Milwaukee Coho action

It was one of those great days with less fog than anticipated, no wind and no one fishing around me on a holiday. Never had time to get the coffee out and Garlic Roasted Tuna was the main course. Set up in 80fow due east of the North Gap and got all the rods out before the 60′ rigger Brad’s wonderbread bounced and then bounced again for the first LT of the yr. Mono board 8” red flasher 1/2oz wt and mini Brad’s Hot Red took our first bow of the yr. 30Loc 3 set 6” red dodger aqua/lbb coho candy first of 2 for 3. Then it got a little crazy and made it to 155 before I could try to turn around. 4 color with mini Hot Tamale, mono back 50 mini Green Magic, 40′ SWR mini Gold Perch all went so close together couldn’t reset for a while. 3 color 6” red dodger purple fly got hit by a nice bow that somehow buried the board and it popped off (I didn’t set it!).

Got hit by a double on the turn to retrieve the board and did get it back and the fish. Mono mini Green Magic and 4 color Mini Hot Tamale. 40′ rigger with Brad’s Purple Frog and 60′ rigger with Brad’s Wonder Bread doubled up and before I could reset the 40′ SWR mini Gold Perch was gone so all 3 riggers cleared. 20loc 3 set 8” Orange Bechhold and Bluelongtail fired a couple of times and by then my little buddy Jack’s arms were getting tired.

We turned again at 155 fow and got hit again on the fast side with 4 color and Hot Tamale. All three riggers fired in the next ten minutes and Jack diligently kept hitting the counter in the chaos. Not sure what of all the next fish came on as we couldn’t get the lines back in. 75loc 1.5 Wire and reg dble Purple Spook finally fired only to escape. A couple more rigger bites on Wonderbread and Purple Frog and we were done. While clearing lines the Bechhold dipsy, mono mini Green Magic and 4 color Hot Tamale took fish we had to release. While clearing lines out deepest board line 5 color with Brad’s Lady Bug came in with no hook. Get hit earlier but didn’t take the time to check the lure…naughty naughty.

I’d say our best depth was 140-150 at 1.8-2 on the Depth Raider and a little more current than Saturday. Surface temp was 43.5 and 42 down 40. Frankly didn’t get to look at the locators for marks and when I did I didn’t see much for bait and a couple of hooks down 70. Kings remain elusive for us but a couple caught by others. We were done by 0720 and poured a cup of coffee. Ended up with 3 bows, 1 LT and 19 coho and lost around 7 hookups.

Tight lines and full coolers,

Grey Beard