Fishing Reports

Fishing Reports
See my fishing trip to Florida below.

Welcome to a new year of fishing.
    Winter is starting to let go up hear in the northeast of Michigan. The Rogers city harbor is open and only one dock is in, but as of today 4-12-09 there is still ice in the slips and most inland lakes are iced-up. And the woods still have plenty of snow still hanging a round where the sun can't get to it. With the AM temperature still the 20's and the PM in 40's it will be here awhile.
    The boat is ready to go and so am I, we just need the temperature to raise a little and the wind to clam down.
Last year was a good year with a good mix of fish. I'm attaching a report about the improvement in Salmon fishing here in the northeast part of Lake Huron, showing a 50% improvement. Let's hope it keeps going.     Frank Krist from the Hammond Bay Anglers put this together. Check their web site www.hbanglers.com Capt. Rick
10-30
October Fishing was poor because of the rain and bad weather plus we move to our hunting operations
9-30-09
September was a great month with the weather being helpful. The fish moved in good numbers ( over 4000 take at weir ) and was a fun time to be fishing.

8-25-09
Weather still not at it's best, but fish are starting to move in. 2 more Happy happy fishermen.

8-19
Not my best day at RC, but what a fish! 35 inches long, did not Wight it. Only 2 fish today 1 Salmon 1 Laker. 1 & 2 fish with some 4's brought in by today's fishermen. All fish running larger this year at RC. Click on picture to in large

8-17-09 Sorry for the lack of reports, but with bad weather, and with the fish scattered the fishing was tough until this last week. The Salmon finally move in, not in big numbers, but in great size. Fish up to 20+lbs where common. I had 3 great outings catching Salmon, Lake Trout and Walleye. The the Salmon we lost, we could just not hold on to. I have not seen fish fight so hard in Rogers City in few years. It looks like it will just get better as more fish come in. Here are catches from last week.

7-5-09 Fishing has been tough for the most part. The salmon are still very scattered and the small Lakers have been very pesky. The weather also has not been very good with a lot of wind from the west and northwest which brings in warm water which makes for tough fishing. Rogers City Awesome is the word for the offshore fishery. If you like chasing steelies and other species offshore its that time of year for it. Anglers heading out have been fishing between 150-220ft of water. The real key is to find the scum slicks that carries food etc for the fish. The fish are very high which means leadcore slide divers, drop weights with small weight all have been working. Leadcores of 3-7 colors have been super. Using it off planer boards to the side. A real mixed with steelies, pinks, Lakers, Chinook and atlantics have been taken. Small spoons that are mostly orange in nature have been the best colors. Bright colors such as green, silver and the oranges have been thebest producers. In closer the fishing has been on the slow side. some kings have been taken but very spotty yet. They have been trolling 45-120ft of water and fishing around half way down for them. Good colors have been the greens, blues and a mixture of the 2. Presque Isle Slow is the word for now. No attempts of offshore fishing has been made here but worth a good try. Small Lakers continue to be taken. Anglers are trying for salmon but with little success yet. Another week or so. Caution Indian trap nets have been placed in near by waters from the red can south to Stoneport and past Stoneport so be very careful. If the weather is calm enough for fishing 5-8 miles out its worth a try. Otherwise fish the structure and look for baitfish for best results. Still in the transition zone for another week or two. Until next week tight lines and good luck fishing. 6-14-09 Both at Rogers City and Presque Isle areVery good for Lakers with many limits in short order. Some smaller throw backs have started showing up as well which means the bigger ones are headed to deeper water. Good places to fish have been from 30-60ft of water and fishing the bottom 10ft. Cowbells with spinglos or dodgers with spinglos have been the best, a few have been taken on blue and silver spoons or green spoons. Good places to fish for them at Rogers City has been around swan bay and Adams pt to the south and between sea gull pt and 40 mile pt to the north. The salmon have been taken from 40-100ft of water and very scattered right now. Most have been taken in the top 60ft with blue and silver spoons or green and silver spoons or yellowtail colored spoons. Below are some happy fishermen

5-24-09
finally the fishing has finally picked up and is excellent Both at Rogers City and Presque Isle and are showing some excellent number of lake trout being taken by anglers especially over the holiday weekend. There has even been a couple of kings taken along with a couple of Atlantic salmon and even a pink salmon in the mix. The water is finally warming up and the surface temps are in the upper 40's now. Rogers City Limits of lake trout. Good places to fish have been 40 mile pt, seagull pt and anywhere in-between. Good depths to try have been anywhere from 30-55ft of water and fishing the bottom 15ft. Good lures have been cowbells with spin glos and a silver dodger with spin glows. Spoons have also taken a few fish , try gold and copper with orange on it. Presque Isle Limits of lake trout. Good depths of water have been from 15-40ft of water and then the 55-70ft of water. Mostly straight out from the red can or between the 2 light houses north of the harbor or even in north bay. Cowbells with spin glos or silver dodger with spin glos have been the best. Spoons have also taken a few fish as well. Orange and gold, blue and silver or fire tiger colors have been good.

