Finally got out: Day 1: Had a couple free days this weekend, and finally able to get out to Lake Huron for a couple days. Had high expectations as this was the same time that I started...

The Outcast Loc: NE Michigan

Day 1:
Had a couple free days this weekend, and finally able to get out to Lake Huron for a couple days. Had high expectations as this was the same time that I started on Huron last year and had good success. Got to location that I fished last year , and water was a foot lower, and with the East wind of 10 mph, could not access exact location I had success in previous years. So backed off and fished a couple hundred yards away. Water was about 2-1/2 to 3 foot deep and clear as air, right at 64°. Area is all rocks, and I have had good success with Rebel craws and Rapala Dt 6’s in crawfish pattern, so that is what we went to. Made random casts for about and hour, with no hits. Just used electric motor to move around and hold position when I needed it. I could see all and there were no fish, but we were waiting for schools of roaming smallies. Finally a group came swarming over flats, and immediately my friend and I hook up. These fish hit them craws hard, and amazing how strong they are. I land mine, about 18” and 3lbs, but my buddy, who has not fished in 30 years, is hooked up to a much larger fish and it is total mayhem. Fish is in control, and he is just hanging on. He finally gets it close, but not ready, and it jumps right at boat and is gone. Big fish, over 20” and probably 5 lbs. He is dejected, but elated at what just occurred.
Such frenetic action after an hour of nothing has us fired up. I was able to land another 3 lber, but the fish were gone as quickly as they arrived. One more big school came thru about and hour later, and I was able to pick one off, buddy nothing. I had warned him about how you have to go toe to toe with these fish , and you really have to hammer the hooks home, but he was not prepared for the power of these fish.
So we fished maybe another hour, and in that time the wind did a complete 180° switch and increased to about 20 mph and basically blew us off spot. So we retreated to the river mouth, and using leeches on slip bobbers, we’re able to land 5 smallies to 3lbs and one 22” walleye. Wind was still howling but able to hang in for a couple hours. So not ideal conditions or results, we had fun and caught fish. New rig performed flawlessly and we had fun, nothing else matters!

Billy awesome Loc: New hampshire

Nice catches 👍😎

The Outcast Loc: NE Michigan

The Outcast wrote:

Day 1:
Had a couple free days this weekend, and finally able to get out to Lake Huron for a couple days. Had high expectations as this was the same time that I started on Huron last year and had good success. Got to location that I fished last year , and water was a foot lower, and with the East wind of 10 mph, could not access exact location I had success in previous years. So backed off and fished a couple hundred yards away. Water was about 2-1/2 to 3 foot deep and clear as air, right at 64°. Area is all rocks, and I have had good success with Rebel craws and Rapala Dt 6’s in crawfish pattern, so that is what we went to. Made random casts for about and hour, with no hits. Just used electric motor to move around and hold position when I needed it. I could see all and there were no fish, but we were waiting for schools of roaming smallies. Finally a group came swarming over flats, and immediately my friend and I hook up. These fish hit them craws hard, and amazing how strong they are. I land mine, about 18” and 3lbs, but my buddy, who has not fished in 30 years, is hooked up to a much larger fish and it is total mayhem. Fish is in control, and he is just hanging on. He finally gets it close, but not ready, and it jumps right at boat and is gone. Big fish, over 20” and probably 5 lbs. He is dejected, but elated at what just occurred.
Such frenetic action after an hour of nothing has us fired up. I was able to land another 3 lber, but the fish were gone as quickly as they arrived. One more big school came thru about and hour later, and I was able to pick one off, buddy nothing. I had warned him about how you have to go toe to toe with these fish , and you really have to hammer the hooks home, but he was not prepared for the power of these fish.
So we fished maybe another hour, and in that time the wind did a complete 180° switch and increased to about 20 mph and basically blew us off spot. So we retreated to the river mouth, and using leeches on slip bobbers, we’re able to land 5 smallies to 3lbs and one 22” walleye. Wind was still howling but able to hang in for a couple hours. So not ideal conditions or results, we had fun and caught fish. New rig performed flawlessly and we had fun, nothing else matters!

Day 1: br Had a couple free days this weekend, and... (show quote)

Day 2:
Same scenario as day 1.
Water temp dropped overnight from 64° to 57°. Fished for a couple hours and no fish on reef. I was able to muster up one nice bass, came out of 2’ of water. But like day 1, wind blew us off point and we retreated again to river mouth. We set up on a new location in river, a shelf that came up to about 8’ of water, and dropped off on one side to 25’. Tried some swim baits and small jigs with rubber but got nothing. Switched to slip bobber rigs and we started catching.
We caught several bass from 12-18”, and I landed a 5lb walleye.
So another good day. My buddy caught quite a few bass, but nothing big. He had a great time, as well as learned a lot.
I am planning on returning in a couple days, as soon as weather stabilizes. Rain and wind for last day and a half.

