Grand Haven 5-21, 5-22 and 5-23-2010

[Bobbys Toy]

It is much easier to write a fishing report when things go well and conditions are ideal, but the story must be told whether good or bad. Do not get me wrong, it was not bad fishing, it just was not the kind of catching that we had hoped for.

We left the dock Friday morning around 5:30 AM with a steady rain falling. Sea conditions were calm with rain being in the forecast the entire day with the possibility of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. We were told that fish were being caught straight out of port in 85 to 165 foot of water. We motored out to 65 foot on a west to south-west heading and set lines. I set the autopilot for on a west heading hunting for kings.

Downrigger number one went off at 7:00 AM as we hit 125 FOW. The rigger was set 88 down with a reguluar-sized snowman Silver Streak. The Fish Hawk showed 44-degree water 70 feet down so all four riggers were set up using this as the mean. One side of the boat was set up with regular size spoons, the other with mags. Dipseys were pulling flasher and fly combo set 155 and 135 back with a mag double orange crush Silver Streak spoon while boards with a half core and full core were deployed on each side for a 8 rod spread. The first fish; a king, was on the small side at 5 pounds. Five minuets latter the number four rigger went off with a mag sized double white crush Finlander spoon set 40 foot down produced another 5-pound king. The Dipsey with the mag DOC spoon went at the same time producing another king in the five-pound class.

Around 7:15, the half core went off while over 138 FOW. This fish was running out some line so we were hopeful that we were getting into bigger fish. Todd the rod man fought this fish for 10 minuets or so before getting it to the back of the boat where the net man (name excluded) proceeded to beat the fish off the hook. This fish was the largest of the day so far but never got in the boat. The fish was estimated to be around 10 pounds. The fish had hit a glow back Blue Dolphin Silver Streak. When the clock hit half past seven downrigger 1 went off again with another 5 pound king.

When we hit 150 FOW the temperature dropped to 43 degrees at the ball so a swung the boat around and set the autopilot on an east heading which did not produce a fish. We trolled back into a 125 foot and set the boat on a west heading again. As soon as the turn was completed the number 4 rigger went again producing a 2 pound king which as released. I had noticed that we were experiencing a lot of current on these trolls and that the water had warmed for 44 degrees in 125 FOW to 46.5 degrees an hour or so latter.

The next fish came at 8:50 when we reached 138 FOW showing 46-degree water the same 70 foot down. This time it was the full core loaded with a super screw mag Silver Streak producing a 6-pound king. 8:55 the starboard Dipsey went again with a big hit but was gone after a minuet. We trolled another 45 minuets until the half core went again in 230 FOW producing a nice 4-pound steelhead. This prompted me to put out a 2-color core rod with a double orange crush spoon. This rig went twice producing small steelies until we pulled lines at 1:30 and headed for port. The rain subsided around 1:00 PM. Final toll was seven fish kept for twelve fish on. Three throwbacks and two lost.

Saturday was day one of our two-day tournament where we awoke to thick fog. We had the captains meeting at 5:00 AM with everyone dispersing to their boats at 5:15. My crew had Bobby’s Toy warmed up and ready to roll when I reached the dock. We shoved off and headed down the river to the pier heads. I followed my track for the day before on the GPS, as visibility was less than a couple hundred feet in the river. Fog conditions were not much better at the lake. We headed back to the spot we hit the fish on Friday but decided to set up in 100 FOW of water instead of 65. Getting out to the 100-foot mark was a challenge for me as I became disorientated in the fog and kept getting off course and turned around in circles twice. I finally got the boat pointed on a west course and set the autopilot. Due to the slow commute, I decided to stop in 85 FOW and set lines around 6:15.

The ideal 44-degree water had moved again. It was now 42.9 degrees at 70 foot down. We set up lines just as we did on Saturday and continued on the West Troll until we hit 125 FOW; I then set the boat on a South course working in and out from 100 to 125 foot.

The first fish did not come until 7:30 in 110 FOW on rigger three sporting a mag lemon ice Silver Streak 60 down with a 2.1 ball speed. All fish on Friday were caught running 2.0 to 2.2 at the ball. The good news was the fish were running slightly larger than the kings we caught on Friday. Our second fish came 5 minutes latter on a double white crush spoon set 135 back on a braided mag Dipsey in 112 FOW producing another 7-pound king. The full core went about 20 minuets latter giving us a small 4-pound king on a Moonshine flounder pounder spoon.

All went quiet until 12:25 when a laker hit rigger one set 100 down in 130 FOW about 3 miles north of the fish we caught earlier. The next half hour produced two more kings; one 7 pounder and one 4 pounder both caught is a 152 FOW on mag spoons. We were next to my good friend Captain Mark Williams and the Silver Addiction crew when the tournament was called. The fog conditions were improving but still offered poor visibility, so Mark offered to lead the way with his radar going and Bobby’s Toy trailing behind in his wake. This proved to be a big help and allowed us to get back to port in enough time, as we were almost seven miles out.

When it was all said and done, we were setting in fifth place after day one. The top five spots were anybodies game as spot two thru four were within a half a point of one another.

Sunday gave us clear skies, calm seas and less fish. The fish were scattered all over in small pockets of water. You were either on the fish on not. We fished the same area as the previous two days and had less than desirable results. The first fish caught was a 12 + pound king, which was our largest fish for the three days that we fished. We ended up going 4 for 6 with one of the 4 being to small to weigh. We could not buy another fish past 10:20 AM.

The standings changed dramatically at Sundays weigh in. As the first place fell out of contention, we fell down to ninth place and a couple of boats that did poorly on Saturday came back in a big way on Sunday. Miss Dipsey and crew pulled out 12 fish to weigh and took first place by a considerable margin while the second and third place boats came in with impressive catches as well. The rest of us struggled.

The largest fish caught on Saturday was a 16.5 pounder caught be Sloppy Joe and Sunday’s largest fish was a 15.45 pound king caught by E Fish N Sea. Sloppy Joe was the overall ‘333’ winner for the two days.

However, this year Grand Haven tournament had its challenges; everyone made it through safely and seemed to enjoy themselves. This will be quiet until June 26 when the Detroit Area Steelheaders arrive in Pentwater for their 4th tournament of the year.

[Nailer]

Too bad for Sunday Bob. Is 44 deg your ideal temp for Kings?

[GLF]

Nice job Bob, and GREAT report!

[Bobbys Toy]

Ken,

I use 44 degrees as a starting point for kings. I set the probe down until i hit 44 degrees and set up 20 feet each side of that depth as a starting point and adjust from there. My experince and records show that most of my fish come in 46 to 42 degree water this time of year. Latter in the year mean temp moves to 46 degrees with most fish caught in 48 to 44 degree water. This not to say you will not get them in warmer water as my records show fish caught in 50 degree water and as high as 65 degrees when they start to stage for the run.

[Just Hook'n]

Great report. Hell, AMAZING report. I can't remember what we did 10 minutes ago that worked. You just be keeping a log. I have not broken mine out yet this year as I have been just excited to get out.

Thank you for the information. very helpful.