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Fishing Reports for Local Area - Location |
    
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 35
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 26, 2005 - 4:30 am: | |
9/26/2005
This will be the last fishing report since our fishing season is winding down. The last few weeks have been varied between very good and average fishing, depending on the water temperature. Two weeks ago we finally got some water in front the piers in the high 40 degrees and the Chinook moved in front and began to school up for the run. After a couple of days the water went back up to the high 60 degrees and the fishing slowed down (the fish were still in front but did not hit as well as in cold water). Every few days we would see a change in the water temperature as the wind would go from the NW or E and cool the water and then to the S or SW and the water would warm up. With warm water we would take 4 to 10 fish a trip and with cold water the catch would increase to 10 to 20 fish per trip. The majority of the fish where Chinook salmon with an occasional Coho and Steelhead.
J plugs, Tomic lures and Hot-n-Tots pulled flat or on 2 and 3 color lead core produced very well. Downriggers at 12 to 5 foot with J plugs and green glow and white glow Hot Chip Flashers and Gflies produced well but the color changed from day to day. Dipsy Divers, dialed out at 3 1/2, produced with Raider cream sickle glow and green ladder back Tomic lure. O
Because of the water temperature our spawning run is late this year and may extend into the middle of October. We will be fishing into October, however when we end the season will depend on the demand for charters. If you would like information on fishing conditions or would like to make a reservation call toll free 1-888-253-8372 or email me at captron@charermichigan.com. We will begin our reports again next year in March or April 2006. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 34
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 12, 2005 - 7:07 pm: | |
9/12/2005
Warm water!! The story of this week is the warm water that we now have which has halted the salmon run for the time being. The water temperature is 72 degrees from top to bottom in 40 foot of water and is 60 degrees on the bottom in 60 feet. So the salmon have moved out to 70 to 150 foot and are awaiting cool water. We have some very good fishing in this deeper water with catches of 10 to 20 fish per trip. The creel consists of mainly Chinook salmon of all age classes (2, 3 and 4 year olds) and some Coho.
In this deeper water we are using Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers and green and mirage G flies. On the downriggers we are using the 12 inch white glow Hot Chip flasher and green G fly on the center downrigger and glow stingrays and Raider lures. Full core, core and a half, and copper line produced very well with Fuzzy Bear, Stingray and Raider lures (magnums) produced very well.
Our salmon should move back in front the piers when we get some colder water. What we need is a day or two of winds out of the north to blow colder water in. If you would like information or would like to make reservations, call toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
New member
Username: Westrate
Post Number: 33
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 05, 2005 - 4:25 am: | |
9/5/2005
The pier fishing has slowed somewhat this past week, however salmon are still being caught out in deeper water. The water in front the piers is 72 degrees on top and 68 degrees on the bottom in 25 foot of water. There are a few salmon in this warm water and can be caught early in the morning and just before dark, however the rest of the day produces only a few hits and few fish. We have been starting in front the piers and then moving off shore for the remainder of the charter. The salmon range from 10 pounds to the mid teens with a few 20 + pounders in front the piers and then from 5 to 15 pounders off shore. 8 to 20 fish are being taken per trip with a few in front and the rest in deeper water.
When fishing in front the piers, we use flashers and flies, J plugs, Tomic lures (see last weeks report). When we move off shore (from 100 to 180 foot of water), it is mainly flashers and flies on downriggers and dipsy divers and lures on the lead core (see last weeks report).
Our salmon should move back in front the piers when we get some colder water. What we need is a day or two of winds out of the north to blow colder water in. If you would like information or would like to make reservations, call toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
New member
Username: Westrate
Post Number: 32
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 29, 2005 - 1:20 pm: | |
8/29/2005
This past week found salmon in front the piers, in 40 to 60 foot and out in 100 to 150 foot. Some people have been fishing in front the piers with a variety to success. One boat may clean up on the salmon and the next boat can not buy a hit. Regardless, we have found that the best fishing in this area is the first 2 hours of the morning and just before dark. This happens when the water is still warm and/or there is not a large concentration of salmon yet. The most consistent (all day) fishing occurred off shore with 2, 3 and 4 year old salmon and a few coho and steelhead.
When fishing at the piers, we found that 3 color and 5 color lead core with J plugs and Tomic lures produced very well. Downriggers with J plugs and Hot Chip flashers and pickled sunshine G flies worked very well when pulled form 8 to 15 foot deep. Dipsy divers with Hot Chip flashers and Mirage G flies run at 50 foot dialed 3 1/2 produced some very nice salmon. In the deeper water full core, core and a half and copper wire all produced with Fuzzy Bear Candy Corn and Benefactor and a new Raider lure that is extended glow with double green side and the one with double blue side. Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers with mirage and pickled sunshine G flies where run on all downriggers and all dipsy divers. We are starting to run the larger (12 inch) Hot Chip flasher (white glow) on the downriggers and they are producing some very good 4 year old salmon.
If you would like more information or would like to make a reservation feel free to call 1-888-253-8372 or email captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 31
Registered: 8-2003
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 22, 2005 - 7:07 pm: | |
8/22/2005
Flashers and flies and flies and flashers were the lures of the week. The first part of the week produced resulted in some very good fishing and then the wind blew on Friday through Monday. The salmon are in 60 to 130 foot of water, shallow in the early morning and then moving out to deeper water as the sun comes up. Chinook salmon and some Coho salmon with an occasional Steelhead and Lake Trout made up the creel.
We ran white glow, green glow, silver green and blue glow Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers with pickled sunshine G Flies on all the downriggers and all four dipsy divers. Lead core (core, core and a half) and copper wire (100 yds) produced well with Fuzzy Bear candy corn and green glow, Silver Streak Batman and Raider Michael Jackson.
The fishing for salmon is very good right now and should continue with consistent weather conditions. Cold water should bring the salmon in closer to the piers so feel free to contact me for information or reservations at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 30
Registered: 8-2003
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 15, 2005 - 7:05 pm: | |
8/15/2005
The salmon are still here and the fishing remains very good. Last week was a carbon copy of the week before with salmon and some lake trout and steelhead being caught from 70 to 150 foot of water with the best action in the 110-120 foot range. Most of the creel consisted of 3 and 4 year old salmon from 10 to 20 pounds and some lake trout up to 14 pounds.
Methods and techniques were basically the same as last week with lead core and dipsy divers producing the best and a downriggers with flashers and flies producing occasionally. (See last weeks report.)
The salmon fishing is very good right now and should continue as long as we do not get some drastic climate changes (multiple days of high winds drastic changes in temperature). For information or to make a fishing reservation, feel free to contact me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 29
Registered: 8-2003
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 07, 2005 - 2:02 pm: | |
8/7/2005
Salmon, salmon and more salmon. If you enjoy salmon fishing you will love the fishing we have now. This past week we have been fishing in 70 to 120 foot of water and 50 to 90 foot down with catches that are primarily Chinook salmon with an occasional steelhead and lake trout.
Dipsy divers dialed at 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 (wire and braided line) produced consistently at 120 foot and 200 foot of line out respectively. On the dipsy divers we pulled Hot Spot and Hot Chip flashers and pickled sunshine and mirage G flies. The green glow, chartreuse glow, white glow and silver green flashers never came off the diver rods and produced very well. Downriggers where run at 50, 60 and 85 foot and the green glow Hot Chip flasher and pickled sunshine G Fly produced every day down the shoot (we never took it off). On the out downs we ran flashers and flies some days and various spoons on others. Lead core (core and a half) and 100 yds. of copper line produced with magnum Raider, Dream weaver and Silver Streak lures. The color varied for day to day but this method produced some very nice salmon.
The salmon fishing is very good right now and should continue as long as we do not get some drastic climate changes (multiple days of high winds drastic changes in temperature). For information or to make a fishing reservation, feel free to contact me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
New member
Username: Westrate
Post Number: 28
Registered: 8-2003
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 31, 2005 - 5:29 pm: | |
8/1/2005
Limit catches of salmon where common during the last week. Once again we fished in 70 to 120 foot of water and then back in front the piers, when the water cooled again and then today we moved back out to 70 feet. The fish must really be confused as to where they are suppose to be. Warm water, and they move out to deep water and then the water cools off by 15 degrees and they move back in front the piers. We have taken fish up to 22 pounds this week with a few steelhead mixed in.
In front the piers the following lures produced well: J plugs, Tomic lures, green glow Hot Chip flasher and green G fly and the orange crush Raider and Fuzzy Bear and the Cream sickle glow Raider magnum. When we move off shore the lures where: green glow and silver green Hot Chip and Hot Spot flasher and green G flies, lead core (1/2, 3/4, full) with magnum Raider, NK and dream weaver lures, and once again the Cream sickle glow Raider. Depths of downriggers and dippsy divers varied from day to day as the temperature varied.
The fishing is good right now and I think it will fishing will remain good as long as the bait stays in the area. For information or reservations feel free to call 888-253-8372 toll free or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 27
Registered: 8-2003
Rating:
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 6:59 am: | |
7/24/2005
Salmon fishing is very good with catches from 7 to 15 fish per trip. On Saturday we took 7 fish in the morning and 11 in the afternoon with one being the first 20 pound salmon of the year along with 4 more that weighed in the mid teens and the rest in the 8 to 12 pound range. The primary fish in the Chinook salmon with an occasional Coho and steelhead mixed in. Our fishing is in 90 to 150 foot of water with an abundance of bait in the top 40 feet and the fish coming from 50 to 75 foot down.
The downriggers produced very well with white glow, silver and green, and green glow Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers all with mirage and/or green G flies. These were run at 75 ft., 65 ft and 55 ft. down. Dipsy divers were run at 200ft and 140 foot dialed at 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 respectively with the same Hot Chip and Pro Chip and G flies that we pulled on the downriggers. Lead core (full and core and a half) produced with silver orange crush and silver orange green crush Raider and Stinger Sting Ray lures, Michael Jackson (Raider and Stinger) and silver chartreuse side Dreamweaver lures. Some of the boats also pulled flashers and flies on the core and core and a half and did well with that set up. In addition to the lead core, we pulled copper wire with a frog Yuck Spoon and did very well early in the week.
