DarkBlue

We've had at least one of these a year in the 12 years I've been in Manistee. Sometimes mulitple. Luckily, no one was hurt this time, but we've had worse in the past. I've talked with many of the boaters who have hit the south pier and it seems that many have observed the stub pier light, which is visible over the south wall, and mistake it for the breakwall light. Other times it's been simple cases of too fast, alignment confusions, or too many spirits. Please be careful. I like to meet members of this forum, but not in those circumstances. Chris

Shoot me a PM if you want to. I might be able to give you a couple hot spots that I think would be very good right now. Chris

Come on over to Manistee and I'll be glad to take you out. Chris

Nailer, I'm not trying to open any worms, just elaborating on an interesting point that Jim made. I'm not trying to crucify, or pardon anyone. Just putting the information out there. But I do see your point also. Chris

Jim, you got me thinking about this, and the possibility to be charged as a crime. The problem I find is who is the victim? Is it the tournament itself, or all the entrants. If it's all the entrants then it would be multiple charges vs. the tournament. Very interesting. Now I'm not trying to stir the pot here, just an interesting topic to think about. I'm pretty sure that it would fall under larceny by false pretenses, and if I'm reading it correctly and the tournament being the victim then the penalty would be a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $15,000.00 or 3 times the value, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine. That of course would be applicable to every person involved in the act. If it was charged as all entrants individually being the victim, the loss being the entry fee which I am assuming is greater than $200 and less than $1,000, then it would still be charged as a felony with the penalties being punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00 or 3 times the value, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine. Either way it's a serious crime, with stiff penalties. Here is a copy of the law for your reading pleasure: THE MICHIGAN PENAL CODE (EXCERPT) Act 328 of 1931 750.218 False pretenses with intent to defraud; violation; penalty; enhanced sentence based on prior convictions; “false pretense” defined. Sec. 218. (1) A person who, with the intent to defraud or cheat makes or uses a false pretense to do 1 or more of the following is guilty of a crime punishable as provided in this section: (a) Cause a person to grant, convey, assign, demise, lease, or mortgage land or an interest in land. ( Obtain a person's signature on a forged written instrument. © Obtain from a person any money or personal property or the use of any instrument, facility, article, or other valuable thing or service. (d) By means of a false weight or measure obtain a larger amount or quantity of property than was bargained for. (e) By means of a false weight or measure sell or dispose of a smaller amount or quantity of property than was bargained for. (2) If the land, interest in land, money, personal property, use of the instrument, facility, article, or valuable thing, service, larger amount obtained, or smaller amount sold or disposed of has a value of less than $200.00, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $500.00 or 3 times the value, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine. (3) If any of the following apply, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $2,000.00 or 3 times the value, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine: (a) The land, interest in land, money, personal property, use of the instrument, facility, article, or valuable thing, service, larger amount obtained, or smaller amount sold or disposed of has a value of $200.00 or more but less than $1,000.00. ( The person violates subsection (2) and has 1 or more prior convictions for committing or attempting to commit an offense under this section or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to this section. (4) If any of the following apply, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00 or 3 times the value, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine: (a) The land, interest in land, money, personal property, use of the instrument, facility, article, or valuable thing, service, larger amount obtained, or smaller amount sold or disposed of has a value of $1,000.00 or more but less than $20,000.00. ( The person violates subsection (3)(a) and has 1 or more prior convictions for committing or attempting to commit an offense under this section. For purposes of this subdivision, however, a prior conviction does not include a conviction for a violation or attempted violation of subsection (2) or (3)(. (5) If any of the following apply, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $15,000.00 or 3 times the value, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine: (a) The land, interest in land, money, personal property, use of the instrument, facility, article, or valuable thing, service, larger amount obtained, or smaller amount sold or disposed of has a value of $20,000.00 or more. ( The person violates subsection (4)(a) and has 2 or more prior convictions for committing or attempting to commit an offense under this section. For purposes of this subdivision, however, a prior conviction does not include a conviction for a violation or attempted violation of subsection (2) or (3)(. (6) The values of land, interest in land, money, personal property, use of the instrument, facility, article, or valuable thing, service, larger amount obtained, or smaller amount sold or disposed of in separate incidents pursuant to a scheme or course of conduct within any 12-month period may be aggregated to determine the total value involved in the violation of this section. (7) If the prosecuting attorney intends to seek an enhanced sentence based upon the defendant having 1 or more prior convictions, the prosecuting attorney shall include on the complaint and information a statement listing the prior conviction or convictions. The existence of the defendant's prior conviction or convictions shall be determined by the court, without a jury, at sentencing or at a separate hearing for that purpose before sentencing. The existence of a prior conviction may be established by any evidence relevant for that purpose, including, but not limited to, 1 or more of the following: (a) A copy of the judgment of conviction. ( A transcript of a prior trial, plea-taking, or sentencing. © Information contained in a presentence report. (d) The defendant's statement. (8) If the sentence for a conviction under this section is enhanced by 1 or more prior convictions, those prior convictions shall not be used to further enhance the sentence for the conviction pursuant to section 10, 11, or 12 of chapter IX of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 769.10, 769.11, and 769.12. (9) As used in this section, “false pretense” includes, but is not limited to, a false or fraudulent representation, writing, communication, statement, or message, communicated by any means to another person, that the maker of the representation, writing, communication, statement, or message knows is false or fraudulent. The false pretense may be a representation regarding a past or existing fact or circumstance or a representation regarding the intention to perform a future event or to have a future event performed. History: 1931, Act 328, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931 ;-- CL 1948, 750.218 ;-- Am. 1957, Act 69, Eff. Sept. 27, 1957 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 312, Eff. Jan. 1, 1999 ;-- Am. 2004, Act 154, Eff. Sept. 1, 2004 Former Law: See section 39 of Ch. 154 of R.S. 1846, being CL 1857, § 5783; CL 1871, § 7590; How., § 9161; CL 1897, § 11575; CL 1915, § 15320; CL 1929, § 16916; Act 164 of 1867; Act 218 of 1879; and Act 234 of 1895. © 2009 Legislative Council, State of Michigan

Yes, kidding.

