westrate

June 9, 2008 This has been an interesting week. The fishing changed every time we went out and we had to dodge the storms as they formed and came on shore. This past week produced fish from 140 to 200 foot of water, however the depth we caught the fish at and the lures they hit changed from one day to another. We started out by catching chinook and lake trout 50 to 150 foot down on all large lures and flashers and flies. The next day we fished,the same water, steelhead and coho and chinook salmon came 30 to 60 foot down and all fish came on small stinger type lures. This change seemed to happened each and every time we fished during the week. There were some reports of a few fish being caught in 100 to 120 foot of water, however this was area was inconsistent for us and we found better fish numbers in deeper water. When we caught steelhead and coho and chinook salmon high in the water column, the best methods where 100 and 200 foot of copper with Stinger Craig’s Christmas, Craig’s Reverse Christmas and Natural Born Killer. The chinook salmon and the lake trout where caught on 300 foot of copper with Stingray Green Dolphin and Natural Born Killer. The down riggers produced at 60 to 120 foot down with Pro Chip Green/glow flashers and the Rapture Wild Fern Fly and a tin can dodger with the Rapture Last Supper Fly. The fish should begin to stage in the 100 foot of water area soon, however I did not see much bait in that area and nothing to hold these fish there. Check back next week to see if the bait moves into shallower water which will mean far shorter runs and burning less gas. For information or charter reservations contact me at [email protected].

During this week we have been running out to 170 foot of water and trolling out to 230 foot and then back. Most of the fish were caught in 180 to 195 foot of water and the catch consisted of mainly chinook salmon with a few coho (in the 2 to 12 pound range) and a few steelhead mixed in. Most boats have been catching 12 to 20 fish per trip. For example today we caught 18 fish with 2 of them coho and the rest chinook salmon. The best method all week has been 100 foot, 200 foot and 300 foot copper with Natural Born Killer and Green Dolphin Stingray lures. One NBK Stingray caught 8 of the 18 fish today. We also caught a few steelhead on 5 color lead core with orange/green and orange/silver Stinger lures. Dipsy divers were not very consistent but were run from 140 foot to 240 foot of line out with Green/glow Pro Chip flasher and Rapture Last Supper Flies. Downriggers were run form 40 to 120 foot down and the best combination was a tin can flasher and Rapture Las Supper Fly. Today I talked to a couple of boats in South Haven and found out that they caught some very large chinook salmon in 100 foot of water. Tomorrow I will check this area out and see if these salmon may have migrated as far north as Saugatuck. Check back next week and see what we have find or contact me any time for information or to make charter reservations at [email protected].

Fishing this past week has been improving each day. The water is still cold and has very little thermal stratifacation and the the fish are found from the upper areas all the way to the bottom. This weekend the best fishing was from 120 to 200 foot of water but the best area was 175 to 200 foot of water. The creel consisted of steelhead in the upper 40 foot and coho and chinook salmon from 60 to 120 foot down. Lake trout and chinook salmon where also caught as far down as 250 foot. Saturday produced catches of 10 to 20 fish per boat. The steelhead came on half core, 100 foot of copper, 300 foot of copper and dipsy divers that were 100 to 200 foot out. The best lures here were spoons--Stinger fruit cocktail and orange crush, Stingray and Magnum Stinger blue dolphin and green dolphins. The downriggers were run from 40 to 260 foot down and produced the lake trout and most of the salmon. The best combination on the downriggers were Green Glow and White Glow Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers with Rapture Green Hypnotist and Last Supper flies. Rule for the day was spoons up high and flashers and flies deep. Reports are that fishing has been hot in the southern ports and the fish are beginning to move north so we should be next. This is a little latter than past years, however the weather has been colder and this may have delayed the movement. We should see an increase in the fishing action as the water warms and the fish begin to move in and feed. For information and/or fishing reservation email me at [email protected] or call me toll free at 888-253-8372.

What a difference a week makes. The fish that we had been fishing in 50 to 100 foot of water have moved out and we ended up fishing in 225 to 275 foot of water. The problem was that the water temperature is almost the same from top to bottom so the fish are scattered out throughout the whole water column. We caught steelhead and lake trout 20 foot down, 30 foot down and 80 foot down. The boats that fished the St. Joe tournament were fishing in 300 foot of water and fishing 200 foot down to the bottom. Today the boats out of Saugatuck fished in 250 to 275 foot of water and fished from 180 foot down to the bottom and caught a mixture of salmon and trout. The problem is getting down to this depth and if you do you can not run many lines. Downriggers with flashers and flies and 400 and 450 foot of copper with glow stingray and stinger lures worked the best. Some boats are using wire line with 2 to 4 pounds of lead and letting out 600 to 750 foot of line. Any way you run it, it is a recipe for tangles if you run to many lines. I think the fish are out deep because there is very little bait in shore and once the bait moves in, the fish should follow. Check back and see how the rest of the week went and where the fish ended up. For information or for charter reservations, email me at [email protected].

