2010 Fishing Report
| 2010 St. Mary's River Fishing Report for Sault Ste. Marie Area |
|
Greetings fellow fishermen, and thanks for visiting our 2010 fishing report! Please stop back regularly to view the most accurate, up-to-date, no bull fishing report for the trout and salmon fisheries found throughout the St. Mary's River system.
Tight Lines,
Captain Travis White St. Mary's Guide Company December 2010 Fishing Report Update: Ice fishing action has been pretty steady this winter, thus far, with lots of good perch and panfish action happening early. We're currently waiting patiently for some good ice on Lake Superior and access to some of the hottest Lake Trout action of the season (more to come on that!). Some of the Lk. Superior tribs have also been producing mixed catches of Rainbows, Coho, and Browns. Eric was pretty pumped to catch a couple of trophy browns up in the Keweenaw earlier this month. Pics:
Late Summer RecapFishing Report Update: Check out the pics below from a number of late August fishing excursions. As mentioned previously, this year's Chinook Salmon run was an extreme disappointment. However, some good days were had on Northern Lake Huron. BTW... Don't forget to check out the gift certificates tab at the top of this page! We are proud to offer custom gift certificates for your favorite fishing comrades and those special fishermen in your lives.Pics:
October 31-November 15, 2010Water Temp: 46-49F Fishing Report Update: There's never a lack of outdoor opportunities in the fall of the year. Sometimes its tough to choose between spending a nice afternoon in the woods kicking up grouse or on the water swinging flies for some of the cold-blooded toothy critters. Nonetheless the fall is a great time to spend outside in nature, taking in all of the sounds, sights, and smells before they are cloaked by winter's lifeless grips. Hopefully you enjoy some of the fall colors in the pics below. Tight lines! BTW... Don't forget to check out the gift certificates tab at the top of this page! We are proud to offer custom gift certificates for your favorite fishing comrades and those special fishermen in your lives.Pics:
October 1-October 15, 2010Fishing Report Update: To all of you who have loyally followed our fishing reports, I'd like to apologize for the large gap in reporting. It was a very sad and disappointing fall season on the St. Mary's for King salmon. We're currently working on compiling pics from late August and early September to recap the successful outings that we had despite extremely poor conditions. These pics will be posted below sometime in the future along with some comments explaining our thoughts on this poor fishing.
On a more positive note, some of the R&D into other fisheries this Fall is starting to pay off in the most exciting way! Despite the St. Mary's River's reputation for trout and salmon, it is also home to an abundance of other great fishing opportunities, some of which are very unique! Perhaps one of the most exciting opportunities available throughout the year is Musky fishing. Thanks to a growing catch and release angling community and improved management practices, there is a growing abundance of healthy Muskies in the St. Mary's River that can be targeted year-round. However, Fall is most notably recognized as a time when this fishery really peaks and gives anglers opportunities at trophy fish! Stay tuned to hear more about this fishery.
Pics:
August 13- August 19, 2010Fishing Report Update: Same ole story... But.... water temps have now dropped down to the mid 60's (66-68F) as a result of heavy rainfall and cooler overnight temperatures. It is time to see a few more fish. In the meantime, the St. Mary's Guide Co. has been doing some R&D with other local fisheries. Stay tuned for more on these explorations and for further updates for the St. Mary's River. August 2- August 12, 2010Fishing Report Update: Unfortunately, not much has changed during the past week. Water temps remain between 71F and 72F, which has and continues to adversely affect the trout and salmon fishing on the St. Mary's. Hopefully these hostile conditions will give way to some productive fall King fishing very soon. The first Kings have already arrived in the St. Mary's, though there are not yet targetable numbers. We will keep you updated! We'd like to extend a special thanks to the Great Lakes Fly for supplying us with some fantastic patterns for Atlantics and Kings! Watch for pics to come soon. In the meantime, check out their website at www.greatlakesfly.com.
