I have a hard time changing my work schedule at the last minute so I am trying to anticipate when the spring fishing is usually best on the Detroit River. Any good rules of thumb to predict when the fishing is usually best?

For the larger eyes, they usually are in the system the last two weeks of April. The smaller males are the biters a week before and about 2 - 3 weeks afterword.

The best week all around I would choose the last week of April. One thing you might want to keep in mind if you can is come for 3 - 4 days. With all the snow melt, spring rains, etc, the river can get pretty dirty and hard to fish. Good luck.

Having lived on Trenton Channel many years, I can tell you that in most "normal" yrs. (with ice-out occuring in early March), the true biggies are often caught very 1st week of April- shallow. The overall catch numbers then pickup during 2nd/3rd weeks. And of course, so too does the fishing army! I found by 4th week of April, the really big girls have headed out to sea (Erie & Huron) or are in deeper channels/edges, but still excellent fishing to be had in River. Lots of action, lots of males, hey eaters are good.

As for weather, ya just don't know when a blow will come in and screw up the water to mud. It happened to PWT last year. Bad blow & rain hit 1st week April. Tourney pre-fish 4/10-4/14 muddiest I've ever seen river in years. Agly. Think about it, bad weather 1st week, awful mud 2nd week, so first 2 weeks (normally the best) were like out-the-window.

Anyway, long story made short, I usually recommend 2nd-3rd weeks in April to those coming long way for action. For sure 4th wk is safe, but no one ever knows about weather...

p.s. Look for me this year 1st or 2nd week April in white 26 ft. Paramount center console w/twin 200 Mercs. Can't miss us in a boat that big http://www.walleyecentral.com/dcf/Images/happy.gif

Ditto to that already stated. You really can't go wrong from about the first to third weeks of April. Be sure to set aside a decent amount of time for this trip - a couple days won't do you justice if the water clarity goes sour. It generally takes the river 2 days to clear up for every one day of a blow.

I've never fished the river. If you could point me in the right direction I'd appreciate it. Where do you suggest I launch my boat? Do you have the names and phone numbers of some local bait shops that give out reliable info. Is it worthwhile fishing the mouth of the Detroit or Maumee? Any info for this rookie would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.