solopaddler Posted April 15, 2015 Report Posted April 15, 2015 Was able to fish one of my favourite rivers in Michigan last week with 3 friends and had an absolute bonanza! We drove through monsoon rains to get there and it rained off and on all day the first day on the river. This bumped up the water and brought a huge run of fresh in. Thursday while the numbers were great we all caught a mix of large dark holdover fish as well as a bunch of fresh chromers. Friday was insane. Almost all fresh fish, and some were quite large! We fished from daybreak until 8:30pm that evening and caught fish consistently all day long. I'm not normally into numbers but it was the best day I've ever had walk and wade fishing this particular river. Well over 70 fish landed by my group with 28 put on the bank myself. Many, many more fish were lost in the heavy current. As a steelheader these are the kinds of days you dream of! Most of the fish were caught on a mix of beads and roe with long leads in the 10 to 12' range, tons of shot and 12 to 15 gram floats to get down in the powerful current. Some were caught casting hardware which is always a blast. Can't wait to get back!!
fishnsled Posted April 15, 2015 Report Posted April 15, 2015 That's a trip any fisherman would want with those numbers! Awesome trip for your group and memories for a lifetime too! Great pics!
chris.brock Posted April 15, 2015 Report Posted April 15, 2015 Wow! It looks like you guys kicked some butt down there! A quick question- Why is it ok to have those reels is in the water, often turbid, silty water? I see a lot of pictures like that. I'm guessing the quality is so good that grit and rust isn't a problem?
kickingfrog Posted April 15, 2015 Report Posted April 15, 2015 Funny, I flew to Chicago on Friday and I was looking down on the U.S. shores of Huron and Michigan and thinking about the steelhead.
solopaddler Posted April 15, 2015 Author Report Posted April 15, 2015 Wow! It looks like you guys kicked some butt down there! A quick question- Why is it ok to have those reels is in the water, often turbid, silty water? I see a lot of pictures like that. I'm guessing the quality is so good that grit and rust isn't a problem? As long as it's not sand it's fine. A quick flush and spin in the water and any silt is cleaned out. Funny, I flew to Chicago on Friday and I was looking down on the U.S. shores of Huron and Michigan and thinking about the steelhead. I was waving up at you Rob.
misfish Posted April 15, 2015 Report Posted April 15, 2015 Nice clear waters to fish. Cant believe it,s that clear after all the rain you talked about. Wish I had that up here.Clear,not rain.LOL Nice fish Mike.
esoxansteel Posted April 15, 2015 Report Posted April 15, 2015 Those are the dream days we all enjoy, high fishable water with lots of fish, and some bigguns
ckewley Posted April 16, 2015 Report Posted April 16, 2015 I'm sure there were some guy's but not at all what I expected to see given the quality of fishing you guy's had. Awesome photo's, I really have to get a passport & travel state side.
highdrifter Posted April 16, 2015 Report Posted April 16, 2015 (edited) SWEEEEET. That dam looks familiar.. I'm having flashbacks from OOD and the grandfather of noodle rods - Mr. Dick Swan!! You remember that article Mike?! Musta been like... 20 years ago!! talk soon, eh! Edited April 16, 2015 by Highdrifter
blaque Posted April 16, 2015 Report Posted April 16, 2015 That water looks fantastic to fish, seems theres LOTS of room to spread out. Heck, even the Dam has a manageable amount of elbow room......whats up with that LOL
bare foot wader Posted April 16, 2015 Report Posted April 16, 2015 Looks like a wicked trip, perfect timing Noticed you're sporting a Filson vest? I have the same vest, ancient and well used, somewhere in my parents basement, reminds me I should dig it up...great little vest
solopaddler Posted April 16, 2015 Author Report Posted April 16, 2015 SWEEEEET. That dam looks familiar.. I'm having flashbacks from OOD and the grandfather of noodle rods - Mr. Dick Swan!! You remember that article Mike?! Musta been like... 20 years ago!! talk soon, eh! I do remember that article! I was very fortunate to have the chance to fish with Swan several times over the years, he was the reason I made my first trip there 30 odd years ago. FWIW I'm headed back next week for two days if you can get away. That water looks fantastic to fish, seems theres LOTS of room to spread out. Heck, even the Dam has a manageable amount of elbow room......whats up with that LOL Only on weekdays. I was there Thurs to Sat, and Sat was an absolute gong show even lower down. Looks like a wicked trip, perfect timing Noticed you're sporting a Filson vest? I have the same vest, ancient and well used, somewhere in my parents basement, reminds me I should dig it up...great little vest Love the Filson vest!
adempsey Posted April 16, 2015 Report Posted April 16, 2015 Beautiful fish. I really need to try river fishing.
dave524 Posted April 16, 2015 Report Posted April 16, 2015 (edited) SWEEEEET. That dam looks familiar.. I'm having flashbacks from OOD and the grandfather of noodle rods - Mr. Dick Swan!! You remember that article Mike?! Musta been like... 20 years ago!! talk soon, eh! more like 35 years ago, by 1985 people were gravitating to centre pins and float rods. Remember the Swann articles , pictures usually showed him using a silver 1810 Shakespeare closed face. edit: was it OOD or was it Chronzy's mag? Edited April 16, 2015 by dave524
highdrifter Posted April 16, 2015 Report Posted April 16, 2015 (edited) I do remember that article! I was very fortunate to have the chance to fish with Swan several times over the years, he was the reason I made my first trip there 30 odd years ago. I actually met Mr. Swan when I was a teenager at one of the Sportsman's shows.. He had his own booth and some very nice noodle rods on display.. I had never caught a steelhead (I lived in Northern Ontario) but I remember speaking with him and since then, every time I saw a dam that resembled it, I thought back to that one article. Weird how the mind works.. That last pic from your write-up literally jumped out and hit me in the face!! Nice guy that Mr. Swan.. He actually passed away this year.. May he rest in peace. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/themorningsun/obituary.aspx?pid=174221110 Edited April 16, 2015 by Highdrifter
highdrifter Posted April 16, 2015 Report Posted April 16, 2015 more like 35 years ago, by 1985 people were gravitating to centre pins and float rods. Remember the Swann articles , pictures usually showed him using a silver 1810 Shakespeare closed face. edit: was it OOD or was it Chronzy's mag? Well the article on the OOD mag was quite a few years ago... not sure of the date but it was about Dick and there was a picture of him standing behind that very same Dam!
highdrifter Posted April 16, 2015 Report Posted April 16, 2015 Whoah.. Just googled Dick Swan and came up one of your threads from 2009! How times fly... http://ontariofishingcommunity.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30977
solopaddler Posted April 16, 2015 Author Report Posted April 16, 2015 edit: was it OOD or was it Chronzy's mag? Both. And yeah he liked the old knucklebuster reels.
solopaddler Posted April 16, 2015 Author Report Posted April 16, 2015 Whoah.. Just googled Dick Swan and came up one of your threads from 2009! How times fly... http://ontariofishingcommunity.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=30977 My uncle passed two years ago now and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him. Was nice seeing those pic's again.
SirCranksalot Posted April 16, 2015 Report Posted April 16, 2015 Mike, I don't think I've ever seen your pic on here unless you are holding a big fish and have a big ear-to-ear grin!! You da man!!
Ed Newton Posted April 19, 2015 Report Posted April 19, 2015 Was a great trip Mike!! I can not wait too do it again!
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