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We finally got a chance to fish with out wind, rain and high winds. We set lines in 100 foot of water and because of the Southeast winds were limited to a west troll. We caught three Chinook salmon from 10 to 15 pounds from 120 foot to 150 foot and lost 3 more during that time period. From 150 to 190 foot of water we caught another smaller salmon and lost another. We trolled back into 130 foot and, with a decrease in the wind, trolled south and picked up another 5 salmon two of which were small and released. In this 130 to 140 foot of water we took thee more coho salmon and missed 2 or three others. Early in the day, the salmon hit Hot Chip flashers (mountain dew and silver green) and Rapture frosted fern flies on the low divers and mixed veggie Stingrays on the down-riggers at 45 and 50 foot down. As the day progressed the action on the down-riggers and divers slowed and the copper (100, 200 and 300 foot) picked up. We tried regular size and magnum stingers, however the only hits we could get is on the Stingray size lures (green glow frog, carmel dolphin, blue green dolphin, craigs christmas and mixed veggie). There are reports that a few walleye being caught in the Kalamazoo river between the bridges and also from the basin out to the lake. For more information or for charter reservations, email me at [email protected].

The shallow water fishing (12-20 foot of water) is slowing and the fish and some bait are showing up in 130 to 150 foot of water. We did catch a couple of brown trout along the shore line on Sunday, however the fishing was slow and we turned it west. Fishing south of the Saugatuck piers we marked good fish and some bait in that 130 foot range. We did catch a lake trout and a couple of small salmon on half core with green dolphin and fruit cocktail stingers. The picture looks good in this depth and word from the South Haven fishermen indicates that they are beginning to pick up coho and chinook in the 130 foot depth. Walleye are still being caught in the Kalamazoo river from the I 196 bridge into Kalamazoo Lake. For fishing information or to make a charter reservation, email me at [email protected].

Once again we have had high winds and rough water on the big lake, however if you can get out the fishing is fairly good. Fishing in 12 to 18 foot of water is producing some very good brown trout with an occasional steelhead, chinook salmon and lake trout. The best method are small stingers (blue/green dolphin and fruit cocktail) pulled 30 to 100 foot behind the downrigger. Two color lead core and flat-lines with stick baits (gold and red in color) producing some steelhead and small salmon. People are catching walleye in the Kalamazoo river between the bridges and north of the Blue Star bridge. Steelhead fishing in the river was reported as slow. For information or charter reservations, email me at [email protected].

Rough water and high winds have limited fishing this past week, however there were some nice fish caught when you could get out. The action was not fast and furious, however boats reported catching some Chinook salmon weighing 14 to 16 pounds. The best reports have come from boats fishing in 40 to 45 foot of water between Holland and Port Sheldon and off of Half Way Creek north of Saugatuck. In these areas boats are taking Coho, Brown Trout, Steelhead and an occasional Lake Trout and Chinook salmon. There are also reports of very good perch catches off the Grand Haven piers and a few perch being caught off the Holland piers. There are some Steelhead being caught in the Kalamazoo River and as the river level declines this fishing should improve. For fishing information or to make a charter request, email me at [email protected].

The boat will be in the water on Monday so the 2010 fishing season will officially start for us. Fishing has slowed down for the brown trout and steelhead the last week or so because of the storms and runoff during this time. Water visibility is very low and a lot of sand and mud in the water. There are some fish (browns and coho) being caught in 30 to 40 foot of water however the action is slow. With the high water flow in the river, we should see a increase in the steelhead fishing as the water clears. Check back next week to see what is happening out on the big lake. For information or to make a charter reservation, email me at [email protected].

The steelhead fishing in the Kalamazoo River and in the St. Joe River is improving as the water level retreats and the leaves have already fallen. The best method for the steelhead is "walking spawn" down through the holes in the river. Almost all the fish that are being caught are males from 6 to 10 pounds. When the water is clear of leaves, small hot-n-tots and wiggle worts are back trolled into the holes. However, at this time, spawn is out-fishing the plugs. There are also reports of good catches of white fish being caught off the Holland and Grand Haven piers. They are also catching some coho and chinook salmon along the shore line on the lake side of the piers. Rough water has limited open water fishing and very few catch reports are available. For more fishing information or charter reservations, email me at [email protected].

