St Clair - Mid June

[PaintballLane]

I'm bringing my 12 year old up from Georgia to try and catch some smallmouth in a few weeks.
We'll be up for 4 days - June 13-16th.

Down here, due to the strange winter, we're generally running about a full month ahead of traditional seasonal patterns.

I've been reading up on the lake and see that mid June is usually post spawn. How are the lakes relative to the seasonal patterns up north? Without ledges, points, or much structure, do the fish simply move out a little deeper? It seems any grass edges out of the Mile Road's should be a good place to start. It also seems dragging a tube or working a drop shot could be the presentation that get results. Are there particular colors that I should bring? I'm not a big color specific guy. But you can't see 10' into our water down here either. I just don't want to have to buy $300 worth of tubes only to run out of the color they are biting and have $250 worth of tubes the fish won't eat and that I won't use at home.

I'm sure we'll catch some fish. My son is catching the fishing bug pretty good and I'm hoping this trip can seal the deal.

Any help someone with knowledge of the lake and time of year could provide would be GREATLY appreciated.

[LennyB]

You can catch them on just about any color tube. Drop shotting a finesse worm is also good. The hardest part will be finding the fish. If the water is real clear, slowly swimming a grub just under the surface should be good, as well as twitching a fluke just under the surface. Smallies will come off the bottom in 20 feet of water to eat them on the top. The week you are coming will be in the heat of the fish fly hatch so the bass will be focusing on the surface to feed on on the flies. Hope this helps.

[PaintballLane]

I actually do a bit of drop shot fishing here on Lake Lanier. But it's vertical fishing in 25-40'. I'm assuming you guys do a little more casting with the drop shot, being that you're fishing shallower water and with the clarity.

I'm sure nothing works everyday and in all conditions, so experimentation is needed. But as a general rule:

1. How far between weight and bait?
2. Do you drag a drop shot or hop it?
3. We fish rock and brush vertically. Do you lengthen the tag end to get the bait above the grass?
4. And what shape drop shot weight comes through the grass better?

And I would assume the Mayfly hatch gets the topwater bite going strong. Pop R's, Spooks, Sammies? Again, are "perch" colors the ticket or more translucent colors?

I'm not trying to steal holes and will only be intruding on your great lake for a few days. I sure appreciate the help. Thanks.

[LennyB]

The grass on St. Clair is mostly just sand grass with scattered stalks of cabbage, not a lot to get hung up in. Most of the time the smallies seam to be on the bald patches around the grass when they are deep (14 to 16 foot or so). Also try as shallow as 3 to 5 foot. Usually when I find them shallow they will be right on the sand grass patches. As for as colors, I would NOT invest in a lot of new baits, just bring what you have. I find that they are not that picky. The real deal is just getting the bait were they can see it. In mid summer I'll catch them directly below the boat in 15' of clear water. Don't over think it. Just cover water until you locate an area holding fish. If they don't bite a green pumpkin drop shot worm or tube, they probably won't bite anything.

[PaintballLane]

Understood and thanks. Even when you know the answers, it helps when someone familiar with the fishery confirms.

Any other info would be greatly appreciated - if for no other reason that just discussion. I'm pretty excited about the idea of spending a few days on St Clair and having the opportunity to get my son on a decent smallmouth bite. I can barely work as it is now and have no idea how I'm gonna make it 2 more weeks. My only real worry is that in trying to get him excited, I have pumped this lake up too much. I've definitely put some pressure on myself

Again, thanks for the replies and anyone else who can offer up ideas or thoughts, they'd be appreciated.

[Revtro]

If I'm on the fish around the time you come, I'll be happy to share what I can with ya.  Contact me prior to coming and I'll help.  And make sure you listen to MBFT, he's the man. 

[PaintballLane]

For sure Revtro.

I'm going to keep my eyes on this forum. And I'll definitely get in touch closer to my arrival and try to get some last minute advice.

I fish 2-5 days a week and haven't been this excited about a trip in quite a while. I just hope I don't drag a 12 year old across the country and strike out. I'm already talking to mother nature each night before bed. I get the feeling she's still not putting much weight on my plea's for good fishing weather:)

On a different note, is there any reason to get a Canadian license? There sure is a heap of water on the US side. Aside from a strong easterly wind, I don't see why I'd need to go across the lake. Am I wrong?

[Revtro]

I guess it depends on who you ask.  But honestly, I don't think you need a Canadian license that time of year.  There is plenty of great water in the US to fish that should still be very productive.  Besides, the Canadians have made it a real hassle to fish their water as of late.  To me it's not really worth it.  This will likely be the first year in 10 when I don't bother with a Canadian license at all.  I think they are doing a great job of alienating US anglers.  But that's my own personal rant. 

I hope you end up having a great outing.  Like any lake, it can be feast or famine.  But there are a lot of really good anglers on this site.  If you can coax some of the better ones into sharing specific info, you'll be ok.  I'm not much of a hoarder when it comes to spots, so I'll share all I have with ya.  Hopefully I'll be on em that week and can be a real help.  I'm sure some of the guys and gals here will step up to the plate too.   

[fiker]

The Canadian Bass season won't be open when you come any way.

[Revtro]

Oh yeah....good point.  LOL.  The Canadian season doesn't open until the last Saturday in June.

[fiker]

I think it's the 4th Saturday in June.