Well, I had next to no time up my sleeve but felt the itch (actually it was more of an acute pain) to head north and see if I could repeat last year's joy of getting a steel swinging a smelt pattern. Of course, my selection of smelt patterns had increased substantially and I just needed a place to fish. According to the DNR the run was pretty much done so I didn't go with high expectations. I left work just after lunchtime and headed straight up to the mouth of my favorite north shore swinging location. I arrived just as day was beginning to fade and immediately broke out the ten foot Scott ARC loaded up with a seven weight.
Unfortunately things just never looked "fishy" and once a few guys turned up and began seining the rivermouth I knew my chances were dashed. Still, what a great way to spend an evening! I spent the night in the back of the new minivan and loved it. I was warm and all the rods were rigged up and ready to go, right there beside me. Morning rolled around and I just slipped into waders and hit the stream. This time though I hit the Split Rock River. Again the temperature was warm and although I'm sure there were a few fish in all I could must was a few suckers. I must admit I was chuckNducking and I was pleased to learn that the technique works well to fish a little spot on the river I've never been able to work very well with an indicator set up. The fact that I was banging suckers at this point means that a week earlier I would have been hitting steelhead before the "changing of the guards". It's all a learning experience and hopefully I'll be able to apply that information next year.
On the way home I checked out the Sucker River. There was a looper tucked right into a rock and I'm sure I could have jagged it without much effort but decided that just wasn't the "fun" I was looking for. It was a warm day with the sun high overhead and not a cloud in the sky so after casually plying the stream down to the lake I headed back to the van and skipped the short drive down to the French River hatchery. I had a good talk with the biologist there and was even invited to help release some of the spawned out loopers and steelhead (which was awesome) but I knew I was done fishing on this trip.
I did stop in and check Great Lakes Flyshop and picked up some nice patterns and got some good information, before hitting the road and heading back to work. All in all it was a short and sweet trip, and more to keep up the annual tradition than to actually target fish, but sometimes that's what it's all about. The north shore is a special place to fish for steelhead, but if simply catching steelhead is all you're about you should stay away and head for Lake Michigan or Lake Eerie Tribs. I'll be back again next year I'm sure.
A cozy fishbum camp
Slight overkill but the technique pulls fish out
Steelhead and Loopers in the French River holding tanks
A couple of shots of the Sucker River
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