Too Early to think about Spring?

[BAMBAM]

As I posted earlier, I am new to the area. I am fired up about trying the Detroit River for the Spring Walleye run. I don't have things like wire reels (and they are not in this year's budget!)...just standard tackle and a 19 ft aluminum boat. If you were advising a novice like me, how would you recommend starting out? Verical Jigging? Trolling? casting? When, which baits? Any difference between Canada side vs. Mich side? Where would you launch? If using live bait... a favorite bait shop? If using minnows...what size/type?

Thanks!

[donyar]

On the Detroit river 95% of the fishermen either handline or vertical jigging. I like to jig myself. I would say that the biggest majority of the people drift and jig. Slipping with the current keeping the jig as vertical as possible using your electric motor.AAs for places to start you can't beat fishing at Wyandotte around Mud island and down in the trenton channel at Elizabeth park, down from the river.The best time is from april 1 onto the end of the month,give or take a week.It depends on the weather.E-mail me if you want more info. I hope this helps.

[jimbos43]

Bambam, what Mr. Donyar said is dead on true, but he neglected one thing, BRING LOTS OF JIGS!!!

[BAMBAM]

What size jigs? Color? Twister tail or hair or something else?
I assume you use Minnows?

[jimbos43]

Weight is going to be up to you. Depends on the wind and how well you can keep your boat under control. Lighter the better, but you must keep your line verticle or your snagged and you'll never feel it. 1/4,3/8,1/2 and I guess some use 5/8. All of the popular colors. chartruese,orange,white,what not. tails in assorted colors and sizes. May want to check out Cabela's and order some of this stuff in bulk. Save a few bucks. Follow the boats,most of them fish the mainland side of the river, but if you line up the center spans of the free bridge, with the stacks of Great Lakes steel there's a hump running right down the center of the river that is very productive. You have to watch your graph. Then a little later in the season, down by Gibralter along the homes there, there's some incredible structure that will hold some hogs. The water warms up a little later there. Oh yeah, if the walleyes aren't biting, try over by the cross dike for pike. It's incredible.

[This message has been edited by jimbos43 (edited 01-12-2001).]

[docudude]

jimbos43 has it right. The only thing we do differently is use only the jighead (no body) tipped with a big fat minnow. Without the body seems to have less resistance in the water and makes keeping your jig vertical a lot easier. Been fishing there for 10 years and this seems to produce more fish than the traditional jig-and-body setup.The other necessity is stinger hooks, they have landed me many an 'eye that I would never have had the chance to catch without 'em.

[BAMBAM]

Okay. I bought some bigger jigs at Cabela this weekend. Did not melt the plastic on the credit card too bad.....

Is there a minnow preference? Shiners, fatheads... what size?

Thanks

[jimbos43]

Never tried it without the twister tails, makes sense about the river drag. Will try it this spring. Stingers I know will produce more fish, but the only thing I produced was more snags with them. Dang, you guys got me peeing my pants for spring. Can't wait.

[donyar]

Bam-Bam on the river most of the fisherman use either blue or emerald shiners in the 3 to 4 inch range. Last year some of the bait shops along the river only had spot tail minnows these do not as well as the shiners. You might want to ask around or call in advance to see what kind of minnows that they have before you go that way know which shop to stop at. Here is a few numbers that might be helpful.

wyandotte Boat Ramp 313-282-1180 (seasonal)
Lighthouse Bait&tackle 313-675-7080 Trenton
Bottom Line Bait & Tackle 734-379-9762

[Hook N. Sinker]

Funny thing, people were telling me about getting Canadian fishing licenses because the walleye were there. Then one day in a tackle shop I meet this Canadian guy who is buying a Michigan fishing license. He says the walleye are on the US side.

I catch a lot of walleye with worms worked along the bottom. Smallmouth bass like worms also and live in the same places so expect to catch lots of smallmouth bass also.

[BAMBAM]

Is everywhere along the river good (on the Michigan side)? It stands to reason that if the walleyes are "migrating" then they should be most everywhere.