Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • C10

the Clinton River Spillway have different regulations is an imaginary line between the two most lakeward points adjacent to the spillway mouth. Along the way north, the 17-acre Brandenberg Park on the shoreline of Anchor Bay in New Baltimore is another age-inclusive fishing stop. Its 500-foot pier extends into Lake St. Clair. There are also basketball courts, tennis courts, sand volleyball, horse shoes, splash park and hiking and biking for those who feel like fishing.

From the south, take Exit 241 on I-94 east, turn right onto 21 Mile Road and left onto Jefferson Avenue. In Algonac, which hosts more productive shoreline than one can mention, one spot comes to mind: Restaurant and Pier. If it publicly known, it would be one of those spots anglers keep under their hats. a place to swallow a solid meal or guzzle a cold beer in between casts. And you can catch nearly anything from the well-lit dock.

Louwery happened to be there the night I took a son fishing, and she lent her heavy-duty rods for the catch of a lifetime a sturgeon. But first, rock bass, sheepshead and even a big muskie took the bait. Mind the seasons, though. Sturgeon in season yet, and poachers are unwelcome. If bringing kids or swim, bring life jackets.

hesitate to ask the locals for advice. And go catch yourself some fish. If you make it this weekend, you can always try the free fishing weekend June 10-11. ishing from shore at Dingell Park last year, Danny minnow was seized by a goby. It then was devoured by a 4-foot muskie.

His wife, Vanessa, called it a Robinson, a pastor, is not surprised. He has fished at Dingell Park for 23 years. year, I caught a piranha Robinson said. He shows off a newspaper clipping with a story about the fish, found in the freshwaters of South America. Robinson and his wife love fishing so much, in the process of moving into anearby home to be closer to the park.

But the two are known for more than just unusual fishing feats. The Dip Net Bait shop next to the Coney Island on Jefferson and Southfield in Ecorsecalls Robinson Pike for his impressive hauls, and much of his success comes from the shore. The lucky residents of Michigan have more freshwater shoreline to explore than any other people in the world, both for the proven health benefits and the adventure. Anglers need a boat or to spend a lot of money. Anyone can fish from shore and catch a 4-foot muskie from the Detroit Clair River corridor.

Or a silver bass, a smallmouth, a hard-fighting sheepshead, a mouth-watering tender walleye. One can even capture a massive sturgeon from shore. More than 80 species are available to bring fun and often food to anyone who wants to give it a shot, pike included. catch a lot of Robinson said. wife keeps a tally of how many fish we catch every year.

Last year we caught 782. A bunch of pike, but also crappie, yellow perch, walleye, you name it. We give most of them away, If you know how to fish, fret. Anglers can be among the friendliest people meet. There are few activities less intimidating to participate in or learn about than fishing.

We peek into each buckets, ask one another what type of bait using and show off what we caught (or catch) if anyone asks. Fishing is both solitary and social. Though fishing might have once seemed like a club, participation today cuts across all demographics and one-third of the 46 million participants are women. While many readers will know this, it never hurts to mention that getting started takes only minimal gear a spin-casting rod, some fishing line, hooks, and bait. If worms and minnows make you queasy, there are endless shiny lures to choose from that are designed to imitate worms, crayfish, frogs, and baitfish.

Local bait shops will advise you which lures work for which fish and how to use them. If handling a fish makes you squeamish, some rubber gloves can solve the problem. A bucket, some sunglasses, and needlenose pliers will ensure good to go. The entire St. River corridor is full of places to take the family for Memorial Day or any day.

John Dingell Park is a great place to start. The park is named for the congressman who helped ensure there would be money for fish restoration and habitat projects through the Dingell- Johnson Act. On a Sunday afternoon, Jennifer Steele, a surgical assistant from Taylor, explains how to differentiate perch from other fish to her young daughter. Steele has been fishing for four years and prefers Dingell Park or Elizabeth Park. Teens Griffin Fill and Zachary Massat have a stringer of nine yellow perch and two white bass caught on live minnows.

Their dad, Fred Massat, drove them from West Bloomfield to catch the hard-fighting white bass for the first time. Most Anglers fish a channel that runs between the park shoreline and Mud Island, using live bait with perch minnows at this time of year for white bass and perch. Dingell Park is easily accessible at the intersection of Southfield and West Jefferson roads. Park hours last until 10p.m., although anglers say they sometimes are permitted to stay later as long as keeping the peace. Ample parking, flush toilet facilities and a playground for kids are among the amenities.

Amanda Louwery also takes advantage of the fishing in the corridor, a little farther north. Her Facebook page looks like an advertisement for Pure Michigan fishing. From steelhead to salmon, sheepshead to sturgeon, the 21-year old college student dips her line every spare moment she gets. Her goal is to become a technician. When Louwery feel like driving far, she heads to Lake St.

