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westrate

Charter Captain
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  1. 6-24-2007 This past week produced some very good catches of 8 to 12 fish per boat. There were some very nice chinook salmon (15-17 pounds) in 80-100 feet of water and some very nice steelhead (10-13 pounds)were found in 60-80 feet of water. In addition there were a few lake trout and coho scattered throughout these depths. Downriggers produced at 30 and 40 feet with orange crush and fruit cocktail Stingers and at 60 feet down with Hot Chip green flasher and Rapture "Last Supper" fly. Dipsy divers produced very well with silver green flashers and blue bubble flashers and flies, and with lemon ice lures. Copper (100 foot, 200 foot and 300 foot) produced more fish than any other method with the Reverse X-mas Singer and Sting Ray and the X-mas Stinger. We have large schools of bait in 60-80 foot of water and this should hold our fish in the area. Feel free to contact me at any time for information or to make a charter reservation. You can contact me at Captron@chartermichigan.com or toll free at 1.888.253.8372.
  2. 6/17/2007 Fishing had been slow early in the week (2 to 4 fish/boat), however it picked up toward the end of the week with 10 fish caught on Saturday. Once again there were two areas that that held fish, 200 foot of water and 70 to 100 foot of water. Saturday we fished 70 to 85 foot of water caught some very nice salmon in the mid teens and broke off two salmon that would have been in the high teens. The most productive technique was copper line and lead core. We ran 5 colors of lead core, 100, 200 and 300 foot of copper line. The best lures we had on these were X-Mass Reverse and the NBK in the Stinger and Sting Ray versions. On the Dipsy Divers we ran Blue Bubble flasher and Rapture Oceana Trolling flies and and silver green flashers and green hypnotist Rapture Flies. The Downriggers produced a few fish with blue dolphins and blue green dolphin lures, however this was not very productive with most of the fish being caught away from the boat. We still have not found any large schools of bait, however the fish where full of adult alewife (so there are some we did not see). I think that if the lake starts to stratify temperature wise, we should find the bait and the salmon will follow. For more information feel free to contact me toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@charterichigan.com.
  3. 6/10/2007 This past week was a week of opposites. Monday and Tuesday we had limit catches in 150 to 200 foot. Then we had three days of high winds and rough water with winds out of the south, then out of the west and then out of the northwest and back to the south again. Saturday when we got out to fish, we found a different situation with catches of 2 to 8 fish per boat and with a repeat on Sunday. The fish were caught in 130 foot of water and out in 190 foot of water from the surface down to 70 foot. The catch includes steelhead (in the upper 30 foot) and chinook and lake trout from 30 to 70 foot. Saturday and Sunday we saw very little bait and where ever the bait went--that is were the salmon will show up. The best method was copper line (75 foot, 100 foot, 200 foot and 300 foot). The dipsy divers produced some fish with the high diver at 200 foot and the low diver at 100 foot while the downriggers produced very few fish and had very few hits. The best lures included a mix of stinger, stingray, raider, dreamweaaver lures (orange crush, smashmouth, coyote ugly, lemon ice, sunburst and blue and green dolphins). The hot chip flashers and green flies produced some fish early in the week but very few toward the end of the week. Next week we should find out what happened to the bait and the salmon should show up in that same area. For more information feel free to contact me toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@charterichigan.com.
