First time on Detroit river 04-11-02

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Well made the trip to the river for the first time. Perfect, the day after an oil spill. Went to launch at Elizabeth park---closed. Drove to Wyndotte launch--open. Fished out to the north of the launch about a 1/2 mile and drifted back to the launch area. About 12 or so boats are doing the same. On the second pass I hooked something very heavy but no fight to it. When I finally got it up, to my surprise was a Sears Craftsman grass bagger. Looks like its been down there a while. Didn't want to throw it back so into the back of the boat it goes.

Saw a lot of boats up by the steel plant, so we went up there. Saw one catch a six pounder. A few other boats had one or two. Some got them to the boat but not netted. At 11 am I landed a 17"er. Then saw a guy get a 10.1 lber. About 1pm I dropped my jig down and on the first jerk I felt a tug. I thought another hangup. But this one pulled back. After a small fight I hauled in a 7 lb 8oz 28" hog. Biggest one I have ever caught.

Also brought off the bottom was a wad of wire and a plastic bag. All in all a nice day to fish and I left the river cleaner than when I arrived.

I do have pic's and will post as soon as I can figure how to do it.

[Fried Fillets]

Mike, sounds like a decent day, weather sure was nice. Did you have any floating oil in the area that you were fishing?

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Saw a very small amount of sheen on the water every so often. Not enough to notice on the boat or motor. No scum line or anything.

[jacondie]

Thanks for the catching report Walleye Mike, should have read this before my previous post. (Seems like we're connecting in too many different threads.) Hopefully I can have similar luck tomorrow and over the weekend. Will post results when we return. TIGHT LINES!

[knockoff64]

Good job Mike.

Couldn't have picked a nicer day! And some fish to boot!

Let's see that big one.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Forgot to add: I was using a jig with 4" plastic minnow with a stinger hook and added a small yellow curly tail for added color. My partner was using a walleye minnow--no hits.

Water temps were 42-43 degr. Water clairity was about 2ft. kinda dingy and dirty.

Both fish were on the stinger hooks.

Can anyone help with posting a picture.I have a digtal pic on my puter.

[STEINFISHSKI]

Good job Mike. Hope to get over that way in a week or so.

[Shoeman]

Good to see you had some action. Those walleye can be caught the entire length of the river, maybe not to the degree of Trenton, but there's fish. I never did care for the zoo down there.

We used to get them in the St Clair River as well. Too bad about the oil spill. It really doesn't surprise me. Makes you wonder what else is dumped, but never discovered.

As far as pictures, Steve temporarily closed the Photo site to new accounts. If you care to email them to me, I'll post them for ya.

Shoemanrs@cs.com

[Shoeman]

Nice fish, Mike

Excellent colors

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/user_gallery/Shoeman2/Mike.jpg

[BigDaddy]

Great catch Mike! Sure hope they can get things cleaned up. Great point Shoeman I too wonder what else gets dumped into in all the lakes we have. :D :mad:

[FischInMich]

Dandy Mike! Probably heading out Sunday, but likely to stay north of the Rouge to avoid hampering cleanup efforts......

Cross the Rouge River every day at work on a low bridge.....saw two large slicks there today. :( That was between Jefferson and I-75. Sure would like to get my hands on the S.O.B. responsible for this one!

[treehunter2]

nice fish there MIKE, we will be down there sun am channel 7 on the radio give us a call if your in the area,see everybody on the river

[WALLEYE MIKE]

I'm staying away from there on the weekend. It's probably a zoo.
I do most of my fishing during the week when I can. Might try again next week one day.

Fischman, I saw no cleanup efforts while I was out there. I really did not see any evidence of oil except some on the shore at Elizabeth park and then if you didnot know about it I would have missed it. Did not even have to clean the boat.

[knockoff64]

Thats my wifes line:eek: .

She won't even take a picture if I'm not smiling.

[northern_outdoorsman]

Is that an Oil Slick on that Fish's Back??? :D

Great Fish Mike! A MS Hat too! Cool!:cool: