Fw: Lake Michigan (Manistee) Fishing Report---5/23/08

Subject: Fw: Lake Michigan (Manistee) Fishing Report---5/23/08

Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 8:22 PM

Subject: Lake Michigan (Manistee) Fishing Report---5/23/08

Lynn and I fished 5/20, expecting a calm lake.  With the full moon, and our experience the previous week (full moon) we left the house at 7am and were in the channel by 7:40.  There were only 3 trailers in the lot, and the lake was about 2 feet, so we opted to stay in close. Temp was in the 45 to 50 range.

 

At 8:20 we hit a Brown, but lost it at the boat.

 

Nothing else til 9:30 and in the next two hours, we went 3 for 5 on Chinook, 8#, 4#, & 4#---all on Mixed Veggie, on 3, 5 and 7 colors, in 28 to 35 feet, North of the Channel. We also fished one rigger at 20 to 25 feet.

 

Today, 5/23, we left here at 7, and again the lake was a little bumpy.  There were 5 "Big Boats" fishing the mouth, along with several smaller boats---and we set lines to again fish the 30' depths, but South as the wind was from the North, and the brown (warm water) plume was to the South. Temp was up to 53 in the plume, and 46 in clean water.

 

We did not see any fish landed, and by 8:45 the big guys cleared out, some to the shelf, and several went South. We chose to stay in the 30'-40' feet, and at 9:15 Lynn had our first release.  I adjusted the spread (same program as 5/20). and as soon as I got back to the wheel, my rigger (at 21') released.  I landed a 14# Chinook, and before I got it out of the net, another 7 color released. We worked them both, and Lynn landed a 14# Chinook(the first release) and then the third---a 7# Chinook(on a monkey Puke).  3 for 3 in about 20 minutes---a real fire drill.

 

We put the spread back to work, but did not have another release.  We saw no other fish caught, but by late morning there were more boats fishing the shelf and beyond.

 

The lilacs are blooming, and on schedule, the Salmon have arrived in Manistee!

 

Spinnerman