The best fishing right now is in the Kalamazoo River with good catches of steelhead and an occasional salmon. With the high water level subsiding, the Kalamazoo River is almost back inside its banks. In addition most of the leaves are off the trees, so fishermen do not have contend with large number of leaves floating down the river and fouling lines. Most of the action is from New Richmond Bridge to the mouth of the Rabbit River by walking spawn down through the holes. Some fish are being taken by using small hot-n-tots and wiggle worts and back trolling them down through the same holes. River fishing should only get better as the river conditions stabilize. There are still some decent catches out in the lake, when wind and waves permit. The last lake fishing report I received was that 2 and 3 year old salmon were being caught in 60 to 90 foot of water on 100 copper and half core with small stinger spoons. There also were some reports of good perch catches in 60 foot of water off of Laketown Beach. Once again the problem with the lake fishing has been the high winds and waves which changes water conditions and fish locations each day. For fishing information or questions about charters, email me at [email protected].

The last 2 weeks produced some rough water (8 to 12 foot) due to winds that exceeded 60 miles per hour. When we could get out, the fishing was very slow with 2 and 3 year old salmon and a few small lake trout that needed to be returned. The water temperature was the same from the surface to 140 foot down and the color of the water was an opaque green due to the rough water. We caught fish 20 foot down and 120 foot down and from 60 foot of water out to 240 foot of water, which makes it difficult to run any pattern. Report from the river was that there is a good population of salmon in the river, but due to the rainfall the river is running high and fishing is slow. The best method for salmon continue to be spawn on the bottom. There are also some very silver steelhead that are showing up in the river and the best method for these is also spawn rolled back through the holes. The fishing reports will be every two or three weeks now since our season is about over and the boat will be coming out soon. I will try to keep you up to date on the river fishing and lake activity as things change or improve. For information, email me at [email protected].

Last week produced some very good fishing with catches of 12 to 24 fish per boat. The best depth was 110 to 140 foot of water and some days out to 180 foot of water. Most of the catch consisted of 2 and 3 year old salmon up to 12 pounds with some steelhead and lake trout mixed in. The best method was 200, 300 and 400 foot of copper with stingray and regular stinger lures (orange corey, NBK, orange crush, caramel dolphin). 11 in. prochip flashers (white/Kevorkian tape and silver/Kevorkian, white/glow, green?glow) with wild fern and frosted fern flies on the divers produced very well. The downriggers produced with stinger lures on the out-downs and a 11 in flasher down the center. With the rough water Monday and Tuesday, the like should turn over and move the fish around. For information and charter reservations, email me at [email protected].

During this past week you had a choice: four year old salmon in 20 foot in front the piers or 2 and 3 year old salmon, lake trout and an occasional 4 year old in 100 to 140 foot of water. We took 8 to 12 fish per trip when we fished in front the piers and 12 to 20 fish per trip out in deep water. There were some boats that fished out in 250 to 300 foot of water for steelhead and 2 year old salmon. After limit catches of perch last weekend, we had a hard time finding perch outside of the rocks where you caught 10 golbies to every perch. When fishing in front the piers, it was almost all Ace Hi plugs and J plugs. Green/glow, green lightning, glow pearl, silver red head and wonderbread colors were the best. Off shore we fished magnum and stingray spoons on 200 and 300 foot of copper and white/glow flashers and wild fern flies on 400 foot of copper. Stingray lures on the high divers and flasher's and flies on the divers worked well, however the color combinations changed every day. Not a big run yet, however it appears that they are beginning to show up in front the piers a little at a time. For information or charter reservations, email me at [email protected].

