Fishing the Soo

Whitefish Looking at the St. Marys from a where-to standpoint when it comes to fishing whitefish is a dizzying proposition. For all practical purposes, it is best to break the river down into two parts in the Sault Ste. Marie area. The upper river- which is the water up from the locks to Brush Point, the entrance to Izaak Walton Bay; and the lower river, below the locks, including the Edison Sault Hydro Plant. But, before we get to the 'where', we need to talk about the 'with what.' If you're after whitefish leave the walleye, perch and bass gear at home. Those rods, no matter how soft they are, are going to be to heavy. The rig described below will serve both river areas well. Head down to the local sport shop, or chain store if you must, and pick up a 9-foot fly rod in the 6-weight style. There's no need to get fancy and spend a lot of money, any inexpensive model will do just fine. Long steelhead rods, as in 9- or 10-footers will do nicely, too.
 
  
Whitefish are incredibly delicate feeders. Most of the food they eat is fairly soft, like insect nymphs and larvae. These critters are not at all fast moving, meaning whitefish aren't exactly going to come rushing in and hammer them, or your bait. A sense of weight at the end of the line is often all there is. Rather than feeling a bite, most times there's just a slight impression that something is at the end of the line. Their mouths make crappies look tough. When you set the hook, it is probable that you will sometimes literally rip their lips off, even with a fly rod. A quick, firm and short hook set is needed, and the limber attributes of a fly rod help you from going too heavy. Most anglers will be spooling their reel with 6-pound line and then attaching a three foot leader of 2- or 4-pound test with a small barrel swivel. You'll need a bit of weight to get the bait down, too. Angling for whitefish in the upper river is a deep water pursuit. Count on fishing water from 20 to 30 feet deep. There's also an awful lot of current here at times so you'll be dealing with that, too. From the Ashmun Bay Boat Launch head up river and look for the boats that will sure to be scattered from Sherman Park to The Shallows. Downriver, below the locks, the tried and true hotspot is the power plant. You don't anchor here. Instead you actually toss a hook, or anchor in a pinch, over the cement wall and catch the grass behind it. The force of the water coming out of the turbines is severe so you'll need a 20 to 40-foot length of rope tied from the anchor or hook and attached to the front eye or cleat of the boat. Like the upper river, fishing here is a methodical practice. Strip about 12 feet of line off the reel, and toss the rig up into one of the turbine holes. This is almost like pitching a bass jig.
 

Salmon and Steelhead The St. Marys Rapids is a fly fishing Mecca. Beginning in May and extending into June is when spring steelhead make their showing. From early-mid June through early August it the fabled Atlantic salmon that takes the stage. Mid August through early October is when you'll find the chinook and pink salmon. October brings a run of cohos and steelhead enter once again, too. When wading the rapids you will always be in crystal-clear water. It is also fast. The bottom is rocky. Let's see- fast water, rocky bottom- bring studded felt-bottomed wading boots and a wading staff. And, if you think you've waded out into the rapids too far, well, you have. Trolling activity starts in Mid-June with Atlantics. Spoons are the bait of choice and the place to be is from the Sugar Island Ferry Dock up to the Edison Soo power house.

Come late July you'll find Chinooks hanging out around the mouth of the Garden River, which enters the St. Marys from Canada along the north channel across from Sugar Island. By mid-August the chinooks will be everywhere from the Neebish island area up to the locks and the Edison Soo plant. Spoons, J-plugs and Bomber-style baits will all take fish. Trolling pretty much ends for the salmon id species by late September.

Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth bass are probably the most underutilized fish in the Soo area. That means pressure for these fighters is light to nonexistent and you'll have the water pretty much to yourself. Munuscong, Neebish, Sugar and Potagginnissing Bay, along with Lake George, Lake Nicolet and Waiska are the hot spots. Early in the season you'll find them in the shallows looking to spawn. This June fishery is downright on fire in Munuscong and Potaganissing with Lake Nicolet and Waiska Bay not far behind. Simple jig and crawler rigs take a lot of fish but you may want to toss some cranks in chartreuse or yellow and white.

