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Hello gang I am new to the lake and would appreciate any advice on fishing near and around the naval station. I have not boated on Lake Michigan before, but I am a Marine who has plenty of time on the water. I'm looking for discussion of what types of fish we can target, what basic rods and reels for a lake setup, etc. Not looking to spend a lot of money - just to be safe and have fun fishing with my sons. Any and all info is appreciated. Semper Fidelis! Sent from my iPhone using Great Lakes Fisherman Mobile App

Greetings - I live downstate but have access to the lake through Naval Station Great Lakes... I have a 17' Crestliner Sportfish and would like to start fishing the lake with my sons early this summer. Any recommendations or other info is greatly appreciated! Sent from my iPhone using Great Lakes Fisherman Mobile App

I prefer a stiff wind in my 14’. Trolling with the wind is the poor man’s autopilot. I run all my rods on one side of the boat if possible - port as that’s the side I’m facing - to make them easier to watch and to leave the other side open to play/land fish, if they play nice however larger kings and steel sometimes disregard my best inputs to convince them where they should go.

Streams are blown out around me in Holland. Lake Mac is chocolate milk. Had lunch, at the launch I usually use, on Monday and the water was up 6” from two weeks ago but still a foot plus down from last fall. Like dry ground where the boat is usually floating off the trailer.

Hi Dave, I’ve been fishing lake mi for many years. The water level seems to go in cycles. 10 years ago, the water level was very high and a few years before that it was extremely low. Now we are at the low levels once again.

Not sure where you are, but in Muskegon the water level is high and we have standing water in fields/lawns and the rivers are cresting the banks. Sent from my iPhone using Great Lakes Fisherman

Autopilot is pretty much a necessity to keep the boat going straight. I rest the net on my swim platform until the fish is close to the boat. Hold the rod with right hand and dip the net with my left while pulling the fish forward. Usually, the fish ends up in the boat. Sometimes, well, they get away!

I am interested in everyone's opinion on the water level decline and reason/s you believe this is happening.

I've found that Traxteck end piece with the Alan wrench is sufficient. Most thieves don't carry an alan wrench set.

If anyone's interested in creating a Salmon fishing Network based around those of us who typically fish from say...Port Washington to the IL line, please send me a message and I'll start an email group. As we all know Sharing/ receiving info on up to date, daily depths where the fish are, is half the battle. I've been Salmon fishing LM for 30 yrs, recently retired and plan on going a few times a week this year.

Longer leader, etc could make it harder to get fish in boat. Look a some tracks like traxtech or berts to mount STURDY on gunnels. makes eveything easier. Use sturdy rod holders. First master one line, then two, etc. Best way is take wife or buddy along. Then try doing it all yourself first, Pick a calm day with little of no wind. If youre steering with tiller, it might be easier than steering wheel.

Check out Black Pearl Charters in Holland,Mich. They have lots of experience. I believe their pontoon is 28' and they catch salmon. Its set up with many rod holders, planer boards, downriggers, dipsies, lead core, copper, etc.

Hello, Purchased a Hewescraft hardtop sea runner late last year that came with a Lowrance Elite FS 9 at the helm, NAC1 Auto Pilot w/ sea star hydraulic steering. Got the boat out once before winter hit hard; (did have to bust through some ice at huron to get onto erie!) the auto pilot worked great making steering adjustments from the HMI inputs on the Lowrance. Decided I wanted a Lowrance mounted at the business end to be able to make auto pilot steering adjustments out back.. IYKYK. Installed a 12" Elite FS at the helm and moved the 9" out back with just power and ethernet between the two units. The 12' at helm has the transducer and NMEA network connected from a splitter. Everything syncs and works except autopilot on the 9", ALL works on the 12" now at the helm. The aft lowrance connected by only ethernet states no autopilot computer. Is it just a NMEA 2000 I'm missing to the 9" or is it a configuration setting that I am missing? Thanks in advance for any help. If you are familiar with these systems, please let me know if you need more info to provide input.

Good afternoon. Question for those of you that enjoy fishing solo: What is your best practice for netting a feisty salmon when you're by yourself? Long rod +long leaders + long landing net + feisty fish = Early Release?