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Fishing Reports for Local Area - Location |
    
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 110
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 20, 2008 - 4:01 am: | |
10/20/2008
It has been 3 weeks since the last fishing report and in that time the boat has been pulled out of the water for the season and the status of the fishing has changed very little. The "fall run" has really never materialized in the Kalamazoo River and the reports from the Grand and St. Joe are similar. There are still some fairly good fishing in the 130 to 140 foot of water and also out in 180 to 200 foot. The Lake Trout season is now closed, however there are some 3 and 2 year old salmon in the 140 foot depth and steelhead and salmon out in the 200 foot depth. Boats fishing the 140 FOW are using flashers and flies 50 to 80 foot down and stingray and stinger lures on 300, 200 and 100 foot of copper (or equivalent lead core). Off shore in the 200 FOW the steelhead are being caught on stingray and stinger lures on divers and 100 and 200 foot of copper.
The report of fishing in the river is not very good at this time. Tony Walte of Frostbite Charters reports that the Chinook fishing in the Kalamazoo and St. Joe river is very slow with 1 - 3 fish being caught per trip. The steelhead have not shown up in any numbers as of this past weekend and the fishing at the Allegan dam has been slow the last couple of weeks. Report are that the chinook returns at the weirs on the Platte and Manistee rivers was also very light.
What has happened to the run? I do not know, however a few years ago we had warm water in the lake and the run did not materialize until the end of Oct. or the first part of Nov. We will have to see if this is the trend this year. Check back and I will update the report as soon as I get any new reports. You can contact me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 109
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 5:29 am: | |
Sept. 21, 2008
Another week of warm water and deep water fishing. The fishing was very good, with catches of 8 to 18 fish per trip. The creel consisted of about half lake trout and half salmon. There are a few salmon in front the piers and a few already in the river, however the warm water has drastically slowed the run. There are still many 4 year old salmon out in 70 to 150 foot of water that are ready to run however they need some cold water to get a mass run.
This past week we fished in 100 to 150 foot of water and 80 to 140 foot down. The best method was the downriggers at 100, 120 and 135 foot down with 11 in Hot Chip flashers (white/glow, silver, and green/blue glow) with Rapture trolling flies (green dude, green hypnotist, and wild fern) pulled behind. On the wire divers (240 foot and 160 foot of line out) we pulled the 8 in Echip flashers with the Rapture trolling flies ( same combination as above). 300 and 400 foot of copper with Nature Born Killer and Glow Frog Stingray lures produced on some steelhead and salmon. Three fourth of the fish came on the downriggers and the divers.
With the end of Lake Trout season on the 30th of September, we will have to either fish the warm water in front the piers or fish the depth that these salmon are in that have a minimum of lake trout. If you can find the depth that hold the bait (probably 60 to 80 foot of water), there should be salmon just outside of this. You can catch the salmon at the 100 to 140 foot depth, however the lake trout you catch at that depth may not survive being returned to the lake.
With the season winding down, I will post the fishing report every 2 or 3 weeks rather than every week. So check back in a couple of weeks and see if the water cooled down and the salmon moved in. For information or charter reservations, email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 108
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 6:18 pm: | |
Sept. 21, 2008
Warm water and dredging moved the fishing out to deeper water for a second week. This past week we fished from 90 to 180 foot of water and some boats fished as far out as 240 foot of water. The catch consisted of 2, 3 and 4 year old chinook salmon, lake trout, some coho and an occasional steelhead. Boats that fished the 200 to 240 foot depth found a few steelhead in the upper water column.
We fished deep for the fish--80 to 140 foot down. The best method was 11 inch echip flashers (white/glow, green/glow and silver) with Rapture wild fern and green dude flies pulled on the downriggers at 100 to 140 foot. For the first time in a month we started consistently catching fish on Stingray spoons (glow frog and natural born killer) on 300 and 400 foot of copper.
Our season is winding down, however there are a lot of 4 year old salmon is the deeper water that are waiting for colder water. This could be one of those years when the fish will "stagger" is a little at a time for a couple of months unless we get and keep some cold water. For information and charter reservations--email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 107
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 14, 2008 - 12:02 pm: | |
9/14/2008
Warm water forced us to fish in deep water and fish deep in the water column. The fishing was fairly good with some 4 year old Chinook salmon, coho salmon, some very good sized lake trout and an occasional steelhead. Even though the dredging continued in front the piers, the warm water limited the number of salmon that are there. One could fish in front, and catch a few 4 year olds, however the number is limited. There are a few salmon being caught at the Allegan dam and a few are being caught trolling in the river or by back trolling through the holes up river, however there are not a lot of salmon in the river yet. The 4 year old salmon that we caught out in 140 foot of water where dark and ready to run.
This past week we fished 100 to 160 foot of water and we fished 70 to 130 foot down. The best method was 11 in. Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (Chartreuse/glow, silver, white/glow) with Rapture flies (green dude, green mirage, and wild fern) pulled on the downriggers at 100 to 130 foot. The wire divers produced with the same color 8 in flashers with the rapture flies pulled at 140 to 240 foot back. There were some fish taken on 300 and 400 foot of copper with flashers and flies pulled behind them.
I think that the salmon will continue to "stagger in" a little at a time, unless we get and keep some cold water at the piers. If we get the cold water, they will move in and up the river quickly, however we have seen only a small percentage of out 40,000 salmon that where planted 3 years ago. For information and charter reservations, email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 106
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 07, 2008 - 7:19 am: | |
This past week, the lake turned over and cold water moved in and the bait and salmon followed. Along with the salmon and the beginning of the run, the government decided it was time to dredge the harbor and on Saturday, they floated out the pipes to 20 foot of water and began to dredge. Sunday, they did not dredge however the pipes are still floating out and to the south--so much for fishing out in front the piers and we will have to move back off shore. The fishing was very good Thurs., Friday and the first part of Saturday with 4 year old Chinook salmon and some adult Coho salmon producing limit catches.
In front the piers, the best methods included
Stingray lures and Nitro lures on 3 color lead core
3 color lead core with Silver Horde plugs (silver/green, silver, wonderbread)
downriggers with plugs and Nitro lures
E Chip flashers (white/glow and silver) and Rapture flies (mirage and green hypnotist) on divers
Once back off shore, we should be back to flashers and flies and plugs on copper.
I do not know how long the dredging will take place or how long the pipes will be floating off to the south. With all summer to dredge the harbor, why they decided to start it on a weekend during the run is beyond my comprehension. Check back and see what happens next week. For information and/or charter reservations, email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 105
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 01, 2008 - 2:03 pm: | |
The only consistent thing about fishing this week was inconsistentcy. One day we caught fish in 20 foot of water and the next day we had to move out to 90 foot then a couple of days in 130 foot, next to 180 foot and then 220 foot followed by a day back in front the piers. The warm water moved in and the fish are scattered form the piers to 240 foot of water with boats catching a few fish in any and all of the depths each day. The catch consisted of chinook (up to 18 pounds) , lake trout (up to 22 pounds), steelhead (up to 15 pounds) and a few coho. There were a couple of days in which we took 12 and 14 lake trout and consider the fact that a couple of years ago we did not catch 20 lake trout all year.
Good news for the perch fisherman. The last 4 days produced limit catches of perch in 14 to 30 foot of water south and north of the Saugatuck piers.
The best fishing methods changed form day to day with Silver Horde plugs and Stingray spoons working well around the piers. As we moved off shore, the Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green glow, white glow, silver) and Rapture flies (green dude, green hipnotist, last supper) produced very well behind divers, downriggers and 300 foot of copper. One day the green flashers produced and the next day it was silver and then the next day was all white glow.
The salmon are ready to run the river and are waiting for cold water. Some can be found and caught in front the piers every day regardless of the water temperature, however there are not large numbers staging there at this time. Check back and find out what happens when the water cools. For information and charter reservations email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 104
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 24, 2008 - 8:30 am: | |
Fishing is about as good as it can get out of the port of Saugatuck. We ran 9 trips this past week and limited out on every one of the trips -- some within 3 hours. The fish (chinook and coho salmon, lake trout, steelhead and coho) were caught from 100 out to 200 foot of water and from 50 to 140 foot down. There was a mixed bag with 2, 3 and 4 year old chinook salmon, some 3 year old coho, steelhead up to 12 pounds and lake trout over 20 pounds. There are also some steelhead being caught on the south Saugatuck pier fishing with spawn and little cleos. Walleye and small mouth bass are also being caught by drifting between the piers and bouncing bottom.
Flashers and flies continue to be the best method in the deep water. 8 inch and 11 inch Pro and Hot Chip flashers (silver, silver/green, green/glow, white/glow with silver being the best) with Rapture last supper, green no-see-um and green dude flies produced very well on downriggers, side divers and 300 foot copper. The Silver Horde plugs (green black ladder back, green/silver and silver green and blue back) are also producing on 300 and 200 foot of copper and on the downriggers down 100 foot or more.
The lake had been very stable this last week with very little temperature change, however today we had to cut the charter to a half day because of rough water and wind from the north west. We will have to see what the water temperature does, since if the lake turns over the salmon will move in and begin the run. Check back and see what this next week brings. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 103
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 10, 2008 - 5:10 pm: | |
Another good week of fishing--at least the first part of the week was good and then the wind came. Friday, Saturday and Sunday produced winds of 30 knots and waves of 3 to 7 foot water spouts and a current that made it very difficult to troll. Once again the catches ranged from 8 to 16 fish per trip with a mixed bag of lake trout, steelhead, coho and chinook salmon. The chinook salmon consisted of 2, 3 and 4 year old fish with the largest this week pushing 17 pounds. We also ran a perch charter this week and after 2 hours of looking for the perch and catching nothing but golbies, we found the fish caught 60 nice perch (a couple went 12 to 14 inches) in 1 1/2 hours in 46 foot of water.
The best methods continue to be flashers and flies on the divers and then plugs and Stingray lures on the copper lines. The best flasher was the white/glow echip and silver echip with green dude, green hypnotist and green noseeum and white pine Rapture flies. We caught fish on 100, 200, 300 and 400 foot of copper with magnum Stinger mixed veggie and with Stingray mixed veggie and glow sicle. We also caught some fish on silver green and easter egg Silver Horde plugs pulled behind the 100 and 200 foot copper line.
