I have been reading about the great smallmouth fishing on LSC and decided to take my 11 year old son up to this lake for 3 days before school starts. We are from central Indiana and really have no clue on what to use or where to fish and catch smallmouth. We fish dirty water lakes that we flip and pitch and that does not sound like what you guys do up there. Any community holes or info that would help me put my son on a 3 pounder would make my trip great! We are camping at the campground in algonac, MI
I thank you for any help I can get and God bless
Straight out from the camground in american water is a start thats close. You will have to play with water depth to find them though. Drop shots tubes or crankbaits dependong on depth.
When does school start in Indiana?? You will probably want to launch your boat at the DNR Launch south of the state park which is where I assume you guys are going to camp. Are you planning on a weekday trip?? If you do come up and depending on when you are fishing, I would be happy to show you myself. You can follow me around and I can show you some stuff that would be considered community. I have been launching and fishing up there the last couple of times out. I have done pretty well. I would be happy to help any Dad that would bring his son up here for a trip to the worlds best smallmouth bass water. :o My son is 12 so I understand what you are looking to do. Let me know when you are coming and I will PM you some info if I can't show you myself.
BD ;D
I thank you guys for the info but the boss put her foot down last night and looks like the trip will be canceled:(
Thank you and god bless.
Quote from: IU7038 on August 07, 2012, 04:01:43 PM
I thank you guys for the info but the boss put her foot down last night and looks like the trip will be canceled:(
Thank you and god bless.
Yikes !! :o
Quote from: IU7038 on August 07, 2012, 04:01:43 PM
I thank you guys for the info but the boss put her foot down last night and looks like the trip will be canceled:(
Thank you and god bless.
I guess we know who wears the pants in that family. I feel bad for the kid. But you know the old saying, "If Momma ain't happy, nobodies happy. If Dad ain't happy, who cares!!". :o
BD. ;D
You are correct! Dad is not happy..but do you think that she cares? It's too much before school starts dont you know..$#%&!
I want to help you out here. Does the kid want to go?? If so, have him go tell Mom that he wants to go and that it would be a great way to finish off the summer before school starts. He can say something like "I want to go back to school with great fishing stories to tell the guys Mom." No guarantee that she will buy into it but if he really wants to go, he will have to sell it. Your odds of making the trip just went up. Good luck and let us know if you were able to get that done. Sometimes a little Father/Son scheming goes a long way.
BD. ;D
Blieve me we tried..and then she came to me and said nice try! She knows us to well, we have pulled things like that in the past! Maybe we can make it up there one weekend this fall. I hope they bite good then also.
Aw, that's too bad. If things change or if you can get up here on a weekend, please let us know. Several of us would be happy to help you out.
Thanks guys..I just need a weekend or two of kissin butt and maybe i will get that weekend pass.I look forward to making some great memories.
Quote from: IU7038 on August 10, 2012, 03:03:11 PM
Thanks guys..I just need a weekend or two of kissin butt and maybe i will get that weekend pass.I look forward to making some great memories.
It's cheaper to keep her bro!!!! ;)
BD ;D
How's the smally fishing in early September?
Usually pretty solid in the channels and river. The lake gets tough.
Thanks! Can't wait to get up there.
I think the fishing on Lake St. Clair is pretty good all year. Unlike going places where the fishing 'was good last week' or 'good in [state your good month], the fishing Lake St. Clair is good all every week or every month. I LOVE fall fishing on Lake St. Clair! More of my best trips have been in the fall! Pretty much everywhere in Michigan including St. Clair.
That's awesome! We can't wait to get up there. We are staying around 13 mile rd. What's the closest ramp to that area that is open to the public? I have found a Metro Park marina launch area. Is there any such thing as a free launch ramp? Any suggestions? Thanks!
the Crocker launch or Harley Ensign...either are good
Quote from: willettizer13 on August 13, 2012, 09:07:56 AM
That's awesome! We can't wait to get up there. We are staying around 13 mile rd. What's the closest ramp to that area that is open to the public? I have found a Metro Park marina launch area. Is there any such thing as a free launch ramp? Any suggestions? Thanks!
Not in Michigan. They all cost money to launch at. Most are around $10. Depending how many times you are going to fish while you are here, a DNR launch pass for the season my be what you need. If you are coming in September, I don't think you will have to worry too much as they don't man the launches with attendants after Labor Day except on weekends.
