Grand Haven 7/12; Whitehall 7/13; Muskegon 7/14 (Tri-Port Challenge)

[Ravbowhunter]

I fished the Tri-Port Challenge for the first time this weekend and also fished the Ladies/Children's tourney on Friday.

07/12/13:

I chose to start South of Muskegon just outside of the nets at 43'10 in 110 fow and put a few laker set ups right on bottom...that did nothing so we just kept trolling South and ended the day down around Grand Haven. We worked 90-175 fow and picked up our only fish in about 160 fow, which was a 7# steelhead. We lost one other fish in that same water. Can't remember what we got the steel on, but the fish we lost was on a 250' copper with a stingray sized blue dolphin. The fleas were terrible!

07/14/13:

Not wanting to run all the way to Pentwater again, and seeing that the #2 amateur boat (which weighed in an 80# box on day one) set up in 85 fow basically straight out of Muskegon, we follow suit. We worked WNW out to 120 fow when we popped our first fish, a 16.7# king on a paddle/Oceana UV fly combo 70' down on the rigger. We stayed in that water for a minute trying to find more kings but didn't have any takers so we worked further West. We found some Coho in 150-180 fow and boxed two 4.5#ers and an 8#er. Two of them came on paddle/fly combos on the riggers and one came on a 250 copper with a bloody nose spoon. After boating our fourth fish at 10:15, we were feeling pretty good and were on a mission to find some kings. We didn't take a bump for over 2.5 hours. Ultimately, we decided to work out deep (got out to as far as 280) in search of some steel to fill our box, and we found some in 230 fow. We had a fire drill with three rods going within five minutes of each other and we only managed to land one of the fish . They were putting on a show with one of them (ironically, the one we landed) jumping about 3' out of the water. We landed a 7#er and lost one about the same size right at the net and one that was a little smaller at the boat as well. Had one other knock off in that water before we had to pull lines. All the steel hit riggers down 50 with white spoons or paddle/fly combos. Put together a respectable 40.40# box on day two, which was good enough for us to finish in 9th place overall in the amateur division. Fleas were worse than up North but nothing like GH.

We were very happy with the results considering that I hadn't been salmon fishing since May. There were a lot of big fish caught. The announcer at the awards ceremony said that there were over a dozen kings weighed in over 20#s. The big fish of the tournament was 25.3#s and I watched the #2 fish get weighed in (24.8#s). The #3 fish was 23#+ as well! All the fish we caught were full of bait and nice and fat. I am really looking forward to this hot weather setting up the lake for some huge king action!

[numberguy77]

Great job fishing and thanks for the great report out of Muskegon.

Now, that's the way to write a report!

I was not in the tournament but went 2 for 2 on Saturday, picking up a couple of steelies in 86 and 124 fow.

Planning on taking a buddy out tonight. Hope to find a couple of hungry fish.

[Just Hook'n]

Nice job Ross...that's a lot of miles you put on the lake this weekend...top 10 finish is very respectable.

[Ravbowhunter]

Great job fishing and thanks for the great report out of Muskegon.

Now, that's the way to write a report!

I was not in the tournament but went 2 for 2 on Saturday, picking up a couple of steelies in 86 and 124 fow.

Planning on taking a buddy out tonight. Hope to find a couple of hungry fish.

Thanks...honestly, I debate about my reports every time I write them because I get so sick of people getting on here and reading but never reporting! However, I feel like karma always finds its way around so I try to be as helpful to everyone on here because someone always seems to help me out when I have questions.

[DiverDennis]

Good job. Great report.

[ZachEno]

Great work and thanks for a detailed report.

[j1musser]

Nice catch and congrats on the top 10 finish. There was some nice weight weighed. Great job guys

[Fishrmac]

Way to go on an adventure to find fish!