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Posts: 108
Location: ITALY | hi guys, it's been a while since I wrote on the forum but I read it regularly... a few years ago my friend Danny "tiger tamer" came to visit me in Italy in search of the Italian pike... unfortunately Danny is no longer with us, illness took him away. I'm starting to think about taking the trip of a lifetime... I've been fishing for pike for years as the American school teaches, big and arrogant baits, addicted to videos especially of a particular lake where the kind of fishing that I love is done... St. Claire... I chose Spencer Berman as a guide and August as the period... my idea would be to spend 4 days with him and then if necessary move and go to a more "natural" lake landscape-wise, I'll have time to ask you for more information though... I would have chosen St. Claire for several reasons, the guide that I've been following for years, the type of fishing that is done, that is, open water and big rubbers... what do you think? |
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Posts: 116
| I can't attest to the pike population on St. Clair, but some of the area waters that I've seen produce freak pike (I'm in Sioux Falls, SD)
1. Basswood Lake, MN - state record holder that produces massive pike to this day. Being partly in the BWCA has lightened traffic somewhat too. Kick ass pike lake.
2. Lake Oahe, SD - one of the best spring time pike lakes in the nation, imo. The smelt produce HUGE pike, with 45+ inchers being caught every year. Once the summer heats up they suspend out in Oahe's deep waters and can be a PITA to target, but spring time is IN-SANE.
3. Leech Lake, MN - it's Leech Lake. Not really sure what else I can say.
No matter what you end up choosing, I hope you crush it. I'm sorry about your friend. |
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Posts: 1430
Location: Brighton CO. | Danny was a hell of a good fishermen and a lot of his fish came from fishing from shore or in waders. |
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Posts: 108
Location: ITALY | bloatlord - 1/10/2025 3:27 PM
I can't attest to the pike population on St. Clair, but some of the area waters that I've seen produce freak pike (I'm in Sioux Falls, SD)
1. Basswood Lake, MN - state record holder that produces massive pike to this day. Being partly in the BWCA has lightened traffic somewhat too. Kick ass pike lake.
2. Lake Oahe, SD - one of the best spring time pike lakes in the nation, imo. The smelt produce HUGE pike, with 45+ inchers being caught every year. Once the summer heats up they suspend out in Oahe's deep waters and can be a PITA to target, but spring time is IN-SANE.
3. Leech Lake, MN - it's Leech Lake. Not really sure what else I can say.
No matter what you end up choosing, I hope you crush it. I'm sorry about your friend.
I would do this trip only and exclusively for the musky, sorry if I didn't express myself well 
Edited by Cicciospin 1/10/2025 12:29 PM
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Posts: 2335
Location: Chisholm, MN | I imagine you'll find everything you want on St. Clair but if you are looking to fish other waters and distance isn't an issue then Lake of the Woods would get my vote. |
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Posts: 1759
| Spencer will take care of you. Is it your first trip to North America? Have fun and enjoy the trip. |
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Location: Walker, MN | I agree with Kirby, everyone should fish L.O.T.W or a NW Ontario lake at least once just for the overall experience. |
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Posts: 108
Location: ITALY | Brian Hoffies - 1/11/2025 2:52 AM
Spencer will take care of you. Is it your first trip to North America? Have fun and enjoy the trip.
this is my first trip ever to the USA... do you think it would be possible from Lsc to Lotw? |
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Location: deephaven mn | 14 or 15 hour drive |
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Posts: 361
Location: Selkirk, Manitoba | I have in-law anglers in Germany that if I where to give advice to regarding taking a musky trip and had the same thoughts as you about Lake St. Clair, I would say that the St. Clair trip is unlikely to meet their "trip of a lifetime" expectations. There are great musky anglers that are in close proximity to St. Clair that have no desire to fish for musky there. Lots of musky and high probability of multi-fish day, perhaps even some really big ones, but not a trip of a lifetime - perhaps a bucketlist trip for a musky angler. In my opinion.
