Paulywood

Laker fishing in the fall is easier because they spawn in the fall. That's why the season closes in Michigan in October. They are easy pickings. But they will still be aggressive in the spring. Lots of guys trolling Lake Michigan in tight for browns end up catching lakers.

It's not scientific but my slider leaders tend to be from fingertip to breastbone. Just because when I make them it's an easy length and I can net fish with that length. I have never measured it but it's about 5-6'.

Nice lakers, seeing that burned boat almost made me cry. I feel your pain.

I don't like the heavy line because I think it hurts the action of the spoon. Same reason I use a small swivel. I tried a plain snap but had problems with tangles.

I use either 20# flourocarbon or 15# Cajun Red for my sliders. The red is just because it helps me see the line if there is a tangle. I only use free sliders.

Mike, got the flashers and flies today. Really appreciate it. It will help a lot. Thanks again.

Jim, got the spoons today. They look great. I have never tried a JP Slammer but might have to give them a shot this year. Thanks again!

I'm not sure about the depth of the lake in that area, have never been up that far, but PM lake does connect to Lake Michigan. On the weekend it will be a zoo. But during the week boat traffic is lighter and you will have a chance at some great fishing. I know a few members here are Ludington fishermen and they will help you out with more info. Ludington is one of the best ports on the lake, have fun.

Thanks Mike, appreciate it.

Thanks Jim, I appreciate it. PM sent.

Here's a link to the Facebook page for the breakfast: http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=315106766076&ref=share

Ok guys, I would like to ask a favor. My sister in law is helping on a benefit for a local 5th grader named Trent Bengel who has a brain tumor. I am trying to put together an item for the silent auction. I am donating a $100 Cabela's gift card and a $50 Gander Mountain gift card. I also bought a Flasher File and would like to fill it with spoons and flies. However, I don't have any unopened flies or spoons to add to it. So I am asking that if you have a couple of new spoons or flies that you would like to donate please send them to me. I don't need a lot, I was thinking about 10-20 spoons and 5-10 flies should be enough. If you had a flasher or something else that you would like to donate that would be great too. Thanks in advance guys, you will be helping a worthy cause.

They don't carry the Thin Fins in the chain stores but I think you can get them from Lake Michigan Angler. They can be killer some days. Ken, I haven't had any hooks straightened out in the spring but I haven't gotten into anything huge, either. I do change out some of the cheaper hooks though.

I will probably be right behind Terry and Joe so my spread will look a lot like theres. I also like a Bare Naked Reef Runner, a J11 Perch Rapala, and a silver Rattl-Trap run on a spinning rod right in the prop wash. Coho can't resist the prop wash for some reason and they are a blast to fight on a spinning rod.

As long as the rod is threaded into the block in front of the spool you can add an extension. I added one to one of the manual riggers I used to have. I think the rod and union cost about $25 from Big Jon.

I have been on a few boats with the center rigger and I think it's always in the way. It effectively cuts the beam in half. I think that 4 riggers give you more space by running the 2 rear riggers near the corners and 2 out and downs. I'm only running 2 on my boat now but I would like to add 2 more eventually. And I only have an 8' 6" beam. I also like to have the rear riggers on swivel bases. It can be very handy if you have a large/green fish to gain that extra clearance by swinging them out to the side. Just my $.02.

Frank, we have talked about using a laptop as a gps before. The main problem I see is the amount of moisture in the air when you are on the water. I don't know if any laptop will last long in these conditions. Also the abuse it would take when you are up and running. Even the rough service laptops aren't really meant to absorb that kind of shock. And while your hardtop will offer some protection, it will also hinder the computer's ability to pick up a signal. I don't know if they make an antennae for a computer. I have seen on a couple of different places where guys have tried a laptop as a gps and no one was happy with the results. By the time you add up the cost of the computer, software, inverter and antennae, you could buy a gps and a chip and have something that was built to perform in a marine environment. And has a warranty. Just my opinion.

Welcome aboard!

Frank, have you thought about just buying one unit this year and then the other next year? That way you could at least spread out your costs. One thing that is nice about the other charts are the details like navigational buoys in Muskegon Lake and things like that. They can really come in handy if there is fog or you are running in the dark.

