SeaCatMich

Actually it is pretty late for the Pere Marquette to be getting fish. It often happens in mid July! It is a fully wild run of chinook that have evolved into an early running self sustaining strain. So this is not unusual at all. Watch for reports the next few days. With the blow on Monday/Tuesday not many boats got out and the water moved quite a bit. It is going to take a couple days to restabilize and for the fish to be found.

I have heard a couple of reports of fish feeding heavily (and hitting lures :0) in the 30 FOW area and just outside the river plume. If you can find a water clarity change (muddy to clear or even chalky to clear, fish just in the clear stuff -- temps might be the same but the salmon often patrol that line to pick off bait that strays into the clear water. If the bait is there, so will the salmon. Also watch the buoy info. As you can see the graph is already started back up. The temps can change back as fast as they changed in the first place. This week's wind forecast is for SW & WSW winds the next two days and then light the rest of the week through Sunday. It may take until the weekend though as the winds forecast are not going to be very strong. http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?map.x=92&map.y=184&site=grr&zmx=1&zmy=1 This year's weather has not produced the large mass of hot water we have seen inshore the past two seasons. Cold water is not all that deep and east or north winds like happened Monday and Tuesday can move it in quick. The warmer water is not that far away either.

Michigan Salmon Spectacular Derby Tickets are now available for purchase at all of the Derby Weigh Stations! They can also still be purchased online at the website. Website: www.michigansalmonspectacular.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichiganSalmonSpectacular Weigh Station (port) Broadlow's Fishin Hole (St. Joseph) Pyle's Port Hole (South Haven) Lakeshore Tackle Outfitters (Saugatuck) Gold Coast Outfitters (Port Sheldon) Fish On Bait & Tackle (Grand Haven/Nunica) Shoreline Service & Tackle (Muskegon) Johnson's Great Outdoors (Whitehall/Montague) Captain Chuck's (Ludington) Tangled Tackle (Manistee) Frankfort Tackle Box (Frankfort) MC Sports Outdoor Center (Traverse City)

PIck up some of the Moonshine RV models too. They have a UV coating and have been very good for me the last two years.

4 strokes and the newer direct injection (DFI) 2 strokes will definitely be a lot better on fuel than the older 2 stroke engines. It is more significant with mid size to bigger HP outboards. I went from a boat with a single old OMC SeaDrive 260 HP outboard to my current boat with twin 90 HP Honda 4 strokes. Gas costs are about 1/3 of what they were. I spend a lot more on gas to tow the boat to the lake than I ever do fishing and I'm someone that does not think twice about making a run 20 miles out if that's where the fish are. If you end up doing a decent amount of trolling I would also consider getting a kicker to troll with. Most of the new DFI or 4 stroke outboards will troll down fine but that is putting lots of hours on a relatively expensive engine. Put those hours on the small engine and get even better speed control as a bonus. An average trip for me is 2-4 hours on plane (at the most) and 5-10 hours of trolling. That's a lot of extra hours on the main outboard. It is the one downside to my dual 90 HP outboards -- they do fine, but they also get the "extra" hours on them. Another thing to make sure of is that the outboard is big enough for the hull. Try to get as close as you can to the max HP that the hull is rated for. It will give you better overall control and flexibility with the boat and not be laboring when you really need some performance and will get better fuel economy when you're on plane. Many people will say "well I'll never need to go that fast"... well, on the Great Lakes no matter how well you watch the weather there will be a time where you need to get off the water as fast as you can. Maybe it is when the waves start to get too big, maybe it is when someone gets hurt, or maybe you need to out run that thunderstorm. Better to have the HP to be able to go "fast" than not.

I thought one of the tournament boats caught one over 36# a few weeks back. Either way a 35.9# fish is still darn nice. We do need pictures though!

Welcome to the site Lynette!!! No problem other than as Dan said with it getting in the road some times since it would not be out away from the boat very far. Since you're in Michigan you could also run a 3rd rod if you wanted to, but one of the three would be a lot better to be on a board out away from the others. The info I was given by one of Stinger's pro anglers was 3 to 4' per ounce on a Dive Bomb. So, as for your 4 ounce Dive Bomb, it is going to get you maybe 16' of additional depth at the most. Weighted line presentations (leadcore and copper) with or without additional weights are also VERY speed dependent. At 2.5 mph a 300 copper is going to be a 60 to 70' presentation. At 2.0 mph it will go another 20' deeper. I mainly use them on leadcore but they can be used on copper too. Putting them directly on the weighted line about 1/3 of the way up from the leader will get you the max depth increase (per the Stinger pro). Has worked fine for me.

