Atlantics at the Soo

[Ralph Smith]

Just looking for info on the Atlantics. Plan on making a trip, and never targeted them. I've fished the Soo for years between Sugar I. and power plant, (mainly from shore by plant) but its been in fall for Pinks and Kings. Would like to try for some silver bullets. I heard you troll shallower than for kings? Any info would be appreciated, on depths to target and baits. I just have a 14' boat, and would be long lining or using boards or dipsy's. Thanks alot, from what I've saw on hear, July is the time ? Pm's excepted for specifics

[driften]

I have done real well using a hook or anchor to secure the boat to the seawall behind the power dam and dead drifting nymphs about ten feet down. I've caught Atlantics, trout, and Whitefish using this method. Here's a cool site to check out, it's the fishcam behind the dam. http://www.lssu.edu/arl/fishcam.php

[coastguardhunter]

I've been getting them on spoons right about sunrise.

[Ralph Smith]

Originally Posted by coastguardhunter

I've been getting them on spoons right about sunrise.

You trolling or casting from rail by powerhouse? If trolling what kind of depth is best to target, top half of water colum?

Originally Posted by driften

I have done real well using a hook or anchor to secure the boat to the seawall behind the power dam and dead drifting nymphs about ten feet down. I've caught Atlantics, trout, and Whitefish using this method. Here's a cool site to check out, it's the fishcam behind the dam. http://www.lssu.edu/arl/fishcam.php

I've had a hook I made about 10 years ago that I use for the pinks around labor day, but never tried any other time of year up there for anything. How much weight do you use to keep a nymph down at that depth? I've saw guys anchor to power house and lower their downriggers down and run out spoons/body baits in fall, would that work with fly's? Any rigging methods would be great.

[dinoday]

PM sent

[driften]

Originally Posted by Ralph Smith

I've had a hook I made about 10 years ago that I use for the pinks around labor day, but never tried any other time of year up there for anything. How much weight do you use to keep a nymph down at that depth? I've saw guys anchor to power house and lower their downriggers down and run out spoons/body baits in fall, would that work with fly's? Any rigging methods would be great.

Use the longest rod you've got, and strip out or cast enough line to do a classic quartering upstream cast, following the drift of the fly with your rod. A few splitshot will get you down. You will hook up with Atlantics, the bonus will be the trout and Whitefish.

[uptracker]

I was gonna stay outta this, but.... use a flyrod with about 15' of your choice of line as the leader/tippet (keep flyline or running line outta the water, but you'll need something as backing etc obviously). Tie a really good granny knot at the end and attach a 1/4 - 1/2 oz. rubber core sinker so that the knot acts as a stopper should it loosen up. (you could also use an egg sinker and use tiny splitshot above and below it as a stopper) Next, go up your line about a foot and tie a dropper line off that's about 10" off the "mainline". Go up another foot and do the same. In the end it'll sort of look like a perch rig. Attach nymphs of your choice to the dropper lines. Hook up to the house and let out about 12' of line. Fling it right up under the arch and let it drift past you. You may feel it tink bottom once in a while, but I'd rather not, so just reel up a bit if you do. Once it's at the very end of the drift and has come towards the surface, hold it there for 20 seconds.

Nymphs that resemble shad flies are best. A lot of the goofy "house" (powerhouse) flies with copper beads etc. are a hoax.

[pck]

Is it possible to row up to the powerhouse from the boat landing or is a motor required to get there?

Paul

[dinoday]

Originally Posted by pck

Is it possible to row up to the powerhouse from the boat landing or is a motor required to get there?

Paul

I wouldn't try it,the current is very strong and the wake from the freighters is worse

[uptracker]

For the most part, the power canal has been really slow and the turbines have been shut down....so it may be possible but still a bear to do. It's been like this since last fall due to Lake Superior water levels being so low. Beware though, they do kick it up once in a while for an hour or two.

[Whit1]

Guys, take some care with posting information about specific spots in any river as per the site's policy. Please send PMs rather than posting specifics about areas to fish.......tactics and results are fine and ENCOURAGED!

[lang49]

Originally Posted by Whit1

Guys, take some care with posting information about specific spots in any river as per the site's policy. Please send PMs rather than posting specifics about areas to fish.......tactics and results are fine and ENCOURAGED!

Per Steve's Introduction to this forum:
Some river stretches, such as the Grand R. below 6th St. Dam, The Big Manistee below Tippy Dam, Homestead Dam on the Betsie, and Foote Dam on the Au Sable are so well known or in areas of concentrated population that they will see crowds no matter what is posted on the 'net about them. Mentioning this information in a fishing report is no great sin.

Does the powerhouse qualify as one such landmark or not?

Thanks,
Andrew

[Whit1]

Originally Posted by lang49

Does the powerhouse qualify as one such landmark or not?

Yes!

[itchn2fish]

Originally Posted by Whit1

Yes!

Would that qualify? Thanks

[Whit1]

Originally Posted by itchn2fish

Would that qualify?

If memory serves me correcting I believe I said "Yes".