What to Expect
Every day I trailer my Nitro bass boat to the best location for that day based on: wind/weather, water clarity, & target species current productive locations. Add local knowledge of lures and great equipment and you have the recipe for success! As an experienced angler and Detroit River walleye guide, I am able to deliver an informative day of learning to even the most seasoned anglers while emphasizing the proper methods to best capitalize on each days changing conditions allowing us to boat more and bigger fish. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management it has always been my mission to exceed client’s expectations, making them feel like they got more than they paid for. My clients are amazed by my vast knowledge, attention to detail, and professionalism I deliver at my age. Providing a memorable day on the water that won’t be forgotten!
Detroit River Walleye Jigging
Spring is trophy walleye season! The Detroit River is famous for the largest walleye migration in the world. This spring run brings millions of walleye up the Detroit River each year. This is the best time of the year to land several massive marble eyes. As soon as the ice flows break up (late March) I will be jigging the Lake Erie giants that make their annual run to the warm spawning grounds of the lower Detroit River. For the trophy walleye of your dreams, ice out offers the best opportunity. During this window, we boat massive pre-spawn walleye with bursting girths. 7-10lb walleye are the norm with 12-13lb + boated each year. In addition to the massive size, the numbers of fish boated can be outstanding. We boated a staggering 256 walleye on a 13hr double in late April 2018. The rule of thumb is big fish early in the run and numbers later. Limits are consistent after the first week in April mixed with big fish possibility. For off the charts numbers, the best timeframe is the last two weeks in April – mid May when both the Detroit River and St Clair River stack up with millions of eaters. The immense number of St Clair River spawning walleyes turns on following the Detroit River bite, due to the colder water flowing out of Lake Huron. In order to catch these predators of the deep, we will be using the hands on method of vertical jigging. This style of river fishing requires precise boat control in order to slip the current properly (match the speed of the ever changing river current) and hold on the fish. There is an art to be able to feel and kiss the bottom while effectively presenting your bait. By mastering this, you will be able to optimize your catch while best utilizing your time on the water. The jigging bite continues till almost the end of June with limit catches and several upgrades being caught daily in shorter feeding windows.
As the river water warms usually by late June ticking bottom bouncers equipped with crawler harnesses along river weed lines and ledges can become a very productive method for catching walleye all summer long. In the early fall as the temp falls and the baitfish move we swap back to vertical jigging plastics till ice up on the St Clair River. These fish put the feedbag on in late fall.
*Check out the Pix page for all the memorable client catches.
*The Book Trip page will give you a detailed breakdown of all rates and trips offered from ice out to ice up with full time Capt Garrett Samsal.