This past week produced some very good fishing for 2 and 3 year old chinook salmon, coho and steelhead. There are a few 4 year olds in front the piers and a person can catch a few, however there still is not a large concentration showing up. There are also reports of decent catches of salmon in the Kalamazoo River by floating spawn into the holes. However the most consistent catches of salmon (2, 3 and a few 4 year olds) occur in the 60 to 120 foot of water and in the 140 to 160 foot depth. There are also some boats fishing 260 to 300 foot of water and reporting some good steelhead catches. For us, the best method this week was 200 and 300 foot of copper with magnum and stingray spoons (glow blue, orange corey, green and chartrouse, big dutchman). Even though the water was warm, we also took some nice salmon and steelhead on 1/2 core and 100 foot of copper with orange crush and orange corey stingers. The divers produced with the same magnum spoons that we pulled on the copper. To get the downriggers going we had to again pull 11 in pro chip and hot chip flashers and the wild fern fly and run them near the bottom. Most of the fish off the downriggers where lake trout, however we also caught a few 4 year olds on the bottom. The season is winding down, however I think we will still get a run of salmon in front of the piers if the water cools alittle. If the water does not cool, they should just "trickle in" a little at a time, however the fishing off shore should remain consistent. For information and or charter reservations, email me at [email protected].

Another strange week of fishing. After limit catches of Chinook salmon and CoHo salmon Monday in front the piers, the fishing slowed the rest of the week. The water was still cold and there was bait around the piers, however the run of Kings never developed. There are still some fish out in 80 to 120 foot of water, 140 to 160 foot of water and out in 180 to 210 foot of water as well as a few in front the pier, however, no large concentration anywhere. The 80 to 100 foot depth includes 4, 2 and 3 year old salmon as well as a good number of lake trout. the 140 foot depth includes mainly 2 and 3 year old salmon and lake trout. Outside in the 200 foot depth there are salmon, lake trout and a good number of steelhead. The best method continue to be 11 in Pro Troll (white glow and green glow) with the wild fern Rapture fly pulled on the downriggers, and divers. 5 color leadcore and 100 foot of copper with orange crush and orange corey stingers produced well for steelhead. 200 foot and 300 foot of copper with glow stingray and nitro lures produced well on 2, 3 and 4 year old salmon. The water temperature Sunday was 60 degrees on the bottom in 25 foot of water which may be a little warm for the chinook salmon. However, at this time of the year, 60 degrees should not prevent the schooling and run up the river. I do not know why the run did not continue, however I keep expecting it to pick up again. For information and fishing charter reservations, email me at [email protected]

This is getting old. Good fishing during the week and then high winds and rough water forcing cancellation of the charters on the weekends. The fish are still out in 90 to 130 foot of water with the temperature break at 60 foot down. The 4 year old chinook salmon appear to be inside in the 85 to 95 foot range and the 2 and 3 year old chinook salmon are in the 95 to 120 foot depth. We are also taking 2 to 4 coho salmon every trip which is a nice surprise for us at this time of the year. Some of these coho are over 12 pounds in weight, which is a nice size for a Lake Michigan coho, The best methods continue to be 8 in. Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers and Rapture Trolling flies on wire divers. 11 inch Pro Troll flashers and Rapture flies on the downriggers and then 300 and 200 copper with Ace Hi plugs. The following are the combinations that we a pulling consistently: Blue Wiggle Flasher and Blue Bubble fly Green Glow Frog Flasher and Hypnotist fly Silver Green Flasher and Wild Fern fly Mountain Dew Flasher and Purple Mirage fly White Glow 11 in and Purple Mirage fly Mountain Dew 11 in and Green Fern fly White Blue Bubble 11 in and Blue Bubble fly The Ace Hi plugs are green glow lightning, green ladder back, blue glow lightning and the silver red head. We were blown off the lake the last two days with strong north and north west winds and this should move some cold water into shore and if that happens the salmon will move in front the piers to stage for the spawning run. Check back and see if the run has started. For information or charter reservations, contact me at [email protected]

