This past week we saw all types of weather conditions with 90 + degree conditions with no wind to a 55 degree day with 30 knot winds and 8 foot seas. We saw the water temperature go from the high 40’s to the mid 60’s and then to the mid 40’s over night and now slowly increasing into the high 50’s. During the week we began fishing in front the piers, then moved out to 90 foot of water, then back in front the piers and today we were back out in 80 foot of water. Needless to say, there was no consistancy to the week, however, the fishing was good with creel limits ranging from 2 to 10 fish per trip. The 2 fish catch does not sound very good however we had more than 10 steelhead on and fighting during the trip. If you fish steelhead you know that often you need three fish on to land one.
Around the piers the best lure for the steelhead continues to be Thin Fins (Silver, Gold/Red, Red/Black, Orange/Red) run on flat lines, 2 and 3 color lead core and on the downriggers.
When we moved back off shore, the Lake Trout came on chrome flashers and dodgers and with spin n glos (white and double trouble glow) pulled on the downriggers and dipsy divers on the bottom. We caught the steelhead on 100 and 150 foot copper with mixed veggie and orange crush spoons. The salmon came on 250 foot of copper and high divers at 150 foot with flashers and flies (blue bubble combo, chrome and oceana).
The steelhead fishing off of the Holland and Saugatuck piers has been very good with limit catches being common with the 50 degree water. Fishermen are using cooked shrimp with a slip bobber with early morning and late afternoon producing the best.
The forecast for this week is for very hot weather so we should see a increase in the water temperature. As the water warms we should see some thermo stratification take place with the development of the thermocline. What this means is we should see the fish begin to concentrate in a definite layer rather than being spread out all over the water column. Check back next week and see what happens.
Captain Ron Westrate
For fishing information or to book a charter: captron@chartermichigan.com
Tel: 616-335-2076
Cell: 616-836-2748
