I posted this on Coz's report thread, but didn't want to hijack it..so...
Is it just me, or does it seem that there are increased numbers of quality steelies coming to the net this season as compared to past seasons???
Anyone care to elaborate??? Kyle had one at 17#...Coz gets two over 13#...Bird Dog has had several at 12#...Trollinator has had a couple in that range...Salmonhead as well...
Just seems that the steelies are really doing well these days...which is FANTASTIC!!
BFG
Official Ohio Delegate to Team Heavy Super-Sized Fishing Specialists bfg@educatedangler.com
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I think we have always had a healthy steelhead population in Lake Michigan. I cannot speak for the western shore of the lake, but the eastern shore has also been giving up a lot of steelhead. My theory is that there are not a huge number of kings available for guys to target closer to shore which inevitably means more people will be targeting the deeper waters.
On top of a lack of kings, the deep water has been very productively lately as we have had some relatively calm seas which allows the thermal barriers to set up. When there are temperature breaks present they help to concentrate bait and bugs which attracts the predator fish. When the right conditions are present, which they have been lately, the steelhead show up and we get many aerial shows from these amazing fish.
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Are there less kings to be had this season, or is it too early to tell just yet...since the water hasn't really set up???
Seems that the reports are indicating king numbers more along the lines of what I was used to hearing when I first started salmon fishing about 12 years ago...
"We were 10 for 15 with 5 cohos, 2 steelies, a laker, and 2 kings.."
The last couple years...the coolers have been full of kings...so much as I experienced several "15 king" boxes on the west side...
BFG
Official Ohio Delegate to Team Heavy Super-Sized Fishing Specialists bfg@educatedangler.com
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I think the last couple of years have been an anomoly with an early strong start to the season and perhaps this season is more typical of the weather patterns which have historically been the norm.
I think King fishing is still strong but as Tim indicated the water temps and weather have delayed the "near shore" fishery - and the deeper and colder you fish the more steelhead you're going to catch at least in my experience.
Good news is that fish have appeared healthy from ST Joe to Grand Haven and now in Ludington.
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I agree with Greg's comments in that it is too early to tell if there really is a lack of kings. My instinct is that the weather and water temps have simply not set up right for the kings to show up in the numbers we have seen in recent years. June is a historically difficult month for inshore/nearshore fishing, at least in the Ludington/Manistee area so it is definitely not cause of concern at this point.
I expect that as the lake transitions into a summer pattern with a consistent and well defined thermocline the bait and kings will show themselves. Until then, I plan to beat up on as many steelhead as I can!
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I would have to say, not trying to target Steelhead for charters is that there are more of them out there this year then in years past. We fished in 45fow all weekend for kings and steel. We had 5 steel over 10lb on our afternoon trip on sat and 6 over 10 biggest being around 18lbs on Sunday am. I usually have a few rods just for steel but, they where hitting anything that was in the water.
I do agree with G, and Tim about the offshore setting up nice but, the in shore fishery has been loaded with steel for months. I am a little worried about the kings because we have been getting so few big fish. This weekend we only had 3 kings over 8lb. and the other 20 where under 18". I the last 5 years I can never remember catching so many dinks that people can limit on kings with 12 12"ers. Thank god for the large lakers and big steel!!!!
Thanks Tom!! How come the fat captain is never in the pics?? must have cut me out!! My first mate gets more press than me! All the steel came on Stinger Jawbreaker and steelie stomper with the stomper being the most productive.
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