I was in Alpena a couple weeks ago, and saw quite a few Kings jumping, and rolling below 9th St dam. I also saw some really large hens spawning, watching off the bridge. Probably 20# fish, before their tails turned white. It was good to see Kings there, again. I talked to a local guy I used to know, and he said a handful of Cohos had been caught to-date, and there were some Atlantics around. But not large numbers of either. This is the year the planted Cohos should be returning in force. Perhaps the run is happening now, or yet to come. It would be sad if there wasn't a noticeable return from the plant they made a couple years ago.
The water was super-high, compared to what we got used to after 2000. I considered taking my motorized river boat up there, to fish the dead water in front of the flood gates. But it was a long drive from our cabin, and I wasn't really interested in fighting Boot Kings. Where we used to wade up, is probably at least 5 feet deep, right now. The high water should be fantastic for spring Walleye spawning, and hatching.
Sorry, the Kings I saw where in Alpena, in the Thunder Bay River. Likely some strays from the plants @ Rogers City/Swan Creek. But probably some naturally spawned fish, too.
No clips on salmon in classroom is what biologists told me that was couple years ago when I found ad clip hen king dead. Also said no clipped salmon stocked in Clinton. Now I don’t think last year’s salmon in classroom actually made it in river. Also hard to find numbers as they’ve increased. 2018 was around couple thousand, the most ever raised in local classrooms. Judging by the photo’s in articles different locations were used.
Although the mass marking program for steelhead and salmon was largely first focused on king salmon with all stocked kings being clipped that has changed some. With a lot more info gained on chinooks in Great Lakes the program is heavily focused on steelhead and not clipping all kings but quite a few.
I like #3 or #4 blue fox, and they are the best spinners (Panther martins second). There are more accomplished steelhead anglers than me though, to say the least, so I'd like to hear from them as well!
Metro west Steelheaders sponsors a handful of salmon in the classroom programs. I forget the exact count, but we had 4-5 schools each raise and release 100-150 each in 2018. Little less in 2017 and 2019 from memory. 2020 of course was a bit more of a bust but a smaller number was still released. None of the salmon in the classroom are clipped. There are at least a couple other classrooms that we don’t sponsor that release in the Clinton as well. I’m not privy to their counts but they also wouldn’t be clipped.
I've only used spinners out west in Idaho and Oregon. You can catch'm on pretty much any size, but #3 & #4s will match well to the Clinton's currents and eddy lines well. My experience is that any spinner brand works. I'll try a few different spinners today after I crank for a while.
Good day on the water despite conditions. Met a fella using spawn bags and he said it was slow, so I downsized everything before I started.#2s were the ticket; #3s woulda prolly worked too, but I didn't get any lunkers today. #4s gotta burn too fast for the slow bite. Mebbe when it picks up they'll work.
I only had a couple bites, so I can't say what colors or brands really worked.
Got on the river yesterday for 30 minutes after cleaning all the leaves at my fathers house. Spoke to some guys and they mentioned someone pulled one out earlier yesterday at Yates. Looks like they’re starting to trickle in. This snow/cold should move things around, and hopefully not just the leaves [emoji102]
So let me ask y'all this. On a river that's difficult like the Clinton, are you guys sight fishing and / or spotting the steelhead and trout, or blinding fishing the holes, pools, runs, etc? Do you guys actually see trout or steelhead in the river before you cast to them?
I've always basically fished "blind" but not sure if I'm wasting my time and if I should try spotting the trout / steelhead before casting to them, or just fishing the deep, dark spots.
So let me ask y'all this. On a river that's difficult like the Clinton, are you guys sight fishing and / or spotting the steelhead and trout, or blinding fishing the holes, pools, runs, etc? Do you guys actually see trout or steelhead in the river before you cast to them?
I've always basically fished "blind" but not sure if I'm wasting my time and if I should try spotting the trout / steelhead before casting to them, or just fishing the deep, dark spots.
I've sight fished them on light tackle on a few occasions but I usually look for the deeper and darker pools. Most of the time when I see one, it's cruising to another hole somewhere. The Clinton isn't a river you want to devote too much time to a single hole. If you don't hook up within 5 or 10 casts, move on to the next.
I've never seen a steelhead before I make a cast. If an area looks fishy I fish it. Clinton is tough. I heard someone say on here before that it takes 40 hours of fishing to get a bite.
Plus bites do come easier once you familiarize yourself with the river. There are some holes that can be more consistent than others. If you fish the Clinton only a handful of times, you're going to be disappointed, but if you put the time in, it gets more enjoyable.
If you are new to the river demonstrating patience is critical. There are steelhead in there but it requires work and time. Stick and move is the way but also be confident that you have "covered" the area before moving
Update: went to Dodge park with my dad on Monday afternoon for a few hours. Didn’t see anything except a bunch of leaves. Water was crystal clear and weather is beautiful. But no fish
Hi all. I've only fished the Clinton once, and it was really to learn how to cast my switch rod since you really need moving water to properly make a spey cast.
Just wondering if I'm wasting my time using flies on the Clinton. I do better on the Huron with plugs, but wanted to give flies a try. I have heard people like floating / pinning, but wasn't sure if people were using spawn bags or drifting flies with those setups. I've never tried pinning, but borrowed a buddy's setup and wanted to try it out and practice it, and figured the Clinton would be a decent place to try it out. Never had a ton of interest in the technique until I started tying my own flies, and now I'm curious to try them with a pin rig just due to the fact that it seems you can get longer and more controlled drifts.
Thanks! Been tying a bunch of stuff like that lately and that has me wanting to try a pin setup. Bought all the floats, shot and line and borrowed a buddy's pin rod and reel and going to give it a shot and see if I want to buy a setup. Lots of people claim it's boring, but any method that will put stuff I tied in front of a fish has got my attention. Watched a buddy do it about a year ago and was amazed with how long of drifts you can get with that technique. Funny how fly fishing purists poo poo it.
Nymphs and stones, also glo bugs Snelled or tied will take fish on any river around the state. With recent temperatures if I fly fished would probably swing till water cools bit. Then indicator when winter sets in. Hardware of all sort takes fish anywhere also but is very popular in southeast due to lack of spawning salmon. Today is big blow and one of the last big pushes of leaves river will see, so soon I’ll focus in more. Stopped yesterday after dropping kids off at school, quickie 30 minutes. Lost one after few head shakes. Good luck!
Nighttime knows some honey holes, clearly. Not the first time ive read a post where he stopped off after work or dropping the kids off and got into one within 20-30 min.
There has definitely been some salmon in the Clinton this year. Im pretty sure I hooked one, and I also found one dead in the river. I have a picture but can't figure out how to post it.
There has definitely been some salmon in the Clinton this year. Im pretty sure I hooked one, and I also found one dead in the river. I have a picture but can't figure out how to post it.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Ask a question
Ask a question
Michigan Sportsman Forum
8.8M posts
94.9K members
Since 2000
A forum community dedicated to hunting and fishing enthusiasts in the Michigan area. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, tips, tricks, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more!