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The
Fishing Report |
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These fishing reports are from
Wade Eldean aboard "Rhino" a 47' Wellcraft Excalibur.
Reports are out of Holland Harbor, Macatawa, Michigan trolling for
Salmon and Trout. |
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Do you trailer and launch your boat for fishing
on a daily basis? If so, we have overnight
slip rental available. Slip rental is $30 per night for boats up to
24 feet and only $1.25 per foot for boats over 24 feet. By docking
your boat with us this Saturday night you'll be minutes away from
setting lines on Sunday morning. We have parking spaces available
for your trailer, as well as a pool, hot tub, showers, and laundry
on site. |
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June,
2004 Fishing Reports |
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Next Trip: Done for season (maybe) |
| 9-6-04 |
Headed out on Jim's boat today. Very windy and too rough for us
to stay on the water. |
| 9-3 and 9-4 |
Camped and fished the Little Manistee River over the weekend. We
had a great time, but couldn't land any fish. There were a bunch of
Kings swimming around and we were able to get a few of them to bite.
However, noone was able bring one in. |
| 8-26-04 |
It took a long time, but we finally found some fish. All the bites
came from 130 to 170 feet of water. However, we wasted most of the
moring fishing from 70-120. Anyway, we struggled landing the fish
and ended 3 for 8. Two steelhead and one king. Various spoons got
most of the actioin around 50 feet down. |
| 8-23-04 |
Slow, slow, slow. Nothing happening this morning. Fished 5:45-9:00
and 75-170 feet. We pick up are only action late in the morning at
160 feet deep and 60 down. The water temp was constant at 66.5 degrees
on the surface everywhere. It went down a degree neer the 160 foot
mark. We were marking a lot of fish near the surface, but no action. |
| 8-18-04 |
My sister was the smart one and took Dramamine last night and again
while heading out the channel. I got a little queesy and took two
while out. My uncle, on the other hand, didn't plan on sea-sickness
overwhelming him, and we finally we had to turn around and head for
the docks. The waves were 2-5. We spent the first 40 minutes looking
for fish, going from 55 to 110 feet of water. No marks until over
100 feet out. Then, we quickly took two hits and missed both--one
straightened hook (I need some stronger hooks!). Lots of action also
on the fish finder around 110 feet of water. One hit was 55 down,
white and silver, and the other on a blue/green fly, 120 back set
on 2. We fished from 6:00-6:45. |
| 8/12-8/16 |
This quick trip up north brought some great fishing in my new favorite
spots: just S. of Little Sable Point and a little N. of Arcadia. Little
Sable point is far enough away from any harbors that there are very
few boats fishing the point. We hit it just after lunch and within
an Hour we were a disgraceful 3 for 10. The fish were strongh that
day my friend... One bent a hook straight back and 3 others broke
lines (one's teeth just above the fly). This really hurt our batting
average. We were trolling 4 lines and all four went with in a few
minutes. |
| 8-09-04 |
Wow! That was a lot of action! Due to a sea-sick guest I called
it a morning after an hour. By then we were 2 for 8 and the sun hadn't
even come up yet. With only four lines in the water, they were biting
one after another. Blue Dolphin, and an white/silver glow spoon as
well as green and blue flies all got hits. Baits were trolling between
20 and 55 feet deep around 65 feet of water. |
| 8-07-04 |
Great fishing this morning! Paul (with a broken leg) and I went
6 for 10 on kings. 3 of the 4 that we missed were quick bumps. 1
king went 15 pounds and the rest were 4-7. Most of the action was
around 90 feet before 7:30 this morning. Green and blue were hot.
*Special note: I caught my first vegitarian salmon today! It bit
on the pickle. Yes, a pickle. The pickle was trolled 65 down, behind
a green fly catcher. A few of my vegetarian lures can be seen here
at: http://www.eldean.com/art/level2/projects/projects.htm |
| 8-02-04 |
Skunked during a 2 hour evening trip last night trying 50-120 feet
of water. Could the fish be deeper? The water was 70 degrees on the
surface. Good swimming. |
| 7-28-04 |
I took two trips yesterday. One quick trip in the heat of the afternoon
and one in the evening. We caught a 6 lb Steely in the afternoon (55
feet, 40 down, blue dolphin), and an 18 lb king (60 feet, dipsy, blue
fly) in the evening. We market a lot around 65 feet of water last
night, but the fish weren't biting. |
| 7/19-7/25 |
There was GREAT fishing North of Holland, all the way up to Northport,
on our family boat trip. We would stop for an hour or two at a time,
usually at non-ideal times of the day (late morning and afternoon),
and drop a few lines along our way. Ryan pulled in a 20 pounder
while I was fighting a 18 lb king. We were 2 for 3 just outside
of Arcadia (the one we missed bent the hook). Another hot spot was
trolling South passed Little Sable Point on Sunday. We were 4 for
4 in about 2 hours, using 3 poles (all blue or green flies).
This may sound odd, but it seemed that pound for pound, the Kings
up North faught harder than they do here. A couple were acting like
Steelhead, jumping out of the water, and slashing back and forth
through all the lines. Others just had more muscle to fight back
and we had several straightened hooks.
