St Mary's River

[Moonlighting]

Just got back from the annual trip to the St. Mary's River. We fish the north channel around St. Joe Island. We fished seven days, and targeted pike. We mainly troll with body baits around the weeds and rocks in 5 to 15 fow. The group took Two steelhead, four kings, two largemouth, several smallmouth, one bullhead, a couple perch, one coho, about ten walleye, and lots of pike. Biggest fish of the week was 38" 12.5# northern. Best baits of the week were Heddon tadpollys, countdown, and jointed rapallas, beleivers, and super shad raps. Fish were also taken on wiggle warts and hot'n tots. The water was warmer than usual, 66 f. It was obvious from the locals that the eyes were still in. What a great fishery the St. mary's is.

[silverbullet]

Something smells fishy here.............I've fished the St. Mary's for 25 years. I have yet to catch, see caught or see pictures of, or even hear of a largemouth caught in the St. Mary's until now. AND, that seems like one heck of a successful fishing trip for trolling body baits near St. Joe's (Canadian water by the way). Sorry, don't mean to call your bluff but..........I'm calling your bluff. I'd love to see pics of those fish..........get any? Maybe they were smallmouth, just big ones? Don't get angry, Moonlighting, it just seems like a phenomenal day on that river, especially catching perch on body baits...........and then bragging about it on a sight that gets as many hits as it does. Hard to believe, sorry.

[Moonlighting]

Hey Bullitt, read the report. It was not one day, it was Seven. Seven boats, 16 fishermen. We have fished the same waters since 1981. We are quite aware that it is in Canada, but thanks for reminding us. We fish primarily between Hilton beach and Richards landing all around Camp D'jours island, The mouth of the Desbarretts river and lots of unnammed weedy bays and channells. The large mouth were taken near Richard's landing and off Sugar Island. We were very surprized by the bass as well as the bullhead. We get a few perch trolling every year. I even get them in Erie from time to time with Hot 'n tots on the boards. Maybe you should buy a Canadian licence and try it around St. Joe. We go the Third week of September Every year. We will show you the hot spots. No charge for the guide service. We stay in the same cabins on Gawas Bay every year. We catch a like of Pike every year. Other than the largemouth and the bullhead nothing surprizes us up there. Water temp has never been above 61f the week we go, this year it was 66f to 68f. We even got a 6# walleye in 10 fow in the weeds. on an green and yellow jointed beleiver, the musky size about 10". There were loads of baitfish in the water and fish were feeding hard. Several of the pike we cleaned had belly's full of perch.

[silverbullet]

I really don't want to get in a standoff since this is a family sporting site....however, number one, if you wanted the fishing to stay the way it is.......as incredible as you claim it is.....then you'll stop bragging about it on this site. Number two. I've fished the entire river........I mean the entire river. We mainly target big predators but have fished for everything in the river that will bite a hook through four seasons and 25 years..........I've yet to see a largemouth. Thats not to say that they could never be there but you'd think I would have caught one or seen one caught. Just to humor me....did you get pics? If I caught a largemouth in that river I would have taken pics because no one would believe me. The river has suprised me many times but all in all the fishing in this cold, nutrient poor water is not world class but it is scenic. Naming places on the map does not provide me enough proof of what you claim to be true. But, then again, you have nothing to prove to me. I am still a doubter. Big time. Remember, modesty is the best policy.....especially when your an internet fisherman. Sorry moonlighting I hope the moderator closes this thread because I'm done with it.

[Fish Factor]

Moonlighting Thanks for the report, sounds like you had a fantastic week of fishing. I've never fished the St Mary's but have had friends that have with good success.

[tkpolasek]

Nice report Moonlighting, keep them coming. We are all here to help each other with these reports and we enjoy reading them. I have fished the St. Marys for walleye and it is a great fishery up there.

Great Job,
Tim

P.S. Moderator please don't close this thread all my friends heading up there may want to see it.

[Moonlighting]

Nutient poor? you have never fished the north channel around St Joe if you say that. It is solid weeds in many spots, lots of places with no current. You apearently have never fished the mouth of the Desbarrets river or the Barr river either. Why would I care if a few fishermen went up there to fish? Like my report is going to influnce enough people to drive 7 hours north get a Canadian licence and risk sinking there boat on all the rocks and take enough fish so it affects my fishing there in twelve months. Why would any one photo a two pound bass? Unless he is a bass fisherman? To our group bass are somewhat of a nuicence, you see we fish for good tasting fish. We actually eat our catch. I have several photo's of the pike, salmon, and walleye. I can also provide you with sighned affidavits from at least a dozen fishermen that we did get two largemouth and we do indeed catch a few perch trolling 3.5 mph with Rapala countdowns every year. Have you ever cought a sturgeon? How about a pinook(chink) ? Yes moron pinks and Chinook have cross bred check with the DNR. A round eye goby? An Atlantic Salmon? A whitefish, a redhorse sucker? A garpike? All of these fish live in that River, just because you have never cought one doe's not mean that I am bragging or lying. Like I said before if you need a guide or some fishing lessons Third week of September, every year since 1981. Maybe you are not holding your mouth right.

[silverbullet]

Resorting to name calling over a polite disagreement, as well as your inability to spell, only shows your lack of intelligence.........or maybe your age? Hmmmmmmmm..........I'm beginning to doubt whether you'd be able to distinquish a smallmouth from a largemouth anyway so I'm probably just beating a dead horse. I hope you don't represent the average fisherman from Saline..........and I hope you stay there.