With the bait in the upper column of water, I think the salmon should hold in the area so our fishing should continue to produce some nice catches. If you need information or would like to make a reservation feel free to contact me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 26
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 6:13 am: | |
7/18/2005
This week was a carbon copy of the fishing last week. We started outside in 70 to 120 foot of water and then the lake turned over and the temperature dropped almost 20 degrees. The bait moved into the warm water in front the piers and the game fish followed them in with salmon and steelhead making up the creel. The fishing held for about 3 days and then the water began to warm and we moved back out to 70 to 100 foot. Chinook salmon was the main species taken in the deeper water, however some steelhead also showed up in the catch. The location changed however the number of fish caught remained about the same--from 8 to 20 fish per trip.
Check out last weeks description as to lures and methods since it was almost identical to this week.
I think we will hold the salmon here since the bait is showing up in deeper water and if that happens, then we should continue to see some very good catches. If you would like to get more information or would like to reserve a date, feel free to call toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 25
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 7:43 pm: | |
7/11/2005
Salmon (up to 18 pounds) and Steelhead ( up to 15 pounds) again made up the majority of the creel this past week. The fish where caught in front the piers (when the water was cold) a couple of days and from 70 to 130 feet of water the other days. If you look at the photos you can see a great variety in the number to fish caught per trip which is caused by the number of hits that produced fish. For example Sunday we never lost a fish and only had 4 or 5 hits that did not produce fish. On Saturday we lost far more than we caught and broke off a couple of large 4 year olds. On Friday we had more than 30 hits and caught 13.
Fishing in front the piers, flat lines and 3 color lead core with Tomic plugs and J plugs produced very well with silver red head, pearl and pickle colors the best. Downriggers with J plugs, flashers and flies and magnum Raider lures produced in the top 20 foot. Dipsy divers at 30 foot and dialed at 3 produced with Raider Sunburst and a glow and orange Raider (that we made up) worked well. When we moved off shore the lead core (full and 7 color) produced with a variety of standard size spoons. Dipsy divers (high and low) produced with some flashers and flies and magnum lures, however the color and type changed from day to day. Downriggers produced very few fish and nothing consistent was apparent.
As the water warms, our fishing in front the piers will decline and we will have to move off shore and try to establish a pattern in that area. If you would like information about the fishing or would like to make reservations for a charter call toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@charermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
New member
Username: Westrate
Post Number: 24
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 27, 2005 - 5:40 pm: | |
6/27/2005
Another week of change. We fished most of the week in front the piers in 25 foot of water with water temperature of 48 degrees and caught steelhead up to 15 pounds and salmon up to 18 pounds. Catches ranged from 8 to 18 fish per trip and most of the creel was made up of steelhead which where inside feeding on the alewife which showed up in the warmer water in front the piers. By the end of the week the water had warmed to 70 degrees and the game fish moved out to 60 to 100 foot. Once again the predominate species was steelhead with an occasional salmon.
In front the piers we fished with 3 color lead core and Jplugs and Tomic plugs. Dipsy divers dialed at 4 with 30 to 50 foot of line and sunburst Raider and Dreamweaver lures produced very well. Downriggers at 5, 8 and 10 foot with J plugs produced a few salmon, but once again, most fish came from lures pulled a distance from the boat.
As the water warms the fish should stage form 60 to 120 foot of water and again from 150 to 200 foot of water. If you need information or would like to make a reservation feel free to contact me at 888-253-8372 (toll free) or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 23
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 20, 2005 - 1:39 pm: | |
6/20/2005
Things have definitely changed this last week. The water cooled down by 20 degrees and the bait started to congregate at the piers and the game fish followed. The last few days we have been fishing in 20 to 40 foot of water and catching steelhead (6 to 12 pounds) and salmon (from 5 to 15 pounds) and we had a few salmon on hat would go over 20 pounds and they are swimming around with some of our lures. Today we caught 11 fish in the morning with 8 of them being steelhead and the smallest weighing 8 pounds and 3 salmon with the largest weighing about 12 pounds.
Lead core (3 color and 5 color) with J plugs and orange crush regular spoons (Raider and Stinger) produced well. Flat lines with blue silver, green silver gold Hot n Tots pulled on the surface produced some nice salmon. Dipsy divers run at 3 and 1 1/2 and with 70 and 30 foot of line out respectively produced some nice steelhead with sunburst Raider and Stingray and orange crush Stingers. If the lure had orange on it, steelhead liked it. Downriggers produced very few fish--maybe one or two hits on every trip. Once again it appeared that if you got the lure away from the boat the fish would hit it, and the further away it was, the better.
Hopefully we will continue to hold the fish in the area. We are now seeing large groups of alewife and if the bait stays, the fish should stay. We may have to move off shore as the water warms, however, if the bait stays in the area, our game fish should remain here. Feel free to contact me any time for information and/or reservations at 888-253-8372 toll free or captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 22
Registered: 8-2003
Rating:
Votes: 4 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 13, 2005 - 3:55 am: | |
6/13/2005
Fishing was very slow this past week, both in the number of charters run and the number of fish caught. Catch rate ranged from 0 fish for some boats to 8 fish. The creel consisted of small salmon, some lake trout and some nice steelhead. There are fish in 60 to 80 foot of water along with a little bait, however getting them to bite was a challenge. Most of the fish taken in this water where the 2 year old salmon. The rest of the fish were taken from 100 to 270 foot of water and where scattered out.
There was not one method that fished consistently this past week. Lead core (full, 1 1/2 and 7 color) produced with small lures (Raider, Stinger and Dream weaver) and the color did not make much difference. Dipsy divers produced very few strikes and the downriggers at 45 feet to 65 feet produced a few hits each trip. What we found is we had to remove the add-a-lines to get a hit on the downriggers. Again small lures produced much better than the magnum lures.
I hope this is our June doldrums that we get every year before the water begins to stratify thermally. This slow down in the fishing lasts from 1 to 2 weeks and occurs every year. Once again we see very little in the stomachs of the salmon. We found a few small bait fish in the 2 year old salmon and some alewife in the lake trout but not much. Feel free to contact me any time for information and/or reservations at 888-253-8372 toll free or captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 21
Registered: 8-2003
Rating:
Votes: 3 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 06, 2005 - 3:55 am: | |
6/6/2005
What a strange week for fishing. One day we can do not wrong and limit out and the next we cannot find or catch more than 3 fish. As the week progressed the fish moved out to deeper water each day, from 200 to 225 to 240 to 250 foot of water and some boats fished all the way out in 320 foot. Most of the fish caught were Chinook salmon with a few lake trout, Coho and steelhead thrown in. I appeared that as you moved further off shore, more lake trout and steelhead where caught and fewer salmon. Most of the salmon weighed 3 to 9 pound with an occasional Chinook in the teens.
The best method was lead core line--core and a half, full core, 7 color and half core. Orange crush Raider and Stingray lures, watermelon dream weaver lures, blue green dolphin Raider and Dream Weaver lures and magnum wonder bread Crippled Alewife worked well on the lead core. A few fish were caught on dipsy divers dialed at 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 and run at 120 foot of line and 90 foot of line. Raider terminator and Northport wonder bread produced most of the fish on the dipsy divers. Very few fish where caught on the downriggers and nothing produced consistently. It appears that the further away for the boat we got the better the fishing results.
Once again, we saw very few schools of bait and very little bait in the stomach of the salmon. (The steelhead where filled with beetles and flies. ) For more information and/or to make a reservation call toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 20
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 30, 2005 - 4:15 pm: | |
5/30/2005
The fishing this past week has slowed down somewhat, however it is remains consistent with good catches of salmon and a few lake trout. In the beginning of the week we caught fish in 80 to 120 foot of water. By mid week the fish had moved out to 150 to 180 foot and then by the weekend they had moved to 180 to 240 foot of water. We are taking from 7 to 14 fish per trip with most being Chinook salmon from 3 to 9 pounds and an occasional fish up to 15 pounds.
Downriggers produced well with magnum Raider and Northern King lures (blue green dolphin, fruit cocktail glow, green dolphin, and silver green) as the base baits and the sliders with blue green dolphin Raiders and frog Yuk spoons. The downriggers produced best at 35 to 65 foot down however some fish where caught as deep as 90 foot. The dipsy divers where run at 180 foot and 100 foot out dialed at 2 � and 1 � respectively with a variety of lures with which success varied from day to day and even hour to hour. There where days in which we did not have a hit on the dipsy divers and other days they went consistently. Flashers and flies (behind the dipsys) did not produce very well this week, most of the action was on Stinger and Stingray lures, Northport Kaleidoscope lures and Raider lures. The most consistent method for catching fish was lead core (full, � and 1 � core) with magnum orange crush Raiders and Stingrays, wonder bread Crippled Alewife, Northern King grass fire and Northport Nailer Jamaican sunrise. In addition some fish where taken using copper line with flashers and flies, but not many.
We are seeing a few small schools of baitfish out in 200 foot of water and maybe the salmon will stay as long as the bait stays, however it appears that the salmon are consistently moving out and north. For more information or to make a reservation, feel free to contact me at any time with the toll free number: 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 19
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 3:55 am: | |
Salmon, Salmon and more Salmon. The fishing cannot get much better than it is right now. We are currently catching Chinook salmon from 80 foot to 180 foot of water fishing 20 foot to 70 foot deep. This past weekend we limited out on all three of our trips, one of which we took 20 fish in 2 hours of fishing. The salmon range for 2 pounds to 15 pounds and in addition an occasional lake trout and steelhead are also being caught.
