A Vexing Decision

[ozark trout fisher]

Alright, I need a bit of help. I've just recently found out that it appears I'll be able to snag about a week off in August to go somewhere. I'd like to fish for smallmouth or trout, but I don't really care which. I've at least briefly considered a whole laundry list of places from Colorado to Arkansas, but for now, I believe I've got it narrowed down to four, two in Virginia and two in Michigan...

1. The Mount Rogers National Recreation Area/Jefferson National Forest area in southwestern Virginia-there's supposed to be some good mountain stream fishing for brookies and rainbows there.

2. Shenandoah National Park/Shenandoah Valley in Virginia for trout and smallies

3. Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan's UP for smallies, pike, etc. I've actually have visited the UP, but that was years ago and I didn't have really have the chance to check out more than a few lakes and streams.

4. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in the northern part of Michigan's lower peninsula-I've heard that the smallmouth fishing can be pretty good in this area.

If anyone has personal experience fishing (or even just visiting) any of these areas, I'd be most thankful for a little help. I plan to be camping everywhere I go, and while I'll likely have either have a canoe or kayak with me, any type of water that requires more than that probably won't be an option. Thanks a lot!

[Stoneroller]

2. Shenandoah Valley even if the fishing isn't great or it's pouring rain one day, you can visit the civil war sites in the area.

if I were going near the great lakes, I'd just hit Erie or St Clair and catch monster smallmouth there.

[ozark trout fisher]

Thanks

[Guest]

deleted

[ozark trout fisher]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not totally locked in, but as of this moment I'm planning to head to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, on the Lake Superior coast of Michigan's UP. I'm leaning towards this mainly because of the scenery and the brookie fishing. But I'm still open for ideas.

[Gavin]

Been to Pictured Rocks/Seney...its a long drive, and brutal fishing for 6-8" brookies...There are some nice ones on the Fox...but you'll need a square stern canoe with a motor, a quart of Deet, and a blood transfusion at the end of the trip (if you dont get lost in the swamp). Watch out for Jack Pine Savages, black bears, and wolves too;>)!

[ozark trout fisher]

Been to Pictured Rocks/Seney...its a long drive, and brutal fishing for 6-8" brookies...There are some nice ones on the Fox...but you'll need a square stern canoe with a motor, a quart of Deet, and a blood transfusion at the end of the trip (if you dont get lost in the swamp). Watch out for Jack Pine Savages, black bears, and wolves too;>)!

Reminds me of some of my experiences chasing brookies in the Adirondacks...Nothing like going through hell and back, paddling and portaging through swamps and waist deep mud for a few 8 inch fish. But somehow it usually ends up being worth it though!

I'm already excited for this one...

[ozark trout fisher]

The plan is finally as close to set as it will probably get . Unless something changes, the first few days I'll be camping and kayaking on a lake in Pictured Rocks that is supposed to hold pike, brook trout, and perch, which is also located about a half mile from Lake Superior. And after that head inland to float and fish for brookies on a couple different rivers.

[ozark trout fisher]

Well scratch that! Much of that part of the state is currently in the process of burning down, including right along some of the streams I'd planned to fish. I very well might still give it a go if this doesn't become more widespread, but I will be taking another good, hard look at the northern lower peninsula.

See what I meant when I said the plan was as set as "it would ever get"? When the weather is as wacky as it's been this year, nothing is certain. I'd decided to go either north or east this year, in a large part to avoid the wildfires that are expected with the low snowpack out in Colorado...So far it isn't working out so well!