Only read if you're really, really bored and have nothing else to do. Tuesday sucked. I got out for a few hours up in Marine City. I fished deep for the most part hoping the bass would be there as has been the pattern in August/September from back in the good old days. Well it ain't the good old days, that's for sure.
I started at the ATB wreck on the south side of Fawn. Found it on the side finder, and fished all around it...nothing. Moved over to shoreline wreck a fished about 10' shallower on the SE side of Fawn...nothing. See a pattern developing? Moved up to the sand piles on the Canadian side...nothing. Moved up to a good size deep notch above the ferry...nothing. Moved up to the Power Plant on the US side...nothing. Marwood Bar area where there are smallies traditionally stacked up this time of year...nothing. Moved up a bit North to a couple other drifts...nothing. Ended up the day with you guessed it...NOTHING.
I believe every time on the water is a learning experience if you'll let it be. So what did I learn? IMO I just don't think the bass are using deep water in the river. For what reasons, I'm not really sure. I've heard a couple different posits. 1. No bait. I didn't see any bait balled up on the sonar or at the surface. 2. Colder temps. I was in 74 degree water if I recall correctly. 3. Water depths. Possibly the bass don't like it on these old haunts because its a bit deeper than they like. (Weird tho because in years past I'd catch them 40' deep and sometimes deeper.)
I would be very interested to hear what smarter people than me might think is the reason the river isn't as productive the past few years. All I know is that the deep fish don't seem to exist there lately. I have heard similar reports from many anglers who fish the river annually. There do appear to be shallow fish here and there in smaller numbers like the kind of stuff Dobson was on in the FLW. So it doesn't seem the river is devoid of smallmouth. But I sure do miss that deep, reliable bite. I hope it rebounds. Anyway, it was a day of eliminating water I guess. :/