season opener - 16 for 31 - Saugatuck in close - morning of 8/28/2023

[2MD]

After all the reports of them getting an early/on-time run in Grand Haven this year, decided it was high-time we see if Saugatuck would equally produce.  Ran down in the darkness and setup in 40fow directly off Saugatuck channel at around 6am.  First fish came at around 7.15am. We nailed a couple coho in that 40-43fow but weren’t breaking records or anything so we slid in a bit more.  For the next 4hrs it was just one bite after another all really right there in that 31-34fow just inside the kzoo river mud.  Pretty much all combinations produced.  3 colors, 5 colors, 7 colors, dipseys, riggers…  Plugs caught the most fish.  Spoons got maybe 3-4 fish.  Large white paddles must have gone a half a dozen times too.  We had three quadruples and lots of laughs in the midst of all the chaos.  Hats off to PUG, the kids, and a very determined crew!  Ended up going 16 for 31 this morning, which has to be one of our best if not our best trip on Parker and definitely an exciting start to the fall season. 

[Lef T]

Nice job.  You'll be eating salmon all winter!

[Aaron Nusbaum]

Looks like I was 100 ft too deep today, we trolled 130-140 all morning and couldn't shake anything loose despite decent marks

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[SeaFoam]

After all the reports of them getting an early/on-time run in Grand Haven this year, decided it was high-time we see if Saugatuck would equally produce.  Ran down in the darkness and setup in 40fow directly off Saugatuck channel at around 6am.  First fish came at around 7.15am. We nailed a couple coho in that 40-43fow but weren’t breaking records or anything so we slid in a bit more.  For the next 4hrs it was just one bite after another all really right there in that 31-34fow just inside the kzoo river mud.  Pretty much all combinations produced.  3 colors, 5 colors, 7 colors, dipseys, riggers…  Plugs caught the most fish.  Spoons got maybe 3-4 fish.  Large white paddles must have gone a half a dozen times too.  We had three quadruples and lots of laughs in the midst of all the chaos.  Hats off to PUG, the kids, and a very determined crew!  Ended up going 16 for 31 this morning, which has to be one of our best if not our best trip on Parker and definitely an exciting start to the fall season. 

That’s just glorious. Well done!


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[zgrinder on Fin Warrior]

You flat out killed it this morning.  Great call to fish the mud (I love it as well) but that was a big boy call to fish in so tight.  Enjoyed the pics and clips.  Thanks so much for sharing.

[2MD]

thanks guys

cleaned a lot of fish today and from the looks of their bellies they were eating shad... gobs of shad is what I was seeing on graph too i bet

[FBD]

Every picture just push the pug a little more towards the center until the kids are covered...

 

Thanks for the intel last night was the most fun I've had in a boat in a long time.

[Bigbones]

What a remarkable day!  After a 2 for five Sunday in SOHA, I am presenting your video to my brother as a primer on how to net a salmon.  To your kids, “well done”, and to Pug, “way to keep ‘em on the fish!”  
 

I believe I would like to join your crew .

 

jim

 

 

[EdB]

Great catch!