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| Would like to hit LSC at some point in time this year and I'm looking for general info.
Question (1): Where to stay?
My primary concern is safety for myself and my equipment on and off the water. I've heard plenty of horror stories in the past and I do not want to stay anywhere that would put my equipment in jeopardy of getting damaged or stolen. In that same regard, I'd like the location to be somewhere that I can sleep at night without having to worry about anything.
Question (2): Where to fish?
Not looking for specific spots, but some broad areas would be appreciated. Mostly looking for a place within a reasonable distance from a safe ramp. Fishing out of a 165 Navigator, so I'd like to stay away from "big water" as much as possible. The plan is to primarily cast, but I wouldn't mind jigging at times. No interest in trolling whatsoever.
Question (3): When to go?
I assume the likely answer to this question will be either when the season opens or in the fall. Feel free to give your opinions on the preferred time of year for casting with some jigging mixed in.
Question (4): What license(s) should I purchase?
This is largely dependent upon answers to the first two questions, but input is appreciated as well.
I ask that everyone please refrains from recommending guides if at all possible. I'm aware that LSC has some fantastic guides and I would love to fish with several of them, but I don't have the funds to do so.
PMs preferred. Thank you |
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Posts: 1023
| The Canadian side. Stay in belle river at the petite dragon motel. It's not fancy but fisherman friendly and right by the launch and some stores/restaurants.
You can catch fish anytime casting but fall is your best bet as the rivers are often good and if it gets windy, you can fish them. I have the same sized boat and I fish the main lake casting but you could get burned and get blown off the water for your whole trip. I try not to plan trips in advance. I scramble to get there when conditions look promising/safe.
Btw - thanks to the ridiculous amount of publicity lately from fishing celebrities, the Detroit r will be stupidly busy in the fall. If you go in the summer, fishing the lake sitar quieter.
Landry |
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Posts: 719
| There are plenty of fish to be caught casting out on the lake on the Ontario side (which is 2/3 of the surface area) but you have to mentally condition yourself to be miles out and casting over subtle structure that barely registers on your graph. Just like jigging the rivers around here, if you catch one out on the lake, more will be right there. Whatever brought in that first fish will bring in more. This is best from early July on to the fall in my experience.
You can also jig and cast the Detroit River, but if it is a real warm spring like last year, casting the lake will be better by the time summer comes. If we have a cold spring like 2 years ago, the river will be good all year. Hope this helps. |
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Edited by MuskyMulisha 2/18/2013 7:01 PM
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| Pretty sure he said he didn't want to hire a guide. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | I was out there last 4th of july i stayed at Anglers Point great place.fenced in so every thing is safe boat is right there wake up jump in the boat and go good places to fish close by. there phone # is 586-949-9223 the 4th was very bizzy fishing was good in the morning and evening. |
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| I appreciate all of the tips so far. I will be looking into them in greater detail later this week.
I would also like to apologize for being forward with the guide comment. Certainly do not mean any disrespect towards any of them or guides/guiding in general. Lots of talented guys out there and I would love to fish with them all. It is purely a financial situation on my end. I also know that most of the posts to this thread will be advice to hire a guide, which I am currently unable to do. |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | (1): Where to stay?
Angler’s Point is the place to stay if fishing in June as you won’t have to go far in the boat to get to the fish. http://anglerspointmarina.com/
Another cheap option is to camp at Algonac State Park, which is on the North Channel of the St. Clair River. http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=433&type=...
Staying & fishing on the Canadian side is another option if you don’t have any issues crossing the border (i.e. no passport, DUI or felony on your record).
(2): Where to fish?
Any place that I’m not fishing because there’s never any musky where I fish.
(3): When to go?
It doesn’t really matter. The fall gets the most casting/jigging pressure so if you don’t mind the crowds the fall is your best chance at a big girl. I usually stay off the lake in mid-summer because there’s usually too much pleasure boat traffic & too hot.
(4): What license(s) should I purchase?
That depends on which side you plan to fish. If you plan to fish the Detroit River then you will need both Michigan & Ontario licenses if you don’t want to be limited to which side of the river that you fish. The most fishing pressure is on the Ontario side of the river.
