Grand Haven 5/17

[Butch]

I fished solo today. I got out there about 9, and trolled around 35-45 FOW without a bite until after 10, seeing the occasional net dip. Worked my way out to 55, near the outer edge of the pack, and things improved for me. In the next hour I had 2 knockoffs, then caught an 8# chinook, then a 7 which bit as I was netting the first one:D . 1 fish and 1 KO on a mag green dolphin DW at 38, 1 KO on an old black/green northport with glow tape at 42, 1 fish on a bloody nose on a free slider above 42. I then hooked a similar fish on a frosted pickled sunshine-type thing on a dipsey back 110, but it fell off, then missed another minor rip on that same set-up. I sharpened those hooks, but(of course) that rig didn't get another bite. About 45 min. later, I caught a 5# on a yellowtail for my 3rd chinook, then as I was picking up I caught a similar chinook on the mag green dolphin. So I ended up 4/8. All my fish hit on sharp turns in 55-60 FOW, didn't seem to matter if it was on the inside or outside of the turn.

Butch

[Far Beyond Driven]

Excellent report - felt like I was in the boat next to you.....

FBD, Holland, MI

[tgafish]

Matt did you hear how any guys did out deep? Seems strange just south of you the fish are out deeper. Wondering if they're just scattered all over the place:confused:

[Butch]

Thx FBD. Perhaps one of these days, you should be in the boat with me, I'd like to fish with you sometime.

Tga, I didn't see anyone out there. Apparently they did well near the pierheads early, so the pack was in close, but by the time I got fishing things had slowed in there. I marked lots of fish, and I only wanted three, so when rods started popping in 55-60, I stuck around there.

Butch

[J - Rod]

Reports the last few weeks seem to have fish coming in 40-60 fow at GH and Musk. And 100+ from PS southward. (In general). Is there a rhyme or reason to this? We hope to fish Muskegon 2 days this weekend. How do cold fronts affect cold water species? Can I expect the fish to stay in the 40-60 fow range for the weekend with the front moving in tonite?

Thanks for the report, I don't how anyone can fish solo. It's hard enough with only 2 of us (granted we are rookies with a 16ft boat).

[Butch]

J-Rod-

I'm no expert, but after another big blow from the NW, I'd probly try the dirty water. The fish outside will likely be scattered. As for fishing solo, it's not too tough when you get used to it. Only 3 lines out, after all. Netting can be a challenge at first;) . Just plan ahead and make your program changes heading downwind. Hook a fish, head downwind if you can. Don't go into the death spiral when you hook a fish;) , just touch the wheel enough to go straight. At least that's my plan.;)

Butch

[Mister ED]

JJust plan ahead and make your program changes heading downwind. Hook a fish, head downwind if you can.
:bonk:
That is where I was messing up last time I went out solo!! Trying to change things up in a crosswind ... looked like the proverbial 'drunken sailor'.

Nice report Butch, nice job on the fish.

[Still Wait'n]

The dreaded death spiral. :yikes: Not fun.

[daddyduck]

Thanks for the report Butch.

[double trouble]

Reports the last few weeks seem to have fish coming in 40-60 fow at GH and Musk. And 100+ from PS southward. (In general). Is there a rhyme or reason to this? We hope to fish Muskegon 2 days this weekend. How do cold fronts affect cold water species? Can I expect the fish to stay in the 40-60 fow range for the weekend with the front moving in tonite?

p.s. south does not have the "shelf" like the northern ports . the fish are either shallow or deep. ports like luddington,manistee and frankfort have a steeped decent (quicker). the fish can find deep water anytime.

g.h. has a medium drop but is fairly deep right offshore. you can hit 40-60 feet just outside the pierheads so the fish will hang there longer before heading to colder deeper waters.


i think gh always has a few fish on the cold edge of the river water or the mud line. as long as the skies are cloudy the fish will stick arround.when we get some sun ,those fish will be long gone or drop to the bottom until the next morning.

they stick arround until daylight and then they make a pretty quick break to 80-120 feet.if the clouds are present they may stick close to the river and easy food.

[Far Beyond Driven]

5 for 6 last Saturday in Holland and never saw 65' - a north troll with the full core ticking on the bottom was best for us. Great part was we never had another boat within two miles. Lots of guys were running over the fish last weekend.

Disclaimer - I found these fish by luck and not skill.

I'm starting in 50' tomorrow in South Haven.

FBD, Holland, MI

[Jimmy Carl Black]

So when you say 60 FOW I gather you mean the depth of the water column. But how deep are you putting your gear? I'm sure it changes upon conditions/season but how about a ballpark figure for recent conditions. Like I said: beginner question.

[Far Beyond Driven]

This time of year, with the water like last week 49 on the top and 47.6 on the bottom, I will literally run lures from top to bottom.

This is true in 100' or more as well, although I will focus on the top 60' and in particualr 30-60' down, I am not afraid to sink a rigger to chase deep marks on the finder.

FBD, Holland, MI

[Butch]

JCB-

As FBD, said, this time of year, I fish where I see marks, which was pretty much top to bottom yesterday. But after no action for a while, then I started getting some bites, I really focused in on the depth where the better-biting fish seemed to be. Since I only ran 3 rods, this meant I wasn't covering much of the water column.

If you were asking what I meant in my report, when I refer to Feet Of Water(FOW), I'm refering to the depth of the water. When I said "at 42" or something like that, I was refering to the depth I had the lure set on a downrigger. For free sliders, I might have said "above 42". By that, I meant the main line was set on a downrigger at 42, and I had a free slider above it. I do know my free slider was running about 10' above the cannonball for at least part of the time yesterday because at one point I saw a fish following at that depth on my fishfinder. My other slider was fixed and I know the fish wasn't at that depth, thus it must have been following the free slider. Hope this answers your question.

Butch

[Hollandpiper]

JCB,

Do you really live in Portland, OR? If so, I'm not sure these reports will help you!?!?!

Alex