Fishing 411 with Mark Romanack EPISODE 5 ST. CLAIR BROZEBACKS              
When talk turns to smallmouth fishing, Lake St. Clair is almost certain to dominate the conversation. Lake St. Clair isn’t one of the Great Lakes, technically it is known as a Great Lakes Connecting Water. Either way Lake St. Clair is plenty great and may well be the single best smallmouth bass fishery in North America.            
Even the world’s greatest fishing destinations are going to have days when fishing is tough. In this episode of Fishing 411, pro staffer Kendall Ulsh hits Lake St. Clair with the same approach he would if pre-fishing for a tournament. His run and gun strategy is based on years of experience knowing what presentations are likely to produce best.            
The timing is mid summer and the weather is hot to say the least. Exceptionally warm water temperatures in the lake have Kendall wishing for cooler weather and water. The answers to his wishes come in the form of the St. Clair River which runs between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair.            
One of the shortest rivers in the Midwest, the St. Clair River is fast, deep and the water pouring out of Lake Huron and into the river is cool even in the heat of summer. The stage is set for some deep water jigging that ends up putting some impressive smallmouth in the boat.            
River jigging is a structure gig that requires not only the ability to interpret a sonar unit, but a skill set that keeps the boat drifting along key pieces of bottom structure like channel edges. Smallmouth tend to pack up along the top or bottom edge of shipping channels that provide them security and ambush points for feeding. Meanwhile, these bass point their noses into the current and wait for tasty morsels to drift past within easy striking distance.            
 A couple things about the St. Clair River are unique. For one the current speed is very fast compared to other rivers. Secondly, the water clarity is exceptionally clear, coming straight out of Lake Huron. Thirdly, the depth of the St. Clair River is daunting in spots and it’s not uncommon to find good smallmouth in water 20 to 50 feet deep!            
Fishing this deep in fast moving water is a game best played with rather heavy jigs and tube baits in the 3/8, 1/2 and 5/8  ounce sizes. It’s also necessary to use ultra thin lines like Vicious Braid. In the 10 pound test size, this super braid is only the diameter of two pound test monofilament, making it an ideal line for deep water jigging.
 SUMMING IT UP            
In the heat of summer, sometimes finding cooler water is the key. Fishing 411 pro staffer Kendall Ulsh proves that point in Episode number five filmed on the St. Clair River.