Day One on St. Clair

The first day on Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River produced good hauls for the pros.

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<p>Jason Christie decided to start Day One in Lake St. Clair. Several anglers in the field were making the long run to Lake Erie. </p>
Jason Christie decided to start Day One in Lake St. Clair. Several anglers in the field were making the long run to Lake Erie. 
<p>Large vessels moving in the shipping channel on Lake St. Clair dwarf the bass boats used by Elite Series anglers. </p>
Large vessels moving in the shipping channel on Lake St. Clair dwarf the bass boats used by Elite Series anglers. 
<p>A trio of recreational fishermen net a large musky beside the boat. </p>
A trio of recreational fishermen net a large musky beside the boat. 
<p> It took four hands to wrestle the whopper into the boat. </p>
 It took four hands to wrestle the whopper into the boat. 
<p>Jason Christie was using a variety of baits early on Day One. Christie won a Bassmaster Northern Open last year on St. Clair. </p>
Jason Christie was using a variety of baits early on Day One. Christie won a Bassmaster Northern Open last year on St. Clair. 
<p>Christie hooks into a good one. </p>
Christie hooks into a good one. 
<p>Like a lot of big smallmouth do, this fish immediately came to the surface and jumped. </p>
Like a lot of big smallmouth do, this fish immediately came to the surface and jumped. 
<p>Christie moves to the back of the boat to fight the fish…</p>
Christie moves to the back of the boat to fight the fish…
<p>…then moved to the bow to pull the fish around his trolling motor. </p>
…then moved to the bow to pull the fish around his trolling motor. 
<p>Once again he moves to the back of the boat as the fish surges downward. </p>
Once again he moves to the back of the boat as the fish surges downward. 
<p>Christie takes a seat to try to land the fish. </p>
Christie takes a seat to try to land the fish. 
<p>He reaches into the water to get a grip…</p>
He reaches into the water to get a grip…
<p>…and begins to scoop the fish from the water. </p>
…and begins to scoop the fish from the water. 
<p>Christie grips his line and traps the fish. </p>
Christie grips his line and traps the fish. 
<p>He pulls the big smallmouth aboard…</p>
He pulls the big smallmouth aboard…
<p>…and smiles as he gains final control. </p>
…and smiles as he gains final control. 
<p>Christie puts the fish in the livewell, estimating it weighed nearly 5 pounds. </p>
Christie puts the fish in the livewell, estimating it weighed nearly 5 pounds. 
<p>Edwin Evers runs the shipping channel on Lake St. Clair. </p>
Edwin Evers runs the shipping channel on Lake St. Clair. 
<p>Wind and large boats kept the water and waves stirred. </p>
Wind and large boats kept the water and waves stirred. 
<p>Evers shuts down to fish as a freighter navigates the shipping channel in the distance. </p>
Evers shuts down to fish as a freighter navigates the shipping channel in the distance. 
<p>Evers hooks up. </p>
Evers hooks up. 
<p>He doesn’t like the way this fish is feeling. </p>
He doesn’t like the way this fish is feeling. 
<p>Wrong species and won’t help. </p>
Wrong species and won’t help. 
<p>Evers was struggling early, with only one fish in the livewell at noon. </p>
Evers was struggling early, with only one fish in the livewell at noon. 
<p>Evers stops to consult with his traveling partner and roommate, Jason Christie. </p>
Evers stops to consult with his traveling partner and roommate, Jason Christie. 
<p>Evers quickly sets up on another waypoint and catches a pike. </p>
Evers quickly sets up on another waypoint and catches a pike. 
<p>The pike is quickly released…</p>
The pike is quickly released…
<p>…and Evers fires another cast. </p>
…and Evers fires another cast. 
<p>He pulls the trolling motor to try another waypoint. </p>
He pulls the trolling motor to try another waypoint. 
<p>Evers takes a look at his GPS, trying to decide where to fish next. </p>
Evers takes a look at his GPS, trying to decide where to fish next. 
<p>Evers said he had found three good schools of fish in practice, but didn’t know where they went. </p>
Evers said he had found three good schools of fish in practice, but didn’t know where they went. 
<p>Day One began with Southwest winds and clear skies. </p>
Day One began with Southwest winds and clear skies. 
<p>Some anglers didn’t have near the pressure on them to catch fish on Lake St. Clair today. </p>
Some anglers didn’t have near the pressure on them to catch fish on Lake St. Clair today. 
<p>The weigh in site at Lake St. Clair Metropark will be the hub of activity at the weigh in, beginning at 3:15 p.m. ET. </p>
The weigh in site at Lake St. Clair Metropark will be the hub of activity at the weigh in, beginning at 3:15 p.m. ET.