I have two of them. I'll start the bidding at one million dollars. Chris

Nice fish. Records are meant to be broken. Chris

As of right now I'm not working that day so I may try to swing down and put some faces to names. What time are you guys thinking, what site and what should I bring? If something changes and I have to work I'll try to swing down anyway. Chris

Dynamite!

Funny, but not many posts on Manistee or Onekama as of late. Fishing here is steadily getting better. Fish are deep right now, 85 ft. down or more has been my best bite. Divers back 250' plus, and riggers 85' to 135' down have been the most active. Cores and coppers are very slow. Meat on white/blue S/D's have been the best with green or black S/D's or Hootchies have also been good. Good size on the fish this year. Several in the 15 to 18 lb. range caught the last few trips, and the occasional 20 plus pounders are showing up. If anyone ever needs a report on Mansitee or Onekama shoot me a PM. I'll see what I can do. Good luck, Chris

To everyone that uses single hooks instead of trebles on spoons, what size hooks and what brands have you found that works the best for you. I figured I could go buy a bunch of different brands and sizes and do some trial and error, or I could just ask those that have, although trial and error can be fun. Thanks much. Chris

I've run both many times and have found that the hook up ratio is greater on in-line boards vs. the big boards. I suspect it has something to do with that small split second that the line is slack after the fish takes it off the big board, where as when the fish hits an in-line there is no give what so ever. Also as mentioned earlier it's easier to "reset" your spread on the in-line boards while running different leads/coppers, but it does take some practice (and a few tangles) before you get it right. The only time I run my big boards now is in early spring in close for browns, and I may change that over to in-lines next year. Good luck, Chris

Oh no, the scale ruined his day. I just offered it. And he was still darned proud of the fish, which he should be. Anything over 15 lbs. has been scarce around here as of late. Chris

Went out for the evening tonight and went 7/7, six kings, one stelelie. Dispy with a white S/D with a Riverside fly took the biggest (15 lbs.), and everything else came on half and full cores w/spoons. 100 to 120 fow straight out was best. Current was key to the bite, and trolling into it was best. Fishing still a bit tough until the water sets up. Talked with a group at the launch who said they took five, and told me they had a thirty pounder. I offered my scale which registered it at 15 lbs and change. We all had a good laugh. Good luck, Chris

Finally got out for a couple hours before dark with a buddy on Thursday. Nothing spectacular but went 6 for 8. All 4 to 8 pound fish with one nice 16 pounder (on a scale) coming at dark. Thing wouldn't let me get my board in on my ten color for a while, and fought lke a horse. Love the early season fish. Straight out, 80 to 120 fow was best trolling with, and against current. Can't remember what everything came on but everything took a hit from riggers to lead, spoons to flies. Still a little slow around here until the water temps. decide to settle down. Good luck, Chris

To all. Please be careful out there running in and out of the pier heads. We get called to these at least once a year, and usually it's just the boats taking the damage. That all changed today. Here comes the broken record but, at least wear your vests running in and out. Mark your waypoints outside the pier heads and slow down in the fog. This was tragic, in many ways, and could have been prevented. Good luck out there, Chris http://9and10news.com/Category/Story/?id=228904&cID=1

The water was fairly stained and I had mid 40's temps all the way from the lighthouse to Magoon Creek. I have a feeling if we get another strong south blow it's going to really fire up here. If anyone ever needs a report for Manistee or Onekama give me a PM and I'll see what I can do. Chris

Nothing spectacutlar to report, but went 3 for 5 this morning. Two nice browns and a nice (surprising) 14 lb. king. Two fish were taken on a 3 color down the chute with a DW fireball spoon (standard). Gold thin fin took a fish, and missed fish on a clown X-rap and firetiger J-9 Rapala. Was nice to be out now that the lake stopped boiling. Good luck, Chris

I'm just messin with you, relax. Like I said, nice job.

Kept 18 fish. Dang, how many people you got on that boat? NJ though.

Manistee has it at Inst-launch, or at Fishermans Center.

Guys I can't emphasize enough to be safe out there. We have had numerous calls to foundering/capsized boats, boats on the rocks, struggling swimmers etc. etc. this year in Manistee. And in one terrible incident a fatality. You just never know. 8 foot waves are huge even in a solid boat, and nothing to be taken lightly. I've been in them and WOW! A couple fish aren't worth it. I'm not trying to say don't go fishing, everyone here is an adult and will make up their own mind, but throw on a PFD at least. Yup, they look stupid, but your survival odds after going in the water go way, way up if your wearing one. Just my 2 pennies, and please be safe out there. Chris

Everything gets an air bubble from time to time. Chris

Problem solved. Released the motor with the manual screw, and once down it ran raised and lowered fine. But if I do put it all the way to the top it gets stuck again. Figure there must be a little play in the cylinder that wedges it in place at the top stop. No problem as it stays on a transom saver while out of the water. Thanks for the help. Chris