Lef T

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First time out jigging in Muskegon Lake for me this morning.  Jigged for an hour with no hits, and no fish being caught that we could see around us.  Quite a few boats jigging and trolling in front of the sand docks.  

We decided to try trolling, so we trolled a couple of laps in front of the sand docks with nothing going.  Saw several boats out in front of the Clipper so we trolled over there.  Proceeded to go 1 for 7 around the Clipper.  Lost two silver horde plugs as well.  Ouch.  That's 3 silver horde plugs lost this season.  Not sure what's going on but we get fish on and then they break off.  Not sure if it's getting cut by a gill plate or bad line or what.  Just got new 20# line this year.   We don't catch that many fish!

Anyway, this might be the last time out for the season.  It was fun while it lasted.

Nice job.  You'll be eating salmon all winter!

Fished from about 6:15 to 10:30.  Started out in 65' of water. Downrigger went in 68' with a silver horde plug, glow green 50' down.  Landed a 20# king.  Biggest fish of the year for us so far.  Had a good eater coho on a 7 color on a Moonshine RV watermelon spoon.  Two more kings about 8#.  One on the same rigger with the silver horde, and the other just before we were ready to pull lines on a dipsey with a green crinkle fly 150' back.  4 for 5 for a nice morning on the pond.

I saved the spawn from the 20 pounder if anyone is interested.  I live in Grandville.

Left the dock about 5:30am. Dropped lines in 70' of water trolling NW.  Trolled out to 90' and heard a report of the fish being shallower.  Turned to a NE heading and picked up salmon #1 in 82' of water on a 300 copper with a Happy Meal moonshine magnum uv spoon.  Barely had that one in the box and had another King hit the 250 copper in 76' of water with a moonshine magnum watermelon uv spoon. Both fish about 10lbs.  Turned around at about 65' and went back SW.  Picked up our third and final fish of the day in about 80' of water on the same 300 copper with the Happy Meal spoon.  Little better king about 13 lbs.  Had one more hit on the 300 copper that didn't stay hooked up.  Had a hit in 115' on a wire dipsey with a hypnotist fly that came off as well.  Ended up 3 for 5.

Heard a few more reports of 2, 3, or 4 fish.  Beautiful morning on the lake.

No real big fish yet that I've heard of.  Still looking for that 30 pounder!!

Started fishing about 5:45 in 70' of water.  Didn't have everything in the water and had our first fish in 78'.  55 down on a rigger with Flounder Pounder spoon.  A good morning was in the works.  Nope.  That was it.  Never had another bump.  Packed up by 9 because of the thunder and lightning in the distance............and because we weren't getting bit!  LOL

Does Lake Mac even have much of a walleye population?  If it does, it's a well kept secret.

Or maybe I'm just out of the loop.

1 hour ago, Wes34 said:

Okuma cold water reels are hard to beat for the price.


Sent from my iPhone using Great Lakes Fisherman

Okuma has a low profile line counter reel that looks pretty sweet.  If you're near Grand Rapids the Outdoorsmen Pro Shop in Jenison has a good selection of anything you could want.  And even some things you don't want, but can't live without! lol

Attempted to launch at Port Sheldon, but after seeing the piles of cabbage on the launch ramp, and the way the one trailer in the lot looked, we decided to drive to Holland.  Fished 70 to 130 and ended up with 3 for 5 if you include the one sheepshead we got in 80' of water on a 300 copper.  Two smaller kings probably 5-7#. 85 and 95' feet of water, one on a rigger 70 down on a glow watermelon and the other on a dipsey 130' back with a hypnotist fly.

Good to see there are still some fish around.  Thought it might be the last trip of the year, but might have to try it again next week.

Great story!  You'll have those memories for the rest of your life.

Just about every time out on the big lake we talk about fishing with our Dad.  Enjoy it while you can.

It appears the Port Sheldon buoy is back in operation.  Good deal!

https://www.naberstaxidermy.com/

Check it out.  I know one of the guys that paints fish.

Fooled me big time!!!  When I first saw this post I thought the kings finally showed up.  Then I realize this post was from May 23.

Why comment on a post that's 2 months old?

First time out this year, solo trip. Just put down my 2 riggers about 11:30.  Noon got the first king.  26.6# fish.  12:30 got the second about 12#.  Lost  one other smaller fish.  NBK down 67 feet took the big king.  Mag flounder pounder took the smaller king.  140 to 150 feet of water, 60 and 67' down.

The gentleman in the booth at the launch was kind enough to take my picture.  Launch was kind of deserted!

I'm thinking spin doctor.  If it was down 105 it had to be on a down rigger, so spin doctor off a down rigger.

Any perch fishermen out?  I'm hopefully going next week.

10 hours ago, FBD said:

If coming from GR I think Dunesview Party store at exit 41 has minnows.

Thanks for that FBD.  I'll be sure to check that out.  The only other option would be to buy them the night before and transport them if not available on the way or in South Haven.

On 2/22/2017 at 6:18 PM, Brogan2891 said:

There is a new baitshop in Grand Junction. About 10 miles east of South Haven. You take phoenix east until you come to the railroad tracks in Grand Junction and it's a 1/4 mile from the tracks down on the right. Has minnows, worms, tackle inside. There is also a 24/7 live bait machine out front that has live minnows. If they don't have what you need they will order it so they have it next time. The have the perch pounders. Which are an awesome perch rig. Check it out!!

Thanks for the information.  It's a bit out of the way coming from Grand Rapids but I'll have to give it a shot.

Since Pyle's closed last year, will live bait be available in South Haven this year?

Just wondering...

I've found the windcast at Intellicast.com is incredibly accurate.

Click on the forecast tab and the dropdown menu appears. Click on winds and the Chicago region. Shows wind currents for every 3 hours a couple of days out. Very accurate in my opinion. I don't pay any attention to lake forecasts anymore. Any color other than blue on the map and the lake will be questionable. I also check the buoys before I go.

First trip out this year for Lef T.

Fished from 6 to 9pm from 80 to 160 and then back to 105 where we had our first release at about 8:30. About 15# king hit a Flounder Pounder mag spoon 68' down on the rigger. While fighting this fish the other rigger went and landed another king, a twin to the first one. 58' down on the rigger with a Dreamweaver Green Leopard spoon. Nothing on coppers or leadcore. 2 hits, 2 fish. Beautiful night on the water.

Thanks for your detailed and helpful report Captain!

Second that Tom.

Fished from 6 to 10 this am going 5 for 7 in 110 to 130' of water.

2 kings on 300 copper on double trouble. One on full core with green flounder pounder. One on 225 copper with wrecking ball lure. One on the rigger with mag flounder pounder 35 down. 3 kings in the teens with the biggest 18#. Two smaller kings. Perfectly flat lake this morning made it very enjoyable.

20 pounder.