They aren't the only ones. There were two other shows (that I know of) shot here last year. Only one of them didn't say, "this week we're on Lake St. Clair…" but if you knew where they were, or were out there fishing the same spot, you know exctly where they were.
Between the shows and illegal guides, this is quite the popular lake.
"Chasin50" said:
The begining of the end…
We've talked about this before Chad. I think this lake is five years away from being comparable to Mille Lacs where you pull up to Grassy Island at night and all you hear is the clanking of double 10's and you get in line to take your turn. This lake has always been a muskie fishery, but it's been considered just for trollers. That's changing. It's on the map.
I'll admit, I got myself stationed back here again for the sake of fishing muskies. So yeah, I'm an inport and I do consider myself a guest here, and I don't consider this my home water. If this is my home water, then so are the rivers and ocean of Kodiak and western WA. I guess I'm a fishing gypsie. But I don't advertise what's going on here. I don't post pics on M1st or even on LSCN. I posted some here a few weeks ago, and I'll admit again, that was my vanity getting the better of me. But between the TV shows being shot here, Spencer and Bob's fish from last year (and congrats to them for it) and the illegal guides that everyone knows are working here and writing thinly veiled articles in MH about LSC, this place is on the map.
That said, you'll always have guys that think that the entirity of LSC is on 4 Mile and you'll get shot at at the boat ramp. And the guys that want to go see eagles and spruce trees while they fish won't come here. I think it'll be a while and maybe never that LSC has the same draw as Mille Lacs, Leech or Canada, but in the three season I've been here, I've seen a difference in the amount of casters on the lake and the publicity this lake has gotten. I've gone from seeing one or two other local casters that I know to now avoiding crowds at all costs and finding fish in new places.
But again, I'm a guest here, so my opinion may not even matter. In fact, some may even say I'm one of the uninvited whordes crowding the lake. I hope not. I try to contribute and give back to the lake and community that has made me feel welcome and shown me some great fish. But the fact remains that Schram, Pete, Dave Mercer, Spencer, Jim Saric, etc al are in the business of muskies and LSC is good for business. Can't fault them. And if it's any consolation, MN, WI and Canada have all survived the crowds. Ask the lifelong residents of Isle, MN how they feel about the crowds.
Jeff, you are funny! A gypsy, a whore, etc. HAHA!! Me personally? I don't consider you any of these things. And as long as you're here in MI, you ARE a Michiganianite! [smilie=2thumbsup.gif]
On another note, maybe the publicity of LSC can be good for the state's muskie fishery as a whole. If somehow we can prove that people are spending their vacation money to come from other states, and that residents are spending good amounts of money here, than maybe it can show the "powers that be" that it WOULD be good to protect lakes that can grow 55+"ers; lakes that can be self-sustaining. [smilie=2c.gif]
DNR fishery staff has said for years that Michigan has all the potential of being the #1 muskie fishery in the US with LSC being the big bonus fishery. We just need the funding, hatchery culture facilities, and forage production resources to fully develop the program. That said, LSC is beacon light of the muskie fishery that the DNR can always point to and LSC will be the motivation of the future program with the genetics now on the way. Fortunately LSC is large enough to sustain the fishing pressure now that your CPR education has taken hold.
The End? Good lord you guys. St Clair will be putting out big Muskies long after our Kids best our biggest fish. I have yet in 12 years to even fish half of it once. The Idea that its going downhill is way off base. So what a few casting spots are getting pounded. Move. There are hundreds of miles of shorelines to cast and both rivers. We just caught two personal bests last year and since 2006 this lake has only gotten better. The number of small fish caught on the south shore was record high showing that new year classes are coming up. This is all good news.
As for Illegal guides that the D.N.R'S job to bust them. A Captains license Like Chad has is required. If they dont have one they can lose their boats. Turn them in if you know who they are. Im sure the legal charter boat Captains will be glad to see them go.
Its a huge lake guys and a dangerous one at that. The Hordes you speak of simply dont have the savvy or big enough boats to make a dent in this fishery. Most show up once and get tossed around by huge waves and never come back. Lake St. Clair will take care of itself. Mike
"Kingfisher" said:
Its a huge lake guys and a dangerous one at that. The Hordes you speak of simply dont have the savvy or big enough boats to make a dent in this fishery. Most show up once and get tossed around by huge waves and never come back. Lake St. Clair will take care of itself. Mike
Tell that to the guys on Mille Lacs or the bass guys on Erie. Plenty of boats there getting tossed and banged up and they come back for more. There's plenty big water lakes with high fishing pressure.