  4. 6/3/2007 The water has warmed up and the fish are starting to go deeper. This past week produced some very good fishing early (10 to 15 fish per trip) and then the catch rate slowed (4 to 8 fish per trip) by the end of the week. The catch consisted of Chinook and Lake Trout from 1 pound to 13 pounds. The best area was 200 to 240 foot of water and 40 to 100 foot down, however fish were marked and caught all the way down to 180 foot. There are a few fish out in 270 foot of water and in as far as 70 foot of water, however they are scattered. The best presentation was 100 foot, 200 foot and 300 foot of copper with stingers and stingray lures (dolphin --green and blue and the coyote ugly pattern). A few fish were caught on the downriggers with green hot chip flasher and the last supper Rapture fly being the most consistent. There have been some reports of good salmon being caught 150 to 200 foot down on cut bait, however we did not catch any that deep. The dipsy divers were inconsistent, however when they produced it was at 125-150 foot of line on the low divers and 200-250 foot of line on the high divers. The lures on the divers changed from day to day and from hour to hour. We need some stratification to the water to concentrate the fish so we do not need to fish the total water column. We did find some good schools of bait fish in the 70-80 foot of water and this may be the next area that the fish will stage, once they find the bait. Feel free to contact me for fishing updates and/or reservations at toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com.
  5. 5/28/2007 This past week produced some very good fishing with catches or 12 to 23 fish per trip. We found that there are two groups of fish; one group in 135 to 180 foot of water and the other group is in 210 to 250 foot of water. The group in the deeper water consisted in somewhat larger fish (and more steel head) while the shallower group consisted mainly of salmon in the 2 to 6 pound range. The creel consisted of a mix of Chinook salmon and steel head with a few coho and lake trout mixed in. The water out in the deeper region is 48 degrees on the surface and it drops to 41 degrees 80 foot down and this temperature break is outside of 230 foot. We found that on some days the fish would be on the cold side of the break but then (like today) the fish were on the inside of the break. We used 3 color and 5 color lead core, 100 foot copper and 200 foot copper behind the inline planner boards. The best colors combinations where: green and blue dolphin Stingrays, natural born killer Stinger and Stingray, hitman Dreamweaver, jawbreaker Stinger, and sunburst Pro King. Dipsy divers occasionally produced at 60 and 40 foot of line and also at 200 and 150 foot of line. Lures on the divers varied every day and also during the day. Down riggers produced very poorly only yielding (on average) 5 to 7 hits per day and the hits changed on different lures every day. If there is no drastic change in the weather, we should hold our fish and the good fishing should continue. Feel free to contact me for fishing updates and/or reservations at toll free 888-253-8372 or email captron@chartermichigan.com.
  6. 5/21/2007 Our spring fishing is in full swing, even though it is about 2 1/2 weeks late. This last week we caught between 10 and 20 fish per trip. The creels consisted of steel head (early in the week), coho and Chinook salmon. The fish are in 150 to 200 foot of water and range from the surface to 80 foot down. The steel head are hitting orange crush and orange and green stingers fished on flat lines with 1 oz. of weight. The salmon are being caught 25 to 80 foot down on down riggers and copper line. We are fishing 300 ft., 200 ft., and 100 ft. of copper with frog, orange crush and sunburst Stingers and Pro King lures. On the down riggers we are fishing 35 to 80 foot down with green dolphin Stingers, Cream sickle Dream weavers and green glow Pro Chip Flashers and Rapture Last Supper flies. The flasher and fly combination are producing 1/3 of the catch with some of the Chinook salmon reaching 15 to 17 pounds. If there is no drastic change in the weather, we should hold our fish and the good fishing should continue. Feel free to contact me for fishing updates and/or reservations at toll free 888-253-8372 or email captron@chartermichigan.com.
  7. 5/13/2007 The fish are now starting to show up out of Saugatuck. The fishing was slow all week until Saturday when chinook salmon were found in 190 to 200 foot of water between Saugatuck and South Haven. On Sunday the fish showed up out of Saugatuck and we caught fish from 130 to 180 foot of water. The creel consisted of a mix of lake trout, chinook, steelhead coho and brown trout. One boat limited out with 15 fish by 10:00 and was headed in. Down riggers produced fish at 35, 45 and 55 foot with green Hot chip flasher and fly. However the most productive was dipsy diver at 100 foot and 130 foot of line out with Stingers and Stingray lures. Lead core (3 color to 10 color) also with Stinger and Stingray lures produced very well. So the fish are being caught from the 15 foot deep to 60 foot deep. The fishing is about 3 weeks late this year, however the fish are now showing up and hopefully, the fishing will continue to improve. For more information feel free to contact me toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@charterichigan.com.