NW Ontario lakes are where folks aspire to fish and as said above are where every musky angler wants to fish at least once (or every year if they can). LOTW is going to be the best bet as far as giving you the best probability of actually catching a musky; Eagle I would say best place for sort of more remote but more difficult fishing, bigger musky. Lac Seul and some of the lakes in area can give you a taste of numbers of fish (in clear water) and potential for giants (Lac Seul). Lots of other great destinations but I am biased towards big musky spots so it depends on what your goals are.
Some considerations in no particular order:
Note that a short duration booking in advance on a big open round lake like St. Clair can wind up being a no-go simply due to weather. Even on these other lakes mentioned above, you can be cabin-bound for a day or two.
Fishing euro big rubber lures (with external rig, small hooks, much lighter) is not equivalent to musky fishing or musky fishing lures. I suggest you order some pounder bulldawgs and a Cowgirl and then you will understand what throwing musky lures is. You need the gear and stamina to do it for hours. For someone not used to it, you will need to be able to protect your muscles and conserve energy - a guide will help you do this with lure selection, but it is not something you do all day and days in a row. 4 days is either too long if you are fishing all day, or is too short given you are limiting your chances for fishing a day where there is going to be a bite window that you can take advantage of, full of energy and knowledge gathered from previous encounters and mistakes made.
Fishing "open water" for muskies as you have been doing for pike is similar in the sense that you are not fishing structure - but then you are not getting the real musky fishing experience. Musky are not pike - they inhabit warm, shallow water much of the time and you will want to get this casting shallow structure experience to make it the trip that I think you envision a musky trip to be. Others can speak to the comparison.
To summarize, I recommend a one-destination trip, at least a week, more if you can to a lodge and get a guide for all the musky fishing. Mix musky fishing in with some other species (smallmouth, lake trout, even pike) so you can balance your mental and physical stamina - and fish the most optimal times and days for musky with energy.
Mid-July is you best bet for timing of a bite although also a popular time for tourist anglers (school and summer holiday time).
For lodges you will want to book very soon, for specific high demand guides probably a bit late for that now for this coming year as they book up with their regular clientele.
Winnipeg is point of departure for most of NW Ontario (via Toronto/Montreal) although can probably arrange a smaller flight from Toronto to Thunder Bay (largest centre in area) or Dryden (smaller, but has flights too) and closer. If you book a lodge they will sort out what this regional stuff is.
As far as if you are sticking with your original plan, but still want to split it, fly Detroit - Minneapolis - Winnipeg flights with stop in Minneapolis. I know there are some that are same plane on way down from Wpg, not sure about other way around given the Minn-Wpg leg is international. Could also just land cross at Windsor and fly out of Toronto and then direct to Wpg, T-Bay or Dryden. Might be the easiest flight-wise but cross border in a rental car perhaps adds extra complication.
Again, don't know you or where you've fished, what you want out of this trip, just some more information for you to consider.
Edited by Angling Oracle 1/12/2025 10:56 AM
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Location: Chisholm, MN | Cicciospin - 1/11/2025 7:16 AM
Brian Hoffies - 1/11/2025 2:52 AM
Spencer will take care of you. Is it your first trip to North America? Have fun and enjoy the trip.
this is my first trip ever to the USA... do you think it would be possible from Lsc to Lotw?
You can certainly fly or drive. I don't know your situation as far as money or time. the woods is more classic muskie fishing. Casting structure up shallow vs casting open water. You'll likely catch more fish on LSC though. |
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| Don't have any suggestions, but hope you have a great trip, no matter what you decide and leave with memories to last a lifetime. |
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Posts: 94
| I have not been there, but how about the Upper French River/Lake Nipi$$ing area?
Edited by R/T 1/14/2025 1:49 PM
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Posts: 108
Location: ITALY | Angling Oracle - 1/12/2025 4:58 PM
I have in-law anglers in Germany that if I where to give advice to regarding taking a musky trip and had the same thoughts as you about Lake St. Clair, I would say that the St. Clair trip is unlikely to meet their "trip of a lifetime" expectations. There are great musky anglers that are in close proximity to St. Clair that have no desire to fish for musky there. Lots of musky and high probability of multi-fish day, perhaps even some really big ones, but not a trip of a lifetime - perhaps a bucketlist trip for a musky angler. In my opinion.