5-22-09
Sorry for the lack of fishing reports, but this spring has had some real bad weather up here. I did take that time to explore for some Walleye fishing and started planting my fields for this fall bird hunting. I joined up with the Thunder Bay Walleye Club http://www.tbwalleye.com/ and learned about the great Walleye fishing they in the bay. I will be adding Walleye trips in the bay to my outing this year. The weather looks good for this weekend and I have trips planed, so I will up date you on the out come. Capt Rick

5-1-09 The boats back home, but the weather been bad with high winds out of the east and rain.
I did get out on 4-24-09 for an afternoon try-out with 2 of my guest turkey hunters that got up early in the afternoon. We left the ranch at about 2pm and went to Rogers City, and when we got there the wind was blowing hard out of the southeast. I decided to go down to P I harbor, because you can get out of the wind in the North Bay. The southeast wind was at about 10-15, but the waves were not bad getting to the North bay . The water temp. was 38-39 with snow/ice still on parts of the shore. We trolled around for about 4 hours in 15 - 40 fow, but only ended up with one nice Lake Trout that we let go.

I have to go down sate today for a graduation on Saturday and won't be back until Monday. Capt. Rick

4-18-09 Not a good start to the year. Put the boat in for a shake down and try out the new kicker. Started the main motor it ran for a while, but keep shutting down. The smart gauges said it was a manifold air leaking problem, than a throttle sensor problem. Took it in on 4-17-09 to get checked out and they put it on the PC and the pc said it was a bad fuel float and they would take care of it because it was under warranty . On Saturday I got a call when I was not home. Not good, mice in the motor. I'm wating to hear form the dealer on Monday. Capt. Rick


Joe with his Larker	Joe & Darin enjoying the sun out of the wind	P I Lighthouse

On Saturday we were only able to get in 2 hours of Turkey hunting and none on Sunday because of the rain. No Turkey.

The results of the Chinook salmon fishery are completed and the harvest at Rogers City was better in 2008 than the year before. The table below shows the number of Chinook salmon harvested the past two years.

The harvest in Northern Lake Huron has improved while the Chinook fishery south of Alpena remains low. In addition to the 2008 results in the table above, 1,637 Chinook were caught at Detour and another 1,378 were caught in St. Marys River. Apparently, the Chinook are adapting to the new food web in the north. Besides the good Chinook catches, consistent numbers of lake trout and rainbows were caught along with an occasional coho, Atlantic salmon, brown trout and walleye. The area in Lake Huron from Alpena to Drummond Island is producing an excellent diversified fishery. Rogers City stands out as the best salmon fishery on Lake Huron.

All the hatchery raised Chinook are marked with a chemical and tests over the past decade indicate that nearly 90% of the salmon recently caught by anglers in the north are wild fish. It took almost 30 years for the Chinook to become adapted enough to reproduce naturally in large numbers. Since the dramatic changes in the food web have occurred only since 2003, which I discussed in the last newsletter, the Chinook have had just a short period to adjust to the new food sources. There is a good chance that the Chinook salmon will continue to increase as each new generation learns to deal with utilizing the changed environment.

Atlantic salmon are one of the most famous and prized sport species. They are long lived since they do not die after spawning and are known for their good size and sporting qualities. Approximately 20,000 to 30,000 Atlantic salmon have been planted in the St Marys River each year since 1987 by Lake Superior State University. The Atlantic salmon provide the best return of all planted trout and salmon species stocked in Lake Huron when considering the numbers planted. The St. Marys River project and a new program in Lake Ontario are the only efforts to establish Atlantics in the Great Lakes. The State of Maine has a large successful inland program with over 300 lakes containing Atlantic salmon populations and in 176 lakes it is the principal fishery. The fish have been stocked in Maine since at least 1868 and during the past several decades, much research resulted in producing one of the most successful Atlantic salmon fisheries anywhere. This new knowledge from Maine and the research conducted by Lake Superior State University in the St Marys River should increase the chances of successfully expanding the fishery in Lake Huron.

Atlantic salmon are actually native to the Great Lakes and were found in very large numbers in Lake Ontario. They were so common that large numbers were killed with clubs and pitchforks when they entered the rivers to spawn. The early commercial fisheries easily made large catches with seines along the shores. The Atlantic salmon were the dominant predator in Lake Ontario and lake trout occupied a minor role. Niagara Falls prevented the salmon from migrating into the other Great Lakes.

