Bass Camp on St.Clair

[LAPORTE]

Hello All, We started a family bass camp last year and the first one was on Burt/Mullett. This year we are thinking about moving it to St.Clair. The only trouble that I have is where do we camp at.... Last year it was easy Aloha state park. not as easy this year. Does anyone have info on camp grounds near one of the launches on St Clair ? 

I know what your thinking.... why would he want to St Clair and not back up north.... right .....  all of my family up north have never fished St.Clair.. In case you were wondering..lol

Thanks : Don L    See you at the fishing show I'm ready.

If only that darn water would freezzzee so I could fish...   

[blakstr1]

i'd probably stay over near Algonac, there are a couple nice campgorunds there on the river (well technically I think they are across the road from the St. Clair river) there are a few really nice launches up that way too.  of course that launches you in the river instead of the lake...

[csfishslayer]

Yeah That Is the only area that has any camp grounds on the lake you could launch at north channel . other then that you would have to go up by port huron

[fiker]

If camping is what you want then Algonac is a good idea.

Depending on the time of year, say late July or August, you might want to be on the river and channels instead of the lake. 

Depends on what you're looking for.

If you've never tried deep jigging for smallies in 30 fow it can really be a blast.

This past year, with gas is what it is price wise, we found ourselves driving around the lake with the boat on a trailer.  We would launch at the DNR ramp in Algonac, and just fish the channels. 

[dashaver63]

Not to change the subject, but as far as deep jigging the river and channels, what do you do differently in the rivers and channels than you would do in 30' over a rock reef or ledge on Erie? Just curious, I have only fished the channels once, and that was shipwrecks in the middle channel about 6 years ago.

[Skulley]

Algonac has a nice camp ground.  I have camped there so that I could maximize my fishing time in the channels and the wife doesn't care how much I fish as long as she and the kids can camp and have something to do while I fish. 

St. Clair would be great however you should head up around Traverse City.  There are so many different lakes you can fish in that area alone.

Not to change the subject, but as far as deep jigging the river and channels, what do you do differently in the rivers and channels than you would do in 30' over a rock reef or ledge on Erie? Just curious, I have only fished the channels once, and that was shipwrecks in the middle channel about 6 years ago.

My answer to this question is you have to account for the 8 mph current in the river.  Keeping your line straight up and down while jigging the channel is a little more difficult than on Erie where all you have to do is deal with the wind which can be little or a lot.  Current in the river is always present.  The wind on Erie is not.  I find doing it on Erie is easier. 

BD           

[motocross269]

Doug it isn't a whole lot different...Just as UAW stated you have to account for the current...(And a little more boat traffic)
Most guys go to heavier weights and stay on the trolling motor more.
It kind of reminds me of vertical jigging for walleyes. 

[fiker]

That's the way that Wayne explained it to me.  "You're Walleye jigging for Bass".
I spent a day years ago in the Detroit River jigging for Walleye.  Unsuccessfully I might add.  Then a guy told me about keeping it vertical.  I do slightly better now.
When I asked Wayne about tubes and drop shots in the channels he told me that vertical to slightly down stream was good.  It positions the bait well for presentation to the fish, and it minimizes snags.  Or at least if you do snag, it's easier to get off.

[Skulley]

I always point into the current and stay on the trolling motor keeping contact with the bottom and my line straight.  Just like:

"You're Walleye jigging for Bass".

I have actually done very well in the Livingston Channel and the Amherstburg Channel using this technique.  I have gotten my share of Smallies as well as filling the freezer with Walleye.  Now I'm getting hungary again.................

BD