After starting on the line, and trying my best to stay in Illinois waters on Tuesday, due to the strong currents, I set up a mile South. It wasn`t hot and heavy action for us right at the crack of dawn but it remained very steady for the entire trip, still catching fish as I was pulling lines. I started in 70` and trolled southeast out to 110`and came back thru on the reciprocal course back to 70` and basically stayed on the same area only taking it out to 130` as the morning progressed. The wire dipseys on a #2 setting out 150`with a dodger and fly took plenty of hits, the `riggers were on and off, and the lead was hot at times as well. I ran mostly spoons off the `riggers and the lighted "Superman" J-Plug that was so good to me last year only took a steelie. The lead varied from Stinger size spoons to Magnum Silver Streaks. The darker colors seemed to work better during the overcast conditions. We had 2 big fish on the lead, one of which broke off as I tightened the drag before it had a chance to spool us. I had the boat down to 1.1 kts. and the line just kept creeping out, I had to do something before I lost everything, and unfortunately we lost the fish as it broke at the leader
. The same guy had another big fish on and fought it to the last color when it shook off
. As it turned out the 3rd time was a charm, as he managed to land a 16# King , again on the lead.
At one point we finally made it past the .500 mark and were 9/17. We ended up with our 4 man limit well before 10 O`clock. The speed was way down at 1.8 kts on the GPS which equated to 1.8 mph at the ball according to my Depth Raider. Darker colored spoons down 45`-80` took the bulk of the hits on the `riggers. We`d go through spells where the lead would go off, then the dipseys and then the `riggers. It was a great day for fishing. Except for a brief shower, the weather was beautiful as well.
For the afternoon trip it was a reschedule from back in June, when we had that hard Northeast blow (PFC. Morris Tournament weekend)
I had the privilege of helping a veteran Lake Michigan angler celebrate his 70th Birthday
with his family and friends.
I took it right back to where I left off the morning bite setting up again in 70` at 42* 28` and pointed it Southeast. The scattered thunderstorms they predicted where nowhere to be found and the bright sun was everywhere :P . I was hoping the change didn`t slow the fishing and we lucked out. We had 6 in the box on my first slide out to 130` and had action again as I returned. It was the same program as the morning only this time I put 2 oz. on one of my leads to see if it made a difference. Again the wire dipseys took quite a few hits, and the lead carried it`s weight as well. The `riggers seemed to be the weakest link taking only 5 or 6 hits.
The one part of the trip that I`ll never figure out is how the snap weight changed lines from the lead core to a down rigger. Facing the back on my boat I had the lead with the 2 ounce weight out on the right side. The boom `rigger on the left side down 50` was twitching as if we had a dink on it. We popped the rod and felt tension, as the line was being retrieved the snap weight was on the mono, and 30` later the lead was caught up in the bait. I never turned the boat with the lines out. I can`t figure out how the lead made it over 3 other `riggers and hit the one furthest away. I`ll assume that a fish was on and swam over into the lead and take that as the best logical reason. But I can`t for the life of me figure out how the snap weight managed to attach itself to the mono. I`m stymied
.
We ended up going 17 for 20 something on a great 5 hour trip. The birthday boy got his wish by fighting and landing two 4 yr. olds that took spoons of the downriggers. Nothing but him and the fish. I attribute his past fishing experiences on helping keep the kings out of the other gear we had out :wink: . Multiple times we had doubles and even a triple, and I appreciated the help from all on board, that goes for both trips that day
.
"Wet Nets"
Captain Jim
www.luckydogcharters.com
North Point July 26th
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