Muskie Charters
Summer - Fall Trolling: Trolling for muskie in Lake St Clair is a very unique due to the size of the lures and the speed that the baits are trolled at. Charter anglers use bait-casting reels on 7-10' medium-heavy action rods, 20lb test line. Shock leaders (18-20lb test) are often used. Trollers use a variety of techniques, including flat-lining with surface plugs and wieghted boat rods. Planer boards are especially useful to get baits away from the boat because Muskies can be spooked by boat noise.
Perch Charters
Spring - Fall Jigging: Spin cast, bait cast, or spinning reels on light-medium action, 5-6' rods, with 6-8lb test line. Low-stretch lines work especially well. The most common technique is to use a 2-way spreader with #4-#6 long-shanked, snelled hooks tipped with shiners and a 3/4- to 1-ounce sinker. Jigging the spreader periodically gives the shiners some movement and usually entices a bite.
Smallmouth Bass Charters
Summer Casting: Bait cast, or spinning reels on medium-heavy action, 5-6' rods, with 6-12lb test line. Low-stretch lines are preferred by many bass anglers. Popular jigging lures include 2-5" tube baits, twister tails, hair jigs, and spoons. Casters use a variety of plugs in both fish and crayfish patterns. Live-bait fishing with shiners or crayfish is especially effective during the late-summer and fall months, with a #2-#4 snelled hook below a 3/8-3/4-ounce sinker and barrel swivel. |
