bigcreekdad

Does anyone make a fairly inexpensive fish finder that comes with a transducer that attaches to the trolling motor?

My bow mounted Hummingbird has died after 10+ years of active duty.

When I was on the French last week, a father/son/son threesome in camp were using chatter baits almost exclusively. They did OK, but nothing spectacular. I had never heard of them, much less used them.

Anyone have any experience with these odd lures?

I love topwater, but have historically only used the technique very early in the morning a after dinner til dark.Last year, my only two muskies landed were on topwater....both after dinner.

Fishing the French on Friday, our guide, Tyler, suggested using one during the day.

With nothing else working anyway after an hour of throwing lots of lures, I tied on a Topper Stopper. After 10 minutes, a very nice (guessing 50" fish) was right behind it. Could not get it to hit, but wondering if I shouldn't be throwing topwater more, regardless of time of day, season, or weather. Also, getting a bit of arthritis in my wrist, and topwater is easy casting and retrieving.

In any case, I'd like to hear thoughts from the group if you have any.

S[pent the week at Crane's Lochaven Lodge with my twin sons, Norm and Jeff. Jeff has accompanied me every year at least on one trip, and often a second. Norm hadn't joined us in the last 8 years...as long as he's been in the US Army. Eight years, and three tours later, it was the three of us once again.

Fishing was, frankly, so -so. Monday thru Thursday, we had strong gusty winds and way too much sun. As Norm is a caster (ruined for life by catching a 46" muskie at 14), and Jeff a worm dragger, the winds really limited our fishing spots. That being said, we caught some pike and bass, and one afternoon on a wacky worm I caught a 16, 17.5, and 18.5" smallmouth on an very light spinning rod. Two nights after dinner, I raised two muskie on a big surface plug. Neither fish I felt.....just smashing the lure, not eating it.

Our last day, Friday, we took a guide (tyler of of crane's....awesome guy!) as Jeff loves a shore lunch. We boated 6 eatable walleye by 11am, and the decided to pursue bigger fish the rest of the day. Our second spot raised an easy 50" category fish on my surface plug....he was right behind it bit veered off a few feet from the boat. We tried several other lures and presentation to no avail. We left to have an excellent beer batter fried shore lunch, and returned for a few more shots at the fish, but no luck.

Overall, only an average fishing trip, but that's August for you. However, raising three muskie on surface plugs I feel is OK. Maybe next time. However, a trip with both boys (hell, they are 30 now) would have been great if we caught nothing.

Fortunately for me, I will return in three weeks for my annual solo trip. Maybe I'll nail one of those "lookers" then.

Finally, I can't say enough about Crane's. I consider Ed, Sue, Gracie and the staff to be damn near family. Also, this trip, as in most others I run into wonderful return guests I've met on prior trips.

F_ast....I was joking...just trying to keep you away from my spots.

F_ast

I can tell you from 25 years experience and tons of advice from the locals...you should never stray from 300 yards from Wolesely Bay for good muskie fishing.......trust me on this.

Going to at Cranes tomorrow for a week.

Say hi if you see us.....Green and white Alumacraft with Yamaha tiller.

Make sure you hit some bays (large or small) after dinner with a noisy surface plug. You might have some fun...As in muskies.

Also, throw wacky worms against rocks and sheer cliffs....smallmouth.

You are a special Dad.

Moosebunk....if I am reincarnated, I want to be you.

You are truly a step above most of us.

Can't tell you how much I love your posts.

C'mon folks. From my many posts on the French River, it should be apparent that I'm a huge fan of Ontario. Been musky fishing Ontario for over 45 years from the Kawarthas to Lake of the Woods. A relative of mine who lives in the SW, and with limited vacation time, and I were thinking of a trip sometime where he wouldn't have to drive so far.

I will likely die on the French.

Looking for something a little different. Looking for an American PLan lodge in Michigan's UP or Wisconsin. We just don't want to cook.

Any ideas?

I've only done this twice, and really had mediocre results (musky is my goal). Is the French really worth fishing in October?

If so, any tips on how you fish for musky at that time of year?

Having just experienced this, the advice already given is right on.

I'll just emphasize the following:

1) Make sure you have the proper tire iron/wrench to loosen the trailer tire lug nuts....they may not be the same size as your the one that comes with your vehicle. Mine were different.

2) Make sure before you leave that your spare is properly inflated.

3) Your vehicle jack will whorl just fine. However, make sure you know where it is (mine was practically hidden), and maybe even make sure you know how to use it, rather than learning OTJ.

