Milwaukee Lake Michigan

Coho action has been very good south of Milwaukee but not many kings and just the opposite for recent Milwaukee reports. Frequent fishing buddy Tim said he was ready for some kings so hit the water at 0445 and surprisingly almost enough light to go without running lights. Set up in 60fow east of the north gap and the first rip came while setting rods, a 3set dipsy with reg Orange Tiger 35loc an 8# king. Next a 4 color reg dble orange crush a 12# king. Then a 8+# bow down 70 white/glow Opti and LBB. Full core was next with reg Green Tiger and 5#king. Mag Bloody puke took a small king on 8 color.

We were on a NNE course and at 80 by 6AM. Heard the king action was the typical short bite in 60-80fow and coho out deeper in 120-150fow. Nest two rips on wire dipsys White Opti’s and LBB and dbl aqua 110 and 90 loc and didn’t stick. Despite changing lures and depths, that was the end of wire action. In 142 fow blessed with another 9# king 100’ rigger and white/glow Opti and LBB. He acted like a 20lber and took awhile to succumb.

We changed to a few more coho setups and the 55loc 3set dipsy with 8” Orange Bechhold and Bluelongtail was hot but couldn’t get them to stick going 2 for 5 and same setup on the other side at 41loc 1 for 2. Eight color took a 6#LT and 5 color another coho on Org Bechhold and Bluelongtail. I put one on the 4 color and nadda. 7 color reg Chicken Pox a coho and 120 rigger with White Opti/LBB another coho. 48’ SWR finally fired with a coho on reg Green Tiger. Finished with a drowned one on 5 color and Dbl Purple spook.

The lights went out at 11 so headed in before noon. Spent most of the AM in 135-150 2mi north of the north gap with surface temp of 53 and 42.5 down 100. Trolled 1.9-2.1 on the Depth Raider. Marked very few fish all day. Had some bait on the surface early in 75fow and only near the bottom out deep. It sure was nice to hear the drags burn again. Ended 13 for 21, 5 kings, 1 bow, 1 LT and 6 coho. I was going to go back tomorrow but shifted to Wed as dense fog advisory in the forecast. While we were cleaning fish the fog rolled in and couldn’t see the north gap from the cleaning station and I didn’t want any part of that in the morning.

Tight lines and full coolers,

Grey Beard