With all the north wind and north current, the water temperature is now (as of Sunday) down in the high 50 degrees. We will look in the shallow water tomorrow to see if the fish and bait have moved in front the piers. Check back and see what happens this week. For information and charter reservations, email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 102
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 03, 2008 - 3:54 pm: | |
Another good week of salmon fishing. The fishing was not fast and furious, however it was fairly consistent with chinook salmon and lake trout being taken in 100 to 140 foot of water. By Sunday, the water had cooled and some salmon were caught in 60 to 40 foot of water. Catches ranged from 7 to 15 fish, depending on how many hits you missed. The fish ranged in weight from 7 to 18 pounds with the salmon averaging about 10 pounds. The perch fishing was very good early in the week in 30 to 35 foot of water and then as the week progressed the perch moved out to 45 and then 50 to 65 foot. By the weekend the perch bite had slowed with most boats in 40 foot but scattered from Holland to Saugatuck.
The best method during the week continues to be flashers and flies on divers, copper and downriggers. Wire divers, 300 and 200 foot of copper and the downrigger at 100 foot produced with silver, white/glow, glow/green echip flashers and the Rapture green dude and wild fern flies continued to dominate. We also took some salmon on 200 foot copper with mixed veggie Stingray and Silver Horde plugs (green glow and white glow).
Check back and find out where the salmon are congregating. For information and charter reservations email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 101
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 6:14 pm: | |
This past week was a very good week of fishing with catches of 8 to 15 fish per trip consisting of chinook salmon up to 20 pounds and lake trout up to 16 pounds. The fish were caught in 90 to 120 foot of water throughout the week and then some very nice salmon were caught in 50 to 60 foot of water. Sunday the salmon were caught all the way to 200 foot, however the best area was still the 100 foot depth. More good news for Saugatuck fisherman was that this week produced some limit catches of jumbo perch in 60 to 70 foot of water and then this weekend in 40 to 45 foot of water.
When we fished in the 60 foot of water, Silver Horde plugs (green/black glow ladder back, pearl glow, and silver green) produced very well on 100 and 200 foot of copper and on the downriggers 20 to 45 foot down. In addition the Stingray (green glow/green side, and mixed veggie) produced well on the copper. When we fished the 100 to 180 foot range it was all flashers and flies fished from 60 to 80 foot down on downriggers, divers and copper. The best combinations were echip flashers (MBK, silver green edge, white glow, coyote, silver and green glow) with Rapture flies behind (wild fern, green dude, last supper and speed weed).
What we have found is that the larger 4 year old salmon are on the inside shallower water and as you move out to deeper water you get more of a mixed bag of 2, 3 and 4 year old chinook salmon with a few steelhead and lake trout and an occasional coho. Check back next week and see what is changing in the fishing out of Saugatuck. If you need information or want to book a fishing trip, email me a captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 100
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2008 - 1:22 pm: | |
July 20, 2008
Chinook salmon fishing has been very good this past week with catches of 8 to 15 fish per trip. The fish are in 90 to 120 foot of water and are 50 to 90 foot down. There is a large amount of bait in 85 foot and the salmon appear to be just outside of the bait. Twice during the week, we caught chinook salmon that exceeded 20 pounds and many weighed in from 14 to 18 pounds. In addition to the salmon, some very good perch catches were being reported in 60 to 70 foot of water just south of the Saugatuck piers.
The best method this week has been flashers and flies on the wire divers and on the downriggers. The best flashers were Hot Chip and Pro Chip mountain dew, all silver, green glow and blue bubble. The flies we are pulling are the Rapture blue noseeum, last supper, green dude and wild fern. The copper line (300 and 400 foot) produced with Stingray wonderbread, gator and NBK. We are also using the Stinger 4 oz. dive bomb on the 300 copper to get us down to where the 400 or 450 copper would run. This allows us to run the lures at depths of 70 foot with only 300 foot of copper line. About 100 foot of copper is let out and then the dive bomb is attached and then the rest of the copper is let out. I figure that the 4 oz dive bomb will increase the depth by about 1/3 so if 300 foot of copper runs at 50 to 60 foot, the dive bomb will put it close to 75 foot down.
The chinook salmon seem to have set up in the 100 foot depth and should stay here if the bait remains in that depth. Check back and see what next week produces. For information or charter reservations, email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 99
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2008 - 12:24 pm: | |
This past week was one of wind and rough water. We lost 3 tips due to rough water during the week, however when we could get out, the fishing was decent with some nice lake trout and 4 year old chinook salmon taken. The salmon and trout were caught in 80 to 120 foot of water early in the week and then moved out to the 160 to 180 foot depth. The other good report is that this was the first week that very good numbers of perch were caught out of the Port of Saugatuck and the perch were very good size. Some of the boats caught up to 250 perch in 2 days of fishing. The perch are being caught in 35 foot of water north of the piers and in 40 foot of water between the “ball” and the Douglas point.
At this time of the year, the best method was flashers and flies on slide divers, down riggers and on copper line. We have been running Pro and Hot Chip flashers (silver, green/glow, blue bubble, glow mountain dew) with Rapture Trolling flies (oceana, last supper, green hypnotist, wild fern, green dude) and have had very good success. The Stingray mixed veggie and NBK also produced some fish on the high diver and on the 300 foot copper. The boats that fished for perch had good luck drifting (when the wind was calm) with minnows and shrimp on the bottom. If the wind was blowing too hard, the boats had to anchor in order to keep the bait on the bottom.
There are some 4 year old salmon that are running close to 20 pounds already and this should lead to some very nice fish by August. Check back next week and find out what is happening out of the Port of Saugatuck. For information, feel free to contact me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 98
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 07, 2008 - 3:40 am: | |
This past week has produced some very consistent fishing with chinook salmon weighing in at 17 pounds being caught. Most of the catch occurred in 85 to 130 foot of water, however there appears to be another batch of salmon in the 190 to 225 foot depth. The main problem with fishing the shallower water was the large concentration of supine water flea that coated your your lines and had to removed every 15 to 20 minutes. If they were not removed your monofiliment looked like a 1 inch line dragging through the water, which is definitely a determent to catching fish. As you moved to deeper water, the water flea problem decreased but did not end.
The best method toward the end of the week was flashers and flies. Slide divers run at 200 and 100 foot of wire with Hot Chip flashers (green/glow and mountain dew) and the Rapture Wild Fern and Last Supper fly produced very well. We also caught a few salmon on Stingray Mixed Veggie and Fruit Cocktail on the downrigger at 55 and 65 foot, however the best was the tin can flasher and wild fern fly on the "shoot" down 70 to 100 foot. Early in the week we took many salmon on 200 and 300 foot of copper with the Natural Born Killer and Green Wiggle producing very well, however latter in the week the copper produced very few fish.
The further south we fished the better the results this past week, so maybe the fish are beginning to move to the north and if that is true the fishing should continue to improve. Check back next week and see what is happening out of Saugatuck. For information or charter reservations, email me at captronn@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 97
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2008 - 4:55 am: | |
June 30, 2008
Fishing this past week was inconsistent with a catch one day of 12 fish to 3 or 4 the next. We are fishing anywhere from 60 to 130 foot of water and the Chinook salmon caught, are weighing in 10 to 17 pounds. There are also a number of Lake Trout being caught along with a few Steelhead.
The best method continues to be copper line (100, 200 and 400 foot) with Natural Born Killer and Green Dolphin Stingray lures. Slide Divers set at 140 foot with braid and 120 foot of wire did produce some nice salmon with Green Glow And Blue Bubble Hot Chip flashers with Rapture Last Supper and Oceana flies. Downriggers were not very productive however we did take some lake trout by bouncing bottom with different flashers and flies.
The fish are setting up in the 100 foot of water range and as long as the bait stays, the fish should stay. Check back next week and see what is happening out of Saugatuck. For updates email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Username: Westrate
Post Number: 96
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 - 4:55 am: | |
June 22 Fishing Report
We fished every day this past week with good action and results, producing chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead and lake trout. We expect the fish to set up in the 100 to 120 foot range, and everyday we set up in 90 foot and work out to 200 foot. Until the end of the week, the only consistent fishing was in the 170 to 190 foot range. The last couple of days produced some very nice salmon and lake trout in the expected 120 foot area. We caught salmon that pushed 16 pounds and the lake trout average about 8 pounds.
The best method continues to be 100 foot, 200 foot and to some extent 300 foot of copper with small stingers (Orange Corey, Craig’s Christmas) and Stingray (Natural Born Killer, Green Dolphin). The Slide Divers produced with 140 foot of braid and 100 foot of wire with Mountain Dew Pro Chip and Blue Bubble Pro Chip flashers and the Rampage Blue Hypnotist and Green Hypnotist flies. Downriggers where not very productive, however the best lures where the Dolphin Stingray lures (when they produced). There were days early in the week when 3 color lead core produced some nice steelhead with any lure that had orange on it.
We noticed that the down temperature is beginning to warm up, which should mean that we will see some thermal stratification begin to occur in 7 to 10 days is be do not get an extended blow. Check back to see if the salmon continue to stack in the 100 foot range. For information or charter reservations email captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 95
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 16, 2008 - 5:50 pm: | |
Fishing last week went from catches of 16 to 20 fish per trip to 4 to 6 fish per trip. During the week we fished a temperature break that was formed in 100 foot of water that moved out to 150 foot by Friday. When we went out Saturday, the break was gone and the water temperature varied very little and the fish where scattered from 120 foot to 220 foot and from 20 foot down to 180 foot down.
The only consistent method during the week was 100 and 200 foot of copper with Craig Christmas and the Orange Corey Stinger one day and Stingray the next. We talked to people who had downriggers going with Stingray wonderbread and the green dolphin, however we found very little that produced consistently on the downriggers. We ran the slide divers at 140 feet on the high diver and 100 to 200 foot out with small stingers, however no specific color combination produced well day after day.
I hope that we are going to end the June doldrums that hit us each year for 7 to 10 days. We always dread seeing the cotton from the cottonwoods flying, since this is when the slow down usually occurs. Check back next week as see if the June fishing turns around. For information or charter reservations email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 94
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 01, 2008 - 7:08 pm: | |
During this week we have been running out to 170 foot of water and trolling out to 230 foot and then back. Most of the fish were caught in 180 to 195 foot of water and the catch consisted of mainly chinook salmon with a few coho (in the 2 to 12 pound range) and a few steelhead mixed in. Most boats have been catching 12 to 20 fish per trip. For example today we caught 18 fish with 2 of them coho and the rest chinook salmon.
