wisejohn

Starting fishing at 8 am in 45 FOW out of Saugatuck. Got our first DR release by 8:15 am on a magnum orange hulk lure + flasher, but it didnt stay on long. Trolled north and then turned back to south after 1 hour, marked fish again in 45 FOW near the flow of channel water, and wham ... two DRs with Jplugs went off at nearly the same time (#3 green and #4 yellow glow). Lost one, but the other was a nice 14 lb king in the boat. Moved out to 75 FOW (11:30 am) and the lead core with yellow jplug ripped as we watched a steelhead jump clear out of the water 4 times. We were able to land him, about 7 pounder. Fun day!

Went out Friday morning expecting mild SE winds with out-of-town inexperienced guests. Ugh, 2 ft rollers out of the south (fishable but not ideal for guests). Fished north in 80 FOW at 2.7 mph, had a rip at 8 am on 300 ft CU with stranglehold hulk smash, got off. Another on the other 300 ft CU with blue/green ladderback J-plug, but it also quickly off. Hulk smash ripped again with a good hook up. Halfway in the other 300 CU went off, but unfortunately the other guest was too sick to help. Got the 12 lb laker trout in, but other fish was off by then. One more Hulk rip, but lost. We decided to call it a day (we were north of the holland pier, so had a long ride back home).

Out of state guests arrived super late last night, so couldnt get an early start. Fished from 11 am - 2 pm, with low expectations. Started at 100 FOW trolling west, and picked up a 5 ln coho within the first 15 minutes on DR 50 ft down, on a mag mongolian beef with similar pattern green flasher. Marked consistently out to 120 FOW, but no bites, turned around, and the same set-up fired again trolling east, but fish did not stay on. While trolling in, caught a 10 lb king on DR mag blue dolphin in 60 FOW. Weather was pleasant, no flies, and more fish than i expected.

Out of state guests arrived super late last night, so couldnt get an early start. Fished from 11 am - 2 pm, with low expectations. Started at 100 FOW trolling west, and picked up a 5 ln coho within the first 15 minutes on DR 50 ft down, on a mag mongolian beef with similar pattern green flasher. Marked consistently out to 120 FOW, but no bites, turned around, and the same set-up fired again trolling east, but fish did not stay on. While trolling in, caught a 10 lb king on DR mag blue dolphin in 60 FOW. Weather was pleasant, no flies, and more fish than i expected.

Started out of Saugatuck at 4 pm, in 70 FOW and trolling north. Marked bait and occasional salmon, but no takers for several hours. Worked out to 85 and then back through the 70's on a SW troll, and finally got a DR release at 7 pm on a glow flounder pounder, 35 ft down. Unfortunately it got off as it swam towards to boat. Last fish came at 7:30 on DR in 50 FOW, 30 ft down on a yellow-white specked Jplug. So sad that one also got off before the net. Still a nice evening on the lake and will try again!

Got a late start Saturday morning, but set-up in 85 FOW at 8:30 am and initially trolled north. Turned south after 1 hour, and in 110 FOW, 300 ft of copper with orange/blue ladderback went off, but lost it. 30 min later at 120 FOW another 300 ft copper with magnum blue dolphin screamed and we were able to bring in a nice 12 lb king. Beautiful morning on the water (except the flies after winds shifter from NE to East).

Got a late start Saturday morning, but set lines in 100 FOW by 8 am. Trolled north-south while marking a few below 70 FOW. At 10 am picked up a nice 15 lb king on lead core (6 colors) on a double orange crush in 120 FOW. Trolled back in at noon and picked up a 5 lb lake trout at 70 FOW on a blue dolfin with blue/green flasher.

Was able to get out Monday morning, chop not to bad. Problem was the water temp was 65 F top to bottom, shore to 120 ft. Very few marks, but plenty of bait fish. Did finally get a steelhead on, but he threw the hook on his 3rd jump out of the water. Oh well.

Fished Friday 5 - 7 pm out of saugatuck. Morning reports said fish were caught 60+ FOW, so we fished 80-115 (trolling mostly north and south) thinking fish moved out. Used mostly spoons and paddles and marked a lot of fish 40-70 down, and few few up high. Finally got a strike on DR Green ladder-back and green flasher at 6:30. I'm sure fishing improved as the sun went down, but we went in for other obligations. Have fun!

Mostly 4 year olds, but one we think 2 year old.

Beautiful morning on the lake. Winds began out of the SE and shifted later to SW, but only mild wave action. Trolled from 90 to 120 FOW and consistently marked fish 50-60 down as well as 10-30 down near to surface. First 2 strikes came at 8 am on 300 ft copper and DR 60 down, both on green/blue ladder-back spoons with green flashers, SW troll. 30 min later one again on same 300 ft Copper. One last strike on same DR at around 10 am. No strikes on j-plugs or flies + spin doctor. Salmon were a little dark, suggesting they are beginning to stage for the run.