Josey_Wales

FOR SURE! we tried the Pere Marquette about 3 weeks ago with limited success. Where do you normally go?

I own the cabelas non insulated waders and are very pleased. I bought them with the boots and a tad bit larger to compensate for layered clothing. If its cold I wear the redhead layered hunting garments underneath.

My philosophy on warm and cold weather has always been, If its too cold I can always put on more, but if its too hot you cant take off your skin. That being said I bought the uninsulated, cause I can always add to it. (underneath) and in the summer I have a set of waders ready!

I was at the local pro shop today pricing out a new rod for these river/pier adventures. Price of course varied from 89 dollars to 345 (gloomis) Is there a "do all" length and action? To be honest I really liked the 9 ft St Croix for about $129.99. It listed line ratings at 8-12lb test and lure weight up to 3/4 ounce.

Suggestions? what do you guys like to use for your various applications?

Just wishes I had the money to be able to enter such a discussion! I will add Ive used the Tekota reels before. Awesome.

I have thursday and Sunday off coming up so hopefully I can get out there and give it a try... thanks Bill =)

Sounds like a great opportunity for a beach bonfire?

Right... they developed it 6 years ago... Thats like getting your car from the valet with a scratch in it, and them telling you it was already there.... Oh well...Kudos on your idea, and your willingness to share it with others.

Josey did you tie the bait hold knot? If so you can leave the end that you pass through the eye toward the bend in the hook longer to create a longer tag end ad toothpick the corky on the tag end to make the fly type f presentation

I did indeed. Overall I am EXTREMELY pleased with all the feedback and valuable information. After practicing and perfecting the eggloop knot (took around 5-10 times) I went on a pre rig tear. I bet that I made about 15-20 ready to tie onto swivel rigs that night. I basically took your photo example and made one of everything that you showed with the various color schemes I had at the time IE corkies and Yarn. I also made a few variations with different style hooks, from longer shanked hooks to the ones I posted in the picture. I even cannibalized a red eye spoon and took the front dual hook to make it into a rig.

Forgive me if I ramble here. I had no success on sunday in terms of fish caught, but I had what I think were 2 good bumps on my rigs in the morning, just no fish stayed on and I didnt get to it in time. While I was discouraged I reminded myself that I am new to this and I feel that I am learning something new at every outing. afterwards my friend and I ran into andersons there in port huron to get some feedback on the fishing. The guy there explained which I expected, that the salmon dont run on this side of the state like they used too. That being said, he did say that the fish were in for about a week and then disapeared but expects that there still may yet be some action coming. He did point out that it should be a good steelhead/brown trout fishery through the winter so I have something to look forward too. My biggest problem is getting there when the fish are and presenting properly.. and reminding myself that im not just gonna jump in and slam these fish. I almost need to go out with some guys that have done this before and learn the little nuances they do to be successful.

I appreciate all the info and will continue to pester you guys on various questions until I get a limit

Thanks again!

Cris

Hopefully you do better then I did... biggest thing for me right now is the hour or so drive I have to make MINIMUM to get to these locations. Ill keep checking the sites though and hope I can get em when they are in there.

Nicely done.

add me to the list as well as the winter steelhead/brown trout clinic or How too.

Started at the township park at around 6 am this morning. 2 bites no hookups on spawn. Moved to the mouth of the black river at around 9 am, again more fisherman on the wall, but not much action. LOTS AND LOTS of baitfish at the mouth. Thousands of tiny minnows with a whole buncha gizzard shad below them. Couple kids catchin gobies and throwing them on the rocks. Fished that till around 11 then headed to Andersons there in Port Huron who said the fish have been hit or miss... They dont think the strong run (if any for salmon) has hit yet. However said the Browns and Steelhead are gonna start here soon and be good till Jan. We will try again here soon. Getting a tad discouraged, but am hopeful.

My first attempt at the rig. Practice will make perfect, but overall im happy with it. I know wrapping the rig around a pepsi bottle is hillbilly to be sure, but effective. Sry about the picture quality as well. Cant wait to try some of these out later!

Thanks again guys!

Those pictures really helped... Thanks Aaron. Now ive got it =) Now the fish need to do their part!

Thanks

Cris

Awesome job!

Thanks again for all your help! im certainly going to be trying these techniques Sunday morning. Hopefully I have will have some pictures of fish caught. (now to find that river spot =))

Thanks again all.. Tight Lines

Cris.

Aaron, you mentioned using these in succsesion? im picturing the hook, then a line of these "action" floats before? with bead spacers? So that the fish strike at the action created by the wobbles or spinners as opposed to spawn or lack there of it on the hook?

Right on... Thanks Heidi. Is there an area upstream from the mouth that has a bit more current maybe? or is this a moot point? the fish concentrating at the mouth still?

Given that I know relatively little about the various areas around here to try for fish, I figured I would try and expand on the area we fished last weekend. Went to the black river mouth there and while there wasn't much current, there was an abundance of boat traffic... I figured that I would try google earth to search for some other areas that I might be able to try with these new techniques. I came across this channel on the black river that goes STRAIGHT into lake Huron... Have you guys ever seen or fished this? with any success?

If this image didnt work I apologize. (if you open the image in a new window or tab, you should be able to see it)

I will be ANXIOUSLY waiting.. I could post the whole MULTITUDE of questions I have, but then again I must be respectfull of you guys and your time as well.. ask a little bit as I go

From what little ive seen it makes sense. We had that palomar knot set up and while we would get tiny "bumps" or takes on the line, whenever we pulled up, nothing was there. Perhaps they felt that one ounce sinker tied on tight there and wanted nothing to do with it. Goin to try some of these new tactics on Sunday morning I think.. Now I just need to find the right river close by here with a lil bit of current and fish in it.

Ive seen a rig that was for the River at Pere Marquette. It was basically a 1-2 ounce egg sinker tied with a palomar... the guy then took the tag end and tied a treble to the end where he attached his floating spawn.

I read an article talking about leader length from the sinker and I was wondering what your guys thoughts were... Ive played with it a lil bit but with little success. Does current play a role here as well? I was also thinking about exterior floats like wobble glows and such. But I guess I should start with leader length.

Man I wish I had money... One day. Im sure that boat will make someone very happy. Im a good dishwasher if your feeling generous. =)

Yes... This guy was a fisherman which really suprised me... he had it full throttle till right before the old drawbridge there. If it wasnt a waste of 10 bucks I would have rifled my Rapala J-13 at him.

Fantastic Pictures! I had an aunt and a Uncle that lived in Grand Marais... been there once when I was young. Asked my uncle on a walk why he had Sardine cans nailed to tree's... "thats how you tell if you have a bear nearby" he said. As I walked by the opened can on the tree... "can we go back now?"

on a side note, LOVE PIKE... It tastes so good I deal with the bones.