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2008 Fishing Reports and River Conditions

5-5-08
Between work, family duties and my cousin's wedding I had a busy week and did not make it out much if at all. It was very nice to see some a few of my Aunt's, Uncle's and Cousin's make the trip up from Florida to attend the wedding. It has been a while since they have had a good walleye dinner so we met wednesday night and had dinner.
Last night, for the first time in close to a week we were back out on the river with Aaron's Father joining us for the fun. The surface temp was 53.5 degrees and the water clairty was good if not excellent. Last nights program was nothing other than Nightstalker Pencil Plugs on a 20 upper and a 10 lower. Hot Color for the night was Red with Orange being the second best.
The small cold spell we had did cool the water down a bit but, the action was still hot. The silver bass bite was virtually non-existant and we had went 11 for 12 (walleye) in the hour and a half we were out. Both Aaron and Pops (Aaron's Dad) managed doubles. The only thing different with Pops Double was two nice walleye on one pencil plug. I was trying to get my camera ready. But, Pops was quick on the draw on got them in the boat before I could snap a picture.
Aaron and I will be back out again in the next couple of days. The South Dakota Crew is coming in near the end of the month. I hope the Silver Bass bite does not heat up before they get into town. Until my next report here is a picture of Aaron and his Father taken last night.

4-29-08
Hope everyone had a safe and successful trip on the river. I fished the river saturday evening with Chris a long time family friend and my father who had made the trip down from northern michigan. This was Chris's first detroit river handlining trip and have to say he did pretty good. (Even landed his first detroit river walleye on a handline setup.)
Unfortunately, I do not have a Surface Temp because I did not move it over from the other boat. Water Clarity was good and overall I would have to say we had a great night.
We got an early start because I wanted to give Chris a short lesson on the basics of handlining and let him get some time pulling wire in the daylight.
The program for the evening was #5 Vampire and #9 Clown on one reel and some Nightstalker Pencil Plugs on the other. I had wanted to cover both ends of the color spectrum by using Fluorecents and Dark Colors. I did make a couple of changes through out the night but overall my original setup had done well.
It would have been nice to come home with limits for each of us but, we did go 7 for 10. Considering we do not use a net losing a few fish goes with the program.

Until my next report here is a couple of pictures of the evenings catch including Chris with two nice fish:

4-26-08
Well, it has been 4 days since my last report. So here is the latest for you. Before I proceed with todays report I would like to congratulate Aaron. Over the winter he had taken classes and has obtained his 6 Pack Charter Captains License along with his 100 Ton Master and Towing endorsements. Great Job Capt. Aaron
As mentioned in my previous report Aaron has just wrapped up filming a Detroit River Handlining DVD which is the latest video in the Walleye 101 series produced by Capt. Don Sweet and his wife Victoria at Visual Films. I had dropped by the shoot for a while and have to say that Capt. Don and Victoria make the filming look so easy.
Capt. Aaron, Capt. Don and Victoria had a great trip on the river and filmed some great footage. This was Capt. Don's first time behind a handlining reel and have to say they did pretty good landing 9 nice Detroit River Walleye (and a few silver bass which were released...) I look forward to seeing the video after the editing is completed and the DVD is relased.
If you would like to see the extensive collection of other fishing videos produced by Capt. Don Sweet at Visual Films check out their website at: Visual Films
As far as the fishing goes, I received an unexpected call from Capt. Paul late last night with an invitation for what I can only say was a spur of the moment trip. After getting clearance from my wife I had met Paul at the ramp.
Paul has been fishing the lake quite a bit lately with success I might add. Not that I blame him but, last nights trip was his first handlining trip this spring. Not sure how we would do now that the Silver Bass moved. But, we had each caught our limit in a little over an hour and then called it a night. I have to say despite the Silver Bass moving in the walleye bite still remains very strong.
If you are hitting the river this weekend, the Surface Temp was 54 degrees and the Clarity was good to excellent. My father has come into town to enjoy some handlining this evening. I will post another report tomorrow and being you up to speed on the latest conditions.
Until then here are a few photos of Capt. Paul at Prowalleyecharters.com and two nice Lake Erie Walleye.