The best method all week has been 100 foot, 200 foot and 300 foot copper with Natural Born Killer and Green Dolphin Stingray lures. One NBK Stingray caught 8 of the 18 fish today. We also caught a few steelhead on 5 color lead core with orange/green and orange/silver Stinger lures. Dipsy divers were not very consistent but were run from 140 foot to 240 foot of line out with Green/glow Pro Chip flasher and Rapture Last Supper Flies. Downriggers were run form 40 to 120 foot down and the best combination was a tin can flasher and Rapture Las Supper Fly.
Today I talked to a couple of boats in South Haven and found out that they caught some very large chinook salmon in 100 foot of water. Tomorrow I will check this area out and see if these salmon may have migrated as far north as Saugatuck. Check back next week and see what we have find or contact me any time for information or to make charter reservations at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 93
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 10:49 am: | |
Fishing this past week has been improving each day. The water is still cold and has very little thermal stratifacation and the the fish are found from the upper areas all the way to the bottom. This weekend the best fishing was from 120 to 200 foot of water but the best area was 175 to 200 foot of water. The creel consisted of steelhead in the upper 40 foot and coho and chinook salmon from 60 to 120 foot down. Lake trout and chinook salmon where also caught as far down as 250 foot. Saturday produced catches of 10 to 20 fish per boat.
The steelhead came on half core, 100 foot of copper, 300 foot of copper and dipsy divers that were 100 to 200 foot out. The best lures here were spoons--Stinger fruit cocktail and orange crush, Stingray and Magnum Stinger blue dolphin and green dolphins. The downriggers were run from 40 to 260 foot down and produced the lake trout and most of the salmon. The best combination on the downriggers were Green Glow and White Glow Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers with Rapture Green Hypnotist and Last Supper flies. Rule for the day was spoons up high and flashers and flies deep.
Reports are that fishing has been hot in the southern ports and the fish are beginning to move north so we should be next. This is a little latter than past years, however the weather has been colder and this may have delayed the movement. We should see an increase in the fishing action as the water warms and the fish begin to move in and feed. For information and/or fishing reservation email me at captron@chartermichigan.com or call me toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 92
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 5:33 pm: | |
What a difference a week makes. The fish that we had been fishing in 50 to 100 foot of water have moved out and we ended up fishing in 225 to 275 foot of water. The problem was that the water temperature is almost the same from top to bottom so the fish are scattered out throughout the whole water column. We caught steelhead and lake trout 20 foot down, 30 foot down and 80 foot down. The boats that fished the St. Joe tournament were fishing in 300 foot of water and fishing 200 foot down to the bottom. Today the boats out of Saugatuck fished in 250 to 275 foot of water and fished from 180 foot down to the bottom and caught a mixture of salmon and trout.
The problem is getting down to this depth and if you do you can not run many lines. Downriggers with flashers and flies and 400 and 450 foot of copper with glow stingray and stinger lures worked the best. Some boats are using wire line with 2 to 4 pounds of lead and letting out 600 to 750 foot of line. Any way you run it, it is a recipe for tangles if you run to many lines.
I think the fish are out deep because there is very little bait in shore and once the bait moves in, the fish should follow. Check back and see how the rest of the week went and where the fish ended up. For information or for charter reservations, email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 91
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 - 5:02 am: | |
Fishing was very good this weekend with the weather and the fish cooperating for a change. Sunday we had the best lake trout catch we have had in years with 10 trout from 5 to 15 pounds. In addition we took 4 Chinook salmon, 3 steelhead in the 10 pound range and a brown trout. Water temperature was from the low 50 degrees on top to mid 40 degrees on the bottom.
We fished in 55 to 70 foot of water and the lake trout came deep while the steelhead and Chinook came 20 to 30 foot down. The best methods for lake trout were the down riggers with the tin can dodger and the Rapture wild fern fly and the green glow Hot Chip flasher and Rapture green hypnotist fly. For the steelhead and salmon we ran divers 120 foot out with green/orange and alien stingers. Fish were also caught on 100 and 200 foot of copper with the Flying Dutchman, Raspberry Dolphin and gold Watermelon Stingray lures.
Check back next week and see if the salmon start to show up in more numbers as the water warms. For information and reservations email captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 21, 2008 - 3:23 am: | |
Fishing this past week was fairly steady along the shoreline in 5 to 25 foot of water. Most of the action was between Holland and Saugatuck from the state park to Half Way Creek and Castle Park. The catch consisted of small salmon (coho and chinook), brown trout and occasional steelhead and lake trout.
The most productive method were stick baits and hot n tots pulled behind planer boards. Small gold and orange stinger spoons pulled 30 to 40 feet behind slide divers and on the down riggers also produced occasional fish. There were some salmon and lake trout taken out in 100 to 150 foot of water on 100 and 150 foot of copper line with small stinger spoons. There are some good reports fishing the southern area of Lake Michigan with limit catches of 2 to 4 pound coho on body baits and small flashers and flies. I have not gotten any reports on the fishing in the Kalamazoo River for steelhead.
We should begin to see the coho migrate north along the shoreline so check out next weeks fishing report or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com for information or charter reservations. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 5:39 am: | |
4/14/2008
Fishing out of Saugatuck, this past week was very good producing a few steelhead and brown trout, some small coho and chinook (2 to 5 pounds) and some very good size lake trout. The best fishing was between the Kalamazoo River and the Holland piers in 20 to 5 foot of water. The weather and lake conditions kept us off the lake during the weekend, however the lake was flat during the middle of the week.
Fishing along the shoreline, the best method was slide divers fished 20 foot out with small gold stingers pulled 20 to 30 foot back. We also caught fish behind the planer boards with silver/blue, gold/orange and orange stickbaits and white/black Hot n Tots fished inside the sand bar. We never caught a fish off the downriggers even though we fished then different depths and different distances back.
Fishing off of the Kalamazoo River piers was very good with good catches of brown trout on spawn. Fishing for steelhead in the river has slowed due to high water, but should improve as the water levels comes down.
As the water warms we should find that the fishing will improve. Check back for more information or contact me at captron@chartermichigan.com for an update. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2008 - 5:04 am: | |
April 8,2008
The fishing is starting to pick up in the lake. Saturday produced a half dozen nice brown trout, a lake trout and a couple of steelhead. The water is still cold -- 43 degrees outside the piers, however we did find some water that was 46 degrees north of the piers and most of the fish came out of this water. The fish were found in 5 to 15 foot of water with small Stinger spoons and body baits on flat lines producing the best.
Steelhead and a few browns are still being taken off the piers on the Kalamazoo fishing with spawn and in the river on small plugs and spawn that are back trolled into the holes.
We are suppose to get some cold weather this weekend and if the wind turns to the north, we may find that the lake will cool back down. Check back ans see what the weekend produces. For reservations or information you can email me at captron@chartermichigan.com or call me toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 27, 2007 - 1:25 pm: | |
9/27/2007
Fishing in front the piers has slowed as the water warmed and the fishing action has moved off shore. There are a few fish being caught in front of the piers early in the morning or just before dark, however there is not concentration in the shallow water. Most of the action is in 90 to 130 foot of water and also in 200 foot of water.
The best methods were downriggers at 70, 80 and 110 foot down and wire dipsy divers at 270 and 160 foot of wire. The best combinations were Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers (chrome/chrome, white/glow, white/mountain dew) with Rapture wild fern and last supper flies. A few fish were caught on 300 and 400 foot of cooper with Stingray NBK and Craig's X-mas.
I think that if we get some cold water, we will see another school of fish move in front and continue the run. For information or reservations, email me at captron@chartermichigan.com or call me toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 5:56 pm: | |
9/18/2007
Cold water Wednesday and Thursday, high winds Friday and Saturday and back to warm water on Sunday. We had some very good fishing in front of the piers on Wednesday and Thursday producing up to 25 fish per boat. Sunday, after the blow, we fund the water warmed up and we had to move out to 70 to 110 foot of water to find any concentration of fish.
In front the piers, we used glow Jplugs and glow Stingray lures. When we moved off shore we were back to Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers and Rapture trolling flies. On the copper we produced very well with the Stingray NBK, Wonderbread and Craig's Christmas.
Monday produced more wind and warmer water and today the water was 65 degrees on the bottom in 110 foot. We had to move off shore and finally found some fish in 200 foot of water, however we had to fish 150 foot down. With the prediction of more south winds the next few days, I do not see much cooling and we will probably have go deep for the fish. For information or for charter reservations feel free to email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. or call toll free 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 09, 2007 - 7:07 am: | |
9/9/2007
Instead of cooling off, the water continues to warm up. There are a few salmon in the warm water in front the piers, however the best fishing is in 80 to 110 foot of water producing 9 to 17 fish per trip. The creel is mixed with some coho, lake trout and steelhead mixed in with the chinook salmon. As of this weekend we are fishing 80 to 100 foot down, however the water is starting to cool down and by Monday the temperature might change drastically.
Fishing this deep, the best method are wire dipsy divers with the big rings and downriggers. The best setups are the silver/chrome, green/glow, white/mountain dew Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers all with the Rapture Wild Fern Fly. We are pulling some larger 11 in flashers on the downriggers, however the best setup still continues to be the 8 in. In addition 300 and 400 foot of copper are producing a few fish with the Stingray Wonderbread and NBK. In low light conditions there are some fish being caught on the copper with glow plugs.
As I said the water temperature as of Sunday is starting to cool and with north winds predicted the next few day, we may find that the salmon will move in front the piers in large numbers. For more information or to make a charter reservation, email me at captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 03, 2007 - 11:42 am: | |
9/3/2007
This past week had water temperature fluctuated 10 to 20 degrees almost every day. After taking 24 fish on Sunday, we went out on Monday and set lines to find out the water had cooled down 15 degrees and the fish left. We found them in 60 foot of water and did fairly well. On Tuesday, we went into 60 foot of water and found that the water had warmed up 12 degrees and the fish had moved out and we then found them in 120 to 160 foot. On Thursday the water cooled down 20 degrees and the fish were found in front the piers and where still there on Friday, but the water started to warm and by the weekend they had moved back off shore.
When we fished in front the piers (20 to 30 FOW) the best lures where Jplugs (glow and silver) on 2 and 3 color lead core and on the downriggers. Off shore the best combination was Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers (white/mountain dew, silver on silver, green/glow) and Rapture Trolling flies (wild fern and white bride). We ran the flashers on the downriggers, dipsy divers and on some of the copper lines. The other copper produced with the Nitro Wonderbread, and Area 51 and glow Jplugs.
