BFL Detroit River journal

[Team houston]

I helped my friend R. Ramsey practice for this one on Thurs. We spent the whole day checking stuff on Erie. We caught some fish and a couple decent ones but not enough to make Randy happy.

When we were shallow at times we could get bit on a jerkbait. The rest was the usual bottom bouncers. Randy checked St. Clair on Fri. I went to work, bummer.

At the pairing meeting I draw out in boat #96 out of 118 with Mike Trombley. What a great surprise. Everyone knows Mike is a serious contender on the Great lakes. Not to mention I traveled with Mike to the regional on the Chesapeake Bay a couple years ago and had a great time. It should be a fun day on the water.

We are getting ready to take off and Mike says he has a hunch about a quick stop in the river. They call our boat # and we take off. We stop at the spot that might have some post spawners. I flip out my drop shot and on the third hop I have a fish on. I put a small keeper in the livewell.

Mike starts whacking them and forty five minutes later has caught approx 10 keepers. He only keeps three that have the size he needs to contend. Meanwhile I have put four in the box and am very happy with a good start.

We then head out to the main lake and make two quick stops near Colchester. At the second one I get my limit fish. We then head out near Pelee and bounce around to many spots. At one point we are in about 14 feet so I try the jerkbait and hook three good ones but only land two. But they both cull out smaller fish.

Mike has his limit now and occasionally culls up also. Like always we mark tons of fish under the boat and on this day they rarely bite. Mike has caught one or two bass and a couple Drum after dozens of drops. I have not caught one dropper.

Until late in the day We see a bunch under the boat and Mike says "I dont know if they are bass or drum"  I drop over the side and my rod loads up and announce."we are gonna find out" Mike grabs the net as a 4lber comes into view. He nets my best fish of the day.

After one more quick stop with no action we head in on water thats flat as a parking lot. Mike ends up with 18lbs even and get 14th. My 5 go 15lbs even and I get 17th. It was one of those special days. We caught plenty of fish and the weather was awesome. Its days like this that make you forget about days like last years first BFL that was in hurricane conditions.

[Hollada]

Congrats on a great day.  My boater and I bounced around numerous spots from gross pointe to metro fro. 8 fow to 14 and couldn't get in them.  I ended up with two keepers for 5 09.   My boater caught two as well. 

[dartag]

as always Great write up.  Good luck on the next one.

[Dave B]

Great story

[LAPORTE]

I love the stories. My boat has been on the trailer since the day after memorial day... but that is another story... nice job as always Phil. I look forward to the next...

LaPorte

[21XDC]

I almost enjoy reading these as much as fishing with Phil... 8^)

[djkimmel]

As always! Thanks for sharing your stories!