St Clair and Lake Erie

[mikballa]

It is so,so sad that people think they own the lakes,like i have more years then you or a better boat then you or a better fishing rod then you.so stay out of my lakes,sad,sad,sad..

[EKennedy]

Yes Erie was busy today.  However all the tourney anglers seemed quite courteous to me (non-tourney fun guy).  Although several thought that they could slalom 4 other boats at 70 mph up near the icebreakers and sugar island. 

[Skulley]

Yes Erie was busy today.  However all the tourney anglers seemed quite courteous to me (non-tourney fun guy).  Although several thought that they could slalom 4 other boats at 70 mph up near the icebreakers and sugar island.  

It was very busy out there.  I ran across a couple of BFL anglers and they were quite courteous.  I was surprised myself.  My partner was too.  Usually they think they have rights to whatever they are fishing and get rather nasty about it.  I don't know, maybe there was something funny in the air that made them more courteous than usual.  Whatever it was they should take more.  I was just out having fun and catching fish.

It is so,so sad that people think they own the lakes,like i have more years then you or a better boat then you or a better fishing rod then you.so stay out of my lakes,sad,sad,sad..

Be more clear on this statement.  I noticed you have only posted a total of 10 times.  You have sent me more PM's than you have posts looking for help.  Most people on this site are more than happy to help including myself.  However, you need to post more so that they trust you.  It's kind of how it works here and has for as long as I've been a member.  Also, the anglers on this forum spend a lot of time out there and are not so quick at helping a person who is not as active on the forum.  I think our fearless leader DK said that in a post a few weeks back.  As I said the anglers here spend a lot of time on the water and they have taken the time out there and have spent many hours finding their own areas and spots.  If you really need help out there, get yourself a set of Extreme Bass Tackles Marked Fishing Maps.  That should be your foundation for starting your quest to conquer LSC.  None of us mind helping, but you also have to tell us how you have done.  For me, I don't have a better boat than anyone. I got an old 1993 19 foot Champion.  I also own mid priced rods and reels.  I have spent countless hours out there fishing over the last 20 plus years but that is why I may or may not know so much.  I am kind of taken back by your post because I don't really think you get it.  Nothing personal my friend but there comes a time when you have to take it upon yourself to go learn something about all this on your own like just about every angler on this forum.  

I have told you countless times that I have no qualms about helping out, but you got to do some of this on your own.  We all did it on our own at one time or another.  I would suggest you stop in at that new store and talk to some of those guys as well if you need help.  They are very knowledgeable and have the inventory in stock so that you too can catch big smallies on LSC.  Most importantly, when you do go out there, post a fishing report on how you have done.  I haven't seen anything from you in that except this most recent post that is just complaining.  You are just alienating yourself from the rest of the membership here.  I do know something about this as I have done a fine job alienating myself from some of the rest of the membership here.  I am trying to overcome that because I am not the most "warmest and fuzziest" angler here.  But I have recognized my faults and am trying to do better at being "warm and fuzzy".  Some people here love me, some people here hate me, and some people here just love to hate me. It's just how it is. So it's on you mikballa, so make the most of it.  Good luck and let us know how you do out there once in awhile.  It makes us all wonder about sharing with you when you are not sharing back.  Isn't that kind of how the Golden Rule works........Do unto others as you would like others to do unto you.

Just my 2 cents.


BD                        

[EKennedy]

mikballa - I'm still learning Erie / Detroit River.  Most of ours came on black and blue jigs.  Flukes and drop shot Good size...but not great numbers we boated 5 or 6 keepers, smallest was a 16"...two dinks.  I stick to US waters so I'm a little limited.  I am by no means an expert on Erie...little better on LSC.  cheers.

