question for snatchmaster

[msuron]

Just read your reports on fishing the Grand River. I'm new to walleye fishing and was wondering what a beginner should start with on the Grand. Also, could you (or would you) give me some ideas as to public access sites between Saranac and Portland? Thanks in advance!

[snatchmaster]

well if the water ever clears up you could put in at a number of spots, here are a few - saranac has a launch in town, ionia has a launch at thier fair grounds, also two launches along riverside dr. between saranac and ionia but these are dirt ramps hard to find and usually muddy, lyons has a ramp above the dam short stretch of water but a good producer, webber dam south of lyons has a launch, portland has a launch at the dam, the stretch of water in the town of portland is all gravel and rocks and has to hold steelies but you may need a jet in the summer, between portland and mulliken there is a launch. i cannot stress the importance of going up river from wherever you put in in the summer, after pulling a boat upriver for 2 hrs. last summer due to shearing a pin in one of it's many low spots i finally broke down and bought a jet to get through these areas.with a little luck and no rain the river should be fishable by this weekend. went out in the torent of chocolate flow to no avail yesterday, just couldn't stay away from those eyes.

[snatchmaster]

i have found jigs to be my favorite bait for eyes, at times it is frustrating because of all the snags but if your not losing jigs your not on the bottom. live bait like minnows and crawlers work well also but beware and DON'T set your rod down. last year i almost lost a couple rods to cats with crawlers, i seen a monster in 3 feet of water during the daytime that had to be at least 30-40lbs. if cats tickle your fancy i truely believe there is a state record swimming in this river, i catch a lot of cats, even on shadraps! for eyes jigs with bright colors seem to be the best. they pretty much rule out everything but eyes and the overabundant smallmouths. i have also noticed that if you are catching a lot of smallies your not catching eyes. this does not mean your in the wrong spot just the wrong time, the eyes seem to push smallies out when they move in towards the evening. i also like to fish where there is a good population of suckers, yet another reason i don't use live bait much. my best advice is to find where the minnows are going in the evenings and fish it. good luck.