4-22-08
Sorry no fishing for Aaron or I this past weekend. We did hit the river last night for a few hours to pre-fish for a handlining DVD video that Aaron is filming today. (More details about this in the next day or two.)
Surface Temp taken in the middle of the river was 53.5 degrees which is up from the 47 Degrees that we had on Saturday evening on our way to the Annual Smelt Dip Outing with some local friends. Water clarity was holding up well.
Last nights program was still simple. #9 Rapala's and a Pencil Plug or two. No custom colors. Everything was off the shelf colors and patterns that you can easily find in the local Gander Mountain, Cabelas or local tackle shop like Bottom Line or Trenton Lighthouse. In the two hours we were out we had went 6 for 10. Aaron had lost 4 fish right at the back of the boat.
It is funny how things can change, I had lost a few fish last week and took a good ribbing for it too.
I hope to have a report from Aaron this evening and I will post an updated report tomorrow. Until then here is a picture of last nights catch. (Minus the one fish Aaron had landed.)

4-18-08
At the spur of the moment Aaron and I hit the river last night for a couple of hours. Surface Temp was around 48.5 degrees in them middle of the river and clarity was good.
The bite was definately a little different than tuesday evenings trip. We had went 5 for 9 running #7 and #9 Rapalas. We could not make anything happen with Pencil Plugs.
As long as mother nature cooperates this weekend should yield some great fishing. If you are planning a trip this weekend please have a safe and successful trip on the river. Until my next report here is a picture of Aaron with last nights catch.

4-15-08
Danny, Aaron and myself hit the river last night for a couple of hours. Overall it was a good yet bad night for us.
First the good part of todays report. The surface temp recorded middle river in front of the stacks was 45.8 degrees and was slightly cooler than the 47 degree reading I had on sunday.
Unlike the middle and upper areas of the river I think the water clarity has held up fairly well so far. Last night was no exception the water still pretty clean for you jig fisherman. If you are planning a trip this weekend I would expect the jig bite to remain strong considering the temps are still in the mid to upper 40's.
Now for the bad part of today's report. Each of us could have easily ended the trip with a limit. In the 1-3/4 hours we were out we managed to go 5 for 12. For some reason we lost eight fish that popped off just as we got them to the surface (near the back of the boat). The lack of stretch on the leads were more than likely the problem especially when you get them to the surface.
The problem may have been easily been resolved by running snubbers or downsizing leader test/diameter to 14lb instead of 20lb. Considering I did not have any snubbers or 14lb leaders with us there was not much we could do. Keep this in mind if your planning a trip and make sure you also sharpen or replace your hooks.
Last nights program was pretty simple. No custom colors. We are still running factory pattern/color Rapala Originals (#5, #7 and #9's) on 8' Lowers and 18' Uppers. (#5 Silver Minnow on a lower did a pretty good job.) We also did run a couple of factory Nightstalker Pencil Plugs and did catch a couple of fish. Based on the water temps and last nights results it will be a little bit of time before I change completely over to Pencil Plugs.
Until my next report here is a picture of Aaron and Danny with the fish we landed last night. It would have been nice to land the 8 fish we lost.....

4-14-08
Here is the latest information from the weekend. Other committments kept me (as well as Aaron) from fishing Friday and Sunday. I was able to sneak out for an hour or two on Sunday evening. The wind was pretty brisk out of the north, water clarity was good and the surface temp taken in the middle of river (in front of the stacks) was 47 degrees.
I made a short pass through and then took my boat for a nice run up river. We have been running Aaron's boat on all the trips so far. This was the first run of the year in my river boat and wanted to run through some of last years gas. Until my next report have a safe and productive trip should you make it out fishing.