July 7-August 1, 2010Fishing Report Update: Well folks, my apologies for what has been a very long, long time (perhaps long enough that some of you may have thought that the river evaporated!) since reporting on the fishing conditions in the St. Mary's River. Unfortunately, my report for the past several weeks is... well... less than cheerful. With water temps ranging from 68-72F during the past month, there has been little hope for the trout and salmon fishing. Early to mid July was characterized by a ton of angling effort for very few fish. Since then, the finicky Atlantics haven't even been seen smashing smelt on the surface, which is a typical post-hatch pattern. The good news is this, it's now August, and the King Salmon season is about to begin! The first chrome bruisers to hit the river are always good for some of the most epic, heart-pounding, reel-screaming, adrenaline-filled battles of the year! Watch our report closely for updates, as we'll be the first to know when the mighty kings are in and the first to let you know. It is anticipated that prime dates for Kings will fall between mid August and early September. These dates are already filling up quickly! If you think you want to try fishing the St. Mary's for Kings with us this season, don't wait to book. If you book now and the fishing isn't happening then, we will happily reschedule for a better time. In the meantime, we're enjoying some of the other fine fishing options here on the St. Mary's (walleye, smallmouth bass, pike, perch, etc...). Evenings have been very productive for good numbers of nice walleyes along with the occasional northern and smallmouth. Though these fish don't fight like a mad trout or salmon, they certainly keep the lines tight while waiting for the next good thing to come. Pics: As promised...
June 22-July 6, 2010The St. Mary's Guide Company now has a brand new boat in service ready to accommodate our guests! Come fish with us in our 18' Lund and fish in one of the finest boats on the water, armed with top-notch electronics, the quality fly fishing gear you need to catch fish, and friendly, knowledgeable guides ready and able to put you on fish! Fishing Report Update: The fishing during the past couple weeks has been decent overall. Water temps are climbing fast, currently sitting at 65F, and the Mayfly hatches have reached their peak intensity this past week as a result of warmer weather and water temps. There are still good numbers of smelt present in the river. Both whitefish and herring are being taken in good numbers throughout the river. Fishing pressure and boat traffic have been intense and are both contributors to tougher fishing conditions at times. Please don't be alarmed by our lack of updates during the past two weeks, as we've been spending lots of time on the water with clients. "Catch and Release fishing is a lot like golf. You don't have to eat the ball to have a good time." June 15-21, 2010The St. Mary's Guide Company is currently in the process of equipping a brand new boat (2010 Lund Explorer Sport 1825) in order to expand our fleet and allow us to better accommodate our guests. Book with us and enjoy the benefits of the latest equipment and electronics available on the market. This boat will provide an ideal platform for fly fishermen and will be able to comfortably handle up to two fly casters. More info and pics to come soon. Fishing Report Update: This past week has seen a continuation of good fishing for Atlantic Salmon on the St. Mary's River for some. Water temps are lingering in the range of 56-58F. The fly hatches are still building up and will likely peak in coming weeks. There do not appear to be large quantities of Atlantics in the river yet at this time, but the fish that are here are averaging a very respectable size and are eager to strike. Remember--"Love 'em and leave 'em!" Pics:
June 7-14, 2010Fishing Report Update: Water temps have cooled down slightly (ranging from 54-55F), following a fair amount of rain and some cooler weather this week, with daytime highs in the low 60's to low 70's. The river is still very low compared to past seasons, and, consequently, current conditions have been unstable due to strictly regulated power generation. Current conditions and fishing tend to be best during peak generation times (8am-5pm, Monday-Friday). Nights and weekends have been low-flow periods, concentrating angling pressure and creating tough fishing conditions for all current-relating species. Behind the Edison Soo hydroelectric plant, anglers have been catching whitefish on both spawn and flies. The shad fly hatches are beginning to pick up. Mayflies have been hatching in the warm bays on the St. Mary's, suggesting that hatches in the Soo Area will be