  8. 5/7/2007 20 to 35 mph east wind for the last 4 days has blown the warm water out and the lake is back in the 42 degree range. The fish have scattered and boats are catching 2 to 3 fish per trip. Boats have tried to move off shore and find the warm water, however the deepest any one could fish is 200 foot of water and the wave height was 6 foot and the water temperature was 39 degrees. Too rough to go any further and too cold. The fish that are being caught are in 50 to 70 foot of water and are being caught from 30 foot to the bottom. Stealhead, Coho, Chinook and Brown Trout are all showing up the catch, its' just that very small numbers are being caught. The winds today have moved to the south and may help warm the water back up. You can call for information any time at 888-253-8372 or email me with questions at captron@chartermichigan.com.
  9. 4/30/2007 Fishing is very slow with 1 to 3 fish per trip the norm and many boats are coming in skunked. The water has warmed up into the high 40 degrees, however there is no bait in the lake water and very little in the river water. Without the bait, there is nothing to hold the fish here. Brown trout and some 3 year old salmon are being caught on small Hot n Tots, Bango lures and Fast Trac stick baits on the surface behind inline planers. Small stinger spoons on 3 color lead core and on dipsy divers are also productive. Our bait should show up soon and once they do the fish will show and the fishing will improve. You can call for information any time at 888-253-8372 or email me with questions at captron@chartermichigan.com.
  10. 4/25/2007 The lake is still cold (38 degrees) and the brown trout and lake trout are found in the shallow water that warms into the high 40 degrees or along the river water discharge. The fishng is sporadic at best. One day you will catch 10 to 12 fish and the next day you catch one. The best place to fish is inside the inner sand bar with stick baits on the boards and small stinger spoons on the dipsies. The water is so clear that the downriggers are not producing very well. I have not recieved any information on any coho being caught, however they should be starting to move up the coast from southern Lake Michigan. Feel free to contact me at any time at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com.
  11. 4/16/2007 The river fishing is winding down and Capt. Tony states that he ran his last 2 river charters this past weekend and was 3 out of 11 on Friday and 6 out of 12 on Sunday. The lake is still very cold with 36 degree water along the shore and 37 degree water off the Douglas point. The Kalamazoo River water was 41 degrees and a few fish where being caught in the river water/lake water interface. When the lake water was warmer (before the snow and cold weather) some very nice catches of Brown Trout and Coho were reported, therefore, I would assume that the fishing will pick up with warmer water. CoHooker Charter Fishing
  12. 12/30/2006 The Kalamazoo River level has subsided and the fishing is picking up with some very nice steelhead being caught above the New Richmond Bridge. I have not recieved any information about activity on the lower river, however I would think the fish are moving in. Hot n Tots that are back trolled into the holes and spawn that is bounced back over the bottom are the methods of choice. Check back and see what is happening on the Kalamazoo River
  13. Nov. 22, 2006 There has been no change in the river fishing that was reported for the Kalamazoo River. Capt. Tony Wolte reports that the fishing remains good for steelhead and some brown trout on the Kalamazoo River with the water being low and clear. No new reports form the St. Joe River, so I assume it is the same as the Nov. 13 report. Check back and see what is happening on the Kalamazoo River and possibly other rivers in the area. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372.
  14. Nov. 13, 2006 The report from Capt. Tony Wolte is that steelhead fishing on the Kalamazoo River is very good with catches of 4 to 12 steelhead per trip. Capt. Tim Shaffer reports that the fishing on the St. Joe River is producing 6 to 12 steelhead a day. The fishing picks up with warm weather and then slows when a cold front moves through. Spawn and silver green and gold hot-n-tots that are back trolled into the holes or gravel spawning beds are the best producers. Check back and see what is happening on the Kalamazoo River and possibly other rivers in the area. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372.