Fishing was very good this weekend with the weather and the fish cooperating for a change. Sunday we had the best lake trout catch we have had in years with 10 trout from 5 to 15 pounds. In addition we took 4 Chinook salmon, 3 steelhead in the 10 pound range and a brown trout. Water temperature was from the low 50 degrees on top to mid 40 degrees on the bottom. We fished in 55 to 70 foot of water and the lake trout came deep while the steelhead and Chinook came 20 to 30 foot down. The best methods for lake trout were the down riggers with the tin can dodger and the Rapture wild fern fly and the green glow Hot Chip flasher and Rapture green hypnotist fly. For the steelhead and salmon we ran divers 120 foot out with green/orange and alien stingers. Fish were also caught on 100 and 200 foot of copper with the Flying Dutchman, Raspberry Dolphin and gold Watermelon Stingray lures. Check back next week and see what if the salmon start to show up in more numbers as the water warms. For information and reservations email [email protected] or call toll free 888-253-8372.

Fishing for salmon and steelhead was only fair last week. Due to the rough water all weekend, we only fished one day during the week and caught mainly Lake Trout in 30 to 50 foot of water. Other fishermen that I talked to also reported the same. There where some salmon in the 12 pound range caught out of Port Sheldon and a few brown trout along the shoreline, however most of the creel consisted of lake trout. Fishing 30 to 40 foot down produced the majority of the fish on 150 foot of copper on fruit cocktail and candy corn stingers. I have not had any report on the steelhead in the river, and the brown trout fishing off the piers has slowed. I have had mixed reports on the perch fishing with South Haven to Grand Haven reporting moderate success. Water is still cold and the successful fishermen said they where in 60 foot of water and more. The rough water, wind and cold weather during the weekend and into the first part of this week should change the water temperature and fishing conditions drastically. Check back and see what happens. You can contact me for a fishing report at [email protected].

Fishing this past week was fairly steady along the shoreline in 5 to 25 foot of water. Most of the action was between Holland and Saugatuck from the state park to Half Way Creek and Castle Park. The catch consisted of small salmon (coho and chinook), brown trout and occasional steelhead and lake trout. The most productive method were stick baits and hot n tots pulled behind planer boards. Small gold and orange stinger spoons pulled 30 to 40 feet behind slide divers and on the down riggers also produced occasional fish. There were some salmon and lake trout taken out in 100 to 150 foot of water on 100 and 150 foot of copper line with small stinger spoons. There are some good reports fishing the southern area of Lake Michigan with limit catches of 2 to 4 pound coho on body baits and small flashers and flies. I have not gotten any reports on the fishing in the Kalamazoo River for steelhead. We should begin to see the coho migrate north along the shoreline so check out next weeks fishing report or email me at [email protected] for information or charter reservations.

4/14/2008 Fishing out of Saugatuck, this past week was very good producing a few steelhead and brown trout, some small coho and chinook (2 to 5 pounds) and some very good size lake trout. The best fishing was between the Kalamazoo River and the Holland piers in 20 to 5 foot of water. The weather and lake conditions kept us off the lake during the weekend, however the lake was flat during the middle of the week. Fishing along the shoreline, the best method was slide divers fished 20 foot out with small gold stingers pulled 20 to 30 foot back. We also caught fish behind the planer boards with silver/blue, gold/orange and orange stickbaits and white/black Hot n Tots fished inside the sand bar. We never caught a fish off the downriggers even though we fished then different depths and different distances back. Fishing off of the Kalamazoo River piers was very good with good catches of brown trout on spawn. Fishing for steelhead in the river has slowed due to high water, but should improve as the water levels comes down. As the water warms we should find that the fishing will improve. Check back for more information or contact me at [email protected] for an update.

