Lake Erie, St. Clair or Somewhere Else?

[JeziHogg]

Rice Lake is another good one as well. 

[Chance_Taker4]

I would go Erie in late May. However like stated above the wind can ruin a trip. The way I circumvent that is by going up the Detroit River on windy days. You then can fish the river which is very under rated or run it to St Claire. the tournaments I fish launch from the river and gives anglers freedom to fish US and Canada as well as the river, Erie or St. Claire so I have made the runs quite a bit. I cannot give guide recommendation though since I am from the area.

[J Francho]

On 12/30/2017 at 11:23 AM, Dwight Hottle said:

Lake erie, lake ontario & Niagara river based on which way the wind is blowing. May for prespawn smallies.

 

Captain Frank Campbell 

http://www.niagaracharter.com/fishing-seasons/

This, or just hook up with Dwight.

[Pro Logcatcher]

On 12/30/2017 at 9:50 AM, Scott F said:

While St. Clair and Erie are both great fisheries, the chances that it could be too windy to fish would ruin your trip. Chequamegon Bay on Lake Superior out of Ashland WI could provide a fantastic smallmouth trip. Wind could also keep you off the big lake but if it did, there are many other smaller lakes within an hour drive to fish to keep from losing time on the water. Late May is prime time for size and numbers of pre-spawn smallies. There are a number of well known guides but I’ve never used one so I can’t give a recommendation 

I used to live in Ohio, and man are you right about that wind! I'd get seasick every time we went out 'cause the waves were so big!

[anderb54]

Northern MI. You could fish Grand Traverse Bay, Burt and Mullett Lakes, Torch Lake, Lake Charlevoix... the list goes on

[Hollada]

St Clair or Northern Michigan.  Guide - Marcel Veenstra or Gerry Gostenik for st Clair.  Marcel also spends a month or so in northern Michigan.

 

time?  Depends on how you want to fish - e.g. April blade baits, early May jerks, traps, shallow cranks, late May bed fishing, June dropshot, tubes, July - sept kitchen sink, deep cranks, swimbaits.

 

windy days on LSC fish the canals for largies or run 45 mins to an inland lake.  Late august I tend to rotate to the detroit river mouth at Erie if the bite is off on LSC.

[Gundog]

On ‎12‎/‎31‎/‎2017 at 1:45 AM, Turkey sandwich said:

Under no circumstances should you fish the St. Lawrence, Niagara, or Susquehanna Rivers.  Any reports of catching smallmouth in them are lies.  d**n bloody lies.

^^^What he said! No fish anywhere near any of those places. None. 

[FryDog62]

If “Up North” includes Minnesota, there is a great variety of world-class options.  Mille Lacs is a no-brainer, but there is some awesome river fishing on the very far northern stretches of the Mississippi.  This is where the Lindners film a lot of their shows.  Some very good smb lakes near Longville, MN too.  And Chequamegon (although in Wisconsin) is within a couple hours of those destinations listed above.  

 

I noted from the above posts that that most of the best suggestions involve big water and the threat of wind that could ruin your trip.  That’s why I suggested the northern Mississippi waters.  Lot of times I’m scheduled to go to Mille Lacs or Rainy Lake and the wind is too much.  Narrow rivers (which the Miss is up north) provide a lot of protection from wind and although there is current, there are virtually no waves to contend with).  Smallies in the 17-19 inch are somewhat common on the river, a few in the 20-22 inch range. 

 

Another option for you anyway, I can give you some guide info on Mille Lacs, or other areas too if you want to send me a PM.  

[gim]

I'll second what Frydog mentioned.  Forget the Great Lakes.  Mille Lacs is the top ranked smallmouth fishery in the country for a reason.

[1BADAIR]

I like st clair. WIsh i could find that 8lb smallie I have been looking for

[roadwarrior]

On 1/8/2018 at 4:48 PM, gimruis said:

I'll second what Frydog mentioned.  Forget the Great Lakes.  Mille Lacs is the top ranked smallmouth fishery in the country for a reason.

This might be the winner:  http://millelacs.com/small-mouth/

We are thinking maybe the second week of June. Thoughts?

 

[gim]

Yes, late May and early June is the time of year I'd pick.

[FryDog62]

On 1/11/2018 at 8:13 AM, roadwarrior said:

This might be the winner:  http://millelacs.com/small-mouth/

We are thinking maybe the second week of June. Thoughts?

 

Here’s your guide.  Head of the Mille Lacs Smallmouth Alliance, radio host, and legendary guide - on top of being a world-class guy to spend a day in the boat with.  I could post several pictures of behemoth bronzebacks I’ve caught with Jim, but I don’t know how to narrow it down. If you want to go peak time in June, you better call him soon... he’s booking.  Best month might be August though (really) or September. 

