Well it’s that time of the year the kings are starting to stage for the fall spawn. In Milwaukee here guys are getting them trolling all conventinal tackle such as dipsey’s with J-plugs and spoons, flasher fly’s downriggers, and leadcore.
However getting my share of this growning up on the big pond I really enjoy fishing for them eaither casting or jigging. In order to do this effectively you need to find good numbers of fish, so fall (Now) and summer with the right wind conditions (West) are great time to chase these fish near shore with stand up tackle.
Today and this past week it seems like the pattern was all over the boards for casting. We caught fish on DT-10’s Dt-16’s Deep diving rouges, thundersticks, Yo Zuri’s, then my buddy limited out this morning casting frenzy’s. The best color’s are firetiger, or the lime green with chrome. Bring the whole box because at first light they were also pounding glow in the dark spoons and rattle traps. The fish are here to stay and in good numbers, very accessable from shore or in a boat with out waves or big winds blowing you off here in Milwaukee. I love using gulp with darter head jigs, but some days they just want to eat cranks. The bite should last for the next month and in about 2 weeks start to transition to a float and skein bite.
I’m using medium action rods, with either braid and a floro leaders, or staight mono with 10 lb test.
Good fishing!
This bite is probably one of the most unique bites I’ve heard for salmon in a LONG time. I want, I want, I want to catch a king on jig and plastics!
Good thing I’ll see you tuesday AM.
Thanks for the report. How big is that king you’re holding in the first pic?
Didn’t weigh it but probably 21 lbs. Should be a lot of fun!
That’s a lot of fish to tangle with on spinning gear. Should be a hoot.
I do a bunch of fishing Jaly and Aug trolling for salmon, but that looks like it would be a riot!
Your gonna have a blast if you get into them James. I’ve caught them on downrigger rods and just got worked by a 12 lb fish. I can’t imagine a 20lb fish on spinning gear, what a blast. Good luck!!
I’d have to say my all time best battle on spinning tackle is an 18 lb. king off the Sheboygan pier a few years ago. Those fish make some unbelievable runs and have endless power!
Now those fish would definitely out battle the smallies that I usually am chasing on the same gear
Ron
Those fish are certainly a test of ones forearm and drag system on the reel being used. Have fun!
Well… I just got back from fishing with Eric out on L. Michigan and the experience was out of this world!
We nailed big chinooks on light spinning gear in shallow water. If you’ve ever fished jerkbaits for spring smallies… you have a good idea of how we were catching these fish. Except these “smallies” weighed 12 – 20 POUNDS and have the speed of a top fuel funny car and the stamina of a plow horse!
I had one big king do “0 – 100 yards” of 14 lb braid in less than 60 seconds. That fish hit, turned north and hit the afterburners. Nothing, and I mean nothing we could have done was going to slow down this fish. In the last few moments before the line was stripped off my spool I was tightening down the drag, leaning on the rod to the point I was expecting it to explode from the extreme load placed on the blank and trying to slow the spinning of the spool with my hand… and it only seemed to make this big king go faster!
Being “spooled” by a fish of that magnitude is truly a humbling experience. I believe my exact words after the initial shock wore off were “that fish ate my lunch, knocked me down and kicked sand in my face.”
My longest fight with one of these incredible fish lasted 22 minutes (verified by re-watching the video footage) and was highlighted by 3 runs of no less than 100+ feet as we chased this fish trying desperately to keep line on the spool until the fish tired. By the time the fish was in the net my hands, wrists and shoulder was completely shot and towards the end I was begging Eric to extend the Beckman and take a risky stab at the fish the next time it get anywhere near the boat.
I’m sure Eric will have photos to put up in the next couple days and there will be video footage to follow just as fast as I can get to the edit.
If you’d like to get in on what very well could be one of the most exhilarating bites in the midwest, give Eric a shout. He’s on the front end of this bite as these salmon are just starting to come into the harbors in numbers. From here through the middle of October the bite will actually improve.
My advice if you book one of these trips? Bring advil. You’ll need it after the second or third fish reduce you hands and arms to mush!
WOW if that is not a true testament!
Thanks for the update James and man that sure sounds like a” must do” trip if you ask me!!
James don’t feel bad getting spooled. Growing up in the 70’s I used to wade the shoreline casting for these fish with 6# mono and got spooled a number of times. I was naive and thought I could get a new world record on that line class. The old Mitchell 300 held alot of line and it was amazing how fast it could come off the spool. Glad you had fun.
Man, I had a blast. And this morning the only part of me still aching is my cheeks.
This darn smile won’t come off my face.
Well boys the bite is on! Like James mentioned these fish are crushing cranks and jerk baits and are making there way into into shallow water. The fish are starting to school up in pods and if you know where they school and can trigger them to bite it’s one of my favorite ways to catch these brusiers.
We had some fish just do some serious acrobatics after crushing these baits some next to impossible to capute on film. A good portion of these fish are still eatible and more fresh fish will be showing up each day. This bite is pretty much available up and down the entire lakefront. Find where the kings are stocked and that’s where they will return to spawn.
It was very relaxing filming and fishing with James and Paul. By the end of our second day I had them singing
some of my bad kareokee.
Thanks for taking the time to come out here and fish with me.
This bite will last the next month.
Good fishing!
Capt Eric Haataja
Opps here’s a few pics.
James did you schedule another trip for the big browns thru the ice?? Eric as always you got it dialed in.
That’s the plan, yes. The visitors here at IDO and our TV audience need to see these incredible bites.
How about an unofficial GTG this winter or next fall?
Man, those salmon look like an absolute blast.
Sounds like an incredible amount of fun.
Looking forward to seeing the video!
Sounds like I didnt overstate my prediction did I?
Did the reels reach melting point?
Now you see why I love every day of fishing I get out there!