Fishing isn’t the only reason to come to Drummond Island. Dubbed “the Gem of Lake Huron” by its admirers, the island is famous for its pristine beauty and outdoor pursuits. It features over 100 miles of off-road trails for ATV and ORV lovers. Kayakers revel at the opportunity to paddle quietly along Heritage Water Trail or stroll miles of unspoiled beaches while searching for precious pudding stones. The 1,185-acre Maxton Plains Preserve on Drummond Island is arguably one of the world’s finest examples of alvar grassland.
Smorgasboard catches are common when fishing the St. Mary’s River.
You don’t just happen upon Drummond Island. You have to want to get there. Once you do, you’ll wonder why you waited.
Once you cross the Mackinaw Bridge, it’s not far to 134-square mile Drummond Island for downstate residents. It might take longer to get from DeTour Village to Drummond Island. A ferry runs on the hour from DeTour Village to the island. If you miss the ferry or it’s full, you must wait until the next ride. It’s worth the wait.
I had only been to Drummond Island one other time nearly 40 years ago, so when friend Ken Riehl asked me to come along on a June trip to his cabin on the island, I jumped at the chance. One reason was that we could catch an Atlantic salmon in the St. Mary’s River. It was also another way to experience the other angling opportunities Drummond Island has to offer.
A ferry takes visitors from DeTour Village to Drummond Island.
Fishing isn’t the only reason to come to Drummond Island. Dubbed “the Gem of Lake Huron” by its admirers, the island is famous for its pristine beauty and outdoor pursuits. It features over 100 miles of off-road trails for ATV and ORV lovers. Kayakers revel at the opportunity to paddle quietly along Heritage Water Trail or stroll miles of unspoiled beaches while searching for precious pudding stones. The 1,185-acre Maxton Plains Preserve on Drummond Island is arguably one of the world’s finest examples of alvar grassland.
Drummond Island is famous with waterfowl hunters for the diversity of ducks and geese that pass in the fall. A rigorous clear-cutting program on state lands provides habitat for grouse, snowshoe hares, deer, and bears. There isn’t a ton of deer on the island, but there isn’t a lot of hunting pressure either. 68% of the island is comprised of state lands. Snowmobilers revel in the enormous amounts of fluffy powder.
Fishing-wise, Drummond Island is known for its northern pike, walleye, perch, and smallmouth. June is an outstanding time to visit for all of them, plus the Atlantic salmon. Structure abounds in the form of 53 outlying islands, rocky reefs, expansive weed beds, and current breaks. The island can be a prop-eating nightmare for the uninformed or imprudent. Drummond Island is the second-largest freshwater island in the United States.
Ken Riehl with an Atlantic salmon caught in the St. Mary’s River off Drummond Island.
Our initial try for Atlantic salmon didn’t produce any results, so we went to visit my friend Captain Dan Cruchon to get some tips on catching an Atlantic salmon in the St. Mary’s River. Captain Dan (drummondislandfishingcharters.com 586-212-4030) moves his Stormy Chinook Charters to Drummond Island in late May and June to target Atlantic salmon. We got to the dock just in time to see Cruchon and his clients returning with a mixed-bag catch of lake trout, an Atlantic, and a bonus walleye.
Atlantic salmon are nomadic for much of their life. Where they are at any given time is highly problematic except in June through August and September when they enter the Saint Mary’s River system. The wanderlust salmon appear in Detour Passage in late May and early June. Salmon trickle through the system all summer long. Their destination is the Cloverland power plant facility where they were initially planted.
“The Atlantics are typically high in the water column,” advises Cruchon. “You really don’t need downriggers to catch them. They like small orange spoons a lot.” While Atlantics and lake trout are the target species in May and June, it’s not uncommon to catch a hodge podge of salmonids off Drummond Island later in the summer. It’s possible to catch Chinook, coho and pink salmon, steelhead, brown trout, plus Atlantics in a single day.
A pair of anglers try their luck for Drummond Island walleyes.
Ken Riehl and I were back at it the next morning, hoping to capitalize on our newfound knowledge. One trip Cruchon offered was to troll across the current. We’d been fishing about an hour when one of the in-line boards rigged with a short length of lead core line started skiing backward. A silvery form was cartwheeling far behind the board when I grabbed the rod and started playing the fish with kit gloves. It was a spirited battle made more anxious when Ken attempted to net the salmon. The salmon balanced precariously across the hoop as he lifted, somersaulted in the air, but fortunately landed in the net.
The Atlantics are a here-today-gone-tomorrow proposition. Cruchon said they hooked 18 Atlantics in a single trip just a few days earlier. He didn’t say how many they landed. Normally, he said they managed to tangle with three or four Atlantics every trip.
Only the locals are around to take advantage of a run of jumbo perch that move into the shallows of Maxton Bay in April. The jumbo yellow bellies return in the fall when more anglers target them. Most use minnows or waxworms with teardrops.
A proven technique is to pull crawler harnesses behind in-line boards over the top of emerging weed beds for walleye during late spring and early summer. The ‘eyes can be found in anywhere from 6 to 12 feet of water and bite best in late evening. Most will run from 1 to 3 pounds, but bigger specimens are common. Later in the summer, target weed edges that abut deeper ledges and islands.
Ken Riehl with a typical Drummond Island walleye.
The whole island is a rock, which is synonymous with smallmouths. Locate rocks humps in places like Scott Bay beginning in early June through July for spawning smallmouths. Most will be 12 to 15 inches and fun on jerk baits and Ned rigs. Big northern pike often engulf lures intended for other species. Anglers routinely come face to face with pike topping 20 pounds, at least for a short period of time. Pike fishing can be particularly good for those willing to brave the elements in the fall.
For more information on lodging, amenities, resorts, and bait shops on the island, contact the Drummond Island Tourist Association (visitdrummondisland.com.)
Getting to Drummond Island takes some doing, but it’s worth it in the end.
MORE GREAT ARTICLES FROM AMATO MEDIA
SAGINAW BAY BASS - BOB GWIZDZ
