WRENCHED 4 IT

We went 4/9 lost a nice one at the boat. Our biggest one was about a 12lbs with the rest in the 8-10 lbs range all kings. We went out to 135fow but didn’t get anything till in that 110fow on a south east troll after the sun dropped. Stayed out till 11:00 and pulled lines. I don’t think the bite was on last night, or they were in shallower. PS buoy said 50down it was 52 degrees be interesting to hear if anyone did well in that 70-85 fow.

After all the wind over last few days didn’t know what to expect so went out solo thinking it might be a short trip and to my surprise lake was calm. Got out at 6:00 fished to 10:30. Set up in 100 fow heading south and worked my way out to 142 fow and back in. Found nice temp break at 62 fow down in that 132 fow . Marked a fish between temp break to bottom. Found most action in the 132 fow . Went 2-3 losing a nice king during netting. Ran both north and south getting 2 heading south and 1 heading north. Ran all three rods using meat rigs. What worked Speed 1.7 to 2.0 at the ball 1st fish lost netting 😡 rigger line out 60 ft and down 58 ft using white glow 8 inch spin doctor with moo moo meat rig. 2nd fish 22 lbs king on 200 copper blue and silver 8 inch spin doctor with blue bubble meat rig. 3rd fish 24lbs king rigger line out 60ft and down 85 ft using white glow 8 inch spin doctor with moo moo meat rig. Flies where out in full force so be aware.

Ed it’s a 21 ft Robalo with the strong winds and wave action heading south into the waves wasn’t going to work. By the time we went in it was 2-3 footers.

Fished from 5:30 to 11:00 this morning. Found waves were bigger then expected so powered out south into the waves about 2 miles till my back couldn’t take anymore, then turned and went on a north troll. Tried from 100 fow to 174 fow finding fish in the 168 to 172 fow . Went 1-1 catching a 8lbs king using DW dragon slayer and blue bubble fly on a 150 copper. Found temp break at 58 ft down with 48 degrees temp. Ran between 2.0 -2.5 speed at ball. Ran a 6 rod spread using mostly glow spoons early switching to flies later on. Marked fish from 60 ft.down to 115 ft down but couldn’t get them to go, also trolled north only do to waves making it tough to go south on my small boat. If my luck doesn’t change soon I’m going to name my boat Vegetarian. Good luck everyone 1 Downrigger set 78 ft then 96 ft and 125 ft 2 mag wire dipseys set on 2 set back 112 and 123 then tried deeper 156 and 200 1 150 copper 1 200 copper 1 300 copper

Thanks Jason. For me just to get out is a blessing so it was fun and a surprise just to catch anything.

Started late at 7:00 am North 1 mile in 125 fow. Stayed on a 330 NW troll out to 185 fow then turned South zig zagging in to 172 fow back out to 185 fow Marked fish back and forth in those depths, once past 185 fow stopped marking fish and the same at 172 fow so I stayed in between.Went 3-3 running solo with first fish taken at 11:06 and I went to 1:00 and called it a day.Fished 60 ft down to 90 ft down marking fish from 70 down to bottom. Tried going deep but had no takers close to bottom. Found temp break around 58 ft down. Ran rigger,mag dipsey, and a 300 ft copper. Used all mag spoons. Tried flys deep with no takers. Ran between 1.9 and 2.1 speed at the ball. Took 2 kings on the 300 copper using a Pro King Screwdriver Mag and 1 king on the rigger 82 ft down Blue Hulk.

Shake down trip this afternoon to calibrate new Raymarine EV 150 autopilot. Found out I mounted the compass sensor to close to the hydraulic pump and it wouldn’t program 😡 While at the boat ramp had talked to a few guys coming in saying they didn’t catch anything however there buddies in Saugatuck had limited out. Even though seas were flat I decided just to run down to Holland to fish. Set the first line at 1:30 1/4 mile of North pier and trolled 1/2 past South pier running in and out of 25fow to 40fow with mid 30s being best. Went south and north with south troll brining fish. Went 3 for 4 with 2 coho that I released because of size kept one around 5lbs pulled lines at 3:00. Used three rods with all three hitting 2- slide divers set at 3 running 60 ft line back one set at 12-15ft down and other at 20 ft down, third line 3 color running down the shoot. See picks of lures that worked below.

Note sure if I’d want to take a chance with a 30lb king with one hook. Not saying that I haven’t had fish caught with only one of the treble hooks doing the job.Be interesting in getting some charter boat captains input.

Solo today first line out 8:00 and fished to 11:30. Headed straight out of port and settled on 125 fow and went out to 155 fow going in and out on a nw troll. Went 2-3. What worked. Slide dipsey out 230 ft with mag blue dolphin 8 lbs steelhead. Ran a 200 copper with modified Mongolian beef and caught 9 lbs steelhead. Lost another steelhead on a massive jump and roll on same rod. Ran 2.1 to 2.4 speed at ball and temp was 51 degrees at 75 down.

Thanks Ed for the advice. Use to laugh at guys going into the water to retrieve there boats, I guess they now have the last laugh at me. Tight lines Ed

It’s been 9 + weeks since I’ve been out fishing do to falling off my boat on the first time out this year. Caught 3 that day but putting boat back onto trailer I fell and broke 3 ribs which are still pretty sore. Enough of the pity party though. Went out this morning with a big skunk to show for it. Ran 6 lines, 1 Downrigger with white paddle/fly, 1 copper 150, 1 copper 250, 1 wire diver , 1- 7 color and 1- 4 color. Used multiple colors and size spoons with no luck. Fished between 124 fow out to 155 fow. Ran north west 330 on compass, speed 2.0 to 2.4 at the ball. Found thermocline late in the day at 76 feet down in the 144 fow and it ran out to 155 fow marking fish above and below with some larger fish marking at 110 feet in the 152fow. Felt really good to be back on the water and to have a successful launch and retrieve.