Every year I know winter is getting too long when I start dreaming about summer days chasing Lake Michigan Kings 
Who’s with me?
Where you going and when??
What’s your favorite rod/baits?
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Hopefully!
Mid July. Kewaunee.
Copper/steel, wire dipsys, riggers
Flasher/fly, flasher/meat, spoons
Probably back to Kewaunee over the 4th of July weekend.
Sometime in late July. Baileys Harbor.
Last year was great for 4 year olds. Caught them on every kind of rig.
Wish they would just always hit riggers much more fun than copper or lead.
Jamming a wire dipsey is a close second.
Heck yeah guys 
We’re planning two trips to Kewaunee, one in June and then early July.
My best rods (not “favorite” though lol) are usually 300′ coppers, but since switching to 5-color SWR’s, my rigger bite has increased 10-fold.
My riggers used be one of the slowest rods in the boat, now they are one of the best! Just gotta be careful by having extra separation and run them deep (it’s possible to sink long coppers into them while redeploying)
My favorite spoon for Michigan is hands down Bad Toad and RV Bad Toad. I always start by running a pair, but often 3-4 more earn their way into the water.
As for flasher and flies, anything works for me as long as it’s green 
They most certainly bite all day (and all night on fuller moons), but the 2 hours on either side of the sunrise/sunset are the most consistent/predictable.
Our usual program is to get up at 3am, fish till 9ish.
Cut fish, go out for breakfast.
Slam a couple stiff drinks to sleep until 3pm
Eat an early dinner, on the water at 5pm, fish until it’s pitch black.
Cut fish, in bed by 11pm.
Get up at 3am, fish till 9ish.
Cut fish, go out for breakfast.
Slam a couple drinks to sleep until 3pm
Eat an early dinner, hit the water at 5pm, fish until it’s pitch black.
Cut fish, in bed by 11pm.
get up at 3am, fish till 9ish.
Cut fish, go out for breakfast.
Slam a couple stiff drinks to sleep until 3pm
Repeat
Repeat
After 5 days of that you’re REALLY looking forward a full night’s sleep at home
But you have the equivalent of a half-beef in salmon meat from running the gauntlet LOL
And you absolutely have to stop in at Smashed-On-The-Rocks (Algoma) on a weekend for a Loaded Bloody. We run up from Kewaunee every year for one (sometimes by boat if we’re fishing north)
(one of them feeds two people lol)
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Used to run out of kewaunee. Then wanted to try some new places from BH you can run to sturgeon bay and up to gills rock and Washington Island.
Door county is just fun to explore.
It is definitely a grind fishing times, but usually catch up on sleep one morning on a blow day.
We go for the KD and usually do a trip before and a trip after. Pretty much always fish out of Kewaunee but switch it up on some afternoons and go out of Algoma. It’s definitely a grind that’s for sure but not near what it used to be now that we have a kid, that cut the self inflicted pain in half. Has anyone else tried that cherry cider when your out there? My god is it delicious! The place in Algoma makes it.
B – you slept away prime time being in bed by 11. Last year we were on fire from 11-3. Most nights we headed out about 9.
Boat goes back to the dock late April. By late May we strip all the trout/coho stuff out of the boat and just chase kings for the rest of summer.
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For the wife and I, it’s Sturgeon Bay for us as we have a summer place about a mile out of town. We’re there on and off May through October. While fishing is best out of there early morning, that’s not happening if my wife go’s. She has to sit back with her coffee and watch the news a bit, then walk the dog.
I’m lucky if we are motoring out by 8, some days it’s 9 in the morning. Charters are coming in then when we are going out. Reality is we still get more fish than we can use and give most away.
While I love my salmon trolling and still do alot of it, I’m fishing more for walleye now, on both sides of Bay of green bay. I’ll fish the Sturgeon Bay side, or if winds are good, I will motor over to around Oconto area, south a bit to north about 8 miles. I really like it over there as the water is more stained and there is so much room to fish, I can for the most part stay away from others.
Having a place in Sturgeon Bay has been fantastic for us. There is just so much to do. Great eating, free multiple bands playing during the week, great people, company that visits, loves it there, and cheap drinks. One local bar has 16 oz cold tap beer for $1.50 and a pool table for a quarter.
It has been a few years since I had my boat out on Lake Michigan. Even then I have to watch the weather with only a 18.5′ boat and traveling from Minnesota. Re-rigged rods last year with the intent to go but I did not make it out. Have to shoot for this year. I have too much gear just to stop.
