SAL321

Keep positive and live each day to it's fullest. Easier said than done I'm sure. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Know that more than once you made us laugh out loud, spend unintended money on baits we didn't need , offered solid bait buying advice and introduced me to the evil primate who is now living rent free in my head.

I'm in on this one...I've fished it more than I should have and have caught NADA. It's primarily SM waters that are gin clear. I've tried crawling it, hopping it and nothing. We are on St Clair os never short on bites and the bass love crayfish from all the parts they leave in my livewell. It's perfect match the hatch colors and I just don't get it.

I'm still in search of a solid six smallmouth on St. Clair. Both of my boys never stop telling me they each have one. I've had 5-12, 5-13 and a 5-15 . I caught the 5'-15 this year and it was huge. Weighed it three times with two different scales. Our PB was a 6.79 in the spring of 24, prior to that it was a 6.5.

Yeah I just got my order and it took 9 days to get it.

No it's been lower numbers. When we've got bit they are healthy and chunky. They are gorging on bait somewhere just not anywhere near where we are. We'll be out tomorrow and hitting the area I mentioned. We've seen fish there maybe you're right they are in the mood to bite.

It's been a tough bite. We have been working the Canadian side around the shipping channel. In and around Grosse Pointe the perch and bait are there but we haven't found any bass in numbers chompin on them...yet. That water has been chalky for a few weeks so we've stayed north. Seeing plenty of fish but nothing committing.

Hmmmm nothing from TW yet.....still waiting to stock up on some terminal stuff too.

Crazy as it sounds, not one bass on a hair jig. Catfish , sheephead and drum by the boatload.

Drop shot is my confidence bait all year. 100% smallmouth bass. Bigger generally isn't better on the DS . I use a number 2 hook and the lightest weight possible for the conditions that day. Keep it simple , baby z-too or flatworm and you will eventually build that confidence. Another suggestion if you don't have the patience is to slooooooowly drag it back. In general I don't have to do much to get bit. Best example was two weeks ago, fishing 18 FOW with a flat worm and it was flat calm, hot and humid. Actually set the rod down to drink some water, seen the line twitch a monster 5.88 on the other end.

Ya got me on this one. I've been wanting a reason to try this after seeing a YT video recently. On order and ready to tackle some brown ones this weekend on the south shore

I have several on the Columbia PFG and AFTCO. I don't go fishing without it . I used to used a buff but rarely anymore. Keep the sun off the back of the neck and ears. If you wear a hat it's even better.

8 lb leader is just fine. I went lighter early this year and lost nice fish. In about 2-3 weeks it will be prime time for drop shotting and I'll just have to let the drag work for me. The set-up and bait is good. I like my hook to sinker around 18 inches regardless of conditions. Outside of deep cranking the drop shot pulls it's weight all summer and it's my confidence bait for sure.

We've had early success with the Freeloader. Nothing to do with FFS at this point so we expect it to shine when they group back up out in deeper water. Disappointed with the ned BLT. Great colors but we like the Outkast Ned Heads and they just shred them. We might snip a few of the keepers and super glue em.

We are slowly using them more. We have the Dredger crank baits that we really like and they are super sticky, same with the Stunna jerkbait. Their drop shot hooks are the best we've used.

It's out home lake, we fish it all year. If your coming up mid-summer and plan to launch out of Canada I would use Mitchells Bay and I believe there is a public launch at Belle River. Both of those areas have produce a ton of fun SMB in the 3-4 range and fives are common if you're on them Once we are post-spawn, 80% of our time is in Canadian waters. Less traffic, better fishing. Use the border as your guide. They are moving all the time but generally 15-19 FOW using drop shot , cranks and ned rig.