littleboat

Fished solo, 80-150 fow. 2 for 2. Small lake trout 3# and a 8.18# steelhead. Most bait and fish were between 120-135fow. Both fish were loaded with bait. 1- lake trout, 3#, 11:33am, 5 eyes lure. on DR, down 100, in 140fow, 2.6 sog. S trl, ball temp 43.6. Alot of big marks down low. I was hoping for something bigger with all those marks. He spit his dinner up during my xfer to the cooler. 2-steelhead 8.18#, 11:57am, burnt bread on a slider on DR, rigger was down 98 in 130 fow, on a S trl.. Nice to see that gleam of the Steelie. Current was all over the place down deep. Lake was flat. No bites earlier in the am for me. When I went to pull my boat out, I noticed one of my bunkboards had partially collapsed. This is going to be quite a challenge to repair. Not what I was hoping for at the end of the day. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Good report you covered a lot of territory last night. I hope the Kings are starting to move down too. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Great job Aaron! There were very few boats out. Oh how I miss those extra lures when I don't have company. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Went 1 for 2, solo. Missed a short bite in 60 fow on my way out. Then at 9:39am picked up a pudgy king, 9#-28"long in a 150 fow, on a west troll, with a 250 copper pulling a mag MS Shelly stack. Lots of baits balls, no other takers. Marks 35 to 155 down most areas. More bugs, cover up or be eaten. I was hoping to make my Holland two fish limit, but I failed. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

No king, but a 11#, 31" laker, on a DR down 108 in 155fow on a flounder pdr mag at 11:09am yesterday. I was halfway to my Holland two fish limit. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Went 2/2 today, finally got out after I installed a new water pump kit on my kicker motor. Fished solo north of Holland. 1-small king, 3.3#, 9:27am, ms std rv sniper on free slider, stb DR bk 55, 2.4 sog, N trl, ball temp 50.7, down 80ft, 156fow. 2-steelhead 5.13#, 9:39am, ms rv burnt bread, stb DR bk 55, 2.4 sog, N trl, ball temp 50.7, down 80ft, 150 fow. When I sent the 1st setup down a second time. The steelhead hit the main lure just as I attached the sniper slider to the main line. Beautiful day, bit of shake down cruise.. Temperature break was at 70-80 ft down. lake was almost flat. Rougher closer to shore than out farther. Also was buzzed by a drone near the CG station. Hovered over my boat as I just got inside the no wake zone and was heading toward the channel entrance. It surprised me at the crack of dawn. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Drifted down the TC today. Went 6 for 6 for a one man's limit in 2-1/2hrs. Fin-s golden shiner took all the bites. I didn't lose any jigs but snagged 2 of my stinger hooks. (2) 15, (1) 16, (1) 16-1/2, (2)17 . All males. LS was hot today. 15-22fow. Winds were low today for a change, but the boat wakes were worst than the 20mph winds my last trip. Today was a Monday, but it looked like a weekend. Wall to wall boats. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Did my 1st drift down the TC channel this year. Unfortunately I had to jig in 20+ mile an hour winds. The weather has been less than kind. Rain the other days. Never the less , I went 3 for 5, losing 2 who unhooked themselves as I tried to reach for the net. They were all skinny males 15, 17 and 18". I fished for 2 hrs under very tough conditions. I finally said enough is enough. Fin-S. Gold pepper shad, golden shiner and pimp daddy worked. Had two snags and lost jigs. LS did it's things. Will be back when the weather gets better. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

There is one ramp at each location waiting for you. Let us know if Port Sheldon still is shallow and what side to hug if necessary to get out like last year. The PS ramp is quite aways down, even the Holland one is somewhat lower, because of the lake levels. I estimate it is about 1.5 ft lower then last year . GOOD FISHING & LUCK TO ALL OF YOU THIS YEAR! Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

I target the walleye mainly. There are 4 walleyes and one whitefish in the picture. I jig for the whitefish (short window for those) and when that bite withers, I start trolling for the walleye. The bites are better at night as the weather gets colder. I fish until they pull the ramps. That is a bloody nose moonshine spoon in the picture(a real catch all spoon). I had to go in between the Great Republic and the seawall, I had enough room or I would have to wait quite awhile for it to clear. My fish finder went crazy with all the bubbles and channel debris it was throwing up. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

I've built some nice holders with the PVC attached to plastic cartons. I'll keep the boat readily for another big lake adventure. But next I'm going to do some night fishing for these pictured characters. I might need some help catching them in in a local lake. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Got out today for just a couple of hours 9:30-11:30am, fished 60-90fow, DRs, 5C and 8C. Marked very few fish. I was hoping the waves And wind would give me a break (it didn't). The forecast was typical for fall, though this year it seemed to be especially tough with the strong winds and waves. Anyway the 0-1footers turned into 2-3footers then solid 3footers.it got worst the farther I went out. So I cut my trip short. In a related story, yesterday, I happened to be checking the PS bouy and by sheer luck I was viewing the video when they were pulling in the bouy. What a coincidence. Was that a sign of the next day's fish story. Fishing itself was not easy today. My Littleboat(16-1/2') not only had to deal with my solo fishing limitations (3 lures) but I had just passed a STEEL CHARTER in the channel that must have sucked up all the fish I was hoping catch. I did not get a single bite after I passed that STEEL CHARTER (GREAT REPUBLIC). I think they must have had more lines in the water then licenses? You can see my rod in the picture of its stern waving in disgust. Hoping for another day. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