  15. 10/25/2006 We are done fishing for the season and the boat has been pulled and is in storage until next year. The last two weeks produced high winds and rough water almost every day and we never got a chance to get out and fish. The water should be cooling down and reports that I received say that some steelhead and small salmon are being caught in 30 to 50 foot of water, however the fishing is slow. The report from the Kalamazoo River is that some steelhead are starting to show up with an occasional salmon. The water is high with all the rain in the last two weeks and the leaves are falling making the river appear solid leaves. This makes fishing the river very difficult. Once most of the leaves are off and the water recedes, the steelhead fishing will improve. Check back and see what is happening on the Kalamazoo River and possibly other rivers in the area.
  16. Oct. 9, 2006 We are experiencing typical October windy conditions--when it blows it blows for 2 or 3 days, so we get blown off the lake the majority of the week. We got to fish a couple of days this past week and the fishing was fairly good with catches ranging from 7 to 12 fish per trip. Most of the catch consisted of 3 year old salmon (ranging up to 12 pounds) and a few steelhead and a couple of lake trout that had to be returned. The fish are being caught in 200 to 240 foot of water and anywhere from 60 to 140 foot down. The water temperature is still 59 degrees 140 foot deep and 60 degrees on the surface, so the fish can be anywhere in the water table but are found around the bait which is suspended at 60 to 120 foot deep. Flashers and flies (same combinations as the last few weeks) and 300 and 400 foot of copper with lures and flashers worked well. Our season is winding down and the boat will be taken out of the water soon, however in the weeks to come, we will be reporting on the river fishing for steelhead and salmon, that will be going on into and through November. So check back and see what is happening on the Kalamazoo River and possibly other rivers in the area.
  17. Sept. 10, 2006 Warm water and windy rough conditions is a summery of last week. Windy conditions and rough water kept most boats at the dock until Sunday and then we still fished in 3 foot seas. On Saturday we fished in the river a caught a few salmon, some walleye and some catfish. On Thursday the boats fished the river and caught between 8 to 12 salmon per boat. There are some salmon in the river but they are not overly abundant. The water in the lake is still 62 degrees on the surface and is 58 degrees 130 foot down in 160 foot of water. Since this is not a big change in temperature, we caught fish on half core down to 140 foot. In the river we fished Hot n Tots (silver green, silver blue, gold and silver black) and J plugs (white ghost, glow green) and glow spoons on the dipsy divers. Off shore we went back to flashers (Pro Chip, Spin Doctor and Smart Fish) and Rapture Tolling flies (same combinations as last week) I do not know if the salmon will still school up and run the river or if they are trickling in a little at a time. If that is true (the trickling in), then this could continue for another month or two, with salmon moving in a little at a time. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck.
  18. Sept. 25, 2006, Warm water and rough water was the theme for last week. We only got to fish on Saturday and even then we could not get out to the cooler water off shore because of the lake and weather conditions. The water was 67 degrees on top from the shore line to 180 foot of water and it was 65 degrees 150 foot down in 180 foot of water. We never did find cool water however we never got deeper than 200 foot of water because of the wind and rough conditions. The report is that there is some cool water out in 280 to 300 foot of water but you have to fish 120 to 130 foot down to find it. We did manage to catch a few 2 year old salmon and one 4 year old in 160 foot of water and we lost a couple of mid size salmon. Because of the warm water, the only action was on the downriggers at 150 and 130 foot down and on the wire divers at 300 foot. Almost all the action occurred on flashers and flies. Where is the cool water? I have no idea. This is the warmest water conditions that I have seen at this time of the year in my 33 years of charter experience. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck.