If the water cools down again, the salmon will again show up in front the piers and the run will continue. Check back and find out what the water temperature does. For more information or to make reservations for a charter, email me at captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 26, 2007 - 6:47 am: | |
8/26/2007
They're Baaack. This past week was hit and miss with catches from 5 to 20 fish--until the Sunday. Sunday we had 15 fish by 9 am with a majority of them being 4 year old salmon. During the week the fish were found in 80 to 120 foot of water and in 180 to 210 foot of water. On Sunday the big 4 year old salmon staged in 90 to 95 foot of water 60 to 80 foot down.
Downriggers and dipsy divers produced well with flashers and flies. The downriggers were run 60 to 80 foot down and the dipsy divers at 200 and 140 foot of line. The Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers (silver with green, white with glow, green with glow and white with mountain dew) worked well with Rapture Trolling Flies. The best flies included the wild fern, green dude, green hypnotist, little bride and green no-see-um. Copper line with inline planner boards (100 ft.,150 ft., 200 ft. and 300 ft.)were also productive with Jplugs on the 100 ft copper and Stingray and Nitro lures on the other lines. The best Stinger Stingray lure was the NBK and the Wonderbread. The Stinger Nitro lures included the ET, Wonderbread, and Area 51.
This is the time of the year when the salmon should be staging off shore for the run up the Kalamazoo River. I hope this is the start and if it is, it should mean some very good fishing in the coming weeks. For information or to make a charter reservation, feel free to call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 19, 2007 - 5:53 pm: | |
8/19/2007
This past week was an up and down week. One charter would produce 30 hits and 10 fish and then the PM trip would only produce 8 hits but 6 fish. In the morning your graph would look like the forth of July fireworks show with arc after arc and large orange areas of bait. Then in the afternoon it looked like a different lake with very few fish marked and mostly blue screen. Early in the week, we fished in 130 to 180 foot of water and then after the blow on Friday the fished moved into 50 to 70 foot of water when the lake cooled down with strong east winds Saturday and Sunday. As you can see very little was consistent last week. The one consistent item was the quality of the fish. The fish appear large and very healthy.
The best method this past week was dipsy divers at 140 to 160 foot of wire on the high divers and 80 to 120 foot of wire on the low divers. Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers (silver on silver, green/glow, white/glow, green on silver, blue/glow) and Rapture Trolling Flies (wild fern, green hypnotist, oceana, blue bird). The same combinations were run on the downriggers, however, this was not as productive as the divers. We also ran copper lines (100, 150, 200 and 300 foot) with Stinger Stingray lures (NBK, caramel dolphin, wonderbread glow) and Stinger Nitro glow spoons (ET, and Wonderbread). These produced well, especially the glow spoons early in the morning.
Check back and find out what happens this upcoming week. For charter reservation or information call toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 6:04 pm: | |
8/13/2007
The fishing the beginning of the week was as good as it could be and then the fish humbled us. 15 to 20 fish per trip was the norm Monday through Friday and then on Saturday the bait and the salmon left the area. We lost the bait and the number of fish we marked and caught was markedly reduced. The catch on the weekend ranged from 1 to 10 fish per trip. There was no drastic weather or climate change and only a slight warm up of the water, however something happened to move the bait and the fish. Fish were caught from 40 to 200 foot of water through out the week and today we did catch a few fish in 30 foot of water in front of the piers.
Downriggers from 40 to 70 foot down and dipsy divers (100 foot and 160 foot of line out) with flashers and flies produced most of the fish. The best flasher fly combinations were silver on silver and green on silver Hot Chip flasher with Rapture wild fern fly and green hypnotist fly. 150, 200 and 300 foot of copper also produced with green on white flashers and mountain dew on white flashers with Rapture no see im flies.
We know the fish did not go in shallower, up the river or north or south, so they must be out in deeper water. If the weather permits (wind is predicted for tomorrow)we will be looking out in 270 to 280 foot of water since last year that is where they showed up. Check back and find out were the salmon show up. For information or reservations, email me at captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-25308372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 2:29 pm: | |
8/5/2007
The fishing continues to be very good with 12 to 22 fish per trip. The difference between the catching 12 or 22 depended on how many you lose since you would have up to 35 fish on every day. The fish where in 80 to 120 foot of water early in the week and then on Saturday we move out to 180 foot of water and found some big 4 year olds out there. Three fourth of the catch are 4 year old salmon in the mid to high teens. There also are a few Coho, 2 and 3 year old chinook, steelhead and lake trout mixed into the creel.
The methods did not change from last week to this week. The flashers and flies produced on the downriggers and dipsy divers and Stingray lures on 150, 200 and 300 foot of copper. See last weeks report for the detailed combinations and colors.
I think that the salmon will be moving into deeper water if the water temperature continues to increase. There is still a considerable amount of bait in 70 to 80 foot of water, so early morning and late evening should productive just outside the bait and then you may have to move out into deeper water as it gets brighter. For more information or to make a charter reservation, call toll free 888-253=8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 29, 2007 - 10:17 am: | |
7/29/2007
What a week of fishing!!! This might be the best fishing that we have seen in the last 15 years. Limit catches on every trip and many days we caught 20 to 23 in 2 hours. And the amazing thing is that these are not 2 year old salmon but 3 and 4 year olds that are pushing 20 pounds. The fish are staged in 70 to 120 foot of water from 40 to the bottom. There was also some reports of limit catches on steelhead in 140 to 160 foot of water in the top 30 foot.
The best combination is the Smart Fish flasher by Legendary Products and Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers by Pro Troll with Rapture Tolling flies pulled behind them. These were pulled on the downriggers and on the dipsy divers at 160 foot and 120 foot of wire. The following combinations proved very effective:
--Chrome Pro Chip with Rapture Wild Fern
--Chrome Green Pro Chip with Rapture Sour Apple
--Chrome Blue Hot Chip with Rapture ocean and Rapture Blue Bird
--Glow Green Hot Chip with Rapture Last Supper
--Chrome Blue Smartfish flasher with Rapture Oceana
--Chrome Green Smartfish flasher with Rapture Hypnotist
The copper line (100, 150 and 200 foot) with in line boards also produced well with Wonderbread Glow, blue Cory's bait, Reverse X-mas, NBK Stingrays and the E.T. Nitro.
If we do not see any major changes in the water temperature, I think the fish will stay in the summer staging area. They should stay just outside the schools of bait. They may move up or down in the water column, but should remain in the same depth of water. For more information or to make a reservation for a charter, call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 4:38 pm: | |
7/23/2007
This past week was one of many limit catches of salmon that averaged 12 to 15 pounds. The salmon where found in 90 to 130 foot of water early in the week and then after the gale winds on Thursday afternoon and Friday, the fish moved into 50 foot of water on Saturday, 35 foot of water on Sunday and today where feeding in 25 foot of water. The water temperature cooled down to 50 degrees along the shore and the salmon followed the bait into the warmer river water.
Early in the week it was Pro Troll flashers and Rapture trolling flies on the downriggers and dipsy divers. On the copper (100 ft., and 200 ft.) we pulled Stinger Stingray lures (mixed veggie, wonderbread and x-mass). As the water cooled the bite went from the flashers and flies to spoons with the best still being the stingray wonderbread (we ran 4 of these)and mixed veggie. 3, 5, and 7 color lead core and 100 ft. of copper produced very well in this shallow water.
The fishing in this shallow water will only last if the water stays cold. As the water begins to warm, the fish will move off shore and I think will once again set up in 80 to 130 foot of water. You may contact me for information or to make a reservation for a charter by calling toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 16, 2007 - 5:27 am: | |
7/16/2007
Fishing remained very good during this past week (with a excellent morning bite) resulting in catches of 10 to 16 fish per trip. The creel consisted of many adult kings 12 to 17 pounds with brown trout, lake trout and mature steelhead mixed in. Most of the fish were caught in 70 to 130 foot of water, however, there is another batch of fish in 170 to 210 foot of water. When you fish the 70 foot depth, the fish appear to be somewhat smaller and as you get to 110 foot to 130 foot there appear to be larger fish with more 4 year old salmon.
If I had to recommend the combination to pull it would be flashers and flies and flies and flashers. We pulled flashers and flies on all the dipsy divers and on all the downriggers. Downriggers were run 65 to 100 foot down and the dipsy divers were run with 220 and 160 foot of line out. The following where the best combinations:
--chrome green Prochip w/ Rapture sour apple fly
--mt. dew Hotchip w/ Rapture green hypnotist
--white glow smartfish flasher w/ Rapture wild fern fly
--blue silver smartfish flasher w/ Rapture oceana
--green glow Hotchip w/ Rapture last supper fly
--glow frog Hotchip w/ Rapture last supper fly
The other method that produced very well was 200 foot of copper and 200 foot of copper with a 4 oz Dive Bomb attached with stingray lures on them. The stingrays that produced very well were blue wonderbread nitro, electric blueberry, reverse x-mass, carmel dolphin and glow wonderbread.
If we do not see any major changes in the water temperature, I think the fish will stay in the summer staging area. They should stay just outside the schools of bait. They may move up or down in the water column, but should remain in the same depth of water. For more information or to make a reservation for a charter, call me toll free at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 08, 2007 - 6:13 pm: | |
7/8/2007
Fishing does not get much better than it was last week. Last week we ran 7 charters and caught 20 fish on 5 of the trips and 10 and 15 on the other two. Salmon that weighed in at 20 pounds, a brown trout that weighed 15.5 pounds and a steelhead that weighed in at 15 pounds highlighted the week. Many of the trips produced fish that averaged over 12 pounds. Early in the week we fished in 25 to 30 foot of water due to cold water and then moved off shore to 80 to 140 foot of water as the water warmed up.
When we where fishing in the shallow water most of the fish hit copper (100 ft.)and lead core (3, 5 and 7 color)on the planer boards. As we moved off shore the downriggers (at 40, 50, and 60 foot) and the dipsy divers at (80 and 150 foot of line out) started to produce. The varied from day to day, however a few were very consistent such as the mixed veggie, freakin veggie, NBK, orange crush, Craig's Xmas and Reverse Xmas Stingrays and the wonderbread Nitro. The flashers and flies included the Hot Chip and Pro Chip (green/glow, silver/green, silver/blue and mountain dew). Behind the flashers we pulled Rapture flies (oceana, citron, sour apple and green dude). On Saturday we pulled some "meat rigs" which included a silver flasher, Rapture twinkie rig and a Pro Troll rotating bait head. This set up worked very well producing 10 hits and 4 fish on this rig alone.
