Alpena fishing

[Rifleman99]

I'm looking to do some fishing by our cabin in Alpena. I have been down to the ninth st dam a few times and wanted to get some advise on how to fish there (plus, i'm new to the river fishing scene). Last time I was up I stopped at the local shop right by the river and picked some hardware (10 ft rod/reel, etc) My questions are on what should I rig up (casting spoons, or spawn bags, but I have never tried to fish with spawn before)? The last time I was out the river it was very snaggy. Some tips on technique or anything else would be greatly appreciated :chillin:.
And lastly, do they have a pier you can fish off of into the big lake??

Also, is there anything running in the last few weeks of Sept??

Thanks in advance

[West Side AK]

I'm looking to do some fishing by our cabin in Alpena. I have been down to the ninth st dam a few times and wanted to get some advise on how to fish there (plus, i'm new to the river fishing scene). Last time I was up I stopped at the local shop right by the river and picked some hardware (10 ft rod/reel, etc) My questions are on what should I rig up (casting spoons, or spawn bags, but I have never tried to fish with spawn before)? The last time I was out the river it was very snaggy. Some tips on technique or anything else would be greatly appreciated :chillin:.
And lastly, do they have a pier you can fish off of into the big lake??

Also, is there anything running in the last few weeks of Sept??

Thanks in advance

Hey, Clems is usually very helpful on fish in the river (been going there since I could walk)... Lately I havn't had much luck... Mainly channel cats and rockbass (non-stop action from that new bridge they built). I used to do well a few years back drifting spawn but I havn't caught a salmon in or around alpena in a few years... My suggestion is to make friends w/ somone that works at the cement plant and fish the boat slips!

[Kearly Shuffle]

I'm looking to do some fishing by our cabin in Alpena. I have been down to the ninth st dam a few times and wanted to get some advise on how to fish there (plus, i'm new to the river fishing scene). Last time I was up I stopped at the local shop right by the river and picked some hardware (10 ft rod/reel, etc) My questions are on what should I rig up (casting spoons, or spawn bags, but I have never tried to fish with spawn before)? The last time I was out the river it was very snaggy. Some tips on technique or anything else would be greatly appreciated :chillin:.
And lastly, do they have a pier you can fish off of into the big lake??

Also, is there anything running in the last few weeks of Sept??

Thanks in advance

I'm originally from Alpena, and used to fish below the dam all the time for salmon and steelhead. I moved down to SW Michigan in '97, so I was up there for the "hay days" still. The fishing has changed. A LOT! The water has been lower, there are not as many fish...That river is a snag heaven! Rebar, rocks, bikes, you name it...It's in there. My suggestion if your going to try it...As the previous poster mentioned, talk to the guys at Clem's. Then go observe for an hour or two. If you can find someone willing to talk, ask a few questions. But just don't jump in and start whipping around equipment. You have to time your drifts, use the right amount of weight depending on the amount of water coming through the dam at that time...There are a lot of factors you will want to have correct 'cause I'm sure things haven't changed and the locals get pretty touchy if you jump in and start casting over lines. Good luck! Let me know how you do. I have friends up there that I may be able to get you in contact with. They fish the dam. But not so much in the fall as in the spring for the steel.

[West Side AK]

Also, According to http://www.bucksbait.com/ fishing has been FANTASTIC! all year! His reports usually keep me entertained while i'm stuck down here in Detroit for school...

[Burksee]

Hey RM99, I was just up that way last to our camp last weekend, Didnt get a chance to fish but did hear a lot of good things going on at Long & Grand Lakes. Bass, Perch and a few Walleye! Salmon fishing by the 9th street dam can be a zoo as soon as word get out there's any fish in. The structure has changed a lot since they re-did the bridge and walkway behind Clem's. Casting spoons at Rockport might be a more viable alternative, its closer to the Hide-A-Way than 9th street dam too! :)

[Rifleman99]

Hey RM99, I was just up that way last to our camp last weekend, Didnt get a chance to fish but did hear a lot of good things going on at Long & Grand Lakes. Bass, Perch and a few Walleye! Salmon fishing by the 9th street dam can be a zoo as soon as word get out there's any fish in. The structure has changed a lot since they re-did the bridge and walkway behind Clem's. Casting spoons at Rockport might be a more viable alternative, its closer to the Hide-A-Way than 9th street dam too! :)


Where exactly is Rockport at???

[Burksee]

Where exactly is Rockport at???See here on Buck's Bait website: http://www.bucksbait.com/contact.htm