Drummond Island Pike

[ErieEye]

I have a question about Drummond Island Michigan. How is the pike fishing around the island during the month of May? Would it be worth the 7 hour drive to pull the boat up there? We will going the third week of May and would love to get into some good pike fishing. Its been a long time since I have caught a northern pike. Also are there any other species to look for at that time of year? Thanks.

[ErieEye]

Anybody?

[Sportdog]

I have fished around the island a bit for the last three years on summer vacation. We fish for salmon/trout, walleye, and perch, but have never targeted or caught a pike. My advice for you is to contact North Country Sports in Detour. They can give you the best tips that I am aware of. Be sure to get a navagational map from them and be very careful because the multitude of rocky reefs can be extremely dangerous. Even if you don't find the fish cooperating this is a beautiful place to fish and explore. By all means, take the boat. There are only two public launch sites on the island and my advice is DO NOT use them. They are terrible at best. There are three marina's to launch that charge 6-8 dollars a day to use and it is money well spent. There are two very nice public launch sites in Detour so depending on where you are going to fish you may want to use them. Enjoy the trip and if I can be of any further help, please do not hesitate to ask.:-)

[ErieEye]

Thanx for the reply Sportdog, I figured somebody on this sight must have been to Drummond Island. How did you do with the walleye and perch when you where there? I'm hoping the perch will still be in spawning when we go. We will be staying at Lake View Resort which has its own launch ramp from what I understand.

[Sportdog]

You will be staying at an ideal spot for protected bay fishing. Lots of weedy shallows to the northeast and rocky/sand flats to the northwest. We did most of our perch fishing around the small islands northwest but did catch a couple of monster perch trolling around the weedy drop-offs for walleye close to where you are staying. We also trolled at night for walleyes and caught a few but not really worth the effort. The guy at the baitshop near the main intersection on the island said that we were a little early for a good walleye bite. Either that means you will be way early or you will get them before they move out to the main channel. I just don't know. Check with the local bait shop but it's my understanding that most guys that get walleyes are pretty closed mouth. You should be right on the money for prespawn smallmouths and we caught some while perch and walleye fishing. The weedy areas near where you are staying look like a great place to catch Pike. Good luck. You are going to have a great time. I'm jealous. I won't be up there until late July and I just can't wait. (WATCH THE ROCKY REEFS!) Almost forgot. We did do pretty well on the perch and after a meal of them we forgot all about the eyes!

[rabbit]

I just live up the road from Detour Village. The third week of May you will want to target Scott's bay and Potaganisung Bay on the island side for walleyes using spinners,you may be able to whack a few pike also? There hasn't been a good crop of Pike in quite a while. Now with the commorants under control and the perch returning ten-fold the pike might be there this year? Get a good GPS so you don't trash your props. All those small island have rock shoals all around them. For Pike I would recommend trolling the weed lines in Raber bay north and west sides. Raber bay is just north of Detour. You can also target pike the east side of lime island but be very careful it is a rock nest and you'll be in them before you know it!!! . Ditto to the ramps. I use the free public launch in Detour and motor over to the island or the ramp in Raber bay. Both of these ramps are quite a run to scott's and Potaganisung bays.
At North country sports in Detour you will get your best info and maps... Dave and his wife are great people! Their phone number is (906)-297-6461... Send me an e-mail and I may be able to dial you in at that time. Hopefully you'll get some fish while here? rabbit@lighthouse.net

[Sportdog]

I believe that the resort that he is staying at is in the immediate area of Scott's and Potaganisung Bays. That should work out perfect for him. How is the launch site at Raber Bay? My regular fishing partner has a co-worker that takes a trip up there for eye's and he said the guy does pretty well. I have never fished there but might like to give it a try. Do you do the salmon/trout thing up there? We do pretty well but in the dead of summer it gets a little hectic. My grandson and I went up in early June last year and didn't do too well. You are lucky to live up there....great place.:cheers:

[ErieEye]

I'm wondering if there might not be some walleyes spawning yet during the third week of may. Last year down here at Erie I was still nailing spawning males on some reefs with blaidbaits well into the month of may. I'm thinking about picking up a navionics map chip of that area for my GPS. Hopefully the weather will cooperate while we are there, I'm really looking forward to a fresh walleye and morel mushroom dinner. Thanks for your responses.

[Keith207]

If you want to try for some eyes, try Scotts Bay on the West side of the island. Troll spinners with crawlers or leaches in 8 to 12 fow.

[rabbit]

The launch site at Raber is OK but with the low water you wouldn't want to launch a sailboat!!! It's sany clay bottom so you won't destroy a prop. I just trim up and kick out with the big motor. About a hundred yards and you'll be in 5ft. and can plane up. The ramp is free and will accomodate alot of trailers. It's a DNR ramp and dock. Stay inbetween buoys to the left side going out. (Hope that makes sense?) There are outhouses "state of the art" I believe the sportsman's club put in ??? Stay on the south side of the dock for loading on to your trailer it's not to bad for centering but can be a bugger...
I fish the salmon and trout-mostly salmon (atlantics) early-late june,then go back to the walleyes. Detour passage out by the lighthouse. Fish up high with spoons anything green and silver 2-4 MPH 10-40 ft.down. Get a chip for that area, there's a large shoal out there that runs off the house...Beautiful place to fish. Just watch the weather it blows up fast out there coming accross the Straits of mackinaw!!! You can usually see it coming??? E-mail me and we can go into detail if you want... rabbit@lighthouse.net

[skeeter]

Keith, I will never forget you making that long run during that tournament to Scotts Bay several yrs ago. I remember you doing well but can't remember what place in that championship you placed. Skeeter


Use the WALLEYE CENTRAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY "Skeeters Stuff" under marine supplies (boat cleaning supplies), it really does work.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/wcdirectory/yellowresult.php?goal=Detail&ckey=29&primaryField=description&category=Boat%2FMari

[Keith207]

We came in second at the 1st MWT championship. We needed one more. Oh well.