CJ428

Dan - Tremendous catch. Does this suggest a much better year?  They are fat--what were they eating? Thanks

My boat is fully equipped and has fished Lk Michigan for many years. Boat is 18 1/2 ft  Starcraft with bow cover.  Pls call me  224 858 4279 for pictures of the boat and what we caught last May at Benton Harbor.

Pls give me some names/sizes  Thanks

I have 3 choices for leader material- which one is best

Seaguar 100% red label 20 lb 

Seaguar 100% regular 25 lb

Pline coated  25lb

The coated is cheaper

I did have leader breakage when I went to lighter leader material - Thanks

Can you suggest some? Thanks

In Lake Michigan and Wisconsin waters a very large fish was just caught - likely a wild fish. Good luck

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/lake-michigan-chinook-salmon-is-believed-to-be-heaviest-caught-in-about-30-years/ar-AA10AP4O?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=fa1fc39092124d70ae7994b2f56a2aa7

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An impressive report and a cute little girl -thank you. 

A young man on a charter in Ludington using a spoon (MOONSHINE - Raspberry carbon)  did the job. The previous record was in 1978 at 46 lbs. So, why could one fish find all that food?

https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2021/08/teen-catches-4786-pound-chinook-salmon-besting-michigan-record-that-has-stood-since-1978.html

In July, a 39 lb king was caught off of Muskegon.

39-pound ‘fish of a lifetime’ salmon hooked in Lake Michigan - mlive.com

I had trouble with  Vanish Florocarbon breaking too easily -   testing w a pull gage  found it breaking at 60% of rated strength. 

Very nice cart!   At my Del Webb some guys add gear racks to their golf carts. Tight lines

Per the Mi DNR report  2-13 - they are catching fish!  Anybody of you going out?

There are a number of very helpful and great fishermen on this site. The detail and the accuracy of the reports are what I need.

Just fished Ludington on 28th- strong winds from the south had 65 degree water even out to 205 ft.  - had to drop down to 85 feet to find good temps. We got 1 nice laker and a 19 lb king. We got the king at 55 down on a dipsy-spin dr-fly. Yes he was out of prime temps- very strong fish- took 330 ft of line and 25 min - great fun. Several boats in my group did worse.  thanks

On the double uni knot - I tried 7 wraps on the mono and 11 wraps on the braid - tested with a pull scale and found it perfect (no knot slip at full line load).  Thanks  jdh

The FG knot is hard to make for me.

The double uni raises a question- how many wraps- some videos say 7 - some 8 - and then I read -

Double Uni Knot Tying Instructions. Repeat with the end of the line on the left making the same number of wraps unless tying with braided line in which you should double the number of wraps.

What number works best?

For my riggers I do not know if a floroc leader helps-  what have others found? I use 17 lb  mono on the reel

Here is a good article on floro itself.

Mine are old-really old- so after one blew out and tore up the fender badly - I read about them.  Trailer tires or ST tires  have a stiffer sidewall to reduce sway. They are designed for higher pressure so they carry more load that car tires. They also have rubber compounds that better tolerate tread heat and rot from  the sun and moisture when sitting on wet ground. Tire companies and the government recommends replacing them after 5 to 7 years or if they show uneven wear. In fairness - I used car tires on my trailer and they lasted well beyond 7 years - they did have a tendency to sway and i was well below the max load for the tire. In storage - I unloaded them.  To cure the sway I had to use 9% for the tongue load.

My new tires will be ST design. I got the Carlisle radial as it is a new design that allows 65 MPH - I drive a little slower  I . They are moderately priced.Experts suggest that if you lose a tire on a 4 wheel trailer  you should replace the other same side tire. Here is a good article.

https://www.moderntiredealer.com/article/312514/st-tires-all-steel-radial-construction-is-meeting-the-demand-for-mor

Two died and others recovering- wind out of the South very strong in Saugatuck Sun morning. It was hot and the beaches were full-despite warnings. The following article describes long shore and rip currents that no doubt incapacitate most swimmers.

https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2018/08/2nd_grand_haven_drowning_victi.html

I have seen late season lock jaw but usually later in August. Best time to get them is just when the sun rises and sets--yes very frustrating.

I have an 18 ft boat w a 8HP kicker. What are the weights of each motor?  2 cycle or 4?

My Church's TX44 planar board had a mono line break while pulling 8 cores - fish likely hit it.  I had added a black line clip after the Church's one broke.  I thought the 17 lb mono was ok.

Have others seen this?

On the next TX44 should I get the $22 yellow LOCK JAW clip they advertise?   Pretty expensive to lose the whole darn set up. 

So you had a fish on - you blew a hose - DID you get the fish in ?

Is the Trilene knot  good on Seaguar line--thru the eye twice/wrap around 6 times/back thru the double loop.

I was breaking Berkley vanish 20 lb at 12 lbs  last year

Great to see your catch--they are fat like the old days. Did you see what they were eating?  Good luck

St. Joe has stayed really strong for Kings - I am delighted but cannot understand how the DNR kept predicting a collapse in the fishery.   Did you examine what they were eating?

I fished With the MetroWest Steelheaders on July 22 at Ludington- we had 18 boats entered with 129 fish caught- at least 4 were over 20 lbs- largest 22.45 lbs-total  weight 737 lbs. Many of the salmon were stuffed with 8 to 10 alewives- In  all my years I have not seen that.  Spoons and meat rigs worked- South at projects was very good -some did well at the point. Have to wonder if the salmon planting reduction is helping alewife return.