You should experience this fishing. The salmon are already as heavy as many we caught in the fall last year and should be spectacular by the fall. For more information or to make a charter reservation, call toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 8:14 am: | |
7/1/2007
Fishing this past week was good with 4 to 10 fish per boat, however the fish averaged an amazing 12 pounds. Steelhead from 9 up to 14 pounds and Chinook salmon from 12 to 18 pounds with an occasional lake trout that ranged up to 11 pounds. The fish are concentrated in two areas, 90 to 130 foot of water and 180 to 200 foot of water. The bait in the 90 foot area is located from the bottom up to 30 foot and the bait in the 180 foot region is mid water. Fishing was the best early in the day (6 AM to 10 AM) and then at dusk (8PM to 10 PM)
Most of the catch this past week occurred on downriggers and dipsy divers. Downriggers were run at 30 to 65 foot down and the green glow Hot Chip flasher and Last Supper Rapture fly produced well on the deep rigger. The other riggers produced with Mixed Veggie, Freaky Veggie, Carmel Dolphin and Lemon Ice Stingray. Stingrays produced better than the smaller lures since they where about the same size as the alewife in the schools. On the dipsy divers we ran Hot Chip blue glow and white glow flashers with Oceana, Citron and Green Hypnotist Rapture flies. The flashers and flies produced well early and then the Stingrays turned on latter in the day. 200 foot of copper (and to some degree 300 foot) produced with the X-Mass and Reverse X-Mas Stingrays as well as the orange crush and coyote ugly.
Perch fishing is improving with reports of limit catches in 12 to 14 foot of water in South Haven and Holland. I have not heard of any perch reports out of Saugatuck.
We had some wind mid week and some rough water, however the deep water temperature remained the same while the surface temperature dropped. As a result the bait is still here and the salmon stayed in the area. For more information or to reserve a charter call toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 24, 2007 - 3:01 pm: | |
6-24-2007
This past week produced some very good catches of 8 to 12 fish per boat. There were some very nice chinook salmon (15-17 pounds) in 80-100 feet of water and some very nice steelhead (10-13 pounds)were found in 60-80 feet of water. In addition there were a few lake trout and coho scattered throughout these depths.
Downriggers produced at 30 and 40 feet with orange crush and fruit cocktail Stingers and at 60 feet down with Hot Chip green flasher and Rapture "Last Supper" fly. Dipsy divers produced very well with silver green flashers and blue bubble flashers and flies, and with lemon ice lures. Copper (100 foot, 200 foot and 300 foot) produced more fish than any other method with the Reverse X-mas Singer and Sting Ray and the X-mas Stinger.
We have large schools of bait in 60-80 foot of water and this should hold our fish in the area. Feel free to contact me at any time for information or to make a charter reservation. You can contact me at Captron@chartermichigan.com or toll free at 1.888.253.8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 10, 2007 - 6:42 pm: | |
6/10/2007
This past week was a week of opposites. Monday and Tuesday we had limit catches in 150 to 200 foot. Then we had three days of high winds and rough water with winds out of the south, then out of the west and then out of the northwest and back to the south again. Saturday when we got out to fish, we found a different situation with catches of 2 to 8 fish per boat and with a repeat on Sunday. The fish were caught in 130 foot of water and out in 190 foot of water from the surface down to 70 foot. The catch includes steelhead (in the upper 30 foot) and chinook and lake trout from 30 to 70 foot. Saturday and Sunday we saw very little bait and where ever the bait went--that is were the salmon will show up.
The best method was copper line (75 foot, 100 foot, 200 foot and 300 foot). The dipsy divers produced some fish with the high diver at 200 foot and the low diver at 100 foot while the downriggers produced very few fish and had very few hits. The best lures included a mix of stinger, stingray, raider, dreamweaaver lures (orange crush, smashmouth, coyote ugly, lemon ice, sunburst and blue and green dolphins). The hot chip flashers and green flies produced some fish early in the week but very few toward the end of the week.
Next week we should find out what happened to the bait and the salmon should show up in that same area. For more information feel free to contact me toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@charterichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2007 - 10:35 am: | |
6/3/2007
The water has warmed up and the fish are starting to go deeper. This past week produced some very good fishing early (10 to 15 fish per trip) and then the catch rate slowed (4 to 8 fish per trip) by the end of the week. The catch consisted of Chinook and Lake Trout from 1 pound to 13 pounds. The best area was 200 to 240 foot of water and 40 to 100 foot down, however fish were marked and caught all the way down to 180 foot. There are a few fish out in 270 foot of water and in as far as 70 foot of water, however they are scattered.
The best presentation was 100 foot, 200 foot and 300 foot of copper with stingers and stingray lures (dolphin --green and blue and the coyote ugly pattern). A few fish were caught on the downriggers with green hot chip flasher and the last supper Rapture fly being the most consistent. There have been some reports of good salmon being caught 150 to 200 foot down on cut bait, however we did not catch any that deep. The dipsy divers were inconsistent, however when they produced it was at 125-150 foot of line on the low divers and 200-250 foot of line on the high divers. The lures on the divers changed from day to day and from hour to hour.
We need some stratification to the water to concentrate the fish so we do not need to fish the total water column. We did find some good schools of bait fish in the 70-80 foot of water and this may be the next area that the fish will stage, once they find the bait. Feel free to contact me for fishing updates and/or reservations at toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 28, 2007 - 5:51 pm: | |
5/28/2007
This past week produced some very good fishing with catches or 12 to 23 fish per trip. We found that there are two groups of fish; one group in 135 to 180 foot of water and the other group is in 210 to 250 foot of water. The group in the deeper water consisted in somewhat larger fish (and more steel head) while the shallower group consisted mainly of salmon in the 2 to 6 pound range. The creel consisted of a mix of Chinook salmon and steel head with a few coho and lake trout mixed in. The water out in the deeper region is 48 degrees on the surface and it drops to 41 degrees 80 foot down and this temperature break is outside of 230 foot. We found that on some days the fish would be on the cold side of the break but then (like today) the fish were on the inside of the break.
We used 3 color and 5 color lead core, 100 foot copper and 200 foot copper behind the inline planner boards. The best colors combinations where: green and blue dolphin Stingrays, natural born killer Stinger and Stingray, hitman Dreamweaver, jawbreaker Stinger, and sunburst Pro King. Dipsy divers occasionally produced at 60 and 40 foot of line and also at 200 and 150 foot of line. Lures on the divers varied every day and also during the day. Down riggers produced very poorly only yielding (on average) 5 to 7 hits per day and the hits changed on different lures every day.
If there is no drastic change in the weather, we should hold our fish and the good fishing should continue. Feel free to contact me for fishing updates and/or reservations at toll free 888-253-8372 or email captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 21, 2007 - 9:03 am: | |
5/21/2007
Our spring fishing is in full swing, even though it is about 2 1/2 weeks late. This last week we caught between 10 and 20 fish per trip. The creels consisted of steel head (early in the week), coho and Chinook salmon. The fish are in 150 to 200 foot of water and range from the surface to 80 foot down.
The steel head are hitting orange crush and orange and green stingers fished on flat lines with 1 oz. of weight. The salmon are being caught 25 to 80 foot down on down riggers and copper line. We are fishing 300 ft., 200 ft., and 100 ft. of copper with frog, orange crush and sunburst Stingers and Pro King lures. On the down riggers we are fishing 35 to 80 foot down with green dolphin Stingers, Cream sickle Dream weavers and green glow Pro Chip Flashers and Rapture Last Supper flies. The flasher and fly combination are producing 1/3 of the catch with some of the Chinook salmon reaching 15 to 17 pounds.
If there is no drastic change in the weather, we should hold our fish and the good fishing should continue. Feel free to contact me for fishing updates and/or reservations at toll free 888-253-8372 or email captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 8:08 am: | |
5/13/2007
The fish are now starting to show up out of Saugatuck. The fishing was slow all week until Saturday when chinook salmon were found in 190 to 200 foot of water between Saugatuck and South Haven. On Sunday the fish showed up out of Saugatuck and we caught fish from 130 to 180 foot of water. The creel consisted of a mix of lake trout, chinook, steelhead coho and brown trout. One boat limited out with 15 fish by 10:00 and was headed in.
Down riggers produced fish at 35, 45 and 55 foot with green Hot chip flasher and fly. However the most productive was dipsy diver at 100 foot and 130 foot of line out with Stingers and Stingray lures. Lead core (3 color to 10 color) also with Stinger and Stingray lures produced very well. So the fish are being caught from the 15 foot deep to 60 foot deep.
The fishing is about 3 weeks late this year, however the fish are now showing up and hopefully, the fishing will continue to improve. For more information feel free to contact me toll free 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@charterichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 07, 2007 - 7:50 am: | |
5/7/2007
20 to 35 mph east wind for the last 4 days has blown the warm water out and the lake is back in the 42 degree range. The fish have scattered and boats are catching 2 to 3 fish per trip. Boats have tried to move off shore and find the warm water, however the deepest any one could fish is 200 foot of water and the wave height was 6 foot and the water temperature was 39 degrees. Too rough to go any further and too cold.
The fish that are being caught are in 50 to 70 foot of water and are being caught from 30 foot to the bottom. Stealhead, Coho, Chinook and Brown Trout are all showing up the catch, its' just that very small numbers are being caught.
The winds today have moved to the south and may help warm the water back up. You can call for information any time at 888-253-8372 or email me with questions at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 30, 2007 - 7:36 am: | |
4/30/2007
Fishing is very slow with 1 to 3 fish per trip the norm and many boats are coming in skunked. The water has warmed up into the high 40 degrees, however there is no bait in the lake water and very little in the river water. Without the bait, there is nothing to hold the fish here.
Brown trout and some 3 year old salmon are being caught on small Hot n Tots, Bango lures and Fast Trac stick baits on the surface behind inline planers. Small stinger spoons on 3 color lead core and on dipsy divers are also productive.
Our bait should show up soon and once they do the fish will show and the fishing will improve.
