Hot Ponds on 11/20

[t-bone]

It took a little while to find our way into the hot ponds due to some fog and first time navigating the sand bars but we made and what an interesting place.

Charlie Gabbeart (Capt Charlie Charters) and I fished the morning and early afternoon. We probably caught around 30 largemouth and a couple dink smallies. Out of the LM, two were pushing 4 pds. We had to weed thru a ton of dinks. Used a dropshot and crankbait for most. Charlie caught a big carp on a crank.

The fish are so thick in there, you feel your crank just bouncing of fish. I pulled in my crank once with an enormous scale on it. Had to be a monster carp. Gizzard Shad jumping everywhere.

Saw a couple bald eagles while we were back there. It was a fun way to end the season.

[dartag]

is there shore access to fish from.   i would like to go shoot some photos of the eagles and maybe fish a little.  i see a platform in the background of one of the photos.

[Skulley]

is there shore access to fish from.   i would like to go shoot some photos of the eagles and maybe fish a little.  i see a platform in the background of one of the photos.

Yes there are platforms to fish from.  DTE owns the park that has public shore fishing access.  The eagles are residents of the area.  The water over the last few days was 20 to 30 inches above normal pool.  It still can be an adventure getting in there.


BD                            

[t-bone]

There were at least 6 fishing platforms and we caught a lot of our fish near them. A lot of current at the end of area and were it relaxed a bit is where many of our fish were. I saw two eagles, maybe a third. The eagles were about half way into the area but I would assume if you visited enough, you'd be able to see them.

This area has so much wildlife due to the water temp from the plant. It was 60+ water temp and with it being protected from the wind, it actually was hot there on Saturday. Lots of clothes to run there and then most of it off to fish.

At one point I counted 10 boats fishing the area. There was a little dock that must have been holding perch or specks? Three boats had it surrounded and were fishing minnows under the dock. The fish I saw come out looked like perch from a distance.

[djkimmel]

Thanks for the report. Nice carp picture Charlie! Did you snag it or did it hit the crankbait?

[t-bone]

Surprisingly, it had the hooks in the mouth.

[djkimmel]

I have caught quite a few on crankbaits, especially in the Grand River here in Lansing. I have actually seen them hit the crankbait a few times including one giant carp in crystal clear water on Lake Charlevoix that actually stalked and attacked my bottom-bouncing crankbait!

I was with an old fishing partner, Big Fish Chip, and saw 2 big carp swimming along a slightly deeper flat. It was during a slow period later in the day (so I was bored) and I threw out ahead of them. As soon as the crankbait passed in front of them, digging the bottom, they both turned and one aggressively pounced on the crankbait. BIG carp! Turned the nose of the boat around a little on the first run!

I also had a number of them hit tubes and other small grubs over the years on Saginaw Bay, Grand River, St. Clair River, Detroit River, Tippy Dam Pond and who knows where else. Maybe because I grew up in the lovely city of Flint Michigan is why I catch a lot of carp?

[Skulley]

The carp, sheephead, gizzard shad all hit crank baits in there.  Surprisingly the carp and the sheephead chase minnows in there.  And yes all kinds of wildlife live there.  The warm water keeps the area "alive"!!

BD                 

[mikesmiph]

And, where would this place be? How would someone find it from shore? Thanks guys

[Manxfishing]

use googgle maps to zoom in down there
It's just below the rasin river
It looks like a river on the map. But is just the hot water discharge for the
Monroe power plant. (Hot Pond)

You'd take I-75 to E. Front street and then head east
I believe there's a small parking lot by the dam in the back end
And the shore platforms are in the better fishing area

Haven't fished it this year
But in the past I've done well on plastic down there

[Durand Dan]

And, where would this place be? How would someone find it from shore? Thanks guys

Mike,
Let me know if you want to take a ride down there

[t-bone]

Sorry, it's a secret!

Not sure where you'd park for the shore fishing.

This address comes up right at the end of the hot ponds:
E Front St, Monroe, MI 48161

Here is a link:

[Got Fish??]

 Hello Mr. Gabbeart nice fish. We haven't gone fishing together yet. You and I played a lot of softball together, years a go. I lost your contack info. Let's get together this winter and plan a trip for next year. Dave Benson (GOT FISH??).

[capt charlie's charters]

last year its was catfish and this year carp.  pretty much started the season with a 20+ on Kent during the Veterans Tournament in June that slammed my Senko and ended with the 17(?) that attacked my crank bait.  jeez what next for 2011?  sturgeon while bass fishing ?

guess its better then sheep head.

going stir crazy already.
captcharlie

[Manxfishing]

Heard that the water is down right now
And there's been a large fish kill in there as well

Anyone know any thing?

[dartag]

this is on another site.

http://www.bbcboards.net/zerothread?id=619459

[Skulley]

Heard that the water is down right now
And there's been a large fish kill in there as well

Anyone know any thing?

This is the first I have heard about this.  The link dartag posted looked interesting.  If it is the hot pond, the videographer should have pointed that camera at the stacks.  That bank could be any where.  That is not the only hot pond.

BD                         

[McCarter]

mike lohn aka the lohn wolf posted a mini report with pics and a short video from this past weekend on bbc.  said there were thousands of dead fish washed up on shore and the water levels were low.  wonder whats doin on. cant be good whatever it is

McCarter himself

[josh617]

here an email steve hewetts forwarded me from steve hewett:

-----Original Message-----
From: Francis, James (DNRE)
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 8:09 AM
To: Hewett, Steve (DNRE); Braunscheidel, Jeffrey (DNRE); Hay-Chmielewski, Elizabeth (DNRE)
Subject: RE: Fishing Kill Monroe, MI hot ponds

Yeah, I just got a call on this one yesterday.  Below is a link to some video that was shot on Dec. 31.  But the fish kill itself tool place the first week of December.  The guy was concerned because there are a bunch of eagles in the area and if the fish were contaminated, he did not want them killing the eagles. 

http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e102/21xdc/?action=view¤t=100_0050.mp4

This kill took place in the Hot Ponds.  This is the discharge from the power plant at the mouth of the River Raisin.  He said the water temperature when they were fishing there ranged from 43-46 degrees.  We know the plant shut down at some point, so temperature shock is definitely a consideration.  Although this guy thinks there is more to it than that.  He thinks it was a total kill and that there were dead ducks and a dead opossum too. 

I told the guy there is absolutely nothing we can do with fish that died a month ago.  He said he did not like the response but understood.  However, the guy has a web page where they are trying to talk this up with the local media to get coverage.  It sounds like they are still pursuing the plan.

I passed on the dead wildlife report to Tim Payne, the wildlife supervisor.  He said he would forward the report to his field biologist.  I also have a call into Water Bureau of DEQ to see if they have any reports.

I will let you know if I learn anymore.

[djkimmel]

Strange happenings. Thanks for checking into it Josh and providing some info. Lots of strange, localized fish, bird and animal die offs lately all over the place. Though it may be news is just covering it more right now.