Hey Mac

[Rob LaMoy]

A few questions. I was looking over those maps this weekend. What is a "dumping ground". Seems to be on each map. I've heard in the great lakes where they can dump garbage so far off shore, is that it? Man I hope not. Talk about a way to encourage pollution. I did notice how shallow St Clair is. The deepest spot was only about 20 feet. A little different from what I'm used to hear. I have spots that litterally within a boat lenght the depth goes from 12 feet and weedy to a 60' drop off a bluff, and is covered with smallies. I also noticed they use a lot of live bait out there. Are the walleye safe to eat? Sounds like I may bump into some while prefishing.......at least I hope. Anyway, the bass islands map really got me excited. A couple of those off shore reefs look just like home and I can easily see some spots to key in on. How the largemouth bite in the marina's and docks in Sandusky? Worth pursuing or should I stick strictly with smallies on reefs?

 

[Bill McElroy]

When the Army Corps of Engineers was dredging hte shipping channels, all the bottom stuff they dug up was dumped in the so-called "Dumping Grounds",..they are no longer used and the bottom is mostly rock,marl,muck,weeds, etc..etc..

It's a Musky Haven and snag-city,......there's a lot of fish caught in those areas (all species), but plan on losing a lot of jigs if you fish there. We'll show you those areas when you get here. The reefs of the Bass Island area are a smallie heaven, but it's a looong run and you are at the weather's mercy if you plan on a run like that. Sandusky Bay is toooo far from Elizabeth Park to even consider running it. The walleye all over our system are fine for eating....in april when the walleye are in the rivers to spawn,..you can almost walk from MI to Canada from boat to boat!!..LOL. As far as the smallies for that Everstart,....stick to the main lake rock piles/reefs and shoals that we'll show you,..you can go to the "islands" too, but it's a long run and it all depends on the winds and whether or not you can make it....you'll need "good weather spots" and "lowsy weather spots"...the bass islands are deffinetely a "good weather" spot!!

Mac

 

[Rob LaMoy]

With so many islands, I should be able to find a spot easily to hide from the wind no matter which way it blows. I see lots of spots with potential but don't want to be going to community holes. We'll talk when I get there. I plan on putting some serious hours out there. Sun up to sun down for 2 or 3 weekends and the Monday and Tuesday before the tourney. How far are you from the ramp at Trenton? Is there anyone local who has a couch I can crash on? And it does look like the worst that can happen is a north wind. Just by looking a north wind would tear that area up!

 

[Bill McElroy]

Yes,..a north wind would be bad,...so is a South,..East and West!!!...LOL....It get's BAD from any direction when it get's above 20mph or so.....the waves get BIIIG,...you simply cannot compare Champlain to Erie or St.Clair until you've fished them, .....and that saturday of the '02 Rally on Champlain was pretty rough,...but it's NOTHING like Erie or St.Clair on a blow day!!!....I'm tellin'ya dude,..it get's bad,..and it get's bad fast!!! You can run outto the islands in the morning and it'll be flat,.....by noon you could be looking at 4 footers or more and if it's a east or west wind...you're going to have to run back for 2-3hours in that stuff,...all I can say is,.."It's not like ANYTHING you've ever fished before, so don't fill your mind with pre-concieved notions!!" We'll show you as much as possible when you get here and you can explore a ton of it on your own too,....I'm not going to be able to go with you all of the time but Mini might be able too,..we'll have to see. Just relax and come here with an open mind......we'll get you pointed in the right direction and show you the types of areas and structure and baits you'll need to concentrate on,....and you can go where ever you want if MaNature lets you! But until you see Erie on a bad day...you haven't even seen bad!! LOL

Mac

 

[Rob LaMoy]

So you fish Erie a lot too. How far is the Erie tourney from you? That one is in OH, can't recall the launch right now.

 

[Bill McElroy]

I don't fish Erie a lot,....probably 5-6 times a year depending on my schedule....I love it though,...will be fishing it more this year!! I'm a good 3 hours away from Sandusky Bay...maybe 4hrs.

 

[gone bye bye]

The Everstart is out of Port Clinton I believe.



Bass Islands are feasible from Port Clinton NOT from Trenton (unless it is absoultley flat and you have a good budget for gas).