You can call for information any time at 888-253-8372 or email me with questions at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - 8:33 am: | |
4/25/2007
The lake is still cold (38 degrees) and the brown trout and lake trout are found in the shallow water that warms into the high 40 degrees or along the river water discharge. The fishng is sporadic at best. One day you will catch 10 to 12 fish and the next day you catch one. The best place to fish is inside the inner sand bar with stick baits on the boards and small stinger spoons on the dipsies. The water is so clear that the downriggers are not producing very well. I have not recieved any information on any coho being caught, however they should be starting to move up the coast from southern Lake Michigan.
Feel free to contact me at any time at 888-253-8372 or email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 7:09 pm: | |
4/16/2007
The river fishing is winding down and Capt. Tony states that he ran his last 2 river charters this past weekend and was 3 out of 11 on Friday and 6 out of 12 on Sunday.
The lake is still very cold with 36 degree water along the shore and 37 degree water off the Douglas point. The Kalamazoo River water was 41 degrees and a few fish where being caught in the river water/lake water interface. When the lake water was warmer (before the snow and cold weather) some very nice catches of Brown Trout and Coho were reported, therefore, I would assume that the fishing will pick up with warmer water. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 7:22 am: | |
12/30/2006
The Kalamazoo River level has subsided and the fishing is picking up with some very nice steelhead being caught above the New Richmond Bridge. I have not recieved any information about activity on the lower river, however I would think the fish are moving in. Hot n Tots that are back trolled into the holes and spawn that is bounced back over the bottom are the methods of choice.
Check back and see what is happening on the Kalamazoo River
12/23/2006
The water has been very high on the Kalamazoo River with the water outside the banks. This slows down the fishing because of the muddy conditions and the limbs and leaves that are drifting down the river. The water is now inside the banks and we should see an improvement in the fishing conditions. If the conditions improve next week I will up date this report.
Check back and see what is happening on the Kalamazoo River. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 13, 2006 - 6:36 am: | |
Nov. 13, 2006
The report from Capt. Tony Wolte is that steelhead fishing on the Kalamazoo River is very good with catches of 4 to 12 steelhead per trip. Capt. Tim Shaffer reports that the fishing on the St. Joe River is producing 6 to 12 steelhead a day. The fishing picks up with warm weather and then slows when a cold front moves through. Spawn and silver green and gold hot-n-tots that are back trolled into the holes or gravel spawning beds are the best producers.
Check back and see what is happening on the Kalamazoo River and possibly other rivers in the area. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 7:56 am: | |
10/25/2006
We are done fishing for the season and the boat has been pulled and is in storage until next year. The last two weeks produced high winds and rough water almost every day and we never got a chance to get out and fish. The water should be cooling down and reports that I received say that some steelhead and small salmon are being caught in 30 to 50 foot of water, however the fishing is slow.
The report from the Kalamazoo River is that some steelhead are starting to show up with an occasional salmon. The water is high with all the rain in the last two weeks and the leaves are falling making the river appear solid leaves. This makes fishing the river very difficult. Once most of the leaves are off and the water recedes, the steelhead fishing will improve.
Check back and see what is happening on the Kalamazoo River and possibly other rivers in the area. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 09, 2006 - 7:03 pm: | |
Oct. 9, 2006
We are experiencing typical October windy conditions--when it blows it blows for 2 or 3 days, so we get blown off the lake the majority of the week. We got to fish a couple of days this past week and the fishing was fairly good with catches ranging from 7 to 12 fish per trip. Most of the catch consisted of 3 year old salmon (ranging up to 12 pounds) and a few steelhead and a couple of lake trout that had to be returned.
The fish are being caught in 200 to 240 foot of water and anywhere from 60 to 140 foot down. The water temperature is still 59 degrees 140 foot deep and 60 degrees on the surface, so the fish can be anywhere in the water table but are found around the bait which is suspended at 60 to 120 foot deep. Flashers and flies (same combinations as the last few weeks) and 300 and 400 foot of copper with lures and flashers worked well. The Raider Ninja Turtle produced well this week pulled on the wire dipsy divers and also on 400 foot of copper.
Our season is winding down and the boat will be taken out of the water soon, however in the weeks to come, we will be reporting on the river fishing for steelhead and salmon, that will be going on into and through November. So check back and see what is happening on the Kalamazoo River and possibly other rivers in the area. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 02, 2006 - 8:22 am: | |
Sept. 10, 2006
Warm water and windy rough conditions is a summery of last week. Windy conditions and rough water kept most boats at the dock until Sunday and then we still fished in 3 foot seas. On Saturday we fished in the river a caught a few salmon, some walleye and some catfish. On Thursday the boats fished the river and caught between 8 to 12 salmon per boat. There are some salmon in the river but they are not overly abundant. The water in the lake is still 62 degrees on the surface and is 58 degrees 130 foot down in 160 foot of water. Since this is not a big change in temperature, we caught fish on half core down to 140 foot.
In the river we fished Hot n Tots (silver green, silver blue, gold and silver black) and J plugs (white ghost, glow green) and glow spoons on the dipsy divers. Off shore we went back to flashers (Pro Chip, Spin Doctor and Smart Fish) and Rapture Tolling flies (same combinations as last week)
I do not know if the salmon will still school up and run the river or if they are trickling in a little at a time. If that is true (the trickling in), then this could continue for another month or two, with salmon moving in a little at a time. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 25, 2006 - 3:44 am: | |
Sept. 25, 2006,
Warm water and rough water was the theme for last week. We only got to fish on Saturday and even then we could not get out to the cooler water off shore because of the lake and weather conditions. The water was 67 degrees on top from the shore line to 180 foot of water and it was 65 degrees 150 foot down in 180 foot of water. We never did find cool water however we never got deeper than 200 foot of water because of the wind and rough conditions. The report is that there is some cool water out in 280 to 300 foot of water but you have to fish 120 to 130 foot down to find it. We did manage to catch a few 2 year old salmon and one 4 year old in 160 foot of water and we lost a couple of mid size salmon.
Because of the warm water, the only action was on the downriggers at 150 and 130 foot down and on the wire divers at 300 foot. Almost all the action occurred on flashers and flies.
Where is the cool water? I have no idea. This is the warmest water conditions that I have seen at this time of the year in my 33 years of charter experience. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 5:15 am: | |
Sept. 18, 2006
What a strange fall. The fall run has not yet started since the water temperature is warming up every day. This past week we started fishing in 110 foot of water (40 to 70 feet down) with the temperature 49 degrees 60 foot down, and by Sunday we had to go 130 foot down to get 58 degrees with 68 degrees from the surface down to 125 foot. Again, there are a few salmon in front the piers, however most are still out in the deeper water (some are in the warm water) however most are found at the temperature break along with the bait fish. The fishing is still very good with creel numbers that ranged from 8 to 22 fish per trip. We caught mainly salmon, 2 and 3 year olds with few 4 year olds, and numerous lake trout (a third of which where under the 20 in minimum and had to be returned).
By the end of the week we fished mainly downriggers 120 and 130 foot down and wire dipsy divers at 300 foot and 200 foot. Copper wire on the planner boards were not productive. The only thing we pulled on the wire and downriggers where flashers and flies. The following are the combinations that worked well:
Silver/green Pro Chip flasher with Rapture green hypnotist fly (never comes off), Green/glow Hot Chip flasher with Rapture Last Supper fly (never comes off), Silver/blue Spin Doctor flasher with Rapture Oceana fly (never comes off), Silver/green Spin Doctor flasher with Rapture Sour Apple fly, Silver Spin Doctor flasher with Rapture Oceana fly, Blue Bubble Smart Fish flasher with Blue Bubble Rapture fly, White/glow and White Mountain Dew Smart Fish flasher with Rapture Mirage fly, and White/silver Hot Chip flasher with Rapture Mirage fly. I would suggest you check out the Rapture Trolling flies and I think you will find that they are very well made and will not loose the tinsel and the tinsel does not "rap up" like many of the other flies do. I am sure that once we get cool water, we will again start catching fish on spoons on the copper wire, however they are not getting down to the fish at this time.
Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 11, 2006 - 4:56 am: | |
Sept. 11, 2006
No change in the fishing!! The water is still warm in front the piers and the salmon are still staged out in 100 foot of water. We fished for a couple of hours in front the piers Sunday and managed to catch a couple of fish and then moved back off shore and caught 11 more salmon. This past week we caught salmon in 100 to 160 foot of water and steelhead in 180 to 200 foot of water.
We ran Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green/silver, green/glow, and all silver) and Smart Fish flashers (mountain dew, white blue bubble, and chrome blue bubble) Spin Doctor flashers (silver blue and silver green) with Rapture Trolling flies (sour apple, hypnotist, green bubble, oceana and blue bubble and the last supper). These combination produced 90 % of the catch on wire divers and downriggers as well as occasionally behind copper wire. We are running 100 and 200 and 300 foot of copper wire with glow wonderbread Stingray, orange crush Raider magnum, batman, the silver/black crippled alewife and the blue icicle dream weaver. The downriggers are run a little deeper than last week (55, 65 and 85 foot) with the same flashers and flies listed above.
Last week I said the run should start in a week, however the water did not cool off and although you can catch a salmon or two in front the piers the main school is still staged off shore. We are getting strong east winds and the forecast is for continued easterly winds. This should blow the warm water out and be replaced by colder water which should bring in the salmon. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 03, 2006 - 2:18 pm: | |
Sept. 3, 2006
The salmon are here. Salmon are being taken from 20 foot of water in front of the piers out to 140 foot of water. All week we have been fishing from 60 to 110 foot of water and have been taking 12 to 23 fish per trip. Most of the fish are Chinook salmon (6 to 20 pounds) with a few Coho (up to 12 pounds) and some lake trout and steelhead. Because the water is 48 degrees in front the piers there are some fish there and I am sure that some of the salmon have already gone up the river. Most of the fish we are catching out in 70+ foot of water are silver and the eggs are still relatively small so the main run may still be a week or so away.
We ran Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green/silver, green/glow, and all silver) and Smart Fish flashers (mountain dew, white blue bubble, and chrome blue bubble) Spin Doctor flashers (silver blue and silver green) with Rapture Trolling flies (sour apple, hypnotist, green bubble, oceana and blue bubble and the last supper). These combination produced 90 % of the catch on wire divers and downriggers as well as occasionally behind copper wire. Because the water is relatively cool, we are running 100 and 200 foot of copper wire with glow wonderbread Stingray, orange crush Raider magnum, batman, the silver/black crippled alewife and the blue icicle dream weaver. The downriggers are run at 35, 45 and 65 foot with the same flashers and flies listed above.