And I don't think anyone is talking about the actual decline of the lake. It's the "end" of the lake as we know it that they're referring to. Casting spots aren't as prevalent as you might think, and the difference in crowds and boats on a spot is noticable even in the last three years.
I had a "secret" spot shown to me by a caster I respect immensely. It's a small little spot in the middle of nowhere. And it was only "secret" in that he told me he'd never seen another muskie fisherman there. (There are no secret spots.) Last year I got there several times only to see three or four boats on it.
No it's not the end of the world by any means. And yes, the lake will do fine. But one reason I love fishing here is because compared to other water I've fished, LSC has been relatively low casting pressure.
Muskie fishing has been growing like crazy since I've been getting into it the past 6 years, it is no surprise to me that St Clair is getting casting pressure now more than ever. Heck I'm one of those guys who will now be spending 5-7 days a year casting it that wasn't there 6 years ago. To me it still beats waiting in line to work a shoreline on Murray, but I haven't been spoiled with low pressure world class fisheries! Not trying to rub anybody the wrong way but it is what it is.
"Scott Williams" said:
…but I haven't been spoiled with low pressure world class fisheries! Not trying to rub anybody the wrong way but it is what it is.
Nah, I totally agree. This lake will spoil you in more than one way. One thing I see are guys that have only ever fished LSC, they catch some nice fish and think they're muskie greats. And in all seriousness, I'm not referring to any one person or people. But I've heard guys who've been muskie fishing for less than three or four years say that they want to get into guiding. There's alot of guys that do well on LSC that coudln't get a follow on Vermillion or Eagle. I consider myself a slightly above average muskie fisherman; good but not great. And I never take a single day on LSC for granted because I know that same day would be 3x as hard in many other bodies of water.
You also get spoiled on the pressure. There have always been community spots, and there's still out of the way spots you can go and see more fish than boats. I love pulling into Harley on a Saturday in November and seeing 10 trucks there. Pull into a ramp on Tonka on a Tuesday in November and you're parking in the street.
I think the quality of fishing on LSC is peaking. The quality of the fish and the quality of the experience are at a crossroads right now that make for amazing fishing….and yeah, I'm spoiled to it. I'm going back to MN this summer for two weeks and I fully expect to be brought back to earth as far as how hard muskie fishing can be.
"esoxfly" said:
But I've heard guys who've been muskie fishing for less than three or four years say that they want to get into guiding. There's alot of guys that do well on LSC that coudln't get a follow on Vermillion or Eagle.
I agree. There are some guys who would kill themselves if they had to fish Thorn for a week. 🙄
The MMA members know well who the best muskie fishers are and where to contact them. Unfortunately the uninformed public may go with a LSC ego newby muskie guide and return with a unfavorable trip. This is where MMA education and networking comes in to help the public and direct them to the best captains we know. LSC fishing conditions, DNR boat licensing, and real life economics will weed out some of the amateurs.
In our Whitehall/Montague area we have a well known charter captain that built a whole business on a long massive PR BS campaign to the point the DNR takes his trip reports with a grain of salt to not bias the port data. We'll see what happens after this local BS character accidentally catches a muskie on Hamlin Lake and becomes instant muskie expert.
But I've heard guys who've been muskie fishing for less than three or four years say that they want to get into guiding. There's alot of guys that do well on LSC that coudln't get a follow on Vermillion or Eagle.
LOL seriously?
Never fished vermillion, but Eagle i had a follow on the first island rock shoal i ever fished. Maybe i was lucky, but i think Shield lakes are much easier to fish than any other style muskie lake
"swanezy" said:
But I've heard guys who've been muskie fishing for less than three or four years say that they want to get into guiding. There's alot of guys that do well on LSC that coudln't get a follow on Vermillion or Eagle.
LOL seriously?
Never fished vermillion, but Eagle i had a follow on the first island rock shoal i ever fished. Maybe i was lucky, but i think Shield lakes are much easier to fish than any other style muskie lake
Yep, heard it more than once.
As far as MN and shield, I agree that they can be easier to fish and see fish but the fish themselves are often harder to catch.
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