Reel-Deal

Late report... Fished from 4-10 pm. Started in 85 fow and trolled out to 275 North of harbor. Marked very little, and not a single bump on anything... Had whole water column covered, bounced bottom for Lakers when we saw some hugging the bottom... Nothing! It was like the dead sea out there, But what a gorgeous night to be on the water! Sent from my SM-G900V using Great Lakes Fisherman Mobile App

That's what I was thinking - but didn't know for sure. I fish out of Muskegon and we took a little boat rife a few weeks ago - but didn't see anything on the sonar from 90-250 FOW. It would appear that the Chinook cuts in population are taking their toll. I will start fishing after the 4th of July and will report everything that happens.

Not sure if it is just June fishing phenomenon, but where are all the reports? Don't see anything from Grand Haven, Muskegon, etc.... What's going on? Sent from my SM-G900V using Great Lakes Fisherman Mobile App

interesting Jim, I was thinking that, but not sure. This one did have some fight in him - but not much - wondering if the water dislocates their jaw and then they can't close it??? Ummm....

4-4 today - got a good early start this morning - on the water by 5:45am - when we hit the open water - the water was bumpy with wind and waves coming from the WSW - so we headed straight into them until we hit 55 FOW - there were q few marks and some bait - so we set up to see what we could do. There were good marks and bait all the way out to about 75 FOW. At 7:35 am had a good rip on the boom DR 65 down on a John King pearl white spoon - 12# king - he was good and brown! About an hour later in 115 FOW - we took a hit on braided mad dipsy back 165' on 2 with blue SD and blue mirage fly - 8# steelie within the hour - we took a hit on the same dipsy - 6# steelie then we slid out to about 150 and circled out and back on the same line - with the wave - against the waves - and didn't take another hit. started to pull lines as we trolled back towards harbor and the last rod - boom rigger down 65 in 60 FOW - I popped and as soon as I did I felt a great weight - but not much pull - yep - 16# laker on mag Moonshine purple nurple - that was at noon. The funny thing was that this laker had it's mouth WIDE OPEN - so it was like pulling in a sheet of plywood - it didn't run, just heavy weight - and I know it was not on the line that long - never seen that in 25 years of great lakes fishing - it was oddest thing - oh well - it make for a nice finish for the end of the day. The water started to slowly pick up with bigger gusts - so I was glad we had a chance to get out.

I run 200' of copper on my 330 GTI Penn - with about 300' of braid backing

Got out for the first time this year after some walleye trips to Saginaw Bay. Looked at the satellite image of temps and seen all the cold water piled up on shore - hit the water at 7:15 am - a little late - and many boats were fishing the pier-heads, and even saw 2 boats in the break wall area. Didn't see a lot of catching going on - so we slid just outside of the harbor and went a little north to 50 fow to set lines. Just after set up - we had a knock off on a rigger, but didn't hook up - thought we were in business, but nothing until 9:30 am - 150' copper with lemon ice ripped - 11# king in 60 fow. 20 minutes later - 4 color with double orange crush mag ripped - nice steely - est. at 13# - but after some acrobats - he threw the hook then nothing for about 1 hour - and about 11:30 - the 150 fow copper went again on lemon ice - 5# coho We slid further out after making round trips just south of harbor over good temps, bait, and some fish - but no takers - went to 140 fow - and found good marks, bait and temps around 120-130 fow - but could not get anything going - wrapped up a beautiful day on the lake - like glass most all day - and a very pleasant trip...ended the day 2/3 water was between 50-54 on the surface, 41-44 down 38' for the most part, cold all over - have a safe fourth!

just got it - about half way through. It is well worth the read, I do have his first one too - I can't say it is just a rehash of the same ol' same ol' as it's been some time since I read the first one - I would recommend it...

Perfect - thanks - I will start with that, as I have extra reels that are smaller in capacity - and I can use them for the shorter lengths. That's a big help!

That makes sense - what are the most common amounts of copper used? That may be a better question?

Thanks Ryan - I used the Albright knot - I only had some 80# SPRO swivels - the Albright worked well. I guess I'm still hung up on segmenting the copper for different depths - as I don't have enough rods to have 150' on one, 300' on another, etc...as I can't imagine allowing the copper line to be at the rod tip (I do have Twilli Tips on the rods), and then having the board attached to it. I will possibly try one rod that is segmented and the other with the full 300' of copper on it...thanks again!!!

Wow - great info Ryan - thank you very much! That's the great thing about this forum - all the experience that is collective - I really appreciate it!

Hi - just getting into the world of copper line fishing - I've been using lead core - but am in the process of converting - yes, late to the game. I wanted to ask what is the best way to spool it - do you allow for separation in the line with something that won't break - like a super line, or even mono? Sectioning sounds right to me - how much should I split it up? Any other advise would be appreciated - Love to get your insights - thanks in advance!

Fished out of Musk. last Monday on the new boat - haven't been out since fall 2012 as I sold the old boat in March last year. On the water and set up at 7 am - straight out in 90 FOW and trolled west. Hit our first fish in about 125 fow, my 9 year old daughter's first time and she pulled in a 13.5 lb. king (I had to help her - it was a great sight). We continued to troll west as the screen was uninspiring, and we took 2 more fish by about 10 am - 11 lb steel, and another king 9 lbs. Trolled out to 350' looking for good looking water, but turned around and headed back to the temp break around 130 fow, just north of the harbor. went 4/5 with one more small king and had a great day on the water. Can't remember all the details, but we caught them on a mixed bag - 5 color lead, 85 on DR, 41 down on DR, and one on a braided dipsey. One of my good friends and his buddy drove home to Missouri that afternoon, and he was killed instantly when he fell asleep at the wheel, his buddy survived - it was his first time on the water with me, and first time fishing for salmon, and I can say it was a glorious day on the water and grateful for the time we had together. Here is a picture of him helping my daughter hold up her first king ever....he will be missed.

Got out for the 2nd time this year - fished straight out of Musk. Monday got a late start, set up in 120 FOW at about 8 AM - trolled out to about 150, picked up a double - 2 small kings, 95 and 110 down on the riggers. Then had 2-3 big rips over the next SLOW 3 hours, nothing on, broke off one of the riggers. Fished early Tuesday AM - on the water by 5:45 - stopped in 70 FOW, and marked some fish, so we started there early - marked a lot of bait, some hooks, but nothing. Heard 'Half Nuts' was doing quite well in about 130-160 FOW or so, trolled out there, nothing, hit 275 FOW, turned back east, ready to wrap it up, and hooked a big laker - about 19# - biggest LM laker I've ever caught. That was it - could not get the program going...

Depends...how big is your boat?

Way to go!

I like to hear that! Way to go...