Looking at B-man’s schedule had me chuckling because that sounds like ours. It had me getting exhausted just thinking about it. Algoma usually is my port.
B – you slept away prime time being in bed by 11. Last year we were on fire from 11-3. Most nights we headed out about 9.
I’ve pulled some all nighters before, they’re especially good on calm/clear nights with a full moon (or close to a full moon). 5-colors and 150′-200′ coppers with Moonshine Spoons way out on boards do best for me. The fishing is usually great and very few boats out there! As you know it’s crazy to see how much the water comes to life.
I have my boards covered in reflective tape and run glow sticks if going all night.
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I am having a harder time seeing boards a ways out at night using glow sticks. I went to small waterproof led lights (tea lights) and use velcro to attach them to the top of the planner board.
This…100%!!!
I did this regiment 7 days a week for ten season running charter boats. Got to meet a ton of great fisherman and see every sun rise and set!
I am having a harder time seeing boards a ways out at night using glow sticks. I went to small waterproof led lights (tea lights) and use velcro to attach them to the top of the planner board.
I’ve seen guys do that too
Here’s what mine look like covered in reflective tape, you can see them with a headlamp even when they’re way out there, and the spreader lights REALLY light them up!
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That makes sense. I have not used spreader lights yet.
I am having a harder time seeing boards a ways out at night using glow sticks. I went to small waterproof led lights (tea lights) and use velcro to attach them to the top of the planner board.
You haven’t lost one? Man I have had a board not release or get sunk before can’t believe I wouldn’t lose a light.
Kewaunee in July, tried in June twice and never do any good.
You haven’t lost one? Man I have had a board not release or get sunk before can’t believe I wouldn’t lose a light.
No, have not lost a light. Using some pretty stout (heavy duty) velcro. Even thou it is not a very large piece the stuff I am using sticks really well.
I always enjoy the pics of your boys.
I don’t like how the fish taste out of Michigan so I don’t head over there anymore. I’ll be out on superior in mn/wi a ton in the spring as usual. I think there will be some toads caught this spring based on what we’ve been pulling through the ice this winter. I’d like to try isle royale in may and see if I can find some coasters casting. We will be heading to the sixth Great Lake in June as well. Pretty pumped to get back there.
A 5-color SWR, eh? Very interesting.
I have only used 2-color SWR’s before. Sounds worthwhile to try. I have also had increased success running really long leads – like 2-300 feet. Getting the baits far from the boat seems to help, but it sometimes makes deploying the lead/steel lines a PITA!
A 5-color SWR, eh? Very interesting.
I have only used 2-color SWR’s before. Sounds worthwhile to try. I have also had increased success running really long leads – like 2-300 feet. Getting the baits far from the boat seems to help, but it sometimes makes deploying the lead/steel lines a PITA!
That’s what I found on Michigan too, tough to get bit most days unless you’re running crazy long rigger leads.
My catch rate continually increased the farther and deeper from the balls and boat, and five color SRW has proven to be the best reasonable solution and it’s less than 200′ away (counting the leader).
When re-deploying copper I drop the rigger balls 25-30′ off the bottom (so the spoons are almost kissing bottom), and deploy longer coppers (200’+) slowly in bursts (let out 50′, thumb it for 10 seconds, let out more, etc) so they don’t free-fall into the SWR.
I also don’t run a F/F too often on the SWRs (when I do it’s only one), they can tangle easier than spoons, and I try to keep 15′ minimum vertical separation between the two SWR’s with booms swung out to get more horizontal separation.
As I mentioned before, my riggers used to be the slowest rods, and now they crush!
They’re as good and sometimes better than copper/dipsys/LC, the nice thing is you can put your bait exactly where you want it in the column, instead of a fixed number like Copper and LC. Run your balls 25-40′ higher than where you’re graphing fish.
Every guy that I’ve told to try it (and has tried) comes back with stories of success. I absolutely guarantee it will put a lot more fish in the box over a traditional rigger set-up, shorter SWR’s and beats long leads without LC.
If a guy doesn’t have 5 color setups with backer, you can use your regular rigger rods too. Let out a 150′-175′ of line, then attach a 6-10oz snapweight, then let out another 50′ of line before attaching to the release will improve catch rates as well.
Anything to get the bait below the ball and farther away will make a huge difference.