4-10-08
Hope everyone is doing well. Aaron and I fished yesterday evening for a couple of hours. Surface temp mid river was 45 degrees and 48 within the Discharge area of the Edison Plant. Unfortunately, since we got a late start, past sunset I cannot give you an update regarding water clarity.
In the couple of hours we were out fishing we went 2 for 2 on #7 and #9 Rapalas with Clown again being the preferred color/pattern. Although I did have my camera I forgot to take a picture or two for you.
Tentatively we will be fishing over the weekend and will provide you with a report before the end of the weekend. With the current water temps and some conversations I had with a few anglers, this weekend maybe the start to more productive fishing.
Until my next report have a safe and productive trip on the river.

4-9-08
Other obligations kept me from fishing last night. However, today's report and information was supplied by my lifelong friend and fishing partner Aaron. The last time I spoke with Aaron was around 9:30pm and he had managed to put 3 nice walleye in the cooler.
Yesterday's surface temp was 43 degrees with clarity being fair to good. What is interesting about last nights trip is that the fish Aaron caught were taken on the lower lead. Not sure where we are at in the spawn. But, I believe the 3 degree increase in water temp has something to do with that. The 4 fish we caught Sunday were all on upper at 18-20 foot length.
I will update this report later today. Until then have a great day.

4-7-08
Hope everyone had a safe and successful trip on the river this past weekend. If you were not able to make it out this weekend don't fret there is going to be some great fishing to come over the next 7 days.
I fished both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's program was jigging with my good friend Capt. Paul Curmi of ProWalleye Charters. Capt. Paul had extended me an invitation Saturday morning and with how nice the weather was it was impossible me for to turn down.
Clarity was fair and the surface temps ranged from 39 to 40.5 degrees. Aside from one nice walleye that Capt. Paul the action was pretty slow, I did not wee too many nets dipped.
Sunday's program was a sunday evening handlining trip with Aaron. Clairity still remained fair to good with surface temps still hanging around 39-40 degrees at the middle of the river to 41.5 degrees within the discharge area.
In the 2 hours or so that we had fished we managed to go 3 for 4 on #9 Rapalas. All 4 were very healthy looking, milting males. With the weather forcast being favorable over the next week I would expect surface temps to rise in time for the weekend. If you have not hit the river this weekend may very well work out to be one of the best so far.
Until my next report here are two photos of last nights catch. We did not catch a large number of fish but, I feel we did well given the current (and Cold) temps.

4-3-08
Aaron and I had hit the river last night from 8:00 to 10:00pm, it was a nice night especially being one of the two boats out fishing.
Here is a quick update regarding conditions as they apply to the lower Detroit River/Trenton Channel. Water Clarity was good, surface temps in the middle of the river were 38.5 degrees (temp was 36 degrees on Sunday). Surface temp in the discharge areas was 42 degrees.
Until my next report have a great day and good luck should you hit the river.

4-2-08
No Report Today.
The Ramps are now in and its business as usually at the Elizabeth Park Launch.

3-31-08
FYI: The Trenton Lighthouse Bait Shop near the Elizabeth Park was open today. If you are launching at Elizabeth Park and do not want to make the trip down to Bottom Line this is the closest place for Bait.

3-30-08
ADDENDUM: I dropped by Bottom Line today for bait. Per Bill his new store hours effective 3-31-08 are 5:30am to 7:00pm, 7 days a week. I thought this was very important information which would help with your planning of future trips.....

3-30-08
As planned Aaron and I had hit the river or a few hours today. The east wind made boat control kind of challenging with a transom mount trolling motor.
There were 10 other boats out fishing the area around the stacks. During the 3 hours or so we were out today we did not see one fish landed. There was no floating ice and the water clarity was good. Surface temps ranged from 36 degrees in the middle to as high as 44.5 in the warm water discharge.
That is all I have for you today. Best of luck to you until next report.

