Saint Joe river fishing

[wilson]

wat bait is good for fishing with in this river.
fishing for trout and salmon and steel head.
thanks wilson

[wngardner]

Don't know what baits work yet but just got a boat and I'm going to find out. I live in Buchanan and acording to what I read in the South Bend Tribune the Steelhead, etc. are just starting to run. They say that they're hitting on Hot n Tots (now Producers, I guess).

Good fishing...

[wilson]

thanks for your help
tell me what they are hitting on when you get back.

[wngardner]

Was on the river today. Saw some salmon between Berrien Springs and Buchanan. Also, saw a number of BIG skalmaine's (sp?) jumping high. A friend sent me this:

From todays Lansing State Journal:
"Trout and salmon entered the St. Joe River, with good numbers of
steelhead and a few salmon showing up at the creek mouths from the Niles
Dam to the Buchanan Dam on the river. Fishing for walleye, bass and
panfish was fair. From the Buchanan Dam to the Berrien Springs Dam on
the river, good numbers of steelhead and salmon were present. The best
success was on spawn and flies. Water levels arw low in the river, so
boat anglers should proceed with caution."

[wilson]

thanks for the info.
mabe see you there in a week or so.

[wngardner]

Just got back from a week in WIS. The guys here tell me the river is still too warm -- need some cold weather. Going out on the river tomorrow. Will let you know.

[wilson]

cool thanks let me know

[wngardner]

Was out most of the day. Not only me, but no one else was catching anything below the Buchanan dam. Some were jumping, but not biting. Talked to DNR guy who was at the launch and he said they counted 4000+ up the Buchanan latter. Guess I should been above the dam -- maybe this week.

Just for info, I'm using Hot n Tots, Rapalla's, etc.. Went though all my lures and not even a strike -- had 4 lines in the water.

[wilson]

thanks some one tould me they were using some typ of gold colered
lures.try soming that is colered like a lake pirch.

[wngardner]

Thanks for the tip -- I'll try something on the gold/perch side on Monday. Today I'm taking a break.

[coopason]

Fished the st. joe Sunday for 7 hrs. caught 4 rock bass. fished from central park down to century center. we saw 4 kings, tried jigs with crawlers,and minnows caught the rockies on the minnows. threw ko wobbler's also. will be out wed. afternoon. Gonna try by the old uniroyal site. Remember the River is awful low right now. Water temp sunday was still 60 degree's, way too warm for this time of year. Good luck and I will post thursday morning how we did..

Coopason

[wngardner]

Was out yesterday (Monday) below Buchanan dam.

Caught 1 coho and 2 steelhead (one 21"). They were jumping all over the place.

Water temp = 62d
Bait: All on a Rapala P-F05, Original Floater http://www.rapala.com/products/lures/freshwater/index.html

[wilson]

thanks for the info Coopason.
i hope to get there next week thanks for the luer tip.

[coopason]

Fished wed. from 4-7:30 p.m. arround kamm's island and the old uniroyal site, saw a few fish in the water. tried spawn and crawlers no hits. Caught a small mouth 5o foot from the launch at memorial park heading in. Beautiful nigtht but no one was catching fish. Heading down to maxx in culver friday a.m. and ideas out there.


Coopason

[wilson]

i never fished the saint joe river. i heard is was a good place to go in the fall mabe i see you there next week tho i will give it a try.
thanks for the up date. how big was the smallie?

[coopason]

Anyone been fishing the St.Joe lately? Been to busy at work to get out. Fished at the Maxx last Sat. Only caught two lrg mouth bass jigging. Had to throw them back to small. Several boats out there but didn't see anyone taking any fish.Heard leeches were picking up some eye's?
Good luck

Coopason

[coopason]

Fished fri the 25th below twin branch dam. one for one 34 in steelhead, probally arround 12 lbs. Using spawn with a couple of lime green beads and a green and orange wabble glow with a snell hook. Water is up a little bit.
Stay to the north of the river when you are making your way up to the #####. Hope this helps, Also heard of guys catching some kings on the gravel bars by leeper park.

Good luck


Coopason:-)

[wilson]

cool thanks for the tip

[coopason]

Here is a site for area reports on steelhead. www.steelheadsite.com
Doesn't sound to good for fishing on the st. joe I haven't been out since a week ago, curious if anyone reading this post has been out.

thanks

Coopason

[coopason]

Nov. 21st anyone been out on the St. Joe for steelhead??

Coopason

[Catchnrelease]

Was out today in the rain (& cold). Fished at the dam and trolled. Just saw about 4 coho (1 real old). Marked only a few fish from Buchanan to Berrien Springs. They're just not there. Heard from a friend that he read they probably won't come in this year. It's a real bummer !!!

[coopason]

Here's the st. joe river hotline (574)257-8477. They say the steelhead run is over till sometime arround february, with 1035 steelhead counted coming through the south bend ladder. Let's hope the spring run will be better. A few years we had this same problem and the early spring run was excellent.

Hope this helps

COOPASON