killerbe20

Fishing has been good out of Racine the last few weeks. There is a large amount of fish spread out all around and they seem to be moving a lot. Generally if you find the cold water you will find the fish. For a while they were mostly in 50-70 fow, then in by Wind Point, then out on the hills and beyond. 9/15 - 8am to 2pm - 11 for 20 mixed bag - Started fishing in 70 fow going 2 for 3 with pre staging kings. Water was pretty warm with a small band of cold water tight to the bottom. Chrome Frog Dreamweaver Paddle/frog fly on the bottom and a 300 45lb Blood Run Copper with a White UV Spin Doctor/aqua fly. Didn't like the feel for the area and relocated finishing the trip out in 170-185 fow. Tons of fish and bait out there. Green Dolphin Super Slim down 72, Spinny/Big Weenie Catch-A-Bunch Mirage fly wire diver 250, Carmel Dolphin Stinger 200 Copper, same 300 copper and the best was the same frog setup down 100-125. The mature kings are still looking good and the "immature" kings are nice size in the 8-10 pound range. Not as many cohos around like we had last year at this time but hopefully they will come soon! http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/7/5/0/9-15-12.jpg' alt='9-15-12.jpg'>

thats the typical style you will see in this area. works good with the "soft" bottoms we have in the great lakes. I have used mine many times on Racine's sand bar and holds the boat very well. Make sure you get the right size for your boat.

any reel with a decent drag and retrieve will be just fine. the tekotas and catalinas are awesome reels but definitely on the high end of the budget. A Okuma Clarion would be a great mid-line reel and Convectors are fine too. I use inline rods so that is all i have experience with. I will highly recommend Blood Run's wire. I have used them all and I do not think any other manufacturers product even compares. From spring to fall, all i fish is wire divers and I fish them hard! Blood Run wire is a much more pliable and softer wire than any other on the market and it is super tough!

navigational "Rules of the Road" determine trolling right of way. We all as trolling recreational or charter fisherman are no more than just a simple power boat. In the situation you have described, you encountered a crafty fisherman who has put you on his port side giving him the right of way. Now granted there should be some common sense and just plain being noce but that does not always happen. And it is unfortunate and also scary but not all trollers even know the "rules of the road" RULE 15 Crossing Situation (a) When two power-driven vessels are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her starboard side shall keep out of the way and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, avoid crossing ahead of the other vessel. http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/16000-16999/cim_16672_2d.pdf

The coho fishing out of Racine is awesome right now if it's within your range. Reminds me of early spring fishing, just bigger and harder to hang on too! The one problem is they are moving around alot but once you find them it's really good action

Marks the man you want!

I know fishing line is one of those aspects of this sport that no one EVER wants to change. I felt the same way switching from my proven line manufacturer to Blood Run's new mono, especially without ever using it before. Aside from not having any break offs, this stuff is tough! In the past I have found myself regularly having to cut back line due to just plain wear and tear. If I have done it with the Blood Run mono, I can not even remember doing it. If anyone is looking to maybe switch, its definitely worth looking at.

I switched to Blood Runs mono this season and it is awesome! Tough as nails just like their fluorocarbon. I have not had a single break off since switching and it is getting a work out!

I do not necessarily agree with this. Yes, you can count on spending more money than ever winning. If that is your man concern, then yes do not waste your time, go to a casino. we have some great tournaments on the west side that are more focused on having a good time then just money. Also most of them offer some secondary prizes to try and offer a chance for everyone to win something. I could be wrong but I also get the feeling that the fishing climate is a little more friendly on the west side than on the michigan side.

For me there are a lot of factors. Number one being whether or not I am going to be giving up a number of charters for a gamble at a contest. If you factor expenses vs POSSIBLE winnings, charters win nearly every time. That being said, there are a couple I block off my schedule for just because I enjoy them so much such as the Morris Invitational and the Two-In-A-Boat. A couple other factors I consider are: -Do I have a GOOD crew. This includes willing to absorb expenses AND I can count on to boat fish. -Distance from home, Racine is pretty lucky though with the number of contest either in town or close by. -My work schedule -Format to a point. some contests north of Milwaukee are catch as many as the boat can legally and weigh 5. I would still fish that format if it was around here but I am not going to travel great distances to fish that format.

I have ball bering swivels on everything. Just piece of mind that everything SHOULD be spinning freely

This is pretty common with pro kings but I have not heard of it with moonshines

nice fishing!

Nice cooler!

Racine continues to offer great action and better yet, close to home! Don't let the 78 degree surface temperature fool you. There is still great action in 50-70 fow. Fished a 10am-2pm charter just south of the Racine reef in 50-70fow and finished 11 for well over 20 fish actually hooked up. The current was really strong and I am sure that had something to do with the poor hook ups. Basically the same report as I have had all year. Blood Run 32lb coppers in 200 and 250 foot segments, their wire divers from 50 to 120 and the down riggers were actually pretty good yesterday. Green Dot Spinny/green crinkle, blue bubble spinny/aqua, blue w/UV spinny/Big Weenie double UV aqua. Despite the super warm water, 3 and 5 colors did take a few fish with cheap sunglasses and Buffalo bill glow super slims. http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/7/5/0/7-5-12.jpg' alt='7-5-12.jpg'>

Awesome! really makes me jealous I cant go fishing today!

Sweet don!

Saturday was a perfect example of a day to bring a non-believer out to see the crazy currents. Flat as can be on the lake so no wind/waves to contend with. to keep 1.8 mph on my depth raider, my GPS was running 3.1 knots to the north and 1.6 knots to the south. I can see how it would be difficult to really understand but if you can take him out on a day like that, he could physically see how it makes a difference.

absolutely!

Great fishing Jim! Two days, two different areas, and two limits!

Awesome Jim!

5 man limit on a 530am-1030am charter. fished outside of the Racine Reef in 50-70 fow. started southeast of the reef and ended north. Blood Run 32lb coppers (200, 250 foot) and wire divers (50-115) were by far the hottest rods. White with Blue Bubble Spin Doctor/Aqua Sparkle Action Fly, Green Dot Spin Doctor/Green Crinkle Action Fly and Cheap Sunglasses Super Slim were the hot numbers. Wandering away from the pack of boats offered steady action once the initial morning bite died. http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/7/5/0/6-30-12.jpg' alt='6-30-12.jpg'>

The same!!!!! "what length fly leader do you use?" is asked all the time. I truly believe it does not matter as long as it is consistent. If you find a length that works for you and all the rigs are the same, you can adjust speed or direction to make YOUR rigs work properly. If you have five rigs out with five different leader lengths, only one may be working. Fish to the length of leader that works for your boat, don't chase others programs. http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/7/5/0/photo_652286.jpg' alt='photo_652286.jpg'>

I'll give you eastsiders 3 of the top 6 http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/7/5/0/scan0079.jpg' alt='scan0079.jpg'>

Great fish jim!