Maybe a 50-pounder this fall?

Weather this weekend calls for highs in the upper 50′s.  Expect showers…again!

Earlier this week we received this fishing report from Captain Kevin Backus, from Mr. Muskie Charters.  Kevin is a sponsor of the Lake St. Clair Tourism Initiative:

This seasons fishing has been one of the best that I have seen in many years for most species including Bass, Muskie and Perch.

This summer held some of the best bass and Muskie fishing that fisherman have had in years with huge numbers of fish caught as well as some great sized fish. With the Bass fishing we were limiting out in record time some days and with the charters that just wanted to catch and release them ( which is most) we were boating way more than the limit and some days over 50 bass caught was not uncommon.

The Muskie season took off with a bang and we were catching them right as the season opened. As the heat of the summer came and warmed up the waters and made us very hot, well so did the Muskie fishing get very hot. We had an amazing season with most days boating 10 fish or more per trip. This summer was also a great year for some mid-summer monsters that were caught and 3 over the 40# mark were caught around the lake!

The fall started out slow and rough fishing for September with a lot of day to be canceled due to the poor weather conditions, which made it hard to even fish and the cold fronts were keeping their jaws closed, however October has brought some nice changes and the fishing is getting much better and is more traditional fall fishing. Over the past week we have seen the numbers of fish caught rise again along with the fact that they are all coming in with fat bellies due to their fall feeding frenzy which will continue through ice and winters arrival. This past weekend during  some Muskie tournaments there were 2 Muskies caught that weighed over 39# and successfully released!! Most of the fisherman also saw good numbers of fish caught so the fall feed is fast and furious! I would say that the potential for a new lake record and the breaking through the 50# mark is a very realistic before this 2011 season is over!  The season for Muskies will run through Dec. 14^th and Monsters can be caught until then! 

You can reach Kevin at (586) 206-4172 to book a charter through the month of October.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Muskie Charters

Lakeside sells a variety of perch rigs. An example is shown below  Come into the shop and check them out.

Proposed Lead Fishing Sinkers Ban

Wednesday, September 15 was the last day to submit comments to the EPA regarding the proposed ban on lead sinkers.  What do you think?  Would a ban on lead sinkers effect you and your fishing?  Please leave a comment below.

Hiding from the wind chill along a seawall at the GP Farms Pier Park.

Anglers now turn to hunting or river steelhead as we enter Lake St. Clair’s in-between season.   Anglers await the ice.  Until then the bass, perch and walleye are given a break.

Fall leaves and an empty boat well are sure signs of the ice to come.

Happy holidays from Captain Dan and the folks in the shop

No fishing report this week.  We hope to see you in the shop this holiday season.

Capatin Dan and the crew