  19. Sept. 18, 2006 What a strange fall. The fall run has not yet started since the water temperature is warming up every day. This past week we started fishing in 110 foot of water (40 to 70 feet down) with the temperature 49 degrees 60 foot down, and by Sunday we had to go 130 foot down to get 58 degrees with 68 degrees from the surface down to 125 foot. Again, there are a few salmon in front the piers, however most are still out in the deeper water (some are in the warm water) however most are found at the temperature break along with the bait fish. The fishing is still very good with creel numbers that ranged from 8 to 22 fish per trip. We caught mainly salmon, 2 and 3 year olds with few 4 year olds, and numerous lake trout (a third of which where under the 20 in minimum and had to be returned). By the end of the week we fished mainly downriggers 120 and 130 foot down and wire dipsy divers at 300 foot and 200 foot. Copper wire on the planner boards were not productive. The only thing we pulled on the wire and downriggers where flashers and flies. The following are the combinations that worked well: Silver/green Pro Chip flasher with Rapture green hypnotist fly (never comes off), Green/glow Hot Chip flasher with Rapture Last Supper fly (never comes off), Silver/blue Spin Doctor flasher with Rapture Oceana fly (never comes off), Silver/green Spin Doctor flasher with Rapture Sour Apple fly, Silver Spin Doctor flasher with Rapture Oceana fly, Blue Bubble Smart Fish flasher with Blue Bubble Rapture fly, White/glow and White Mountain Dew Smart Fish flasher with Rapture Mirage fly, and White/silver Hot Chip flasher with Rapture Mirage fly. I would suggest you check out the Rapture Trolling flies and I think you will find that they are very well made and will not loose the tinsel and the tinsel does not "rap up" like many of the other flies do. I am sure that once we get cool water, we will again start catching fish on spoons on the copper wire, however they are not getting down to the fish at this time. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com.
  20. Sept. 11, 2006 No change in the fishing!! The water is still warm in front the piers and the salmon are still staged out in 100 foot of water. We fished for a couple of hours in front the piers Sunday and managed to catch a couple of fish and then moved back off shore and caught 11 more salmon. This past week we caught salmon in 100 to 160 foot of water and steelhead in 180 to 200 foot of water. We ran Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green/silver, green/glow, and all silver) and Smart Fish flashers (mountain dew, white blue bubble, and chrome blue bubble) Spin Doctor flashers (silver blue and silver green) with Rapture Trolling flies (sour apple, hypnotist, green bubble, oceana and blue bubble and the last supper). These combination produced 90 % of the catch on wire divers and downriggers as well as occasionally behind copper wire. We are running 100 and 200 and 300 foot of copper wire with glow wonderbread Stingray, orange crush Raider magnum, batman, the silver/black crippled alewife and the blue icicle dream weaver. The downriggers are run a little deeper than last week (55, 65 and 85 foot) with the same flashers and flies listed above. Last week I said the run should start in a week, however the water did not cool off and although you can catch a salmon or two in front the piers the main school is still staged off shore. We are getting strong east winds and the forecast is for continued easterly winds. This should blow the warm water out and be replaced by colder water which should bring in the salmon. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372.
  21. Sept. 3, 2006 The salmon are here. Salmon are being taken from 20 foot of water in front of the piers out to 140 foot of water. All week we have been fishing from 60 to 110 foot of water and have been taking 12 to 23 fish per trip. Most of the fish are Chinook salmon (6 to 20 pounds) with a few Coho (up to 12 pounds) and some lake trout and steelhead. Because the water is 48 degrees in front the piers there are some fish there and I am sure that some of the salmon have already gone up the river. Most of the fish we are catching out in 70+ foot of water are silver and the eggs are still relatively small so the main run may still be a week or so away. We ran Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green/silver, green/glow, and all silver) and Smart Fish flashers (mountain dew, white blue bubble, and chrome blue bubble) Spin Doctor flashers (silver blue and silver green) with Rapture Trolling flies (sour apple, hypnotist, green bubble, oceana and blue bubble and the last supper). These combination produced 90 % of the catch on wire divers and downriggers as well as occasionally behind copper wire. Because the water is relatively cool, we are running 100 and 200 foot of copper wire with glow wonderbread Stingray, orange crush Raider magnum, batman, the silver/black crippled alewife and the blue icicle dream weaver. The downriggers are run at 35, 45 and 65 foot with the same flashers and flies listed above. I think that the main run should peak in about a week and we should be fishing in front the piers by that time. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck.
