Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Reports 6/1/2009
By Capt. Jim Hirt
May ended with decent fishing for Chinook, Coho and Lake Trout. You may have to move around to get a respectable cooler of fish. Deep and shallow water are two different fisheries. Water Temperatures are coming up and this should improve the action on all species.
Patterns and program under 60 feet
There are two different options for fishing, which should produce for all big and small boat anglers. Around the harbor break wall gaps we are taking Coho Chinook and Browns. This is an all spoon bite for Chinook on downriggers. With Coho coming on Church Walleye Planner Boards with 25-foot leads and 3/8-ounce weight. OO dodgers or 6-inch flashers and medium blue or green flies are my go to bait for Coho. When the gaps are slow move out east. Switch the presentation to five and eight color leadcore on boards or downriggers 25 to 48 down with all spoons. Our best spoons has been the blue and green Magnum Reaper Peacock or the Reaper Magnum Fish n Chip. Action has been in 50 to 60 feet. When the wind and waves keep you in, the gaps will produce. Water is still cold at 46 degrees and fish may be scattered.
Patterns and program 100 to 140 feet
Out in the deeper water South and East of the main gap Milwaukee is the best fishing for Lake Trout and Coho. Our fish came on Magnum Reaper spoons for Lake Trout 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 100 down to get Lakers.
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. I tried plugs with no action. 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.