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That net is a weapon. Glad you had a well stocked safety kit on the boat. Thanks for the report.

That's a crazy experience with the gulls! I've never had that before. Smoke must be driving them nuts. Nice fish though!

thanks for the report. you have to be tough to fish the big lake

Nice box of fish Sent from my SM-A156U1 using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Fished 5-10:30 am, mostly 83-90fow.1 for 3 on fish and 0 for 1 on seagulls. Smoky fishing, I think it had a negative effect on the fish but positive effect on seagulls. They were dive bombing my lures trying to pick them up and out of the water. When I let out my downrigger lead, they would attack it, pick it up, flap their wings for lift off, but crash back into the water with lure in their mouth. One did it several times before giving up. I think he got hooked and was trying just like a steelie to shake the hook off. Only 1 fish today brought on-board. Lost 2 others when my snap swivels broke on the sliders losing the main lures not the slider. 1 king, 15#-2oz, 6:04am, MS Mag Flounder pdr,, 2.7sog, sw trl, 52.8° at ball, 43ft dwn, in 83.4fow Ran 150C, 250ws, 300ws, hi & low divers and two riggers on N & S trolls, zigzanging. My probe batteries ran out right after I just setup. I was very busy replacing batteries, and lines with broken swivels instead of fishing. Lots of smoke today, wore a mask at times. Peeled a large part of my skin by unprotected edges on my net. Definitely a fix coming for that. Sent from my SM-A156U1 using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Put out of Holland at around 4am. It was smoky, but not terrible. We were ready to call it off if it was too smoky, so we were pleasantly surprised to see that the other side of Lake Mac was still in view. Put lines down in around 80 FOW. Didn't mark much, so we slid out to 90. At 5:30 we took one on an ESE troll as we slid out. Nothing to write home about, but at least we weren't skunked. We weren't happy with what we were marking. We zigged and zagged through 80-100 both North and South, not marking anything, so we decided to turn in and try shallower water. We ended up in 70FOW heading S and started marking fish and bait. From 7am-8am we landed 5 fish, one on UV Mag Green Jeans, the other four on a Double Glow Silver Horde Cut Plug on a 275cu. We could hardly keep that thing in the water before another fish would hook up on it. By the time we were done we were almost in front of Saugatuck. At 8:30 the bit was off, maybe they slid out, we weren't sure. We pulled lines and headed back to Holland, happy that we had a 100% landing ratio! On the way back, visibility had degraded significantly. If you're heading out tonight take it easy, and tight lines!

Last time it was like this the pm bite was like 8-9 pm and not when the sun set and after as usual.

we are going to need an explanation to explain the combat fishing picture

looks like success Ed.

smoke looks like a little haze. Fish biting. 15lb-2oz... breaking my gear. Fish are really biting hard. Smoke has gotten worst definitely can smell and taste it Sent from my SM-A156U1 using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Not afraid to turn around if conditions aren't good. I'll send out a morning report as I'll be on the water by around 4:30am.

This happened before. Be careful out there. It can be bad and it can actually act worse than fog if there is moisture in the air.

I've had days where I fished in the fog and the fish never slid out deeper as the morning progressed. With the smoke in the air, it's possible they stay shallower longer.

I am going to go out tomorrow morning. Any idea how the fishing will be with all this smoke and smog rolling in? Sent from my iPhone using Great Lakes Fisherman

well done!

sometimes the pod of fish your on just won’t bite and it makes for a great boat ride…. and it’s way better than working. thanks for the report

I was in 70-90 fow. Also right around 9:30 LiveScope started marking schools and schools of bait fish.

what depth did most of your bites come in JDH? PUG was out too last night and sadly struggled in a way that snapped our five trip 25+ bite on average streak - still was a great night though to be out there watching sunset! we went 6 for 12 trolling that 85-105fow mainly (similar program to prior trips and what you described you encountered) they just didn't bite whatsoever after dark which as a surprise and then a relief to not have to be up til 1am cleaning fish FishNFever updated us at the end of the night and it looked like RodBoss and RealProperty and some of them steelheaders actually did decent so hats off to them and I wonder what kinda water they were fishing in

It really hurts when you can see them but not draw interest. DR down 20' was a great move!

Great job! Thanks for the report!

Fish continue to be holding on the inside taking the high baits. Glad you had fun and thanks for the report.

Ran generally the same program as the other night. Couldn't get the fish to bite. Had them on Livescope swimming at/after baits, but they wouldn't hit. Tried S/SE/SW/E/W/N/NW,NE trolling directions... Speeds between 2 and 3 mph at the ball. Eventually had a hit almost at 9 pm. Then another at 9:30. Another at 10 pm. And the fourth, which stuck hit at 10:25 pm. All fish felt nice sized and the one we got was maybe 12 lbs. Meat rig on a mag diver back 90 took two hits, 250 copper with mag moonshine jackal took one hit, and our last hit came on the downrigger down 20 feet with a mag moonshine double trouble. Might try again tomorrow night.

Fished a lot better tonight. 10 for 13. 18lb 2×12lb and the rest 7-8lbers. Tried 100-110fow at first south troll. Not much happening. 7pm hit a pod of fish and had a triple and landed 2. 8-9:30pm was pretty fun with something happening most of the time. What worked... Happy meal 3× on 275 copper Blue Flounder pounder on high dipsey and rigger Flasher fly early worked white paddle dragon slayer twice on high dipsey back 120 setting 3. Did not land either Other high dipsey out 160 setting 3 uv salmon candy green paddle with Docs custom tackle green glow fly. Great hit did not land it. Riggers with sliders did damage. One set at 50 the other set at 60 took multiple fish both fixed and slider. Green flounder pounder rv. Bad Toad rv. Bloody knuckles spoon 300 copper with happy meal and dancing anchovy took fish. Speed was the key. 2.7-3.1 at the ball. Depending on direction of troll we were 2.6-3.4 sog. Best depth was 78-90fow. On south seast troll. North troll was easier but did not produce much action. IMG_20260715_005712.heic

anyone get out this morning? PUG may give it a shot later tonight...