<![CDATA[ Great Lakes Kayak Angler - Fishing Reports and Blog]]>

<![CDATA[ Great Lakes Kayak Angler - Fishing Reports and Blog]]>Sun, 20 May 2012 02:52:58 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Brown Trout and Weather. ]]>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:19:18 -0800http://greatlakeskayakangler.com/1/post/2012/02/brown-trout-and-weather.html

Everyone knows weather plays a big role in fishing. Light conditions and water clarity determine what colors to use and wind might determine where the fish are. These conditions change effect the moods of fish. There is an endless variety of conditions that anglers need to adjust to everyday in order to be successful. One thing I've been able to count on over the years is that brown trout love snow! Looking back at some of my most successful fishing trips over the last few years I came to realize that snow days are brown trout days. Snow has been scarce this winter but the fish reacted just a well when we did get some. During our first decent know of the winter I happened to get out to a harbor I've neglected a bit over the last couple of years. It did not start snowing right away but the fish were ready for it. I caught a nice brown trout on a shallow diving stickbait just minutes after I set my lines. I trolled out to some deeper water and the action never stopped. Over the next few hours I land sixteen brown trout, lost three, and had numerous other drive by hits. The best baits ended up being a Purple Tiger Flicker Shad and a Green Speckled Thin Fish. If you are up to some cold weather fishing, get out there when it is snowing!

]]><![CDATA[It's been a while]]>Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:42:28 -0800http://greatlakeskayakangler.com/1/post/2011/11/its-been-a-while.htmlIt has been a long time since my last post. The new store is keeping me pretty busy but I was able to get out a few times this past week. The brown trout and steelhead have been starting to fill the harbors and fivers lately. There were some water clarity issues that made fishing tough along with some strong winds but I still managed to catch a few fish. Trolling caught most of my fish. But I also caught a few casting cranks and bobber fishing with tube jigs or spawn sacs. My best baits so far this fall has been Brad's Thin Fish. You can find them here at.http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/store/Brads_Thin_Fish.htm Lately I have been keeping close tabs on my speed and slower has been better. 1.6 mph has been about right. Hopefully I'll have time to get back out soon. There are some really nice size steelhead around this year and I can't wait to catch some more. If you plan on getting out there make sure you take precautions and be very careful because the water is getting very cold

]]><![CDATA[The Kings are in.]]>Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:07:26 -0800http://greatlakeskayakangler.com/1/post/2011/09/the-kings-are-in.html

It is really nice to be back on the water. The last few weeks warm water has kept the salmon about ten miles off shore but now the mature kings are entering the harbors to spawn. I fished after work for a few hours this evening and caught a few kings on crankbaits. Rapala DTs and Storm Thundersticks were my best baits.

]]><![CDATA[Offshore Steelhead and Cohos]]>Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:12:14 -0800http://greatlakeskayakangler.com/1/post/2011/08/offshore-steelhead-and-cohos.htmlPhil and I finally had a chance to get offshore and look for some trout and salmon. The currents brought in some super cold water so we didn't need to get way out by the boats to find some fish. The action was not hot and heavy but we were able to pick off a few fish here and there. I used my Fish Hawk TD and found the water was 72 on the surface, 59 degrees 10 feet down, and 48 degrees 20 feet down. We put our baits a little closer to the surface and it didn't take long to get hooked up. Phil had a real nice steelhead slam his dipsy and sky rocket out of the water. Unfortunately the fish came off a moment later. As the day went on we managed to pick away at a few more steelhead and cohos. Stinger and Super Slim Spoons in almost any color caught all of the fish.

]]><![CDATA[another great day on the water.]]>Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:48:54 -0800http://greatlakeskayakangler.com/1/post/2011/06/another-great-day-on-the-water.htmlPhil and I decide to get out for some more cohos before work today and the fishing was even better than yesterday. We had our limit in an hour and also released two fish. Dodgers and flies did the trick again. The fly color didn't seem to matter as we had four different flies in the water that all took fish. In fact we had 5 quick doubles and 2 other stragglers and the day was over. It was just another reason why I like fishing from my hobie so much. That mirage drive allowed us to keep our baits moving at the right speed while we fought the fish on our other line.