BD ;D
Quote from: willettizer13 on August 13, 2012, 09:07:56 AM
That's awesome! We can't wait to get up there. We are staying around 13 mile rd. What's the closest ramp to that area that is open to the public? I have found a Metro Park marina launch area. Is there any such thing as a free launch ramp? Any suggestions? Thanks!
Are you a Michigan resident? If yes, did you buy the Recreational Passport (http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10365_55798---,00.html) with you 2012 tow vehicle license registration (little P on your plate sticker)?
If you answer yes to both questions, you can use the MDNR Clinton River Cutoff BAS for free off Jefferson just South of Crocker Blvd.
MDNR sites are the least expensive at $6 per day for residents ($8 per day if you are a nonresident) if someone is manning the booth when you get there. Otherwise, free though some part-time staff may try to collect from you when you leave but as BD said, they usually only are at the booth on weekends in September. Sometimes not even then.
Answers (http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10365_55798_58027-234654--,00.html) about the MDNR Recreational Passport for residents and nonresidents.
You will pay $8 to $10 per launch at pretty much all the other public ramps to either the Metroparks or the local government running each ramp. It is possible a local ramp may have a higher fee for nonresidents also.
I am a non-resident. I've heard the 9 mile ramp is nice. That is just hear say though. I just hope once I get on the lake the fishing is as good as I have heard it is!
Quote from: willettizer13 on August 14, 2012, 01:43:08 PM
I am a non-resident. I've heard the 9 mile ramp is nice. That is just hear say though. I just hope once I get on the lake the fishing is as good as I have heard it is!
9 Mile Road (http://www.greatlakesbass.com/forum/index.php?topic=13263.0) ramp is nice for parking and launching. It is $10 per day to launch though not hard to justify if you fish in that area with the present gas prices. It is a very long walk from parking to the docks. Some boaters help each other out with rides I have heard. Timing and gregariousness probably helps.
The fishing is as good but it is a huge body of water that, like any other water, has smaller key areas. You can catch fish just about anywhere at times but the key areas take some time to find.
You can cut the curve by:
1) Reading the fishing reports history on this website forum section;
2) Watching Lake St. Clair Bass Fishing videos (http://www.greatlakesbass.com/forum/index.php?topic=14906.0);
3) Good maps, map chips or even a major shortcut like the 410 GPS/detailed Lake St. Clair Marked Maps chartbook (http://www.greatlakesbass.com/store/glbstore2.html#glbmm1) you can buy.
4) Hanging out on this forum, meeting and getting to know new anglers including some of the best bass anglers who fish Lake St. Clair and connecting waters!
Thanks for the info. What ramp do you guys recommend or like the most? Are they all pretty much the same price all the way around? I have found some marina's that have launch ramps. Are these good to launch at?
I like the Crocker Ramp best myself. I don't like the guy who ran over and crushed my trailer fender last fall, but I do like the ramp itself. Puts you right at the top of the "Mile Roads" area of the lake... which can be a good place to fish in the fall (or any time of year for that matter).
Quote from: willettizer13 on August 16, 2012, 09:14:49 AM
Thanks for the info. What ramp do you guys recommend or like the most? Are they all pretty much the same price all the way around? I have found some marina's that have launch ramps. Are these good to launch at?
I mentioned some about pricing and ramps already earlier in this thread - http://www.greatlakesbass.com/forum/index.php?topic=14767.msg87247#msg87247 .
Not too many of the marinas encourage launching at their ramps and you will mostly find they charge at least $15 to launch with limited parking. Most of them mainly use their ramps for their docked customers and service.
Here's a directory of many of the public ramps on Lake St. Clair (http://www.tourlakestclair.org/business-directory.html?LocationCategory=55&LocationSearch=&LocationSearchGo=Search).
Do people not watch these ramps? I hear lots of stories about people getting their property messed up.
I have never had an issue on any ramp......knock on wood. Although I've heard stories about the 9 mile ramp, I have never launched there.
BD. ;D
Quote from: willettizer13 on August 17, 2012, 07:03:37 AM
Do people not watch these ramps? I hear lots of stories about people getting their property messed up.
I have not heard lots of stories. Late or early in the year, there are less people moving through but other than St. Jeans near the head of the Detroit River, I rarely hear about incidents in the boat ramp parking lots. The occasional dented fender or busted light but considering the number of boaters who use these ramps overall I don't hear it a lot.