Lead core lines (both half and full core) are doing very well with Raider lures (Michael Jackson, yellowtail and orange crush), Stingray lures and magnum Dream weavers (green dolphin and blue green dolphin. Dipsy Divers at 140 and 90 foot are doing very well with the low divers having HotSpot blue flashers and blue Gflies and Hotspot green flashers and green flies. The high divers are producing with wonder bread North Port Nailers and Raider monkey puke glow. The downriggers are run at 40 foot, 45 foot and 55 foot. We are running all magnum lures (Raider and Dreamweaver) as the base baits on the downriggers (fruit cocktail glow, green dolphin and bloody nose) and regular size Stingers and Raiders on the sliders (orange crush, silver chartreuse side, bloody puke).
Our fishing is very good right now and should stay that way for the next week or so, unless we get a drastic change in the water temperature or prolonged weather change. Once again, we are seeing very little bait and the stomach of most of the fish are empty. If the bait shows up, the fish should stay around, if not, the fish will move where ever the bait is. If you would like more information and/or you would like to make a reservation, feel free to contact me at captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 18
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 3:48 am: | |
May 17 Fishing Report for Saugatuck
The fishing has picked up the last week, with limit catches of salmon being common. The fish are in 80 to 160 foot of water and because there is no temperature break, they are found from 20 to 100 foot down. Most of the fish being caught are chinook with an occasional coho, steelhead and lake trout.
Downriggers set from 30 foot down to 80 foot are producing very well with the Raider bloody puke, silver Hot Spot flashers and green Hot Spot flashers with green and mirage G flies, blue bubble spin doctor and fly and a various magnum dream weavers and northern king lures (color changes from day to day). Lead core (full core) produced with the magnum Raider orange crush, magnum dreamweaver dolphin and stingray dolphin. Dipsy divers with wire on the low divers and braid on the high divers produced very well. On the low divers, a silver Hot Spot flasher and mirage fly on on side and spin doctor and blue bubble fly on the other stays on the whole time. The high divers produced with a various Raider, dreamweaver, NK , stinger and northport spoons. These changed from day to day. In addition we began to pull copper wire down the middle with flashers and flies and/or magnum lures. We are still working on this technique and have had limited success at this time.
Once again, we are seeing very little bait and the stomach of most of the fish are empty. If the bait shows up, the fish should stay around, if not, the fish will move where ever the bait is. If you would like more information and/or you would like to make a reservation, feel free to contact me at captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 17
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 - 3:59 am: | |
The weather cooperated this past weekend and we ran 4 charters with fairly good success. We caught from 6 to 12 fish each trip with the creel made up of mainly Chinook salmon with an occasional Coho salmon, steelhead, and a lake trout. The salmon ranged from 3 pounds to 15 pounds and the steelhead ranged from 6 to 10 pounds.
The fish where found in 70 to 120 foot of water and ranged in depth from the surface to the bottom. The temperature of the water was 46 degrees from the surface to the bottom so the fish are scattered throughout the water column. Planner boards on the surface, lead core (half and full core) with magnum Raider lures and Dream weaver lures (orange crush, orange and green crush and bumble bee) worked well. Dipsy divers with monofilament, wire and braided line produced with Hot chip and Pro chip Flashers with a variety of G flies produced well but changed in color and type from one day to another. The downriggers produced best from 40 to 60 foot and the best lures turnout to be NK dolphins and Raider Monkey Puke with orange and glow ladder back.
Even though we are finding some salmon, I have not seen any bait. The bait which should be around the warm water of the piers is nonexistent. I have not found any significant amount of bait in any of the water from the piers to 200 foot. We need to have some bait to keep the salmon and trout in the area. Granted the water is still cold so possibly they will show up as the water warms. I hope so!!
If you need more information or would like to make a fishing reservation, feel free to contact me at captron@chartermichigan.com or call me toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 16
Registered: 8-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, May 05, 2005 - 4:13 am: | |
5/5/2005
The weather is just beginning to warm but the water temperature is still very cold--mid 40's. We did not fish last weekend because of the weather however we have a full slate of charters this weekend. The fishing is very slow at this point with very little bait fish being found so there is nothing to hold the game fish in the area. There are a few fish (salmon) in 120 to 140 foot of water which are found 20 to 60 foot deep and a few fish along the shoreline in 20 foot of water.
If you are going to fish the shoreline, long line stick baits, and other body baits behind inline boards and behind the downriggers at 5 to 12 foot deep. The fish in deeper water should hit lures pulled behind dipsy divers, lead core (1/2 and full core) and downriggers to 60 foot. I should be able to give a more detailed account next week after fishing this weekend.
If you need more information or feel free to contact me at captron@chartermichigan.com or call me toll free at 888-253-8372, |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 15
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 3:35 am: | |
4/26/2005
The boat is in the water and we are ready to fish. Last weekend we had our first charters booked and got blown off by gale force winds and yesterday (Monday) we had to cancel because of high waves. If the wind and lake cooperate there are some fish to catch. A few brown trout and coho are being caught from the shoreline to 80 foot. The water is still cold--about 40 degrees and gets colder as you go out. Fish are being caught on small hot-n-tots, thundersticks, and other stick baits on the surface. In addition a few are caught on downriggers with small lures pulled 30 to 50 foot behind the ball.
I will report back next week concerning this weeks fishing and the changing conditions. If you would like more information feel free to contact me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 14
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 06, 2004 - 4:59 am: | |
9/6/2004
This past week produced a mix of fishing success in a variety of fishing locations. The water is very warm, 70 degrees from the top to the bottom in front the piers out to 60 foot. Some salmon are in this warm water, however not very many and they are scattered all the way out to 200 foot.
We have been fishing the first couple of hours of the day in front the piers and then move out as the day progresses. J-plugs, Hot chip and Pro chip flashers with different Gflies work the best in this shallow water. We also have been fishing some magnum Raider and Stinger lures on the downriggers and dipsy divers. As we move out we have gone to smaller lures (Raider and Stingers) on the downriggers along with flashers and flies on the dipsy divers and on the full core and core and a half.
As the water cools down our salmon should move in closer to the piers and our fishing will improve very quickly as the 4 year old salmon move up the river to spawn. Feel free to call at any time (for a fishing update or for reservation) toll free 888-253-8372. Or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com and I will respond as soon as possible.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 13
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 01, 2004 - 3:43 am: | |
9/1/2004
The salmon fishing is decent but not spectacular. The water temperature is in the high 60's however the salmon are starting to school in front the piers in 20 to 35 foot of water. Catches are better in the early morning or late afternoon ranging from 4 to 6 up to 12 to 20 fish per trip. The king salmon range from low teens to low 20's in weight with an occasional coho salmon and steelhead thrown in.
We are fishing 5 color and 3 color lead core with #4 and #3 J-plugs (silver, green glow and silver green back) producing well. Dipsy divers with Pro chip and Hot chip flashers (white/glow, green/glow and blue/glow) with green and mirage Gflies worked well but changed from day to day. In addition we run the frog glow Raider lure on the high diver in the stained water and have had very good success all day long. We have been running some 12 inch Hot chip and Pro chip flashers on the down riggers and are taking some nice salmon early in the day.
For information and reservations, feel free to call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 12
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 1:14 pm: | |
8/16/2004
This week produced all types of weather, fishing conditions and catches. We started the week in 80 foot of water and catching coho and chinook salmon but on Tuesday and Wednesday the wind and wave conditions made it impossible to fish. On Thursday we expected to see that the lake cooled down, however it did not and we found the fish out in 200 foot of water. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday we continued to move out and are now fishing 15 miles out for salmon and steelhead.
Out in the deep water, we fished half core, 3/4 core and full core with dreamweaver and stinger lures in the orange and orange and green combination. Dipsy divers were run from 200 foot out to 125 foot out with white/glow Pro and Hot chip flashers and pickled sunshine Gflies along with the frog Raider lures and the easter egg Flintstone lures. On the downriggers we ran a variety of lures form flashers and flies to stingers, dreamweavers, raiders and flintstone lures.
As the water cools down our salmon should move in closer to the piers and our fishing should improve with more and more 4 year old salmon in the catch. Feel free to call at any time (for a fishing update or for reservation) toll free 888-253-8372. Or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com and I will respond as soon as possible.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 11
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 02, 2004 - 4:10 am: | |
8/2/2004
What a week for salmon fishing. At the start of the week we had the fish in front the peirs in 20 to 40 foot of water and limit catches resulted in 2 to 3 hours. These catches consisted mainly of salmon with a few steelhead and an occasional lake trout and brown trout thrown in. Monday we limited out in 2 hours, Wednesday in 3 hours and Thursday in 2 hours. Friday the water started to warm and we moved out to 80 foot with a catch of 8 to 12 fish in a 6 hour trip. Saturday and Sunday we fished in 80 to 150 foot of water and resulted in 8 to 12 fish in all day charters.
When we fished in the shallow water the lure of choice was the Raider lure in the glow frog, green demon, monkey puke and double crush (in regular and magnum size). These produced best when pulled on half core or on dipsy divers at 50 foot of line or on the downriggers at 12 foot and 30 foot back. Another lure that produced well was the Flintsotone in the bounty hunter color combination. Once we moved back off shore the the primary lure was the Hotchip and Prochip flasher (white/glow and green glow) with Gflies (ultra violet, mirage, pickled sunshine, and seaweed) pulled on the downrigger at 50 to 80 foot down and on the dipsy divers at 100 foot and 100 foot of line out. Lead core (full and core and a half) also produced with different magnum Raider, Flinstone and Stinger lures
The fish should set up outside the bait once the lake stabilizes and we once again get a temperature thermocline formed (this disappeared when we got the cold water in a week and a half ago. For information and reservations, call toll free 888-253-8372 or email at captron@chartermichigan.com and I will attempt to answer promptly.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 10
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Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 12:55 pm: | |
7/26/2004
THE SALMON ARE HITTING. This last week was fun!! The week started with salmon in 80 to 120 foot of water and then moved into 50 foot of water and (when the water temperature dropped from 68 degrees to 54 degrees the last two days) moved into 30 to 20 foot of water in front the piers. The creel consists of chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, an occasional lake trout and even one or two brown trout.
