Martin1950

South Haven,4/12, SKUNKED!!!!

Boy does my boat stink.  As badly as I needed some time alone, the company of a fish or two would have been nice.  Trolled for 4 hrs between 40-70fow w/ Thin Fins, Rapalas, spoons and dodger/fly combos, even drug the bottom. Trolled 2.3-2.7, H2O temp 41.7*  Could have counted all the arches on two hands. Rods used; 1 DR, 2&3 color, braided diver, 150 & 200x30# CU.  Well at least I'll admit it.  But what a great day on the water, alone!!!!!

Martin  

Dan, I'll be out there SOLO in the morning.  Not that I have too but after the week I've had I just want to get away by my self!!!!!!!  If ya see a little 16 ft'er w/ an arch and trees, give me a horn blast and wave.  I'll be zig-zagging 40fow. straight out.

Martin

Thanks  for that report Dan.  I'm going to try a sneak out Wed AM in S/H after dropping off my better half.

Martin

Thanks for the great report and fish porn.  Welcome to the "Madness"

Martin

When ya wake up at 0330hrs and there’s no rain or wind ya go fishing, right?  Set my waypoint out from the piers and turned South heading toward the water plant and laid out 3 rattling Thin Fins, 2 red squiggles and a gold and orange are my start off go to lures.  Zig zag trolled the 1^st trough off the shoreline all the way to the WALL and picked up 2 Ho’s about 2 miles down and that was it.  Trolled back in 30-40fow, nada.  At the launch the “scale counter” told me I was the 1^st boat with any fish.  The 2 other boats I talked to said that they were 0/0.  The poor fishies aren’t going to have too much pressure during the next week with all the weather that’s coming.  I’ll take my two and be happy.

Martin

Thanks for that report.  Every little bit helps.

Martin

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Welcome to the week day fishing group, Bob.

Dan, this over rigged 16 footer is Eleanor, my baby for the last 8 years.  She's a lot easier to handle by myself and a whole lot cheaper to run then my 20fter.

Martin

Great looking FISH there Ed. 

Martin

Dan, real nice report.  Good to see everyone is finding fish by different means.

Must have just missed ya at the launch in and out.

Martin

Shake down 3/28 St. Joe

Cleared the “Joe” around 0830 and started setting lines heading toward the “wall”.  As far as shake-down go, it couldn’t have gone any smoother.  And to catch 10 Ho’s was the icing on the cake.  The best water was the inside 15’-20’.  The 1^st fish came on an ART29 ThinFin, next on a stop n go dodger/fly.  After the 3^rd and 4^th fish came on that same ThinFin we pulled the jointed Raps, the high divers w/ spoons and loaded up on rattling T/F’s, ½ oz. size, plus a 2 and a 3 color w/ a small green dolphin and an old orange BJ wobbler, which took two hits.  8 of the fish came on the ART’s.  Guys, don't be afraid to jack up the size of the trebles.

4 mono, 2 lead line 2 DR's,  2.3sog

Now the only thing that could have been better is that some of those a$$holes at the launch blocking the ramps while loading their boats.

Martin

Tom, thanks for the report.  We're doing the shake-down tomorrow in the AM.  A fish or two will be the icing on the cake.

Martin

AND don't forget to check your boat tags either.

Martin

Thanks for the report.  Test fired both engines on Eleanor today, She's READY. Just need my usual crew and some gentle water.

Martin

Ed, Thanks for the report on the two FISH.   Some people!!!  Keep up the good work.

Martin

Real pretty fish. Been a while since I've seen a "Big Spotted" brown.

Eleanor got her spring bath yesterday so I'll be rigging her today.

Martin

Fishing solo I'll use an 8' on my braided diver w/ a spoon but if I've got an extra body or two I'll run 12'-14''.

On my wire super-sliders I run 50' of 50# braid with a 2' leader ahead of a paddle or an 8' for spoons.  And to avoid a "which is better, Ford or Chevy?" type of replies, I'll just say I use 100% fluorocarbon for my leaders, It's worked so far.

MMM

Nice thing about a smaller boat and living only 20 minutes from either launch, it's on the trailer and ready to roll at a moments notice.

MMM

That doesn't bother me too much.  Generally fish St. Joe in March/April but I hate that 2 mile float down the river.

MMM

Thanks for the heads up.

MMM

That's a good looking "Salmon".  Period!!!!

Ed, good looking eater "Salmon"

Good to read that you're still hunting them.  We're hoping for a run-out on Friday.

Martin

Down this way we've got a he of a North/South rip.  Knock on wood, I ain't tangled one of my Super Sliders yet.

That's my biggest problem, I fish a 16ft Crestliner.  I just can't take being tossed around.  BTW, thanks for the fish porn.

Martin

0-0-0

Had a nice 3hr boat ride with a new crew and washed j's, f/f's, and spoons in 60-90fow, absolutely NOTHING!!

Thanks Mike and Rick for the company, sorry.