[Sparky41]

I understand what Bigdog is saying. Its no different anywhere else that I know of. I have fished different tournaments, mostly Indiana since that was my home waters, and have been around the whole bass fishing scene I can remember(1978 ish). Anywhere you go, you will likely find others willing to help to some extent, but none of that compares to personal time on the water. When my dad and i were up there this past week, the fish we found wednesday were not there thursday. We did find fish in a similar pattern elsewhere though, and that comes from being out there looking and learning. that was only my second trip on LSC but I plan to have more thats for sure. I guess what i am trying to say is even if you get good information from someone, it might not pan out due to changing conditions. The only real thing to go by is learning for yourself and adapting for the change.

As UAWBigDog put it, stop by Sportsmens Direct, right next door to the cutoff ramp entrance. Justin and the others are ore than willing to help and show you what is working as far as baits and potential spots. I just wish I didnt live 5 hrs away or I ould have alot more posts to share.

The fish we did find came off the middle channel around can #3, and off the end of the marker cans for the Clinton River. Dropshot using KVD dream shot worm, and green pumkin tubes with blue/purple fleck and 5/16 oz. jig heads.

[mikballa]

I do understand what big dog is saying,here is my three cents,when you ask for help because you have never fished st.Clair before and some anglers think there is only 100 fish in the lake and dint like to share info or spots or baits that is totally wrong,second hats off to Bass guide! Gerry Gostenik he shared a full spread of info to Free Press sports writer Eric Sharp about his experience on lake Saint Clair my hat goes off to him for pushing aside is guide service to share free info to everyone Super Guy!!

[Skulley]

Jerry Gostenik fishes with Eric Sharp every year during catch and release season. This past spring happened to be on LSC. Last year it was Kent Lake, etc. understand that even the pros have to give something up at seminars at fishing shows. Otherwise, they don't get invited back. Gerry is a very good guide. I used to live across the street from him in Dearborn. But
If you read Eric Sharp's article again, he just gives you very fundamental info for fishing LSC. It's a foundation for getting started out there. So after you read the article, did you catch a ton the next trip out??          He really didn't say anything obvious and he didn't give up any info that experience LSC anglers already know. So I deduct that the information given would be outstanding for the novice LSC angler.  I also would like to know how many new customers Gerry got from that article because at the end of the day, that's what that article was all about.  Gerry Gistenik supports his family by being a guide. I'm sure he does the Eric Sharp thing for more customers and really nothing else. I say this because if it were me, that would be my motivation. Gostenik is a good businessman and a good businessman is in business to make money.

As wrong as you may think it is, no one here has to give you any info or share any info.  Anyone who has, has been very generous with a person no one really knows. So this is where I have to ask, did you really know where I was coming from on my last post??         It really doesn't matter at this point. I have given you a ton of info in the PM's since you showed up here. I have asked for nothing in return except for telling us how you did. You never did tell me through the PM's how many you caught and what you caught them on. That's all I ever asked from anyone. And you haven't done that.  So now you got my 5 cents.  How about a fishing report from you?? Don't be embarrassed if you skunked. That just means you need more help and need to spend more time on the water. Because the bottom line is, and I have heard this from many pros and I quote, "there is nothing more important than spending time in the water to hone your craft which is in this case bass fishing."



BD.                       

[mikballa]

I have no problem with this but how can you give a report on St Clair when i have only fished it 3 times,and further more i was told by some other angler to asked you, you would help, but i see differant now sorry!! i asked,also if i had info i would be more than happy to tell everyone, i am a person that has a Big Heart!! and nothing to Hide!  mikballa..

[Skulley]

You could have easily given a report on what you have encountered out there in your 3 visits. It's easy. Just tell us who, what, when, where, and maybe why. Put that all into words of the experience you had and......bam......you just gave a report. It's a lot easier than what you're making this out to be. That angler was right. You asked and I did help. But you didn't keep up your end. I asked you to let us know how you did.....and I am still waiting to find that out. That's the part about sharing info. I've generously shared with you. You can not deny that. But you have to give something back to the community. That's what sharing is all about. You see different because you don't want to see it any other way. I'd give you more to try if you would share back. Ultimately, you not sharing back is the problem because you made an excuse on why you didn't. In this post I gave you the resolve. It's on you whether or not you want to make an effort. I will continue my generosity with you and others if you give back not just to me but to the rest of the GLB community. It's not as hard as you think......and I am willing to help. I was going to PM you my cell number yesterday but your PM inbox is full. Delete some of those messages and I'll be happy to talk more about this one on one so that we can make this a good thing for all and not just a few. I'll be looking to hear from you via telephone soon.