The week began with Prochip and Hotchip flashers and mirage Gflies being run on every rod. The flasher and flies where run on the downriggers set at 40 to 100 foot of water, and on the dipsy divers run with 240 foot and 160 foot of line out. The dipsy divers where run with wire and braided line. We even ran the flashers and flies on full core and core and a half. By the end of the week we where catching fish on monkey puke glow, green and black magnum, and fruit cocktail magnum Raider spoons. The Raider spoon was by far the best lure in and around the piers on the half core lead core and on the downriggers at 12 feet. What we are finding is that when the the fish gets hooked on the single hood (instead of the treable hook) you seldom loose it and we are becoming more and more impressed with the Raider line of lures.
Hopefully we will keep our salmon in this area through August and the fishing should continue to improve and the fish should keep getting bigger. Feel free to call at any time (for a fishing update or for reservation) toll free 888-253-8372. Or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com and I will respond as soon as possible.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 9
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Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 1:13 pm: | |
7/19/2003
If you like to fish for salmon, now is the time to book a charter. This past week we began to catch some nice four year old salmon (some of which weighed more than 20 pounds. As I stated in the last fishing report, the salmon began to appear when the bait fish showed up in 50 to 65 foot of water.
The Prochip and Hotchip flashers and green Gflies were by far the best combination we could pull. We ran the green and glow and white and glow Pro and Hotchip flashers on all the dipsy divers and all the downriggers and at times on the lead core line as well. The color of the Gfly did not matter as long as it was green. On Saturday (July 17), as fast as we could put a Hotchip or Prochip flasher down, it produced a hit and we ended up with 15 fish. I would estimate that we had 15 hits (we missed or lost many of these) in the first hour and all where on the flasher fly combination. Sunday and Monday half day trips were a repeat of Saturday, resulting in 11 and 12 fish, all salmon. There are many boats out of this harbor that are looking for a place to buy the flashers.
Hopefully, the lake will remain stable and our salmon will stay in the area and our fishing will continue to improve. For information and reservations, feel free to call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 8
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Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 12, 2004 - 4:21 am: | |
7/12/2004
Last week the fishing was fairly productive if you could get out. No one fished Monday through Thursday because of the rough water and high wind. The remaining part of the week produced some nice four year old salmon, steelhead, brown trout and even Coho. The salmon and some steelhead where found in 65 to 100 foot of water and would feed until it got bright out and then we had to move out to 190 to 240 foot of water. As an example on Sunday we fished in 65 foot of water until 10:00 AM and caught 3 steelhead, 1 Chinook salmon and a 16 pound brown trout. We then moved out to 190 foot and caught a lake trout, a Coho and lost a couple of steelhead.
Once again the lures and colors changed from day to day. Friday and Saturday everything was coming on Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers and green and ultraviolet Gflies. We ended up running flashers and flies on almost all the lines. On Sunday we could not get a hit on flashers and flies and most of the hits came on green dolphin, blue dolphin, and monkey puke Raider lures. Also producing where Dreamweaver lures and Stinger lures in the bloody nose and pickle colors. Half core and full core lead core and dipsy divers with the flashers and flies produced well Friday and Saturday and the downriggers at 40 to 60 foot produced well on Sunday.
. I hope that our four year old Chinook salmon will continue to show up with the stabilization of the lake. For information and reservations, call toll free 888-253-8372 or email at captron@chartermichigan.com and I will attempt to answer promptly.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 7
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 5:03 am: | |
7/6/2004
Fishing is picking up and if the lake ever stabilizes, the fishing should start to congregate just out side the bait. The wind blows out of the east one day, the west the next and the north the following day and then switches to the south. This keeps changing the fishing conditions and moves the fish around. Out bait is in 40 to 60 foot of water and the salmon are found in 100 to 140 foot of water. Most of the fish being caught are chinook salmon with some 4 year olds weighing 15 to 20 pounds beginning to show up.
Downriggers from 40 to 80 foot down with Raider Lures and Hot Chip Flashers and Gflies produced in a variety of colors. Lead core (half, full and core and a half) all produced with different lures and different colors each day. Our dipsy divers where not very active this past week an we tried a variety of lures on them.
I believe we have turned the corner and our fishing will continue to improve as the water warms. Feel free to call at any time (for a fishing update or for reservation) toll free 888-253-8372. Or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com and I will respond as soon as possible.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 6
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 28, 2004 - 3:24 am: | |
6/26/2004
It appears that the fishing is beginning to turn around. Bait is beginning to show up in shallow water and some four year old salmon are starting to show up and beginning to feed. The lake is beginning to set up a thermocline and all three factors should increase our fishing.
Chinook salmon, some lake trout and an occasional coho salmon are being caught in 50 to 130 foot of water. Lead core (full and core and a half), dipsy divers and downriggers all produce but the preferred lure changes daily.
Hopefully the next week will see more steady and consistent fishing if the lake continues to stabilize. For information and reservations, feel free to call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 5
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 3:32 am: | |
6/21/2004
This fishing report is beginning to sound like a broken record. This past week was a carbon copy of the last two. We had 6 charters booked for this last week and ended up moving most of them to a date latter in the year. We fished from 60 foot to 280 foot of water during the week. The catch ranged for 1 to 5 fish per trip with a maximum of 8 hits on one trip. Again there was very little bait and very few fish marked. On Saturday we thought the lake was beginning to set up with some bait in 75 foot and the beginning of a thermocline and the arrival of the spiny water flea. These conditions are what we need to see for the summer fishing and we thought Sunday might produce some fish. Then we got a northwest blow on Saturday afternoon and evening and the water temperature cooled off 18 degrees and moved the warm water out. Result--end of the thermocline and no bait fish on Sunday.
Fish were caught form the surface behind planner boards down to 70 foot with Prochip Flashers and GFlies. Lure type and colors changed from one day to another, however to colors worked the best: coppertone with laser orange and fireball (orange with laser orange).
We need to find the bait fish, and I am confidant that when we locate the forage fish, we will find the salmon again. For information and reservations, call toll free 888-253-8372 or email at captron@chartermichigan.com and I will attempt to answer promptly.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 4
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 13, 2004 - 7:09 pm: | |
6/14/2004
Check out last weeks report and you will know what is happening to the fishing in Saugatuck this week, since things have not changed. Very few fish being marked and very little baitfish located. Since salmon like nothing more than eating, we need to find the bait and we will find the salmon.
Fishing in the same area as last week and with the same lures and methods.
Feel free to call at any time for a fishing update or for reservation toll free 888-253-8372. Or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com and I will respond as soon as possible.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 3:43 am: | |
6/7/2004
Our fishing continues to be slow during the last week. We fished from 80 foot to 290 foot of water and saw very few fish and very little bait. Catches ranged from 1 to 9 fish per trip depending on the number of hits you caugtht. If you did not miss hits you got 8 or 9 fish and if you missed a number of the hits you got 2 or 3 or less.
To give you the best lures is very hard since this changed every day and depended on the light conditions. We found that bright colors worked well on bright days and dark colors on overcast days. We fished planner boards on the surface along with half core out in 290 foot of water to full core and core and a half and downriggers near the bottom in 80 foot of water. Green, white and blue glow prochip flashers with blue bubble and ultraviolet GFlies tended to produce every day along with Raider lures in a variety of colors.
We appear to be in the June fishing doldrums that appear every year for 1 to 2 weeks and hopefully we are nearing the end of this period. For information and reservations, feel free to call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 2
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2004 - 3:51 am: | |
5/17/2004
It was a rainy, windy, cold week with fantastic fishing when you could get out. The fewest number of fish we caught was 14 on a half day trip and the most was 25 on an all day trip (however these where caught in 6 hours. The catch consisted of mainly chinook salmon with an occasional lake trout and steelhead.
Lead core line (half and full core) worked well with green and dolphin Raider Lures, dalmation Stinger lures, North Port Kalidasacope lures and Dreamweaver green/orange crush. On the dipsy divers we used Pro Troll hot chip flashers (blue glow with blue bubble fly and white glow with a mirage Gfly) on the low divers (100 foot) and Raider lures and Dreamweavers lures and NorthPort Kalidascope lures on the high divers (150 foot) in a variety of colors. Downriggers with a variety of lures (it changed every day), however silver green/glow Dreamweavers, fruit cocktail glow Dreamweavers and silver green side Stingers and Flintstone lures at 40, 50 and 60 foot. Our best fishing rigs were the lead core and dipsy divers with occasional fish on the downriggers.
The May fishing is very good right now and should continue through May and into June. For information and reservations, feel free to call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com.
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Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 8:34 am: | |
4.17.2004
Our 2004 fishing season will begin this week. The water temperature is still cold--41 degrees--as of last week. If the water warms up to the high 40's or low 50's we should see our brown trout and salmon begin to show up. Next Monday check and see how the fishing developed in the upcoming week.
Once again I will attempt to post a fishing report the first part of each week during the fishing season. If you want up to date information feel free to call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or e-mail me at captron@chartermichigan.com.
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Capt. Ron Westrate
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 16, 2003 - 8:36 am: | |
Subject: June 16 Fishing Report for Saugatuck, Mi.
6/16/2003
Well, it happened. Our fishing that was to good to last, finally ended this past week end. During the week we caught 12 to 20 fish per trip and then on Friday we caught 6, Saturday and Sunday produced 4 fish each trip. We were fishing from 220 feet to 270 feet all week and working the top 60 foot of water. Hot Spot flashers and flies on the downriggers, dipsy divers with flintstone lures and stinger lures and full and half core (lead core) with silver streaks, dreamweavers, and flintstone lures produced all week.
The bait disappeared in the deep water and as a result the game fish did also. If we find the bait and the water temperature is right, we should find the salmon. My guess is that the bait will be in side in 60 to 100 foot of water, so this week that is where we are going to look first. If you need information or would like to make a reservation, contact us by email or toll free 888-253-8372.
