DiverDennis

If the weather is good, we're going back next weekend. DD

Thanks for everyone's replies. The forecast is bleak for the weekend...5-8' seas for Saturday. Almost got the video of our day on the water done. Stay tuned....

Thanks for the replies. Like you said, he was very lucky because there were no other boats out there.

If the weather is good, we're going back next weekend. Perhaps I'll give him a call to see what was wrong with his engine and maybe ask him for the location of his steelhead 'hot spot'.

Hello All,

Last Saturday (10/22) at 6am the wife and I hooked up the boat and left Lansing for Muskegon and Lake Michigan. Launched at Fisherman's Landing at 8:45 and made our way across Muskegon Lake by 9:30.

Beth wanted to go fishing for her birthday and I wanted to get some video from our new "Salmon Cam" mounted on the hard top. The camera feeds a DVR with 16G that is good for 4-5 hours. Happy birthday to us.

As we went through the channel on the way out to the big water, we set both riggers with Spin Doctors and DW flies (emerald green (SB) and monkey puke (Port) and turned on the camera and DVR. No other boats in the channel so we didn't expect any action. We were right.

Cleared the pier heads at 9:30 and into 52 degree clean water with 1' to 2' waves. Added 2 braid dipsies (set on 2) with Brad's Super Bait filled with oil tuna infused with minced garlic. Fished along the edges of dirty water for a bit and made a big circle just outside the mud line. No action and only one other fishing boat so we turned west and headed out to deeper water. Set two 30# 150' coppers with a DW Jawbreaker and greasy chicken on Z Board Big Daddies. Tried to keep the Fish Hawk speed at the ball around 2.5.

At 65' there were some bait balls and a few hooks but no takers. At 100' near net #21, we finally got a rip on the P rigger but it came unbuttoned. Found the leader had fouled in the treble hook. Weird. At 105' the water temp was 49* on top and 42* down 50'. Started seeing hooks around 40' so the riggers were set at 35' & 45'. Then the SB rigger tripped but the rod wasn't dancing. Reeled in a 5# darkie full of eggs. Strange to see her out this far this late? Released her. Then the P dipsy started screaming. Nice 15# chromer on a Brad's Black Magic. Had a heck of a time netting it because Beth had got her scarf wrapped up in the reel. But the fish jumped up on the swim platform and just laid there and waited. Got it all on the Salmon Cam and am working on getting the video edited and posted.

Continued west out to 150' with no further action and few marks. Radio talk up in White Lake was 116' top 50'. Spun around with the 2-3' waves on our stern and went back to 110' and turned south. Bam. The copper Jawbreaker started singing. Another nice 15 pounder. Then the call came in over the radio on CH-68. Vessel named "Fish Tales" was without power and needed assistance. Told him we would be there as soon as we got the gear pulled. Picked up three more fish while pulling lines. A shaker, a 5 pounder, and a 6# laker that was released.

When we were by net #21, we saw him heading out. Looked like he was going to Milwaukee as he disappeared into the horizon. He was 6 miles from us and we were out 6. It took us almost 2 hours to tow him to Bluffton Bay Marina. John was very grateful as he shuck my hand but offered no payment. That was OK with us because we believe that "what goes around comes around."

It was a fun day on the water and she enjoyed her birthday present. That's what it's all about.

DD

Thanks for the report. If the weather is good, we are heading to Ludington for the weekend.

Maybe next weekend we can get out.

Go Tigers!

I was watching the Ludington Daily News' pan-tilt-zoom camera at 5:40 this morning and observed a strange craft. It was moving slowly toward the Projects, just outside the south pier head. The stealthy craft was showing 3 red lights with one flashing.

Dredger leaving Ludington harbour in the wee morning light.

....Then the fog rolled in and we decided to end after we almost got hit by the Badger. SCARY!!!! Saw some people sunday night at the dock that got skunked.

They almost got T boned by an idiot going way too fast in the fog. Cut his planer board off and just kept going. Unbelieveable.

Had a good time at the show. Stopped by the Silver Streak booth and met Terry. Picked up some new UVs. Beautiful.

Attended Jerry Lee and Bill Bale's seminars. Jerry talked mostly about presentation and Bill covered wire divers and copper.

Watched the dogs jump.

Bought some pickled jalapeno asparagus and some turkey jerky.