The region surrounding Lake Ontario was settled by Europeans very early and by 1898 the Atlantics were gone. It has been speculated that the salmon were eliminated by cutting the forests and converting the land to farmland. This resulted in much erosion and sedimentation of the spawning streams that smothered the eggs. Stream flows became erratic and often much of the best spawning areas were without adequate water. Dams and water pollution caused by the discharge of sewage and contaminants from manufacturing eliminated vast areas of prime spawning habitat. Finally, the removal of the forests reduced shade along the streams and the water temperatures became too high for the juvenile fish to survive.

The history of Atlantic salmon shows that they could possibly become an important fish in the Great Lakes again. Michigan experimented with planting Atlantics during the 1970s and 1980s but the program resulted in limited success. Since that period, much has been learned about culture techniques and life history of the fish. The Lake Huron Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee is very interested in establishing a pilot study on Lake Huron that might include stocking the fish in one or two new streams and in one or two harbors. If the plan is successful, potentially the hatchery production could be shifted from the less successful species to Atlantic salmon.

Atlantic salmon could provide a significant recreational fishery because they appear to be better adapted to the food web changes in the Lake and they spend much of their time near shore. During the spring, they are often caught in shallow water and usually by May and early June the fish return to the planting sites where they are available to anglers for a long period. The salmon stop feeding around September and spawn in late October and November. Unlike the Chinook salmon, Atlantic salmon do not die after spawning and return to the Lake.

Many directions can be undertaken to improve the Lake Huron fishery in spite of the food web changes that are occurring in the Lake. Other projects being reviewed by the MDNR Lake Huron Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee include, re-establishing cisco, which is a native mid-water forage fish that could provide a rich food source for trout, salmon and walleye and expanding rainbow plants in Lake Huron, which have provided a phenomenal fishery in Lake Erie. Because there has been no new revenue source for 13 years, no funds are available to pursue new efforts like a pilot project for Atlantic salmon or the other endeavors that I mentioned above. The hunting and fishing license programs have had only a $1 increase since 1996 and general fund money has decreased from 23.3% in 1997 to 8.7% of the budget by 2007. Inflation has resulted in increased costs while a continued decrease in the number of anglers and hunters is contributing to revenue losses. To continue operations with the stagnant budget, several positions have not been filled, some equipment is not being maintained or replaced and some routine surveys have been curtailed. The Governor and most legislators have not been responsive to the importance of fishing and hunting in the State. Not only do these programs provide extensive recreational opportunities but also nearly everyone recognizes in Northeast Michigan they are vital to a healthy economy. It is important to urge your legislators and the Governor to address this shortfall otherwise few resources will be available to improve either the inland or Great Lakes fisheries.

Many anglers have expressed concern that the forage surveys conducted on Lake Huron are missing baitfish that anglers often see on their graphs and inside stomachs when the fish are cleaned. Because of this the MDNR and the United States Great Lakes Science Center, which conducts the surveys, will be initiating a diet study immediately to determine exactly what the trout, salmon, walleye and smallmouth bass are eating. They are asking as many anglers as possible to participate in the study. It is very simple to contribute. When the fish are cleaned, the stomach should be removed and placed in a bag that is provided. On a short form that is included, use a pencil to record the species of fish, the port, the depth and the length of the fish. The bags should be frozen and freezers will be available in the area for storage. I have kits and instructions available for anyone that is interested. These kits will be available at our annual banquet. This research is very important to understanding the changes taking place in the Lake and the results could help develop strategies to improve the fishery. A similar study was conducted during the 1980s and several anglers from the area participated. Over 1,880 stomachs were collected which showed that the Chinooks were primarily eating smelt during that period. The project was a very important study that provided baseline data for that period. The results were published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research and was only possible because of the assistance of many anglers.

During the study, I will be in contact with both the MDNR and the United States Great Lakes Science Center. In addition, representatives from these agencies will discuss this diet study and the status of Lake Huron fishery at the Sea Grant Workshops being held in Alpena on April 18, 2009 and St. Ignace on May 2, 2009. I encourage anyone interested in the fishery to attend one of these meetings. You may contact me for more information or visit the Hammond Bay Area Anglers Association website at:

I had a chance to fish in warmer weather this winter and had a great time. My trip started with dropping off my wife at the Detroit air port. She would be flying down to Lakeland Florida to be with her mother, and I would drive down stopping along the way to fish the Gulf.

First stop would be Panama City in northern Florida’s pan handle. It rain all the way down, but cleared up when I got there. I did not stay in Panama City because it was spring break and the room prices where more then I wanted to pay. I stayed 1 hour to the north and drove to Gulf each day.