The fishing is starting to pick up in the lake. Saturday produced a half dozen nice brown trout, a lake trout and a couple of steelhead. The water is still cold -- 43 degrees outside the piers, however we did find some water that was 46 degrees north of the piers and most of the fish came out of this water. The fish were found in 5 to 15 foot of water with small Stinger spoons and body baits on flat lines producing the best. Steelhead and a few browns are still being taken off the piers on the Kalamazoo fishing with spawn and in the river on small plugs and spawn that are back trolled into the holes. We are suppose to get some cold weather this weekend and if the wind turns to the north, we may find that the lake will cool back down. Check back ans see what the weekend produces. For reservations or information you can email me at [email protected] or call me toll free at 888-253-8372.

11/21/2007 The report on river fishing on the St. Joe and the Kalamazoo is good and getting better. The water temperature is going down and most of the leaves are off the trees now which means there are less leaves floating down the river. Leaves on the water causes all kinds of problems for back trolling and rolling spawn along the bottom. Capt. Tony reported that he caught 4 to 8 steelhead last week and most have just entered the river and where silver and fresh. The plugs (Hot n Tots and wiggle worts) and spawn work equally well. High winds may blow more leaves into the river, so your best bet would be days with calm or low winds. I will be out of the country for the next 3 weeks and and will post the next report when I return. I will be able to communicate by email ([email protected]) if you need information about river or for lake charters next year.

10/26/2007 Due to surgery that I had a couple of weeks ago, I have not been able to add a new fishing report for some time and we are now done fishing for the year. Most of the activity in the lake is now slowed and the fish that are being caught are out in 60 to 100 foot of water. The problem the last few weeks have been high winds and rough water. There are some salmon being caught in the Kalamazoo River and in the St. Joe River but it changes from day to day. I will try to keep you updated on the salmon and steelhead fishing through out the winter and and into the spring, however the reports will occur every two or four weeks and not every week like the summer. As fishing success increases, the frequency of the reports will increase. If you need information about fishing or fishing charters, email me at [email protected] or call 888-253-8372.

9/27/2007 Fishing in front the piers has slowed as the water warmed and the fishing action has moved off shore. There are a few fish being caught in front of the piers early in the morning or just before dark, however there is not concentration in the shallow water. Most of the action is in 90 to 130 foot of water and also in 200 foot of water. The best methods were downriggers at 70, 80 and 110 foot down and wire dipsy divers at 270 and 160 foot of wire. The best combinations were Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers (chrome/chrome, white/glow, white/mountain dew) with Rapture wild fern and last supper flies. A few fish were caught on 300 and 400 foot of cooper with Stingray NBK and Craig's X-mas. I think that if we get some cold water, we will see another school of fish move in front and continue the run. For information or reservations, email me at [email protected] or call me toll free at 888-253-8372.

9/18/2007 Cold water Wednesday and Thursday, high winds Friday and Saturday and back to warm water on Sunday. We had some very good fishing in front of the piers on Wednesday and Thursday producing up to 25 fish per boat. Sunday, after the blow, we fund the water warmed up and we had to move out to 70 to 110 foot of water to find any concentration of fish. In front the piers, we used glow Jplugs and glow Stingray lures. When we moved off shore we were back to Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers and Rapture trolling flies. On the copper we produced very well with the Stingray NBK, Wonderbread and Craig's Christmas. Monday produced more wind and warmer water and today the water was 65 degrees on the bottom in 110 foot. We had to move off shore and finally found some fish in 200 foot of water, however we had to fish 150 foot down. With the prediction of more south winds the next few days, I do not see much cooling and we will probably have go deep for the fish. For information or for charter reservations feel free to email me at [email protected]. or call toll free 888-253-8372.

9/9/2007 Instead of cooling off, the water continues to warm up. There are a few salmon in the warm water in front the piers, however the best fishing is in 80 to 110 foot of water producing 9 to 17 fish per trip. The creel is mixed with some coho, lake trout and steelhead mixed in with the chinook salmon. As of this weekend we are fishing 80 to 100 foot down, however the water is starting to cool down and by Monday the temperature might change drastically. Fishing this deep, the best method are wire dipsy divers with the big rings and downriggers. The best setups are the silver/chrome, green/glow, white/mountain dew Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers all with the Rapture Wild Fern Fly. We are pulling some larger 11 in flashers on the downriggers, however the best setup still continues to be the 8 in. In addition 300 and 400 foot of copper are producing a few fish with the Stingray Wonderbread and NBK. In low light conditions there are some fish being caught on the copper with glow plugs. As I said the water temperature as of Sunday is starting to cool and with north winds predicted the next few day, we may find that the salmon will move in front the piers in large numbers. For more information or to make a charter reservation, email me at [email protected] or call toll free 888-253-8372.

