Spring Fishing???

Fished with Doug S. and Joe P. on Grosse Ile. Temperature this morning was 26 degrees and when we quit fishing it was only in the upper 30s. The wind was out of the southeast 5 to 10 knots and the sky was clear. When we got to the canal to start fishing it was covered with a light sheet of ice, the first bad sign of the day. We started fishing the far east side of the canal where there was some open water and the fishing was very slow. As the ice started to break up Doug moved towards the west end of the canal without any luck. After we decided we stayed too long here we headed to Hoovers and fished the canal there. We did not have any luck there so we started the Grosse Ile tour. After it was all said and done we only had 2 perch that we kept, maybe enough for my mom to have a little dinner.

First Day of Spring

Fished on this cold first day of spring on Grosse Ile with Doug S. Temperature this morning was 36 degrees and when we quit fishing it was only 41 degrees. The wind was out of the northeast 15 to 20 knots and the sky was mainly overcast. We tried dipping our own minnows and had no luck so we headed back to the main land and bought some. With the strong wind the water was pretty high in all the canals and the water temp is 42 degrees(some guys came into the canal with a boat to fish and told us the water temp). The fishing was slow again today. We had around a dozen perch that we threw back and only kept 5.

Fishing the Soft Water

Fished with Doug S. We made the Grosse Ile tour today. Temperature this afternoon was 64 degrees and when we quit fishing it was 52 degrees. The temp was a lot warmer on the main land then it was on the island. The sun was shining bright and the wind was light out of the east. We hit all our usual spots and the fishing was slow. The Trenton Channel had high water and a lot of ice floating down it but there were still 4 boats out walleye fishing. The canals were very shallow but they all had a lot of shiners, so the fishing should pick up any day now. We caught a few perch but they were all small ones.

The Official Last Day

Got a call from Doug S. and he just had to go ice fishing one more time, so away we went. Temperature this afternoon was 59 degrees and when we quit fishing it was 42 degrees. The skies were blue and the wind was very light, just like yesterday. The shore ice is getting worse (on the way out Doug fell through up to his knees) and the ice on the lake is less than a foot thick and very sloppy on top. Doug got a report that they were catching some fish out of the DNR launch by Crocker, so that was going to be our destination. On the way to fishing Doug got a phone call and his friend caught his limit of perch at Metro Beach in 3 feet of water in front of the flag pole. So the game plan was changed and off we went to Metro Beach. We get to the beach and there is no one fishing in front of the flag pole, they were all at the point, where I fished last night. At the Point, we caught 6 perch and the largest was 5 inches. The guy in the picture caught this nice pike fishing right by us using his perch pole with 4 lb. test line and a small jig. On the way home we drove by the DNR launch and all the guys that we talked to had no fish either, so we did not feel too bad.

Sunset on the End of 2010 Ice Fishing

Sitting around the house today knowing that the end of ice fishing is close, I decided to go one more time. So off I went to Metro Beach for the evening fish. Temperature this afternoon was 55 degrees and when I quit fishing it was 48 degrees. The sun was shining bright and the wind was less than 5 knots out of the west. The ice on the lake is at least a foot thick but around the shore line it is getting soft. The report that we received yesterday as we left the ice was they caught some nice fish at the point in shallow water right before dark. My game plan was to stay in the shallow water and not leave it. I set up in 1 foot of water and I could see the fish coming in. The bite did not start until after sunset and it was over in a hurry. I had three hogs come through the hole and I only caught one of them. I caught some smaller fish but it was not the trip I had planned. Had only 2 keeper perch so I let them go.

Getting Close to Last Ice

Fished out of Metro Beach on Lake St. Clair with Doug S. Temperature this afternoon was 52 degrees and when we quit fishing it was in the lower 40s. The wind was out of the southwest 5 to 10 knots and the sky was blue. The shore ice at the Day Sail Ramp is getting a little iffy but on the lake there is 14 inches of ice. We started fishing in front of the flag pole in 7 feet of water. When we got there the guys were just leaving and they had some fish that they caught in the morning. We fished there for 1 1/2 hours and caught a lot of dinks and only a few keepers and then we noticed a group of guys over by the point in shallow water. We picked up and headed out that way to talk to the guys and they said the morning bite was pretty good in 1 foot of water but the last 2 hours the fish moved out. We fished there for 45 minutes and then we went back to our old spot. For every 15 fish we would have one keeper so we thought that was better than nothing. Around the last hour of light the bigger fish turned on and then we started to have some fun. Doug used his new Slab Grabber spoon today and I have to admit it worked very well. We kept 30 perch and lost half a dozen large one's at the hole.

Gino's Surf

Fished with Doug S. out of Gino's on Lake St. Clair. Temperature this morning was 25 degrees and when we quit fishing it was in the upper 30s. The sun was shining bright and the wind was out of the northwest 5 to 10 knots. The ice is about 14 inches thick and some fool drove his mini van on the lake today. We started off fishing to the right of Gino's in front of the willow tree in 4 feet of water. Made a half dozen moves there and all that we caught were small fish. Kept an eye on other people fishing in closer and did not see any action. Started moving out to deeper water and we finally found some fish. We just stayed in this general area hole hopping and sorting out the small fish for the rest of the day. Kept 10 perch for a long day of fishing. The one good thing today was Selfridge Air National Base put on a nice air show.

The Coast Line Tour

Fished with Doug S. Temperature this morning was 34 degrees and when we quit fishing it was in the upper 30s. The wind was out of the northwest 5 to 10 knots and the skies were overcast for the first hour and then the sun came out. Turned out to be a nice day. We started fishing at Bolles Harbor and never had a bite. Jumped in the car and went to the Trenton Channel on Grosse Ille and never had a bite. Made one last stop at Bellanger Park and had the same results, no bites. All three locations the water was pretty low. Might try and go ice fishing this week on Lake St. Clair.