You get the points for the weight on lakers but no bonus points.

Welcome Scott!

As many of you already know the young man we sponsored in the charity event last year has passed on. With the passing of Kevin this brings even a brighter light to B4K as they enable youngsters to enjoy their outdoor wishes. So with that said I present to you the 2010 Dreamweaver Charity Salmon Fishing Tournament Rules and Signup Thread. Any questions please inquire at: [email protected] Dreamweaver Charity Salmon Tournament Saturday JULY 24th Fisherman's Landing Muskegon, Michigan Entry fee of $75 Winnings will be awarded accordingly 1st-Place - 20 tickets, trophy. 2nd Place - 18 tickets. 3rd Place - 16 tickets. 4th Place - 14 tickets. 5th Place - 12 tickets. 6th Place - 10 tickets. 7th Place - 8 tickets. 8th Place - 6 tickets. 9th Place - 4 tickets. 10th Place - 2 tickets. Big Fish - Cash. *Additional raffle tickets can be purchased for $5/piece or 5 for $20. Raffle Tickets will only be sold on day of tournament, and you must be present to win.* This is a FUN charity tournament. We ask people to share fishing tips on the radio (Channel 72). Please keep your comments at a PG rating. This is a family orientated event. You may ONLY use the lures provided in the lure pack. If you lose a lure you are down a lure, no replacing the lure with a like lure in your boat. No alterations of the lures (exception, line on the fly and changing hooks if they become unusable). ANY PORT ON LAKE MICHIGAN IS OPEN TO FISH THIS YEAR. Fishing starts no earlier than 5:00 AM, there is no stop time HOWEVER a team representative must be in line with fish for weigh-in by 1:00 PM at Fisherman?s Landing, Muskegon. You will be disqualified if you are not in weigh-in line by 1:00pm. A tournament representative will be ready to weigh fish by 11:00 AM. If tournament is fished until at least 8:00AM it will be considered completed. Boats may use up to 9 rods in the water MAX at any one time. Three-man DNR fish limit MAX per boat. Weigh 5 fish of the following kind (King, Coho, Steelhead, Browns, and Lakers). Each fish is worth 10 points plus weight. Know what your big fish is. You get 1 chance to weigh your big fish. All captains must sign a waiver form prior to getting their lure packages. A representative will be in the Fisherman?s Landing Pavilion from 4:00 AM to 5:30 AM (day of tournament). Lure packages will also be available Friday evening after 5:00 PM at the Fisherman?s Landing Campground. Waiver forms are available in .PDF, If possible print them, fill them out, and send them with your payment. If you do not show up for the event, your lure package will be donated as a prize and money will not be refunded. In the event of bad weather, the tournament may be delayed or cancelled. Every attempt will be made to either reach the boat by cell phone or marine radio on channel 72. In the event of a cancelled tournament, big fish money will be donated to charity and a raffle will be held in the pavilion at 12:00 Noon July 2nd is the deadline to have entry fees to me, this is because we have to order the lures and put the packages together. Any boat that pays the entry fee prior to June 2nd will receive 5 extra raffle tickets in their captain?s pack. Please write checks to Jim Six with Dreamweaver Charity Salmon Tourney in the notes section. This tournment will be limited to the first 60 paid boats. We already have a significant amount of sponsors committed to us again this year and i will post those soon. The Waiver PDF will also be online soon.

My boat came with a Garmin 178 combo unit and that map is bare also. I'm not sure when they had a better base map but both of mine are older and they don't have it. I know that the other brands (Lowrance, Humminbird, Raymarine) have cheaper maps available. But I'm happy with my units. I like the seperate units because if I have to send one in I still have the other. And they can be tied together and the GPS can also display the sonar info. Very versatile. What it came down to for me was I bought both units plus the chip for the same amount I was planning on spending on a Furuno sonar. And I wouldn't trade the GPS for a slightly better sonar now that I have it.

Yeah we use a light. They are a riot to fish for.

The base maps are just bare Frank. They don't show anything, just a body of water. They are expensive but worth it IMO.