SUPERTRAMP

Mixed bag out of ST JOE, early bite was good until the sun came up. We got a late start, but managed a few fish, 1 King and 2 keeper Lake Trout. A couple of guys in our Marina did catch a few early. We fished 75 to 110, and maked a lot of bait fish on the bottom in that 105 range, North off of Rocky Gap. Really don't know where the Kings went, I don't think they have run yet in the southern lake. We caught a nice 12 lb. King on a 6 color Stinger bloody nose. Lake trout came on UV Spin doc with a blue bubble fly, about 5' off the bottom. Really not much going on but there is cold water 55 down we had 44degrees. at 48 down it was 58 degrees.

this confuses me sea hawk is out of st joe not south haven

Sea Hawk is a charter out of St Joe, he does not post on GLF or FB, SEA EAGLE made the post.

Nicer Job Dan old guys rule.

Nice job Jim>

I am amazed, I run 14# balls and have not lost a ball, except when someone brings the ball out of the water in rough conditions, or stops and drops too fast. I run 150# wire, Band buster releases and #33 rubberbands. In rough conditions u need to make sure u stop the ball 3 to 4 feet below the surgace, or you get the yo yo bounce and that will break cables.

The Sad thing is that he is a Charter Captain. The so called professional! Glad no one was hurt badly. We all need to remember that safety is the first rule of boating.

I've been using the church walleye boards for years and we've never had one dive when a fish hits yet.

My experience exactly. Most times when the board dives it is because you are trying to lift up with your rod tip. Keep the rod tip low and apply side way pressure. Even big Kings won't keep it up long.

Had John Crouse and his brother on board for the day, It was a little lumpy first thing, South rollers and currents were really bad. We set up in 75 FOW, and like my fishing buddies had said, the fish had moved. We found cold water at 65ft, so I set a deep rigger with a paddle green big weenie paddle and home tied UV blue bubble fly, we tried plugs and large spoons, and nothing going for the fires 2 hours 1 hit on a 6 color with a stinger glow Christmas spoon. switched to smaller baits and finally got another hit, 300 copper with Silver Streak UV Panty ho. Nice Steelhead. Next hit was a King on the same set up, other side of the boat. Had 2 releases on riggers, nothing doing. Next hit was dipsy on 2 out 85, took a really nice Skamania that had its tail all chewed up. Trolled for another hour and had an under sized Lake Trout take the flasher and blue bubble down on the bottom, released that fish and the DNR came by and asked for us to flash our licenses, and they were satisfied. Slow out of the Joe. Ended the day 4 for 8, Not as good as last week but we got a couple.

Nice Burbot Frank mmm good eatin. Or is that a Cat?

Good job on finding fish, I think if you check that the mature Kings are mostly 3 year old fish. We have Washington and Oregon strain fish here and they run at 3. 4 year old fish are from Alaska. I have spoken to several fish biologists and they seem to believe we have rare 4 year old Kings and all Coho mature at 3.

Its part of the Rocky Mtn Experience. Up, down, and sore muscles. I Hunt the Rockies every chance I get and we always spend 2 to 3 months getting ready by doing a lot of Back pack and camping along the Manistee above Red bridge. The river trail is good exercise.

Oh man..... Let me tell you guys , these mountains are Awesome ,breath taking to say the least and they have some really beautiful lakes in the I just want to get out there and troll for the Lockness of whatever fish is down there. I'll try to

Post pics after the holiday for sure .

When u go up the GOING TO THE SUN ROAD be sure and look down at McDonald Lake. It is so clear u can see the bottom looks like its shallow but don't believe it.

Have to agree with supertramp. I fish with a lot of newbies and even some seasoned big lakers that want to pump the rod! IMHO its a bad habbit to get into with big fish on the big lake, I try to have them keep the rod back and gain line by reeling keeping the most pressure possible against that fish. Most commonly I see guys (especially seasoned) that want to horse them to the boat bringing them in way to hot. YOu have got to wear them out with pressure and drag. On my boat you will hear me say often "you got all day dont rush it! I have rarely run into another line fishing the V formation. Salmon and steel run to the top they dont sound (run deep) like some salt water fish now nothing is always but almost always they run to the surface. So the only time they tangle other lines is on the way up and usually a quick slip of the rod under or over sets them free of the tangle. I do on occasion clear a rod or two but more often than not move their respective position to another holder for a clearer lane. I also will turn the boat slowly to gain line, stop a long run, change angle and to help manage the really big fish but its a catch 22 with out a great reel man you get slack so there is a lot of coaching and the driver really has to pay attention. Its a dance between fish, fishermen and driver and a art form when it all comes together. We all loose fish, period! the biggest thing is rod up let him take drag (adjust up or down as needed) don't reel when he's taking drag keep line tight and pressure on!! Read the fish to best position boat, other lines, netter, and fishermen. Managing an exhausted fish at the side or back of the boat is far easier than a "hot one" so remember "you got all day take it easy wear em out" as already said you manage the fish not the other way around!!

