November is a great time to be on the Grand River. The main run of fall salmon has come and gone, the fair weather anglers are fading out, and the hunters are back in the woods. Sometimes you feel like you have the river all to yourself! This year’s salmon run was nowhere close to what it was last year but the steelhead are rolling in thick, and they are hungry. If you have never caught a fall steelhead you better hold on to your britches because they are as crazy as your ex!
You will find a lot of float anglers this time of year. Running 10 to 12 pound main line with a 4 to 6 pound leader is a good option. You only need to run about a 2 1/2 foot leader that’s connected to your main line with a #10 swivel and of course a ShagNasty Float! I like to run egg sinkers because it’s free floating on your line.
I’ve tried peppering my line with round split shot and lost monster fish right at the sinker. If split shot is all you use, don’t put so much pressure on it. When you put a split shot on your line and press it down to hold it in place you’re weakening that line. If you are going to use an egg sinker put your egg sinker on first then a nice bead. The bead helps protect your knot. I also like to shake my rod a little, and that makes that bead and egg hit together to make noise. Watch the size of your hooks. Don’t just throw a #2 on there if your fishing with smaller bags. Size 10 and 12 are a good size hook to use. This time of year the water is getting cooler and clearer. That just means you have to go smaller with your tackle. Now if it’s muddy. I say go big or go home! But the less hook point you have sticking out of that sack, the less you’re going to catch a snag.
Walleye anglers in the Grand River are doing well. Throw white twister tails at them, buck tail jigs, and body baits. Run them in the shallows the first part of the morning or before and after dark. During the day run, work the ledges along the river channel. If you target these fish, you will catch them!
The pike in the Grand River are in high abundance. I like to use live big suckers, big spinner baits, and nice big body baits. Find the spring creeks that come into the Grand and you will find all the pike you want to catch.
TBN Outfitters offers guided fishing trips on the Grand River, guided deer hunting trips in southern Ohio, and guided duck and goose trips as well. Contact us today! Take Care, God Bless, and Happy Thanksgiving!
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