The first 2 days were not good with cold weather and rain, but Captain Steve Roberson gave it his best, but could not get into the fish. Steve can be reached at www.blessedmooncharters.net The 3^rd day at Panama City was the charm. The weather cleared and I fish with Captain Mike Pankey. We fish east of the city in a long bay off of the Gulf. Mike runs all live bait witch he catches himself and selects the one he want to fish with. He also fishes live scrimp bate, big scrimp.

Our trip stared at day break with Mike mortaring his skiff down the bay to his first spot and anchoring just outside of a weed line. With the Skiff in position mike rigged up a lively pig fish on just a plan hook with no weight. . (They get that name because when the get excited they make a grunting sound, witch mike says get the big fish a feeding) Mike instructed me to cast out close to weed line, tighten up on the line so I can feel the bait fish pulling at the line. He instructed me watch the line for a fish taking the bait or the steady pull of the line. It was not long before I felt the bait fish get excited and stop. Tighten up the line and set the hook he said and I did. Fish on! With a nice battle I had my first Gulf Trout. Great looking fish, sliver with spots (see picture) Mike does not fish and puts all his attention to you 110% of the time. After a couple more trout under my belt, the fish got wise to the pig fish so we put on a live scrimp. The scrimp is hooked the same way, but does not swim, so you cast it out and move it slowly along. When a fish gets close to the scrimp it has a quick reaction to it that you can feel if you keep the line tight. Watching the line is very important, it’s all most like ice fishing when you see line just have a slight movement, either go limp or a steady pull. Fish on again, this time a Redfish, and do they fight. As we move from spot to spot (3 in all ) we had a great Morning, ending up with 7 trout, 2 redfish and 2 flounder and many fish that were just holding on to the bait, but not getting hooked. If in the Panama City look Mike up @ http://www.hankypankeyguideservice.com/ or call him at 850 625-2294

Next stop was Keaton Beach, Florida where I stayed at the Keaton Beach marina motel www.keatonbeachmarina.com . Keaton beach is located just west of the city Perry and is right on the gulf. The marina can set you up every thing you need. They set me up with two great guides Captain Edward Thomas and Ashley Mock and some great accommodation at a good price. .
May first day started off with Captain Edward Thomas. This area of the Gulf is affected by the tides, so you have to plan you fishing around them. Edward suggested we start around 8:30 am (my kind of fishing, you get to wake-up before you start to fish). As we headed out of the marina you can see on the rocks the movement of the tide. Edward showed me on his GPS the tidal charts and said the tide would be at its peck at 9:00 am and start moving down after that, and that’s when the fishing starts to get good. He also uses bait, but uses a bobber that has a rattle in. The bobber is on a wire leader a foot long with a loop on each end. You attach a leader for the bait at one end and the line back to rod at the other. This is then casted out and retrieved back to the boat with a popping and stopping retrieve. He also will cast a rod with this set-up out and let it drift with the boat. The 3^rd way is to use a jig and Berkley gulp alive in a scrimp bait. The day started off slow, but just as Edward said, as the tied began to move the fishing got great. We ended the Morning with a 21” Male Trout, witch I was told was large for a male. In total we caught 6 Trout, 2 flounder and 2 Blue fish and missed many a fish. (See pictures) Edward can be reached at www.tgifcharters.com 850-578-2454

The 2^nd day I went out with Captain Ashley Mock. Ashley uses only artificial bait, and casts the Gulf flats for Trout and Redfish. He asked what I wanted to fish for and I told him I would like to target Redfish, because I did not catch any the day before. With that we head south in his 18 foot skiff. The wind was blowing strong out of east 15-20 mph. so he stayed close to shore. I asked him how deep the water was that we were running in, because it looked shallow. He replied about 1 foot, and because of the design of his boat with a tunnel running through it he could run in 6 inches. Not something you want to do out of Rogers City. We ran about 14 miles before we got to his spots, and because the wind was blowing so hard it was holding the tide water back in the area he wanted to fish. We started fishing off that area and targeted the weed lines casting jerk baits like you would for Smallmouth bass. We fished that area for an hour catching Trout, but when the wind died down and the tide moved in, so did we, for the Redfish. The hot bait for the Redfish was a top water lure like the bass “o”reno. The idea was to get the Redfish excited with that lure and cast to the area with a Berkley Gulp, but they hit that lure so hard they got hooked-up. We ended the Morning with about 7 Trout and 6 Redfish (see pictures). And oh check out the picture of the 7 foot shark making the fish spooky. Gets a hold of Captain Ashley Mock for some great shallow water fishing. His number is 850-843-0566

I did not go into all of detail of my trip because it would take a book. These guides know their fishing and if you get chance to go to the Gulf look them up and they will show a great time.



		Captain Mike Pankey and his boat
Keaton Beach day 1 21" trout		Captain Edward Thomas


Keaton Beach day 2 Redfish	Shark, see fin in water	Captain Ashley Mock.