BB's & crawler harnesses for SCR?

[drag44]

Hi guys,
I've fished the St. Clair River several times now but have only had success with "whipping". I sure would like to try something different. I think it would be more fun to catch some of those 'eyes useing a lighter rod and reel.
I'd like to try crawler harnesses but don't know where to start. Leader length, size, floating or sinking, amount of weight, depths to target, preferable angle when drifting.
I have a smaller boat so I only go out at night when the waters calm. Is this method effective at night? I have a bowmount trolling motor to speed up my drift if nessesary. I usually put in at the Marysville launch and head up river. Any info would be greatly appreciated!..........Good fishing.

[scottyhoover]

I'm not an expert but I did just do some drifting at the mouth in pt. huron last week. I had no idea what to expect but to me it was more like trolling than drifting.....we had a north wind, a south wind really screws the drift up I've heard.

We fished from 8pm to 2am. So yes drifting harnesses does work at night, and that seems to be when the everyone comes out in boats to fish the mouth. It gets mighty crowded out there sometimes.

Anyway I just used regular harnesses I tie up on my own, silver seemed to be the hot color of the night. I use a 3-4ft leader on the harness. At least an ounce of lead is needed to get the bait down there.....I think some people use as much as 2oz, I was using 1oz and hooked a few fish. If you don't snag bottom a few times you aren't fishing deep enough is my motto. No floaters were required....you could put them on your harness but I don't think it matters. Bottom bouncer sinkers will work too...but since you are going to lose a few I just use the cheaper pencil sinkers.

Motor up north of the green can and then set your self so that you drift almost right at it. Drift down a little past the green and then motor up and do it all over again. You'll see a million boats doing it, just go where they go, and watch out! There were people out there in smaller boats too, mostly handliners. I lost the biggest walleye of my life out there that night....bummer.

[IT pimp 2002]

Hoov had it right. It will usually take 2 oz to get it down to the bottom, less line out is better to set hooks/feel bites. The cheap method is better as you will snag up and if you dont, your not deep enough. I may try this on Friday night, look for a blue Lund Tyee.

[keducation]

I drifted the river for many years from Marysville down to St Clair
with great success. We went early in the morning before traffic.
Generally, things would be done by about 11:00am.
We used 3 way drops with crawler harness. 2oz. sinker was
necessary to get vertical. I would use a 4 ft harness with a
2 ft sinker drop. Get vertical as possible, find the bottom and
then come up about 2 to 3 feet to try and avoid snags. Snags
are not completely avoidable, you will loose gear- both sinkers
and harnesses. Be prepared to change quickly or have another
pole ready. The advantage of drifting is peacefulness - it's quiet.
The second advantage is saving outboard gas - but you do have
to run up reapeatedly depending on how far you want to drift.
We generally caught larger walleye in the river back then but
I do not find that to be the case today...the lake has many large
eyes today.

[drag44]

Thanks for the info. guys! I went out Tues. night from Marysville and made a few drifts from Lincoln Park to just south of the Edison plant. Picked up a nice one ( 25.25") right away on a firetiger hatchet blade w/orange beads. I thought I was gonna slay 'em but the next fish did'nt come till about 3hrs. later, and it was a big catfish. What a fight! I managed one more "eye" (23") just as the sun came up. All in all I had a blast. Thanks again!

[Ed Michrina]

Hoover were your in your- new and improved boat. If so how did the improvements work out?

[scottyhoover]

Negative Ed....I'm chicken to take that little 14 footer on water that large.