  22. Aug. 27, 2006 This week was identical to last week with fish being taken in 60 to 110 foot of water. Most of the catch consisted of Chinook salmon and lake trout with an occasional steelhead and Coho. Flashers and flies and flies and flashers produced most of the fish. We ran Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green/silver, green/glow, and all silver) and Smart Fish flashers (mountain dew, white blue bubble, and chrome blue bubble) with Rapture Trolling flies (sour apple, hypnotist, green bubble, oceana and blue bubble). These combination produced 90 % of the catch on wire divers and downriggers as well as occasionally behind copper wire. We pulled 200 foot and 300 foot of copper with a variety of magnum lures (make and color changed from day to day), however crippled alewife, bat man and glow wonder bread produced well.
  23. Aug. 23, 2006 In Monday's report, I made a mistake when I reported that we are working with Rampage Flies. We are not. We are associated with Rapture Trolling Flies and I apologize to all parties that this might have affected especially the Rapture Trolling Fly company. Again, we are very impressed with the workmanship and durability of these flies and we look forward to using and testing this fly.
  24. Aug. 21, 2006 The salmon are "putting on the feedbag" and beginning to stage off shore for the fall run. This past week we fish where caught from 50 to 180 foot of water. This past weekend, some nice fish where caught in 20 to 30 foot of water even though the water was warm. We found that most of the fish in 50 to 90 foot of water consisted of 4 year old salmon and as you moved off shore the 2 and 3 year olds dominated the catch. The early morning (dark to sun up) was the most productive, often producing half of the days catch in the first two hours. From mid morning to the afternoon, the action slowed and the currents increased which often limited your fishing to a south troll. The most productive method was Smart Fish, Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green/glow, blue/glow, silver/green, silver/blue and white/glow) and Rapture Trolling Flies (hypnotist, blue bubble and the most productive--oceana). We started running the Rapture Trolling Flies this past week and have been pleasantly surprised with the fish attracting ability and the durability of the flies. We have found that these flies do not loose tensile like the other flies do and they do not tangle up after a hit like many of the other brand of flies. You might want to add some of these flies to your tackle box. We ran the flashers and flies on the downriggers at 40 to 80 foot and on the wire dipsy divers at 100 foot and 150 foot of wire. By the middle of the day the copper (200 and 300 foot) produced most of the action with glow Raider, Moonshine and Stingray lures. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year.
  25. Aug. 14, 2006 This past week was a week of changes with wind, currents and water temperature. We started out fishing in 120 foot of water, then moved into 50 foot of water when the water temperature dropped 15 degrees, moved out to 160 foot and then by the end of the week we where back in 100 foot. Fishing was very good with catches up to 24 fish per trip. Most of the catch consisted of Chinook salmon with a few lake trout and an occasional steelhead. This past week we established a relationship with Rapture Trolling Flies and will be acting as a pro staff for this company in southern Lake Michigan. Since this is flasher and fly time in southern Lake Michigan, we will be giving these flies a good test and trying and recommending different color combinations of flies that will work here. That said, it should come as no surprise that the method was Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (chrome/green, silver/blue and green/glow) and Smart Fish flashers (blue/glow and white/glow) with Rapture Green Fern, Oceana and Hypnotist flies and the Gfly Pickled Sunshine. The second best method consisted of 200, 300 and 100 foot copper and 7 color lead core with a variety of lures that changed every day. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year.
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