Wild at heart combat report 9/13pm and 9/14am

[Wild@]

Friday night went 8-10 with 4 kings. 1@20#... two cats and two walleyes @7# and 10#. All fish came in the channel from big red and mac. Blue and green plugs on riggers and orange jointed rapalas on two and three colors. Thanks for tip FBD. Saturday morning went 9/14 withe 150#. Started out front and went 6-8 then got the rest in the channel. Same plugs on riggers in the lake. Boards pulling 2,3 colors and 75 copper on fire. All boards late. Divers back 40 mountain dew spin doctor. Biggest 23 and 20. Hooked a spin doctor in the channel with a 25-28# king attached to it but missed it with the net. If you dont run boards in tight combat fishing....you should....hottest rods all weekend.

[numberguy77]

Running boards in combat fishing in Muskegon wouldn't gain you many friends!

[Wild@]

Never had to in muskegon. Always been riggers and divers up there. Holland channel gets less traffic. When u can run boards you do. When theres no room or no need for running the we dont. Id much rather catch them on rigs and divers.....but not scared to run them when their HOTTT. Just have to be prepared to lose stuff.

[jimbobber]

it doesn't make any friends in Holland either it sucks our channel is not wide enough for that !!!

[Far Beyond Driven]

You learn very quickly who is competent and who you need to avoid, and boat size is not a factor. Last night I came within 10' of getting t- boned as a guy "could not see me because of the sun". Another guy stopped his boat in the middle of the channel to fight a fish. Fine, but when you stop the fish can go anywhere. Much safer to pull them out of traffic and then slow down to net them.

[Far Beyond Driven]

Try combat fishing in south haven or Whitehall, where you can cast across the channels. It's too skinny to run divers there.

[Wild@]

The frustating part for us was that guys were trolling fast on the way in and slow on the way out. Had to pass a few boats when we were heading west.

[Wild@]

If people could see that your divers and slide divers were set on 3-5 you probably woudnt make any friends. LOL. Lots of times our boards were 6-8 ft away from the boat. The boards are orange and really stand out though.

[Far Beyond Driven]

I know I can wail on the kings slow rolling glow flatfish at 1 knot but I won't try it if other boats are around.

[Just Hook'n]

Running boards on any chanel should be illegal...I know it's just plain inconsiderate.

[martemucci]

Wow - Aren't we a bit touchy. Seems like a lot of fihermen worry about others. Everyone just wants to enjoy the water the same as you guys. I am sure we have all ticked someone off and I am sure it was not on purpose. The price you pay when fishing is good. Lets just talk about the fishing and help each other out. Just making a statement.

[Wild@]

Took 9 of our fish on boards in two days. 4 on rigs and divers. One tangl with another boat that was our fault in 8 hrs of fishing. They were HOTTT.

[Far Beyond Driven]

Running boards is way down on the list of stuff not to do in the channel.

Oh well, 90% of the boats will go away in the next two weeks. Got to stock up on the intense fishing when I can.

[instincter06]

I ran one board about 8 feet from the boat and that left plenty of room in the channel. Especially since I ran it so it was going along the sea wall, no chance of hitting someone else that way. Some guys had 2 on each side but we managed to avoid them.

[Wild@]

I agree with FBD...first on the list would be the boats not knowing what they are doing.....last would be how guys are catching their fish. 9 times out of 10 the guys pulling boards have a good idea of whays goin in....example(always knew where FBD was going most boats unpredictable). Also would bet 9 outta 10 that have planer board issues dont even combat fish

[ghfisherman]

we ran boards all day yesterday and so did all most all the other boats trolling with no problems. only problems were people not paying attention to speeds and would push us into the wall

[j1musser]

I sure love this time of year and the combat threads. U guys keep my interest going as the fish ram the rivers. Always the best reads of the year in fall!

[JWheeler]

I've avoided most pier heads over time. On occasion we've fished the circus when it's in town.....

Nice job on da' FEESH!

[Wild@]

Thanks jwheeler...thought i would get too 1000 views before someone said good job or thanks for the report.

[JWheeler]

Thanks jwheeler...thought i would get too 1000 views before someone said good job or thanks for the report.

All the nuts and bolts are there, damn good numbers too!

[Far Beyond Driven]

Practice combat fishing in Muskegon and nothing at Holland will surprise you.

And thanks to all for the harbor reports. Now all sing "it's a small world"

[fishsniffer]

Practice combat fishing in Muskegon and nothing at Holland will surprise you.

And thanks to all for the harbor reports. Now all sing "it's a small world"

now thats the truth !

[chandler]

Pretty much every boat out there in holland runs boards.. The only people who don't are the people where they have no idea what's going on and they run a couple downriggers and run through everyone's lines.. So don't bash on him for running them as most people out there in the pierheads do run them.. And most of the time they catch the most fish!

[Wild@]

Probably had 20 bites on the boards out of 38 in the last 3 trips with most comin on orange and gold jointed rapalas. For better hook ups with the rapalas remove front hook and use bigger size trebles in the back.

[jimbobber]

oh im sorry I don't know what im doing ! I will stay the heck out of the chanel then . im done with this crap anyway.