Clair Met- ropark or the Clinton River spillway at the Harley Ensign boat ramp, where there is plenty of parking. The Lake St. Clair Met- ropark has tremendous shoreline for fishing. Families bring kids to fish the boat basin, meander along Black Creek and even the shoreline along Lake St. Clair, including spots for smallmouth bass and mus- kies.

Concrete placed to prevent erosion may seem intimidating, but smallmouth and largemouth bass hide in the nooks and crannies. A fishing pier dock on the north end allows anglers to access deeper water. The park has the advantages of restrooms, concessions and playgrounds. The spillway, go-to spot for catfish, does not. The 2-mile canal connects the Clinton River to Lake St.

Clair and a paved bike path makes it family-friendly. Without using anything fancy, you can catch a lot. Louwery uses the stin- kiest bait she can find when she is looking for catfish: minnow, worms, bacon, nothing artificial. For Michigan fishing regulations, the boundary separating Lake St. Clair and BITES, AND BAG LIMITS Breaking down regulations for some of the fish found in Michigan: LARGEMOUTH AND SMALLMOUTH BASS Season: All waters catch and immediate release (CIR), all year; Lake St.

Clair, St. Clair River, Detroit River possession, June 17-Dec. 31; All other waters and Great Lakes possession, May 27-Dec. 31. Possession limit: 5.

Size limit: 14 inches. MUSKELLUNGE Peninsula Great Lakes possession, all year; Lower Peninsula inland waters (excludes Lake St. Clair, Detroit River and St. Clair River) possession, April 29-March 15; no possession, March 16, 2018-April 27, 2018; Lake St. Clair, St.

Clair River, and Detroit possession, June 3-Dec. 15. Possession limit: 1 per year per angler. Size limit: 42 inches. NORTHERN PIKE Season: Lower Peninsula Great Lakes, Lake St.

Clair, St. Clair River, Detroit River year; Lower Peninsula inland waters possession, April 29-March 15; no possession, March 16, 2018-April 27, 2018. Possession limit: 2 per year per angler. Size limit: 24 inches. WALLEYE Season: Lower Peninsula Great Lakes, Lake St.

Clair, St. Clair River, Detroit River possession, entire year; Inland lakes possession, April 29-March 15; no possession or targeting, March 16, 2018-April 27, 2018. limit: Lake Huron 5 daily limit, 15-inch minimum; Saginaw Bay 8 daily, 13 inches; Lake Erie 6 daily, 15 inches through April 30, 2018; Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River 6 inches; Detroit River 5 daily, 15 inches.

LAKE WHITEFISH waters possession, entire year. Possession limit: 12. Size limit: None. WHITE BASS Season: All waters possession, entire year. Possession limit: Great Lakes, Lake St.

Clair, St. Clair River, and Detroit River 25 daily limit; Inland waters 10 daily limit. Size limit: None. YELLOW PERCH Season: All waters possession, entire year. Possession limit: 50.

Size limit: None. LAKE STURGEON Season: Great Lakes and connecting waters (except Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River) CIR, July 16-Nov. 30; Lake St.

Clair and St. Clair River possession (1 per season), July 16-Sept. 30. (Note: Limited possession on several other watersheds. See DNR handbook for Detroit River No possession, all year Size limit: Between 42-50 inches; release less than 42 or greater than 50.

LYDIA LOHRER KNOWS MICHIGAN HAS GREAT FISHING POSSIBILITIES BEST STATE FOR CATCHES: THE MITTEN COURTESY OF DANNY ROBINSON Danny Robinson caught this 4-foot muskie off shore at Dingell Park. The St. River corridor is perfect for Memorial Day angling. COURTESY OF AMANDA LOUWERY Amanda Louwery caught this catfish on the Clinton River spillway this year. The spillway is favorite spot for snagging catfish.

10C WWW.FREEP.COM SUNDAY, JointPainRelief WithoutSurgery! ContactUStotake thefirststeptoward wellnesstoday! PainManagement 248.712.4641 www.StemTherapeutics.com DF-0000321323 990 34YEARSOF ICONICSTYLE INTRODUCINGTHE990v4 assemblemorethan4millionpairsofathleticfootwear ofourUSsales.Wherethedomesticvalueisatleast70%, welabelourshoesMadeintheUSA. DETROIT newbalancedetroit.com UTICA 13307HallRd. 586.254.5500 FARMINGTONHILLS 37606W.12MileRd. 248.324.0506 TROY 821E.BigBeaverRd. 248.740.9221 HOURS: DF-0000321439 AllMajor CreditCards Sizes6 7 8 to7 5 8 4GreatColors: HatBox DOWNTOWNDETROIT313-962-0970 1307BroadwayatGratiot SOUTHFIELD248-557-7770 15616W.10MileatGreenfield SALEENDS WEHAVEYOURLOOK! PRIORSALES EXCLUDED NOLAYAWAYS SPORTS OUTDOORS.