Lake MI – Old Methods for near shore

The salmon fishing on Lake Michigan continues to be the best that I have experienced in years. Though the average size of the fish are smaller….don’t let that fool you when it comes to their strength and power!
With the calls and emails I have gotten over the last couple years with people looking for information on salmon and trout fishing, I have to admit it lit a flame for the drag screaming long runs and incredible acrobatic shows I grew up with. So this summer, I have concentrated all my “fun” fishing on the big pond. Nice to know, some things don’t change.
We have been fortunate to have had more western winds than in recent years and that has definitely help in keeping the preferred 50 degree water temperature near shore. Even in the recent couple weeks of variable wind directions, the bottom portion of the water column near shore continues to hold water temperatures in the upper mid 50’s and plenty of alewives.

The popularity has grown tramendously in recent years to jig the harbors with soft plastic baits. I don’t know if there is a real way to tell how much these fish get conditioned to seeing the same plastics, or how many new fish migrate by over the summer. But here are a few great alternative methods to add to your next trip.
If you were around in the 70’s, you remember the original tinsel jigs. Blow the dust off of those old packages, because you have some of the hottest Salmon and Trout jigs made. The flash and pulsating tinsel replicate an alewife falling very well. Watching alewives swimming along the rocks, you see how they have a streamline appearance on fast darts. Then the bodies have a tall profile as they slowly fall.
Next are the hair jigs. They offer life-like color combinations and are equally deadly. It’s my opinion that they have that suttle difference that will make a negative fish bite. They also offer a slower fall than most tinsel jigs of equal weight. In a pressured situation, these are jigs that these fish have never seen.
For the Do It Yourself guys, the abundance of colors to tie your own jigs with is nearly endless. In addition, the combination of crystal flash with tinsel can create jigs perfect for any water conditions.

The morning patterns have been mostly consistent. The fish have been in the upper 1/3 of the water column until the sun is over the horizon. This increases the presentations that are affective in the strike zone.
I like crankbaits and have found a number of them that are successful for me. I like the Worden’s Super Toad II, Wiggle warts, Wally divers, Hot-n-Tots, and Rattle Traps Most walleye and bass guys will have a variety that will work. To add to the experience, they are great for throwing to fish that are “boiling” up. When selecting crank baits, I suggest you look for the following: Depth, profile (alewives Vs smelt) and quality hooks.

To some, this may be an inspiration to adding a new tactic, or for others, a reminder of how some things never change. Regardless of what you are fishing for and with, you need to have confidence in what your doing. We all have had those moments of looking at a bait and saying “I bet that would work for….” Give them a try or you will never know!