Kenosha Lake Michigan 4/28

We heard the Coho had crossed the state line so headed to Kenosha to intercept a few. Started setting lines 0615 ESE of the harbor in 40fow because the water looked a little off color in shallower. We later found out it didn’t matter as other boats did well in 30-35fow. We got about 8 lines in the water and at 45’ the chaos began with Purple Ice Coho candy on mono board 5/8oz sinker and 6 passes took its first of 3 fish. Then the same mono setup on the other side with Aqua Crinkle Coho Candy taking its first of 2 coho. 3 Set Dipsy with 8” Orange Bechhold and BlueLongtail 30loc its first of 5 for 6. It was a little crazy going 6 for 7 in the first 20 minutes including a triple. What a way to start the season!

We hooked up on the mono board with Aqua Crinkle and a larger fish that was likely foul hood as we couldn’t move it much. It finally fell off much to the chagrin for Howie but did provide a respite for his tired arms. 30’ SWR and reg Pink Tiger in 45’ of water looking for a king took another coho. Wire Dipsey 1.5set 40 loc aqua fly/6” red dodger fired along with 2 color Blue/copper Coho Candy that somehow got into the mono board. It took away to untangle and got off of our pod of fish so took about 40 min to get back to our way point and finally get all the lines out.

When we boxed #14 on 1.5set wire dipsy 35loc Aqua/crinkle I suggested to my crew that we head east looking for some king or rainbow action because we had such a beautiful day with flat seas we didn’t want to go home in only a couple of hours. This time of year sometimes you can find coho in deep water and kings underneath. However the water in between can be kind of a desert and that was the case today. We had one bite on the way out on 5 color with Red Hook Double Orange Crush regular taking a coho. Temp in 45fow 47.5 and as we crossed 90’ it was 44.5. Trolled 1.8-2.2 on the Depth Raider.

Once got to the hill marked a little pod of bait down 70 in 80fow and we had a number of baits deep looking for kings. When we hit 105 nothing on the screen so headed back in to the edge. Once at 80fow started marking fish again. Trolled south another 20min and found a pod of coho. We went 6 for seven in the next 20 min and ended up throwing back ½ of a double. The mono boards each went, both 2 colors and 3 set dipsys at 30loc Bechhold and bluelongtail twice and Aqua Candy. We boated 21 Coho and missed 5-6 drive bys and 3 hookups. Only one bite that was bigger than the Coho. They are running typical 2.5-3.5# and one was over 4. These are the best eating fish of the year and 3 out of the four of us are cooking it for supper tonight.

Tight lines and full coolers,

Grey Beard