However, is was unfortunate to see that the first 2 fish we caught
had a Lamprey attached to their side. Fortunately, this trend passed. |
| 7/8-7/11 |
The Cut Throat Trout were biting in Northern Idaho last weekend.
Fly fishing on Marble Creek yeilded a few fish over a foot long and
several young fish 3-12 inches. |
| 7-05-04 |
We didn't hit them right away, but eventually we ran into a couple,
ending the morning 3 for 3. We fished from 5:30-9:00 and in 55-120
feet of water. The fish came 60 down and in 85 and a 105 feet of water.
A 17 lb Lake Trout on a Blue Dolphin Magnum, a 10 lb King on a Green
Mellon Glow, and a 7 lb Coho on the Green Dolphin Magnum. 3-5 foot
waves out of the NW. |
| 7-02-04 |
Good results this morning. The measurements: 14, 16, 10, 10 (lbs).
Went 4 for 7, and one of the misses straightened the hook. Nothing
on the lead core today (pulled it for most of the time). Silver
black spoon, orange and yellow spoon, and a light blue fly each
had two. A white glow fly with green head caught one. Dipsys and
Riggers (60 down) both did well. Shallow at first light, about 75
feet, then when the fish scattered, out 100+ later in the morning
was successful. Lines up at 9:15. Weekend Tip: , Don't run any
lead lines because of the heavy fishing traffic that is all around.
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| 7-01-04 |
The fish are getting bigger, stronger, and smarter as the season
rolls on. We were 1 for 6 this morning from 5:30-9:30. We boated a
9 lb king in 65 feet of water on a dipsy and blue fly. We lost two
big fish that bent back hooks and shook off--one on a light blue fly
and one on a white glow fly, both on dipsys. A silver and black spoon
down 53 and 63 on a rigger had two hits. The lead core, only part
way out had a hit on the pumkinseed glow. Early the fish were biting
in 65 feet of water, then they scattered and we took hits in 105,
108, and 85. |
| 6-29-04 |
I couldn't find them this morning and it was an uncomfortable 2-4
foot chop. We started at 5:30 and circled the 60-110 foot of water
twice without many marks or any hits. On the drive out I marked some
fish in shallow so before I pulled lines I headed closer to shore.
Once under 50 feet I began to bring lines in. Finally, at 48 feet
deep the downrigger at 40 feet popped. Seconds later a Steelhead went
soaring 4 feet in the air. It made a few more jumps before Kris helped
me net the 8 lb acrobat. It came on a black and silver spoon. This
was at 7:30, and we called it quits. |
| 6-27-04 |
Fast Start, lines down at 5:30 AM and 1 for 3 before 6:00 around
100 feet of water. We lost the big one and ended up with 12 inch
King that we tossed back. We had a couple more bumps but nothing
that would stay on. I think we may have ended 1 for 6 and nothing
to show for it. Exellent weather: there were no waves and it was
hot out. It sounded like some fish were being caught--depths from
70-155. Things may be picking up again. |
| 6-25-04 |
WOW, now that was fun! Not just the biggest fish of the season aboard
the Rhino, but the THREE biggest fish! We started at 5:30 and by 6:30
we were 3 for 3 on Kings with a 19 pounder and two 16 pounders (85
ft deep). Eric and Paul had a fun time tag-teaming the first fish
so they could rest their tired arms. It pulled the white glow fly
and dipsy from 125 feet out passed 300 feet of line. Soon they each
had their own pole in hand as the 2nd hit. It was the largest and
gave a great fight and caused the reel to bind up in a huge tangle.
I ended up bringing that one in hand over hand like Hemingway and
the "Old man and the Sea". While this was all going on,
the last pole on the rigger hit and the King raced in front of the
boat. Within seconds the fish was at the corner of the boat, then
it went screaming off the stern. Luckely, mess and all, we got all
three mosters in. When all was over, the boat was stopped and no lines
were in the water. Later at 8:00 we had 2 releases around 105 foot
of water. Lines up at 8:30. Pumkinseed Glow, Blue Dolpin Magnum, and
a White Glow Fly got the action today. --see
picture |
| 6-23-04 |
O for O fishing from 6-9 PM. Tried deep, 300-370 and also around 200
feet. Very few marks, and zero action. We watched a few storms roll
through, but that didn't even bring the fish to bite. |
| 6-21-04 |
Lines down in 180 at 5:45 heading west. I marked a few fish so I
turned back around for another try. Between 6:10 and 6:30 we were
2 for 3, a 6 lb Steelhead on a white glowfly off the dipsy. The other
was a mini-King, about a half pound on the lead core and a pumkinseed
glow spoon. The release came on a Pumkinseed spoon down 60 feet. Circled
the same area (180-185 feet) for another hour but nothing was happeing.
Headed out to 205 and back in to 110 with no luck. Lines up at 9:00,
still 2 for 3. |
| 6-18-04 |
SKUNK!
