A Day on the Water
14) Wakeley Lake, Dog Day Bass and Pike, August 7
Wakely lake is one of Michigans too few, catch and release, hike in lakes. 108 acres that is known for big bluegills, formerly very large bass and occasional pike. Only one car with a rack was in the lot, nobody on the lake after the 1/2 mile carry down the back trail. I started out using 50 lb bite leader hoping for a big pike. I trolled a silver bullet fly from the south end to the northwest shore to get up wind so I could drift and cast. While casting the silver bullet over scattered emergent curly leaf pondweed in deep...
13) Saint Clair Delta, Pike and Bass on Popper Patterns, August 2, 2020
Bob's Banger Popper Kayak Bass Kayak Pike
I fished lures over a lot of water in the Saint Clair Delta, and used fly rod poppers, 3/0 Marabou Bangers where I knew there were fish. I got a successful rematch with the same big Pike on the same popper he bit off last time.
11) Popper Pattern for Detroit River Smallmouth, July 17
Bass Fishing Bass Poppers Big Smallmouth Bob's Banger Popper Kayak Bass
Wyandot is close to my work and I put in there to paddle out to Grassy Island. I was originally drawn to this spot because I thought this was the Grassy Island that was a famous Musky spot, it is not that Grassy Island but I did find decent fishing for largemouth that are larger than usual in the Detroit-Saint Clair system. I also ran into some very large and aggressive gar once. I fished 3/4 of the way around the Island and some of the vast weedy flat on the Michigan side. Nothing except at the upstream head of...
12) Clinton River Cutoff, Popper Pattern for Bass, no Muskies 7/27/20
Kayak Bass Marabou Banger Popper
There were very few trailers at the public boat launch Monday afternoon. I launched there to take advantage of the short carry for my kayak and short walk to a parking spot. The little emerald shiners had finally started to come in, bringing more bass with them. There are three marinas built out into Lake Saint Clair there. When power boat traffic is light, their built up riprap or steel retaining walls make sheltered bays around the boat launch and the Clinton River cutoff outlet. I fished those riprap walls where the west wind was partly blocked. I finished the...
9) Wakely C&R, Deep Water Bass on Popper Pattern, July 4
Creature Popper Kayak Bass Kayak Pike
Wakely Lake is one of Michigan's too few Catch and Release, off road fishing opportunities. It is a 1/2 mile walk in with a kayak on wheels down a gravel road. The Bluegills are bigger. The Bass are smarter and the occasional Pike are as mean as ever. I found no active bluegill beds and fishing for small bluegills and small bass back in the beautifully lush shallow weed cover was hard work for small fish. There were a few larger male bass guarding nests back behind the bull rushes, under low overhanging cedars, tough targets. Where are the big girls? ...