Had a pulled pork BBQ sandwich out on the deck overlooking the river.

Ran into a guy I used to work with (Dan Thelen at Fisher Body, Lansing) at the Steelheaders booth. He's retired now and loves the club.

Won't be long,

DD

Thanks for the invite. See you there.

10-4

We are heading to the Ultimate Sports Show in Grand Rapids tomorrow. Gonna check out the BCT super seminar. Should be fun.

Good job. Thanks for the report.

Added some more pictures to the photo album.

http://s277.photobucket.com/albums/kk80/DiverDennisL/ROCKET%20LAUNCHER/

Awesome... What kind of draw do the LED spots have?

Hello all,

Wanted to add some rod storage so looked at buying a rocket launcher to mount on the hardtop. Around $450 for a 10 tube aluminum model. Wow. Decided to build one and $ave.

Picked up the 3†x 1/4†x 96†aluminum flat bar and the 2†x 1/8†x 96†aluminum tube on eBay. Got the red tube caps from bigpapasportfishing.com/gl_holders.htm. My neighbor owns a machine shop and allowed me access to his cutoff saw and welder. Cut 10 tubes at 9.5†with 15 degrees lay back. Cut the base to 75â€, laid out where the tubes would be and drilled drain holes at each location. Drilled and countersunk the mounting holes. Dressed up all the sharp edges, put witness marks on the tubes and base for accurate location during welding. Turned the two end tubes out 45 degrees. Cleaned up the weld spatter and took it to Elite Electro Coaters in Lansing for a white powder coat. Nice.

Mounted with 1/8" delrin spacers underneath and secured with thru bolts and backing plates.

The rod holder offered a perfect mount for some deck lights. Bought two quality LED spreader lights at Coastalnightlights.com and two deck clam cord seals. Hooked up the wiring and they are bright enough to charge up glow baits.

Parts: almuinum - $85, tube caps $25, powder coating $75, lights and seals $190, doing it yourself….priceless.

Click here for the complete photo album.

After 5 days of SW blow we were finally able to get out this morning. Went 5/6 with a nice 18 pounder.

Set up in 120' out from the Bathhouse. Sonar was lit up with hooks down 50-100. First fish at 5:45 on downrigger, double glow wonder bread mag, 13 pounder. Last fish at 9:55 on braid diver back 150 set on 2, Hello Darlin' mag, 18 pounds. Wore my wife out. Fish in between were 4-6 pounders all on spoons. We had fun.

Water temps were 70 on top and 42-55 down 80'. Sometimes the water was warm all the way down. All fish had 4-5 inch alewifes in their bellies. Saw some thick shouldered kings at the cleaning station with one in the 25# class.

"If anything's gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there."

Very nice Dennis. Glad every thing worked good.

Hi Dennis,What is your expected date to arrive?I may have to make a trip to Ludville.

Finally got out to break in the autopilot and new hyd steering setup. Glad to report everything works great. The pilot now steers the ship's main rudder or, with a flick of a switch, the kicker (trolling) motor with ease.

After performing the pilot's sea trial steps (autolearn, calibration) in the calm waters of Muskegon lake, we went out the channel do some trolling in Lake Michigan. The water was pretty calm with a 10mph NW wind. While trolling with the kicker, there were no crazy back and forth motions, no zig zagging, just a nice smooth straight bearing as she goes. We even caught a couple kings.

Headed to Ludington for a week on June 30th. Will be at the Municipal Marina, E dock.

Good job. Thanks for the report.

We were on the same dock with you in Ludington last summer. It was a COLD, Rainy and windy trip. I remember standing on the dock watching the rain on your radar. That is a beautiful boat, You did a fantastic job on it.

I remember a couple of guys stopping by the boat to check out the Sirius weather display. Was I around when you came by? It was a cold and crappy week...IN JUNE!

Welcome aboard! Love the marinettes! I always have wanted a 28 sportsman:p

Beauty eh? Lots of speed too with those twins.

Beth and I are real happy with the boat. She has the creature comforts and I have the dive/fishing features. It is great to be able to put in at different ports. Total weight with trailer: 7,800#. Marinettes rock dudes.

Do we have any Aluminum cruisers/Marinette owners on this forum?

Check out the Marinette Forum for tons of info.