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larryc wrote:
Good smallmouth fishing and sturgeon available available in that area too. Jigging is popular for muskies in the river channels. Staying at Hansens you have the ferry crossing which limits trailering your boat to other launch areas. Note on the charts how the Ca /Us border winds through the channels. Law requires call in and approval number before crossing from Us side into Ca water. Whether that will be enforced is never a certainty.
"Equidistant " isn't a term I'd use for Hansens from a lot of the fishing on St Clair. 12 miles on LOTW isn't the same as 12 miles on St Clair.

could you expand on the ferry crossing. Can i take my trailer across on the ferry, and is there a launch on harsens or do i have to launch before getting on the ferry. thanks

larryc wrote:
Couple launch areas on the island. Ferry isn't real big but can do vehicles with trailers. [ I haven't used the ferry or island launches]
You'll find plenty of weedbeds and current. Some open water gets real shallow with sand flats and bars. Also tons of BIG pleasure boats and freighters.
Only fished that area once in summer [August] . Fish on Pacemakers at daylight,double 10s ,Believers and tubes mid day. I'm usually going to be on the mid lake "flats" in July.

So it seems there is nothing out of the ordinary in regards to the ferry/island launching, correct? I see that there is a pass/license required to fish the ''tribe'' areas in addition to the michigan and canada tags. is it worthwhile to get that as well?

I have a lakemaster chip of the lake which i hope will help with all of the shallow bars and flats.

larryc wrote:
No need for the Walpole permit. Just stay out of the marsh --
Simple fees for the ferry [$11] and the launch is a different fee. You'll see signs saying "No Power Loading" and they mean that !
Hoping you get good weather and find some fish. You'll be a long ride from where I'd fish that time of year. Suggest you check out the auction lot from Matt for a half day guided on the lake.

Thanks for the Reply Larry. Hoping for good weather. If we catch fish it will just be a bonus. Are there any areas that are good for pike? If we are having a really tough day/days I may want to try and put my father and brother on some pike to break up the day. I would be happy casting into a puddle all day long and not catching a muskie, however I realize that my father sometimes gets a little frustrated with no action for days on end and I would like my brother to have some action as well.

As far as the auction goes, I had looked at that however it is for a max of 2 people and I will of course have 3 in my party.

I know it is a little ride from the south shore, but I figured that if worse comes to worse I can stay near the island and jig the channels, right?

well,

The trip is coming up soon. Looks like we are just going to miss a pretty big cold front and have the weather warm a few days before we get there. I am really looking forward to the 21st. We are going out with Catfish that day and I have heard nothing but good things about him. Does anyone have any recent reports/suggestions? I added some stainless rails to the boat as well as some downeast rod holders with intentions of doing some trolling if anyone gets tired. Have a bunch of rubber to toss in the main lake. Think we're going to give night fishing a go one day as well. Would love to just see some fish to be honest. I have fished the susky all spring/summer with very little to show and had a rough trip at the Cave this spring. Also made two trips to MC as well as a trip to Cowanesque and blanked on all of them. I know this is musky fishing and all part of the game, but would be bummed if all 3 of us blanked in 5 days at LSC.

larryc wrote:
Have a safe trip !
Suggestions: set the downeasts so the rod tips are in the water . Tons of chopped floating weeds in LSC. Keep in mind short line trolling [ 15 feet or less behind the boat] made it's fame on LSC. Leave your Storm flatsticks at home . If the wind allows safe boat travel the canals close to the Selfidge base most always hold some bass and medium size pike.
Be mentally prepared for lots of idiot boaters. Huge metropolitan area and more big cruisers than you can imagine.

When i was at cave this spring there were no weeds but the guys all shortlined with the downeasts and dropped the tips in the water to keep the lines free of floating debris. That was a big part of the reason i got them. i also picked up some 1lb round sinkers to get my blades to depth Why do you say leave the flatsticks at home? The weather seems like it will cooperate... there will be a pretty good cold front this week, but a warming trend starts on friday and should have things stabilized by sunday. My hope is that we keep on enough muskies and we dont have to switch to bass, but i am taking my gear just in case. I am fully expecting it to have heavy boat traffic, but my thinking was that fishing during the week may make it a bit more tolerable.

Thanks for the response/advice larry. Its a big body of water and a little intimidating. All of your advice is appreciated.

Thanks for all of the help guys. I will be sure to have a report when i get back, good, bad or other... I have high hopes for this trip. We'll see what happens.