9/18 - My wife and I went out for some Sturgeon fishing. We anchored above a well known hole and set up lines. Nice fish for only being out 2 hours. It was not long before I was able to hook up on this 46" fish.
A law enforcement boat as outside of us for at least 15 minutes in the channel idyling in neutral. Then he checked the boat anchored downstream from us, and then he left.
9/19 - We were out to try again. The bar has been set high this year with a 70" fish being taken this year by Little Bruiser, and our boat was still looking for our first 60" fish. Well this evening, we would boat almost zer fish. We got a couple small rockbass. I believe we lost a Sturgeon while we were setting up lines, as my 10 ft rod bent right over twice before I could get to it; and I know we lost another that pulled our rig right to the surface splashed right behind the transom and threw the hook. We pulled lines at midnight cause our wakeup times for work were approaching.
9/21 - After skipping a day, my wife and I made plans to go on Hienie's boat for some sturgeon fishing. But they canceled on us and we just went on my Dad's rig.
Our first fish landed was this 6.60 lbs Master Angler Redhorse (had MDNR biologist Mike Thomas ID it for me). Then another redhourse would tip the scale at 5.50 lbs. We rerigged the rod and finally we got the fish we had been looking for. A sturgeon bite, and the battle was on. This fish stayed right under the boat for most of the fight. Then it made a run out toward the middle of the channel. I pulled the fish toward the boat and got a good look at it and knew it was a very nice fish. It made another long run downstream, and I was a bit worried for a second as there was another boat anchored up down there and I did not want to have my fish wrap in their anchor line. But the fish stopped it's 100 ft run on the linecounter and I was able to start gaining line again. After about a 10-15 minute battle, I was able to pull the fish into neting range. I handed the rod to my wife, grapped the net, and struggle a bit to get the fish into the hoop. After some giggling, it fell into the meshing. I got the fish on top of the swim platform, and pulled it up and thru the transom door. Camera and scale ready we took a few shots of the fish and got a length and girth of 64" x 26".
DNR chart put the fish at 69 lbs.
I was a bit worried about the release of this fish, as I usually am able to hold the fish and climb onto the swimplatform at the same time, and I did not want to fall in. This time I needed a bit of help from my wife and I was able to get the fish into the water. After only a few seconds, the fish wanted my to let go, and I did and it swam off into the middle of the channel.
We would miss one other Sturgeon bite this evening at 11:50pm, as the fish pulled the rig and surfaced right beside the boat. We would pull lines at midnight and head for home.
9/23 My wife and I would take out some relatives for some more night Sturgeon. We would have one quality rip as everyone on the boat saw the 10 ft rod bounce over three times and then there was nothing there.
9/27 My dad and I would take out his hunting friend Al who owned a nice chunk of land that we deer hunt in the U.P. We must have anchored in RockBass city was we would go thru 4 cans of 18 nightcrawlers (72 worms) in about 2 hours. Luckly one of the fish we would hit was a Sturgeon. We let Al bring it to the boat. Half way thru the battle, it made an impressive jump right beside us. And for just about all the battle this fish wanted to be right under our transom. It wrapped the line in the outdrive once, wrapped the out drive again this time making a long run a fraying all the line on the rod. The line would hold up and we were able to land this 52" fish.
9/29 and 9/30 Fall muskie slam Hienie moved his rig from Algonac Harbor Club to the 9-mile tower area. He asked me to fish the fall slam and I could not say no.
Saturday we just could not find an area with no sufrace weeds. Finally over by the Thames around 2pm we found a spot and popped 2 fish and lost a nice rip. We pulled lines and ran over the the rabbit ears. Fished over there for a while with no good results. Trolled toward the dumps and pulled a smaller fish over there at dark. 3 for 4 ended the long day with the largest fish going about 45".
Sunday was a really fun day for us. We set up along the south shore and popped a few fish, and then a double. We decided to make a long troll toward the Ruscom and see want was over that way since Saturday it was all weeded up. We went a while with nothing and what we thought was too clear water. Then the water clouded up a bit right off the Ruscom. We had two false releases. Guys were working the boat when an out rod started ripping out drag, I jumped up and grapped it. I cought a glimps of it at the surface and knew it was a nice fish. It made a long run and then stopped. We were able to slow the boat down and I started gaining on it fish. The fish made another run to the side of us. I started to gain on the fish again and everyone was pumped. We could see the sinker, but the fish was swimming below and we could not see it. Finally it came up and after two more rod pumped the fish hit the net. We measured it out and it was a 49-50" fish, the guys got a girth on it, but I forget the measurement. This fish came at 11:40am. We trolled a bit more after the measure-in was closed. We popped another fish and then another large fish was take a board rod. We knew it was big, as it came clear out of the water when it struck. Greg was up and was able to get this fish to the boat. It went 49". We called it a day going 7 for 7.
Fun last two weeks, now I got to start collecting on some of the overtime my work is allowing me to do.
Thanks Winnie for the RP2 rods and Hienie for the ride over the weekend.
Mike
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