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Fishing Reports for Local Area - Location |
    
Ron Westrate (Westrate)
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Post Number: 111
Registered: 8-2003
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Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 3:16 pm: | |
11/12/2008
There has been very little big lake fishing with cold weather and high winds, however the steelhead river fishing is beginning to turn on. Capt. Tony Walte reports that the fishing in the St. Joe was still a little on the slow side but should pick up soon. The Kalamazoo River, however has been producing good catches of steelhead. Back trolling body baits into the holes and bouncing spawn both have been very productive. Capt. Walte has been taking from 3 to 7 fish per trip and he thinks that with some shots of warm weather and rain, the run should pick up. Most of the leaves are off the trees so the river has cleared up and more lines can be run without fouling them up. If you are interested in this type of fishing contact me and I can set up a trip with Capt. Walte on either the Kalamazoo or the St. Joe. For more information email me at captron@chartermichigan.com. |
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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Post Number: 96
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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
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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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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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Post Number: 88
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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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Post Number: 82
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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 |
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