whoring the few times I've been able to get out this year, and I've missed my big tug. But I've been in a 20' Tuffy, a couple of 16'-17' tin boats and two 18' bass boats....I will say one 18' bass boat was beyond uncomfortable and into the realm of miserable. It was just brutal slamming waves with a broken leg and by the end of the day, the headache and backache I had was just miserable. The other bass boat ride wasn't too bad. Conversely, the rides in the 16' aluminum boats were better, but slower due to hull design. My point is, a 16' boat is doable on LSC, and with a bass boat, you're just a bit more dependant on driving skill than in a deep V, which cuts waves better. And then amongst bass boats, they are not all created equally. Some do better, foot for foot than others.
An 18' boat is doable for LSC, but pick a good driver, watch the weather and you'll be ok.
Edited by esoxfly 8/12/2011 6:21 PM
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Posts: 19
| Thank you Esox, any recommendations on where to fish with the boat? As in should we stay closer to shore? Or fish in the river system? |
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Posts: 458
| When are you going? Will you be casting or trolling? |
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Posts: 19
| We are planning on going LABOR DAY WEEKEND. Which is 1st week of September. We are CASTING though if we don't get any hit's and get bored, we will troll, but we cast 90% of the time. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | That'll be a crap shoot. Weekends are tough due to boat traffic. Some places are almost unfishable due to the 46' cruisers flying by you. Every day is different and you'll have to find fishable water and plan accordingly. The weather forcast could be for no wind, and you get to the lake and launch from Harley and get out into the lake and it's 3' non-directional chop and you fill your boat.
As for places, there's always fish in Anchor Bay and out in front of Metro Beach. And both of those places are fairly safe in that boat. I've only been on the water a few times this year due to a broken leg, but I know between two boats fishing the last week...I know of ONE fish boated casting. A few trolling, but from what I hear it's been absolutely brutal casting this year. But that's from a guy with a broken leg.
Edited by esoxfly 8/13/2011 8:01 PM
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | hey i would say for you guy's to get a guide there, that way you can fish and let someone else worry about the rest. there are quiet a few really good guides on st clair. they will have the pattern down and will be on fish. that is big water and you will have better odd's with one too. just my 2 cents. some i would say for you to check with ....brian schram , chad sandy, chae dolsen(he is guiding up there now too) and spencer berman, jon bondy, i would say any of these guy's...bill |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | I would just caution to verify that whomever you hire is fully licensed, both in MI and with a USCG captains license AND has a proper vessel inspection on file. (They'll have a vessel inspection sticker plainly visible on their boat. Be absolutely sure to visually see their licenses and paperwork. If they're in compliance, they'll be happy and eager to show you their credentials.
I'll just say that there's more than one guide working illegally on LSC. You need to see State, Federal (because you're on navigable waters) and vessel inspection paperwork. Jon guides out of Canada, so I'm not 100% sure what he'd have to show you, but anyone guiding out of MI or the US side will need the three pieces of credentials mentioned above. There's been an influx of fly-by-night guides working LSC in the last two seasons. |
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Posts: 719
| Thanks for the recommendation. I am actually licensed in both countries. Being a lifer I take it seriously. I am compliant with US, Canada, Michigan and Ontario. BTW, I've guided out a bass boat for 17 years now and they are plenty big enough. There is plenty of water to go to if it gets rough, especially the channels/rivers. Good luck, Jon |
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Posts: 299
| Fishing has been great all summer except for last week or so. That mid-week front kinda screwed things up but fishing should pick back up this upcoming week. Best advice is to hire someone like Chad Sandy and Bondy. Guys who have put serious amounts of time fishing this system and are legal!! Way too many "fly by night" guides out there claiming to be experts and illegally guiding. I wouldn't even think about stepping in their boats. Go with a guide on day 1 and then you'll have better grasp of this massive body of water.
We have some specific guides out here who I frankly think are a joke and don't even have the proper documentation. These guys will fade fast considering some start guiding only after 2-3yrs of fishing this lake and claim to have all the answers... Go with Bondy or Chad Sandy for casting. |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Bondy - 8/14/2011 7:58 AM
Thanks for the recommendation. I am actually licensed in both countries. Being a lifer I take it seriously. I am compliant with US, Canada, Michigan and Ontario. BTW, I've guided out a bass boat for 17 years now and they are plenty big enough. There is plenty of water to go to if it gets rough, especially the channels/rivers. Good luck, Jon
You're on the short list of guys I'd recommend Jon.