BD.                     

[mikballa]

Report is #1 fished middle of lake caught 3 smallies 2 to 3 lb 1 rock bass green pumpkin tubes #2 fished Clinton river 2 largemouths on a frog #3 mile roads caught 3- 3lb havoc bottom hopper 10 to 12 ft water lost a big one on a drop shot tube goby color, nothing big to report all done in august.  just want to make big dog happy!! No secret spots here. nothing to hide, heart is always open to everyone! just trying to learn the lake and fish..

[motocross269]

It costs some of these guys thousands of dollars to refine patterns throughout the year...I spend somewhere close to 100 dollars every time I launch the boat in just gas...Tournaments are hot and heavy right now and alot of guys don't want to spill their guts on the internet because info travels fast and their competition is watching....
Don't take it personnel if someone isn't quick to give out information...Sometimes that info was earned with alot of time, sweat and money and to just hand it over to someone online is self-defeating....

You are not going to get a magic pattern off the boards...The guys that do well on LSC have multiple patterns and waypoints that they are working all at the same time...I have caught over 20lbs of fish in an area one day and the next day it is completely shut down..So information is only so good..It is the ability and having the experience to adjust that sets the top guys apart from the rest of us...You're not going to get that ability from a computer screen..

If you want to get better...Put in the time...Join a club, fish tournaments as a Co angler, Hire a guide,  and fish, fish, fish.....

[Skulley]

I'm not the only one that's going to be happy. It's going to be others as well. I have never fished up the Clinton River. Too many good things going on out on the big lake. So I can't help you too much there. In August during those dog days I would be targeting rock piles in 15 to 18 fow with tubes and crankbaits. But this year I discovered better numbers up the St. Clair River in the channels. Found cooler water and better numbers I think because of those cooler water temps in the river. I usually fish the mile roads from Huron point south to Windmill point from May through late June. I fish the lake like the fish migrate. I have used the extensive logs that I keep to make educated guesses on where I need to go so that I make the most of my time on the water.  I would tell you to start keeping a log. It's a lot of work but I got 20 some years of notes and log entries that help me through the tough bites. I rarely ever get skunked out there any more. I think my slowest bite this year was on the St. Clair River on Sept. 1 when I caught only 3 keepers all on a Spinnerbait in the south channel and then just this past Saturday when I boated only 7 keepers on Erie. Now by most standards those may be considered good days. But by my standards, and maybe I'm being over critical of myself, those were slow days. But that's just me because I set the bar very high for myself.

It costs some of these guys thousands of dollars to refine patterns throughout the year...I spend somewhere close to 100 dollars every time I launch the boat in just gas...Tournaments are hot and heavy right now and alot of guys don't want to spill their guts on the internet because info travels fast and their competition is watching....
Don't take it personnel if someone isn't quick to give out information...Sometimes that info was earned with alot of time, sweat and money and to just hand it over to someone online is self-defeating....

You are not going to get a magic pattern off the boards...The guys that do well on LSC have multiple patterns and waypoints that they are working all at the same time...I have caught over 20lbs of fish in an area one day and the next day it is completely shut down..So information is only so good..It is the ability and having the experience to adjust that sets the top guys apart from the rest of us...You're not going to get that ability from a computer screen..

If you want to get better...Put in the time...Join a club, fish tournaments as a Co angler, Hire a guide,  and fish, fish, fish.....

Very well said motocross269. That's exactly the point I've been trying to make since the start of this thread. Thanks so much for your input and validating what I have been trying to say all along.



BD.