]]><![CDATA[Coho Crazy]]>Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:09:26 -0800http://greatlakeskayakangler.com/1/post/2011/06/coho-crazy.htmlThe coho fishing was pretty good today. There was a very strong west wind so I fished a spot near shore that typically holds a lot fish. I started off trolling size 00 dodgers and peanut flies behind planer boards. It didn't take long to find the fish. I got out to 22 feet of water and lost one. I kept going and had a fish in the boat just minutes later on the same rig. The Stanley Stinger two tone fly has been my best this year and today was no different. I set my line again and about a minute later it was hit again. It didn't take long after that to fill the rest of my five fish limit. Although dodgers and flies caught all my fish, I did manage to lose two on a Brad's Thin Fish which is another one of my favorites. I must say that windy days like today remind me of how lucky I am to fish from a Hobie. The Mirage drive makes it so easy to set lines and fight fish when the wind is blowing at or accross the boat at 20 mph.

]]><![CDATA[Back to fishing!]]>Sun, 15 May 2011 06:34:25 -0800http://greatlakeskayakangler.com/1/post/2011/05/back-to-fishing.htmlHey everyone, it has been a long time since I last posted. Over the last few months my time has been occupied by the opening of a new store in Winthrop Harbor Illinois. It is one of the most extensive selections of trout and salmon tackle around. If you can't make it into the store you can check out our selection online at www.LakeMichiganAngler.com The store actually has quite a few items that are not available online yet but will be over the next year.

The weather this spring has made things tough for fishing on Lake Michigan, but if you can pick your days the fishing can be great. Cohos started showing up in full force a few weeks ago along with a few big kings. The bite started off with body baits like Brad's Thinfish, Berkeley Flicker Shad, and Rattling Rogues catching the majority of fish. Over the last week the water has warmed and the bite switched to a dodger and fly bite. The cohos are blast to catch on light tackle and are my favorite to eat.
Right now the winds are howling out of the north and really messing up the water clarity near shore. If you want to get some of these fish be ready for a long paddle off shore or wait for it to clear up.

]]><![CDATA[Ice fishing]]>Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:41:46 -0800http://greatlakeskayakangler.com/1/post/2010/12/ice-fishing.htmlIt has been a while since my last report. Most of my favorite fishing spots are frozen so it will be a while before the next kayak fishing report. Hopefully it will be an early spring. The earliest kayak fishing trip so far was February 27th. In 2011 I plan to break that record.

Before we start dreaming about spring there is still good fishing out on the ice. I hit an old favortite spot of mine that I have not fished in years and picked up a nice steelhead. She hit a tube jig in 7 feet of water.

]]><![CDATA[Double Header!!!]]>Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:01:23 -0800http://greatlakeskayakangler.com/1/post/2010/11/double-header.htmlThis afternoon I trolled around one of my favorite harbors with a couple of my favorite stickbaits and had a little luck with some brown trout and steelhead. After searching for about an hour I found myself with a double!! I was trolling through some boat slips when my right side rod bent over with a fish on. As I was landing the fish I noticed a steelhead jumping with a lure in its mouth and I realized it was my other bait. I quickly got the brown trout in the net and saw it was tangled with my other line. I was able to untangle it and start fighting the steelhead. Before I knew it I was lucky enough to land both fish. After a little more searching I got into a few more fish. I landed two more good size female browns, a small pike, and lot one other fish. Not bad for a short afternoon of fishing. There seems to be a few more fish around then the last time I was out. Hopefully more will keep showing up!

]]><![CDATA[Very few fish in the harbors.]]>Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:46:27 -0800http://greatlakeskayakangler.com/1/post/2010/11/very-few-fish-in-the-harbors.htmlOver the last two weeks I fished three times and stopped and checked out the harbors three more times. I am becoming concerned about the lack of trout in the harbors. Fall 2010 looks like it will be the second fall in a row with a very small return of fish. Last year at this time great catches of steelhead made up for the lack of brown trout. This year the steelhead are missing as well. This afternoon I trolled one of my favorite harbors for 5 hours. Although I caught a very nice hen steelhead, it concerns me how few fish I saw. The sound of fish leaping and crashing back into the water is non-existent. My fish locator normally is filled with sonar echos from fish is void and only marking the bottom. I am hoping it will be a late run and fish will show up soon, but the thoughts of VHS disease, over-harvest, over predation, and lack of forage are concerning me.

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