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Lake Michigan Fishing Report
Sept. 28, 2008
Sept. 28, 2008
Another week of warm water and deep water fishing. The fishing was very good, with catches of 8 to 18 fish per trip. The creel consisted of about half lake trout and half salmon. There are a few salmon in front the piers and a few already in the river, however the warm water has drastically slowed the run. There are still many 4 year old salmon out in 70 to 150 foot of water that are ready to run however they need some cold water to get a mass run.
This past week we fished in 100 to 150 foot of water and 80 to 140 foot down. The best method was the downriggers at 100, 120 and 135 foot down with 11 in Hot Chip flashers (white/glow, silver, and green/blue glow) with Rapture trolling flies (green dude, green hypnotist, and wild fern) pulled behind. On the wire divers (240 foot and 160 foot of line out) we pulled the 8 in Echip flashers with the Rapture trolling flies ( same combination as above). 300 and 400 foot of copper with Nature Born Killer and Glow Frog Stingray lures produced on some steelhead and salmon. Three fourth of the fish came on the downriggers and the divers.
With the end of Lake Trout season on the 30th of September, we will have to either fish the warm water in front the piers or fish the depth that these salmon are in that have a minimum of lake trout. If you can find the depth that hold the bait (probably 60 to 80 foot of water), there should be salmon just outside of this. You can catch the salmon at the 100 to 140 foot depth, however the lake trout you catch at that depth may not survive being returned to the lake.
With the season winding down, I will post the fishing report every 2 or 3 weeks rather than every week. So check back in a couple of weeks and see if the water cooled down and the salmon moved in. For information or charter reservations, email me at .
Sept. 21, 2008
Sept. 21, 2008
Warm water and dredging moved the fishing out to deeper water for a second week. This past week we fished from 90 to 180 foot of water and some boats fished as far out as 240 foot of water. The catch consisted of 2, 3 and 4 year old chinook salmon, lake trout, some coho and an occasional steelhead. Boats that fished the 200 to 240 foot depth found a few steelhead in the upper water column.
We fished deep for the fish--80 to 140 foot down. The best method was 11 inch echip flashers (white/glow, green/glow and silver) with Rapture wild fern and green dude flies pulled on the downriggers at 100 to 140 foot. For the first time in a month we started consistently catching fish on Stingray spoons (glow frog and natural born killer) on 300 and 400 foot of copper.
Our season is winding down, however there are a lot of 4 year old salmon is the deeper water that are waiting for colder water. This could be one of those years when the fish will “stagger” is a little at a time for a couple of months unless we get and keep some cold water. For information and charter reservations--email me at .
Sept. 14, 2008
Warm water forced us to fish in deep water and fish deep in the water column. The fishing was fairly good with some 4 year old Chinook salmon, coho salmon, some very good sized lake trout and an occasional steelhead. Even though the dredging continued in front the piers, the warm water limited the number of salmon that are there. One could fish in front, and catch a few 4 year olds, however the number is limited. There are a few salmon being caught at the Allegan dam and a few are being caught trolling in the river or by back trolling through the holes up river, however there are not a lot of salmon in the river yet. The 4 year old salmon that we caught out in 140 foot of water where dark and ready to run.
This past week we fished 100 to 160 foot of water and we fished 70 to 130 foot down. The best method was 11 in. Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (Chartreuse/glow, silver, white/glow) with Rapture flies (green dude, green mirage, and wild fern) pulled on the downriggers at 100 to 130 foot. The wire divers produced with the same color 8 in flashers with the rapture flies pulled at 140 to 240 foot back. There were some fish taken on 300 and 400 foot of copper with flashers and flies pulled behind them.
I think that the salmon will continue to “stagger in” a little at a time, unless we get and keep some cold water at the piers. If we get the cold water, they will move in and up the river quickly, however we have seen only a small percentage of out 40,000 salmon that where planted 3 years ago. For information and charter reservations, email me at .
Sept. 7, 2008
This past week, the lake turned over and cold water moved in and the bait and salmon followed. Along with the salmon and the beginning of the run, the government decided it was time to dredge the harbor and on Saturday, they floated out the pipes to 20 foot of water and began to dredge. Sunday, they did not dredge however the pipes are still floating out and to the south--so much for fishing out in front the piers and we will have to move back off shore. The fishing was very good Thurs., Friday and the first part of Saturday with 4 year old Chinook salmon and some adult Coho salmon producing limit catches.
In front the piers, the best methods included
Stingray lures and Nitro lures on 3 color lead core
3 color lead core with Silver Horde plugs (silver/green, silver, wonderbread)
downriggers with plugs and Nitro lures
E Chip flashers (white/glow and silver) and Rapture flies (mirage and green hypnotist) on divers
Once back off shore, we should be back to flashers and flies and plugs on copper.
I do not know how long the dredging will take place or how long the pipes will be floating off to the south. With all summer to dredge the harbor, why they decided to start it on a weekend during the run is beyond my comprehension. Check back and see what happens next week. For information and/or charter reservations, email me at .
Sept. 1, 2008
The only consistent thing about fishing this week was inconsistentcy. One day we caught fish in 20 foot of water and the next day we had to move out to 90 foot then a couple of days in 130 foot, next to 180 foot and then 220 foot followed by a day back in front the piers. The warm water moved in and the fish are scattered form the piers to 240 foot of water with boats catching a few fish in any and all of the depths each day. The catch consisted of chinook (up to 18 pounds) , lake trout (up to 22 pounds), steelhead (up to 15 pounds) and a few coho. There were a couple of days in which we took 12 and 14 lake trout and consider the fact that a couple of years ago we did not catch 20 lake trout all year.
Good news for the perch fisherman. The last 4 days produced limit catches of perch in 14 to 30 foot of water south and north of the Saugatuck piers.
The best fishing methods changed form day to day with Silver Horde plugs and Stingray spoons working well around the piers. As we moved off shore, the Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green glow, white glow, silver) and Rapture flies (green dude, green hipnotist, last supper) produced very well behind divers, downriggers and 300 foot of copper. One day the green flashers produced and the next day it was silver and then the next day was all white glow.
The salmon are ready to run the river and are waiting for cold water. Some can be found and caught in front the piers every day regardless of the water temperature, however there are not large numbers staging there at this time. Check back and find out what happens when the water cools. For information and charter reservations email me at .
You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372.