3-28-08
I cannot believe that we are already looking at a another spring season on the Detroit River. It is amazing how time flies (for me) after my daughter was born almost 2 years ago. Unlike years past this is the first time in a long time that Aaron and I have not started fishing at the beginning of March.
Considering the weather has not been so cooperative, I do not feel so bad. The water temps were are seeing right now are very close to what we had experienced back in 2005.
I am vey excited to bring to you another season of information and hope that you use some of it to create great memories fishing with your family and friends.
Aaron and I are planning to hit the river for a couple of hours on sunday. If things go as planned I should have current Ice, Water Temp and Clarity as well as a picture or two for you at the beginning of the week.
Honestly there is not much to this report so I would like to end it with a quote:
"Instead of counting your days, make your days count. ~Author Unknown"
I started this site 5+ years ago as a personal website. The intent was simple it was simple and great way to share my trips and photos with out-of-state family and close friends. After receiving input from people that read my site it appeared that many enjoy reading my site so it has evolved to where it is at today.
Alot of change has occured for me over the last 3 years. My wife and I were married almost 3 years ago. Then we added our first child almost 2 years ago. Between these two events in my life I do not fish as much as I did when I started this site. However, I am committed to share what I can when I can.
I do my best to at least update my reports several times a week. (Preferably for the weekend) On the days I cannot make it out Aaron, Danny, Pops and the rest of the crew step up and provide some of the report information that I provide for you here.
I hope you can use some of it to make your days count.

Got Questions? Have a picture you want me to post? E-mail me at: downriveroutdoors@yahoo.com

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5-5-08

Aaron and I will be back out again in the next couple of days. The South Dakota Crew is coming in near the end of the month. I hope the Silver Bass bite does not heat up before they get into town. Until my next report here is a picture of Aaron and his Father taken last night.

4-29-08

Unfortunately, I do not have a Surface Temp because I did not move it over from the other boat. Water Clarity was good and overall I would have to say we had a great night.

We got an early start because I wanted to give Chris a short lesson on the basics of handlining and let him get some time pulling wire in the daylight.

It would have been nice to come home with limits for each of us but, we did go 7 for 10. Considering we do not use a net losing a few fish goes with the program.

Until my next report here is a couple of pictures of the evenings catch including Chris with two nice fish:

4-26-08

If you would like to see the extensive collection of other fishing videos produced by Capt. Don Sweet at Visual Films check out their website at: Visual Films

As far as the fishing goes, I received an unexpected call from Capt. Paul late last night with an invitation for what I can only say was a spur of the moment trip. After getting clearance from my wife I had met Paul at the ramp.

If you are hitting the river this weekend, the Surface Temp was 54 degrees and the Clarity was good to excellent. My father has come into town to enjoy some handlining this evening. I will post another report tomorrow and being you up to speed on the latest conditions.

Until then here are a few photos of Capt. Paul at Prowalleyecharters.com and two nice Lake Erie Walleye.

4-22-08

Sorry no fishing for Aaron or I this past weekend. We did hit the river last night for a few hours to pre-fish for a handlining DVD video that Aaron is filming today. (More details about this in the next day or two.)

Surface Temp taken in the middle of the river was 53.5 degrees which is up from the 47 Degrees that we had on Saturday evening on our way to the Annual Smelt Dip Outing with some local friends. Water clarity was holding up well.

It is funny how things can change, I had lost a few fish last week and took a good ribbing for it too.

I hope to have a report from Aaron this evening and I will post an updated report tomorrow. Until then here is a picture of last nights catch. (Minus the one fish Aaron had landed.)

4-18-08

At the spur of the moment Aaron and I hit the river last night for a couple of hours. Surface Temp was around 48.5 degrees in them middle of the river and clarity was good.

The bite was definately a little different than tuesday evenings trip. We had went 5 for 9 running #7 and #9 Rapalas. We could not make anything happen with Pencil Plugs.

As long as mother nature cooperates this weekend should yield some great fishing. If you are planning a trip this weekend please have a safe and successful trip on the river. Until my next report here is a picture of Aaron with last nights catch.

4-15-08

Danny, Aaron and myself hit the river last night for a couple of hours. Overall it was a good yet bad night for us.

First the good part of todays report. The surface temp recorded middle river in front of the stacks was 45.8 degrees and was slightly cooler than the 47 degree reading I had on sunday.

Until my next report here is a picture of Aaron and Danny with the fish we landed last night. It would have been nice to land the 8 fish we lost.....