For passing cables through the transom I always use a Big Jon Cable Cap. They make them in white or black, and have them for single or double cables. The hole drilled is either 7/8" or 1" (I don't remember )which lets almost any cable end get through but the cap slides in to seal it. I then use silicone calk to further waterproof it. Here is a picture of the 2 cable model. The cable diameter can be up to 1/4" in diameter but I have reamed it out a little to accomodate bigger ones with no problems.

Here is another one that is pretty close to me (30 minutes north). 24' 1996 Searay Laguna WAC w/ twin 225 hp Merc Optimax. Looks nice and with those OBs has to haul #**&% I almost bought a 21' Laguna back in 2000. Great riding hull for big water. Has an Eagle trailer ($$$) too. Says it has electronics and fishing equipment??? $15,999 http://www.iboats.com/sites/bees/site_page_9744/item_1238833.html?listing_page=listing_sum_index_1.html

I really like the Stripers, but I would take a serious look at the Hydra-Sport with the bracket mounted Johnson and Tohatsu 9.9 hp 4 stroke kicker down in Port Clinton. They have one great hull and with it being at a dealer, I would suspect you could get a better deal than the listed price.

Brandon, I'm only about 30 minutes from Jackson. Could drive down and take a look for you this week some time if you want and the seller is available. Let me know.

You have probably seen this one but just in case: http://saginaw.craigslist.org/boa/3949187206.html

Here is another picture of the 33.3# King from the Big Red today.

A higher retrieve ratio might help a little, but fighting a 20# King vs a 15 or 16 is really different. It may only be 1/3 bigger but is 2x stronger. Go to a 25+ and it is 3x. It is just going to take longer to wear them out and there is no way around it. Be happy to fight the fish. People have been using Penn 209 reels for a very long time to catch salmon -- the only advantge I see to a higher speed retrieve ratio is if you are having trouble taking up the line when the fish runs at the boat. Generally we always have someone on the throttle and on my boat I play quarterback whether I'm fighting the fish or not. Until the fish is worn out, I don't want it near the boat. If the fish is still green we will speed up to take line off the reel and get it back out to at least 75' off the boat. Two reasons... first, I don't want it able to make a quick run at the boat and secondly, I don't want it near the other lines until it can be controlled and led to the net. Honestly, the 20#+ fish are not usually a problem keeping them at a reasonable distance... it is the 10 to 17's that are quicker and more likely to come in "hot". How you fight the fish has a lot to do with how long it takes to land a fish. You have to keep pressure on ALL the time. If the fish isn't taking line the angler needs to be trying to get the fish closer to the boat. On smaller fish this can be done by holding the rod at a 60* angle and continually reeling. On a big fish this will work, but it will take a lot longer to land it too. I always pump and reel on salmon but it is even more important on big fish to make them work and expend energy. This requires that the drag on the reel be set correctly. Setting the drag right should also eliminate any break offs except for when there is a flaw in the tackle (weak spot in the line or bad hooks). I would rather fight a 30# King for 45 minutes than land two or three 15# fish any day of the week... and I hope to have that "problem" in a week or two!

Nope, typo is that I pointed to an old copy of the rules and not the flyer. The charter boat derby ticket is $200.

2000 Hydrasports Seahorse 23' walkaround w/ 200 hp Johnson & 9.9 kicker. In Port Clinton. Main engine is on a bracket so the stern is completely closed and no splash well or dog house. $17,995. Great hull design for the big lakes. http://www.boattrader.com/listing/2000-Hydra-Sports-230-Seahorse-WA-102079769

Cast nets are legal but limited to an 8' diameter -- which is not very big. You can use the alewife like any other bait fish in that it must be used on the same body of water where it was caught. I have found that since the change in Michigan regs to allows up to 6 hooks/lures on a single line, it is easier to catch them with a sabiki rig. I then brine them and have had great success with them in Big Weenie heads behind flashers. This year 20# salmon are pretty common and 30#+ are not unusual. Way more 30+ already this year than 20+ caught last year. The K/D Derby in Wisconsin had over 400 20# or bigger salmon weighed in. Lots of fish in the upper 20's to low 30's were the norm at both Ludington and Manistee tournaments in the last few weeks. Have heard them caught on almost all common salmon lures but flashers with flies or cut bait/whole bait rigs and plugs seem to be better presentations than others.

