2 May - South Haven - 10 for 10

[GLF]

Today was the last day for me to fish in South Haven before I trailered my boat back to Muskegon on Sunday. We ended the day 10 for 10, with 5 kings, 3 coho, 1 steelhead, and 1 lake trout. All of our fish came from between 50-85 FOW.

We left the dock around 7am, and ran out to 40FOW and started setting up on a SW troll. Our first fish came just after I finished setting the 3rd downrigger. It was about and 8lb lake trout and came on a Stinger stingray size Freakin Veggies, on a slider set 5' above the ball, set at 35'.

Our next fish was a coho and came on a Stinger stinger size Spring Chicken on a slider set 5' above the ball, set at 25'.

Our next fish was a coho that came on a red and black Thin Fin. This was set 100' behind the board.

The next to go was a 6 color core with a Stinger stingray size Double Orange Crush.

Our next fish was on a Stinger stingray size Diehard on a rigger set at 37'. This was around a 14lb king.

Next to go was a full core with a Stinger stingray size Killer Dolphin.

Next to go was a full core with a Stinger stingray size NBK.

We picked up a nice steelhead on a #9 orange jointed Rapala. This was 100' behind a board.

We picked up a king on a 2 color core with a Stinger stingray size Craigs x-mas.

We picked up one more king on a 1/2 core with a Stinger stingray size Double Orange Crush.

We pulled lines just after 1:30pm and headed in.

So much for the NOAA forecast......1' or less. It was more like 2-4'er's. My sons did not get in on the catching action because it was to bouncy.

Wyatt jumped at the chance to get his picture taken with one of the fish. :thumb:
http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/coho_652692.jpg

This is my old bass fishing partner and coworker Rick. It was good to finally get him out on the GLF with me, so I could show him what a real fish fights like. :D
http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/chinook_49046.jpg

This is our coworker Steve with a steelhead and a king.
http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/steelhead_chinook.jpg

This is our catch for the day.
http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/salmon_523471.jpg

[Kjelle]

Today was the last day for me to fish in South Haven before I trailered my boat back to Muskegon on Sunday. We ended the day 10 for 10, with 5 kings, 3 coho, 1 steelhead, and 1 lake trout. All of our fish came from between 50-85 FOW.

We left the dock around 7am, and ran out to 40FOW and started setting up on a SW troll. Our first fish came just after I finished setting the 3rd downrigger. It was about and 8lb lake trout and came on a Stinger stingray size Freakin Veggies, on a slider set 5' above the ball, set at 35'.

Our next fish was a coho and came on a Stinger stinger size Spring Chicken on a slider set 5' above the ball, set at 25'.

Our next fish was a coho that came on a red and black Thin Fin. This was set 100' behind the board.

The next to go was a 6 color core with a Stinger stingray size Double Orange Crush.

Our next fish was on a Stinger stingray size Diehard on a rigger set at 37'. This was around a 14lb king.

Next to go was a full core with a Stinger stingray size Killer Dolphin.

Next to go was a full core with a Stinger stingray size NBK.

We picked up a nice steelhead on a #9 orange jointed Rapala. This was 100' behind a board.

We picked up a king on a 2 color core with a Stinger stingray size Craigs x-mas.

We picked up one more king on a 1/2 core with a Stinger stingray size Double Orange Crush.

We pulled lines just after 1:30pm and headed in.

So much for the NOAA forecast......1' or less. It was more like 2-4'er's. My sons did not get in on the catching action because it was to bouncy.

Wyatt jumped at the chance to get his picture taken with one of the fish. :thumb:
http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/coho_652692.jpg

This is my old bass fishing partner and coworker Rick. It was good to finally get him out on the GLF with me, so I could show him what a real fish fights like. :D
http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/chinook_49046.jpg

This is our coworker Steve with a steelhead and a king.
http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/steelhead_chinook.jpg

This is our catch for the day.
http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/gallery/files/1/salmon_523471.jpg

Nice catch Mike, you seemed to have a nice day on the lake even tho the wind made it a pain in the gluteals to do the reelin :-), and btw the NOAA forecast sound alot like the versions we got here. Expect nothing less than twice as much as they say.

The slider catching the first laker, did you lock it in some way and prevent in from slidin? if yes by using rubber bands or do you have some other techniques?

No wire dipsies, slide divers, jet divers or other divers that day? lol

In your opinion, how efficient are the downrigger compared to the other deep fishing techniques?

I have heard and read that loads of fishermen claim to catch alot more on the dipsies and slide divers than on the downriggers.
Same as with the copper too ( I know you don´t run copper).

/Kjelle

[GLF]

The slider catching the first laker, did you lock it in some way and prevent in from slidin? if yes by using rubber bands or do you have some other techniques?

Lots of people hold the slider in place with rubber bands.

I have a different techinique that I use. I use a plastic bead, piece of surgical tubing(about an inch long), and a small barrel swivel. I put a small cut in the middle of the surgical tubing, about half way through it.

To rig.....Put the plastic bead on first, then slide your line in one end of the surgical tubing, and slide it out the slit you cut in it. Go through the eye on one of the barrel swivel next, and go back in the slit and out the other end. After it is out, you can tie on your bait on the line. The surgical tubing keeps a small amount of pressure on the slider as it slides down to the main bait.

I have premade sliders that are 6' long. They have a swivel at both ends. 95% of the time, I am running a slider. If I want to add a slider, I clip it on the other end of the barrel swivel.

Setting your rigger with this set up.
Wet the piece of surgical tubing first. This allows the line to slide through freely. Clip the slider on the barrel swivel. Put your rod in the rod holder, and grab the piece of surgical tubing. Put your main line bait in the water, and pull out the distance of line your want to run your bait behind you cannonball. Clip the line below the surgical tubing in the release and start your cannonball down. Hang on to your bait that is on the slider. After you have the distance above the cannonball you want your slider, release the bait. The surgical tubing will keep the bait at that distance. ;)

No wire dipsies, slide divers, jet divers or other divers that day? lol

Sometimes its just the way it happens.

In your opinion, how efficient are the downrigger compared to the other deep fishing techniques?

Downriggers are a very affective presentation when fishing deep. You do not have to worry about spooked fish when they are deep. They are quick to set and reset. If you want more action out of your baits, run them closer to the ball. Every wave, will cause a jigging motion. If you are running your baits a long way behind the ball, you will not get the jigging action. ;)

Its a trial and error thing. Once you find what they want, give them lots of it. :D

I have heard and read that loads of fishermen claim to catch alot more on the dipsies and slide divers than on the downriggers.
Same as with the copper too ( I know you don´t run copper).



There is a time and place for everything. I only have 3 downriggers on my boat, and run one rod on each one. I have lots of other rod holders, and run 3 lead cores off each side.

Usually flashers and flies are ran on divers. If the flasher/fly bite is on, I will not hesititate to load up my riggers with them also.

When you find something they like, give them lots of it.

If you change things up, and you stop catching fish, go back to the spread you had before you changed. Sometimes too much flash can be a bad thing.