Fishing continues to be very good. Both kings and adult cohos are being caught in the Saugatuck area. During the past week the fish slid back and forth between 65-160 feet of water. Strong winds changed the water temperature and the depths that we trolled the plugs and flashers and flies down in the water column throughout the week. This week’s best flasher-fly combinations were: 8†or 11†white glow ProTroll flashers with Hypnotist flies; 8†HotChip white/mtn. dew with a no-see-um Rapture fly; 8†or 11†chrome HC with a Wild Fern Rapture fly, 8†blue-glow PC with a Last Supper fly, and the 8†blue wiggle PC with a blue bubble fly. Plugs produced on the copper lines. The best plugs were the silver red head, green splatterback, green glow with a black ladderback and the green lightning. More and more of the kings are darkening up and getting ready for the run to start. Once we get a shot of cold water the pier head fishing will be active. Until then these fish should stay near by. There is plenty of bait and cold water in the 100’ area.

This week’s fishing was highlighted by the biggest fish of the season (a 25# king), and Wednesday morning’s catch of 15 fish in 75 minutes. Fishing was excellent for the first half of the week and slowed a little toward the weekend as the fish scattered. Most of the week we fished between 100-125 F.O.W., but fish were caught out to 170 and as shallow as 65 feet of water. Some of the salmon being caught are beginning to darken as they get ready to run the river. The first batch of cold water near the piers will certainly produce some excellent fishing for the mature kings. Highs in the 70 are forecasted for next weekend. The run may start early. ProTroll flashers and Rapture flies continue to be the best producing presentation. The best combinations were: 8†blue wiggle w/ a blue bubble fly, 8†chrome w/ a wild fern fly, 8†green glow w/ a wild fern or hypnotist, 8’ white glow w/ a frosted fern, 8†chrome green w/ a no-see-um fly, and the 11†white glow w/ purple no-see-um or hypnotist flies. Ace-Hi Silverhorde plugs were productive on the 300’ copper. Green glow w/ black ladderback, silver redhead, and green splatter back plugs went consistently throughout the week. Perch fishing was good this week. We caught 90 on Tuesday despite fishing 4-6 foot seas in 65 F.O.W. Cooler water on Thursday and Friday moved the perch into shallower waters, but the perch bite continued to be good. Perch were caught on minnows, shrimp, and salmon eggs.

It seems that ever day brings 3 foot seas or larger which challenges a persons ability to land fish. We never did get a chance to fish Saturday or Sunday because of the rough conditions. The salmon and lake trout are still in the 80 to 120 foot of water, however landing a 15 pounder in 5 foot seas is very difficult. Every day this week we caught fish from 80 (and some times 60) foot of water out to 130 foot of water. The best depth continues to be 100 to 110 foot, however the wind dictated which direction and which depth we could fish throughout the week. Once again it was Hot chip and Pro chip flashers and Rapture flies that produced 90% of the catch. The other 10% came on “meat†and Silver Horde plugs. The divers did well with silver/green, blue wiggle, white/glow and sliver flasher’s and the best fly was the frosted fern and purple no see um. The glow green, silver red head and wonderbread Silver Horde plugs produced on 400 and 300 foot of copper. The “meat†was pulled on the bottom behind 11 in white/glow and white/blue bubble Hot chip flashers with Rapture glow Twinkie flies and a Pro Troll rotating bait head. Check back next week and see if the winds and seas have calmed and if the fish start to move in. For information or charter reservations, contact me at [email protected]

