Visiting the St. Joe river for the 1st time

[westbay]

I will be in the Benton Harbor/ St. Joe area every week for the next 2 months on business. Thought I'd throw my "stuff" in the truck and take some time after work to fish the river since I'll be so close to a river I've heard so much about, but never fished. :D I plan on pulling the boat over one week also for some big water action. Problem is I don't know my way around the area yet. :help: Anyone have some tips to a newbie to the area as to where to start on the river, where's the best tackle shop for info, best place to launch for big lake fishing, etc.
I usually fish the Big Man, PM and big water out of Manistee as well as ports close to home like Port Austin and Oscoda as well as the Rifle.

I'm staying at the Holiday Inn Express on the lake in St. Joe's. Thanks in advance. :)

[JohnH]

The stretch from the mouth of the river to Berrien Springs Dam can be fun and expensive unless you have a jet outdrive. Water depth from the mouth till past the DNR ramp is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. Plenty of water, stay in between the bouys. Some guys troll from the mouth to the concrete bridge.

Further inland past the DNR ramp (no more bouys), hug the east bank till you get past Pier 1000 marina. Once you go under the bridge work either bank for eyes or drift spawn. Your good till you get to the bridge where the 94 overpass is at. Once you pass under that bridge, your on your own unless you can read river currents well and understand where the cuts are. There's an "S" curve that is near another ramp and city park that's a favorite for eye's.

Jig with minnows or drift with crawlers for eye's.

If the lake is calm, I'd go there first.

Two major bait store are Tackle Haven and The tackle Box or Fishin hole or something like that.

Good luck.

[Z202]

You can wade/ shore fish the damn just south of Berrien Springs.
The West side by the fish ladder would probably be preferred. Note I said fish ladder. They aren't as thick as they used to be here because of the ladder. Good Luck

Saw one surface in that area last Saturday in about 30 min time.

[ZobZob]

If you want to save some tackle, hit the pier. I've had good days out there and I've also had just as many skunks... You never know how you'll end up. Early morning is usually the best.

Good luck.

Zob

[Steven Arend]

If you are going to be here in town in the month of November you might want to think about getting in on the river outing.

St. Joe River Outing (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=76528&page=1&pp=15)

This is a group of good guy that know the River (and lake) and how to fish it.

Steve