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Capt. Ron Westrate
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 09, 2003 - 7:36 am: | |
Subject: June 9 Fishing Report
6/9/2003
The fishing is can still be rated as good to excellent with catches ranging from 15 to 27 fish per trip. We are setting lines at the 10 mile mark and fishing out to 20 miles and back. The fish consist of mainly salmon with an occasional steelhead and lake trout thrown in. We are fishing the the top 60 foot of water with most of the fish coming on lead core line (full, 3/4, and half core) and dipsy divers dialed at 1 and 2 with 60 foot and 140 foot of line out respectively. If you are interested in the lures being used see last weeks report as things have not change in the last 2 weeks.
I do not think this fishing is going to last a lot longer so, if you are interested in this type of fishing, contact me for information and or reservations at 1-888-253-8372 toll free.
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 01, 2003 - 7:09 pm: | |
Subject: June 1 Fishing Report for Saugatuck Mi.
6/1/2003
I know that last week I said that the fishing could not get any better and I was right, however it did not get any worse this past week. We fished Thursday through Sunday and limited out every day except Saturday when we got blown off the lake. The catches consisted of salmon, lake trout and steelhead from 3 to 16 pounds. Either we limited out on chinook salmon (3 per person) or total fish (5 per person) each of the days except for one. Saturday we started fishing in 2 to 3 foot seas at 8 AM and decided to go in at 10 AM when the seas reached 7 to 8 foot. During that time we did catch 9 fish and lost 4 or 5 more.
Methods are identical to last week: 1. Lead core (half and full core) with stingers, flintstones and dreamweavers. Michael Jackson, orange crush and Michingan blueberry where the best color combinations.
2. Dipsy divers dialed at 1 and 2 with 70 and 150 feet of line respectively worked well with hotspot flashers and green flies, Michael Jackson, easter egg and fruit cocktail color combinations.
3. Downriggers produced from 30 to 70 foot with silver glow green, fruit cocktail, green hotspot flashers and flies and small silver and orange stingers. Again, if the weather cooperates, our fish should stay off shore and fishing should continue to be very good. For information and reservations please contact us at 1-888-253-8372 (toll free) or with email at captron@chartermichigan.com.
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 26, 2003 - 9:20 pm: | |
Subject: May 26 Fishing Report for Saugatuck, Mi
5/26/2003
What a week of fishing we had this past week. It can not get any better!! To show you what I mean, here is what happened on Friday through Monday of this week:
1. Friday we fished 6 hours and caught 20 fish but kept 16.
2. Saturday we fished 7 foot seas for 8 hours and caught 22.
3. Sunday we fished a 8 hour charter and caught 31 by 1:00 PM.
4. Monday we fished a 6 hour charter and caught 20 by 10:30.
We caught fish from 100 foot of water out to 250 foot of water in the top 50 feet . Full and half lead core and inline birds on the surface produced with silver orange, silver orange and green and silver green. Dipsy divers dialed on 1 and 2 with 60 and 100 foot of line out respectively, worked well with stingers and flintstone lures. Downriggers at 30, 40 and 50 foot worked well with flintsone, dreamweaver, and stinger lures, along with a green hotspot flasher and green fly all produced at different times and depths.
If our weather stays consistent, the fishing should remain very good. Don't miss this fishing it is fantastic.
If you need information or would like to make a reservation, contact us by email or toll free 888-253-8372.
ast week. It can not get any better!! To show you what I mean, here is what happened on Friday through Monday of this week:
1. Friday we fished 6 hours and caught 20 fish but kept 16.
2. Saturday we fished 7 foot seas for 8 hours and caught 22.
3. Sunday we fished a 8 hour charter and caught 31 by 1:00 PM.
4. Monday we fished a 6 hour charter and caught 20 by 10:30.
We caught fish from 100 foot of water out to 250 foot of water in the top 50 feet . Full and half lead core and inline birds on the surface produced with silver orange, silver orange and green and silver green. Dipsy divers dialed on 1 and 2 with 60 and 100 foot of line out respectively, worked well with stingers and flintstone lures. Downriggers at 30, 40 and 50 foot worked well with flintsone, dreamweaver, and stinger lures, along with a green hotspot flasher and green fly all produced at different times and depths.
If our weather stays consistent, the fishing should remain very good. Don't miss this fishing it is fantastic.
If you need information or would like to make a reservation, contact us by email or toll free 888-253-8372.
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2003 - 11:08 pm: | |
Subject: May 18 Fishing Report for Saugatuck Mi.
V5/18/2003
Fishing has picked up tremendously and we have been catching 10 to 20 fish per trip (we took 10 fish on a half day trip and 16 and 17 on two 8 hour trips). Chinook salmon up to 20 pounds, lake trout, steelhead and coho make up the catch with salmon and steelhead predominating. The fish are being caught in 120 to 220 foot of water and in the top 40 feet.
Full and half core with stingers and magnum dreamweavers in a variety of colors produced some very good salmon and steelhead. Inline planer boards on the surface with silver and orange, silver and green and orange and gold and orange worked well early in the day but production slowed as the day progressed. Downriggers at 24 to 40 feet with Flintstone lures and stingers and dipsy divers at 30 and 60 feet (dialed at 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 ) produced off and on all day.
Our fishing should hold as long as we keep the cold water and with the east wind we have had, the water temperature should hold. Feel free to call for information or reservations at our toll free number or email us at any time.
toll free 1-888-253-8372
captron@chartermichigan.com
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 - 10:13 am: | |
Subject: May 13 fishing report for Saugatuck Mi.
5/13/2003
Fishing has picked up this last week. We have finally found some steelhead and salmon in the off shore water. The fish were found in 180 to 220 foot of water and we fished the top 30 foot. Salmon up to 15 pounds and steelhead from 4 to 9 pounds where the predominant catch. We thought we had everything under control and then we got the wind (40 to 50 MPH winds) and seas up to 17 feet during the weekend. We will have to see where this pushed the fish.
Lures (silver and orange and gold and orange) worked well pulled behind inline planner boards. Dipsy divers with Flintsone lures and stinger lures worked when pull shallow and dialed on 2 1/2. The downriggers also produced some fish, however not many. We have also started to use half core and as the water warms, we will start with full core.
For information and reservations please contact us at 1-888-253-8372 (toll free) or with email at captron@chartermichigan.com.
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 9:35 am: | |
Subject: May 7 Fishing Report for Saugatuck Mi.
5/7/2003
Fishing this last week can be described as slow and cold. The water temperature was only 42 degrees along the shore and we had east winds all week that continued to cool the water down. Our best fishing was along the river mouth in the warmer water early in the day. Dipsy divers dialed at 2 1/2 with 15 foot of line out with stingers and flintstone lures produced well. In addition, inline planner boards with small hot-n-tots and stingers on the surface where successful in producing some nice brown trout and an occasional steelhead.
Our catch consisted mainly of brown trout with a few steelhead and a couple of small salmon. Our coho have not migrated up to this area yet, hopefully they will begin to show as the water warms. If the wind moves to the southwest or south instead of east and north, we will see the water warm and action increase. If you need information or would like to make a reservation, contact us by email or toll free 888-253-8372.
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 11:03 am: | |
Subject: April 28 Fishing Report for Saugatuck Mi.
This is the first report for the 2003 season. We began fishing in the middle of the month and have only run a couple of trips because of high winds, rough water and cold water. The cold water (38 degrees) has slowed the fishing and the brown trout have not appeared in any concentration.
The fish that are being caught are around the warmer water of the river mouth or along the shore in very shallow water. Inline planner boards with small body and stick baits and small lures run off the downriggers in the top 10 feet are working the best.
As the water warms the fishing should inprove. I do not know if the brown trout will show in any concentration, however the salmon and steelhead fishing should inprove as we move into May.
Fell free to contact me at any time for fishing information and/or reservations |
Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 26, 2002 - 7:50 pm: | |
Subject: Final Fishing Report for 2002
9/26/2002
Our chinook run is about over and we are now out in 250 to 270 foot of water after steelhead, coho and 2 and 3 year old chinook. The water is warm, 69 degrees on top and 65 degrees down 100 foot. This means the fish may be found anywhere from the surface to more than 150 foot deep.
This will be the last fishing report for the year. After October 3 we may run a few charters on the weekends, however we are officially done for the year. We will begin again the first part of April, so contact us for reservations for the up coming year. If you book a trip this year we will honor this years rates.
1-888-253-8372 toll free
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 09, 2002 - 8:16 am: | |
Subject: Sept. 9 Fishing in Saugatuck
9/9/2002
During the past week we started out with 52 degree water on Wednesday, 57 degree water on Thursday morning, 62 degree water on Thursday afternoon, 65 degree water on Friday and then 70 and 73 degree water on Saturday and Sunday. As you might guess the fishing was very good though Thursday and then got very tough. Mornings where very good and but the afternoon trips saw the action slow. 12 to 15 fish where caught on AM trips and 3 to 6 fish on PM trips. The catches consisted of coho and chinook up to 24 pounds.
Our best methods where Hotspot flashers and Fishcatchers with green and white flies behind dipsy divers and downriggers. Half core with Jay plugs and flashers and flies also produced some very big salmon.
I do not know how long the salmon will be outside the piers, since some are already at the Allegan dam. So feel free to call at any time for information or reservation.
toll free 1-888-253-8372
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 8:58 pm: | |
Subject: Sept. 2 Fishing Report in Saugatuck
9/2/2002
It's the first of September and the salmon and starting to congregate in front the piers. This past week we have been fishing from the pier heads out to 90 foot of water. Early in the week we had coho in 60 to 70 foot of water and chinook in 80 to 90 foot of water. Some salmon where found in 20 foot of water early in the week and as the week progressed, we found more and more fish in that 45 to 20 foot depth. With colder water, we will find are salmon in front in mass and running the river.
Dipsy divers with white/glow and green/glow hotspot flashers with white and green flintstone flies produced very well on both coho and chinook. Downriggers with j-plugs (when fishing inside) and dreamweaver and flintstone lures (in the deeper water) produced well. Full core and and half core with j-plugs produced some very nice chinook (up to 25 pounds) and some brown trout.