Link to buy Michigan license: http://www.mdnr-elicense.com/Welcome/Default.aspx
Link to buy Ontario license: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/LetsFish/2ColumnSubPage/STDPRO...
Edited by Zib 2/19/2013 12:05 PM
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Posts: 256
Location: plant earth | Well I can't help with the lodging but make sure you have a few bondy baits. There are a few areas in the river that will snag you up. I make it up from Toledo quite often throughout the spring summer and fall. I was a skeptic at first but it didn't take long jigging one of these baits and bang it made a believer out of me. About fifteen minutes and I had a 45"er not a huge fish but a great confidence booster. Good luck and be safe wind and waves can change in a heart beat it gets nasty real quick. |
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Posts: 1828
| Where, in general, do most guys fish this thing? I see it as a big heart-shape that's slanted clockwise 45 degrees. And it looks almost entirely flat in terms of contour, spare the deep channels coming in from NE and leaving SW through Detroit. Then the whole NE side looks like Florida mangroves. Sorry I'm totally ignorant. I've heard/read that guys find good weed beds and VERY subtle depth changes, but do those exist throughout the entire lake? For example, on LOTW, it's a waste of time to fish the whole main south basin [for muskies], and that's no secret. Is LSC like that, or are there good spots through the whole thing? I'm just trying to picture where these fish are caught. Again, not specifically at all. |
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| Most of the Bondy Bait jigging is in all areas where there are shipping lanes. Could be the Detroit River, could be the St. Clair River and associated channels. And guys cast the open water subtle breaks and weeds, that exist everywhere, with a variety of baits. |
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| Don't concentrate on 1 area to much. I'm speaking of the Detroit river a lot of areas look like great spots. Do a couple passes and I would start out in about 18ft of water and move out in about 2 ft depths increments out towards and into the deep channel. The current is pretty good gotta have boat control. to stay on point. If you bored of that smallmouth and walleye fish if u start doing well grab the bondy and use it odds are the musky are following there dinner around and they are close by. Happy fishing. Also,don't be afraid of the Detroit river at the mouth down at Lake Erie for the last couple years more and more skis showing up in Erie. |
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Posts: 99
| Terry's Marina rents a cabin that floats in a channel. you dock your boat 20' away from the cabin. priced pretty reasonable. Located up in Anchor Bay area. We stayed there two years ago and loved it, was a last minute decision and Terry treated us like we have been going there forever. Just google Terry's Marina and you can find out all of the info. We had great fishing and never left Anchor Bay. Good Luck! |
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Posts: 133
Location: South Bend, Indiana | I'm also in the same situation, looking for a place to stay that's on the lake and close to miller's launch / the dumping grounds... Any help? I'll be there around the end of july... |
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Posts: 131
Location: Lake St. Clair | Where to start....this is one of the best if not the best muskie fishery in the world. You can catch muskies anywhere in the lake. If you are going to fish the rivers/channels, the edges are full of weeds and thats where you want to be. the further north you go, the "safer" the lodging will be. There are a few other motels around that are a short drive to the launch. If you are looking to get down to the dumping grounds, I reccomend you launch from the 9 mile launch. That is the closest and safest launch. The alter Rd launch at the mouth of the detroit is much closer, but the whole neighborhood is basically shut down, the water is low and I wouldnt leave my truck/trailer there. The 9 mile launch is located at the end of 9 mile rd near jefferson. There is a BP right on the corner that will have good info as far as fishing reports and any equipment you will need. There is a nice little motel in algonac, cant remember the name, that I have stayed at before when we had a late night fishing and a early mornign the next day. I only live an hour from the lake, but it didnt make sense to go home just to come back. I am not huge on jigging, although it does work, but if you are coming in the fall dont bother bringing anything but pounders and medussas. The st clair river channels can be good places to get away from the wind. Weather can change very quickly out there so be aware all the time. If you see a bunch of sail boats coming out, head for the launch....haha. I try to stay away from fishing during the day on weekends because of the pleasure boat traffic. You should be good until about 10 am and after 6 or 7. If you guys would like some more info/details feel free to send me a PM. |
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