I don't blame you. I would have done the same. I don't like being a human ping - pong ball. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Thanks for the report. Great detail Enjoyed the story. What do you think the fish mood is? I'm hoping for some colder weather soon to break the current cycle. The forecast seems to be off from the bouy lately, though at times like you reported the other day it was spot on. Other parts of the same day it's been better than 3ft waves for the same flat forecast. Lots of wide swinging currents and wind gusts. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

I fish solo almost all the time. You have to plan your every move. Even under the best conditions you can still slip on your own boat deck. Still even with that "unexpected things happen". SAFETY is 1ST. I fish calmer days more, which means less fishing, but a better chance of handling a dangerous situation. I'm more selective when I go out. I only venture out on rougher days when I have a second person with me. That is hard to do at times, when the wind and weather has kept you in port for a week or more. Worst yet when relatives have over stayed their visit. I've been in all life kinds of weather and sea conditions and enjoy fishing. My freezers are full and I think I supply all the neighbors and friends with fish. Fishing is fun, but always coming back is the best rewarding catch for your family. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Fishing solo, had not been out for awhile went 1 for 2. Had a double but lost the second one when I couldn't get to the rod in time hoping to loosen the drag until I got the 1st one in. Lost a white fly and UV NBK SD. No other bites after that. Lots of boats but not to bad. Meant JDH at the cleaning station and saw 2MD out there fishing At the boat ramp intersection there was a bad accident when a vehicle hit another one trying to get out and onto the street. 1-16#-9oz king, 37"lg, (7:11am), 5 C, S trl, JPlug Wonderbread, 28fow. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Great report, enjoyed the detail. I hope the new engine resolves the engine problems and puts more fish in the boat Engine problems are very unsettling. Good luck! Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

I got some replacement flashers coming. Lucky I order a couple of two packs of non-rigged Brad's earlier. You were smart to stay home that evening. It really got worst. Good call. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

I heard that at the cleaning station that they were really killing them up there. PS was doing well today also. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

I heard about tangles and very strong currents at the cleaning station today. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Solo fished today 3/5, nothing big but two nice cohos. Normally I don't fish Sundays but the weather finally broke so I had to get out knowing that the next couple days would not be so good. Now for the real story. I just got done setting up my two downriggers and I was in the process of letting out my 300 copper with the Brads cut bait and new green paddle that has a light on it something new. I no more got it in place when a small boat came at me. I "Yelled at them you're too close", " You're too close" but they ignored me cut across my copper and took out my new paddle and Brad's cut bait. Then they went on their way as if nothing happened. They were so close to me I could not believe it. I think I prefer my older post story about the drunken lady as opposed to these two idiots. Now for the fish: 1- king released 2-coho 4.36# (7:08am), bloody nose mag, W trl, 2.2sog, ball temp 56.2°, down 59', 105 fow 3-coho 4.56# (11:21am), nbk Xmas tree std, S trl, 2.1sog, ball temp 53.4°, 65 dwn. 108fow Miss on a low diver with a brads setup watermelon & KG sd Miss on rigger with bloody nose. Very bouncing today, but still enjoyed it Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

My Trophy is hyd steering so I use a Raymarine hyd unit setup uses a pump to move the hyd fluid. Cost was ($1200) when I installed it. Prices will be higher now. I run a ezsteer rod between both the main motor and kicker on the backside. My littleboat is cable steered and I run a Raymine unit for cable steering. Both units have the same control unit. But the drive is in the column because of the cable steering .Both have a flux compass and control interface module which I mounted behind or on the helm bulkhead/wall. They don't make the cable steered unit anymore but other companies make similar ones. Again I link the two motors with an ezsteer rod, but it I is mounted on the front of the motors. I use an itroll unit for both kicker motors speed control. The itroll on the bigger boat is just behind the fish finder in the updated photo. Both units are sized for the boat. Both run great. I've had them since 2010 on the littleboat (Crestliner) and the Trophy 2014. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

Looked like a great fishing boat. You got to keep them trailerable that's for sure. I do my own maintenance and equipment installations. I enjoy fishing I just want it to stay fun not a crusade. Safety first. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

I have two boats. The one in the picture is my littleboat that I use on both the big lake, small or rivers. It's set up for all of the above. It's easy to maneuver when I park at my house in an attached garage. My second boat is a 2102 Trophy when I want to fish in a little rougher water on the big lake. I've equipped both with Auto pilots, gps fish finders, fishawks etc. The smaller boat has manual DRs. I enjoy them both. The smaller boat is great when I'm jigging the Detroit River in the spring or other smaller body's for walleyes or steelhead such as Grand River and Muskegon lake. Sent from my Z5156CC using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app