Feel free to call for information and reservation for the salmon run this September.
toll free 1-888-253-8372
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 25, 2002 - 8:08 pm: | |
Subject: Aug. 25 Fishing Report From Saugatuck
8/25/2002
Fishing is still producing some large chinook salmon and some coho as a bonus. We have been taking 8 to 22 fish per trip with some of the salmon as heavy as 30 pounds. Take a look at the photo page on www.chartermichigan.info. We are still fishing in 50 to 100 foot of water and from 40 to 60 foot down. Same methods as last week and flashers and flies are the predominant lure with the colors changing daily.
Our fishing should hold into September and then it depends on water temperature as to how long it will last. Feel free to contact us at anytime for information and/or reservations.
1-888-253-8372 toll free
captron@chartermichigan.com
|
Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 16, 2002 - 5:39 pm: | |
Subject: Aug 16 Fishing in Saugatuck
8/16/2002
Last week I complained of cold water and east winds. This week it is warm water and south winds. We fished in 100 to 150 foot of water from 40 to 100 foot down. To get 48 degree water we had to go 100 foot down and at 60 foot it was 65 degrees. Regardless of the temperature, the salmon remained at the 40 to 60 foot level (60+ degrees) with some lake trout being caught at the 80 to 100 foot level.
Fishing methods? Dipsy divers, lead core (full and core and a half) and downriggers all produced. Lures? You have your choice: either flashers and flies or flies and flashers!! White and glow and green and glow hotspot flashers and green and artic ice flies was the lure of choice.
We took the largest chinook salmon of the season this week at 30 pounds. The steelhead averaged about 10 to 12 pounds and lake trout about 8 pounds. About a fourth of the catch this week was coho that averaged about 8 pounds.
Feel free to contact us at anytime for information and/or reservations for the fall run.
1-888-253-8372 toll free
captron@chartermichigan.com
|
Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 11, 2002 - 6:08 pm: | |
Subject: Aug 11 Fishing Report in Saugatuck
8/11/2002
East wind!! Cold water!!! That was last week -- 50 degree water on top and 41 degree water 20 foot down. What happened is the fish moved all over the lake and the bait moved in along shore. One could find fish along the the shore (in 20 to 40 foot of water), in 60 to 80 foot of water, in 140 to 180 foot of water and 220 to 240 foot of water. Salmon and Steelhead with an occasional brown trout made up the catch. The colors changed from day to day, however half core, 3/4 core and full core with Flintstone lures, Dreamweaver lures and stingers worked well. Dipsy divers with hotspot flashers and flies and fish catcher and flies produced some large steelhead. Downriggers from 20 to 45 foot down with flashers and flies and flintstone lures worked but was the least productive method.
Once we get some thermo stratification in the lake, our fishing will get more consistent and dependable. Feel free to call to get updates and make reservations.
toll free 1-888-253-8372
|
Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 04, 2002 - 9:32 am: | |
Subject: Aug. 4 Fishing in Saugatuck, Mi.
8/4/2002
The last 3 reports I stated that things had not changed much. Well they certainly changed during the last week. We started by fishing in 120 foot of water, moved out to 170 foot, then out to 230 foot and then into 110 foot by Friday and 60 foot of water on Saturday and Sunday. The water temperature would change up to 20 degrees (at the depth we where fishing at) during a 6 hour period. The current would flow from south to north and then change and go from north to south within a couple of hours. Once we found the where the fish would go, we had good catch rates again. This past week produced from 5 to 15 fish per trip, which consisted primarily of chinook salmon with an occasional steelhead.
Lead core (full core and core and a half) with green glow dreamweavers, blue dolphin dreamweavers and stingers produced some big salmon and steelhead. Dipsy divers with Hotshot flashers (green and glow white) and green and mirage flies and with flintstone lures (easter egg and wild hog). The downriggers, with Hotshot flashers and flies and green glow dreamweavers and magnum money flintstone lures.
We have begun our August fishing and the salmon predominate the catch (Saturday we had 6 fish over 18 pounds). They are getting larger every week as they prepare to run the Kalamazoo River. We have very few days open in August, so contact us soon for reservations and/or information.
1-888-253-8372 toll free
captron@chartermichigan.com
|
Capt Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 28, 2002 - 11:02 am: | |
Subject: July 25 fishing in Saugatuck, Mi.
7/25/2002
This is starting to sound like a broken record, however we are still fishing in 50 to 100 foot of water for salmon and steelhead. Only an occasional lake trout is being caught and and once and a while you get a brown trout (up to 18 pounds). We have been catching from 6 to 12 fish a trip, however some afternoons (when the currents comes up) have been very challenging. Salmon (up to 20 pounds) and steelhead (up to 14 pounds) make up most of the catch.
The water had cooled down during the week with the northwest blow in Wednesday. and Thursday though Saturday we fished the 50 to 100 foot depth from 20 foot to 60 foot down. On Friday we took had a charter from 9 AM to 3 PM and caught 4 fish by 11 AM. We decided to check out deeper water, (which is were in other years we would be fishing during this time of year. We spent 1 1/2 hours trolling from 160 foot of water to 220 foot of water with out a hit. We marked only a few fish and no bait fish during this time, so we pulled lines and finished the trip in 50 foot of water where we picked up a 18 pound salmon.
Dipsy divers with easter egg flintsones and hotspot flashers and mirage and green flies (140 foot and 60 foot of line dialed at 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 respectively) are our most productive method. Half and full lead core with hotspot flashers and flies and dreamweaver lures and flintstone lures and yuck lures. The color changed from day to day and hour to hour. Magnum lures produced very few hits. Down riggers were the least productive, however some fish where taken on the outdowns with hotspot flashers and flies and down the "chute" on money dreamweavers and flintstone lures.
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 21, 2002 - 9:46 pm: | |
Subject: July 22 Fishing in Saugatuck
7/22/2002
Things have not changed much from last week to this week. We are still catching fish in 50 to 120 foot of water and from 20 to 50 foot down. Same lures, same methods and same colors. Check out last weeks report.
We caught up to 15 fish on half days and up to 23 fish on all days. The fish consist salmon and steelhead with an occasional lake trout.
Contact us at any time for reservations and information at : toll free 1-888-253-8372 or email us at: captron@chartermichigan.com.
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 5:14 pm: | |
Subject: July 14 Fishing in Saugatuck
7/7/2002
Fishing over the 4th of July produced some very nice catches of steelhead and chinook salmon with an occasional lake trout. Catches ranged from 3 or 4 fish (if you missed a number of hits) to 8 to 12 fish (if you got most of the hits). We are fishing in water from 50 to 130 foot and the fish are coming from 30 foot down to the bottom. We are starting to get a thermocline at about 40 foot and the fish and the bait fish are starting to stratify at that point.
Full core and 3/4 core of lead core line with magnum stingers, dreamweavers and northern king lures (color changed daily) produced some large steelhead--some over 15 pounds. Downriggers at 35, 50 and 60 feet with flintstone dolphins and northport kaleidoscope lures produced some nice kings, some of which pushed the 20 pound range. Dipsy divers with flintstone lures and stinger lures (fruit cocktail, watermelon, coppertone and coyote) produced at 150 feet and 60 feet.
The lake is beginning to stratify and (if the weather holds) the fish should start to congregate in areas instead of being a spread out as they have been before. Fell free to call at any time for fishing report update.
1-888-253-8372 toll free or email at
captron@chartermichigan.com
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 07, 2002 - 10:10 am: | |
Subject: July 4th fishing in Saugatuck
7/7/2002
Fishing over the 4th of July produced some very nice catches of steelhead and chinook salmon with an occasional lake trout. Catches ranged from 3 or 4 fish (if you missed a number of hits) to 8 to 12 fish (if you got most of the hits). We are fishing in water from 50 to 130 foot and the fish are coming from 30 foot down to the bottom. We are starting to get a thermocline at about 40 foot and the fish and the bait fish are starting to stratify at that point.
Full core and 3/4 core of lead core line with magnum stingers, dreamweavers and northern king lures (color changed daily) produced some large steelhead--some over 15 pounds. Downriggers at 35, 50 and 60 feet with flintstone dolphins and northport kaleidoscope lures produced some nice kings, some of which pushed the 20 pound range. Dipsy divers with flintstone lures and stinger lures (fruit cocktail, watermelon, coppertone and coyote) produced at 150 feet and 60 feet.
The lake is beginning to stratify and (if the weather holds) the fish should start to congregate in areas instead of being a spread out as they have been before. Fell free to call at any time for fishing report update.
1-888-253-8372 toll free or email at
captron@chartermichigan.com
|
Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 30, 2002 - 4:58 pm: | |
Subject: Saugatuck Fishing at the 1st of July
7/1/2002
Last week fishing in 60 to 120 foot of water we found some days that produced very good catches and others that produced "slim pickens". It is not that the fish are not there, it is just that if you lose very many or miss many hits, your catch suffers dramatically. If you connect with most of the hits, you end up with a good catch. The catches ranged from 3 or 4 per trip to 8 to 12 per trip. One good fact is that the fish were all nice salmon and steelhead. Our largest salmon weighed just over 20 pound and the largerst steelhead weighed just under 15 pounds.
From day to day the fishing methods we used changed, even though the fish stayed in the same area and at the same depth. One day the dipsy divers would produce most of your fish and the next day the almost all the fish would come on the lead core. Our least productive method was the downriggers, which is probably because of the clear water. Most of the fish were caught away from the boat. Lead core, both full core and core and a half produced well with stingers, flintstone lures, northern king lures and dreamweavers (both regular size and magnum in silver and orange, orange and green, coyote, blue and green dolphin). Dipsy divers dialed at 1 and 2 (80 foot and 150 foot repectively) with flintstone lures, northport nailer kalidascope, and stingers in coyote, dolphin and green/black.
The salmon that we are taking are very good size for this time of the year, which means (I think) that by the time we get to August we will see some very large fish. Book now for fishing Saugatuck this year.