NW Ontario lakes are where folks aspire to fish and as said above are where every musky angler wants to fish at least once (or every year if they can). LOTW is going to be the best bet as far as giving you the best probability of actually catching a musky; Eagle I would say best place for sort of more remote but more difficult fishing, bigger musky. Lac Seul and some of the lakes in area can give you a taste of numbers of fish (in clear water) and potential for giants (Lac Seul). Lots of other great destinations but I am biased towards big musky spots so it depends on what your goals are.
Some considerations in no particular order:
Note that a short duration booking in advance on a big open round lake like St. Clair can wind up being a no-go simply due to weather. Even on these other lakes mentioned above, you can be cabin-bound for a day or two.
Fishing euro big rubber lures (with external rig, small hooks, much lighter) is not equivalent to musky fishing or musky fishing lures. I suggest you order some pounder bulldawgs and a Cowgirl and then you will understand what throwing musky lures is. You need the gear and stamina to do it for hours. For someone not used to it, you will need to be able to protect your muscles and conserve energy - a guide will help you do this with lure selection, but it is not something you do all day and days in a row. 4 days is either too long if you are fishing all day, or is too short given you are limiting your chances for fishing a day where there is going to be a bite window that you can take advantage of, full of energy and knowledge gathered from previous encounters and mistakes made.
Fishing "open water" for muskies as you have been doing for pike is similar in the sense that you are not fishing structure - but then you are not getting the real musky fishing experience. Musky are not pike - they inhabit warm, shallow water much of the time and you will want to get this casting shallow structure experience to make it the trip that I think you envision a musky trip to be. Others can speak to the comparison.
To summarize, I recommend a one-destination trip, at least a week, more if you can to a lodge and get a guide for all the musky fishing. Mix musky fishing in with some other species (smallmouth, lake trout, even pike) so you can balance your mental and physical stamina - and fish the most optimal times and days for musky with energy.
Mid-July is you best bet for timing of a bite although also a popular time for tourist anglers (school and summer holiday time).
For lodges you will want to book very soon, for specific high demand guides probably a bit late for that now for this coming year as they book up with their regular clientele.
Winnipeg is point of departure for most of NW Ontario (via Toronto/Montreal) although can probably arrange a smaller flight from Toronto to Thunder Bay (largest centre in area) or Dryden (smaller, but has flights too) and closer. If you book a lodge they will sort out what this regional stuff is.
As far as if you are sticking with your original plan, but still want to split it, fly Detroit - Minneapolis - Winnipeg flights with stop in Minneapolis. I know there are some that are same plane on way down from Wpg, not sure about other way around given the Minn-Wpg leg is international. Could also just land cross at Windsor and fly out of Toronto and then direct to Wpg, T-Bay or Dryden. Might be the easiest flight-wise but cross border in a rental car perhaps adds extra complication.
Again, don't know you or where you've fished, what you want out of this trip, just some more information for you to consider.
thank you so much for your precious information, regarding the baits: here in Italy I have never used the cowgirls with the exception of the Trolling Girl when trolling, instead I use the Pounder a lot with the Musky innovations 40oz, especially in late spring or in autumn when casting... I wanted to try the St Clair precisely because I love fishing with the Pounder and that lake is the mecca, but it is not the classic muskie fishing... for this reason I wanted to divide the trip into two parts, but I have time to decide how to organize myself since it is an expensive trip and as a deadline I would like to do it within 2 maximum 3 years... for this reason I am collecting information now... thanks again!!!!
Ps: you mentioned the lakes of northwestern Ontario, would you recommend the Lotw? my goal would not be to catch the lake monster or to try for the record but to gain experience in this fishing and try to catch the famous musky... obviously if I can choose I would like to catch it with baits that I am already familiar with such as Bulldawg or suick... I chose the LSC for the type of fishing and to have a better chance of being able to catch it since I know that it is a very complicated fish
Edited by Cicciospin 1/16/2025 5:37 PM
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Posts: 297
| If I was coming to North America on a dream trip I like your thinking. Spend a week on St Claire first. Very unlikely to not got your first musky and a great experience.
