Fishing Report, Lake Michigan (Manistee), 5/29/08

Lynn and I launched at 6:30---Temp was 29----there were only two other trailers in the lot---and we fished for an hour from the pierheads to 30 FOW with few marks, and no releases.

 

We headed to the shelf at the 14's, and set lines in 85' intending to troll out to deeper water.  While Lynn was setting his first line, my 8 color lead released and produced a 6# Laker on a blue/green dolphin.

 

Over the next 3 hours we tried various lures (Lynn landed a 5# Chinook on Mixed Veggie--10 colors), and we finished with a 3# Chinook that failed to release the 10 color lead. Two releases, 3 fish! We marked "a few" fish, but not consistently.  We worked the 14's and 15's from 75 to 250FOW

 

At the dock we talked to a group that said they had fished deep early, then trolled back to the channel, catching 2 "nice" Chinook, and losing another at the boat.

 

By mid morning there were only 5 boats fishing the shelf.

 

Water on the shelf was 42 on the surface, and it was 55 in/near the channel mouth.

 

Spinnerman

 

 

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

Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing Report 5/20/08

Jim went 3 for 6 day today---Chinook 7#, 4#, and 4#----in 25 to 35 feet of water (surface typically 49 to 53 depending if we were in "brown" or "blue" water----on Mixed Veggie, 5 colors back on the planers. Started about 7:30, and had a Brown near the boat at 8, but he pulled off. Salmon started about 10:30---and I had a knot fail on my only hit, and Lynn had another (probably Salmon) that was on for about 1 minute or less.

Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing Report 5/16/08

Jim and Lynn went out Friday 5/20--left here at 6, so probably in the channel at 6:30. After checking the log, we had decided to fish(rig) for Salmon---but when we got to the pierheads, the lake was 1-3 and we decided to fish in close rather than fighting our way to the shelf and beyond.

We stayed mostly in 25 to 35 feet, and took an 11# Laker on 5 colors (spoon) and on our way in trolled toward the BALL then turned South to the piers, and took a 5# Brown---again on the bottom---our largest of a very sparse year.

Most boats had stayed in and around the piers--but of course we "knew better"---but as we talked to two other boats at the dock, no one else had 2 fish!!

Turkey nest

I was practicing my turkey calling, and observed some turkeys moving about in my back yard. I was following this hen with my binoculars as she moved through the yard and woods. She walked up to this birch tree and stopped. There was another turkey sitting on the ground. Now I have watched this turkey for the past 10 days, while playing with my dogs, mowing the lawn, filling the bird feeders, and she stays on her nest. She moves around a bit when she thinks nobody is watching and there are no other noises. See the pics I have attached.

Fishing report Saginaw River May 9th

Fishing has been spotty on the Tittabawassee and Saginaw River the past week. To maximize your catch:
1. Fish with a Rapala shad rap #5, black and silver, either style: red bill or clear bill.
2. Cast towards the shore or troll with 40-50 feet of line out for the right depth of 4 - 7 feet in 6 feet of water.
3. Bring a cooler if you are going to keep all the white bass - fish early morning if you are targeting them. You can limit out for white bass where the titabawassee meets the Saginaw river in 1 hour using the setup in 1 above (10 per day).
4. Fish between 8 and 11am if you are targeting walleye. Stay away from other fishing traffic, it makes fishing tough (on weekends). Fish both the shallows, and middle of the river. They move about depending on the sunlight.