If so, what is your engine, and what is your top end speed?

Rich

Water levels were close to normal. However, I was up at the end of May and they were the highest I've ever seen. Levels between then and my recent trip had to be down 5-6 feet.

Is Rainbow a lodge? Also, how is your musky success there. Surprised you haven't fared better on musky out of Wolsey area. Did you venture out well beyond the bay?

First thing I did yesterday morning was buy one of those 4 way jobs,

I'll try to upload some pics later....but, I am pretty useless at that stuff.

Wiser....no comprende.

OOPS....yeah 3-4.

Don't I wish.

Just returned from 5 days of fishing the French out of Lochaven Lodge. THe lodge stay, as usual, was outstanding.

Weather wise, a real mix....hot and sunny, chilly and breezy, flat calm, high winds...both east and west/SW.

I took my son this trip, and I end up doing more general fishing (drifting with live bait) as it is easier for him, rather than my usual all out assault on muskie.

The biggest surprise, and a real pleasant one, was the walleye fishing. THe average walleye we caught was around 22 inches. We caught half a dozen above that up to 25 inches, and the day we took a guide for our annual shore lunch, our guide caught one that weighed 12 pounds. What a comeback for the walleye there. Whether it's catch and release, or the slot limit, the results are positive. LOchaven has an annual big fish contest ( most are released...a picture and an honest account are the only requirements). The largest so far is a 31 incher, and I heard there were several fish of 29-30 inches. Again, the vast majority of these are released.

This is probably the first trip I remember that I didn't at least see a muskie. I think this is more likely due to the lesser time I targeted them due to the walleye fishing. Pike fishing was OK, not great, but not poor. My largest was a 30 incher, which I caught on a fly rod. Bass fishing was not nearly as good as in prior years, but I think with the late Spring they were just coming off the spawn. That being said, one afternoon in a dead calm and hot sun, I had blast with a small rebel popper bounced off rock walls. Largest was 18.5 inches.

Overall, great trip. Heading back with both of my sons in August, then my annual solo trip in September.

Only downer was after loading boat on the trailer, we had just pulled onto highway 69 when a trailer tire blew. I figure, no sweat, I've got a spare. However, I then discovered I had the wrong size tire iron for the lug nuts. I figure, no problem, I'll call Sue at Lochaven and see if she knows someone to call and help me out. However, I then discover that my new iPhone's battery was dead, and they will not fire up by just plugging them into a charger. It takes awhile. So, there we sat. I finally just decided to wait for the phone to charge, and kept my raised hand out the window. After half an hour, I still had no phone, and no one on the very busy 69 had stopped. Finally, a guy with his wife in a pickup trying to enter 69 across from us pulled off. He had the right sized lug wrench, and in 15 minutes we were good to go. I tried to compensate him but he refused. He said he was a local farmer, and that farmers always help each other. Thank God for farmers and people like him. I'll try to remember that the next time I see someone stranded on the road. I've aided and towed boats on a few occasions, but I usually don't bother on the highway....not anymore.

Sorry for the length.

I've been thinking about trading my Alumacraft Magnum 165 on a new boat. It's been a great boat for the 15 or so years that I've had it, but I'd like to get something new, and maybe a foot longer and a tad wider. This will likely be my last boat, as I am now officially a senior citizen. I will keep my Yamaha 60jhp 4 stroke as it is only 3 years old.

I've done a ton of internet looking at all the usual suspects (Lund, Aluma, Crestliner, Lowes etc), but was looking for some user recommendations.

I primarily fish the French River 304 trips a year, as well as some Michigan inland lakes.

Thanks in advance.

Your family has way more than a fair share of bad luck. My wife had a cancer scare a few months ago that turned out not to be cancer....I know what the "waiting to know" thing is.

Hang in there....there are many, many cancer survivors out there. I'll be saying a prayer your wife joins those ranks.

There is a god topo map of the upper. Most rocks/shoals are marked (although very high water might hide them).

I've fished the upper and lower French for close to 20 years and have only lost one prop.....and that was because i completely misjudged where a shoal was. I found it going 25 mph, which reduced my prop to donut size. Common sense will likely keep you out of trouble (i.e. give wide berth to points, etc).

As for upper lodges, I've heard good things about both Lunge Lodge and Chaudiere. For the lower, I fish out of Lochaven.

Love it!

SKDDS.....I've fished both areas, and both have produced. The advantage in the Spring to the upper French (above the Chaudiere dams) is that water levels don't fluctuate as much as they are controlled.