1mainiac

Glad at least somebody caught some fish my morning sucked. My little brother showed up after drinking all night he was in a good mood till we cleared the pier and hit the waves. By the time we set up in 100ft he was turning green and hanging over the side of the boat. He tried going into the cabin to lay down that was a bad idea so he moved back to hanging over the side. By 6 am we were surronded by other boats who could not drive in 3 to 5 foot waves. About 7am another boat ran across my bow when I turned to avoid him I tangled the rear cannon balls and lost my starboard ball thank God my new probe did not go with it. By the time we cleaned up the mess my attitude was gone with my cannon ball. So I hit the throttle and headed in got in in time to watch the bass tournament stage and leave the launch. I saw the small craft advisory posted when I got home would have been nice to know that before we left. At least somebody had a better day than me. Tight Lines Jim

Was anyone around you catching fish? Need more info water depth and temp 4pm not a great time to fish for Salmon as they tend to be laying on the bottom during daylight hours. Water has warmed a lot down here moving the fish out to deeper water. Way to many varibles to give a good answer without more info. Tight Lines Jim

Went out this morn waves were 3 to 5 ft and not improving set up in 100ft and tried to fish but was rough and my brother drank too much last night so he was turning green. After I had a 3rd boat run across me was loosing my temper then both rigger went off as I crossed the balls trying to avoid the idiot lost the ball from under my probe in the process. At least did not lose the probe which I just bought yesterday But I was done for the day Said a few choice words cut the mess out and push the throttle forward toward the pier. Hope everyone else had a better day but I am done fishing in tournaments gonna stick to night fishing way less dummies to deal with and the weather is more predictable. Got back to Fishermans Landing in time to watch all the bass boats heading out had to weave in thru about 50 boats to get in so there will probably be a crowd there for weigh in. By the way checked and there is a small craft advisary in effect till 6 PM so be safe guys. Tight Lines Jim

I have a dual beam light both flouresant and blacklight wired on my boat I use it for long term soak. I also use a couple of camera flash units for quick touch ups or to toss out a lure in a hurry but the blacklight and flouresant work best. Tight Lines Jim

copied from one of Caz's posts. The Classic Rule's 1- Must pay entry fee at 4:30am(If you are going to be late, then call my cell phone at 1-269-908-0286 and leave a meassage. I leave the docks at 4:30am sharp, so if you do not leave me a meassage and I do not get you on the marine radio before 6am. Then you will be DQed for being a late show. There will be no more checking in after 6am while everyone is fishing.) 2- All fishing events start at 5 am and must pull lines at 11am. 3- Weigh in starts at 12:30(If you get called two times at the weigh in and you are not there. You will be DQed 4- Cost is $15.00 a boat.($5.00 of it goes towards big fish) 5- All boats must only use 6 rods 6- 2-4 Man teams(If you have 4 or more fishermen in your boat as a team you can only catch a 3 MAN LIMIT) 7- Weigh in 6 fish of any kind (Salmon, Coho, Steelheads, Browns, and Lakers) weigh in 3 fish for the 3rd event and weigh in 3 fish for the 4th event. The fish you weigh in for the 3rd event will have to have zip ties on the fish and the 4th event fish will not have zip ties on the fish. 9- Make sure when you weigh your big fish for the big fish prize money that you know what fish is your biggest.(NO CHECKING AT THE SCALES) 10- NO - CULL RULE- If you box your fish you keep that fish. You can throw back fish if they are not bleeding. 11- All captains that fish any event must sign a waiver form before they fish any event. You only have to sign it one time and it will cover you for all five events. Fish points: 1- Browns= 20 pts. 2- Steelheads= 15 pts. 3- Kings= 10 pts 4- Coho's= 5 pts. 5- Laker's= 0 pts. BONUS points- Any fish that has a clipped anipost fin(that is the fin by the tail) will receive 5 bonus points... Plus 1 point per pound for all your fished weighed in. Hope that helps and hope the weather holds so we can fish this one. Tight Lines Jim

plenty of kings in the big lake based on reports. Hope the water is up could not get my boat in and out there this spring water was too low. I like insta launch but had to stay in the channel due to low water level in the river. That was in May of this year my boat draws 36 in. At least low water level gives better bridge clearance. Tight Lines Jim

Just me and my wife in my boat most of the time have got all of our doubles so far this year I just point the boat downwind it seems to track better. But it is a 26 ft boat so we have the room just yank the smallest one in fast had a triple on last weekend and got all 3. 3rd fish was on a dipsey landed first fish before we pulled the rod out of the holder. Probably more luck than skill but I ain't gonna complain the Owner hooks have kept their mouths sewn shut and that helps more than anything. We towed a 8lb fish for a long time as the release was tangled so it might have hit during the triple as we weren't watching the poles close with 3 on it was porpousing behind the boat when I went to reset after our 5th fish pulled the ball up and untangled the release and reeled the fish in once again with the mouth sealed shut. Tight Lines Jim