starting in the near future. A stable pattern of warm weather will launch the bug hatches into full swing. There are fair numbers of Atlantic Salmon in the river at this time, though they are fairly dispersed as a result of unstable flows. We had a great outing this past weekend and took several very nice salmon on cast flies. The fish we are seeing so far this year are in absolutely prime condition and are disproportionately heavy for their length. We are seeing good numbers of 3 1/2 (left or right ventral fin clip) and 4 1/2 (right pectoral fin clip) year old fish, ranging from 8-12 lbs. We would like to once again stress the benefits of catch and release angling and the impact that it has on our fishery. Lets quickly look at our fishery by the numbers. On an typical year, the LSSU Aquatic Research Laboratory plants 20,000-25,000 1 1/2 year old Atlantic Salmon, which average rougly 6-8" in length. These fish eventually leave the St. Mary's River and disperse throughout Lake Huron and even Lake Michigan. These fish are targeted and harvested by sportsmen and commercial charters as they rapidly grow and mature. Those that aren't eaten by predators or harvested then migrate back to the St. Mary's River (usually 2 1/2 year old fish and older) where they spend their summer months (June-September) prior to spawning (most likely 3 1/2 year old fish and older) in October and November. Roger Greil, Aquatic Research Lab Manager, has suggested that 5-10% of the 20,000-25,000 fish planted on any given year make it back to the St. Mary's River as adults. Unlike Pacific Salmon, the Atlantic Salmon is not predisposed to mortality upon completing its spawning run. After spawning, the spent salmon (Kelts) stay in the river system for several months, some of them through late May. These post-spawn fish create a very exciting and important spring fishery that sometimes lasts up until the point where a fresh group group of mature fish returns to the St. Mary's river from Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. What I am trying to suggest is that the best way to enhance the Atlantic Salmon fishery that we have here on the St. Mary's River is to practice catch and release (and selective harvest as necessary) and to not kill the mature fish that return to grace the lines of many! Every fish that is killed is one less fish that you or others might have the great pleasure of hooking into and battling. With a limited amount of resources available to continue stocking the St. Mary's River with Atlantic Salmon, what we need to do as fishermen in order to increase the number of fish available to us to pursue and catch is allow them to grow up, spawn, and return again in subsequent years. The better the survival rate of older fish, the more year classes of fish available to us in the river in future seasons, which creates the incredibly awesome fishing opportunities that make the St. Mary's River a world-class fishery. I can't speak on behalf of every fishermen out there, but when it comes to fishing, I like to catch fish! That is my main objective as a sportsman and fishing guide, and I believe that in order to catch more fish it is imperative not to kill every single one that graces my lines. In my opinion, the value of any sportfish as noble as the Atlantic Salmon is much greater when the fish is alive than when it is served on a platter. At the end of a successful day on the water, I am most grateful for the opportunity to pursue (with such good odds of multiple encounters each trip out on the water) such a wild and fierce creature, the epic battle royales filled with explosive leaps and screaming runs rivaled only by the fastest bullet trains, and a fish that is so beautiful that it has been romanticized for hundreds of years by nobility, poets, and outdoorsmen alike. Pics:
June 1-6, 2010Fishing Report Update: The Atlantic Salmon fishing is heating up, and action is becoming more steady as water temps approach the upper 50's (ranging from 55-57F). The water temps are unseasonably high, which is somewhat alarming. If water temps continue to rise at this rate, the river could reach its typical late summer conditions very early on this year, creating poor fishing conditions for trout and salmon. Nonetheless, more and more Atlantic Salmon are appearing in the river each day, and the fly hatches are going to be kicking into high gear very soon. Mayflies have already been hatching in the warmer backwaters of the St. Mary's River System. Whitefish are being caught behind the Edison Soo Hydroelectric Plant. There appear to also be a few herring showing up in parts of the Lower St. Mary's River. As for the lack of fishing updates during the past week, the St. Mary's Guide Co. has been stepping out of their element slightly and targeting a few non-salmonoid species. We had the opportunity to prefish for three days with AIM Professional Walleye Series pros Jason Przekurat and Pat Neu. On June 5th, Captain Travis White and his fishing partner Scott Nagy competed in the Relay for Life Charity Fishing Tournament (sponsored by Precision Edge Surgical Products) and took 1st place for biggest walleye and a special award for the largest mystery weight. Pics:
