Sure, Why Not

[TOXIC]

Got a call from my buddy who is a lieutenant in the DC Fire Department. And he asks….”Have you been following all of these monster bags coming out of the St Lawrence?”  I said sure, who hasn’t.   He has gone with us to St Clair for the last 7 years so he’s got smallmouth fever like the rest of us and he says “Well, I made us reservations on September 23-26th, let’s go give it a shot.” Can’t argue with that.  It’s one of my bucket list locations along with Mille Lacs and a few other Southern lakes.  Add to that we have a couple of other hard core fishing friends who have been going for the last few years and are heading out next week.  They’ve promised a few waypoints to get us started.  As much as we love St Clair, they love the St Lawrence.  Will be an interesting trip.  I’ll for sure report back on how we do and what baits we used.  

[12poundbass]

Can’t argue with that! Find that green buoy and you’re golden! Watch out for the Canadians though.

[gim]

30 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

It’s one of my bucket list locations along with Mille Lacs

 

Give me a call when you go to Mille Lacs.  You'll probably drive nearly right past my house anyways.  And pick me up some spotted cow too. 😂

[TOXIC]

@gimruis I almost went there one of the last years I pulled my boat up to the chain.  My wife had to work, so she was flying into Appleton and I was driving up solo.  I took a couple extra days and went to Big Green instead since it was on the way.  Mille Lacs looked a little big for me with no intel. 😛

 

ps. I brought 4 cases of cow bottles back this year. Also some Central Waters bourbon barrel aged stout. 😋

[gim]

6 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Mille Lacs looked a little big for me with no intel.

 

Its staggering for an inland lake.  Not Great Lakes big obviously, but the water out there to cover is immense.

 

Seriously though, if you ever go there, at least PM me.  I'll try to help you with some intel if I have some.  I fish there in May/June and then again in Sept/Oct.  Midsummer, not so much.

[river-rat]

Three summers ago I fished the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario for 10 days and have to say it was the trip of a lifetime. I was with my brother and nephew and we caught dozens of smallmouths each day. We had several over 5 lbs. and I caught one over 6 lbs. in Lake Ontario.

 

I hope to make the trip up there again some day.

[TOXIC]

And another nice thing is that I don’t need a Canadian (Ontario) fishing license since I’m over 65.  New York is still gonna pinch me though😂

[PaulVE64]

15 hours ago, TOXIC said:

And another nice thing is that I don’t need a Canadian (Ontario) fishing license since I’m over 65.  New York is still gonna pinch me though😂

Probably wrong assuming you're not a Canadian resident

Non-Canadian residents

Anyone who is not an Ontario or Canadian resident is considered a non-Canadian resident for the purposes of fishing licence regulations. Most non-Canadian residents require an Outdoors Card and recreational fishing licence to fish in Ontario, including those 65 years of age or older. The following exceptions apply.

• Non-Canadian residents under 18 years of age may fish without an Outdoors Card and licence if accompanied by a person who has a valid Ontario recreational fishing licence. Any fish kept are part of the catch and possession limit of the person who holds the licence. Alternatively, non-Canadian residents under 18 years of age may purchase an Outdoors Card and recreational fishing licence to have their own limits.
• Non-Canadian youth, under 18 years of age, attending an organized camp that provides meals and accommodates a minimum of five campers may use a government issued photo identification (or a photocopy) together with a camp identification card as a deemed licence to fish. The camp identification card must state the name and location of the camp, the name and date of birth of the camper and the dates that the camper is at the camp. These campers must follow conservation limits.

[TOXIC]

Rats, you’re right.  I was looking at non Ontario residents vs non Canadian residents.  I need to get an Ontario license plus a Canadian Sport Card plus a New York State license. 

[TnRiver46]

Almost like being back in the commonwealth 

[TOXIC]

3 day fishing trip just got expensive. 3 different fishing licenses, hotel, fuel (boat and truck) and food.  Oh well, like I said, bucket list trip and if I like it, maybe a more frequent trip. 

[J Francho]

If you can get next door to Chaumont Bay, that place is magical. I've run from Henderson to Chaumont during tournaments and done decent $$. 