The water will be stained so the hotter colors seem to work best. After the spawn look for the fish in eight to sixteen feet of water. There must be structure in the form of old pilings, rock humps or the like to draw the fish in. Isolated weed beds are another prime choice. Now is the time to work jig-n-pigs, tubes and other soft baits. Don't be afraid to go big on bait size either, these smallies like a real man-size meal. Late summer and fall is prime time for these fish. Cranks are probably your best bet now, as are stickbaits. For some reason the clown finish lures produce amazingly well but the natural finishes also do quite well. This late season fishing should start at the 10- to 12-foot breaks or where this depth of water shows a change in bottom, like where the bottom goes from sand or clay to gravel. Weedbeds also will hold good numbers of fish.

Northern Pike and Muskie With good populations of prey species, clean waters spotted with an abundance of weed beds these two supreme predators are in fish heaven. Every thing they need is right here. Early season fishing, say from the opener until mid June is a shallow water fishery most years. Big jerk baits, surface plugs and in-line spinners really shine at this time of year. Perennial hot spots include Izaak Walton Bay, Waishka Bay, Munuscong and Lake George. As summer wears on and the water warms you'll need to slow troll the deeper weed beds, say the 12 to 18 foot depths in order to find success.

Big stick baits seem best now. It is late summer and into fall when this fishery really gets exciting. The fish become more active as the water cools, and it's now when casting again takes the forefront. Work the edges of those mid summer weed beds carefully, making sure your bait gets into every nook and cranny. These tooth-filled fish are waiting for prey and they won't be afraid to rip the rod out of your hands if they take a liking to your offering. Don't ask why, but orange is a very hot color now, particularly on Lake George and in the Upper River. Down on Munuscong natural colors seem best but fire tiger finishes are also a good bet. This is the time for the entire arsenal- spinner baits, erratic cranks and big buzz baits all working magic. The night bite is particularly heart stopping with the buzz-style baits. {The water will be stained so the hotter colors seem to work best. After the spawn look for the fish in eight to sixteen feet of water. There must be structure in the form of old pilings, rock humps or the like to draw the fish in. Isolated weed beds are another prime choice. Now is the time to work jig-n-pigs, tubes and other soft baits. Don't be afraid to go big on bait size either, these smallies like a real man-size meal. Late summer and fall is prime time for these fish. Cranks are probably your best bet now, as are stickbaits. For some reason the clown finish lures produce amazingly well but the natural finishes also do quite well. This late season fishing should start at the 10- to 12-foot breaks or where this depth of water shows a change in bottom, like where the bottom goes from sand or clay to gravel. Weedbeds also will hold good numbers of fish.
 
 
Northern Pike and Muskie With good populations of prey species, clean waters spotted with an abundance of weed beds these two supreme predators are in fish heaven. Every thing they need is right here. Early season fishing, say from the opener until mid June is a shallow water fishery most years. Big jerk baits, surface plugs and in-line spinners really shine at this time of year. Perennial hot spots include Izaak Walton Bay, Waishka Bay, Munuscong and Lake George. As summer wears on and the water warms you'll need to slow troll the deeper weed beds, say the 12 to 18 foot depths in order to find success.

Big stick baits seem best now. It is late summer and into fall when this fishery really gets exciting. The fish become more active as the water cools, and it's now when casting again takes the forefront. Work the edges of those mid summer weed beds carefully, making sure your bait gets into every nook and cranny. These tooth-filled fish are waiting for prey and they won't be afraid to rip the rod out of your hands if they take a liking to your offering. Don't ask why, but orange is a very hot color now, particularly on Lake George and in the Upper River. Down on Munuscong natural colors seem best but fire tiger finishes are also a good bet. This is the time for the entire arsenal- spinner baits, erratic cranks and big buzz baits all working magic. The night bite is particularly heart stopping with the buzz-style baits. Annual Peak Fishing Guide