BIg King Show Up This week marked the arrival of the big kings around Saugatuck. The bait and fish are setting up in 85-130 feet of water, with some fish being caught out to 160 FOW. For the first time this year a sharp thermocline has developed. The temperature break of 10 degrees moved up and down a little day to day, but generally was around the 55'-65' depth. Catches throughout the week include a few steelhead and lake trout, but the catch was dominated by salmon. Thirteen to 17 pound kings were common and some kings over 20 pounds were caught. Fish were caught from 20-100 feet down. The downriggers produced best fished 55-85 feet down with 8 inch ProTroll flashers and Rapture flies. Flashers and flies were also taking fish on the wire divers pulled 130-250 feet back. The best combinations were: a white blade mountain dew with a HItman no-se-um fly, chrome blade with bright green bubble tape and a green beaded no-see-um fly; white glow with a oceana fly, glow frog with a hypnotist fly, super frog with a green no-see-um and a chrome doulbe glow with a wild fern fly. Stingray spoons and Ace Hi plugs produced on the 200' and 300' coppers. The best spoons were the green dolphin, silver orange tip, and nitro dolphin. Green glow ladderback and pearl glow Ace Hi were active on the 200s. For the first time this year we pulled some cut bait. Herring behind 8 inch ProTrolls and Rapture teaser rigs produced activity on Friday. Salmon fIshing should continue to improve and the thermal barrier stablizes and bait continues to move in toward shore. Perch fishing was slow during the beginning of the week, but was good on Friday with many limit catches caught in 35 FOW just south of the Saugatuck piers.

Last week was another interesting week with lake trout being taken in 85 foot of water, Chinook salmon and steelhead showing up in 140 foot of water and perch being caught in 15 foot and in 40 foot of water. Bottom bouncing for lake trout continues to be a very consistent and reliable way to put fish in the boat, however by the end of the week the thermocline had set up in with 10 degree break from 55 foot to 65 foot and this depth started producing some very good steelhead and 4 year old chinook salmon. We also had some decent catches of perch in 15 foot of water one day and 40 foot of water another. Just like the last few weeks, metal flashers and Rapture frosted wild fern and green no see um flies were the best bet for the lake trout in 85 to 95 foot of water. The salmon and steelhead were in 110 foot to 140 foot of water and hit Stingray NBK, green dolphin and nuclear green pulled on 300 foot of copper. The other method for salmon was the wire divers at 140 and 180 foot back with Hot chip and Pro Chip silver/glow and silver/green flashers and Rapture wild fern and green no see um flies. The chinook salmon in the mid teens are beginning to show and the steelhead are also being caught up to the low teens in weight. For move information and/or charter reservations, email me at [email protected].

What a change in the fishing this week!!! Monday and Tuesday produced some of the best lake trout fishing we have had in years in 100 to 110 foot of water with up to 30 being caught in a trip, however 50% of them had to be returned due to being under the 20 in. limit. There were also some nice Chinook salmon mixed in the catch. Wednesday was like some one turned a switch and the salmon had disappeared and the we had to struggle to catch 6 legal lake trout. By the end of the week we fished we again were bouncing bottom in 90 to 100 foot of water similar to the previous week. We did fish a couple of hours each each trip on Friday and Saturday in 20 foot of water in front the piers and caught some nice steelhead and a couple of small salmon and many sheephead. There is solid bait in the 20 to 30 foot of water and a few silver fish are in there feeding, however there is not big concentration since the water is relatively warm. The boats that did fish the deeper water on Saturday and Sunday did come in with good catches, but almost all lake trout. We did run a couple of perch charters on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning but the fishing was slow unless you wanted to catch golbies. There were some perch caught in 25 foot of water off the south pier, 40 foot of water off the ball and in 33 foot of water off of Pier Cove. The fish ran good size but the action was slow and you had to drift to get a consistent bite. The best method for the steelhead in the shallow water was 3 color lead core line with orange crush, orange corey and craigs christmas Stingray lures. (The 10 to 15 pound sheephead liked these also.) In the deeper water we again ran the metal flashers on the bottom with Rapture frosted fern, wild fern and lakeshore green flies on the bottom. Occasional salmon were taken on the divers with silver green Hot Chip flashers with the Rapture lakeshore green fly and magnum green dolphin and yellow fin Stinger lures. The 300 copper with the frog Stinger flasher and any green fly also produced well in the deeper water. Check back and see if the salmon show up this week or email me at [email protected] for information or charter reservations.

