Fishing on the West Shore of Lake Michigan has been very inconsistent all season. A lack of stable weather and an abundance of west winds have kept surface temperatures near shore (inside of 100 feet) hovering a few degrees under or just over 50 degrees. This has left fish scattered throughout the water column for a majority of the season.
Our best fishing lately has been in 40 to 80 feet of water. In this water you can find a mixed bag of Chinooks, Rainbows, Lakers, and even a few Coho's with an occasional Brown Trout. Fishing is not fast and furious but if you pick away at them you'll end up with a good cooler of fish.
Our best baits have been 75' of Opti Copper wire with a 40' leader of 20# test monofilament line followed by a spoon. Our other top producer has been 150' of Opti Copper wire with the same leader/spoon. I run both of these on Offshore's SST planer board, one of each on either side of the boat. Running the 75' on the outside board and the 150' inside of that makes things alot easier for turning. When you get a fish on the outside board you must reel in the inside board to avoid a tangle. It is worth the hassle as well over half our fish have come on these set-ups.
Other lines that have worked well for us have been a 100' 12oz. "Pump Handle" down the middle with a White/Glow/Chrome Opti Inticer with a 44 mag. Fly. Wire Dipsey (dialed at #3) at 120' with a White/Glow/Chrome Opti Inticer and a White/Pearl Opti Fly. Wire Dipsey (dialed at #1) 75' back with a Green/Glow/Chrome Inticer with "Kermit" fly. Downrigger at 63' with a White/Glow/Chrome Opti Inticer with an Opti "Super Blue Glow" Glacier Fly.
Good Luck to everyone fishing Trout Fest this weekend. Stay safe, hopefully we will see you on the water or at the cleaning station!
Our best fishing lately has been in 40 to 80 feet of water. In this water you can find a mixed bag of Chinooks, Rainbows, Lakers, and even a few Coho's with an occasional Brown Trout. Fishing is not fast and furious but if you pick away at them you'll end up with a good cooler of fish.
Our best baits have been 75' of Opti Copper wire with a 40' leader of 20# test monofilament line followed by a spoon. Our other top producer has been 150' of Opti Copper wire with the same leader/spoon. I run both of these on Offshore's SST planer board, one of each on either side of the boat. Running the 75' on the outside board and the 150' inside of that makes things alot easier for turning. When you get a fish on the outside board you must reel in the inside board to avoid a tangle. It is worth the hassle as well over half our fish have come on these set-ups.
Other lines that have worked well for us have been a 100' 12oz. "Pump Handle" down the middle with a White/Glow/Chrome Opti Inticer with a 44 mag. Fly. Wire Dipsey (dialed at #3) at 120' with a White/Glow/Chrome Opti Inticer and a White/Pearl Opti Fly. Wire Dipsey (dialed at #1) 75' back with a Green/Glow/Chrome Inticer with "Kermit" fly. Downrigger at 63' with a White/Glow/Chrome Opti Inticer with an Opti "Super Blue Glow" Glacier Fly.
Good Luck to everyone fishing Trout Fest this weekend. Stay safe, hopefully we will see you on the water or at the cleaning station!
