Capt Craig

Lure: Stinger NBK Stingray Port: Manistee Fav Person: Kids (any and all)

Manistee took off today with some warmer water moving some more fish into the area. We took 17 by 9AM and lost another 8. Another charter took 22 on a full day trip. Our best was a Stingray Monkeyshine behind a Slide Diver Lite Bite with a big ring and the optional 4 oz weight set on 1 and 100 out. I am still experimenting with these but had seven bites on this rod. Riggers took fish from 45-90 down and 5 and 10 colors also produced several fish along with a 10 color and 4 oz Dive Bomb. A 200' Slide Diver set up like above with a flasher and fly also took a couple fish. Best baits were the NBK, Carmel Dolphin, Glo Green Alewife, and Monkeyshine wih the Stingrays far out producing the Stingers. We Started just North at 16.5 and kept a South troll all morning ending at 11.5 and our best was around 120 FOW. Get a net report from fishmanistee.com before heading out.

I just switched this year to running stricktly SD Lite Bites for all divers. The new weight and ring packages allow you to run them deep or high and we have been hammering the fish on them as far as 100 down. I don't think it is necessary to run a long ways behind the diver but it is nice to get 15 or 20 feet back and still be able to net up close. We are running them on 50# Power Pro but have talked with people that are running them on wire with no problem. The Lite Bite is kind of deceiving as it is not intended for just Walleyes but any small fish that you may drag or even a weed or balloon string that has tagged along. It eliminates the possiblity of dragging something and having a dead rod in the water for hours. By ther way if they are rigged properly you will have no problem with the super lines and if you see any slippage just twist the surgical tubing 180 degrees and it will not slip.

I use just the knot and no super glue. I change the knot once per year or any time I have issues with my autostops. I do not use wire divers and personally believe in the stealth approach. To each his own as everyone seems to catch fish. I prefer the silence and keeping the riggers lines as close to the boat as possible which helps keep fish out of it.

Sorry didn't answer the question. To attach to the ball connecting swivel simply tie a pallomar knot.

I am startting my third year of running power pro on the riggers and have had 0 problems with tangles or breaks. I think I am running 150. You will see less drop back and no noise. The one downside is water fleas. When they are thick pinch the line between your fingernails as it is coming up or you will have a stinky mess on the spool.

No I pulled them behind in line and big boards with no problem last year. The Dive Bomb suprisingly does not add that much drag.

Gary do you have a website or can you send me a PM with contact info?

Pro Troll just came out with UV flashers with the purple they had last year they have added yellow, blue and red UV colors to the flasher line up. I believe it is the first UV stuff in these colors. Not sure how well it works but if it is good as the regular Pro Troll stuff it should be great. The next thing is to find a UV fly or squid to run behind them.

Personally we try not to let the board release and accomplish this by looping the line through the release on the board twice. Once you put the line in the picher wrap it around the release and back through the pincher again. We run it this way with mono and superbraids and it has not caused any problems breaking line and will not slip. I hate fighting the board all the way to the boat but I also understand this is not as big a problem with Walleyes.

OK thats alot of questions. Generally you want to go to the sharpest and most sustained breaks offshore and you would probably want to fish the warmer water side of the break looking at these temps. The readings on the top and left of the map are the coordinates you would want to use on your GPS to determine where to go. If this was a new map and I was heading out of Muskegon I would head out to the 50 line and check temps. Any time the temps drop sharply start fishing. If they don't then set down at the start of the break and fish into it. 37.2 degree water is located at approximately 43 degrees and 7 minutes north and 86 degrees 55 minutes west.

We took one 14# just outside the Manistee harbor Saturday and a friend of mine lost another but I would have thought thye would be in better than this by now. The cold water may be putting them off a bit.

Welcome to GLF

My experience is that Flourocarbon just does not hold up. I used it two years ago and broke off more in two weeks than I had in two years. Stick with the Big Game green. Also in the test I did Brown fishing several trips there was no diffreence in the two lines as far as productivity was concerned.

Just switched from Fishlander to Big Jon and I miss the adjustable rod holders but that is the only thing. The Big Jon speed riggers are super fast and smooth. The way the booms work I can now lift the arms without swiveling the rigger to the back and the rear mounted holders keep the rods closer. I have had Walkers, Older Big Jons, Fishlander and now the new Speed Rigger and these are by far my favorite.

Sounds about right Paul I have a full time mate who has just reached 16 and still does not get to run the back much of the time. This has to be earned through experience as mistakes are way to costly in tackle and customers. I pay him $50 for a half plus tips and will cosnider more as rates increase

I always make sure I have a cell phone number so I can call late customers otherwise wait an hour.

Not me although I am seriously thinking about getting rid of the bridge boat so I can do just that, with the rising costs it's just another way to try to make a profit.

We actually have had great fishing in Manistee with limits of Kings Wednesday 5-17 and Sunday 5-14. The best was just outside the harbor with a few coming inside. Riggers with Stinger Stingray spoons were our best with divers taking a few. There were also good reports from the shelf. Outstanding King fishing so far this year. Good Fishin!

My name is Capt Craig Kent and I own and operate Killin' Time III out of Manistee MI. We have a 31' Silverton and rep for Stinger and Big Jon. Currently we are docked at Solbergs Marina. I have been a captain for 5 years and have been fishing Manistee for 10 while startting my big lake adventure in Frankfort for 4 years. Good Fishin!

To the best of my knowledgte the reason this rule is in there is because there were guys running 100' sliders which basically becomes another effective line. Since they limit the number of rods in most cases to 8 they felt using the sliders this long actually contsituted and extra rod. Basically you can fix this 100' slider and then hand line the fish in which was not within the spirit of the rules so therefore the length limit. Hope this helps.

I am actually switching back to big boards this year. In our case it is easier to run core off the big boards and I have lost too many small boards over the last few years. When pulling core eventually someone will get you and with the small boards the board is gone and if there is any kind of traffic you can't turn around to retrieve it. I have also seen more productivity out of the big boards when it is rough.

Green Lake is between Karlin and Interlochen. It is sister lakes with Duck lake. If you want info on how to get there tell me where you are coming from and I will post directions

Just found out about our second annual Bungalow tournament to be held on May 20th. This tournament csts $65 with $50 going to 100% payback and $15 covers diner for two at the Bungalow after the tournament. This was a great time last year. If you are interested or want more details contact Jeremy Novak at 231-510-8311

My buddy went up Sunday night and got 100 by himself so I really think the tremendous pressure pushed those fish out. I may try it during the week.