9/3/2007 This past week had water temperature fluctuated 10 to 20 degrees almost every day. After taking 24 fish on Sunday, we went out on Monday and set lines to find out the water had cooled down 15 degrees and the fish left. We found them in 60 foot of water and did fairly well. On Tuesday, we went into 60 foot of water and found that the water had warmed up 12 degrees and the fish had moved out and we then found them in 120 to 160 foot. On Thursday the water cooled down 20 degrees and the fish were found in front the piers and where still there on Friday, but the water started to warm and by the weekend they had moved back off shore. When we fished in front the piers (20 to 30 FOW) the best lures where Jplugs (glow and silver) on 2 and 3 color lead core and on the downriggers. Off shore the best combination was Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers (white/mountain dew, silver on silver, green/glow) and Rapture Trolling flies (wild fern and white bride). We ran the flashers on the downriggers, dipsy divers and on some of the copper lines. The other copper produced with the Nitro Wonderbread, and Area 51 and glow Jplugs. If the water cools down again, the salmon will again show up in front the piers and the run will continue. Check back and find out what the water temperature does. For more information or to make reservations for a charter, email me at [email protected] or call toll free at 888-253-8372.

Sorry about the late reply, however we have been on the lake every day and I only update the report on Monday (Tuesday this time due to the holidays). You might want to check out the report for this past week. Ron

8/26/2007 They're Baaack. This past week was hit and miss with catches from 5 to 20 fish--until the Sunday. Sunday we had 15 fish by 9 am with a majority of them being 4 year old salmon. During the week the fish were found in 80 to 120 foot of water and in 180 to 210 foot of water. On Sunday the big 4 year old salmon staged in 90 to 95 foot of water 60 to 80 foot down. Downriggers and dipsy divers produced well with flashers and flies. The downriggers were run 60 to 80 foot down and the dipsy divers at 200 and 140 foot of line. The Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers (silver with green, white with glow, green with glow and white with mountain dew) worked well with Rapture Trolling Flies. The best flies included the wild fern, green dude, green hypnotist, little bride and green no-see-um. Copper line with inline planner boards (100 ft.,150 ft., 200 ft. and 300 ft.)were also productive with Jplugs on the 100 ft copper and Stingray and Nitro lures on the other lines. The best Stinger Stingray lure was the NBK and the Wonderbread. The Stinger Nitro lures included the ET, Wonderbread, and Area 51. This is the time of the year when the salmon should be staging off shore for the run up the Kalamazoo River. I hope this is the start and if it is, it should mean some very good fishing in the coming weeks. For information or to make a charter reservation, feel free to call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email at [email protected].

8/19/2007 This past week was an up and down week. One charter would produce 30 hits and 10 fish and then the PM trip would only produce 8 hits but 6 fish. In the morning your graph would look like the forth of July fireworks show with arc after arc and large orange areas of bait. Then in the afternoon it looked like a different lake with very few fish marked and mostly blue screen. Early in the week, we fished in 130 to 180 foot of water and then after the blow on Friday the fished moved into 50 to 70 foot of water when the lake cooled down with strong east winds Saturday and Sunday. As you can see very little was consistent last week. The one consistent item was the quality of the fish. The fish appear large and very healthy. The best method this past week was dipsy divers at 140 to 160 foot of wire on the high divers and 80 to 120 foot of wire on the low divers. Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers (silver on silver, green/glow, white/glow, green on silver, blue/glow) and Rapture Trolling Flies (wild fern, green hypnotist, oceana, blue bird). The same combinations were run on the downriggers, however, this was not as productive as the divers. We also ran copper lines (100, 150, 200 and 300 foot) with Stinger Stingray lures (NBK, caramel dolphin, wonderbread glow) and Stinger Nitro glow spoons (ET, and Wonderbread). These produced well, especially the glow spoons early in the morning. Check back and find out what happens this upcoming week. For charter reservation or information call toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at [email protected].

