Just got back from two and a half days on the St. Mary's river, fishing for Atlantics. We got a big surprise on our way up at Alpena, checking out 9th st. dam. We were on the rocks up at the dam, seen some decent smallies, so we said screw it, let's hook a couple, we weren't in a big hurry. We were there for about 15 minutes throwing jigs, when my buddy puts on a small spinner, gets off the rocks, and starts throwing downstream a bit. His first cast, his rod buckles, and he sets. I'm thinking, cool a nice bass. Then I see a fish snaking upto the surface, so I'm thinking must be a late steelhead, WRONG! The fish comes in near the rocks, which I'm still standing on, and to my surprise, a tinted KING about 12lbs glides into view, the spinner wedged right in the corner. She then swims back out, my buddy pulls her back then she shakes, and spits it right at my feet! We were in shock, we couldn't believe what just happened, crazy! After that it was on to the Soo! River was low, and they weren't kicking out much flow. But this was my first time, so I wasn't complaining. The Atlantics are hit or miss, they're there, but the locals all said it's still a bit early, and there's alot to come. Just after first light to about 10am was best, and the fish were chasing very small, 1-1.5" brown colored little fish, as well as bugs. Since there wasn't much current near the wall, I mainly cast spoons. A 1/2oz, pearl Krocodile was my best bait, but I had action on anything pearly. I landed three fish, and had 8 others either follow, or slash and miss my spoons. I also landed a nice little rainbow around 15" or so on, surprsingly, a #5 rainbow vibrax. The boat guys off the wall didn't seem to be doing a whole lot, but they were getting whities and salmon here and there. The tribal snagging wasn't too bad, though fish did bear the scars of it, and alot of them had lamprey's attached, one of which I disposed of. All in all it was a fun trip, and a success for being my first time.
Here's my first fish of the trip, on the 1/2oz Kroc.
Here's the bow that whacked a big spinner!
A shot of the plant at sunset.
And here's my catch, fresh Atlantic salmon!
St. Marys river report, and Alpena SHOCKER!
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