None in the box, 0 for 0. First time this season. Ryan and I fished
from 5:45 - 8:45 this morning in 60-175 feet of water. There weren't
many marks either. On the radio, I heard of only one fish being
caught and it was in 70 ft of water. |
| 6-13-04 |
The plan for this morning worked: Since the fishing is slow,
start earlier. We had lines down by 5:30 and were 1 for 3 by 6:00
in 90-130 feet of water. The fast action slowed and it wasn't till
the dark clouds rolled through at 7:30 that we picked up two more
around 100 feet. Bill and I had caught all the fish thus far and
at 10:00 when we pulled lines, Chad was very worried that his streak
would be broke and he'd be stuck with a skunk for the day. Not so,
when reeling up the last downrigger, Chad found a 1pounder that
had been swimming along with us for a while. We ended 4 for 6.
The past month I have had phenomenal success fishing a Northport
Nailer, Pumpkinseed Glow off the lead core. Today I wanted to see
if the Lead Core or the Pumpkinseed had the edge, so I ran the pumpkinseed
down on the rigger between 60 and 80 feet. The Pumpkinseed caught
3 of the 4 fish! The lead core went 1 for 2 with a Mashed Banana
Glow--very similar to the Pumpkinseed. The two dipsy and fly combos
only had one hit, and the other rigger with a Green Dolphin and
a Greasy Chicken Wing didn't do anything. Analysis: Next time I
may use Pumpkinseed Glow on all lines.
NOTE: In 80 feet of water, just N. of Holland Pier, with our ball
down 50 ft, we snagged something. It dragged and popped to the surface
for a second then snapped the wire and ball off. It was some kind
of Square Tuna, but we couldn't be sure.
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| 6-10-04 |
I was very optimistic about fishing today so I got an early start.
Lines were down at 5:45 AM in 110 feet of water. I started marking
a lot of fish right away around 120-135. Unfortunately, I couldn't
get anything to go. I ended up 2 for 2, both Kings. That sounds all
right, but it didn't feel like a winning outcome. Both fish were under
2 pounds--total, combined weight! I pulled lines at 9:30 after I trolled
out to 225 feet of water and didn't see many good marks. The lake
is nice with a 0-2 foot roll. There wasn't much talk on the radio,
and those that did speak up weren't doing very well. |
| 6-09-04 |
2 for 3 today. We fished 6:30-7:45 this morning. Ryan got a bit
sea-sick so we headed in early. I caught my first Steelhead of the
year, 5 lbs, in 135 feet of water. The other was a one lb king which
was thrown back. It was in 150 feet of water. Both were caught on
the lead core with the Pumkinseed Glow spoon. We started in 80 and
went out as far as 160 before turning back. We didn't mark any fish
until 115 feet of water and most were marked from 115-135 feet of
water. Waves 1-3 feet and windy, out of the South. |
| 6-06-04 |
DO NOT GO FISHING TODAY! OK, that might be a little harsh, but after
having so many really fun days of great fishing, today was very slow
and a bit frustrating. Chad, Bill, and Yellowbird were aboard today
so we were very prepared for a double or triple header. Unfortunately,
the only such action was on the fish graph. We did end up 2 for 2,
fishing between 120 and 260 feet of water. Not much was marked, except
around 125 feet where we picked up 1 King that maybe weighed a pound.
The other 2 lb King came in 230 feet of water. Both fish were caught
on the lead core with a pumpkin seed glow spoon. We fished from 6:30-11:00.
Guaging the reports on the radio, you were lucky if you had a hit.
On a more positive note, as Bill commented, "It was just a pleasure
to be on the water today." --The weather was great and the waves
were 0-1 foot. |
| 6-04-04 |
Heading out at 6:30 this morning there were a few boats fishing
around 120 feet of water. We made the difficult choice of not stopping
where everyone else was, but ran out to 205 and dropped lines about
6:40. When 8:00 came, we were 4 for 5 (all kings), with most of the
action around 230 feet of water. However, few fish were marked. My
guest today, Phil (slip Z-34) was a great angler and caught his half
of the double header, while mine shook off. With 4 lines in the water,
the only bait not to go was the dipsy and fly. Downriggers at 60 and
75 each lured two while the lead core took one. Green Dolphin Magnum,
Green Monkey Puke, and Pumkin Seed glow were the spoons that caught
fish. We trolled around those depths until 9:30, but couldn't get
anything else to happen. A lot of radio reports from under 200 feet
stated, "At least its a nice morning" and had few fish to
report. The weather is fantasitic with 0-2 foot waves on the lake. |
| 6-01-04 |
Where did the fish go? My neighbor, Kirk, and I gave it a shot this
morning for 2 hours (6:30-8:30) before I had to call it a day because
I was feeling a bit sea sick. In that time we were 1 for 1, a small
coho taken on the lead core in 190 feet of watter. We covered 145-200
feet of water and marked very few fish. If you are planning on fishing
today, check the waves on the web cams to see if it has calmed down
at all. It was windy with 2-5 foot waves out of the South. |
Archive of the May
20004, and 2003 Fishing Report
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