Sno09board

FYI for your trip, I was out on Sunday morning. Didn't want to combat fish so we ran offshore and went 6 for 12 in 160-200 FOW all in the top 50. Mostly spoon bite.

My divers have been particularly lame this year too. Only 7% of my fish have come on divers. It's usually around 15-20%.

Last spring, late April/early May I was getting big kings on my riggers with UV white 11" paddles on the bottom in 200-250 FOW. That deep, I usually run the depth counter to about about 30-40' deeper than the actual depth, due to blow back.

Yeah I'm Surreel, I'll try to get you on the radio.

Didn't make it out last night will b out this afternoon evening but did sit on the beach with kids and watch sunset all the boats seemed to be way out saw one in close guess that was you have the fished moved out in Muskegon or is everybody out far just washing lures ?? Help apreciated

I took a flurry of hits in the 160 FOW area last night. Unfortunately, this created a tangle the likes of which I have never even heard of before and by the time I got it sorted out, I was back into around 125 FOW. I will be back out tonight starting deeper and working into the 100-120 depths for sunset.

And by sorted out, I mean a 200, 250, and 300 copper balled up in the cabin of the boat along with a couple leadcores that got scrapped on the other side to the boat too.

I had an engine failure on the fourth of July and avoided a $850 tow bill by being a TowboatUS member. I think it's like $60 a year or something like that.

For setting up some new rod holders, I would recommend using tracks if you don't want them permanently mounted. I fish from a Sea Ray Sundancer and when the rodholders and riggers are off you hardly notice the tracks. I love them and there is a myriad of choices for setups in them ie single holders, dual holders, trees, etc. you can get them from Cannon, Traxstech, Burt's to name a few.

If you're looking to add lines I would highly recommend copper. Copper puts a ton of fish in the boat for me. The rods you mentioned having work great for copper and a convector-55 from Okuma is a good reel for longer copper setups (300' is a great producer for me).

I'm going out Sunday morning, weather permitting. Like Don said, everything's ice free right now.

Ended up 1 for 3 with about a 4 lb. brown. Missed a big rip on the rigger with 00 flame dodger and fly. The brown came on on red and black squiggles thin fish. We were within 500 yards of the piers on all the hits.

Well we got the boat launched last night with no issues at all. The boat floated off the trailer before the end of the launch ramp docks. I did check it out with waders before i dropped the boat in and got myself in trouble. Depth finder was reading between 5 and 8 feet as we pulled away from the launch. Shallowest spot was about 100 yds from the launch, like Dave said. I was showing .9 feet but that's from the bottom of our hull. Didn't make it all the way out to the big lake last night cuz the wind was blowing pretty hard but will update again after we fish this AM.

Frank, I might look into that. You think that launch is deep enough for a 240 Sundancer? I need at least 2', maybe a little more. What kind of launch fee do they have there?

So you think I'd have trouble with my 24' Sundancer then? I think I could clear 3' of water without issue.

Here's the response I received from NB Recreation Dept:

Ok, there shouldn't be any problem. As for the launch ramp, we added large stone at the end of it to fill in the drop off that was created due to the low water levels. Boats your size should not have any trouble. At least I hope that's the case.

Matt: Any info from your friend?

Did they give any indication when it would be available for purchase through their site or in stores?

Awesome thank you. Any info is much appreciated.

Haha, SeaRay published draft for my boat is 20". 4" of clearance sounds like more than enough for me (or at least it'll make for a good story)!

Yeah I figured nothing would be done before I was down there, just curious if anyone familiar with the harbor knew if it'd be functional as is, for my size boat.

I thought about Michigan City but I would need to get an Indiana license if I launched from there right?

Cool thanks a lot. Anybody know if the NB launch/harbor are functional?

I planned on targeting the river plume for sure. This picture shows the chalkiness/murkiness I'm concerned about.

http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/modis/modis.cgi/modis?region=m&page=3&template=subℑ=t1.13067.1622.LakeMichigan.143.250m.jpg

I'm going to be in New Buffalo the weekend of 4/5 and I want to bring the boat and try my hand at some coho down there, which I've never done before. Does anyone know what kind of shape the NB launch and/or harbor is in with the low water? My boat's a 240 Sundancer.

Also, looking at current satellite images, it looks like the skinny water is pretty stirred up and murky down there. If it's still like that when I'm down there, should I plan to run offshore or will I still find fish in the chalky water?

Hoping we get some type of warmup before then so I'm not fishing in 35 degree water...thanks in advance!

My favorite was the Bloody nose on a 300 copper. One of them caught so many fish it got bent up and we had to retire it.

Yeah that. I think I replaced two or three of these last summer off 300 coppers.

I put the 19 strand torpedo wire on the same exact setups you're talking about except with twilli tips on the rods. After a couple of weeks I noticed a lot fraying buildup on the levelwind guide of the reel. I think the friction of the eyelets was chewing up the wire. I switched to rollers rods and have not seen the issue since. Don't know if it was the twilli tips or what, but just wanted to share my experience.

Well the fishing seems to have really improved, just in time for the big waves this weekend. We fished 110 FOW tonight going 7 for 12 (had some newbs on the boat). All nice big kings.

-UV paddles (clear and white) 120 back on high divers

-UV white paddle 90' down on rigger

-Green Splatterback Ace Hi 250 45# Copper

-Blue Splatterback Ace Hi 250 45# Copper

-Blue Mylar Ace Hi 200 45# Copper

-Blue Dolphin Mag on rigger 80' down

If you can make it out tomorrow night before the blow, I'd try to make it happen!

As far as lengths go, when using 8" spin doctor types, I try to have the leader be about 2.5 times the length of the blade (~20"). If it's an 11" paddle style I go at least 3-3.5 times the length of the blade (33-38"). I think some people fish these even a little bit longer than that.