scgibby11

All:

It hurts me to post it, but we put a skunk in the box today.

Trolled from about 8:30 am 4pm. Nothig.

Tried fast, slow, deep, shallow, stained, clear water. Hopefully the fish move in soon.

ON the plus side--it was gorgeous out there today.

Scott

I had planned to go out today....the gale warning scared me away...so I didn't go. Maybe someone else was braver today.

East Sider

From my perspective, I'd stay close to the river mouth in the 35-40 foot range. I know they are getting them out deeper too, but they are stacked up close to the harbor right now at the edge of the dirty water.

Spoons and flies/flashers are the ticket right now. Anything with green in it.

Scott

Yes, the kings are here!

Fished yesterday out of ST. Joseph, midday noon-3:30 or so. Went 11 for 15, putting 3 of the small shakers back. All were kings except 1 coho. No lakers

We fished 35-45 FOW and al of the hits came in the dark river plume or the edge of the scumline. The best was trolling that line in those depths.

Green flies and green lures were best. The dipsies were the hottest set around 70-90 feet back. A few came on riggers, but the lead and long lines didn't get hit.

Very fun day, and nice to get some hot action. Largest king was 15#.

Scott

We got out Saturday out of South Haven. It still is tough for this time of year! We went 4 for 5.

Cleared the pierheads right about as it just started to get light. It was pretty foggy.

We first went out to about 95-110 FOW a bit south. We marked some fish, but no takers. We bit the bullet and went out to 200 FOW. There we picked up the three nice eater cohos. They were mostly on flicker shads, back 80 feet from the board, but one came on a dipsy with a spoon.

When the program shut down, we went back to the 100 foot area where we had marked fish. We trolled east until about 65 Feet of water where the big 11 pound laker struck on a spoon, off a dipsy, deep (near bottom).

Water temps in the morning at the pierheads: 60

Water temps out in 200 FOW: 45

Pictures below. My son Jake was really excited about bringing in the big laker.

Scott

Thank you for that report. Great to be on the water again, isn't it!

Nice and thank you.

I was out Monday and am planning to go Friday. Here are my thoughts, and I'd welcome others input:

I'm planning to head out to a bit deeper water and to fish like it were early May. I might even try South Haven instead of the Joes.

This hot weather and VERY warm surface temps have made the set up strange this year. I just wonder if the bait and bigger fish are schooled up in deeper water.

At the very least I'm going to find the western edge of the dark river plume. I agree that the clear water looked barren on my graph and the dark river water was lit up on the graph. However, those salmon were tiny, and hard to get many hookups.

What do others think?

Scott

Size of the thin fins....Okay I'll have to check. I honestly thought there was just one size. For some crazy reason all of mine are the same size. Looking on the web, they seem to be the 1/2 oz 2 3/4 inch variety.

One of the smaller shaker salmon came on a hot n tot that was about a size smaller than the Brad's thinfish.

Scott

Agree. These were 10-12 inches max.

Well it felt like June and fished like June.

We went 3 for 6, but two of the boated fish were shaker cohos that we returned. The other was a nice 6-8 pound laker.

We had trouble finding the silver fish. We stayed mostly in the muddy water north and the scumline to the south.

Surface temps in the dirty water were 59. IN the clean water south it was closer to 50. Down about 20 feet temps were 48.

We hooked into something big, making two runs, probably a king. This was on 3 colors of lead with a red brad's thin fin. Unfortunately it dehooked about the time I took the board off.

All in all, it was beautiful, and fun to get back on the water.

Scott

Nice! Soft water is just around the corner.

Hey all. This was a great seminar. Thanks to all who arranged it. Especially thanks to Dave and to Dan Keating for all of their knowledge.

Scott

Yes, the fish-n-chip comes in many flavors. The one I just purchased is the fish-g (great lakes). We'll see how it goes.

Scott

I have the same unit. Currently I have been using hotmaps for the upper midwest region. I like its maps for inland, but have not liked them much for great lakes. I'm looking at Navionics Fish-G. I think that is what I'm going to settle on.

Scott

Feast or famine,

So sorry, I did not catch your post again until last night. Sorry it took me a bit to respond.

Here are my pictures of the Atlantic towers arch in a box. I chose the "fishing arch." It has worked well for me. It hinges down, so I can clear my pole barn door. It really is quite slick.

They sell for around $1300-1500 depending on accessories, as I recall. You can go to atlantictowers.com for details. Look for the "fishing arch."

I can send more pics if you need.

I'll send you a PM.

Scott

http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/2/6/0/4/feb_2009_010.jpg' alt='feb_2009_010.jpg'>

I bought and installed my arch from atlantic towers. I bought the "fish arch in a box." I did the install in a good weekend a couple of years ago. I could send pictures if you want. It has worked out well.

Check out atlantic towers.

Scott

Finally getting around to posting.....

We played mid-day Monday out of South Haven with only limited success. There was a fair amount of dirty water out from the peirs that quickly blew south as the north wind worked its wonders through the afternoon.

We marked A LOT of fish, setting up around 110 fow. We worked our way out to 160 and couldn't get many strikes. The two fish and releases both came on an east troll, each around 115 fow. The fish on the graph were consistently 70-100 feet down.

Surface temps around 59, and temp at 100ft around 51.

We caught 1 large laker (released) and 1 5 pound coho, both on a magnum size mixed veggie spoon, and each on a fireline dipsey, setting 1, out 125 feet.

Hope that helps someone.

Scott

Nice job Bob. I've got the boat south--between work and waves, haven't been out recently. Later today (Monday) I should make it out of S. Haven.

Soon I'll be back up your way later in the month.

Scott

More than two weeks at work every day.....finally I have the day off this coming Friday.....plans for fishing.

Oh, then yesterday I check the forecast.....might as well go back to work!

Scott

I always lover your posts, Bob. What a great trip. Keep it up.

Scott

Where is the deer lick? Thanks

Anyone catching any perch yet in southern Lk Michigan?

Scott

picture of the steel:

We went out mid-day today (10a-2p). I would have liked to get the early morning and evening bite, but schedules wouldn't allow it.

We trolled from 60 ft to 35 FOW. Most of the fish on the graph were just around and outside (in the clear water) from the dark river plume. We went fairly far north and continued to mark fish in the 35-45 FOW range.

We caught a 10 pound steelhead on a small stinger, glow, ghost spoon off a rigger 31 ft down.

3 pound coho on a Brad's thin fish, firetiger on a 30 ft lead in front of a board.

Everything else was quiet. Had trouble triggering strikes.

Water temp in the dark plume water=52-53

Clear water in about 45 FOW was 47-48 degrees.

1-2 foot rolling chop from the SSW.

speed 1.9-2.7 at the ball

Scott