May 26-29, 2010Fishing Report Update: Water temps are holding steady around 50-51F in the St. Mary's River near the Edison Soo hydroelectric plant. No Steelhead have been taken as of late, and it appears that the run is officially done for the season. However, we're still looking forward to hooking into an occasional resident rainbow as the summer progresses. Fortunately, the Atlantics have arrived on the scene just in time to keep things interesting! There aren't huge numbers of these guys around yet, but the ones that we've seen so far are some real beauties and are extremely aggressive with the cooler water temps, making for some exciting angling opportunities for those willing to put in some time and cover some water. The next month will most likely provide some of the very best fishing of the season for the Atlantics, barring any drastic changes in water temps and weather patterns. If you are considering booking a guided trip with the St. Mary's Guide Co. this season, it would be wise to consider booking soon, as the peak of the fishing this season is likely to occur two or more weeks earlier than in previous seasons (putting the peak in mid to late June). Further fishing reports will continue to update anglers on the fishing situation in the St. Mary's. To encourage bookings during the peak of the 2010 Atlantic Salmon season, the St. Mary's Guide Co. is offering a early season special! Book a full day trip before June 15th for $375! Pics:
May 24, 2010Fishing Report Update: As water temps creep into the 49-50F range, the Steelhead are vacating the river. A few Steelhead have been caught during the past week, but this fishery appears to be petering out. However, the departure of the Steelhead also hints towards good things to come, and a trickle of Atlantic Salmon has begun. This fishery will become hot very quick and much sooner than it did last year! Water temps are already a month ahead of where they were last Spring, which means that this will be a much different year than the last. With the water warming at the rate that it has been during the past couple of weeks, the Atlantic Salmon fishery is likely to peak in mid to late June. Prime dates are booking fast, and we encourage those interested in fishing for Atlantics this summer to not wait too long to book. Pics:
May 16, 2010Fishing Report Update: Even the captain gets the pleasure of fighting a few nice fish once in a while, and boy did these fine Steelies put on an excellent performance this afternoon. The spawned out hens are especially eager to smash a streamer. With water temps sitting between 46-47F, this fishery is at its peak. If you think you want to give it a try this spring, don't wait! Pics:
May 15, 2010Fishing Report Update: A woman's luck is always welcome on the water. The Steelhead have never looked so good! On a side note, I was especially pleased to see other successful anglers practicing catch and release this morning. It is so important for anglers to recognize that our Steelhead fishery on the St. Mary's River is highly dependent on the natural reproduction that takes place throughout the river and in the rapids, and the quality of the fishery can only be sustained by regularly practicing conservation efforts (catch and release and selective harvest). Here at the St. Mary's Guide Co., we've noticed during the past seasons that the fish we're catching throughout the summer are being recaptured multiple times (two, three, and even more!) by us and other anglers. Every fish taken out of the river is one less opportunity for a thrilling battle. Pics:
May 12, 2010Fishing Report Update: An absolutely beautiful, dead-calm evening on the St. Mary's River yielded the most productive outing on the river this year for the St. Mary's Guide Company. As spawning activities progress in the rapids, there are now good numbers of drop-backs in the parts of the river that are fishable from a boat. These fish were highly receptive to streamers this evening, and a nice Atlantic Salmon kelt was also kind enough to grace our lines. Pics:
