Non-yak, non-CA, non-pictorial - Auburn Hills MI 6/5

Here's a cut and paste from the RiverSmallies forum, where I've mostly lurked for the past 4 years.

Thanks to a PM from another member, I hit a tributatary of the Clinton after work today. The first spot was pretty thin water, and I only had one grab by a small fish and missed it. Probably because I was using a double tailed grub that was too big. Nothing else after that. The second spot had a nice hole, and I had two fish on my first two casts. Nothing special, a 15" and 10" fish, but they were my first MI Smallies. The hole got worn out after that, so while I had some definite grabs after those two casts, nothing stuck. I eventually gave up and called it an evening. The water seemed to be at a normal level, temp was 70 ish, as measured by calibrated finger, and was quite clear. When I arrived last night from Saint Louis, I was so glad to get out of the 90 degree heat. How hot was it today in Auburn Hills you ask? 90 degrees and just as humid. Tomorrow is another day, and I may just hit a local lake for largemouth.


Thanks to you all,
Scott

P.S. The successful lure was a Yamamoto 5" double tailed grub, thought a 4" Senko also had fish interested, but no takes. Rigged Texas style either weightless, or with a 1/16 oz weight.

Well that post was almost as creepy as a lurker, Scott!      Just kidding, JK as the kids say/type.     My version of that post would have a story of at least a head dip, and probably full on swimming while fishing - that's too hot/humid.    ...and of course there'd be pics and a video, but I'm doing pretty good on the visuals after your last field guide shots - that helped!   

Keep on fishing, Bro!   

I hope you're keeping a journal (other than internet stuff!). 

Ok, I'll get a little pictorial

Two things that surprised me were that there were Carp in the flowing portions of the river, along with Yellow Perch. I've always associated Carp with still waters, or water where the current was really slow. I was surprised to see Yellow Perch, because i've never seen Yellow Perch in the wild before. The Perch seemed to be very shy, more so than the Carp. Tossing a 1/80 oz jig with a Wax Worm just made them swim in the other direction. Throwing Wax Worms alone made them swim in the other direction. But at this point, I think the hole had been worn out.


Yellow Perch

I also saw a very good sized turtle. Overall tip of snout to tail was over 18". The shell itself was oval and about 12" by 10". It turns out it was one of these guys:


Spiny Soft Shelled Turtle

Sadly, this internet reporting is the only journal I keep. So unfortunately for you guys, you get to see a lot of not-so-generally-pertinent stuff. I do try to keep it either funny or informative though. Well, as best as I can, at least. I'll hit the ocean pretty soon, and it looks like Kodiak as well, so my reports should be getting better.

Oh, one last FYI - MI 24 hour non-resident license $7, Annual non-restricted (includes Trout and Salmon) $42, Annual restricted $34

Time to sleep,
Scott

Oh, one last FYI - MI 24 hour non-resident license $7, Annual non-restricted (includes Trout and Salmon) $42, Annual restricted $34

What about MO I'm leaving tonite??

I do try to keep it either funny

???

mickfish,

MO charges $7 a day as well. See my last post in the Schuylkill thread - I put it there just for you

Sitting in O'Hare right now, left MI 12 hours early. If I'm not too travel-stupid, I'll hit the NF American for an hour or so on the way home

Scott

Thanks scott

We used to get yellow perch by tying bright colored plastic flags to the anchor line, just above the bottom, and tear 'em up. I dont know why, but it attracts them big-time. One after another, very tastey too.

Ben,

I've heard that Yellow Perch are supposed to be very tasty. I'd think the ones caught in the winter through ice would be especially so. I've also heard that there is a population in the Klamath drainage, specifically Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs. Maybe one of these years on an upper K trip, I can see if the Perch will cooperate.

Scott

I've also heard that there is a population in the Klamath drainage, specifically Iron Gate and Copco reservoirs. Maybe one of these years on an upper K trip, I can see if the Perch will cooperate.

...hopefully those dams will be removed by then.   

(political tangent-threadjack of the week   )

Frankly, the rafter in me wouldn't mind Copco staying in place, but with flows managed in such a way that there aren't any more fish die offs. It's my guess that there are enough tributaries downstream of Copco to support a vibrant Salmon population. And the upper Klamath from Copco down to Bestwick at one turbine is one hell of a ride.

(And yes, I'm on my second contrarian post of the week, but I've been really good for months)

When I was growing up in MI we used Corn bores for the Yellow perch and Blue gills.   Just trying to help.  The best blue gills out here are in the spill way to Hidden valley lake.  Had three last summer that weighted 2.25 lbs