1 Mainiac will be there

Well I run them 50 to a hundred back and on SWR setups a lot off the balls and I run my side riggers deepest they seem to cause less problem when they are below the rear balls. and I can run longer leads off all of them that way. As a rule my deepest rod will always be on my starboard side rigger. But that may be just the way my riggers are setup as my side riggers are too far forward but at least I can put my full canvas up without having to remove any of my gear which was my goal when I set it up. It does not fish as well as I thought as you have to think when setting lines but once set correctly it is ok. But put them down wrong and you are in for trouble I will probably change things around this winter when I have more time to think it over. I have to get new rod holders for my dipsey's and board rods this winter anyhow so will be a good time to reconfigure the rest. Tight Lines Jim

Cool at least they really are lasting longer had probably close to 200 hrs on my old battery it was still working but kept flashing low battery. I actaully planned on buying one of the Sub Troll units but no one was willing to make a deal on one met Kurt at the Sport show in Grand Rapids 3 years ago and got a great deal on the Depth Raider it has been a good unit so far I beleive his company makes the Cannon units. Tight Lines Jim

Depth Raider I have had it 3 years but still a lot of money to drop to the bottom. Fish were not as active last night but still there wind was coming straight in from west so it will be blowing warmer water back if it continues which should end the battle inside the arms for another month till the actual run starts to shape up. Sad thing is I just put a new battery in the probe the first battery lasted 2 and a half seasons the guys I know with the other units can't get a weekend out of a battery though I guess the new probe is lasting longer on batteries. But I bet I put 250 fish in the box on that first battery while batteries are cheap they do add up. Don't think I can afford a new probe so will be fishing blind the rest of this season I guess. Tight Lines Jim

Just got back in from night fishing same area 17.600 to 18.100 45 to 60FOW. Water was much warmer in closer 45 ft moved out to about 60ft surface temp was just under 60 compared to 56 this morn 32 dn temp was berween 51 and 49 compared to 43 to 46 this morn then my probe came off it is in 58ft around 17.800. I ran the same exact lure setup ended 3 for 3 kinda lost the desire when the probe hit the bottom. Tight Lines Jim

Out of Muskegon this morn drove right on thru the mess up front headed north was 6 for 7 by 8 am and headed for the dock. Never had a boat close to me all morn and had a blast. I am not gonna fish the pack until I get permission to sink the jerks. Fish are everywhere but the minute someone gets one inside they all think the run is on and pile in. Just like on the river the guys who can't fish just all stay in the same place cause someone caught a fish there. Tight Lines Jim

Out this morn set lines at 6:30 in 45 FOW about 3 miles north of pier. Never got more than 4 lines out first fish came while setting up 32 dn on rigger 50 back Nitro Area 51 small king in the box. Reset that rod and set my dipsey's next fish came on dipsey Siggs blue green glow 120 back on 2.5 nice 4 year old king about 15lbs. Was reseting the other rigger when next fish hit at 28 dn on a DW green glow ghost brought in a nice 8lb king. Next fish came a few min later on a Siggs gold mirage behind a glow coyote flasher 115 bk on dipsey set on 2.5 4 lb king in the box. Next fish came on the Blue green siggs again set at 120 this one left with the hook don't know if I damaged the knot when I pulled it from the first fish or if just bad luck put on a new fly and reset it. The gold mirage siggs went off a few min later and brought another small king in. Going good 5 for 6 so far was restting when a fish hit the surface behind the boat my wife had seen it come up a couple of times while I was fighting the last fish but all my lines looked ok so set the rod again and the fish came back up ok which pole am I dragging it on grabbed my probe rigger pole and it would not release brought the ball up and found I had the line wraped in the release released the line and brought in a 7lb king. First limit of the season and headed home early. Surface temp was 58 probe was between 47 and 49 32 dn never went deeper than 58ft or in past 48ft ran about a mile north and south never left the area. Tight Lines Jim

Well the last time that happened to me the boat that did it was done fishing for the day. I put my bow anchor down and stayed on his stern the rest of the morning every time he put down lines I ran them over. But I am not politically correct so I stay out of fray as throwing 8oz sinkers at other boats is not a good idea either. Any how I prefer to stay out of jail as I get older so I don't fish in the stupid pack anymore. Tight Lines Jim