8/13/2007 The fishing the beginning of the week was as good as it could be and then the fish humbled us. 15 to 20 fish per trip was the norm Monday through Friday and then on Saturday the bait and the salmon left the area. We lost the bait and the number of fish we marked and caught was markedly reduced. The catch on the weekend ranged from 1 to 10 fish per trip. There was no drastic weather or climate change and only a slight warm up of the water, however something happened to move the bait and the fish. Fish were caught from 40 to 200 foot of water through out the week and today we did catch a few fish in 30 foot of water in front of the piers. Downriggers from 40 to 70 foot down and dipsy divers (100 foot and 160 foot of line out) with flashers and flies produced most of the fish. The best flasher fly combinations were silver on silver and green on silver Hot Chip flasher with Rapture wild fern fly and green hypnotist fly. 150, 200 and 300 foot of copper also produced with green on white flashers and mountain dew on white flashers with Rapture no see im flies. We know the fish did not go in shallower, up the river or north or south, so they must be out in deeper water. If the weather permits (wind is predicted for tomorrow)we will be looking out in 270 to 280 foot of water since last year that is where they showed up. Check back and find out were the salmon show up. For information or reservations, email me at [email protected] or call toll free at 888-25308372.

8/5/2007 The fishing continues to be very good with 12 to 22 fish per trip. The difference between the catching 12 or 22 depended on how many you lose since you would have up to 35 fish on every day. The fish where in 80 to 120 foot of water early in the week and then on Saturday we move out to 180 foot of water and found some big 4 year olds out there. Three fourth of the catch are 4 year old salmon in the mid to high teens. There also are a few Coho, 2 and 3 year old chinook, steelhead and lake trout mixed into the creel. The methods did not change from last week to this week. The flashers and flies produced on the downriggers and dipsy divers and Stingray lures on 150, 200 and 300 foot of copper. See last weeks report for the detailed combinations and colors. I think that the salmon will be moving into deeper water if the water temperature continues to increase. There is still a considerable amount of bait in 70 to 80 foot of water, so early morning and late evening should productive just outside the bait and then you may have to move out into deeper water as it gets brighter. For more information or to make a charter reservation, call toll free 888-253=8372 or email me at [email protected]

7/29/2007 What a week of fishing!!! This might be the best fishing that we have seen in the last 15 years. Limit catches on every trip and many days we caught 20 to 23 in 2 hours. And the amazing thing is that these are not 2 year old salmon but 3 and 4 year olds that are pushing 20 pounds. The fish are staged in 70 to 120 foot of water from 40 to the bottom. There was also some reports of limit catches on steelhead in 140 to 160 foot of water in the top 30 foot. The best combination is the Smart Fish flasher by Legendary Products and Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers by Pro Troll with Rapture Tolling flies pulled behind them. These were pulled on the downriggers and on the dipsy divers at 160 foot and 120 foot of wire. The following combinations proved very effective: --Chrome Pro Chip with Rapture Wild Fern --Chrome Green Pro Chip with Rapture Sour Apple --Chrome Blue Hot Chip with Rapture ocean and Rapture Blue Bird --Glow Green Hot Chip with Rapture Last Supper --Chrome Blue Smartfish flasher with Rapture Oceana --Chrome Green Smartfish flasher with Rapture Hypnotist The copper line (100, 150 and 200 foot) with in line boards also produced well with Wonderbread Glow, blue Cory's bait, Reverse X-mas, NBK Stingrays and the E.T. Nitro. If we do not see any major changes in the water temperature, I think the fish will stay in the summer staging area. They should stay just outside the schools of bait. They may move up or down in the water column, but should remain in the same depth of water. For more information or to make a reservation for a charter, call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at [email protected].

7/23/2007 This past week was one of many limit catches of salmon that averaged 12 to 15 pounds. The salmon where found in 90 to 130 foot of water early in the week and then after the gale winds on Thursday afternoon and Friday, the fish moved into 50 foot of water on Saturday, 35 foot of water on Sunday and today where feeding in 25 foot of water. The water temperature cooled down to 50 degrees along the shore and the salmon followed the bait into the warmer river water. Early in the week it was Pro Troll flashers and Rapture trolling flies on the downriggers and dipsy divers. On the copper (100 ft., and 200 ft.) we pulled Stinger Stingray lures (mixed veggie, wonderbread and x-mass). As the water cooled the bite went from the flashers and flies to spoons with the best still being the stingray wonderbread (we ran 4 of these)and mixed veggie. 3, 5, and 7 color lead core and 100 ft. of copper produced very well in this shallow water. The fishing in this shallow water will only last if the water stays cold. As the water begins to warm, the fish will move off shore and I think will once again set up in 80 to 130 foot of water. You may contact me for information or to make a reservation for a charter by calling toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at [email protected].