Here is my light setup.
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<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Timmy wrote:</div>
A 5-color SWR, eh? Very interesting.I have only used 2-color SWR’s before. Sounds worthwhile to try. I have also had increased success running really long leads – like 2-300 feet. Getting the baits far from the boat seems to help, but it sometimes makes deploying the lead/steel lines a PITA!
That’s what I found on Michigan too, tough to get bit most days unless you’re running crazy long rigger leads.
My catch rate continually increased the farther and deeper from the balls and boat, and five color SRW has proven to be the best reasonable solution and it’s less than 200′ away (counting the leader).
When re-deploying copper I drop the rigger balls 25-30′ off the bottom (so the spoons are almost kissing bottom), and deploy longer coppers (200’+) slowly in bursts (let out 50′, thumb it for 10 seconds, let out more, etc) so they don’t free-fall into the SWR.
I also don’t run a F/F too often on the SWR (when I do it’s only one), they can tangle easier than spoons, and I try to keep 15′ minimum vertical separation between the two SWR’s with booms swung out to get more horizontal separation.
As I mentioned before, my riggers used to be the slowest rods, and now they crush!
They’re as good and sometimes better than copper/dipsys/LC, the nice thing is you can put your bait exactly where you want it in the column, instead of a fixed number like Copper and LC. Run your balls 25-40′ higher than where you’re graphing fish.
Every guy that I’ve told to try it (and has) comes back with stories of success. I absolutely guarantee it will put a lot more fish in the box over a traditional rigger set-up, shorter SWR’s and beats long leads without LC.
If a guy doesn’t have 5 color setups with backer, letting out a 150′ lead, then attaching a 6-10oz snapweight, then letting out another 50′ of line before attaching to the release would improve catch rates as well.
Anything to get the bait below the ball and farther away will help!
Yeah, I have only ever ran 2 colors for the SWR, but may have to try adding a few more on at least one rod. I usually have my baits at least 175′ behind the rigger weights anyway. I know the action of that leadcore on the SWR seems to make a big difference vs. not having it.
Thanks for the info B-man.
I gotta get out and do this. Never been on the Great Lakes fishing.
If anyone needs a deckhand let me know!
I have been going out with a friend 1st of July out of two rivers WI for the last 3 yrs. 4 friends came out last year and we dropped down to port Washington and went out on a charter for 3 days and boated 28-33 mixed bag per trip charter used their limits for us also. More big coho out PW WI of Great time at both places. Will be going out again this July 1st for the week. Entering into the July 4-6 tour. I am taking the friend and his wife from WI up to cascade ID next Sunday thru Thursday to return the favors. We are taking up 4 sleds for the group. Should hit it just right will try to beat the state record caught by a WI guy in 03-21.
I gotta get out and do this. Never been on the Great Lakes fishing.
If anyone needs a deckhand let me know!
Don’t do it.
Over a decade ago I was invited on my first trip to Lake Michigan.
As a 25lb king was screaming 300′ of drag…with the most beautiful sunset only God could paint…I stood in awe wondering why it took me 30 years on this planet to experience it.
Two weeks after that first king I was hopping in an open seat on Lake Superior for my first time with an absolute stranger…a stranger who I became friends with until cancer took him a decade later.
Since then the passion has literally changed my life and cost more money than I can count in boats, trucks, gear, electronics, radar, auto-pilot, fuel, a ridiculous amount of tackle, maintenance, slips, captain’s license, hotels, safety equipment, dozens of specific/specialized rod/reels…not only that, but a new home to be closer to the big water, which meant new jobs, new schools, new friends for the boys…a new life that never would have happened if that bug didn’t bite me.
It’s the closest thing you can get to saltwater fishing, but it’s in the Midwest.
My only regret is not moving sooner.
If I didn’t fish I could have probably retired at 40 (joking), and my kids would be doing homework instead of watching “Haulover Boats” at this exact moment (seriously) 
Today, Ben was home sick. Between naps and barfing he wanted to help me re-spool some reels and organize spoons. He concluded we need another spoon box because the one that is designed to hold 225 is copiously overflowing and unorganized. We went over Willis knots, Palomar knots, Single Uni’s, Double Uni’s, and Haywire Twists (with shrink tube of course).
It’s a disease.
If you’re going to do it, you must promise me that you’ll only take one charter a year and never step foot into Marine General.
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