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Posts: 1310
Location: Washington, PA | So we want to fish Lake St. Clair, but have no idea where the best place to stay is, where we should launch, which area of the lake to start fishing, etc. Any help would be great |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Trolling or Casting? What time of year? |
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Posts: 1310
Location: Washington, PA | Trolling for the most part. June, July, and August. |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Deerbrook is a nice place, there are cottages and a campground. If they are full there are other places nearby. http://www.visitwindsor.com/sportfishing/fishmarinas.asp
For trolling: The South/SE shore is where you'll want to be and then moving North/NW(mid-lake usually) as water temps progress. I'm sure you know, but just in case, make sure you have planer boards and a mast system. Big Jon builds great masts and Talonz planer boards are the best out there! http://www.fishall-lures.com/planer.html
If you've never been out there and are not familiar with trolling St Clair style, I would strongly suggest a guide to show you the ropes. Since I assume that you aren't planning to haul a 35' boat up there IMO you'll be better off with someone that fishes your size boat. Bob Devine fishes a Ranger and would be a great person to get you started. http://chartertalk.com/ |
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Posts: 1310
Location: Washington, PA | Thank you Will, I ver much appreciate the help! |
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| Also you need to be very careful out there, as the lake can get really nasty really quick...just watch the weather.... |
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | Hi, As Will Schultz has stated Deerbrooke marina and cabins is nice. They have gasoline and baits right there. Also if you looking to save a few bucks Rochester place is right next door. There you can get a campsite for a motorhome or camper, launch,personal dock for your boat. These are on the south shore line near Windsor Canada. Located on the Ruscom River. This where Michelle and and I caught 3 - 50 inchers in two days During the October of 2006. During the summer months the prevailing south south west winds blow the floating weeds to the north end of the lake. This creates clear waters and color breaks. You can see these lines as you are trolling along. Our milk run start right out in front of the Ruscom river in about 15 feet of water. Using our Gps we would fish for several hours back and forth about a mile or two off the mouth of the Ruscom river. The use of a G.P.S. plotter with mapping is key to seeing what you fshing. We troll along the contours and all over the Belle River hump. There are three humps including the one that looks like a pine tree that comes out from Belle river. You can fish these waters for three days and never cover it all.
Dont be afraid to go out to 17 18 and even 19 feet. Look for groups of boats anchored and fishing perch. Lots of muskies around the perch boats.
We fish St. Clair from an 18 foot Starcraft Superfisherman. 1776 It has a top to keep the sun off you. It is Important in July and August. We troll using our main motor 115 Merc 4 stroke. Using a Kicker would save lots of gas. This year Ontario will allow two rods per person on the canadian side of Lake st. Clair. I would run all 4 out on the boards if you have clear waters and flat conditions. If you get good chop I would run 2 on the boards and two downrods. We run our boards out about 60 feet from the center of the boat on dual masts right behind my windshield. This is nice for running out lines as the mast is right there not up in the bow. That is where you keep your net and cooler. If you get real rough conditions then dont try to run Boards just run two down rods . The lake can get real nasty. Michelle and I took a 7 footer all the way over our top. We were trying to get in after being caught out in the middle. We had to plow right into these huge waves for 5 miles. Best to use a good marine radio and monitor the weather at all times. It is a very deceptive lake going from flat conditions to 4 and 5 foot chop in minutes.. If you see the locals pulling and running for shore you best follow.
The best thing is to monitor local weather before you go there. If winds are south southwest under 15 mph you can fish all day. 20 mph can get bumpy if its sustained. 30 ,go home. There is some protection as always fishing the quiet side. Trying to fish the windswept side of St Clair is asking for trouble. It will also be full of floating weed mats and lots of grasses and such. July off the Belle is when most of the favorable weather and Great fishing takes place. We did well on a warm week in October with south winds and lots of calm days. It was not the usual October weather. As it is anywhere they are much fatter in the fall. The lake is open until 12/15.
Baits that get it done are , Lokes in the 6 inch Jointed and straights. Talonz Slashers in the 7 inch Jointed and straights, Mordas Minnows in the 6 inch and 5 inch jointed and straights. 5 inch Tuff Shads , Gotcha baits, Leos, Artifacts, Wileys, terminaters, Hoginaters. One thing in common these are all cedar or Mahagony lures that wander. Best speeds are between 3.5 and 5.5 mph. G.P.S. Best sets are on the Boards 25 to 30 feet behind the release with 2 to 3 ounces of inline mini ball. We run 5 foot Hard Mono leaders(Trilene Big game 60 lb) Main line 30 lb Mason P-line use good quality snaps and swivels. Downrod sets: 20 feet back with 4 ounces 6 feet back with 12 ounces 20 and 4 seemed to do real well for us. Some times they bite right in the wash with like a 40 and 2 set. I have caught them as short as 15 feet back with 3 ounces. The mainstay out there is a 25 foot line off a planerboard with 2 ounces of weight(mini balls) that is 30 feet of line including the leader. That set goes all the time out there.
As Fall comes we start getting more fish on bigger lures . The Nils Master 10 inch is the staple on St. Clair. Jakes and Grandmas get a few as well. But dont put those 6 and 7 inch jointeds away because we got two of those three October fish on small baits. Go figure.
Colors, White belly perch is a must all year. Yellow belly perch in stained water. Naturals like 9$ bass, sucker, walleye, shad, and Olive frog are all top producing colors. Brown barred perch is one of my favorite patterns in June and July. We call it Coco perch here at Talonz.
It is a huge lake ,shallow and dangerous to people in small boats. My 18 foot is at the low end of the safe bet list. Most 17 to 20 foot aluminum fishing boats will get it done just watch the weather. Having a big motor that will get you in quickly is a plus. Lightning hits all over out there during storms. There is a lot of information there. You need more you can call me at 231-733-9324 . As Will said fishing with a guide for the first day would be a lot of info and worth every penny. Bob Devine fishes out of a nice Ranger and if you want to experience the comfort fish with Captain Craig Miller at Heatwave Charters and try it from a 31 foot Sea Ray. I have a link to Bob and craigs sites on my Pro staff pages at http://www.Fishall-lures.com/reviews.html Kingfisher |
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