EverStart Series, Northern Division, Sept. 25-28
EverStart Series competitors who anted up to fish the Northern Division event set for Sept. 25-28 on the Detroit River are in for a real treat – and some whopper smallmouths.
Not only will anglers have at their disposal some of the nation’s top bronzeback waters in lakes Erie and St. Clair as well the Detroit River, but they’ll be fishing them during a time frame that packs gobs of potential for 20-pound sacks.
Kevin Vida of Clare, Mich., gets the shakes just thinking about it.
“The fall fishing can be really awesome if we don’t get any major weather in here,” Vida said. “The fish are going be ganged up like wolf packs, and you can really bust some big bags if you get on the right spot. There will be some huge weights caught.”
Productive patterns will vary with the body of water that anglers choose to fish.
On Lake Erie, about eight miles from the launch site, anglers should key on main-lake humps from the Canadian shoreline out to Pelee Island. Vida said the fish will be grouped up at water depths of 15 to 23 feet, possibly shallower, and will take watermelon-pattern tubes cast on a 1/4- to 1/2-ounce sinker.
Lake St. Clair is located about 30 miles upriver, but the long run could be worth it to anglers who stumble across groups of quality smallmouths on rock or grassy flats. Spinner baits and tubes will be the top producers.
Blades and tubes will also be the go-to baits on the Detroit River. Vida said the most productive areas will be rocky current breaks and points in 7 to 15 feet of water.
“The eddy fishing can be incredible at times,” he said. “If you get on the right one, it’s possible to put a five-fish, 20-pound sack in the boat in as many casts. I wouldn’t be surprised if it takes 32 pounds to make the first cut, 16 pounds to make the top 10 and 20 pounds to win this tournament.”
– Matt Williams
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