Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 8/31/09
By Capt. Jim Hirt
If you were waiting for east wind it has arrived. A temperature break has set up in 80 to 125 feet of water. The best action for Chinooks and Rainbow Trout is 25 to 70 down. Church Tackle lighted 8 inch Revelators with green or white flies or magnum spoons are taking all size fish. Shore, gap and near shore action for pier and small boat anglers has slowed to a crawl. Jenny Michel wrestled with this 21.5 pound German Brown Trout till her arms ached. Her efforts landed the biggest Brown to this point in the season.
Patterns and program for the harbor and gaps.
The areas around the harbor break walls and gaps have been very slow. Fish them at first and last light of the day for Brown Trout. I have not had or heard of any spawning Chinooks they should be in soon. Shore anglers are getting some fish with Vulcan regular size Glow spoons before sunrise or live bait.
Patterns and program 80 to 125 feet
The temperature break to 50 degrees is at 40 feet down. The deepest we have caught fish is 70 feet down with the majority of our fish coming 25 to 50 feet. I start off the main gap in 80 feet of water and work northeast. The last couple of days I have seen more 4-year-old Chinooks gathering for their run up the river.
You will find action on mostly Chinooks or Rainbows with five, six, eight and ten color leadcore with Badger Tackle Vulcan and Reaper Magnum spoons. Downriggers or leadcores 25 to 70 down are taking all size Chinooks and eight to ten pound Rainbows. I use Church Walleye Planner Boards for all my lead cores.
Some of our best producing spoons have been Vulcan Magnum Silver Lizard, Magnum Silver Sky, Reaper Magnum Peacock Silver, and Magnum Fish n Chip. For small spoons the Vulcan Dolphin Green Silver and combinations of silver spoons with green or blue accent colors. Run the boat speed at 1.6 to 2.1 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.