jdh

Nice work Kevin. Unfortunately I came down with the flu this week and didn't make it out today. I'm thinking of starting my 2016 season early than most if this warm weather sticks around. How does a limit of lakers on January 1st sound!?

I'm always thinking about it!

I'm always thinking about it!

I was feeling bummed out after the Michigan game and decided I needed to catch some fish to cheer myself up. Saw the weather was going to be nice so I called up my buddy kid coulson and decided to try Port Sheldon. After taking our time getting to the launch and messing around with my new fishfinder, trying to jig for some whitefish we decided to start trolling around 10 am. Took our limit fishing in 20-35 fow from the pierheads to a half mile north of the bubbler Mix of browns, steelhead, coho and shaker kings. Every line caught a fish, but the best were long lined Smithwick Rogues. Had some fun with my pier spinning rods. Second best were 1 color lc with Rogues or mini streaks. Nice trip to end the year with, but hopefully I'm not done yet.

I picked up an Islander I/O this weekend. I have plans to convert it to an outboard setup next winter. I'm planning on getting this thing restored and using it for a long time.

Late start. Bumpy ride. Decent fishing. 6-9. Set lines in 100 fow and worked out to 260, and then back to 230 before heading back in. Fished 8:30 - 2 pm. What worked: West/East troll. 2.5 mph heading west (mixed variety of spoons). 3.5 mph heading east (with all superslim spoons). Fish in order: 0-1 Steelhead - 170 fow - 3 color orange stinger 1-1 Steelhead - 175 fow - 300 copper mag blue dolphin silver streak 1-1 Steelhead - 175 fow - 200 copper mini miami dolphin silver streak 1-1 Coho - 180 fow - rigger @ 60 uv blue dolphin stinger 1-1 Laker - 200 fow - 300 copper mag blue dolphin silver streak 0-1 Laker? - 230 fow - 300 copper mage blue dolphin silver streak Took the following 2 fish as a double on the same line: 1-1 Coho - 240 fow - rigger @ 90 - blue dolphin superslim 1-1 Coho - 240 fow - free slider off rigger - custom superslim 0-1 Steelhead - 230 fow - 100 copper orange tranny superslim

I've been fishing out of a 17' Lowe Side Console boat for the past couple years and because I'm running and outboard I've been able to fish in very cold weather. I'm looking to upgrade fishing boats in the next year or so - to something a little more Lake Michigan worthy, and wanted to make sure I don't have problems with the colder weather. Anybody have some tips or good/bad experience with keeping a boat ready to go fishing until Mid-December and bringing it back out in early March? One of the styles of boats that I've been looking at are 20-23 foot fiberglass walkaround style with single or twin outboards. Are there concerns with fiberglass in freezing weather? Am I better off looking for an aluminum boat in that size range? I've been toying with the option of picking up and old Starcraft Islander or similar and removing the I/O and rebuilding the transom to support an outboard. Again, any suggestions?

Launched at 545 am and were done setting lines by 630. We worked at the morning bite in 55-70 fow in front of the sliders and ended up 1-3 by 730. We fished until the storm chased us - ended up running to Port Sheldon. Waited a 30 minutes or so to see what the storm was up to before heading back out. Set up this time pointed towards south in growing waves. From 1030 until 1 pm we went 2-6 fishing in 150 to 170 fow. Ran back in to the pierheads and got soaked with my open bow boat... I do not look forward to taking a pounding like the lake gave us today again. Travelled 5 miles into 2+ footers. Then got to the pier and my engine dies. Thank goodness for my kicker. I think it's a fuel pump issue. What worked: South Troll 2 to 2.7 mph. 0-1 150 copper Ace Hi wonderbread with black dots - copper snapped at backing 0-1 200 copper double trouble mag moonshine 1-1 Full core Silver Horde 4 -looked like a yellowtail pattern? King 1-1 Slide diver on 3 out 240 Kevin's girlfriend 10" sd with glow/green/white fly. King 1-4 Rigger at 125 white paddle 11" & poofster fly. Laker 0-1 400 copper silver blue thinfish - hook bent Overall a good outing bite wise, but I wish we could have put a few more in the boat. Now I have to get my big motor running again. -JDH

If you look at this video, you can see this paddle actually reverses direction occasionally. you can also see the fly wandering around behind it.

I would still prefer a 6 am start.