[islandbass]

On 8/21/2024 at 2:17 PM, TOXIC said:

And another nice thing is that I don’t need a Canadian (Ontario) fishing license since I’m over 65.  New York is still gonna pinch me though😂

WA state will pinch you until age 70.  😱😂. Sad but true. Wishing you a fantastic outing. Please report back. 👍

[MN Fisher]

45 minutes ago, islandbass said:

WA state will pinch you until age 70.  😱😂. Sad but true. Wishing you a fantastic outing. Please report back. 👍

You guys got nothing on MN - they pinch you until you're 90. 😠

[islandbass]

@MN Fisher: That is insane. How rare that a state out charges WA state in this scenario , 🤣

 

Our state also got slick on making two licenses. One for fresh water and another for salt water, and they know full well people are going to buy both. 🥲

[Will3369]

I just left WA state, best decision I ever made. Their fishery’s are run poorly. ( at least on the west side of that state.) They make it hard/nearly impossible to get on the water in the off season. ( it almost seems at times they don’t want fisherman there.) Some of the lakes have good to great fishing, except they seem to cater to the wake boats, water skiers and jet skiers. For all the lakes/rivers/ponds I have fished in my 45 yrs of fishing. WA state lakes and fisheries have def been at the bottom of the barrel. ( west side of the state at least).

[TOXIC]

Well, the time draws near and I got a report from a couple of my buddies who just spent 10 days up there.  Relined 5 spinning rods and 1 casting rod.  Report was that they threw a lot of baits but dropshot was the big winner.  They threw a lot of different plastics on their dropshots so that leaves me with packing a lot of Yamamoto to try.  One guy had 8 dropshot rods on his deck and he cycled through all of them.  Weights were up but numbers seemed down (if you can call 50-60 a day down) he said if they were catching 3 pounders, they would move because they wanted 4’s and up.  They averaged 4 to 5 with a few 6’s thrown in.  We are actually thinking of extending to a full week if we get on them that good.  

[gim]

I’d cancel my trip if the report was a bite on drop shots.

[TOXIC]

@gimruis it is actually exciting to me.  I’ve fished dropshots before dropshots were cool.😂 This is a different type of dropshotting with big boulders 60-80 feet deep and in current.  I actually upsized a couple of spinning rods to handle bigger dropshots.  Of course upsizing to me is 8 and 10lb test and a little longer rods with a heavier action. With the chance for a 6-8lb smallie, I’m not taking any chances. 😉

[islandbass]

@TOXIC grab a couple bags of roboworms if it’s not too late. Good luck hunting!

[TOXIC]

@islandbass that would be a good recommendation for most but me being pro staff for Yamamoto kinda eliminates others.  😂. I have no doubt, I will find a Yamamoto they want to eat.  My buddies are also Yamamoto faithful but said they caught a lot on Berkley max scent flatworms.  We shall see.  😉

[islandbass]

@TOXIC: that’s awesome you’re pro staff for them. Maybe we’ll “slip” you a few, under the table, lol 😂.

 

Just kidding.

 

The senko, 3-5”, (put color here) is one on my most effective and productive DS baits hands down. 

If I may humbly ask, what do you use when the bass might prefer a floating plastic on the DS? I haven’t used those flat worms but I’m going to look into those. 

 

Lastly, wishing you have a blast as there’s no doubt in my mind this will be an epic trip. Looking forward to reading your report. 

[TnRiver46]

I love catching fish on a drop shot, beats getting skunked on a spinnerbait 

[TOXIC]

@islandbass Yamamoto makes a whole line of floating baits but I’ve not used them yet.  For dropshotting I don’t use the Senko although my go to bait on a Ned rig is a 4” Senko.  For dropshotting, traditionally I use the 3.75” Shad Shape Worm.  If they want a larger bait, I step up to a 5” Pro Senko.  It’s nowhere near the same as a regular Senko.  It has a thin profile and pointed tail.  If I think they want more action, I step up to a 5” California Roll.  New to try for me are the Scope Shad and Covert Craw.  I’ve never felt the need to use floating formulas but I know they are popular.  

[islandbass]

@TOXIC:Thanks! The standard sinking senko 3-5” is mostly what is available locally. I am going to definitely look into the baits you mentioned but will need to buy them online. 😎👍