DETROIT, Mich. — What makes the 2019 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship different from previous B.A.S.S. events at Lake St. Clair?
That’s a good question that you might not have thought of asking. The answer is that Lake Erie will be off limits. There will be no going for broke for the motherlode of smallmouth. That includes making the oftentimes treacherous run to the smallmouth-rich water around Pelee Island, a more than two-hour run from Lake St. Clair. B.A.S.S. tournament history shows the urge to make the run has oftentimes been worth the risk.
The official rules for the AOY championship say the tournament waters will be all rivers, creeks and canals connected to Lake St. Clair. Anglers will not be allowed to travel south of the Ambassador Bridge in downtown Detroit. Further south is where the river empties into Lake Erie. Further north, the St. Clair River will be open to fishing south of the 1-94 bridge. That is where Lake Huron connects with the river. Anglers also have access to the Black River until it meets I-94. The Black is a tributary of the St. Clair River.
What does all that mean for what is setting up to be one of most competitive of all AOY tournaments?
We asked three pros that very question. They are Garrett Paquette, Chad Pipkens and Hunter Shryock. Coincidentally, all three list Lake St. Clair at the top of their list of favorites. Shryock is from Ohio and also calls Lake Erie at top choice. Paquette and Pipkens, who won a Bassmaster Open here, are from Michigan.
Chad Pipkens
Lake Erie is off limits. Will it really matter?
“Yeah, it matters a lot to me. The only time I fish on St. Clair is in the spring when it’s really fun and easy. I take sponsor people out and we catch them really great on the west side. That’s where all the rocks and gravel are that are favored by the smallmouth. That’s where they spawn.”
How will Lake St. Clair fish?
“It’s going to fish strong. I just don’t think you’ll see it fish to its fullest. We haven’t been able to get around. During practice you couldn’t cut across the lake for three days. You were forced to fish certain areas where the wind would put you. It’s also a trickier time of year. In another three weeks, I think you would see bags in the 25- to 30-pound range. Even a few weeks ago, it would have been more like that too. Right now, like anywhere else in the country, it’s the fall fishing, The fish are going to scatter and the schools tend to break up. There will be some big bags caught, but you don’t just won’t sit in one place and catch a limit.”
Will the St. Clair River be a factor?
“I think it will. But more so the Detroit River. You can get in there and win. There are giants in there. This is the time of year they migrate from the lake into the river. It won’t hold up for three days, but it will definitely be a player. And especially with the wind like we had in practice. I think a lot of guys spent some time in there to get out of the wind.”
The winds are predicted to be sometimes gusty and out of the east and then to the south. What’s that do to the fishing?
“It changes where the fish position. A lot of times when you do find a school of fish, and the wind changes, they reposition on the same bottom structure. It takes predicting where that move might take place. That was how I won the Open here. The winning fish were 200 yards away from where I found them in practice.”
There will be sunny and cloudy skies. How do both conditions set up the bite?
“Northern smallmouth love sun, no matter where you are. That goes for if they are shallow or deep. They just bite better in sunny conditions. They feed visually and they can see the bait in the clear water. In cloudy they scatter and roam a lot more.”
Garrett Paquette
Lake Erie is off limits. Will it really matter?
“It will in a way. A lot of guys, myself included, like to fish structure. We like to go to Erie and further down into the Detroit River. As far as weights go, St. Clair will really show out. I think we’ll see a lot of 20- to 25-pound bags this week. The weights would be very similar coming out of Lake Erie. But the thing about Erie is the fish are easier and faster to find. St. Clair is also called “Lake Random.” That’s kind of how it’s been, where you fish around and hope you come across the bites, instead of knowing exactly where you want to present your bait like you do in Erie.”
How will Lake St. Clair fish?
“Instead of fishing very specific spots, like where there will be a rockpile or current break, you are going to get bit in very general areas. You will see a lot of boats sharing the same water. They won’t be fishing the same spots, but in a one-mile stretch. Instead of going to Erie and fishing an exact waypoint, you will be letting the wind push you around and drift, just hoping you come across your bites that way. Each day, with the high winds we are expecting, the fish are going to move a little bit. The winner will have gained the knowledge of finding where the fish have moved. The wind plays a huge factor in where the fish move. That’s the “Lake Random” factor.”
Will the St. Clair River be a factor?
“I don’t see the tournament being won there. It’ll be won on the lake.”
The winds are predicted to be sometimes gusty and out of the east and then to the south. What’s that do to the fishing?
“It’s going to be nasty. You are going to be greeted with some nasty waves when you come out of Metro Park. Most of the lake will be that way. It’ll be a tough long ride wherever you go.”
There will be sunny and cloudy skies. How do both conditions set up the bite?
“Northern smallmouth are sight feeders. The sunny days are going to be a lot better. During the cloudy periods the bite will not be as good. The fish will be randomly scattered.”
Hunter Shryock
Lake Erie is off limits. Will it really matter?
“It will matter, although Lake St. Clair is fishing really good. As for me, I like going to places where you can depend on a spot with structure, that’s going to be reliable. Lake St. Clair sets up different. I think we are going to be in for a show.”
How will Lake St. Clair fish?
“I really think the smallmouth in St. Clair are starting to get into their fall patterns. The fish I’ve caught are really fat. You will see a lot of baits perform, from drop shots to tubes, and spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and moving baits.”
Will the St. Clair River be a factor?
“I didn’t go there so I hope not.”
The winds are predicted to be sometimes gusty and out of the east and then to the south. What’s that do to the fishing?
“The winner will have a game plan for fishing different areas. As the wind shifts around the dirty water will get shifted around to different parts of the lake. You will have to adapt each day. It’s probably going to take 25 pounds a day to win.”
There will be sunny and cloudy skies. How do both conditions set up the bite?
“I like to smallmouth fish under sunny skies. They are sight feeders and it’s just better. I’ve also had phenomenal days in the wind and clouds. The key is being able to adapt to how the fish will be positioned under the varying skies. They will scatter in cloudy skies and bunch up to use bottom structure as ambush points in the sun.”