Lake St.Clair Ice Fishing

[BIG AL]

Just wondered if anyone had any luck for perch or walleye on L.S.C. over the weekend? What are the best baits and time of day for walleye? Any help is appreciated!!! We ended up with about 40 perch in 2 days and 2 guys fishing around the 9mile rd. area. Lots of pike being caught on tip-ups. Thanks in advance, be careful out there folks.AL ><> ><> ><>

[Tom (mich)]

I didn't fish St. Clair this past weekend, but in years past when we want to target ice walleyes, we typically hit the Canadian side of the lake - specifically the St. Luke's area and the Thames River mouth. The usual selection of jigging Rapala's and Pimples have worked for us. Frankly, I rarely, if ever, ice fish the American side because I can't deal with the crowds and everything that goes with them. For up to date reports for the Canadian side, call Bass Haven or check their web site.

Can you provide any more detail about the pike action at Nine Mile?

[BIG AL]

Tom, thanks for the reply....as far as th pike fishing, the guys were getting them on tip-ups rigged with chubs or large (3-4") shiners. In 8' of water,they were fishing 4-5 feet down. Any inlets leading to marinas is always a hotspot this time of year, so the perch are always scattered. Acess to these places are always a problem until the lake freezes, then you can park at the coast guard station and get about anywhere from that spot. We are going to try by Gino's this weekend for perch,walleye and pike provided there is still ice.... FISH ON ><> ><> ><> AL

[Hunter]

Fished out of St.lukes on saturday, we were out targetting perch. 4 of us limitted on perch, one pike, one eye. saw about 8-10 eyes hit the ice the last 2 hours of light. Everyone was fishing perch!

[Jacknife]

Glad to here there is some ice on the lake finally. The best spot I know of for Walleye is off of Ginos. Any ice condition or fishing reports for the area around Selfridge or Anchor Bay are appreciated. I hope to make the drive up the weekend of the 18th.:)

[BIG AL]

Happy New Year Hunter, good to see you are still around. Sounds like you guys did real well! What baits are you guys using? I'm going to try swedish pimples and jigging rapalas this weekend if the ice stays on the lake(Gino's). Best of luck to you guys and bee careful....AL ><> ><> ><>

[Tom (mich)]

I would not have thought that St. Lukes would have had good ice yet. How thick was it? I'd imagine only foot traffic thus far - had to have been a decent walk out?

[Hunter]

Actually there was about 6 inches of Ice about 1.25 miles off shore. There were airboats/quads/sleds out there on saturday, a couple real yahoo's were about 2.5 miles off shore. The wind was pushing everything into shore, but its changed direction last couple days, who knows if its even there anymore. We were using tip-ups with minnows, and jigging small jigging rapalas with minnow head. Cut 80+ holes.

[Hunter]

Im alive and kicking! All the hunting seasons closed! time to get at the fish again. Send me an email, I lost all my adresses. Ill email you a pic of the buck my buddy got on Manitoulin, its sweet!

[Stormsearch]

You did about as well as everybody else, I ended up with 30 on Sunday. For walleyes, I have had my best luck after dark in the same perch grounds for the US side. I have never caught a large number but the best baits are jigging rapala's and swedish pimples - pretty straight forward. Make sure you tip the baits with minnows.

[BIG AL]

Got a report last night from some buddys who fished Metro Beach and they did well on the jumbo perch using russian hooks with NO bait, just a plastic bead on the hook. The bite started at 9am and ended at 12 then nothing. 2 guys ended up with about 70 nice fish. I would be out this morning but work will not allow it. FISH ON!!! HUNTER, my e-mail is aa9000@wayne.edu ><> ><> ><> AL

[Captian Krup]

Any word from Cotton Rd.? Hopeing to get real soon.

[BIG AL]

CAPTAIN, heard they got some nice perch Sat. thru Tues. at cotton rd. and at Candles (S.River Rd.) but the ice has been shaky to say the least.... don't think we'll be fishing the lake this weekend because of this warm spell. If I hear any reports after work, I'll post tomorrow.><> ><> ><> AL

[Captian Krup]

Thanks Al. I am hoping to go there Saturday morning. But this warm weather isnt helping.

[Dan(MI)]

Minnows worked best on Tuesday but Russian hooks worked best on Wednesday. 5 of us fished in those two days catching over 100 fish mostly 7-9 inches with a few on the small side and few over 10 inches. We were at River Road Access, but the ice is going fast. That south wind is eating it fast.
Hope to go out on the weekend, but it was soft Wednesday evening.
Be safe
Dan

[Captian Krup]

How is the ice looking at cotton rd? Thanks.

[BIG AL]

CAPT. wasn't able to post message yesterday because of a funeral. Got word last night from a buddy who fished Gino's......he got 45 perch from 12:30 to 4:00 with several fish over 12". I seen the fish myself so I know it wasn't B.S. I'll be there tomorrow A.M....... TIGHT LINES! ><> ><> ><> AL

[Tom (mich)]

Can't believe there's still ice after this rain and warm spell! What were the ice conditions - had all but written off the weekend, but may give it a shot.

[Captian Krup]

Big Al where was he? Cotton, Metro? I plan on going and it's my first time. If you prefer you can e-mail mkrupiak@spinxs.com. Thanks. Sure hope the ice is safe.

[BIG AL]

CAPT. he was fishing in front of Gino's (15mi. &Jefferson) 8-9ft of water....ice was shaky to say the least but still alot of guys out. Hopefully the west wind doesn't blow the ice out. My buddy is going there now (3:00pm fri)to scout out the situation. We are heading out there in the a.m. regardless. I heard the ice at candles is gone, don't know about cotton rd. I' here at work till 4:30 today and if I hear anything by then I'll post. My computer at home is down so I wont post till mon. a. m. ><> ><> ><> AL E-MAIL aa9000@wayne.edu

[BIG AL]

Well, I wasn't able to post Mon. so here goes the weekend report......Sat. went to Gino's, s-l-o-wwww dirty water, high winds, no shanty, fished about an hour, ZILCH.. packed up and went down to colony marine (9 1/2 mi.) fished 3 hrs. and only picked up 8 perch. Sun. went to Metro Beach and fished off the jet ski launch...dirty water, windy, (till 3:00) got some nice fish jigging a pimple, and on a jigging rapala. The bite lasted till dark. We ended up with 20 nice perch. Seen some guys leaving the ice that caught 5 nice walleyes. They were out near the open water to the south of us. Hope to get out this weekend. TIGHT LINES ><> ><> ><> AL

[Big___NATE]

The best lure to use right now is a plain hook with a drop shot
and jig from the bottom up.

[The St. Clair Slayer]

The ice season started a few weeks back for us in the Metro area. Good reports of perch coming from the American side has been the good news. With lots of anglers sorting through plenty of perch with nice ones mixed in. The Canadian side of the lake has been producing better perch and more of them. Jigging spoons w/red or chartruse beads are producing better fish with minnows taking more fish. Many anglers along the U.S. side are reporting seeing lots of shad and the occational walleye down their holes. (Yeah) which can only be good for our fish populations. Currently it is raining and the warm weather will be here for a couple more days. Winds are not forcasted to be high so hopefully the ice will come through this warm spell ok, and should harden up by next Tuesday or so. I can't wait to get after the walleye in the next few weeks off the mile roads. If you start to get a little stir crazy once the football season ends (Like me) make the drive over to Lake St. Clair. It is truly a gem.

[bignate]

tues went fishing off stoney point cought 29 jumbo perch the lure i am using is ornge and black striped lure with a minnow does not matter if the minnow is dead or alive