Spoons for salmon and steelhead in Saugatuck

[westrate]

This past week produced some very good fishing for 2 and 3 year old chinook salmon, coho and steelhead. There are a few 4 year olds in front the piers and a person can catch a few, however there still is not a large concentration showing up. There are also reports of decent catches of salmon in the Kalamazoo River by floating spawn into the holes. However the most consistent catches of salmon (2, 3 and a few 4 year olds) occur in the 60 to 120 foot of water and in the 140 to 160 foot depth. There are also some boats fishing 260 to 300 foot of water and reporting some good steelhead catches.

For us, the best method this week was 200 and 300 foot of copper with magnum and stingray spoons (glow blue, orange corey, green and chartrouse, big dutchman). Even though the water was warm, we also took some nice salmon and steelhead on 1/2 core and 100 foot of copper with orange crush and orange corey stingers. The divers produced with the same magnum spoons that we pulled on the copper. To get the downriggers going we had to again pull 11 in pro chip and hot chip flashers and the wild fern fly and run them near the bottom. Most of the fish off the downriggers where lake trout, however we also caught a few 4 year olds on the bottom.

The season is winding down, however I think we will still get a run of salmon in front of the piers if the water cools alittle. If the water does not cool, they should just "trickle in" a little at a time, however the fishing off shore should remain consistent. For information and or charter reservations, email me at [email protected].

[DKuiper]

Captn, thanks you your posting everyweek on Saugatuck fishing. I for one appreciate

the up to date factual information. It has been helpful all year long, even when fishing other ports such as South Haven or Holland. I do a quite a bit of perch fishing so that info was nice to see also. Never did really get into the perch out of Saugatuck but nice to know there are still some around there. I just need to get on 'em. Hope you had a great year.

Duane

[Adam Bomb]

I dont fish Saugatuck, but have certainly enjoyed your reports this year. Great job out there and continued succsess. Keep that net wet Capt.!!!!

[Priority1]

Thanks for the report Capt.