Chad, Spencer, also good bets. |
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Posts: 719
| Thanks guys....good fishin' |
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Posts: 553
Location: 15 miles east of Lake Kinkaid | Evernoob-
To reiterate...hire a guide. You will learn a lot in a short amount of time. Also, if you do not have experience with big water, DO NOT try to "brave" the elements in an 18" bass boat. Speaking from experience, SOME 18' bass boats will handle big water, but only with an experienced captain/boatman at the wheel. (In my younger/dumber days I ran 26 miles in 4-6 footers on Lake Michigan in a tournament. We lost a graph, filled the boat up ten times with water, ran the bilge pump for 8 straight hours, and put numerous stress cracks in the fiberglass.) Believe me, no fish is worth losing your boat and life over. Sorry for the lecture but this passed weekend, after seeing a brand new 20' Nitro turned over on a beach at the southern end of Lake Michigan, I was reminded of the thin line between brave and stupid. Good luck, St. Clair is a great fishery. |
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| Some of the guys thinking about a trip to LSC should google crime rates in Detroit. Detroit has started off the year with about 18 murders and we we are only 26 days into the year. This is especially true if you launch near the Detroit River. If I was going to fish LSC I would definitely launch and stay on the Canadian side as it is much safer for you and your boat. |
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Posts: 321
| Schram - 1/26/2012 11:25 AM
Some of the guys thinking about a trip to LSC should google crime rates in Detroit. Detroit has started off the year with about 18 murders and we we are only 26 days into the year. This is especially true if you launch near the Detroit River. If I was going to fish LSC I would definitely launch and stay on the Canadian side as it is much safer for you and your boat.
Yes, but it would seem those murders were of people who either kept or did a poor release job on muskie. H |
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Posts: 489
| with prince fielder in town now there is also a chance in getting hit with a home run ball while fishing the river. Fish at your own risk.
Edited by Chain Gang 1/26/2012 12:17 PM
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Posts: 458
| Homer - 1/26/2012 12:06 PM
Schram - 1/26/2012 11:25 AM
Some of the guys thinking about a trip to LSC should google crime rates in Detroit. Detroit has started off the year with about 18 murders and we we are only 26 days into the year. This is especially true if you launch near the Detroit River. If I was going to fish LSC I would definitely launch and stay on the Canadian side as it is much safer for you and your boat.
Yes, but it would seem those murders were of people who either kept or did a poor release job on muskie. H
LOL....if this was true the murder rate would triple from June until December. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | this is good info im planing a trip there myself this summer over the 4th of july ive been wanting to give lake stclair a try for a long time im looking at anglers point to put my boat in other then that i have no clue how far from there will i have to go to find muskys thanks for the info |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | muskyhunter47 - 1/27/2012 9:57 PM
this is good info im planing a trip there myself this summer over the 4th of july ive been wanting to give lake stclair a try for a long time im looking at anglers point to put my boat in other then that i have no clue how far from there will i have to go to find muskys thanks for the info
The 4th of July week will have a ton of pleasure boaters out there to throw a monkey wrench into your plans. Jerry and his family will treat you right at Angler's Point. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | i know the 4th will be bizzy i have a week off then i have wanted to try the lake for some time just bought a new boat i have to give it a try how far from anglers point will i have to run to find good musky fishing |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | muskyhunter47 - 1/29/2012 10:23 AM
i know the 4th will be bizzy i have a week off then i have wanted to try the lake for some time just bought a new boat i have to give it a try how far from anglers point will i have to run to find good musky fishing
Up to about 7 or 8 miles. It all depends on how the spring weather is & how fast the water warms up. Once the water starts warming up most of the bigger muskies move out of Anchor Bay into the main lake & into the channels. The areas outside of Angler's Point (west side of Anchor Bay) is where the musky spawn (those that spawn in Anchor Bay). Once that area warms up they start moving out. With this mild winter we're having I expect the water to warm up quick this year.
If the water temps on the west side of the bay are in the mid 70's or higher when you get there I wouldn't waste my time fishing there & instead fish around Metro Beach or in the channels or the weed beds near the shipping channel. The west side of Anchor Bay will still hold musky but most are the smaller musky.
