Whitehall 9/11

[Playin Hooky]

Thought long and hard about canceling this morning's run to the shore due to fog concerns, but crossed fingers and hit the road at 0350.

Launched and crossed White Lake at 0550 and entered a slightly foggy channel, but saw boats out on the big lake. lots of guys on the piers and the channel temp was diving as we hit the pierheads.

Set up in 45 fow and headed W, surface temp 49 degrees, 43 degrees 35 feet down. First fish, 8# mature king with a lamprey wound, on a 2 color with C-14. Turned around in 85 and made another loop, caught another 12# hen king in 72 fow on a blue/glo SD and white glow fly 90back on 3 in 65 fow, then missed another rip on the opposite wire. Lots of chunks of biofilm and snotstrings of algae in the water. Fog was beginning to close in. Third loop got another king around 6# king on the blue/glo SD and white glow fly 90 back on 3 in 84 fow. 4th fish was the most acrobatic 8# SH I've seen, fully clearing the water at least 10 times and then swimming straight at the boat after hitting a DW glow bloody nose on a 5 color.

Fog got thick as flies on a windrow of alewives. A couple boats lost nearshore and had a couple close encounters with other boats unseen until within 100 feet. Long lull until we trraveled out to 140 and popped a couple 5-7# kings on the 5 color and a rigger with a blueberry muffin 35 down around 1100. Trolled for the pierheads and hit a beautiful 9.5# coho in 62 fow on the 5 color with BN spoon to finish the trip.

Coming into the channel we must've looked a bit odd with coats and pants on as everyone else was headed for the lake with swimsuits and shorts on. Bet they puckered up in a hurry once they got out there a ways!

A beautiful, albeit stressful day on the lake. For a while we were trolling in a rainbow, as the sun behind us shining through the fog made a circle of color out ahead of us. Hoping for 1 more trip in a week or two, or into October--unless the trail cams give us something to get excited about for bow season!

[KJ pluggin]

Nice job Eric.