I would spend the 2nd part in NW Ontario. Lake of the Woods is awesome. Decent scenery by NW Ont standards but outstanding compared to USA. Very unlikely that you wouldn’t catch a few. I’d be looking for a guide who can offer you a 4-7 day trip to increase your chances at success. Other lakes to Consider would be Eagle, Lac Seul, Winnipeg River, Cedar/Perrault. There are some smaller waters too but not sure there are as many guides. It will be a bit of a journey to those lakes but not bad. Fly to Thunder Bay or Winnipeg and then drive.
There are fantastic waters out east as well but I can’t offer any help. Nipeeing, Georgian Bay, Ottawa/St Lawrence Rivers and many more I’m sure. Would possibly be easier travel to those as you would have a reasonable drive. |
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Location: Selkirk, Manitoba | Cicciospin - 1/16/2025 5:24 PM
thank you so much for your precious information, regarding the baits: here in Italy I have never used the cowgirls with the exception of the Trolling Girl when trolling, instead I use the Pounder a lot with the Musky innovations 40oz, especially in late spring or in autumn when casting... I wanted to try the St Clair precisely because I love fishing with the Pounder and that lake is the mecca, but it is not the classic muskie fishing... for this reason I wanted to divide the trip into two parts, but I have time to decide how to organize myself since it is an expensive trip and as a deadline I would like to do it within 2 maximum 3 years... for this reason I am collecting information now... thanks again!!!!
Ps: you mentioned the lakes of northwestern Ontario, would you recommend the Lotw? my goal would not be to catch the lake monster or to try for the record but to gain experience in this fishing and try to catch the famous musky... obviously if I can choose I would like to catch it with baits that I am already familiar with such as Bulldawg or suick... I chose the LSC for the type of fishing and to have a better chance of being able to catch it since I know that it is a very complicated fish
Okay. Good to know you are dedicated to the split-trip plan, helps as far as applicable advice.
You will catch muskies in St. Clair and I am sure you will enjoy it. My point about lures and the kind of fishing it is pushing the reality that musky fishing does require a lot of energy and is exhausting mentally - St. Clair will be more so on physical side, NW Ontario will be both mentally and physically exhausting. My personal view is a single destination would be better for managing both these things, and would be good for your budget too, but you can make the two-destination thing work, just keep in mind that may be better to extend your stay and have some time off to refresh.
What lures you want to use is up to you for sure, but you will want to use what the muskies want to ensure you upping the odds to catch them. Take your guide's advice for lure choice, use their equipment if they offer it - always. When on your own, I can say that Suicks up our way are never a bad choice and easy to throw, so do bring your own Suick as at minimum you will catch some pike.
I assume you are going to want to perhaps fish solo at times to get a real feel for what this fishing is and perhaps guided at times as needed. I would suggest going to smaller systems with chains of lakes that contain higher density musky populations and safer and easier to navigate. For example the Indian chain north of Eagle Lake is one I can think of, I can probably come up with one or two more if this idea sounds good. While in the area, you could also book a guide separately for perhaps Eagle for a day or two to get some more advice and try for bigger muskies.
LOTW in mid-August can be excellent for experienced folks or under the direction of a guide, but I think a bit of a gamble at that time of year - algae blooms in parts of the lake and in general not something you are going to want to rent a boat and do-it-yourself. The best fishing for musky is generally in places that require precise navigation and boat control - you will need a guide full time I would think. I agree with NickD that scenery is just "okay" compared to some of the other places mentioned - but I suppose paradise compared to what you are going to see at St. Clair. We typically fish from friends' cabins the north end of the lake and fish closer to those areas, but for longer trips we book out of Wylie Point Lodge which is right in big musky waters. Lots of lodge options for you to check out online.
You do have another really good option mentioned by R/T with regards to French River. Never been, but driving distance to Lake St. Clair, potential for giant muskies (but low density) beautiful scenery. I would think pretty much have to get a guide most of the time given I understand pretty hazardous to navigate. Chaudière Lodge and Wolseley Lodge are two there that look enticing as far as what I would be looking for. Surprisingly close to Toronto.
Edited by Angling Oracle 1/18/2025 11:36 AM
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Posts: 108
Location: ITALY | you were really kind! thank you so much guys!!! |
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