Edited by Zib 1/29/2012 11:51 AM
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Posts: 458
| Get the right equipment and do some night fishing in front of Selfridge Air Force base. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | i dont think ill do any night fishing its a big lake and would hate to be out if the wind kicks up what baits seam to work best on st clair last year i had the best luck on jerk baits year befor bucktails i do troll but more in the fall or if im going to eat lunch how many line can you fish with there
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | muskyhunter47 - 1/29/2012 1:12 PM
i dont think ill do any night fishing its a big lake and would hate to be out if the wind kicks up what baits seam to work best on st clair last year i had the best luck on jerk baits year befor bucktails i do troll but more in the fall or if im going to eat lunch how many line can you fish with there
On the Michigan side you can fish 3 lines per angler in the lake & rivers, 2 lines per angler on the Ontario side of the lake & 1 line in the rivers. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | so what baits work good on this lake what color |
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| Alot of local stuff....trolling it's Loke's, Woodies, Ziggies and others like Muskie Train, and Tuff Shad. Casting...same as everywhere, lots of bucktails and bulldawgs...Jigging the deep channels, Bondy Baits. |
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| Spanky double 10's have been good for casting and trolling.
The Bondys and Live action lures Mojoe's have been good for jigging
Mason's, leos are good for trolling also. |
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Posts: 7039
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | EvErNoOb- - 8/12/2011 3:10 PM
I have decided to change my trip to St. Clair, though I'm afraid that my 18ft Bass Boat won't be able to handle St. Clair. Any advice or information where we can fish on St. Clair or the river to avoid the choppy water, yet still be in range of catching some fish? I've never fished St. Clair but have heard of how choppy the water can be. We are going to stay on the AMERICAN side, thus Canada is off limits to us, not sure if it makes a difference in finding the fish. Any information will help, thank you.
I asked Spencer Berman that exact question: http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/videos/01.15.2012/4630/Tri.Esox.Sho... |
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Posts: 202
| Hey guys thanks for the recommendation. St Clair is a huge system with a ton of different ways to fish it. If you are going to be coming for a couple days it is unlikely that you are going to be able to get away with simply doing one thing the whole time due to weather and wind. The best advise I can give you is to hire a guide for a day to show you the basics and give you some ideas considering the weather forecast you have. Now for casting guides out there its a short list of licensed good guides on the water. Chad Sandy is a great one and a very good friend of mine however he is actually taking next summer off while he is in between boats. That pretty much leaves Jon Bondy and myself. Either way you will be in great hands with a fully licensed guide. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | i picked up a chip for my humminbird and a fishing hot spot map cant wait to get out there this summer are there any bars or places to get a berger for lunch on the lake you know a place drive your boat up to a dock grab a bite and get BACK TO THE FISHING |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | muskyhunter47 - 2/11/2012 7:07 PM
i picked up a chip for my humminbird and a fishing hot spot map cant wait to get out there this summer are there any bars or places to get a berger for lunch on the lake you know a place drive your boat up to a dock grab a bite and get BACK TO THE FISHING
Here's a map of some of the places. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=102002913810057446118.000...
The Raft has a good burger (on the east side of Anchor Bay).
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Posts: 1529
| honestly you can fish the canadian side without boat traffic and long runs. if you have a passport fishing is roughly 50 yards from shore.if your nervous or need pointers hire jon bondy.. or bob devine aka chartertalk guide service. |
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Posts: 208
| Just be careful out there, it is different than any other body of water I have fished outside of IL. Time on the water has made me a pretty good judge of the weather..... looking at the clouds, wind, waves, humidity, ect... as a predictor of what is to come. Not there, error on the side of caution, you can always go back out. Almost EVERY time I say "At the next lure change (20 min or so) we better pull the boards in and troll boat rods towards the ramp" we end up scrambling to get lines aboard safely and on the ride in we wish we were 20 min. earlier! If you think you might have to go in pretty soon..... go in now. Or at least go closer to the ramp and start fishing again.
Maybe locals have a better feel for the weather patterns, but I have almost never seen it do the same thing twice.
Edited by Trollindad 2/14/2012 10:37 AM
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St. Clair Muskies