Adam Bomb

Great job...itd be nice to see at all the ports.

Thanks gentleman. It was a great trip. Love the west side.

Jason,

I think the wind has definitely been a big factor this season. It seems its really been shifting around allot and moving the fish all over the place. Being a one man show over there makes it even tougher to narrow things down with so much change. But, the "hunt" is all part of it and is worth every bit once you hit pay dirt!

As far as the Bay is concerned, i havent fished it since the 9th of August and we've had the boat in storage in Ludington since Aug 12th. Only got to make a few trips this season because works been so busy. Im leaving for Georgia at 4 am tomorrow morning, so it doesnt look like ill get to fish the Bay for awhile. When i get back itll be just about deer season and time to scout for quackers...So, yeah, im probably done until ice up.

Crosscobra,

When you said ice in my well, i was a bit confused until i went and looked at the pic. That water in there sure does resemble ice with all the large bubbles and the way the light is reflecting in there. We pumped a bit of water in there to keep the scales from sticking to the bottom of the well. They're a pain in the butt to get off once they dry.

Heres the pics

Check out that big freightor. Im not sure what he was haulin in, but he got stuck at the pier head on Saturday morning. Had to do some wriggling, but he got out...lol

Nice job out there.

About 1:30 pm on Friday we decided to head for Ludington and give it a whirl. I had a couple rods and reels to set up for lead core and some new reels for some dipsey rods to rig up, so we didnt fish. Headed out Saturday morning and set up. Had fish under the boat, tried all kinds of stuff, they just wouldnt go for some reason. Finally at 7:30 am i believe it was, the 6 color lead core goes on the port side, then the 5 color on the starboard side....DOUBLE....Put both in...12-14# Kings...Sweet. Spun the boat around and hit somemore everytime we crossed the mark. Ended up going 7 for 9 for the morning. 5 Kings, 2 Ho's...the two we lost were small kings just outta net range.

Fished Satuday night. We headed up to the point and set up in 180'. Set lines and in 20 minutes popped a fish on a dipsey. We kept trolling south working the area and before we could turn around there were boats running out and setting up all around us. So, we just kept on going, wasnt gonna fight the mad house. Unfortunately we couldnt find any fish to the south of there. So we trolled in towards the bank and marked very few fish and very little bait. We continued along the bank and as prime time approached thinking things would get better, but they didnt. We hit our marks from the morning...nothing Ended up picking up a steelhead on a 5 color and that was it for the night. We quit a bit early so we could get a bite to eat and a good nights sleep as some drunken (bleeep!!!) from Ohio kept us up the night before.

Got to the launch this morning and the wind was whippin pretty good out of the NW. So, we headed out towards the dumping grounds to some marks we've done good at in the past. Worked the area and nothing. Turned the boat west and headed for deeper water. As soon as we hit the break and the water went from 75-100' we marked a couple fish. We didnt go 50' and the dipsey got whacked. Ended up being a small King. Shortly after that we got a coho on a 5 color then nothing. Worked out to 120-195' and marked a few fish on or near bottom. We put the riggers down there, but no takes...We did that for a bit, then headed back to the port finishing 2 for 2.

The trip was fun, but a bit disapointing on the numbers end of things. Guess we've been too spoiled in the past...lol... I really thought we'd get into the fish good. It just wasnt our weekend...Thats fishin'. In hinde sight, I think we should tried super shallow....lol

Anyways, heres what we used. We either took or lost a fish on these set ups...3,4,5, and 6 color lead cores with Yeck Fireball w/earings, Super Slim NBK, Mag Daisey Cutter, Gold and Silver Red Head Plugs. Riggers 55 down w/Standard NBK, 58 down on the free slider w/Standard NBK. Low diver 75' back Gold Yellow tail, 85' back w/8" NBK SD w/Green Mirage Fly. High divers 115' back w/#3 Grey Ghost Plug, 175' back w/Mag Green Dolphin.

Yup definitely had that happen before, even though i dont have my boards release. I think the constant surging starts to saw into the pin if you use braided backer. Thats why i splice in a section of mono between my LC and Braided backer.

....Excellent idea with the S.S. Steve, that will definitely solve your problem. I wish Church tackle woulda never quit using the brass pins like they did on their original boards....Guess theyre not making enough on the boards themselves that they feel the need to cheapen them up so they can sell replacement parts...hate when that happens.

Nice job on the fish Edb. Im hoping to get over there soon. I was gonna go this week but we got swamped at work so that plan got shot to hell. Now the weathers looking crappy, so i may hold off for the weekend as well. Guess ill go goose hunting again.

Oh, i think the spoon your refering to is the hot blue dolphin. Its a blue dolphin with super glow near the hook with that icesical glow crushed ice tape on it. We've done well on that spoon as well...Just picked up a few more...hope i get to use em!

Thank you for your suggestions, much appreciated. I paid allot of money for the Hodgemans i had and was disappointed that they only lasted about 2 1/2 seasons in the marsh, ecspecially since i really like them. They were thick and heavy, but they had great features and were very warm. I bought those because i had a cheaper pair of Hodgemans that i had for a good 8 years. I put those things through hell and they lived up to every bit of it. They only died because the rubber boot started to dry rot. But, after 8 years, they earned that right. So, after experiencing both pairs of Hodgemans, it makes one wonder if they changed something?

