Lake Michigan

Went out Friday night 5:00-9:00. fished out in 125-175 feet. Had constant action boating 6 by 8:30, everything on Dipsy diver flasher-flys combo down 60-80 feet. then at 8:40 while slowly making our way back in we had a dipsy, 4 color , 6 color and a 8 color all go at once. needs to say what a mess with just  the wife and I. ended up with 3 Steelhead, 1 King and 6 coho.
Went back out saturday morning got to Mckinley marina at 4:30  lot was full and had to make a bee line for south shore to launch and fished same areas as night b4. Ended up with 3 coho and 1 steelhead. Coho's on dipsey's down 60-80 feet. Steelhead on 3 color.

if the fishing is hot.. launch is full by 330am!

Has limited boat/ trailer parking been a issue on the weekends?

negative on the parking lot completion!  end of 2024 season hopefully!

Is the parking lot done now at McKinley?

Was out Friday and Saturday Morning.  10 fish in all.

Worked between 110 and 150 fow directly east of the filtration plant.   Biggest was 22 lb King. This was the area most of the boats were working.  The majority of action was on wire dipseys with between 110 and 150 line out.  Florescent green blades with flashy green and silver flies continue to be the ticket.  FYI  I use Salmon Candy Files, but others would be fine.  Caught a couple with 10 color lead on orange spoons (two nice bows).  Most of the action was early in the morning between 5 am and 7 am.  At 8 am I set down riggers at 80 ft and picked up one king and a laker.

My thought would be to run two wire dipseys on each side of the boat (four in total).  I have two rigs.  Can't stomach the cost of buying two more rigs, 

Sad but true tales:

While netting the big king, the fish some how got stuck near the motor.  Had to reach over and gill the thing. Somehow in the confusion my net took a dive overboard.  Down to Davies Locker.  R&R Fishing Hole is getting more of my money.

On a ten core with magnum planer, I forgot to adjust the drag after setup.  In truth it was dead tight.  "So here it comes."  Big bow hit and with in three seconds the rod snapped.  We watched with soggy hearts as the board, rod and reel made the one-way trip to Davies Locker - again.   And to rub salt into the wound, we watched as the bow jumped and pirouetted trying to shake loose.  

"Michigan giveth and taketh."  

Went out this morning.  Left port at 4:30 am.  Fished north between 130 and 150 fow.  Action was slow.  Picked up one Coho and this dandy King.  26.6 lbs. & 40 inches.  All hits were on wire dipseys with between 110 and 150 feet of line out.  All fish caught before 7 am.  Florescent green and silver blade with fly of same color was best presentation.  Nothing on down riggers.  Nothing on boards.  Nothing on spoons.  Hope you can get out.  Winds should be calm the next three days.

bottles tied off to a main line down to the bottom of a wreck.  its a diving spot

Fished with buddy from 830AM-1230PM out of South Shore Park.  Started in 90 FOW and trolled east to 140 FOW. Picked up nice laker early on the DR 70 down on a blue spon. CPRed that one. Boated a healthy coho in 130 FOW on 200 weighted steel set-up. First time using the set up, which was nice. Saved that one for the smoker. It hit a green spoon. Saw a lot of bait balls in 90-70 FOW but few hooks chasing. In about 100 FOW east of Grant Park saw 2 detergent bottles tied together with rope and hooked to something on the bottom. Anyone know what that is?  Did make me think of cement shoes;) At the dock another boat said most their luck came today around 12 noon. Good luck to all and tight lines!

Fished Monday with moderate success.  Set up at 150 fow and trolled to 200.  Couple of small coho over 3 hours.  Moved back to 100fow and boated another 4 coho and one decent sized steelhead.  Missed about 5 including one other large steelhead right at the boat.  Dipsies and downriggers with spoons produced all the action.  Nothing on planer boards with 5 color.  Lake was calm with few other boats

Saturday morning managed a 3-man limit by 9am. Fished 130-220 FOW with lures in the top 70ft of the water column. Got 3 nice kings, 3 nice steelhead and the rest Coho. Video below is of the bigger fish caught. Enjoy! I know we did reeling them in! - CNR Charters

Tough one for me Saturday morning.  1 small coho and 3 drivebyes.  Started early working 70 - 85 fow with spoons on riggers and a dipsey trying to stumble my way into some kings maybe.  One fast db on a rigger down 40 w/cracked ice pro- king at sunrise and that was it.  Worked that failing spread out to 150 fow and then swapped everything out for coho rigs and worked 120 - 150 fow the rest of the morning.  Coho and a another db came on a 2 color, and last db came on a dipsey out 35 loc.

Radio chatter was suggesting I was not the only one struggling... but there were definitely a few boats that found some action too.

Take care,

D.

Lines set before 8 am and done by 2 pm. Went 6 for 9, 2 nice rainbows, 1 small bow, 4 coho. Started in 100' and had a hit right off the bat on the 4 color and then nothing for the next 4 hours. made our way to 130 then back to 100 then just kept heading out until we reached 160 where we boxed our first fish. Then started heading back and picked away at them.

setups:
1- 4 color white crush spoon and switched to orange
1- 5 color watermellon spoon
1- 6 color with a mag rainbow trout stinger spoon
1- swr rigger (1color) with standard blue dolphin stinger spoon down 30'-60'
2- #1 dipsey 3 setting 180-200 loc (one with magnum bad toad other with flasher fly)
1- #1 dipsey 200-300 loc 1 setting with chrome and green flasher fly
1- 3 color orange spoon

4 color took a hit and 1 coho, 5 color took a bow, 6 color took a bow and 3 coho and lost 1, dipsey 200 loc with chrome green flasher took a small bow. Rigger took a hit. Really struggled to find the right speed/direction today and fish were very scattered. Temp at the surface was 57-60 degrees so could be to blame. Seemed like other boats were also struggling to find fish as everyone was moving around in every direction. Not much action at the fillet station.

tight lines

Set lines last night in 160 fow straight east of south shore. 6 rods all spoons(forgot my fly box in the garage like a jack@$$). Caught one coho within the first hour then nothing. Turned northwest and found them in 110 fow. Ended 5-5 with a 15lb king a 7 pound steelhead a small steelhead and 2 coho. 3 came on a 3 color with a blue dolphin and the other 2 on a glow Wonderbread on a dipsy out 180. Beautiful night!

GUYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!