Salmon Trolling Tackle Fishing Milwaukee!
By Capt. Jim Hirt 
I often get the question of what do I need to get started salmon fishing. Blue Max charters will take you from bare essentials to no budget all inclusive fishing equipment. The boat is another whole article in itself and won’t be covered at this time.
A fishing fanatic could blow a wad of cash in a hurry. A little restraint and a plan is the way to catch a decent number of fish on most trips. Why I say a decent number of fish is because a basic package may not produce in all conditions. My boat is loaded with electronics and dozens of presentation options. The must have list for a charter boat is geared to meeting a variety of good and difficult conditions for all species of fish. The average angler does not need to go to that extreme.
To start let’s cover a very limited budget for one person fishing out of a small boat. In the state of Wisconsin on Lake Michigan we are allowed three rods per person. You could buy three rods although I believe when fishing alone or even with one other person more tackle means more expense and not necessarily more enjoyment or fish on. In recent years the buzzword on the water is stealth. A clean presentation offered a good distance from the boat will take more and bigger fish. Too much tackle will often turn the fish off. Purchase two 8-foot medium action trolling rods. They will give you all the versatility and power you need. There are good quality fiberglass rods starting a $30 each. Line counter trolling reels are important to precision and don’t cost much more than reels without line counters. Look for a quality based on the amount of times you expect to use them each season. A basic bushing or one ball bearing reel is affordable and will last a long time with good maintenance. A $50 reel that will hold 300 yards of 20 pound test has the capacity for a half core of lead and all of the mono or fluorocarbon set ups you may want to try down the road. Spool up with 20 lb Berkley Trilene XT ($7) monofilament. A slightly more expensive but worth it option is to try the advantages of fluorocarbon line. The low stretch near invisible Berkley Vanish ($15) or Seaguar Invizx ($20) will put more fish in the cooler. Types of presentations are endless and the budget minded fisherman couldn’t include all the options. The key here is where are the fish. You must be able to fish at all depths. Plan “A” would be two manual downriggers at about $130 each with an 8 pound weight included. The Great Lakes spawned the use of downriggers and they are very simple and effective at all depths. This is one of the most basic of presentations. The use of this tool is limited only by your imagination. Basic set up is to let out your lure behind the boat and attach it to the weight. Then lower it down to the depth you want to fish. The way you attach it has everything to do with how many fish you will put in the boat. I have tried most of the different styles of releases. I like the Blacks release ($10) with the clip to attach the weight. The Blacks releases are completely adjustable to set the hook when the fish bites and never tangle or wear the line. A sturdy net ($40) that will handle fish to 40 inches will be needed. Electronics will be important to safety and success. I would not go out on any of the Great Lakes without a marine radio. Expect to spend $150 but your safety is worth it. Knowing how deep the water is and where the fish are is critical to safety and your ability to put fish in the cooler. The starting price for a fish locator that works to 600 feet is $120. Always ice your catch a 70 quart cooler ($25) will lend to the table quality. Local fishing clubs ($36) are a great source of information and camaraderie. They will provide an endless network of friends, activities and info. The plan “A” package will offer the opportunity to catch reel screaming Chinooks, dancing Rainbows, huge Brown Trout, tasty Coho and rod bending Lakers. At a modest price compared to other sports of $825. Split the cost with a buddy and have a blast!! I will continue with plan “B” on this subject in the next article. Have a great fishing season. Captain Jim. 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© 2006, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.