Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 6/15/09
By Capt. Jim Hirt
Mid-June the action on Lake Michigan out of Milwaukee heats up. The surface temperature is up to 50 degrees and the fish like the warmer water. Go deep and fish for Chinook, Coho, Rainbow and Lake Trout.
Patterns and program under 40 feet
I have not fished in close to shore during the past week. Reports from other anglers that did fish in tell me that there are fish to catch near shore. Around the harbor break wall gaps anglers are taking Coho Chinook and Browns. This is a all spoon bite for Chinook and Browns on downriggers. Run them long behind the ball and staggered every 10 feet from top to bottom. The Coho are coming on Church Walleye Planner Boards with OO dodgers or 6-inch flashers and medium blue or green flies are my go to bait for Coho. Our best spoons have been the blue and green Magnum Reaper Peacock or the Reaper Magnum Fish n Chip. When the wind and waves keep you in, the gaps will produce. Water temp are up to 55 degrees in most areas.
Patterns and program 65 to 150 feet
Out in the deeper water northeast of Milwaukee is the best fishing for Chinook, Rainbow, Lake Trout and Coho. Good numbers on all species with the best action on Coho. I start at the Water Filtration Plant in 65 feet of water and work north and east.
Our fish came on Magnum Reaper spoons for Chinook and Lake Trout on downriggers or leadcores 30 to 60 down or OO dodgers or 6-inch flashers and medium blue or green flies for Coho. Experiment with lengths of the fly leader to the dodger or flasher. Start with 3 times the length of the attractor. The standard presentation for Coho is Church Walleye Planner Boards with 25-foot leads and 3/8-ounce weight.
The water is very clear and you must run the spoons 50 to 100 behind the downrigger weight 70 to 130 down to get Lakers. The Rainbows have been 45 down in 120 feet of water on regular size Vulcan or Reaper spoons.
Some of our best producing spoons have been Reaper Magnum Peacock Silver and Magnum Fish n Chip on sunny days. Try the Reaper Magnum Glow spoons on overcast cloudy days. For small spoons the Vulcan Dolphin Green Silver and combinations of silver spoons with green or blue accent colors. Run the boat speed at 1.9 to 2.3 MPH. Vulcans, Nestor Wobblers and Reapers are sold only on the web at http://www.badgertackle.com Have a great fishing season. Let's go fishing!! Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2009, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