I agree Jay I have a short temper at times and very little tolerance of stupidity. So if at all possible I drive on thru and look for fish elsewhere last year we were killing them in 80ft while the pack was fighting each other in the mouth we were alone and having a blast. I also often target Steelhead late in the season unless I need eggs. Can't tell you how many times we were filling the box while they were cussing and fighting for a fish or 2 up front. Tight Lines Jim

I really did not get that close was a dark colored boat was around 18.300 in about 120FOW we were in 95 FOW. I reconignized the boat by out line was on a tight time scheduale so did not drive out to it just saw it working and decided to set up and run back. Jim

Cold water everwhere ran up to just south of Duck Lake which is where we got both fish. They were either setting or checking a net I set up just south and set lines headed straight back to Muskegon I think I should have stayed out there and ran back but plan was to run up and troll back so stuck to it. Ran probe 32 dn and temp never hit 44 was between 41 and 43 massive baitfish mass 20 to 40 dn north of pier in 58 to 65 FOW. Was getting late so was trolling fast 2.8 to 3.0 GPS still took close to 30 min to get thru the baitfish screen was full entire time. Was like Sept out front only thing missing was the guys snagging I mean jigging at the end of the channel. Out of what looked like a 100 boats all going in circles or differant directions I was happy to throttle up and drive away from that mess. Will be back out Thur or Fri evening Tight Lines Jim

Out this evening madhouse out front took one look and drove on thru headed north to 95ft set lines and got first fish in a few min 5lb king on a Nitro AREA 51 down 42ft reset it and got another hit on the dipsey with a Siggs Gold Mirage and a Glow Coyote flasher a few min later and brought in another 5lb king. Pretty good start plan seemed to be working but it is a work night and I had program planed had two more hits but no more fish. Tight Lines Jim

I live close by so sat will be fine with me

Personally I always stay short in combat mode 10 to 30ft behind the balls depending on lure. 2 colors with snap weights or dive bombs and stay closer to the boat if you have some room. I run lots of dipsey's I run mag dipsey's on wire set on 1.5 Standard dipsey's on 2.5 on braid. I always used to keep a bag of 8oz sinkers close to throw at those who run my lines over I can't throw them very far so if you are in range you are too damn close. As long as everyone runs north south out front there is no real problem it is just the dummies who want to run diagnally thru the pack as they know they are the only one who matters. And lets not forget the guys who get in the middle of the pack and troll in circles I actually enjoy running their gear over will miss my bow mounted electric anchor made clearing out lines a lot easier. Tight Lines Jim

Well you could just about fish non stop the entire 2 weeks and not get bored on the big lake you have King salmon Coho's Steelhead Browns and Lakers and perch if you can find them. Muskegon lake offers Walleye Bass Panfish Catfish Pike to name a few basicly every fresh water fish you could want is here somewhere. There is a chance of catching record class fish in all species though the Salmon have not sized up much in last 15 years you can still run into some over 20lbs. There are hundreds of streams rivers and inland lakes so you can pretty much say what you would like to catch and how you would like to do it and someone here can let you know where to do it. There are numerous charter services and guides as well as a number of guys who post here that often have a open spot on board to fish with. So let us know what you would like to do and see how many guys offer suggestions. Tight Lines Jim

I buy all my Owners in bulk 50 packs or more have got them as cheap as 45 cents a piece that way. The Outdoorsman in Jenison has them in 50 packs for 28 bucks I usually buy them off season easier to haggle price when no line of guys wanting them. I won't fish a chrome hook very often I usually replace them with Owners as they are the best hook I have ever used. I used to sharpen all my hooks on a bench buffer and touch them up with a emory board 600 or 800 grit I don't much like files as they remove to much metal if not carefull. My dad showed me how to sharpen on a bench grinder with a buffer wheel when I was a kid no better way to sharpen that I know of. Tight Lines Jim

Well so much for the Secret part Frank. Now we will have to rename it or create a new secret fishing system and not tell Frank Ha ha Tight Lines Jim

Temp breaks try and find pockets of cold water close to warm water Salmon live in cold water bait fish live in warm water get them close together and they will stay and feed. Find a area where there is warmer water outside a nice cold pocket and you will have trapped fish to work on. Last Sun I stayed out cause the water was warmer at 65ft so fished 80 and out all morn ended 3 for 7 ok but chk GLF's report for same morn he found cold water at 50ft that was pushed in by the warmer water further out and went 12 for 16. Had I considered wind direction I should have known to fish where he was but gas is killing me so now I take a short program and run it if it works great if not I go home so I leave with a plan and stick to it I make some minor changes but that is all. Tight Lines Jim