Thursday 7/11/13

[Revtro]

I got out yesterday with an old buddy of mine and we rocked em.  Here's the detailed report:

Location:  We got on the lake at 6:30am and headed out to a deep mid-lake area.  The bass are in full summer pattern out there.  We found school after school drifting and the best bite was in 17 FOW.  When we got into 18', the bite died.  We did fish shallower just South of the ridge in front of Metro Beach in 12 FOW and caught quite a few as well.  I'll spill the beans and take my lumps...because you know what??? It's a big lake!  If you draw a line from the 400 Club directly East and get out into 17 FOW where there are weeds, you'll be close to where we were fishing most of the day.  If you draw a straight line South from the tip of Metropark in 12' and 13 FOW, you'll find the secondary area where we caught quite a few as well.  You do need to find the weeds to find the fish. 

Weather:  The wind was stiff out of the North creating 2' rollers which made it necessary to drift.  I used a magnum size drift sock and started the drift North of my primary area and worked South.  Even with the large sock, we still moved pretty quickly and I'm convinced if we could have slowed down and fish the schools once we hit them, we'd have done even better.  But it goes to show you that in rough water and high winds, you can still get them.  You just need to be patient and drift the area over and over again.

Fish:  The fish were good size all day long.  No lie, we averaged 3.5 lbs all morning.  The fish were spitting up minnow sized baby bass and fish flies.  We managed 21 in 5.5 hours.

Bait: The fish were very picky.  I set my partner up with a Green Pumpkin tube with copper flake.  I lucked out on the first choice.  That bait was the bait of the day.  I fished a Watermelon tube and got only a fraction of the bites he was getting until I switched.  That subtle color difference made all the difference in the world.  I caught a few on a dropshot, but the fish really wanted it on the bottom and they wanted that color.  I tried spinnerbaits and cranks, with no luck.  When I'd switch back to the copper flake tube, BAM!  I was kind of surprised the tube was the deal considering what the majority of fish were spitting up.  I thought the dropshot with minnow imitators would be the thing to throw.  But those silly Smallmouth must not read Bassmaster. 

In my opinion, the main lake fish are in full summer swing.  They seem to be in small groups and when you hit a group while drifting, you'll catch a few.  If the wind was calm, I'd have thrown out a marker and fished the area to see if I could get more from the school.  On the way in to the ramp, we did stop along the Mile Roads for about 15 minutes just for the heck of it.  The water is muddy, muddy, muddy.   We only got one bite and nothing hooked up.  I think it's time if you haven't ventured out yet, to get off the Mile Roads.  Get out there onto the middle of the lake and find the weeds.  Of course, if you go to the South Shore, you'll find pretty easy fishing this time of year, but I don't have an Ontario license.  I am convinced there is just as good fishing on the US side.  The past 2 years, I have proven this to myself and no longer feel compelled to get the Ontario license.  I would probably get it if I had the extra $, but I don't right now, so eh...I'll fish my home water instead.  The fishing's been really good and the bass just seem bigger this year. 

[dartag]

nice report.   headed to metro in the morning with my son.    was going to launch down river but with the boat races figure it would be a mess.   Probably fish until noon and get out of there.   Hope I have some green pumpkin tubes.  Have to go out and look.

Thanks Tom

[Skulley]

Nice fish Tom.   


BD.               

[chris188vx]

Great report!!!! I'm trying to learn as much as I can about LSC. I only have about 10 hours of experience on LSC, and 0 hours on Detroit River/Erie. GLB and in particular this report, is a huge help in understanding how to fish up there. I live west of Indianapolis, and it's completely different kind of fishing than what I'm used to.

Hope, I can write reports as well as this one! Thanks!!!