May 5-10, 2010Weather Conditions: The weather has limited our time on the water this past week. Conditions have been unstable, and every day during this past week has been extremely windy, creating unsafe conditions on the water. The constant change of barometer and rapid progression of frontal systems has made what time has been spent on the water fairly unproductive. Water Temp: 44F Fish Species Present: Great Lakes Steelhead Insect Activity/Forage Present: Adult Smelt Fishing Report: Fishing conditions have been poor, and angling opportunities have been inhibited by unfavorable weather. There are still good numbers of Steelhead in the St. Mary's Rapids, and anglers have been consistently catching fish. This appears to be roughly the peak of the spawning period in the rapids this year, thus far. However, fishing pressure has also peaked. The fisheries in Northern Lake Huron remain productive, though these fisheries are even more weather dependent than the St. Mary's River fishery. Good numbers of trophy-sized Splake have been taken this spring (some over 9lbs)! These fisheries will not hold up much longer, as water temperatures climb. Pics:
May 3, 2010Fishing Report Update: The Splake and Lake Trout fisheries are holding strong! Anglers have also reported catching Kings in Northern Lake Huron. We're expecting there to be some Atlantic Salmon showing up in this area in good numbers soon. Pics:
May 1-2, 2010Weather Conditions: This past week has been characterized by many ups and downs in the barometer, with a general declining trend beginning Thursday afternoon. Thunderstorms swept through the region late last night, shedding some much needed precipitation. Temperatures have been comfortable; this afternoon's peak temperature was close to 15F warmer than the normal historical temperature for this day. Water Temp: 43-44F Fish Species Present: Great Lakes Steelhead, Atlantic Salmon, Lake Trout Insect Activity/Forage Present: Adult Smelt, Midges Fishing Report: As stated previously, there appear to be more Steelhead in the St. Mary's River than in weeks past. Anglers have been catching fish in the rapids. Fishing pressure on the river is still almost nonexistent. The fishing in Northern Lake Huron is still going strong. Anglers have been catching Lake Trout and Splake, which are now in season. Water temperatures in Northern Lake Huron have remained steady during the past week, near 48F. Pics:
April 28, 2010Fishing Report Update: It appears as if a fresh group of steelhead has recently made an appearance in the St. Mary's. The latest reports from the St. Mary's Rapids suggest that anglers have been catching a few nice steelhead the past several afternoons. There have also been more fish on the LSSU fishcam since Monday. This may be a good week to get out on the St. Mary's River.
April 20-26, 2010Weather Conditions: This spring has been one of the earliest that we can remember, following one of the mildest winters in the Eastern Upper Peninsula in years. Unfortunately, there has been virtually no rainfall this spring to draw fish into most of the local tribs. Temperatures have consistently been in the mid 30's overnight and in the upper 50's to mid 60's during the afternoons. The trees are starting to bud in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, at least two weeks ahead of the typical timing. Water Temp: 38-41F Fish Species Present: Great Lakes Steelhead Insect Activity/Forage Present: Adult Smelt Fishing Report: Fishing in the St. Mary's River has been off to a slow start this spring. It has been hard to find active fish, and fishing pressure has been minimal as a result. A few steelhead have been taken near the base of the St. Mary's Rapids, and it is possible to view steelhead on LSSU's Aquatic Research Laboratory's underwater fishcam (http://www.lssu.edu/arl/fishcam.php) if one is willing to put in some time watching. Reports from the St. Mary's Rapids suggest that fishing in the rapids has been poor as well. Anglers have reported seeing spawning steelhead, though very few fish are being caught at this time. There have been few reports of catches that included Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon, or Lake Trout in the St. Mary's River yet at this time. On a more positive note, the St. Mary's Guide Company has had a number of outstanding days on the water this season fishing Northern Lake Huron for Atlantic Salmon. While scouting for Atlantic Salmon, catches have also included large numbers of Lake Trout and Splake (season opens May 1st so be sure to book immediately before you miss out on this excellent spring bite), and Atlantic Salmon have been taken as large as 12lb (all on flies). Once season opens, there will be opportunities to fly cast for Lake Trout and Splake with streamers. Pics: The St. Mary's Guide Company is currently investing in a new camera after a tragic mishap during the 2010 ice fishing season. Pictures will be included with the next report!
|