Anyways, Ive put some feelers out on several fourms and the consensus definitely seems to be cabelas waders. Doesnt matter if its the brush tough, armourflex or their breathable models, they all get good reviews.

One trend im noticing is that many are switching over to the breathables instead of neoprenes. Their ability to be used throughout the season as well as their added mobility and "cooler" wear you get with breathables seem to be some high points along with outstanding durability. Cabelas has a 600 gram thinsulate model that guys are using for the early season as well as busting ice in the late season. In the late season they're simply wear a pair of wader pants or thinsulate pants underneath. Many said they stayed just as warm doing that as they were in their Cabelas Dura mag 1600's that theyve had for years! That speaks volumes to me.

So, after allot of research on several sites and reading all 74 customer reviews dating back to 2006 from hunters all acrossed the country and rating 4.7 stars out of 5, i think im gonna take the leap and try some breathables. All of the outstanding features these have are definitely things i would like in a pair of waders. Not to mention the first rate customer service ive read about should you have a problem with any cabelas waders.

The only thing im torn on is the boot size. Allot of reviews said to order one size smaller than your shoe because they run big, while some said they fit just right. How was the fit of the boots with your cabelas waders?...Same as your shoe or biggers/smaller?

Thanks again, much appreciated.

Well, after 3 years of use my Hodgman Duramag 1200's sprung a leak in the boot last fall, and after several failed attemps to repair them(thanks for all your suggestions last year) im in need of a new pair.

Anyways,I was curious what you guys are using and what youd recommend.

Nice job fellas...and nice fish too!

Ed.

You need to come to Saginaw Bay on a weekend day of trolling. Fair warning, if you have a Concealed Weapons Permit, leave it in your vehicle or risk using it on some of our knuckleheads.

Ill second that!

Yup, that should solve your problem. Thats the same way i set mine.

So far, knock on wood, i havent had a problem with either. If i have, its been operator error when letting it out. Your supposed to set them out slow, but when the fish are poppin you wanna get that bad boy out NOW! Overzelousness i guess.

Great job in some tough conditions. Boy did that blow change things. Sure pushed that break deep!!! Thanks for the report.

Ive had that go both ways. Sometimes i no more than set the rod in the rod holder and a fish hits, others theres a bit of soak before things go. So, i guess i have to say it varies.

Thats why i usually start my spread out with different levels of glow. Some baits are painted with super glow, others standard glow and some only have glow tape or no glow on them at all.

Great job. Looks like they had a ball.

Boy, i hear ya there. We fished about 3/4 of a mile out from the peir head a week ago and had the same thing. Fish come up from the bottom to the ball, and no hit. Probably shoulda run one super shorter just to see.

Good luck Jason, whack the heck out of em when you get out there!

I use a spot light for allot of my lures, but some of them have UV paint that charges up allot better with a black light or when left out in the sun. So, i use both, the spot light and the black light.

Right on Pauly. Nailed it to a "T" IMO.

The added cost of more rods and reels for core is well worth it IMO. Infact, im gonna add another 3 and 5 because theyve been so good. Now this is coming from a guy who's favorite rods and usually the hottest rods in the boat are dipseys.

The reason i say this is because my last trip to Ludington the fishing was pretty mediocure. We took a total of 3 fish in about 2 1/2 days of fishing on dipseys and slide divers, about 6 on riggers and at least 15 on the lead core. Without it we woulda came home with allot less fish.

This is just one example of where the core has bailed us out. Plus, as Pauly has stated, even on the days when other stuff is going, it will help add fish to your box because it allows you to spread things out and present even more baits throughout the water column. Its a great tool to have at your disposal. Id get a couple and try em out. I think others will agree, the results will speak for themselves.

Great tip Kingfisher, ill have to give that a try.

AB that's something I've wondered about for a while but have never tried. I will give it a whirl next time I am out.

I saw a post on GLA about this a couple weeks back. The guy put a small hoochie and fly out tipped with a crawler and took a 30" fish i believe it was. I think if a guy stuck with it and refined things it would be a great presentation, although i definitely think it would be for agressive fish only. We use allot of spoons as flashers ahead of harnesses, so why not a flasher and fly. Plus, i can tell you how many walleye we caught on dodgers and squid fishing out of Port Austin fishing for salmon years ago...I sure wish this side would come back...Not that i dont love Lake Michigan, but this is much closer to home.

Frank,

Im with you, for the fishing i do on the Bay, theres no need for copper. I can get inlines down fast with short leads. Nice and simple and effective...K.I.S.S.....oh yeah.

Sure did, cant wait to get back!!!

Yup, same here, had it shut things off the other night. Hit a fish, then a triple circled around and they were gone. Finally we located them again and they wouldnt hit. We did take one more, but it wasnt like that little flurry we had....And thats why they call it fishin'.

Now thats layin the smackdown!...Nice job boys!!!