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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. |
May, 2004 Fishing
Report |
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| 5-30-04 | Today, the 50+ lbs of Kings and Coho filets in the freezer will be headed to the Shipyard for our memorial day picnic. Fish for 250 people--No problem. (I took the weekend off from fishing, but a new report should be up on tuesday). |
5-27-04 PM |
Bill and I did an evening trip today. The fish were hard to come by though. Bill did an oustanding job of putting 2 of 2 in the box. Each king came at 205 feet of water. However, we fished depths from 165 to 225 between 5:30 and 9:00 and these two kings were 2 hours apart. From radio chatter it sounded slow all over. There was mention of a boat or 2 in 270 feet of water having some good action. The lake conditions were great. |
5-27-04 AM |
I fished from 6:45-9:15 this morning. The wind and waves switched directions from yesterday. Now its 1-3 from the south-southeast. The fish were a little hard to find and getting them to bite was even harder. I did OK and went 4 of 5, 2 Coho's and 2 Kings. 2 on a light blue fly and dipsy and 2 on the leadcore and pumkinseed glow spoon. No action on the downrigger and I tried several different set ups. Oh, and the fish were all in 205-220 feet of water. |
| 5-26-04 | It is windy and cold with 2-4 foot waves on the lake. At 6:00 this morning the waves were only 1-2, so it still could be getting worse with the strong Northwest winds continuing. The fish were hard to find. I did go 4-7 pulling lines just after 9:00. 3 Kings and my first Coho of the year. 4 hits came on the Lead Core with the Pumkinseed glow spoon. One on a blue fly, and one on a black and silver spoon. I was all over the place, 160-225, and caught fish between 180 and 215. There were a lot of boats out today and several were turning back because of the waves. According to radio reports, boats were fishing everywhere, and very few fish were being caught. |
| 5-25-04 | I thought the fish might of scattered after I was off the water a few days and several big storm fronts passed through. But, back to the same spot and the kings were still there, mostly between 195 and 205 feet of water, and 70 down or back on full lead core. I went 7 for 9 fishing from 6:30-9:00, but only one fish after 8:00. The Kings were all small today and 5 lbs or less. The Blue Dolphin and Pumkinseed glow both worked well, and for the first time, the lemon ice didn't catch a fish. I didn't put out a dipsy or a even try a fly today. Waves were 1-2 feet out of the southwest. It was a nice ride, but rainy and cold. |
| 5-21-04 | I don't think the fishing can get any better. This morning lines were down at 6:30. The summary: 1 person, 2 hours, 3 poles, 3 spoons, 6 kings, 3 double headers, and a whole lot of fun and excitement around 190 feet of water.. The Lemon Ice Glow Magnum, Blue Dolphin Magnum, and a Pumpkinseed Glow each caught 2 fish. The Pumpkinseed was running off the lead core and also got 2 more hits (one shook off just behind the boat). I ran the Blue Dophin 48 down, and the Lemon Ice 45 down. It started off 1-2 ft waves and the east breeze was picking up with the waves increasing to 1-3. Good Luck! |
| 5-20-04 | Stellar fishing this morning! It was an ominous surrounding of fog and storms. Waves were only 1-3 feet. The radar helped to keep me a couple miles south of the storm front. I fished from 6:30 to 9:30, staying around 190 feet of water. I was 9 for 14, all kings, and all 5 lbs or less. I did have a chance at some big kings, with a double header that sent both lines screaming. The fish conspired against me, crossing both lines and getting free (one with my favorite blue glow fly, and the dipsy and flasher). I didn’t hear any talk on the radio, so I think the weather kept everyone off the lake. Full lead core with a Pumpkinseed glow spoon caught three. Everything was 45-80 down. Lemon ice and blue dolphin worked well too. Don't worry, I put 6 back to grow bigger. |
| 5-18-04 | Lines down at 7:30 this morning, lines up at 8:30. It was mighty cold and a little sloppy on the lake, so I caught my limit and headed for shore. Great fishing today! 3 for 3, all kings, totaling 30 lbs, with one nice 15 lb king. I trolled three baits and each caught a fish. Silver and black spoon, lemon ice glow magnum spoon, and a light blue glow "Psy Fly". 185-200 feet of water. |
| 5-17-04 | I am sooooo glad I didn't follow the weather forecast for tonight. There were no thunderstorms, 30 knot gusts, or rain what-so-ever. There was only sunshine and small 1-2 foot roll. There were a ton of flies however, during this evening fishing trip, and we may have been the only boat out of Holland fishing. Ryan and I caugt 4 Kings from 4:30-7:30. I got the lead out for the first time, and the full lead core took 2 kings on that hot, blue dolphin magnum spoon thats been working so well this year. The fish catchers and flies weren't doing anything. The fish were caught in 180-200 foot of water. |
| 5-14-04 | The fog was thick, there were very few fish on the fish finder, and it was a cold slow start. Fortunately, about 7:30, things picked up with a double header, and at 10:30, when I called it quits, this solo effort went 9 for 11. 8 Kings and one Laker in 160-200 feet of water, 165-175 feet back or 45-75 feet down.. The fish were small today. However, one that got away was a screamer that broke the line. I think I may have caught a few more, but I was towing a couple of small ones around for a while before I went to check the lines. Light Blue Psy Fly, Green Dolphin Magnum and Lemon Ice spoons got the most actiont. I put 6 back to grow a little more. |
| 5-12-04 | Another beautiful morning on the lake. Blue sky, warm, south breeze, and 1-2 foot waves. I was alone and caught my limit of 3 kings by 8 o'clock, setting lines at 6:30. Started trolling West in 110 feet of water, but hit until 175 feet, where I picked up a small king on a Blue Dophin Magnum at 60 down. Continuing West at 195 feet deep I picked up a nice 8 lb king on the home-made light blue glow "Psy Fly", 175 back (there is something to be said for making your own lures). Still headed West in 220 feet of water I picked up a small King, 80 down, on the Blue Dolphin Magnum. |
| 5-11-04 | I finally made it out on the water! It was a great
morning to be out there! I was 2 for 4 fishing from 7:30 to 10:30
mostly around 170 feet of water. I boxed one 5 lb king on a dark
green and black spoon 60 ft down and one 3 lb king on blue dolphin
magnum, 85 feet down. The two I missed came off the dipsy at 165
feet back. Both were on my favorite, home-made "Psy Fly"
which is a light blue glow in the dark concoction. Each time I had
a screamer on that bent the hook back (Obviously, I should have
put a new hook on after the first release, instead of just bending
it back in place). Oh well, some opening day jitters are expected. |
| 5-07-04 | Sorry (Shane), No reports to add. The boat wasn't quite ready for its maiden voyage this morning, so I'll be out fishing in a few days. The charter boats and other fisherman have been catching a lot of fish off Holland and Saugatuck in 100+ feet of water, 40 down, mostly on spoons. |
Archive of the 2003 Fishing Report