1-888-253-8372 toll free
captron@chartermichigan.com
|
Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 23, 2002 - 7:56 pm: | |
Subject: June 23 Fishing Report
6/23/2002
This past week was a mirror image of the preceding week. Same lures, same depth and fishing methods and very similar results. We caught 4 to 8 fish per trip that where mainly salmon and steelhead. The one good news is that we caught a 18, 20, and 21 pound salmon. So the quantity leaves something to be desired, however the quality of the fish is very good.
I hope that next week will result in a more favorable report. I believe that our fishing should turn around soon since there is large amounts of bait fish in shallow water and the fish should find them and start to concentrate in that 70 to 100 foot mark.
Feel free to contact me at any time for an up to date report by calling me toll free at 1-888-253-8372.
Capt Ron Westrate
www.chartermichigan.com |
Capt Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 16, 2002 - 9:22 am: | |
Subject: Father's Day Fishing Report for Saugatuck
6/16/2002
Our June fishing continues being unpredictable and and inconsistent. Last week we ran two trips on Monday, one on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. (Saturday and Sunday resulted in high winds no fishing.)
On Monday we fished in 60 to 120 foot of water and caught 7 fish in the AM and 4 in the PM. On Wednesday we ran to 12 miles and caught 7 fish in 2 hours and came in (sea sickness). On Thursday we ran out to the same area and could not find the fish and caught 5 fish in 6 hours. Friday we set lines 12 miles out and trolled to 15 miles and then back to 12 miles. We caught 8 fish (kept 6 lake trout and steelhead and returned two small salmon back. All the fish where caught around the 12 mile mark.
Fishing techniques were the same as last week and lures and colors changed from day to day (see last weeks report). Flintstone slammers and big daddie lures, Stingers and dreamweavers produced on lead core, downriggers and dipsy divers. The only real difference is that in the deep water we used inline planner boards (with the lures stated above) with silver and orange, orange and green and gold and orange on the surface.
Once we get some consistent weather and the water stratifies (temperature wise), our fish will start to group in specific areas. Feel free to contact us at any time for information on our fishing and/or reservations. 1-888-253-8372 toll free
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 11, 2002 - 7:40 am: | |
Subject: June 11 Fishing Report
6/11/2002
When the "cotton flies in June" the fishing gets tough. Let me explain the preceding statement. Sometime in June we get a period when the water is the same temperature from the surface to the bottom and from the shore out to about 20 miles or more. At this time the fish are scattered from the all over the lake with no real concentration. What we try to do is find some bait fish and then fish that area. This condition usually lasts 10 to 14 days and then the lake begins to stratify. The fish are still there, however the action has slowed down. For example, Monday, on two half day charters, we took a total of 11 fish, (10 Chinook salmon and 1 steelhead) that ranged from 3 to 15 pounds.
The fishing this past week was tough, however some nice salmon where caught in 60 to 120 foot of water. Smaller salmon and Coho where caught in 200 to 240 foot of water and salmon and steelhead and lake trout where caught in 330 foot of water (20+ miles out). Where ever you fished, the methods where the same. Downriggers at 30 to 50 foot down, Dipsy Divers at 70 foot dialed at 1 1/2 and 140 foot dialed at 2 1/2 and full and 3/4 lead core. Color combinations changed for one day to another, however Flintstone Big Daddies, Stingers, and Dreamweavers produced the best.
Our fishing will get better so call for a reservation and/or information.
Capt Ron Westrate
1-253-8372 toll free
captron@chartermichigan.com
|
Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 03, 2002 - 12:06 pm: | |
Subject: June 3 Saugatuck Fishing Report
6/3/2002
Last week produced a wide range of fishing results out of Saugatuck. We started fishing in 80 to 100 foot of water and then fished in 200 foot. The following day we found fish in 60 foot and then had to move out to 220 foot by the end of the week. The method of fishing did not change, just the depth of water we fished in.
We took salmon that went over 20 pounds and some that went just over 2 pounds. A couple of steelhead went from 12 to 15 pounds and lake trout in the 6 to 10 pound range. Our half day trips resulted in 6 to 10 fish with up to 19 fish on our all day trip on Sunday.
We fished the surface with inline planner boards and stingers, dream weavers and flintstones in double orange crush, orange and green and silver orange tip. Full lead core, three quarter core, and half core all produced with hot shot flashers and green flies and magnum stingers, magnum dream weavers and silver streaks. Down riggers were run at 25 foot, 30 foot and 40 foot with a variety of lures, however these where the least productive method producing only a few hits per trip. Dipsy divers did very well with hot shot flashers and flies 50 foot out dialed at 1 1/2 and kaleidoscope northport nailers and stingers at 90 foot dialed at 2 1/2. One day one method would produce and the next day another method produced, even though we fished the same area and for the same fish.
The salmon that we are taking are very good size for this time of the year, which means (I think) that by the time we get to August we will see some very large fish. Book now for fishing Saugatuck this year.
1-888-253-8372 toll free
captron@chartermichigan.com
|
Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 20, 2002 - 12:14 pm: | |
Subject: May Salmon Fishing in Saugatuck, Mi
5/20/2002
Last week produced some very good fishing if the weather cooperated. Friday and Saturday produced high winds and each day we where blown off. If and when we did get out we found fish from 70 foot of water out to 160 foot of water. Most of the fish that we caught where 3 and 4 year old salmon from 12 to 20 pounds.
The down riggers where fished at 30, 40 and 50 feet and Kalidascope Northport Nailers (silver green, and lemon lime with a twist and superior sunset) worked well. We also had the silver dodger with a green fly go at 50 foot on the downrigger. Dipsy divers with Flintstone lures and Stinger lures (silver/chartrouse, double green and glow green) run at 100 and 150 feet produced occasional fish. Full core and half core (lead core) with magnum Stingers and Northern Kings produced some long fights with large salmon.
The salmon are large for this time of the year and are all you want to handle on light tackle. Come and join the fun. You can check available dates on www.chartermichigan.info.
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Capt Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 13, 2002 - 1:05 pm: | |
Subject: Mid May Fishing in Saugatuck Michigan
5/13/2002
This past week has produced some very good, however cold fishing. Once again we were in 60 to 115 foot of water and fishing the top to 50 foot of water. Some rough water forced some cancellations during the week, however we took 18 fish on Saturday and 12 on a half day on Sunday. The fish on Saturday were all chinook salmon and ranged from 2 pounds to 4 fish that ranged over 15 pounds. On Sunday we had on fish over 20 pounds and 3 over 15 pounds.
Flat lines behind planner boards with silver and orange stingers and dreamweavers produced three to four fish a trip. Lead core with hot spot flashers and flies and magnum stingers and dreamweavers where productive as well as dipsy divers with stingers, flinstones and dreamweavers (blue dolphins, green dolphins, and blue berry). Downriggers with dodgers and flies, and stingers and dreamweavers at 30 to 50 foot produced the larger salmon.
The salmon are getting bigger and the fishing should continue to improve through out the month.
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 30, 2002 - 11:42 am: | |
Subject: Start of a new season
Fishing Reports
4/28/2002
Well the season is now three weeks old and we have had a variety of results. We opened the season on April 13 with 18 fish, three of which where Chinook and the rest Coho. On the 20th we fished for 5 hours and caught only 3 fish--one steelhead and two salmon. April 26 produced 4 to 6 foot seas and dirty water, 2 seasick fisherman and one 15 pound Chinook. Calmer waters and east wind on the 27th allowed us to fish on the beach (20 to 10 foot of water) and we caught 7 brown trout and 3 salmon, one of which weighed about 12 pounds. We lost a couple of very large salmon (pushing 20 pounds) and one large brown trout (over 14 pounds) right at the net. With a little bit of luck we should have had 13 to 14 fish (shuda-couda). On the 28th we where greeted by 4 to 7 foot waves and we decided not to fish in these conditions.
Small hot-n-tots and thunder sticks pulled behind inline planner boards produced the brown trout. Stingers and Flintstone lures pulled behind dipsy divers and downriggers worked well on the Chinook. Depth of water fished ranged from 50 foot when the water was rough to 10 to 25 foot with the calmer water.
We are looking for fishing to pick up in the next few weeks as more salmon and steelhead should show up. Contact us for fishing information and fishing date availability.
Capt Ron Westrate
CoHooker Charter Service
www.chartermichigan.com
captron@chartermichigan.com
1-888-253-8372 toll free
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 28, 2001 - 11:28 pm: | |
Subject: Salmon Fishing in Saugatuck
Salmon, salmon, and more salmon. We are catching coho and chinook salmon in 70
to 150 foot of water from the Douglas Point to the Holland channel. Fishing from 40
to 75 foot down, salmon up to 31 pounds have been taken. Full core and core and
a half with dream weavers and hot spot flashers and flies have been very good.
Dipsy divers with hot spot flashers and green and white flies 120 foot out and 220
foot out are our most productive method for the coho and chinook.
The salmon should be moving to the piers soon and begin the run up the Kalamazoo
river so come out and fish Saugatuck .
Capt. Ron Westrate
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 30, 2001 - 4:49 pm: | |
Subject: Late July Fishing in Saugatuck
Saugatuck fishing is becoming consistent and what everyone expects out of this
port. The last week we have been taking from 5 to 15 fish a trip from 55 foot of
water out to 250 foot of water. Fish were caught in 55 to 150 foot range and from
200 to 250 foot range. Salmon in the mid 20 pound range, steelhead from 5 to 12
pounds and lake trout in the high teens with an occasional brown trout up to 15
pounds.
Full core and half core with dream weavers and stingers are very consistent. Dipsy
divers with fish catcher flashers and white and green flies are producing large salmon
and steelhead. Down riggers with stingers, northern kings and dream weavers are
being fished from 30 to 60 foot.