Wv mike Loc: Parkersburg area. Wv

That looks like fun

Billycrap2 Loc: Mason county,W(BY GOD) Virginia, 🇺🇸🦅

The Outcast wrote:

Day 1:
Had a couple free days this weekend, and finally able to get out to Lake Huron for a couple days. Had high expectations as this was the same time that I started on Huron last year and had good success. Got to location that I fished last year , and water was a foot lower, and with the East wind of 10 mph, could not access exact location I had success in previous years. So backed off and fished a couple hundred yards away. Water was about 2-1/2 to 3 foot deep and clear as air, right at 64°. Area is all rocks, and I have had good success with Rebel craws and Rapala Dt 6’s in crawfish pattern, so that is what we went to. Made random casts for about and hour, with no hits. Just used electric motor to move around and hold position when I needed it. I could see all and there were no fish, but we were waiting for schools of roaming smallies. Finally a group came swarming over flats, and immediately my friend and I hook up. These fish hit them craws hard, and amazing how strong they are. I land mine, about 18” and 3lbs, but my buddy, who has not fished in 30 years, is hooked up to a much larger fish and it is total mayhem. Fish is in control, and he is just hanging on. He finally gets it close, but not ready, and it jumps right at boat and is gone. Big fish, over 20” and probably 5 lbs. He is dejected, but elated at what just occurred.
Such frenetic action after an hour of nothing has us fired up. I was able to land another 3 lber, but the fish were gone as quickly as they arrived. One more big school came thru about and hour later, and I was able to pick one off, buddy nothing. I had warned him about how you have to go toe to toe with these fish , and you really have to hammer the hooks home, but he was not prepared for the power of these fish.
So we fished maybe another hour, and in that time the wind did a complete 180° switch and increased to about 20 mph and basically blew us off spot. So we retreated to the river mouth, and using leeches on slip bobbers, we’re able to land 5 smallies to 3lbs and one 22” walleye. Wind was still howling but able to hang in for a couple hours. So not ideal conditions or results, we had fun and caught fish. New rig performed flawlessly and we had fun, nothing else matters!

Day 1: br Had a couple free days this weekend, and... (show quote)

Looking good, nice one 👍🏽👍🏽Thank for the report and pictures 👍🏽👍🏽🎣🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐠🐠🐋🐋🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅

The Outcast Loc: NE Michigan

Was fun Mike.
I think the best is yet to come, I will update after next trip!
I am hooked on seeing the school is smallies coming up on the flats and basically ‘sight fishing’!
Been doing it on Lake Michigan and Huron for quite awhile. It is like a jolt of electricity when I see them coming!

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Nice job guys! You caught some really nice fish, too!
Have you tried tubes, or Ned rigs?

The Outcast Loc: NE Michigan

Billycrap2 wrote:

Looking good, nice one 👍🏽👍🏽Thank for the report and pictures 👍🏽👍🏽🎣🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐠🐠🐋🐋🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅

Thanks BC2!

Wv mike Loc: Parkersburg area. Wv

I’m gearing up for lake Eire largemouth myself around Marblehead Ohio.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Well done over there Outcast! Nice story about the action, setting, lures and challenging weather! Great photo spread too!

The Outcast Loc: NE Michigan

Wv mike wrote:

I’m gearing up for lake Eire largemouth myself around Marblehead Ohio.

Good luck Mike!

The Outcast Loc: NE Michigan

fishyaker wrote:

Well done over there Outcast! Nice story about the action, setting, lures and challenging weather! Great photo spread too!

Thanks Yaker! Good times!

The Outcast Loc: NE Michigan

OJdidit wrote:

Nice job guys! You caught some really nice fish, too!
Have you tried tubes, or Ned rigs?

Bottom is so rocky that it is tough to fish any king of jig, except where it gets deeper and you can fish straight down. I did try a Ned rig in the river on the 8’ shelf, but no takers, but they sure liked the jumbo leeches😎

Billycrap2 Loc: Mason county,W(BY GOD) Virginia, 🇺🇸🦅

Wv mike wrote:

I’m gearing up for lake Eire largemouth myself around Marblehead Ohio.

Good luck 🍀 Mike keep us in the loop with pictures 👍🏽👍🏽🎣🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐠🐠🐋🐋🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Billycrap2 wrote:

Good luck 🍀 Mike keep us in the loop with pictures 👍🏽👍🏽🎣🎣🎣🎣🐟🐟🐠🐠🐋🐋🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅

Excellent report Outcast! And some beautiful Smallies and Eyes. The great lakes are definitely on my bucket list. I can't even imagine seeing schools of big Smallmouth invading a flat, and sight fishing for them. I thought it only happened on TV. LOL
Thanks for the story and pictures.