Rascal Trophy Fishing

Very good points both Mike and Frank. I was an avid boater for many years, before one year wanting to go to Mackinac Island. Being that I wasn't familiar with the upper portion and many other parts of Lake Michigan, I bought a chartbook for about $35 of the great lakes. It helped in many vacation and tournament trips. This was way before the internet that we have now that can give us all kinds of free information at our fingertips 24/7. I would definitely have one aboard when you are going into unfamiliar waters, irregardless of your experience.

Just make sure the "spin-doctors" aren't political in nature, that's the Bite!

Now that's what I call fishing fever Kevin, nice report. Jumpers on the grill tonight I'll bet.

I like your thread here Shane, and it's out of box, lol, thinking. Yes, I don't have the fish bag mfrs. names readily at hand, but they are a good idea. They come in several different sizes and are quite pricey, but worth the investment imho. I have seen them around for about 5 years now in Fl., and they work well with lots of ice, esp. on hot days. If I have time to research them, I'll post the places to buy or inquire about them. Thanks.

That was a Jim Croce legendary song, improved by Jerry Reed imho. And, aint a bad song at all, one of my favs. for sure. Thanks. But I like Amos Moses the best, ain't legal to hunt them gators in the Louisiana swamp boy! Not to mention the Gator McKlusky song either boy!

Temp is a very important factor, whether it be at the surface, or down below, keep both in mind when you factor in temps.. I esp. factor in temps. at the surface, as a 3-15 degree break on top means some mean fishing is on one side or the other of that break. The temps. down below are a secondary factor for me when this kind of surface temps. are seen and keyed in on. Beware of BOTH!

That's why we call it fishing, not catching. But oh the joy either way..........lol. It's about the sport, and the joy in the doing, the outdoor experience is what is important of the utmost to me.

Where's Ludington,?..................lol. Quit giving away all our secrets Ken, we're already swamped in August.....lol.

Fish Hawk X-4 was my replacement for the old Fish Hawk, and happier yet now. Price and quality for years to come are great.

Welcome and enjoy the great friendships and information, great site, great keeper too.

You could also try ranch or caesar dressing instead of italian, but I think it's all good. Esp. when people say they hate all or a certain species of fish, like Lakers, fool someone you know sometime, and see what they say afterwards, it's funny. P.S. I also like to cut the fish into finger shaped pieces instead of usual nuggets, but both work fine.

RIP Capt. Randy, old friend: 9/29/59-1/4/12, age 52. Capt. Randy was a special Capt. I met long ago in Sheboygan, Wisconsin while on vacation. He had been a licensed capt. since 1982, we met about 1990, and fished and exchanged ideas for the sport regularly. Randy was a serious and avid charter captain, usually limiting out every trip, irregardless of the number of customers. He regularly ran 100-135 trips per season, building a large repeat customer base with his first mate Eric. Capt. Randy saw the need for improvements to the dipsy diver and adapted a new slide diver to improve fish catching. He was sued by Luhr Jensen for infringement on their dipsy patent. After a prolonged court battle with this huge corporation, Randy finally won out for his expertise in a new patent pending product. Randy was an icon in Sheboygan, and the entire Lk. Michigan, as an expert's expert in fishing. His unusual mast mounted to his 31' sportfishermen boat allowed him to exclusively run slide divers for all his rod set ups, thus making him the only capt. I ever knew to accomplish this type of fishing. And it worked perfectly, catching more fish than anyone else in the port on a day by day basis. We will not see his kind again, and to me, he will be sorely missed in the fishing industry. His website is sorry charlie charters if any care to visit.

Seems like a lot of high falootin gizmos and costs just for launching boats these days. But, since I berth at a marina for the season, I really am not affected. Hope this doesn't put a damper on the casual visitors to the launch ramps that like to visit, not launch.

Happy to see another newbie for this forum, which you should gain and share a lot of useful info. on. Happy New Year to you too Bill, and to all the forum members.

I was there about 3 times in the 90's, unfortunately with not enough time to fish there. But, if you look to the taxi drivers for assistance to the marina at the far end of town, you should find some tackle stores and fisherman to talk to for assistance. Not sure about charters either, as the marina was new when I was there, and seemed to be more luxury high end types of vessels.

Thanks and Merry Christmas to all the great fishermen at GLF.

Bill, I don't know anything about AIS, but I totally agree with prop nut on the shipping lanes. Even in Lk. Michigan, way out deep in over 500' of water, these big freighters are nothing to ignore or take for granted that they will see you. I've been too close a few times, and have learned the hard way. Especially if foreign ships, they really are not always following our rules of the road. Hope you find what you need in AIS. Thanks.

Hi Mike and welcome to GLF, glad to have more newbies and share their experiences. Thanks.

I've heard and seen more ideas on the invasive species here in this short blog, than any or all the news agencies combined over the last few years. You guys should be in charge of this problem, then I KNOW the problem would get fixed pretty soon. Thanks for the education and more to come I hope.

Hmmm, seems like if the speed limit is 55 and you got the 70 ticket at 82 you did get a break. The guy you followed most likely had a radar detector and had warning signals to slow. I recommend the Cobra for about $139, but there are many more to choose from. These can save you worry and tickets in the future. However, I don't recommend flooring to pass on a freeway situation, could be too dangerous. Seems like those crazies that are going over 100 mph never get caught, those are the ones that really need the tickets too.

Very nice job John, bet this won't give you any bumps on the noggin in the future either. AT does have superior products too.

Very long leads on a J-plug trigger many hits when slow, I like the new Moonshines that really glow all day. If that doesn't work, try a real alewife/herring, the whole thing, in a meat rig, way back and deep too.

Many thanks for joining Bill, this is the spot to be for avid fishermen.

This is a good project "in theory", but it does not bode well for the future of the locals, nor electric energy in general. A pretty good number of locals affected by these behemoths of over 300' in height at their doorsteps are protesting daily. And have also filed a suit in court to stop this nonsense from happening in our backyards. The "flicker" situation was never addressed for the locals, nor were the "setbacks" from their yards. Already jobs have been created for non-locals from Muskegon and Grand Rapids, not locals. The same will be happening at the finish for maintenance. And the bottom line is that no energy will be created when no winds prevail, subsidies from Michigan disappear soon, and most or all created energy goes downstate as usual, not to the local area to keep costs lower. All in all, it's a political boondoggle that locals have had shoved down their throats, to the glory of Consumers Energy, it's fancy big city attorneys, and the local political machines being greased by the Utility.

I wish people weren't afraid of higher mileage these days. In the old old days, engines would need rebuilding at about 100K miles, nowadays with the technology and proper upkeep, these engines are just broken in. The pictures really tell it all, she looks like a 2008 or so, really clean. If anyone wants to make an offer close to asking, it's ok with me too. Thanks.