Finally we are getting that good salmon bite in the 100 foot depth that we had been expecting. During this past week we had been pounding the bottom for lake trout in 85 to 100 foot of water and catching 7 to 15 fish per trip. However, Friday and Saturday we concentrated on the 100 to 110 foot range to find the salmon and Saturday we finally got the consistent chinook bite. Saturday we caught 6 fish in the morning with 4 being salmon (however we lost the last 5 salmon we had on) and then in the afternoon we caught 12 fish with, 10 salmon and 2 lake trout, with 4 over 12 pounds. There are big schools of bait in this 100 to 110 foot of water and the salmon were full of adult alewife. Once again we used the metal flashers and the Rapture Wild Fern, Frosted Wild Fern and Green NoSeeUm flies for the lake trout pulled behind the downriggers at 115 foot down in 100 foot of water. You have to check the fly constantly since they will pick up zebra mussels as it bounces on the bottom. The salmon are coming on Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green glow, white glow and frog glow) with any Rapture fly, as long as it was green in color. The same flasher/fly combinations were run on the 300 foot of copper line and the larger chinook salmon (up to 16 pounds) were caught on this set up. More good news!! Some consistent perch catches have been reported in the 65 foot depth in the rocks off the Douglas Point. The problem with fishing the rocks is that you have to contend with golbies in order to catch the perch. On Friday there were some nice perch caught in 25 foot of water north of the Saugatuck harbor, however you had to drift to catch them consistently. There have also been some reports of nice steelhead being caught off the Saugatuck, Holland and South Haven piers during the week, however trolling in this water produced only a few fish. For information or charter reservations email me at [email protected].

We are beginning to get a temperature break set up in 100 foot of water and we took 8 to 15 fish each trip during the week. At 40 to 45 foot, the temperature drops about 5 to 7 degrees and the salmon and steelhead are beginning to set up in this depth. There are still lake trout on the bottom along with an occasional salmon, however most of the silver fish are found suspended at this depth. The other good news is that the rocks are producing some limit catches of perch in 65 foot of water. The salmon and steelhead are hitting the Stingray size spoons in the Orange Corey, Big Dutchman, Craigs Christmas color patterns pulled behind 200 and 300 foot of copper. On the bottom we are pulling metal flashers and 11 in. white glow Pro Troll flashers with Rapture Green Dude, Wild Fern and Speed Weed behind. Drop the downriggers and the divers to the bottom and then raise them a couple of feet. To catch the perch we drifted form 72 foot of water in to 62 foot of water out side the refuse area off the ball. You have to take the good with the bad since you will catch golbies along with the perch, however some of the perch were over 14 in in length. For more information about the fishing or to make charter information, email me at [email protected].

This past week turned out to be another week of looking for the salmon but catching 90% lake trout. We fished from 50 foot of water out to 270 foot of water and the water temperature ranged from 55 degrees on the surface to 41 degrees 120 foot down with no clear break. By Monday, the surface temperature was 62 degrees with a beginning of a temperature break at 35 foot but still 42 degrees 100 foot down. During the week we caught 6 to 12 fish per trip with the most consistent depth being 90 to 110 foot of water with flashers and flies on the bottom and 400 and 300 foot of copper with large spoons. The best method for us continues to be the 11 in Hot Chip Flasher (white/glow and silver green) with the Rapture Wild Fern trolling fly which was run 105 foot down in 100 foot of water. We also caught fish pulling a metal flasher with the Rapture Green Dude fly. The second most productive method was 300 and 400 foot of copper with Stingray and magnum Stinger lures (glow frog and orange corey). Another technique that works for us was the 3 oz. and 4 oz.Stinger Dive Bomb that we added to the 300 foot of copper to get it down to the depth that the 400 foot of copper would run at. Perch fishing success is improving with Sunday producing some limit catches in 55 foot of water. With the runoff of all the rain last week, you need to get outside this muddy water which extends all the way out to 50 foot and north of the Saugatuck channel. The lake trout had all classes of bait in the stomachs with a majority being the 6 in large adults. With all the bait, I think it is only a matter of time before the salmon stage in the 100 to 110 foot of water. Contact me for information or charter information by email at [email protected].

