When is it better to fish the St. Clair river vs the lake. Does boat traffic on the river kill ya on weekends?
Late summer is normally when the river seems to turn on. Yeah, the boat traffic is a nightmare on the weekends on the lake and can be even worse in certain parts of the river. Normally though it seems a little easier in the river since you're usually working with the current. Holding on a spot...that's another thing.
There's not much you can do about it. When I'm out just fun fishing on weekends, I usually get off the water around noon.
I used to think that ONLY 67 degrees in the St. Clair River was the time to start working the river over the Lake. One year it was so hot, the river hit 67 in early July and nothing happened. Like most years, the biggest push up the river for the bass seems to happen about August 1. Like Tom was saying, it's good to get off the water early on the weekend too. Many high quality river spots get silted in badly by boat traffic and are useless in the afternoon.
Something intriguing thinking of Wayne as a fry :)
Yeah, I noticed that too... Gotta get on that!
As a newbie to fishing St. Clair, when you refer to fishing the St. Clair river does that mean fishing the water that starts just above the North Channel launch and working your way up?
It's unlikely that other anglers will split hairs on whether they were fishing the "river" or the "channels" in casual conversation. It's one of those all inclusive things that get anglers off the hook while still sounding like they are giving up where they fished.
The St. Clair River splits into the North and South Channel at the tip of Russell Island. Down stream are the North, South and Middle Channels. From the tip of Russell Island to Port Huron you have the St. Clair River.
For the most part, in the "Channels" you will find a 3 lb. average or better. At Fawn Island you will find a 4 lb. average or better and upstream of that, the sky is the limit. If someone came back with a 5 lb. average and said they were fishing the "Channels," I wouldn't believe it; even though it is possible.
Thanks for the info Wayne.
BTW, I enjoyed your first St. Clair book and am looking forward to reading the second one some time in the future.
-Gary Tafoya
Thanks Gary...I'm working on books #3 and #4 to be released in the winter.
Wayne
One of your spots by Algonac produced this and many Smallmouth, in fact the next drift a three pounder lost his life to this guy's brother.
We had a rare speedboatless weekend on the river, when this 51" 35lb hog decided to eat my Shuberts tube!! He is still swimming as this is a reproduction!! 8)