Hard earned Detroit River walleye limit
Took a trip down to the Detroit River today with Just Steve and Oneida Eagle. Weather report was for low 40's and light winds and the fishing reports have been impressive lately so we were hoping to cash in on some of those spring run walleye. We left Portland at 8 am (OE doesn't get up very early) and were at the bait shop by shortly after 10. We were warned that the lot at Elizabeth Park was probably full and were given directions to the Trenton city launch.
We hit the water about 11 and headed down stream to the " rock pile" in Trenton Channel. We set up for our first drift and right away Steve hung up and lost a jig. Then I lost one. Then OE lost one Then Steve lost another one. Finally one of Steves "snag" pulled back and he landed a nice eating sized walleye. That was it for the west side of Grosse Isle so we decided to make the move to the east side. Several drifts on the east side produced a couple of hits but no fish in the boat. Up to that point , with the hundreds of boats on the river, we had seen a total of 3 fish landed.
We headed up river to fish the east side of Grassy Island. As we settled into our first drift, an eagle soared over our heads and landed in a tree on the island. It was obviously one of a mating pair, they had a nest built in a tree on the island.
Half way through the drift, Aaron got bit and set the hook on a big, heavy fish. I'm not sure who was more excited, Aaron on the rod or Steve on the net, when the big girl finally came to the surface. They managed to get her in the boat and when we put the tape on her she was pushing 31". That was it for that spot.
Next we headed up to the steel mill. On the first drift I finally got a hook in one and another eater size fish went in the box. We made a number of drifts, fighting a steady south wind that switched to out of the east, picking up at least one fish per drift. Some drifts produced as many as three fish. Finally, about an hour before sun down, Aaron put walleye #15 in the boat and we headed back to the launch. With the exception of the one big girl, all the fish were between 15 1/2 and 18 inches. Hot color was an orange jig with a blood red Wyandotte worm. Water temps were between 37 and 39 degrees. Most of the fish were caught in 34-38 FOW.
It was a fun day on the water, we had plenty of laughs, caught some fish and got home safe and sound. The weather was a bit chilly at times but that's what you get with spring walleye fishing on the Detroit River. I can't wait to do it again.