This week produced another change in the fishing pattern. We began the week fishing out in 240 to 270 foot of water and as the week progressed, the number of fish seen and caught decreased from 8 to 12 fish per trip to 3 to 6 fish per trip. By the week end we were fishing in 80 to 100 foot of water and and catching Lake Trout on the bottom with an occasional Chinook's salmon 40 to 60 foot down. The best method for the lake trout was the 11 inch Pro Chip and Hot Chip (white glow and green glow) flasher with the Green Dude Rapture Trolling fly behind. We dropped the downrigger just off the bottom and the wire divers were run out 250 foot. There were also some lake trout taken on metal flashers and Rapture Green Hypnotist fly. The salmon came mainly on 300 ft of copper and 300 ft. of copper with a dive bomb with magnum stingers and stingray lures (NBK and Green Dolphin). The fish in the 100 foot depth had all ages of alewife in the bellies so I would expect to see the salmon stage in this depth soon. For information and/or charter reservations, email [email protected].

This last week was a week of change with spotty fishing. Strong east winds and cool water scattered the fish this past week with catches of 6 to 12 fish per trip. We fished from 80 foot to 150 foot one day and the next we were in 180 to 200 foot and by the end of the week we fished 240 to 280 foot of water. Part of one trip we even fished in 30 foot of water the last hour and a half and caught one coho and missed 3 others. The water temperature ranged from 55 degrees to 50 degrees on the surface to 41 degrees 60 foot down which means the fish can be anywhere from the surface to the bottom and from the shoreline out 15 miles with not big concentration anywhere. One area did not produced any better than another and the fish came from the surface down to 70 foot with some fish caught bumping bottom in 120 foot. The best method during the week was fishing the top 40 foot with half core, 7 color lead core, 100 copper, 150 copper, 200 copper and 300 copper with stinger and stingray lures that had orange and orange and green on them. Most of the action was on lures with very little action on flashers and flies. The divers at 150 foot dialed at 2 1/2 and downriggers at 30 and 40 foot produced but not consistently. There were some reports of some perch being caught in 60 to 70 foot of water, but the action was not fast and furious. At this time we need to get some thermal stratification in the lake some a concentration of the bait. This will draw in the game fish into more concentrated groups. Feel free to contact me at any time for information and/or charter reservations by email at [email protected].

Strong east winds has blown the warm water out and the lake has cooled down to the low 50 degrees which quickly drops to the low 40 degrees as you go down in the water column. As the water cooled, the bait scattered and the fish followed. By the weekend you could catch a few fish in 70 foot, 100 foot, 130 foot, 160 foot, 180 foot and 200 foot however, not a large number of fish at any one depth. In addition, the big Chinook salmon that we had been taking have moved and most of the catch are in the 6 to 10 pound range. It is almost like the mid June fishing conditions. Fish are still being caught (9 to 14 fish per trip), however they are a different age class of fish compared to what we caught the beginning of the week. Early in the week it was predominantly flashers and flies on 300 foot of copper, divers and downriggers. The best combination was Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers (green glow, white glow, silver/green and silver) with the Rapture trolling flies (last supper, Lakeshore green, green mirage). By the weekend, most of fish were caught on stingray and magnum stinger lures (Craig's X-mas, NBK, Green side glow, gold orange crush, orange crush) on 100 foot, 150 foot and 200 foot of copper. There were some perch caught in 70 foot of water this past week and we did see some school of perch in 40 foot and 60 foot of water as we ran in and out. I think that if someone did some drifting you could locate some decent perch in the deeper water. In addition, walleye are still being caught in the Kalamazoo River, however this has also slowed some what. If we get some south winds and currents, we should see the bait start to re-stage in the 100 to 130 foot range and possibly in front the piers. If the bait shows, the salmon and steelhead will follow. For information and charter reservations, email me at [email protected].