Many of the boat ramps are attended less often than they used to, especially in the spring and fall. Everybody's budget is tight. I don't think your odds are great that something will happen. I walked pass a really nice rig the other day where the owner left his windows down on one of the St. Clair ramps. Kind of surprised but nothing appeared amiss when I came back in.
I'm not quite that trusting anywhere though considering I have launched a zillion times at a zillion ramps, I can only recall 2, maybe 3 incidents ever to my stuff, and they were minor.
Hello IU7038. Sorry you can't fish lake St Clair this year. Don't give up the chance of a life time. Make plans to come next summer.
The stories I've heard about 9 mile have been that people have had stuff stolen off their boats. It's a long walk from the parking lot to the ramp and it's occurred to people during that walk. It's only what I've heard. I've never launched there so I have no experience there. Now I've also heard stories about St. Jean. I've launched there but have never had anything happen there. There is an attendant. There are a lot of people that do launch there. The ramp is very steep and the docks are terrible. If the state can get their hands on that and make it part of William Millikin State Park, I'm sure improvements may be imminent.
BD. ;D
I haven't heard of alot of issues at ramps.....The worse one that I have heard though is a guy got his Aluminum triple axle trailer stolen...Probably for scrap. He had to park his 100k dollar cigarrette boat at a nearby marina for a few days until insurance came through and he got another trailer..
I have been locking my trailer and hitch since I heard about that...
I haven't seen a DNR officer at the ramps this year....The guy at the Selfridge launch was great..He kept things rolling along there on busy days...
The MDNR has cut way back because of their budget problems.
It would be nice to see St. Jeans safe and improved. The two times I've launched there that wasn't during the big NBAA tournament, there was no attendant.
If things have been taken from boats at 9 Mile at the docks, wouldn't that mean it had to be from other boaters? I've never launched there but there doesn't appear to be much from the parking lot down to the ramps. That would be a shame.
I've always locked my trailer to reduce my odds. I try not to get much out of my boxes on my boat until I'm back in it leaving the dock whenever I can. Again, to reduce the odds. The very few times I've been at a remote ramp or during the slow time of the year pretty much anywhere, if I think someone looks a little shady nearby, I'm pretty good about dawdling over some odd task in the boat until the risky person(s) moves on. I've also found that talking to some of them for a minute or two can make me feel more comfortable about their presence.
Quote from: djkimmel on August 21, 2012, 03:14:24 PM
The MDNR has cut way back because of their budget problems.
It would be nice to see St. Jeans safe and improved. The two times I've launched there that wasn't during the big NBAA tournament, there was no attendant.
If things have been taken from boats at 9 Mile at the docks, wouldn't that mean it had to be from other boaters? I've never launched there but there doesn't appear to be much from the parking lot down to the ramps. That would be a shame.
I've always locked my trailer to reduce my odds. I try not to get much out of my boxes on my boat until I'm back in it leaving the dock whenever I can. Again, to reduce the odds. The very few times I've been at a remote ramp or during the slow time of the year pretty much anywhere, if I think someone looks a little shady nearby, I'm pretty good about dawdling over some odd task in the boat until the risky person(s) moves on. I've also found that talking to some of them for a minute or two can make me feel more comfortable about their presence.
There has always been an attendant when I've launched at St. Jean. Never had an issue there. Crappy docks though. I hate them.
I don't know the set-up at the dock at 9 mile. Never been there. Deductive reasoning would tell me that it would have to be other boaters. How isolated is it?? Are there other accesses to the docks or pathways to the docks or around the launch area??
I suppose I should just launch there someday.
BD ;D
was headed to St jeans this morning. There was a huge thunder storm over leamington with lots of lightning. the weather said it was headed north east. Ended up going to the DNR launch at Deckers on the north channel. Small launch but nice and easy to get in and out. Only a couple fishing boat trailers there. Got chased off by another Huge storm at 2:00. The roads were flooded when I got back to I-94 and 23 mile road.
Is the Selfridge launch ramp nice? I will be coming up next thursday and fishing through Sunday so we will probably be hitting up the River mostly. I have seen a few reports saying thats the hot spot this time of year. Anyone have any other opinions?
The Selfridge launch is my preferred launch.....Easy to get too right off M59 and 94. It is probably one of the most secure launches on the lake...
As far as where to fish...I haven't been out in a couple of weeks....I would say the river is a good choice...The fish may be moving back to the lake but it is hard to say without being out there...
If you are going to focus on the river consider launching at Algonac, Marine City or St Clair...All three are decent launches...St Clair city launch costs 7 bucks to launch but it is a very nice launch.