Here is a 2000 SeaSwirl Striper 2600 with a 250 Johnson down in Port Clinton at Happy Days Boats listed at $21,995. No pictures but these Stripers are nice boats. Has the fixed canvas "T-Top" which I like better than a hardtop as it is cooler in the hot sun. http://www.happydaysboating.com/pre_owned_detail.asp?sid=09266779X8K4K2013J4I03I55JPMQ3977R0&veh=3271039

Forgot about this one but might be just what you want! Wolf's in Benton Harbor has a 1996 Century 2600 walk around with a 250 HP Yamaha on it listed at $16,500. Decent cabin and lots of fishing room in the rear with a closed transom. Says it has a FishHawk but no mention of riggers. It has been there for quite awhile -- at least since March -- so might be able to deal a little. Looks to be in nice shape from the quick look I took. Wolf's sells riggers, tracks, and electronics so getting it the way you want it as a package for financing might be easier and my experience is that you can get a good bundled price. Talk to Warren! http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/pl_boat_full_detail.jsp?slim=broker&boat_id=2592049&ybw=&hosturl=wolfsmarine&&ywo=wolfsmarine&&units=Feet&access=Public&listing_id=59170&url=&hosturl=wolfsmarine&&ywo=wolfsmarine&

2000 Trophy 2002 WA. A friend has this exact same boat and it has been a very good rig for him. Have been out in it with 4 full size guys onboard and that is the max I would want to be fishing in it -- 3 is ideal. Not a bad design for a 20' hull and the 125 OB gets it up to around 30 mph. Trolls just fine too. Looks like it needs electronics and fishing stuff (rod holders, downriggers...) but the price has enough room to let you get what you want brand new. http://www.leadersmarine.com/pre_owned_detail.asp?sid=06074793X8K4K2013J12I51I15JPMQ3775R0&veh=3299353

A couple years ago I did a water test for a buddy who is over on Lake Ontario on a 26' Striper down at Toledo Beach. It had the 305 and I expected it to not be enough engine but I was wrong. Boat performed great and got up on plane easily in a solid 2.5' Erie chop. I pushed it to around 35 mph (which was not wide open)and the hull did a great job too. The sell was along for the trip and said he was nervous but impressed -- he didn't use the boat much and had never had it out in any significant waves. It was the Chieftain model too that includes the hard top. If I ever went to a I/O boat, the 26' Striper would be on my short list. I especially liked how the dog house for the engine was integrated into the transom/splashwell and didn't protrude into the fishing area much at all. Overall I thought it was a solidly made boat with a very good and well designed layout for fishing -- especially Great Lakes fishing. PS: Good to know your budget -- although fun to look at the more expensive ones, could also be cruel

2004 22' Triton 2286 Walk Around w/ 250 hp Evinrude (but pretty sure this is post Bombardier taking over): http://www.walleye.com/Default.aspx?TabID=65&ItemID=247&uc=info&mode=dir 2003 26' Triton 2693 Walk Around w/ twin Yamaha outboards & lots of electronics: http://www.walleye.com/Default.aspx?TabID=65&ItemID=230&uc=info&mode=dir

Here are a few that might fit! http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/3916170236.html http://saginaw.craigslist.org/boa/3940627206.html This one's an I/O, but its a hardtop and pics look great: http://jxn.craigslist.org/boa/3950941742.html http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/bod/3909892391.html http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/3967210035.html http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/bod/3894773039.html http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/boa/3951930880.html http://muskegon.craigslist.org/boa/3927681576.html

Put a less comfortable bed on the boat! Get out there one morning and catch a couple of 20#+ Kings and you won't have any trouble getting excited about getting back out there again. Another thing the think about... what percentage of people ever get to see a sunrise from 8 miles offshore in Lake Michigan? To me it is one of the prettiest things ever. Combine that with a fish on the line... priceless! Only one way to be able to experience it though... you gotta be out there! I'm absolutely floored by the number of people in Michigan that have never even seen Lake Michigan. When I lived in St. Joe it was amazing to me how many people living that close to the lake had never gone salmon fishing. Most had never even gone down and walked the beach or breakwall. Don't become one of "them"... get out there! I'll put my pom poms back in their box now

One time I got a decent King on the slider and a good Steelhead on a the main line. It was very odd to have the line off the rod pointing toward the King at about the 7 o'clock direction (and it really making a big run)... but then have a Steelhead jumping at the 5 o'clock direction. Initially thought the Steelhead was on the starboard rigger's slider but the rod hadn't popped. So we popped that rigger and found nothing to be on it. Took about 10 minutes to figure out what was going on and somehow managed to net both fish.