The Smell of a River

Every year in the spring the Detroit River developes it's own smell. There are many aromas in the smell mostly like fresh caught fish. Throw in some fresh rain smell and a little rotten fish. Ah the ambrosia of a living river.

Usually I get the smell in early April when the first signs of walleye fishing appear. Working just a football field away I can smell the river distinctly on any calm morning. This year however after all the polar vorti's the smell was non existent until just the day after Memorial Day. I hadn't even thought about it until I recognized the smell and noticed I hadn't noticed it. It's always a welcome event because that means fish is going to be red hot, especially with the Wyandotte Kid's Fishing Derby coming up.

Just be thankful we weren't as hard hit by the polar vorti as some in the state.

Get Outdoors Downriver.

Deadline for Elk and Bear Permits is Fast Approaching.

  Applications for Michigan elk and bear hunting licenses are available now through June 1. There will be 100 elk licenses and 7,831 bear hunting licenses available for the 2014 hunting seasons.

  Only Michigan residents are eligible to apply for an elk license. Bear licenses are available for both residents and nonresidents; however, no more than 2 percent of licenses in any bear management unit will be issued to nonresidents.

  Hunters can apply online at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings, at any authorized license agent or at a DNR Customer Service Center. A nonrefundable $5 fee is charged at the time of application. Hunters may purchase just one bear and one elk application.

  Want another chance at a bear or elk license? Hunters can increase their odds by applying for the Pure Michigan Hunt. Applications are $5 and are available at any license agent or online at www.mdnr-elicense.com. Hunters may buy as many applications as they want. Three lucky winners will win prize packages that include elk (Michigan residents only), bear, deer and turkey licenses; first pick at a managed waterfowl hunt area; plus firearms, crossbows and much more – worth a total of $4,000!

Head to the Detroit River for Some Salmon Jigging?



Fish on the Detroit River long enough and you can catch every kind of fish in the Great Lakes Basin. That's what Joe Richter found out this week jigging for walleye. Joe's the top catcher on the team that won the Wyandotte Boat Launch Walleye Tournament last year. His jigging technique is top notch and he proved it by hooking and landing a chinook salmon.

 

I've heard many reports of salmon being caught in the river mostly by handliners with their controlled depth trolling, just last year as reported on this blog. I can't recall anyone jigging up a salmon though. It looks really healthy and has both eyes so this isn't a fluke. Joe and his partner have caught many fish in the river, including sturgeon, but none have come close to being as unique as this salmon.

Get Outdoors downriver.