I think that the main run should peak in about a week and we should be fishing in front the piers by that time. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 27, 2006 - 6:09 pm: | |
Aug. 27, 2006
This week was identical to last week with fish being taken in 60 to 110 foot of water. Most of the catch consisted of Chinook salmon and lake trout with an occasional steelhead and Coho.
Flashers and flies and flies and flashers produced most of the fish. We ran Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green/silver, green/glow, and all silver) and Smart Fish flashers (mountain dew, white blue bubble, and chrome blue bubble) with Rapture Trolling flies (sour apple, hypnotist, green bubble, oceana and blue bubble). These combination produced 90 % of the catch on wire divers and downriggers as well as occasionally behind copper wire. We pulled 200 foot and 300 foot of copper with a variety of magnum lures (make and color changed from day to day), however crippled alewife, bat man and glow wonder bread produced well.
Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 7:05 pm: | |
Aug. 23, 2006
In Monday's report, I made a mistake when I reported that we are working with Rampage Flies. We are not. We are associated with Rapture Trolling Flies and I apologize to all parties that this might have affected especially the Rapture Trolling Fly company. Again, we are very impressed with the workmanship and durability of these flies and we look forward to using and testing this fly. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 7:22 pm: | |
Aug. 21, 2006
The salmon are "putting on the feedbag" and beginning to stage off shore for the fall run. This past week we fish where caught from 50 to 180 foot of water. This past weekend, some nice fish where caught in 20 to 30 foot of water even though the water was warm. We found that most of the fish in 50 to 90 foot of water consisted of 4 year old salmon and as you moved off shore the 2 and 3 year olds dominated the catch. The early morning (dark to sun up) was the most productive, often producing half of the days catch in the first two hours. From mid morning to the afternoon, the action slowed and the currents increased which often limited your fishing to a south troll.
The most productive method was Smart Fish, Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green/glow, blue/glow, silver/green, silver/blue and white/glow) and Rampage Trolling Flies (hypnotist, blue bubble and the most productive--oceana). We started running the Rampage Flies this past week and have been pleasantly surprised with the fish attracting ability and the durability of the flies. We have found that these flies do not loose tensile like the other flies do and they do not tangle up after a hit like many of the other brand of flies. You might want to add some of these flies to your tackle box. We ran the flashers and flies on the downriggers at 40 to 80 foot and on the wire dipsy divers at 100 foot and 150 foot of wire. By the middle of the day the copper (200 and 300 foot) produced most of the action with glow Raider, Moonshine and Stingray lures.
Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 5:54 pm: | |
Aug. 14, 2006
This past week was a week of changes with wind, currents and water temperature. We started out fishing in 120 foot of water, then moved into 50 foot of water when the water temperature dropped 15 degrees, moved out to 160 foot and then by the end of the week we where back in 100 foot. Fishing was very good with catches up to 24 fish per trip. Most of the catch consisted of Chinook salmon with a few lake trout and an occasional steelhead.
This past week we established a relationship with Rapture Trolling Flies and will be acting as a pro staff for this company in southern Lake Michigan. Since this is flasher and fly time in southern Lake Michigan, we will be giving these flies a good test and trying and recommending different color combinations of flies that will work here. That said, it should come as no surprise that the method was Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (chrome/green, silver/blue and green/glow) and Smart Fish flashers (blue/glow and white/glow) with Rapture Green Fern, Oceana and Hypnotist flies and the Gfly Pickled Sunshine. The second best method consisted of 200, 300 and 100 foot copper and 7 color lead core with a variety of lures that changed every day.
Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 07, 2006 - 2:33 pm: | |
August 7, 2006
The salmon fishing is very good right now in 90 foot to 130 foot of water with catches consisting of 8 to 20 fish per trip. The salmon weigh from 10 to 17 pounds with a few that are in the 20+ pound range. Most of the catch is Chinook salmon with a few lake trout and steelhead thrown in. The early morning bite was very good with 8 to 12 fish inn the first 60 to 90 minutes and then 1 to 3 fish per hour once the sun got above the horizon. All week the best area was from just north of the piers south 5 to 7 miles.
The best method was wire line dipsy divers with Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers (green/glow and silver/green and silver/blue) and Smart Fish flashers (white/glow and white/green) with Gflies (green cheese, mirage and crinkled green). Copper wire (200 foot and 300 foot) with green dolphin and blue dolphin Raider, bat man, natural born killer and wonder bread spoons produced well. The downriggers only produced consistently early in the morning and most of the time it was flashers and flies.
Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 30, 2006 - 2:41 pm: | |
July 31, 2006
Fishing this past week was in 80 foot to 140 foot of water from the Dunes State Park to the 3rd telephone tower. Boats took 5 to 15 fish per trip, depending on how many hits you missed or how many fish you lost. The other day we took 15 fish and only lost one and then that afternoon we took 5 fish and lost 9 and missed 4 hits. Much of this is due (I think) to the currents that build up in the afternoon. The creel consisted of mainly Chinook salmon with some steelhead and an occasional lake trout.
Copper wire (200 foot, 300 foot and 400 foot) produced with mixed vegatable, natural born killer and bat man producing every day. Wire dipsy divers at 180 foot and 240 foot with Smart Fish flashers (blue and mountain dew) and Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers (green glow and blue glow) with Gflies (blue and glow green and crinkled green) produced very well. Downriggers at 60 to 100 foot down with Raider and Northport Nailer lues and the Legendary Products lures on the outdowns and the green glow Hot Chip (echip) flasher and green Gfly on the center downrigger was very good every day.
Sunday the fishing was slow (possibly due to the front coming though) however we marked alot of fish in the 130 to 140 foot range, so I hope our good fishing will continue. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 4:24 pm: | |
July 24, 2006
This past week continues to produce some very nice salmon catches. We spent all week in 85 to 120 foot of water from the Dunes State Park south to 3rd tower. Some of the boats fished all the way to South Haven before finishing the charters. The water was beginning to stratify with the temperature break at 50 to 60 foot and then we got a couple of days of Northeast to Northwest wind and 4 to 7 foot seas we noticed the water cooling down on Saturday. On Sunday the surface temperature had dropped 15 degree from 76 degrees to 61 degrees and the temperature break was now at 35 foot. We still limited out on salmon in 90 foot of water, however there was some nice catches of 4 year old salmon in 50 foot of water and I suspect if the water temperature holds, we will be in 50 foot tomorrow.
The best combination was 100 foot of copper (early in the day) and 200 foot and 300 foot of copper with the Smash Mouth, Bat Man, Natural Born Killer, Bubble Bee, Legendary Produces Aqua Marine and the Glow Frog producing very well. Dipsy divers (wire) with Pro Chip Flashers (green glow, silver green and blue bubble) with green glow Gflies produced well at 100 foot and 180 foot of line. Downriggers at 45 to 80 foot and then on Sunday 35 to 60 foot produced with Hot Chip green flasher and Smart Fish white and Smart Fish blue flashers and Gflies. A few fish where taken on lures off the downriggers, however not many.
It will be interesting to see how long we keep the cold water. If the water temperature holds, we should see the fish set up outside the bait in 30 to 40 foot of water and fishing will get very interesting. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 2:31 pm: | |
July 16, 2006
If you check last weeks amended report, you will see that things changed from Sunday to Monday and it continued through out the week. We caught between 12 and 24 fish each day during the week and when we caught 12 we probably had 40 hits. The fish are in the same 90 to 120 foot of water with 105 foot being the most productive. Most of the fish are Chinook salmon (10 to 19 pounds) with some Coho salmon and steelhead and an occasional lake trout thrown in. A couple of the days, the size of the fish resembled catches in August and September instead of July. I think we are going to see some very large salmon showing up when the run starts in late August.
Pro Chip and Hot Chip flasher ( green/glow and silver green) with pickled sunshine Gflies are by far the best lure selection (We where running them on the downriggers, low dipsy and on occasion on the copper line). Downriggers at 80 to 50 foot and the dipsy divers (wire) at 100 foot on the low divers and 175 foot on the high divers produced consistently. Copper wire (200 foot, and 300 foot) with the Natural Born Killer, Bat Man and the Raider Fruit Salad and Green Dolphin Spook and the Yeck Frog produced very well day after day. We also found that the Legendary Products Purple Passion and their Smart Fish flashers with flies started to produce fish pulled on the copper wire.
Fishing can not get much better than it is right now. If we can keep the bait ( and the bait is abundant right now), we should continue to see some very good and very large fish. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 - 2:16 pm: | |
7/11/2006
This is just a short report to amend Monday's report. Last week we found some tough fishing, especially toward the end of the week. As stated, we marked good fish but had trouble getting them to hit. Well today they turned on and fed and we took 24 fish in 4 hours with 7 weighing over 14 pounds and the largest pushing 20 pounds. Early, the best method was green/glow Hot Chip and Pro Chip flashers and green glow Gflies. Later in the morning the best method was the 100 ft., 200 ft. and 200 ft. copper with any lure that was green and black or green and glow. There was also reports that salmon where taken in 40 to 50 foot of water outside the Saugatuck Piers this AM, however I do not know how many where taken. With the warm water in front the piers, it is sometime hard to get the fish to hit and the water was 62 degrees on the bottom in 35 foot.
Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 09, 2006 - 6:09 am: | |
July 9, 2006
What a change in fishing this week. We started out with good catches of salmon and steelhead in 125 foot of water. By the end of the week the salmon had disappeared and the catch consisted of lake trout, some steelhead and some Coho. By week's end and good catch was 2 to 5 fish. The water temperature was still good, there was still a good supply of bait in shallower water but the Chinook had disappeared. This condition appeared to hold true from St. Joe to Grand Haven, with boats struggling to find fish. We still mark, what we think are the Chinook, in 135 to 150 foot of water and also out in 180 to 220 foot of water, but getting them to hit is another matter.
This past week, the best lure was the Hot Chip and Pro Chip flasher (silver and green and green and glow) with a green G fly. These where run on the wire divers at 100 foot and 150 foot of wire and on the downriggers at 50 to 90 foot. The 7 color lead core and 200 foot of copper produced steelhead and lake trout with the orange crush Raider and Stingray and the Pro Spoon bat man.