The fish are here and the dates are filling fast so call and enjoy the Saugatuck
experience. Toll Free 1-888-253-8372
Capt Ron Westrate
CoHooker Charter Service |
Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 16, 2001 - 4:54 pm: | |
Subject: 31 pound Chinook Salmon
Fishing is getting back to what we expect out of Saugauck. The last week has
produced fish from 50 to 210 foot of water. Monday through Wednesday we fished
in 120 to 140 foot of water. Thursday though Saturday we fished in 200 foot of
water and Sunday and today we found fish in 50 to 80 foot. We caught a 31 pound
Chinook, two 20 pound Chinook, a 12 pound steelhead and two lake trout in 70
foot of water. Saturday we caught 15 fish (salmon to 20 pounds, 8 to 12 pound
steelhead and 5 to 10 pound lake trout) from 160 to 210 foot of water. Another
boat caught a 24 pound brown trout in 80 foot of water.
We are fishing full and half core (lead core) with dreamweavers and yuck spoons
(silver orange crush, green dolphin and kavorkian). Dipsy divers with
dreamweavers, stingers and northern kings are fished 60 to 200 feet out. Down
riggers are fished at depths from 20 to 50 foot with stingers, dreamweavers, dodgers
and flies and northern kings.
Our fishing should only get better as we finish out July and go into August. So give
us a call and make fishing reservations while there are still some openings.
Capt. Ron Westrate
1-888-253-8372 toll free
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Captain Lorrie
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2001 - 6:38 pm: | |
Subject: Photo Ops
With the bright sunny warm weather here for a change,
don't forget your camera for your fishing trip! Snapshots
of your trip will keep the memories as clear and bright as
the sun. But, don't tuck the camera away till you
catch the big one! Just this week on our trip down
river, we had a great photo op of a doe and fawn at the
river's edge drinking. The fawn still had spots and was
less than 2 weeks old! We have also had bald eagles,
loons, red tailed hawks, hummingbirds and bats around the
boat as we troll! Not to mention some hilarious
hijinxs that we have recorded!
So bring lots of film and take lots of pictures to
keep the fun around for years to come! |
Capt Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 21, 2001 - 11:54 am: | |
Subject: Steelhead or Salmon?
Do you want to fish Saugatuck for steelhead or salmon? The choice is yours. If
you want salmon fish from 70 to 140 feet of water 30 to 60 foot down. But if
steelhead is what you want go out 10 miles and fish to 16 miles (that is 240 to 270
feet of water) and fish the top 25 foot of water.
This past week produced some very good salmon fishing (two fish weighed in at 25
pounds) from 3 to 5 miles out. Lead core with dolphin, yellowtail and monkey puke
magnum lures (stingers, northern king , etc.) produced some nice salmon and lake
trout. Down riggers where fished from 30 to 60 foot with fruit cocktail, dolphin and
green sided stingers and dream weavers. Dipsy divers fished with 60 to 150 feet of
line also produced some nice fish. When the fishing slowed inside we went out to 10
miles from shore and fished steelhead on the surface. There the water temperature
dropped to 47 degrees F and any lure with silver and orange or silver green and
orange produced well.
Last week the catch numbers ran from 10 to 14 fish for a half day trip to 15 to 22
fish for an all day trip (Sunday we caught 20 fish -9 lake trout, 9 steelhead and 2
salmon-that ranged from 5 to 15 pounds. Good fishing by anybody's standards.
Ron Westrate
1-888-253-8372
captron@chartermichigan.com
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Capt Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 07, 2001 - 2:51 pm: | |
Subject: Early May finsh out of Saugatuck Michigan
What a difference a week makes. Fishing was tough last week, with a few salmon and trout being taken. This week the salmon showed up and fish up to 20 lbs where taken On Saturday we took 10 fish, two lake trout and 8 salmon. Sunday produced similar results with 15 fish (1 steelhead, 2 lake trout and 12 chinook salmon) in five hours of fishing. Most of the salmon when from 5 to 12 lbs with a couple in the mid teens. With strong easterly winds, we fished from 50 to 150 feet, east and west. Downriggers produced at 30 to 45 feet with dolphin stingers and dream weavers and silver and green stingers. Full lead core with dolphin and orange crush dream weavers produced some nice salmon. Dipsy divers with a variety of stingers and dream weavers (fruit cocktail, dolphin and watermelon) and northport nailers in the kaleidoscope pattern proved productive when run at 80 to 175 feet of line dialed at 2 and 3. The steelhead came on the surface behind inline planner boards with silver-orange and silver orange and green stingers.
The fishing should now continue to get better as the month of May progresses. I expect to see more and more steelhead in the catch in the next week or so. Come and fish the Port of Saugatuck and enjoy the fight of the king salmon and steelhead, it is a experience you will not forget.
Capt. Ron Westrate
www.chartermichigan.com
captron@chartermichigan.com
toll free 1-888-253-8372
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Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 23, 2001 - 5:09 pm: | |
Subject: Saugatuck fishing
The name of the game is wind. We have been blown off the lake 4 times in the last
week. I seems like every time we can go and fish, the wind blows. If you can get
out, the fish are there with coho and a few brown trout being caught from Saugatuck
harbor north and coho and smaller chinook 8 to 13 miles south of the harbor.
Fishing in 10 to 20 feet of water, with small hot-n-tots, thunderstick jr., and other
small crank baits behind planner boards and in line planners seems to be the best.
The Chinook and steelhead should start to show up soon, so come out and fish the
Port of Saugatuck with us.
Capt. Ron Westrate
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2001 - 12:10 pm: | |
Subject: Start of the fishing season.
April fishing has begun to heat up out of Saugatuck on Lake Michigan. I will be
running the first charter on 4/13/01, however, fish are being caught along the
shoreline from the piers to 10 miles south. Small lures such as stingers and northport
nailers on the down riggers and small hot-n-tots and thunder sticks on the surface
behind planner boards are producing limit catches of coho and brown trout.
Changes in the water temperature will change the catch. I would expect that as the
water warms, our catch will include less brown trout and more salmon and
steelhead. I will report next week on any changes that are occurring and the results
of our catches.
For more information feel free to contact me at captron@chartermichigan.com or
call toll free 1-888-253-8372.
Capt. Ron Westrate
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Cantmisschartersvc.com
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2000 - 5:18 am: | |
Subject: Current Fishing on Lake Michigan
There is not much time to get in some real good fishing and catching. The salmon run is winding down and we are beginning to fish off shore again. The three year old salmon are very fisty and great to eat. COME ON DOWN!!!!! Lets go fishin. Capt Norm |
Captain Lorrie Witt
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 07, 2000 - 9:23 am: | |
Subject: August Fishing
Fishing the first week of August continues to be....
supercalafragalisticexpealidocious! The charter boats
of the Saugatuck fleet took limit catches all week with
most of the catch being Chinooks and Steelhead. We are
still fishing from 180 to 280 ft of water. Magnum Northern
King, Magnum Dreamweavers, Stinger and Kalidascopes were
the hot baits, fishing 60-85 ft down. It didn't seem to
matter if you fished north or south of Saugatuck. So
let's go fishing! Call 616-836-2728 for availability! |
Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 31, 2000 - 2:01 pm: | |
Subject: July fishing goes out with a bang.
July went out with a bang, fishing wise. We continue to have some
fantastic fishing, for example on Saturday morning we caught 17 fish in
2 1/2 hours. The creel consisted of salmon to 20 pounds, steelhead to
15 pounds, coho to 12 pounds and lake trout to 15 pounds. This is
representative of the whole last week of July.
Fish are being taken from 160 to 260 feet, from 40 feet to 90 feet
deep. Northport Nailer kaleidoscope lures (mashed banana, fruit
cocktail, glow dolphin) and dream weavers (orange crush, fruit cocktail,
watermelon) where the lures of choice. We fished downriggers at 40, 50
and 90 foot down, lead core (single and core and a half), pound and a
half drop weights with dodgers and flies at 240 feet and dipsy divers at
240 feet out (mono line) and 100 feet out (braided line).
If we keep constant water conditions and do not get any drastic weather
changes I think this fishing will continue though out Aug. Come and
join the fun--Fish Saugatuck.
Capt Ron Westrate
Toll Free 1-888-836-2748
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2000 - 7:20 am: | |
Subject: Fantastic fishing
Wow!! What a week!! Salmon and steelhead!! During the week we took from 12
to 22 fish a trip that ranged form 8 to 25 pounds. Fishing cannot get much better
than this.
At the beginning of the week we fished in 200 to 240 foot of water and by the end
of the week we where in 80 to 100 foot of water. With the north and north west
winds the water cooled down during the week and the fish moved in to the shallower
water.
Dipsy divers 130 to 160 foot out, single core leadcore and downriggers at 40 to 70
foot down produced the whole week. The lures that we used consisted of
dreamweavers (orange crush, silver green side and lemon ice) and kaleidoscope
northport nailers (blue dolphin and the glow mashed banana). The magnum silver
streak (gold/green and green glow) and dodger and fly worked on the down riggers.
The fishing is great. Come out and join the fun.
Capt. Ron Westrate
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Capt. Ron Westrate
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2000 - 3:00 am: | |
Subject: Good Fishing but Rough Water
The week of July 4th though the 9th produced nice four year old
salmon and large steelhead. Fishing was excellent when we could get out
to the fish, or the customer could handle the rough water. The weekend
produced high winds and high waves and a large amount of rain.
Fish could be taken in 130 to 150 foot of water and in 200 to 230 foot
of water. In the shallow water lake trout, salmon (6-12 lb.) and some
steelhead where taken, however in the deeper water we found mainly large
four year old salmon and steelhead. There were days in which we could
not get out to the 100 foot depth, talk nothing about the 200 foot
depth.
Fish were taken on lead core, both single and core and a half, with
dreamweaver double crush and blue dolphin. Dipsy Divers, at 240 and 260
foot of mono line and 140 and 160 foot of braided line, with stingers
and pirate spoons produced some nice steelhead and salmon. Drop weights
of two and one half pounds with dodgers and flies at 240 and 260 foot of
line did well on the lake trout. We ran the down riggers at 70 to 100
foot with stingers, northport nailers, silver dodgers and green flies
and sutton spoons on add-a-lines.
Hope we can get some calm water this week, and if we do, we should
again produce some large salmon.
Capt. Ron Westrate
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