Going back to Erie
Many anglers choose to return to big water on day two of the EverStart Series Northern
TRENTON, Mich. – After the day-one weigh-in at the EverStart Series Northern Division event on the Detroit River, a couple things became clear.
Lake Erie, as predicted, produced the quality smallmouths, but numbers of fish were hard to come by. Even those leaders that scored limits in Erie yesterday said the five-fish mark was difficult to reach.
St. Clair, however, proved to be the opposite: There were plenty of fish to catch, but getting five bass that crossed the 15-pound mark was a daunting task.
A couple of leading pros, David Kolodziej of Sterling Heights, Mich., and Al Gagliarducci of Agwam Mass., did show that St. Clair can produce some big strings, as each cracked the 18-pound mark with St. Clair bass yesterday.
But anglers needing to play catch-up today know Erie holds the best possibility of a 15-pound-plus string, so many pointed their boats towards the south to do battle with a tumultuous lake this morning.
Boats going to do battle with the ravaging waters of Erie are easy to spot.
First, dual-console boats are more common here than in other parts of the country. Many boat owners that fish these big waters on a regular basis invest in a dual-console boat for additional protection for their partners.
Also, almost every boat has both fishing seats in place in the front and rear decks to give the anglers something to hold onto while fishing in big rollers.
Another commonality on the Great Lakes are drift socks, which are used to slow the boat down while drift fishing. Pros will tie off two drift socks to the fore and aft cleats and then store the socks in compartments during the run.
A motorcycle helmet is a major plus for long, nasty runs on Erie, too. Not only does it keep the wind off the angler, but it also keeps him from getting a face full of water when an occasional wave comes over the bow.
Finally, Dramamine patches, usually put behind the ears to help curb motion sickness, abound among big-water anglers.
Anglers fishing in Erie today will need all of these advantages as the wind is supposed to blow a bit more today than yesterday. Forecasts are calling for west winds to 15 mph assuring a bumpy ride for all.
The day-two weigh-in will begin at 2:30 p.m. at Elizabeth Park on the Detroit River.