Ok, who can help a brutha out? This has been a great year on St. Clair. Up until a couple of weeks ago, finding fish hasn't been a problem. But something strange has happened over the past 2 weeks which has me and many of the guys I know quite mystified. (I'm not the only one... just maybe the one who'll admit it publicly)
The Situation3 and 4 weeks ago, there were good numbers of fish in the channels. Fishing was good and there were many reliable patterns/locations to catch 'em. About 3 weeks ago it was like someone flipped a switch and the channels died. I've checked the channels during the past 2 weeks and it's been awful. A dozen of the anglers that I know (many very good ones) have the same story. However, the South Shore has been fishing very strongly during that time right up until 2 weeks ago. 2 weeks ago we found fish moving shallow (5 FOW) and the fishing was fairly easy still along the SS. But since then it's really tapered off... scratch that... it suddenly died! For instance, here's what happened this past Saturday.
With the brutal Southwest winds, we decided to launch at St. Jean and fish Grosse Pointe Shores. We found lots of rocks and depth changes. We fished from 3 FOW out to 12 FOW and didn't come up with much. So we moved to an area where we found a few fish hanging out in a very small area We could see them cruising around but they had lockjaw. (Those were the only fish we found Saturday BTW).
The winds then died down so we ran over to the South Shore. We fished rock shoals in 9 FOW...nothing. We fished the shallow areas where the fish were 2 weeks ago... still nothing. The wind really started blowing, so we hit the Det. River... just a few dinky fish in deep water. Hit a 12' hole surrounded by 6 FOW just outside the current...nothing.
1 and 2 weeks ago, we covered the Mile Roads fairly thoroughly... nobody home...shallow or deep. It was just like GP Shores this past Saturday.
Last week I also ran out to deep water along the S. Shore. Fished 14 to 16 FOW. Found a few other boats out there, but no action.
Not a believer yetEvery year you hear fishermen talk about the fish putting on the proverbial "feed bag" during the fall. IMHO, I think this must be a wives tale as far as St. Clair goes. A good friend of mine who's a very good fisherman and has fished SC for 30+ years said to me the other day "fall feed bag? I've never seen it. It seems like this is the
toughest time of the year to catch 'em". I have to agree. I have yet to experience this allegedly awesome fall fishing on St. Clair. I'd love to be proven wrong!!!
Where the rubber meets the road.No offense anyone, but I would really like to hear from folks who have been out there in the past
2 weeks and have caught them. I'm not really interested in last year's stories or stories from a month ago.
I'm not interested in waypoints. But I would very much like to get some input from guys that will actually help us figure this thing out. I know you're out there. I'm not asking for your secrets. And please don't tell me to go to Erie. The fish can't all leave St. Clair. They must be there somewhere. I'm truly stumped at the moment and want to enjoy a few more weeks out there and every year in the fall, I can't figure it out. Ok, so I suck as a fisherman. I'm an awful angler. I can't find fish on my own. I'm a mooch. Whatever. If you believe that, thanks for reading...see ya. Anyone else...can you help a brutha out? All I'm asking is for an honest,
no bull assessment. If you've caught them
this past weekend for instance...
1. Were they deep or shallow?
2. What do you think put these fish in the areas they were in?
3. What can I look for this time of year so that I can figure out where to find them? (Please don't tell us to "look for the baitfish". That's no easier than looking for the fish!)
4. How do you think the water temps affect the fish/baitfish location at this time?
5. In your opinion, what's the migratory pattern happening right now?If you're willing to speak honestly and really help, I and every fisherman I know (probably 99% of us who were out there this past weekend) who are struggling will be very grateful. I will name my first child after you. I'll give you my undying gratitude. I'll give you a bubble gum pop. I'll take you out for coffee. I'll give you public credit for being the best fisherman ever! What'll it take? We spend a lot of time here at GLB helping each other with "theoreticals". That's awesome! But how about some really practical help?
Thanks all. You GLBers are the best. I'm looking forward to an excellent dialog.