Now that's more like it.

[Revtro]

Got out today at 7.  We decided to start trying to figure out how to better find the deep main lake bass so our gameplan was two-fold.  First we started out in the US toward the shipping channel where I had found some rocks and weeds last weekend.  We were struggling to catch anything so by 8 we thought about heading to Canada.  So I called the border service and the lady on the line told me that I had to enter Canada then call back.  Being pretty irritated by that since I was only about 100 yards form the border, I decided "skip you Canada...you suck" and stayed in the US.  I wasn't about to risk being called to some marina for an inspection 15 miles away.  So we decided to pick apart our US areas a little better.  And I'm glad we did!  You lose Canada...I probably won't buy a license next year if you're gonna remain this way.  Freakin' Canadians!  Anyway... 

We drifted into an area with isolated weed beds that came all the way up to the top in 17 foot of water.  When we made our first drift, we got 3 back to back to back.  None of the fish were small.  They were all around 3 or better lbs.  We got them all on dropshots.  I was using a Money Minnow and my partner a dropshot tube.  After a while things slowed down in that area, so we decided to check out the South Channel.  CHA CHING!  We found an area that was holding a good school of fish.  Again, nothing small.  We never caught a dink today, only good fish.  Not 5lbers, but good solid 3lb average.  We fished a 14 deep rocky hole that was holding a good number of bass.  One really cool thing we saw was a snake along the top of the water and about a foot down a smallmouth following it.  It was really cool.  I wish I could have gotten a pic.  It was neat to watch.

So we fished this area for quite a while hooking up with and catching a bunch.  So I learned two important things.  There are some schools of fish to be found near the shipping channel and there are some fish already up in the channels.  And they were nice quality fish.  I still think we have much to learn and I want to find more areas like what we were on today, but it was a good start.  I'll post a couple of pics later.  I gotta run.  Great day today.  Except for the bugs...sheesh. 

[Firefighter Jeff]

  Good report.  I agree with your thinking on Canada.  Thanks for posting.  I only get up there once or twice a year in the Spring, but I still like reading about that awesome fishery  !!

[Skulley]

That's an interesting report Rev.  I was looking at a map of the lake the other evening and said to myself, "you really don't have to go to Canada."  There is great fishing in all the channels in U.S./Michigan water.  Just so many places to go that hold quality fish.  There is some great structure on the Mile Roads in deep water.  There are some great areas in the dumping ground as well as the shipping channel.  You can go to the fire cracker.  It's still in the U.S.  Just so many places to fish.  I am not going to say that I won't buy another Canadian license though.  Mainly because in the lower Detroit River, there are some great largemouth areas on the Canadian side.  I would hate to miss out on that.  I would however like to know how she knew you weren't in Canada.  Care to elaborate on that a little Rev.  Thanks.

BD                                

[Revtro]

That's the million dollar question.  She just appeared to know.  I thought it was quite strange.  Maybe she just assumed because I was asking for permission to fish Canadian water. 

[djkimmel]

It's possible I guess that she knew somehow? Maybe she was guessing. I imagine lots of people are trying to call first before crossing so they don't get ordered to go to a marina.

I wonder how many people have been ordered to a marina? I wonder how sick the people answering the CANPASS phone number are by now?

BTW BD, the Firecracker tower is in Canadian water. Check your charts. The international borders crosses dead-smack between the floating marker on the edge of the channel and the tower, closer to the floating X32 buoy.

If you cast to the Firecracker tower you are fishing Canadian water.

[mrkv1969]

i have a 14ft deep v with a 15hp outboard. its no bass boat,but can handle lake st. clair on most days...i usually launch out of metro,but, im looking for somewhere to fish. i thought maybe the st clair river or other channels would be a better area to catch some bass....any advise would be greatly appreciated...

[markgoetsch]

I'd go out of algonac on the north channel.

[stackenem]

So how does the rules work if you are sitting on the US side can you cast to the Canadian side and still be legal?

[djkimmel]

No unless you have a Canadian license and the season is open.