7/16/2007 Fishing remained very good during this past week (with a excellent morning bite) resulting in catches of 10 to 16 fish per trip. The creel consisted of many adult kings 12 to 17 pounds with brown trout, lake trout and mature steelhead mixed in. Most of the fish were caught in 70 to 130 foot of water, however, there is another batch of fish in 170 to 210 foot of water. When you fish the 70 foot depth, the fish appear to be somewhat smaller and as you get to 110 foot to 130 foot there appear to be larger fish with more 4 year old salmon. If I had to recommend the combination to pull it would be flashers and flies and flies and flashers. We pulled flashers and flies on all the dipsy divers and on all the downriggers. Downriggers were run 65 to 100 foot down and the dipsy divers were run with 220 and 160 foot of line out. The following where the best combinations: --chrome green Prochip w/ Rapture sour apple fly --mt. dew Hotchip w/ Rapture green hypnotist --white glow smartfish flasher w/ Rapture wild fern fly --blue silver smartfish flasher w/ Rapture oceana --green glow Hotchip w/ Rapture last supper fly --glow frog Hotchip w/ Rapture last supper fly The other method that produced very well was 200 foot of copper and 200 foot of copper with a 4 oz Dive Bomb attached with stingray lures on them. The stingrays that produced very well were blue wonderbread nitro, electric blueberry, reverse x-mass, carmel dolphin and glow wonderbread. If we do not see any major changes in the water temperature, I think the fish will stay in the summer staging area. They should stay just outside the schools of bait. They may move up or down in the water column, but should remain in the same depth of water. For more information or to make a reservation for a charter, call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at [email protected].

7/8/2007 Fishing does not get much better than it was last week. Last week we ran 7 charters and caught 20 fish on 5 of the trips and 10 and 15 on the other two. Salmon that weighed in at 20 pounds, a brown trout that weighed 15.5 pounds and a steelhead that weighed in at 15 pounds highlighted the week. Many of the trips produced fish that averaged over 12 pounds. Early in the week we fished in 25 to 30 foot of water due to cold water and then moved off shore to 80 to 140 foot of water as the water warmed up. When we where fishing in the shallow water most of the fish hit copper (100 ft.)and lead core (3, 5 and 7 color)on the planer boards. As we moved off shore the downriggers (at 40, 50, and 60 foot) and the dipsy divers at (80 and 150 foot of line out) started to produce. The varied from day to day, however a few were very consistent such as the mixed veggie, freakin veggie, NBK, orange crush, Craig's Xmas and Reverse Xmas Stingrays and the wonderbread Nitro. The flashers and flies included the Hot Chip and Pro Chip (green/glow, silver/green, silver/blue and mountain dew). Behind the flashers we pulled Rapture flies (oceana, citron, sour apple and green dude). On Saturday we pulled some "meat rigs" which included a silver flasher, Rapture twinkie rig and a Pro Troll rotating bait head. This set up worked very well producing 10 hits and 4 fish on this rig alone. You should experience this fishing. The salmon are already as heavy as many we caught in the fall last year and should be spectacular by the fall. For more information or to make a charter reservation, call toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at [email protected].

7/1/2007 Fishing this past week was good with 4 to 10 fish per boat, however the fish averaged an amazing 12 pounds. Steelhead from 9 up to 14 pounds and Chinook salmon from 12 to 18 pounds with an occasional lake trout that ranged up to 11 pounds. The fish are concentrated in two areas, 90 to 130 foot of water and 180 to 200 foot of water. The bait in the 90 foot area is located from the bottom up to 30 foot and the bait in the 180 foot region is mid water. Fishing was the best early in the day (6 AM to 10 AM) and then at dusk (8PM to 10 PM) Most of the catch this past week occurred on downriggers and dipsy divers. Downriggers were run at 30 to 65 foot down and the green glow Hot Chip flasher and Last Supper Rapture fly produced well on the deep rigger. The other riggers produced with Mixed Veggie, Freaky Veggie, Carmel Dolphin and Lemon Ice Stingray. Stingrays produced better than the smaller lures since they where about the same size as the alewife in the schools. On the dipsy divers we ran Hot Chip blue glow and white glow flashers with Oceana, Citron and Green Hypnotist Rapture flies. The flashers and flies produced well early and then the Stingrays turned on latter in the day. 200 foot of copper (and to some degree 300 foot) produced with the X-Mass and Reverse X-Mas Stingrays as well as the orange crush and coyote ugly. Perch fishing is improving with reports of limit catches in 12 to 14 foot of water in South Haven and Holland. I have not heard of any perch reports out of Saugatuck. We had some wind mid week and some rough water, however the deep water temperature remained the same while the surface temperature dropped. As a result the bait is still here and the salmon stayed in the area. For more information or to reserve a charter call toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at [email protected].