[Moonlighting]

Hey Silver Bull*hit you started it by Calling me a liar. I would be willing to bet you don't even own a boat. Well have you ever taken any of the fish I mentioned? Does this mean they do not exsist in the St. Mary's? How about lake trout? Do they spend any time in the North channel? How about Mackinaw lake trout ? There are two different families in the upper great lakes, but of course a fish expert like yourself already knew that. Would you like to know where the hole is in the Narrows that the locals stack em up through the Ice? How about the sunken Island off Jerimiah point? need GPS #'s for that one? Great place for big pike. You said you have fished every Inch of that river, Ha I will bet you have never even purchaced a Canadian licence. Every time you write you sound more like a TV fisherman, nutrient poor what kind of Roland Martin crap is that. It is true I do not spell or type well, but any time you got a couple hundred you wanna loose we will fish for cash. That is, if you even have any tackle. Better stick to nascar or something you can do entirely by watching TV. And by the way, I thought you said in your last entry you were done with this post? Wanna learn anything about perch fishing will be off stoney point with my son Saturday, (that's in Lake Erie for all you non experts). I will stay in Saline, because I can afford it a*shol*.

[hypox]

Hey Moonlighting...

Don't let him get under your skin. I believe every word you said. I was up there fishing in a Canadian stream a few weeks ago and caught more pinks and kings than I ever have. I also caught a pinook. (I thought I was a giant pink till someone told me the differance.) All I know is that the St. mary's river system seems to be one of the best spots to fish in michigan and I believe it can support any fish we have.....Now if you'd like to share a little more about the hole that the locals tear them up ice fishing...lol :D :D

[knockoff64]

Mike, it's good to hear you did well on your trip! How have you been? Are you still in your seasonal? Maybe we can fish the AuSable or a couple of "quiet" spots I know over there.

Don't let one jerk get to you, some people have nothing better to do than start crap with people they don't know, and never have any intention of meeting face to face. It's easy to hide behind a keyboard and be a know it all.

Wheres that Perch report?

Silverbullet, get a life man! Where are all the pictures of the fish you catch? Nice profile too!

[IT pimp 2002]

Nice job on the trip and all the species you got.
Clearly this guy has a wild hair and is unhappy. just ingnore him.
All he needs to do is read his own post and if he's any kinda human he will see he's over the edge with????? Cabin Fever
Fish Envy???
Not,- he's just craby.

The pimp!

PS Just ran an add in the New York Times on this location!

[silverbullet]

Internet fisherman. That's all. All you have in Auburn Hills and Saline are PCB's in ditches your kids play in. You are tourists and vacationers who think you are in Mexico once you cross the bridge. And..........there aren't any largemouth bass in the St. Mary's. None. Nadda. Zip.

[ESOX]

Silverbullet,
I don't where in the St. Marys you have fished, or what your intentions are attacking a credible report. I have caught a few Largemouths in Munuscong Bay. I guess that I must be mistaken too.... maybe they were Sheepshead. A review of your posts has prompted a few PM's and phone calls. We are keeping an eye on you. Please make an attempt to be a bit more civil.
Moonlighting,
Thanks for the report, keep them coming.

[Downrod]

Moonlighting

Good report

Silver bullet
I don't understand the need to attack this report or the areas that these guys are from but you sound like a real jerk to me and I hope you are swiftly booted from this site

[Shoeman]

http://riverviewresortandmarina.com/fishing.htm

[Fishbomb]

Grew up on Hubbard Lake, used to fish everyday for perch, pike and smallmouths, no wallyeyes in the lake then. One summer day my dad caught a 3 lb largemouth trolling for pike. He still has the picture. The only one we ever caught or heard of being caught. Was fishing over at Lake Orion a couple years ago and a DNR survey crew was coming off the water. They had nets all over the lake and were looking for recruitment returns on walleyes they had stocked in there. They said they found tons of largemouths, bluegills, pike, etc, even a few walleyes and ONE 18" smallmouth. I know several guys who grew up on Lake Orion and they would all agree there are no smallmouths in that lake but there was at least one. Bucket stocking? Anythings possible.

[FREEPOP]

Hey Shoeman, kinda like saying "Put that in your pipe and smoke it!" ;) :D

[northern_outdoorsman]

Silverbullet..we kind of have a silent agreement here that if something gets out of hand between two members you move it from the Public forum to Private e-mails or PM's... Just remember Steve can go into the PM's if someone says a person was being Nasty in them...I don't like the way you just Jumped all over Moonlighting, in my opinion that was uncalled for.

Moonlighting, sounds like you had an EXCELLENT Fishing adventure! Good for you!:D That is what fishing is all about!:D

[Shoeman]

:D Need a light???????

[jimbos43]

Awwww, what do all you guys know. Your all from downstate and you let your kids swim(or dogs) in PCB laden rivers.:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Downrod]

Nicely done Ralf

Some people Geeeez

[Moonlighting]

Lexington Sunday, (WEATHER PERMITTING)be there with your $ we will see who is the Internet fisherman. I HAVE READ YOUR REPORTS, YOU SOUND LIKE A SLIDE RULING, PIPE SMOKING BOOKWORM THAT THINKS ANY ONE WITHOUT A FLY ROD IS NOT A FISHERMAN. THE TRADITION OF FISHING STARTED AS A NEED FOR FOOD, AND WE PRODLY CONTINUE IT. WE DO NOT SPEND ALL WINTER TYING THE PERFECT WOLLIE BUGGER TO LASH ONTO OUR G. LOOMIS JUST TO LOOSE A 16 OZ. TROUT ON A BARBLESS HOOK.WE FISH FOR MEAT AND ARE SUCCESSFULL. STICK TO YOUR STREAMS, NO WAY YOU COULD EVER FIND YOUR WAY BACK TO PORT OUT IN THE BLUE WATER.