Fly Fishing the Inland Oceans: An Angler's Guide to Finding and Catching Fish in the Great Lakes

by Jerry Darkes

Overview

The first comprehensive look at fly fishing across the Great LakesWarmwater fish, including smallmouth bass, carp, and northern pikeColdwater fish, including lake trout, brook trout, and Atlantic salmonFly-fishing techniques for the Great LakesCovers wonderfully extensive and diverse angling opportunities from western Lake Superior to eastern Lake Ontario

Customer Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780811709316
Publisher:	Stackpole / Headwater
Publication date:	08/01/2013
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	282,992
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Jerry Darkes is a fly-tackle sales rep, instructor, guide, and writer based in northern Ohio. He has over four decades of fly-fishing experience in both fresh and salt water and is recognized as an expert on Great Lakes steelhead and warmwater fly fishing. Jerry was the first fly-fishing-only guide on Ohio’s Lake Erie tributaries and helped to pioneer many of the fly patterns and techniques used today. Jerry gives many presentations, programs, and demonstrations throughout the region to clubs and outdoor groups and has been featured on several television shows including Trout Unlimited TV and Outdoors Ohio.

Table of Contents

Foreword vi

Chapter 1 The Final Frontier: An Introduction to the Great Lakes 1

Chapter 2 An Angler's Look at the Lakes 7

Lake St. Clair 7

Lake Erie 11

Lake Michigan 14

Lake Huron 18

Lake Superior 22

Lake Ontario 26

Resources 28

Chapter 3 Warmwater Fish 31

Smallmouth Bass 31

Carp 35

Northern Pike 38

Muskellunge 40

Largemouth Bass 43

Walleye 44

Freshwater Drum 46

White Bass 48

Panfish and More 49

Unusual Opportunities 51

Chapter 4 Coldwater Fish 53

Lake Trout 53

Brook Trout 55

Atlantic Salmon 57

Whitefish 59

Steelhead and Rainbow Trout 59

Brown Trout 62

Coho Salmon 64

Chinook Salmon 65

Pink Salmon 67

Chapter 5 Gearing Up 69

Rods 69

Reels 71

Lines 71

Leaders 74

Other Necessities 75

Flies 77

Fly Patterns 85

Chapter 6 Fly-Fishing Techniques for the Great Lakes 153

Getting Started 153

Points and Drop-Offs 155

Shallows and Flats 155

Creek and River Mouths 158

Breakwalls, Jetties, and Piers 162

Warmwater Discharge Areas 165

Estuaries 167

Open Water 169

Chapter 7 Fly Fishing in Lake St. Clair 173

Metro Beach 173

Anchor Bay and Harsen's Island Areas 176

Chapter 8 Fly Fishing in Lake Erie 181

Mouth of the Detroit River 182

Pennsylvania Shoreline 187

Buffalo Harbor Area and Upper Niagara River 195

Cleveland Area Shoreline 199

Chapter 9 Fly Fishing in Lake Huron 203

Michigan's Sunrise Shoreline 203

The North Channel and Georgian Bay 209

St. Marys River 216

Chapter 10 Fly Fishing in Lake Michigan 225

Door County, Wisconsin 225

Drowned River Mouths 230

Grand Traverse and Little Traverse Bays 240

North End 246

Wisconsin Shoreline 254

Chicago Metro Area 260

Chapter 11 Fly Fishing in Lake Ontario 267

The Bay of Quinte and Kingston, Ontario, Area 267

Lower Niagara River and Niagara Bar Area 273

New York Shoreline Areas and Lake Ontario's East End 281

Greater Toronto Area 288

Chapter 12 Fly Fishing in Lake Superior 293

Chequamegon Bay 293

Minnesota's North Shore, North Shorelines of Wisconsin and Michigan 299

Thunder Bay, Nipigon Bay, and Ontario's North Shore 306

Out-of-the-Way Places 312

Chapter 13 Environmental Issues 315

Bibliography 321

Acknowledgments 322

Index 323

Editorial Reviews

Darkes gives fly fishermen a succinct but thorough introductioin to the daunting 94,000 miles of angling territory represented by the Great Lakes, along with expert advice on tackle and flies appropriate to an amazing range of angling possibilities.

Gray's Sporting Journal - Christopher Camuto

"Darkes absolutely nailed this book. ...From western Lake Superior to eastern Lake Ontario, Darkes presents a very compelling dictum on the where, how, when and what of Great Lakes fishing."

Angling Trade - Kirk Deeter