I am 50 minutes from the launch in Trenton at 5:00am. Rush hour can make that a 2 hour trip. The roads are terrible and it puts ALOT of wear and tear on your boat/trailer driving it back and forth. There are campgrounds in the area. Contact local chamber of commerce.



Mini

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Think I will find someone to split a cheap room with. You're really only there a few hours a night to sleep. Anyone out there going? For the bass islands, I meant from the Erie/OH tourney. For the MI tourney, I intend to fish St Clair if possible. Want some of those monsters you guys keep braggin about.

 

[Bill McElroy]

For the MI tourney, you should fish the north shore of Erie if possible...there's some great spots between the mouth of the Detroit River all the way to Pt.Peelee.......i bet you 75% of that field will fish Erie.....they'll go to Clair if the wind blows.....there's all kinds of good stuff though...heck, you could get on a pattern in the river and never have to leave there,....and you'll be fine no matter what the weather does.....we'll hook ya up big dog...don't worry!! If Erie's fishable though,......9 times out of 10 the Erie fish will beat the 'Clair fish!!

 

[Rob LaMoy]

I still can't get over how shallow it is. I know the maps you sent only go out so far in the lake, but how far off shore do you have to get to get to some serious depth? In Champlain and George just south, there are spots that it's literally 100+ feet deep only 20 feet off shore. It's a sheer wall going into the water, but most spots, once you hit the channel only a mile out, it's 100-300 feet. Lake trout guys love it.

 

[Bill McElroy]

The deepest you'll need to fish anywhere you go is 22-24ft max!!(the shipping channels) I'd guess that most of your fish will come from 15-18ft. Some deep water in Erie is out there, but if you find a 15ft hump in 24ft....you've probably found the mother load!! LOL....

 

[Bill McElroy]

It's cool over here dude,..you'll love it,....a LOT of your baits/presentations and patterns on champlain will work fine here,...we'll get you keyed in on the structure elements to look for and how the fish relate to them and the currents and you'll be ready!!! Your Champlain experience will go a looong way here....there's just a few changes that you'll have to make and you'll be golden.

You'll have a HUGE advantage over the "reservoir guys" that come up here.....guys that fish just largeheads get spanked when they come up here....that's why guys from the north do so well when they go "south" to fish....we have to adapt to changes so often that it helps us when we go south....guys that fish only largeheads with 20lb line are totally screwed when they come up here......they can't even fathom catching a 5-7lb smallie on 10-12lb line,.....hell they can't even fathom using 12lb line period!!! LOL!!!

 

[Rob LaMoy]

I hear ya, you should have seen them during the FLW when I was throwing 6 and 8 lb test. They were blown away, ESPECIALLY when I started landing 4 lbers and they weren't getting bit. That ultra clear water leaves you no margin for error. I've had two identical rods and baits set up, one with 10 lb, and the other with 6, and the 10 lb wouldn't get bit at all, and I was nailing them on the 6.

 

[gone bye bye]

I used to think that here Rob....till I started spanking them on stuff that you wouldnt believe! When you get closer I will tell more and certainly NOT HERE....lol



Enough has gotten out that there is a guy doing seminars this year about stuff we have been using for years as secrets....and he doesnt even fish competitively!!!!!!!!!!



Mini

 

[Bill McElroy]

BTW Rob,.....I was chastised lasnite for saying,.."We'll show you everything",..from now on it'll be,.."He'll show you everything!!"...LOLOL!!!(You're KILLIN' ME Mini,..

now get that flight reservation made for FLA and don't forget to pack a few towels!!! LOL)

 

[Rob LaMoy]

You guys kill me! Just make sure that I don't end up in divorce court when I get back OK!

 

[Bill McElroy]

no promises,.LOL

 

[gone bye bye]

Divorce??? LOL Mac??? No way....too much fun razzing him trying to keep him grounded...lol



You should see us in a boat together....perma smile!



Mini

 

[Bill McElroy]

hahahha,.....Mini we have too much fun ALL THE TIME!! LOL

Kathy doesn't even bat an eye anymore when I tell her I'm going somewhere with you,......she KNOWS we're headed for trouble!!! LOL