Ouch !!!!

[Firefighter Jeff]

  Sorry this is a day or so late.  My schedule allowed me to head up to St. Clair last week.  I got up there Wednesday evening.  Got a chance to stop in at Sportsman Direct and talk with co-owner John a little.  He gave me a couple places to try for Thursday.
   Arrived at Crocker about daylight and was the 6th boat in line. I had heard that there were some fish in close and the first drop so I headed down to 11 mile.  Picked up a couple fish on rattlebaits and shallow cranks but they were small.  Water quality was pretty good at 5 feet vis. Headed out to the deep side of the reef between the cans at 9 mile.  Same results.  Couple small fish.  Then went to the dumping grounds for the first time ever.  Water was fairly stained which surprised me.  Drug a tube and threw deep crankbaits.  Ended up with two sheepshead (7&8 pounds) and a smallie. Man did that sheepy slam that crankbait. Next headed to Delphine cut/trench, not sure of the name.  Caught one on a spinnerbait in shallow.  Headed to windmill point.  Same ole same ole .... one bass.  Fished around the spaceship looking channel marker with all the cormorants which I called "The Birdhouse"  and nothing.  Finished up back at the green cans at 9 mile. Couple more small fish. 
   So for the 11 hour day I had 14 bass all small and two sheepshead.  I feel like I should turn in my license after that performance.  I didn't drag a lot of plastics partly because of the weedgrowth.  Maybe should have drop shotted.  Anyway I threw deep cranks, spinnerbaits, rattle baits and tubes.  Water temp to start was 70 and rose to 72 during the day.
    I hadmade plans to take out Golden Ghost from this site the next morning about 10 am.  The forecast was for am rain.  I told Gary I'd come back to the launch at 10 because after driving that distance and spending the money on gas and such that I would fish in the rain.  Well, at 5:30 when my alarm went off I noticed the steady rain and quickly decided that an 8 o'clock alarm was much better. Well, the weather wasn't any better.  I kept in contact with Gary and just wasn't able to work out the trip.  He was 1 1/2 hours away. We weren't sure when the rain would quit and they were calling for the wind to pick up. It did finally stop raining about 11:30.
   After Gary and I cancelled I remembered that Bassfan586 was going to fish a few hours in the afternoon on the rivers up north.  I called and asked if I could jump in his boat and he welcomed me.  I have never fished up there.  I've been on the Detroit river a few times years ago, but I'm not the biggest fan of the current.  Just not my favorite way to fish. I figured if the weather cleared up it would be a great way to learn where the launch is and a couple places to fish. Brad and I tried about 6 spots in the 2 1/2 hours we had to fish.  We did find a few fish at one of these that fell for tubes and a goby replica.  No monsters but the fish were bigger than what I had gotten the day before. That and each of us caught one that had another fish chasing after it.
   I'm not sure I'll head up there this time of year again, but i couldn't fit another time in my schedule. I had contacted a couple members for some information.  Eric Smith was very helpful with some spots to try, I just wasn't able to try them.  Mojo also sent me a message offering help but I was down to going with Bassfan586 in his boat. Thanks again Brad for showing me a good time.  Too bad we weren't able to make it longer.  And Gary, I owe you a trip.

[motocross269]

I am headed out this week.  From what I have been reading it has been a little tough..

It has been hard to get out..It seems like every time I have a day off it is either raining or the wind is blowing like crazy...I had the day off the day it rained last week and just spent the day napping so you did better than I did...

I fished the river last week and it was very Slow....I managed a limit of decent fish but it took me about 4 hours...

[Firefighter Jeff]

  Guess I shouldn't beat myself up so much.  LOL   

[Mojo]

Sooo the BFL found the lake fish are scattered, this is where the Canadian license helps. Opens options.

I do know that Saturday the fish consistently took DS or Tubes that were dead sticked. When I moved or dragged my bait I caught smaller fish. Shallow fish caught on spinnerbaits, rattle traps but again, the faster I moved them, the smaller the fish.

Friday and Saturday indeed were tough. And weird. It seemed the wind direction played a huge role I think.

[Revtro]

Tough is an understatement.  I know that some of the tourney guys still bring in 25+lbs this time of year and whatnot, but from my experience, this time of year on St. Clair is really, really tough.  It seems like when the channels start to shut down (which has happened), it becomes a real crapshoot out there.  I was able to get GoldenGhost (Gary) out yesterday and although we had an enjoyable time, the fishing was beyond tough.  In retrospect, I wish I had went for Largemouth.  At least I think we'd have caught a few more.  In 15 years of fishing St. Clair, I still haven't figured out how to get on the bass this time of year.  It is still a mystery to me.  I tried the edges along the middle channel mouth, and only caught one keeper.  I have never figured out any good pattern around the outside of the channels this time of year...so I'm starting to have my doubts.  (hey, it only took me 15 years to get to that point)  LOL.

I fished several spots in the channels and only got on one good Largemouth spot yesterday.  I fished a few main lake spots that should have fish starting to show up on them and nothing.  I tried relatively shallow and out to about 12 feet...nothing.  So the moral of the story...yeah, it's really tough in the fall on St. Clair, I don't care what anyone says.  "Feed bag....yada yada yada"  I personally haven't found it to be all that true...YET.  So yeah, I'd love to go fishing with someone who has success this time of year because apparently I have a lot to learn still.  But don't feel bad that you didn't do well out there this time of year.  Many of my friends have the same reports.  Some of whom have been fishing St. Clair a whole lot longer than me. 

This doesn't mean I'm a pessimist.  I see enough to know that there are bass to be caught right now.  I just gotta learn how and I won't give up. 

Ok, so who has been doing really well this time of year and who will take me out (my boat or yours) and prove it? 

Jeff, maybe you and I should get out together one of these days.  It'll be fun.  I'm assuming you're not real close.  If that's the case, you are welcome on my boat any time.

[Mojo]

Rev - In the 3 BFLs - the 5th fall event seemed to be the best for me. I think I have patterned some American side stuff, BUT we would have to launch out of Elizebeth or Erie Metro.

Askins and Pikes is better but its only for a week or two and its been muddy. 

Hey in 15 years, if you havent tried South Detroit River and Erie in late September, maybe that is a piece to complete your puzzle ?  We can get out during the week. Rev - PM or call me tonight and I can show ya what I learned.

[Revtro]

Erie/Lower Det River isn't a problem.  I have done quite well out there this time of year.  I'm specifically talking about St. Clair.  It's a different animal altogether.

[Firefighter Jeff]

 


Jeff, maybe you and I should get out together one of these days.  It'll be fun.  I'm assuming you're not real close.  If that's the case, you are welcome on my boat any time.
[/quote]


      Rev,  Yeah I'm about 4 hours away hauling the boat.  Think I made it up there in 3 1/2 hours without it once.  Thanks for the offer.  I'll have to keep that in mind.  You seem to really know what you're doing "other" times of the year.  lololol   
    So glad you got Golden Ghost out.  Gary and I weren't able to pull the trigger. The weather messed with us Friday morning. 

[Sparky41]

Still got to be better than the good ole' St. Joe River, Right? Lol But even the St. Joe was better than Tanners Creek on the Ohio River for me.

[Mojo]

Erie/Lower Det River isn't a problem.  I have done quite well out there this time of year.  I'm specifically talking about St. Clair.  It's a different animal altogether.

What about down in the mouth of Clair by windmill point in 7-12 fow ? Or across on the flats on peche island in the morning ? Should be clean waters, back eddies, and rocks and weeds ? Nothing consistent there ?