What happened to the Chinook? I hope that this is a temporary slowdown and they will move back in on the bait and begin to feed. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 02, 2006 - 4:39 pm: | |
July 3, 2006
Chinook salmon and steelhead in 90 to 140 foot of water are starting to produce some consistent catches. We have been taking from 6 to 20 fish this past week, depending on how many fish you lose. Some of the days you had to have 5 fish on to land one, however the fish where all good size (8 to 17 pounds) with some steelhead weighing in at 16 pounds. There is a great deal of bait and one of the salmon had 18 alewife in the stomach.
The most productive method was once again lead core (7 color), 300 foot of copper and 200 foot of copper. Raider Orange Crush, Crippled Alewife Easter Egg and the Yuck Frog were the most consistent lures on the long lines. Dipsy Divers at 100 ft. with wire and 200 foot with braid produced with mixed veggie and silver green Pro chip flasher and mirage fly. Downriggers produced sporadically at 40 to 80 foot with a variety of different lures.
With all the bait that is the 80 to 100 foot depth, the fish should hold in this area and, with all this bait, I think we should see some very large salmon by time the run starts mid August. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 3:36 am: | |
June 26, 2006
This past week produced some very nice fish from 10 to 17 pounds. The creel was quality but not quantity with catches from 5 to 10 fish but all good size. The catch consisted of steelhead and Chinook with an occasional lake trout.
We started the week in 90 to 120 foot of water and fished 5 color lead core and downriggers to 80 foot. By the week end we fished 95 to 105 foot of water south of the Douglas Point where the blue water showed up. The best baits and methods included: 1. Yuck Frog with 200 foot of copper 2. Mixed Veggie Sting Ray 80 foot on the downrigger. 3. Big Daddy Flintstone mixed Veggie on 7 color. 4. Green glow and Coyote Ugly on wire dipsy at 100 and 120 foot. 5. Magnum chartreuse and glow on 300 foot of copper.
Bait was beginning to set up at the blue water line and if they stay, they should draw in the salmon and steelhead. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 12, 2006 - 12:47 pm: | |
June 12, 2006
Cold Water!! The water temperature is 46 degrees on the surface and 42 degrees 10 foot down. The bait is stacked up in the shallow water outside the piers in the river water where the temperature is in the mid 60's and the steelhead and salmon are in this water feeding. We have been taking 8 to 15 fish each trip with 3/4 of the catch made up of steelhead and the rest a mixture of Coho and Chinook. The steelhead are 8 to 15 pounds, the Chinook range from 2 to 16 pounds and the Coho are up to 10 pounds. The large size of the fish make you think that this is August and not June.
We are using flat lines with lures with out weight, 2 color lead core, 3 color lead core and 5 color lead core and any lure that is silver and orange, gold and orange and silver orange and green. Some of the flat lines produced with silver and chartreuse and silver and orange stick baits. Dipsy divers with 30 to 50 feet of line out produced with Dreamweaver and Raider Creamsickle, Sunburst, Orange and Green Crush and double Orange Crush. Once again the least productive method was the downriggers that produced only a few hits a trip.
If the cold water holds, and it will if we keep the North, Northeast and Northwest winds, the bait will remain in the river outflow and more salmon and steelhead should find this "smorgasbord". Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 3:52 am: | |
June 5, 2006
June fishing arrived this week with full force. On Tuesday we limited out with 23 fish in 4 hours and then by Friday the fish disappeared and fishing became very difficult with 2 to 4 fish per trip. Morning trips where blessed with calm winds and flat seas, however afternoon trips experienced strong north winds and choppy seas. We fished from 60 foot out to 260 foot and found that one spot was no better than another as game fish and bait fish where scattered from top to bottom and from inshore to off shore. On Sunday we moved into the water around the piers for the last 2 hours and found some nice salmon and steelhead in 35 foot of water. The water had turned cold with all the north winds and the bait moved into the river water and some of the game fish apparently followed. We will find out this week if this will be the area to fish, or if this was just a temporary staging area for the salmon
It is useless to explain the methods to use until we find out if the fish will move into shallow water or stage offshore in deeper water. My guess is that we will find that the fish will follow the bait into the shallow water until the water warms. In the past (when the water warms up) we have found that the salmon tend to move into 100 to 140 foot of water and feed near the bottom on the bait that collects in that area. If you are a walleye fisherman, we have found that cold lake water produces good walleye fishing in the river when the bait moves into the river water. You might try trolling the river water between the piers with locos and fast tracs (gold, green and orange).
Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 29, 2006 - 4:59 am: | |
May 29, 2006
The fishing remains very good in our area. Some of the boats fished in 80 to 100 foot of water and took some very nice kings this past week. However the best fishing was in 160 to 200 foot with limit catches of salmon and an occasional lake trout and steelhead. Most of the salmon weighed about 8 to 10 pounds, however I did see a Chinook that pushed 20 pounds.
The most productive method was lead core (7 color, 10 color) and copper wire (100 yds) fished with Raider, Legendary Products and Stingray lures. Orange crush, Michael Jackson, Purple Alewife and Wonder Bread produced very well. Our best lures remain the Raider, Stinger and the new Legendary Products lures. The darker colors with purple and/or blue on them or some glow in the dark tape, seemed to work the best. The dipsy divers with the larger stingray or magnum Raider lures worked well, however the color changed from day to day. On the downriggers, the only consistent lure was the Natural Born Killer fished at 70 foot. Again this week, Pro Chip and Hot Chip flashers and Gflies (Green glow with green seaweed flies or mirage flies) produced fish on some of the boats (downriggers an wire dipsy divers). It seems that fish that hit the flashers and flies tended to be larger in size than those that hit on the lures.
Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 6:33 pm: | |
May 21, 2006
This past week produced good salmon fishing in 40 to 60 foot, 90 to 120 foot or 150 to 180 foot of water. We took some Chinook salmon of about 15 pounds, however most of the salmon where form 4 to 8 pounds with a few shakers mixed in.
Full core, 7 color, and 5 color lead core along with 300 foot copper wire produced more salmon than any other method. The color of choice changed from one day to another, however orange crush, orange and green, wonder bread, blue/green dolphin and coyote ugly where very productive. Raider, Stinger, and Dream weaver lures where always on these lines. Dipsy divers at 120 and 180 foot of line with easter egg and bumble bee kaleidoscope North Port Nailer, bloody nose Raider and bloody nose dalmation Singer produced very well behind the divers. Some people had some luck with Hot chip and Pro chip flashers and flies behind dipsy divers at 200 and 240 foot of wire. The downriggers (run 40 to 100 foot deep) where the least productive with an occasional fish with blue and green lures and silver and green lures'
Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 15, 2006 - 4:08 am: | |
5/15/2006
Last week started with fish in 130 foot of water then 3 days with out fishing due to extremely rough water. On Saturday we found dirty, sandy water all the way out to 180 foot and the Coho and steelhead in 220 foot. By the time we finished for the day, the water was beginning to settle out and clear and in the evening Chinook where caught in 50 to 70 foot of water. We marked these fish as we ran out, however we did not stop and fish because of the water condition.
Early in the week, fish where caught from 50 to 70 foot down with the same methods that I reported last week. By the end of the week we caught fish from the surface to 50 foot down. We pulled lures on the surface, behind 3 and 5 color lead core and some full core. We did not catch any fish behind dipsy divers, however the downriggers produced at 40 and 50 foot. We found that any lure in the blue dolphin pattern or yellow tail pattern produced and it did not matter what make or what size was used. Although we did not fish in 50 foot, boots reported that the best method was 3 color lead core.
I will attempt to post a fishing report each Monday or Tuesday for the previous week. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, May 08, 2006 - 6:07 am: | |
May 8, 2006
This past week produced some very good fishing with 13 to 15 fish being caught per trip. About half of the catch consisting of 3 to 5 pound Coho, and the other half consisting of 5 to 14 pound Chinook and an occasional lake trout and brown trout. The east wind that we had for a week earlier had pushed the fish out into the lake in 130 to 200 foot of water. The water temperature is still cold (49 degrees at the shoreline and 40 degrees in 200 foot) and the fish are found where the surface temperature changed from 44 degrees to 41 degrees. This changed from day to day--one day in 180 to 200 foot and the next day in 140 to 160 foot of water. However this is where the majority of the fish where caught. Even though the water was cold the fish where caught from 40 to 80 foot down.
We Dipsy Divers at 200 foot and 100 foot of line out and dialed on 2 and 1 respectively with the new Legendary Products spoon, Raider lures and Stinger spoons with silver and orange or silver orange and green producing well. Down riggers at 80 to 50 foot produced with small Stinger, Legendary and Yuck spoons. The most consistent method was full and half core lead core and 100 yards of copper line with silver/orange, silver/orange and green and wonder bread lures. Half to two thirds of the catch can be attributed to the long lines.
With the winds back out of the Southeast today and with the forecast for more east wind, I think this pattern will hold into the coming week. I will attempt to post a fishing report each Monday or Tuesday for the previous week. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, May 02, 2006 - 5:52 am: | |
May 2, 2006
Our season is about to begin with the first charters this week and the weather has not cooperated at all with east winds blowing the warmer water off shore and scattering the fish. Two weeks ago the boats were reporting limit catches of Chinook salmon from South Haven to Grand Haven in 30 to 40 foot of water. The fish have moved off shore into 120 foot of water and deeper and are scattered all the way to 200 foot.
Check back next week and I will let you know what we found this week and the methods that we used. I am guessing that we will be fishing 120 to 150 foot and 50 foot on down. This means we will be fishing full core and core and a half already. This is only speculation, however until we get some on shore winds, I think the fish will stay in deeper water.
Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugatuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 5:49 am: | |
April 10, 2006
We are about to start another fishing season and the boat is scheduled to be launched the end of this week. At this time we are rigging and cleaning the boat and are waiting for warmer water. There are some fish being caught in the shallow water, however the water is still very cold and the catching is slow.
The charter boat captains in Saugatuck have put in a pen and are awaiting the 45,000 Chinook plant which will go into the pen for 3 to 6 weeks. During this time the salmon will be fed and cared for by the captains and the salmon will imprint on the river water which should increase the return to the Kalamazoo River in 3 to 4 years. This if the first time we have done this in the Kalamazoo, however it has been done for years on the Grand with very good results.
Again this year, I will plan to post a fishing report every Monday or Tuesday beginning the first of May. Check back and keep track of the fishing in Saugtuck through out the year. You can also feel free to contact me at any time by email at: captron@chartermichigan.com or call toll free at 888-253-8372. |
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