 

Jim DaRosa
Isle, MN  56342
320-630-4792 cell
Email: jtd648@comcast.net

[Don Dixon]

On ‎12‎/‎30‎/‎2017 at 10:00 PM, Siebert Outdoors said:

I fish St Clair at least once a year for a week straight.  Its a great lake for smallies, Walleye, Pike, and Musky. If your into White bass you can literally catch hundreds of them a day in mid may. The biggest risk was stated above.  Wind.  If it gets windy you will get beat up or not be able to fish.  I have never fished Erie.  West winds are the best to fish the lake on the US side for the main areas most guys fish.  Last year was one of the windiest years I have ever been there.  It was 10-20mph every day. 

 

Just now, Don Dixon said:

That is pretty much our plan also.  Where in Missouri are you?

 

On ‎1‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 9:14 PM, anderb54 said:

Northern MI. You could fish Grand Traverse Bay, Burt and Mullett Lakes, Torch Lake, Lake Charlevoix... the list goes on

This is actually a plan we've talked about, do you live in this area?  I assume Burt, Mullett and Torch are smaller in case of bad winds?  Know any good guides in this area?

[anderb54]

17 minutes ago, Don Dixon said:

 

 

This is actually a plan we've talked about, do you live in this area?  I assume Burt, Mullett and Torch are smaller in case of bad winds?  Know any good guides in this area?

I live about 20 minutes south of Burt and Mullett. They are smaller than the bay, yes, but still pretty large lakes. Generally speaking, unless the wind is really blowing from the north, the bay is relatively calm. Ben Wolfe out of Traverse City is a good guide for the bay, and unfortunately I'm not aware of any guides on Burt and Mullett. I'm sure there are some though.

[Don Dixon]

On ‎1‎/‎12‎/‎2018 at 10:20 PM, FryDog62 said:

Here’s your guide.  Head of the Mille Lacs Smallmouth Alliance, radio host, and legendary guide - on top of being a world-class guy to spend a day in the boat with.  I could post several pictures of behemoth bronzebacks I’ve caught with Jim, but I don’t know how to narrow it down. If you want to go peak time in June, you better call him soon... he’s booking.  Best month might be August though (really) or September. 

 

Jim DaRosa
Isle, MN  56342
320-630-4792 cell
Email: jtd648@comcast.net

I was emailing with Babe Winkleman last week and he highly recommended Mille Lacs, my buddy is leaning toward St. Clair or Traverse Bay, I guess it's important there are smaller waters nearby to windy days.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I'm about 30 miles south of St louis.

[Don Dixon]

18 hours ago, Siebert Outdoors said:

I'm about 30 miles south of St louis.

We must just about be neighbors.  I live in South County, and from the Arnold area.

[anderb54]

23 hours ago, Don Dixon said:

I was emailing with Babe Winkleman last week and he highly recommended Mille Lacs, my buddy is leaning toward St. Clair or Traverse Bay, I guess it's important there are smaller waters nearby to windy days.

Grand Traverse Bay is a really special fishery, I cannot recommend it enough. It should be a bucketlist destination for any serious smallmouth fisherman

[canbassguy]

 castadventures.ca.    Paul Castellano....Awesome guide on Erie ...check him out...real nice guy too..good thing about Paul is he guides near the Niagara so if Erie's blown up you can always fish the upper Niagara.

[TOXIC]

On 12/30/2017 at 2:09 PM, 1BADAIR said:

St Clair, Saginaw bay. Marcel  for a guide. He also has some lakes up  north by Indian river that he guides on and does very well.

http://www.marcelsguideservice.com/

I have fished St Clair for a week every year for 15 years.  To say we have a lot of "areas" is an understatement.  If we are having a tough time we call Marcel for some tips.  Great Guy!!  Better Guide!!  

[Fish the Mitt]

Late to the party, and it sounds like Mille Lacs might be the winner, but if you do make it to Northern MI, I suggest trying out Hubbard as well. It's really become a trophy smallmouth factory due in part by the great habitat efforts by the local community. MLF was just up there for the 2018 Summit Cup and they were catching 4-5bers all day (unsure what the biggest came in at).

 

While St. Claire, Erie, and the NW part of Michigan gets all the glory, Hubbard (NE MI - Alpena) is really starting to shine in it's own right when it comes to smallmouth (109 yr old SM record was broken there in 2015 (9.33#) [record broke again shortly after (9.98 on Indian River)]).

[loumonetti]

St Larwrence. Numbers and size, all day, almost any time of year. You may not see a 6 like at Erie or Mille, but you'll see more 3 and 4 pound fish than you'll know what to do with.

[detroit1]

Geez Roadwarrior...I would have never guessed  that YOU would need a guide...I would do what Hollada says...