Clear water, super smallmouth fishing make Detroit River a favorite for BFL Michigan Division
In early April Freddy Hurley of Somerset, Ky., drove more than 400 miles to the Detroit River to fish for walleye.
“Ten million walleye come into that river to spawn every year and we caught some big ones,” he said.
But when Hurley goes to the Detroit River for the FLW Walmart BFL Michigan Division tournament July 11 he won’t be fishing for walleye. He’ll be fishing for big smallmouth bass.
“I like clear water and that river is one of the best rivers to catch smallmouth that I have ever fished in – and I have fished a lot of places,” said Hurley who finished the 2014 Michigan Division season ranked 8th in points, with his best two finishes a 10th place on the Detroit River in July and 10th again in August on the river.
“I was in the top five going into the last tournament of the year, but it didn’t work out, but I have made the regional up there every year,” Hurley said.
“I got three checks in a row up there last year, but I never did get that one bite I needed. What happens up there is that you can get hooked on 3-pound smallmouth and that won’t get you anything. You have to go for the 4-pounders. You don’t get as many bites, but that will give you 18 to 20 pounds for a limit.”
The key in fishing the Detroit River is the current, he said, although some anglers will fish up in Lake St. Clair and others will fish from the mouth of the river out into Lake Erie.
“Basically you are fishing heavy current which flows from Lake St. Clair into Lake Erie, mostly fishing tubes and drop shots in the little eddies,” he said. “The main thing you have to do is play the wind. The wind is your friend if you know how to play it.”
Hurley said the long drive to fish the Detroit River is well worth it.
“I fish five tournaments a year up there – all the Michigan BFL Division tournaments. Everybody loves to fish up there. There are between 25 to 50 co-anglers on the waiting list so that tells you something.”
The first Michigan BFL of 2015 was held June 27 on Lake St. Clair, with the July 11 tournament on the Detroit river to follow. The third tournament will be back on Lake St. Clair Aug. 1, followed by the Detroit River Aug. 15, with the final Michigan BFL scheduled for Sept. 19 on the Detroit River.
FLW Walmart BFL Michigan Division
Sat, Jul 11, 2015
Detroit River
Elizabeth Park Marina
