05/05/08 12:25(CST)

Captain Ron Westrate of CoHooker Charters reports from Saugatuck:

Fishing was very good this weekend with the weather and the fish cooperating for a change. Sunday we had the best lake trout catch we have had in years with 10 trout from 5 to 15 pounds. In addition we took 4 Chinook salmon, 3 steelhead in the 10 pound range and a brown trout. Water temperature was from the low 50 degrees on top to mid 40 degrees on the bottom.

We fished in 55 to 70 foot of water and the lake trout came deep while the steelhead and Chinook came 20 to 30 foot down. The best methods for lake trout were the down riggers with the tin can dodger and the Rapture wild fern fly and the green glow Hot Chip flasher and Rapture green hypnotist fly. For the steelhead and salmon we ran divers 120 foot out with green/orange and alien stingers. Fish were also caught on 100 and 200 foot of copper with the Flying Dutchman, Raspberry Dolphin and gold Watermelon Stingray lures.

Check back next week and see what if the salmon start to show up in more numbers as the water warms

04/30/08 6:6(CST)

Captain Ron Westrate of CoHooker Charters reports from Saugatuck:

Fishing for salmon and steelhead was only fair last week. Due to the rough water all weekend, we only fished one day during the week and caught mainly Lake Trout in 30 to 50 foot of water. Other fishermen that I talked to also reported the same. There where some salmon in the 12 pound range caught out of Port Sheldon and a few brown trout along the shoreline, however most of the creel consisted of lake trout. Fishing 30 to 40 foot down produced the majority of the fish on 150 foot of copper on fruit cocktail and candy corn stingers.

I have not had any report on the steelhead in the river, and the brown trout fishing off the piers has slowed.

I have had mixed reports on the perch fishing with South Haven to Grand Haven reporting moderate success. Water is still cold and the successful fishermen said they where in 60 foot of water and more.

The rough water, wind and cold weather during the weekend and into the first part of this week should change the water temperature and fishing conditions drastically. Check back and see what happens. You can contact me for a fishing report at captron@chartermichigan.com

04/22/08 8:24(CST)

Captain Terry Woldring of Surveyor Charters reports from New Buffalo:

Fished Monday April 21, out of New Buffalo, the fishing was very slow, we took 5 fish for 8 bites, 2 coho and 3 small (12 to 14" kings) in a morning of fishing, last Friday we had 24 coho for 32 bites, so the fish have seemed to have moved from the area. Body baits and small spoons in red were the most productive. Hope this helps.

04/22/08 8:16(CST)

Captain John Milbourne of Michigan Sport Fishing Charters reports from St. Joseph:

I fished 3 trips this weekend out of the port of St.Joseph. All limit catches of Coho salmon. Nice eaters in the 2 to 4 pound range. Stick baits were the ticket in waters out to 40 foot just north of the light.

04/21/08 4:28(CST)

Captain Ron Westrate of CoHooker Charters reports from Saugatuck:

Fishing this past week was fairly steady along the shoreline in 5 to 25 foot of water. Most of the action was between Holland and Saugatuck from the state park to Half Way Creek and Castle Park. The catch consisted of small salmon (coho and chinook), brown trout and occasional steelhead and lake trout.

The most productive method were stick baits and hot n tots pulled behind planer boards. Small gold and orange stinger spoons pulled 30 to 40 feet behind slide divers and on the down riggers also produced occasional fish. There were some salmon and lake trout taken out in 100 to 150 foot of water on 100 and 150 foot of copper line with small stinger spoons. There are some good reports fishing the southern area of Lake Michigan with limit catches of 2 to 4 pound coho on body baits and small flashers and flies. I have not gotten any reports on the fishing in the Kalamazoo River for steelhead.

We should begin to see the coho migrate north along the shoreline so check out next weeks fishing report