Exactly Jeff;

I tell em its not bass fishing, its KING SALMON, if it takes 30 minutes so what? Also how many times have u slowed up and slowly turned and had another fish hit an outside rigger or board? Have fun if u lose em so what, just give yourself a chance. Our last trip Sunday we were 8 for 8 with 4 Steelhead 3 Kings and 1 coho. It can be done if u r patient.

I assume you run the V configuration for your set up, that would put the Coppers in close and the other presentations further out. When you fight remember that you control the fish not the fish you. Apply pressure side ways to turn the fish. In addition if you pull the inside presentations first if necessary. I have never had to pull my long presentations for a Dipsy or rigger fish. On the Silverking we always tell people to let the fish fight, don't pump and try to get line that way. Everytime you lower the rod tip you give the fish some slack you can't help it. Most of the reels used on the lake are from 3.8 to 5.0 retrieve, the pro's on the Saltwater use multipliers, and they are a lot faster. So you did nothing wrong, we all lose fish.

Good Job on the fish, we chose not to drive 50 miles to get blown off by storms. I will say that Sunday the water was above 55 degrees all the way down to 60 ft. off St joe. but the fish were cooperative.

Set lines in 90 f.o.w. deep rigger @ 80 others at 45 60 and 56, dipsys at 125 and 175, 6 color 4 color full core and 300 coppers. Fish came on the deep rigger with a UV spin doc and blue bubble fly, 300 copper with green splatter back silver horde, we got 5 fish quickly on that pattern and trolled out to 130 in 4 foot waves. turned around and headed back in and as the sun got higher the waves started to settle down. Changed up things and went to some stingers. Glow Christmas and jawbreaker on 4 color 6 color brought the riggers up to 36 and 40 on the outside and 55 and 45 on the inside, we were seeing steelhead on the graph and jumping on the surface. Most of our hits were on a west troll, and we stayed mostly straight out. Troll speed was 2.7 to 3.2 mph, because of the rough water. Ended with 8, for 8, 4 steelhead, 3 kings and 1 coho,. We pulled lines at noon.

The number of rods per person is 3 and applies to all types of fishing. It used to be 2 per angler, and was increased several years ago to 3.

I love my convectors, but I found that the Cablela's Line Counter reels are really very good. They go on sale for about 40 bucks every season end. I got several and after 2 seasons all I do is clean and oil them. Drags are smooth and the linecounters are fair.

Poor guy my ass....you have no idea!

Poor Jen, sounds like the guy was a mooch.

Nice job:

We will be fishing again Sunday, The Bite is on.

Thanks for the info I going to try Friday

Good luck you might want to try straight out and set lines in about 100FOW and work North to the 10's. There are a lot of fish stacked up out there in that area. Temps are kind of warm, our probe at 65' had 54 degrees, dropped to 80 and it was 44. Vary your speed and get er done.

Dodged storms in the AM, had good action on big kings and steelhead. We cut the day short and ended with 2 Mature Kings both females, and 1 coho and 1 steelhead. Had 3 other hits that got off before we got to the rods, and 1 run on the wire dipsy that came back to the boat and got off. Weather was dicey and we quit at 11:00. Silverhordes both Ace hi and regular #4 and 5 in Green spatter back, wonder bread and blue spatter back, magnum spoons in purple and blues. We were using the new DR spoons, that u can get online at drspoons.com.

That is a plug for my buddy Dave.

Fished south into the wind to get away from a nasty storm first thing, and had most of our hits on a south troll. Only had 2 hits when we turned to go north, 110 to 140 FOW, rigger at 56 with purple spoon, rigger at 45 with silver horde wonder bread back 100'. Spoons were back 50. Dipsey' out 105 and 120. Coho came on 300 copper, ace hi chrome with pink dots.

We got into a few nice perch on Sunday, Same area we talked about in the earlier post. We ended up with about 25 before the fog set in, and the kids got tired of being cooped up on the boat. Fish were spotty to say the least, and we did get about 7 13 to 15 inchers, the rest were 7 to 8" eaters. Was a great day on the water, but FOGGY.

I am going to be taking my grandkids out tomorrow for perch. I am going to start looking north off the Gazebo, and try to find a few schools. Boat is SilverKing, and will have radio in 68

U r the man Frank. Nice job. 4 man limit on tough conditions. well played.