4-14-08

4-10-08

Hope everyone is doing well. Aaron and I fished yesterday evening for a couple of hours. Surface temp mid river was 45 degrees and 48 within the Discharge area of the Edison Plant. Unfortunately, since we got a late start, past sunset I cannot give you an update regarding water clarity.

In the couple of hours we were out fishing we went 2 for 2 on #7 and #9 Rapalas with Clown again being the preferred color/pattern. Although I did have my camera I forgot to take a picture or two for you.

Tentatively we will be fishing over the weekend and will provide you with a report before the end of the weekend. With the current water temps and some conversations I had with a few anglers, this weekend maybe the start to more productive fishing.

Until my next report have a safe and productive trip on the river.

4-9-08

Other obligations kept me from fishing last night. However, today's report and information was supplied by my lifelong friend and fishing partner Aaron. The last time I spoke with Aaron was around 9:30pm and he had managed to put 3 nice walleye in the cooler.

I will update this report later today. Until then have a great day.

4-7-08

Hope everyone had a safe and successful trip on the river this past weekend. If you were not able to make it out this weekend don't fret there is going to be some great fishing to come over the next 7 days.

I fished both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's program was jigging with my good friend Capt. Paul Curmi of ProWalleye Charters. Capt. Paul had extended me an invitation Saturday morning and with how nice the weather was it was impossible me for to turn down.

Clarity was fair and the surface temps ranged from 39 to 40.5 degrees. Aside from one nice walleye that Capt. Paul the action was pretty slow, I did not wee too many nets dipped.

Sunday's program was a sunday evening handlining trip with Aaron. Clairity still remained fair to good with surface temps still hanging around 39-40 degrees at the middle of the river to 41.5 degrees within the discharge area.

Until my next report here are two photos of last nights catch. We did not catch a large number of fish but, I feel we did well given the current (and Cold) temps.

4-3-08

Aaron and I had hit the river last night from 8:00 to 10:00pm, it was a nice night especially being one of the two boats out fishing.

Here is a quick update regarding conditions as they apply to the lower Detroit River/Trenton Channel. Water Clarity was good, surface temps in the middle of the river were 38.5 degrees (temp was 36 degrees on Sunday). Surface temp in the discharge areas was 42 degrees.

Until my next report have a great day and good luck should you hit the river.

4-2-08

No Report Today.

The Ramps are now in and its business as usually at the Elizabeth Park Launch.

3-31-08

FYI: The Trenton Lighthouse Bait Shop near the Elizabeth Park was open today. If you are launching at Elizabeth Park and do not want to make the trip down to Bottom Line this is the closest place for Bait.

3-30-08

ADDENDUM: I dropped by Bottom Line today for bait. Per Bill his new store hours effective 3-31-08 are 5:30am to 7:00pm, 7 days a week. I thought this was very important information which would help with your planning of future trips.....

3-30-08

As planned Aaron and I had hit the river or a few hours today. The east wind made boat control kind of challenging with a transom mount trolling motor.

There were 10 other boats out fishing the area around the stacks. During the 3 hours or so we were out today we did not see one fish landed. There was no floating ice and the water clarity was good. Surface temps ranged from 36 degrees in the middle to as high as 44.5 in the warm water discharge.

That is all I have for you today. Best of luck to you until next report.

3-28-08

Considering the weather has not been so cooperative, I do not feel so bad. The water temps were are seeing right now are very close to what we had experienced back in 2005.

I am vey excited to bring to you another season of information and hope that you use some of it to create great memories fishing with your family and friends.

Aaron and I are planning to hit the river for a couple of hours on sunday. If things go as planned I should have current Ice, Water Temp and Clarity as well as a picture or two for you at the beginning of the week.

Honestly there is not much to this report so I would like to end it with a quote:

"Instead of counting your days, make your days count. ~Author Unknown"

I do my best to at least update my reports several times a week. (Preferably for the weekend) On the days I cannot make it out Aaron, Danny, Pops and the rest of the crew step up and provide some of the report information that I provide for you here.

I hope you can use some of it to make your days count.

Got Questions? Have a picture you want me to post? E-mail me at: downriveroutdoors@yahoo.com

Home

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