Thread: Muskegon Day Trip

Met up with Steve,

Went to Muskegon for some Salmon.

& it picked up right we're Holland left off.

Holland had a U-Boat issue (Mini Van went under @ launch)

Muskegon had some one try to JUMP the pier arms........




While fishing we went .5/4 (Yeah, that's a 1/2 a fish for 4)

When Steve asked if that's the smallest I had ever caught, I answered "I didn't catch it......."

Then the correct question by Steve, "Is this the smallest you have ever Caught as Caption"

My answer was some thing about being POLISH..........

It was a much improved trip compared to last time, Steve stayed healthy, kept down the smoked Oysters he brought as a snack even......

Lastly, as proof that Steve caught something,here is the photo of the "King & And his Prince........."




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Good thing I held that little fish away from me to make it look bigger.......




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So.....I'm new to Salmon fishing and got a invite to go with OE. He is a very good teacher on his method of fishing, telling me that he wants to put the bait down to a certain depth so let out "X" amount of feet out according to the line counter reel which I do.
Catch one little dink of a fish.....okay we put a fish in the boat so it's a success for Captain Aaron.....

On the way home I asked him if he correctly calibrated his line counter reels......I get a blank, confused look and the answer "I'm Polish"......

It got me wondering..... big fish are deep, little fish shallower? Would Correct line depth have anything to do with it........


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For anyone wondering I fully ADMIT, that if you are fishing with me, I am POLISH.

Fishing with me is not fishing, but an ADVENTURE....... You never know what is going to occur, or not occur. Catching fish may be a by product of a Day with OneidaEagle

In my self defense though, The down riggers are spot on, the reels?

Eh, Maybe close to a mathematical number between 1 and 20 take a guess. I will let you choose between feet or yards.....(Insert my heritage disclaimer here: POLLACK)


We did hook into at least two nice fish, that last one being the biggest as Steve was actually able to see it come out of the water, and was giving him a pretty good show above water, and an indication of what its like, minus the part of actually netting the dang thing. I am guessing it was a Steelhead as it came out of the water, Kings, usually go Down, or towards Wisconsin.

I had a good time, I did start to feel bad, as we had not even had a strike, but it picked up. Near the last fish, we had two on the lines within 3 minutes of each other or close to 3 minutes, and we were BUSY. But for the overcast conditions, the waves and getting into 4 fish, it was a good trip overall.

It is not a charter boat, so every thing is up close & in your face (In a good way) I just added Down riggers to my arsenal, so they are new to me, and working on getting some small kinks worked out, as I hope to improve.

My current layout, is great when I am Solo, which I am ALLOT of the time, when I add a second person, I need to rethink my layout.

Regardless, I still had a great time, and its much improved over the first trip with Steve.

So next trip, we are going to try and make some baby steps, This trip was a small one, we are aiming for 2 slightly larger, or one BIG one.

We will get there eventually.........

Well, at least Ralph and Earl didn't visit Steve.

I've caught smaller... especially in May.

I would join you for a few lessons however, I've sworn off salmon fishing for the rest of my life! After catching several thousand of those things followed by refusing to reel another in in my lifetime!!! that about covers it. Of course, just like walleye fishing, I usually set the hook and hand someone the rod so I guess that wouldn't be much different. I'll even reel one if if we have mutliples. Salmon however, I'm liable to set the hook, sit back and watch the caos unfold. Even if it is a triple header!

Originally Posted by wicklundrh

Well, at least Ralph and Earl didn't visit Steve.

I've caught smaller... especially in May.

I would join you for a few lessons however, I've sworn off salmon fishing for the rest of my life! After catching several thousand of those things followed by refusing to reel another in in my lifetime!!! that about covers it. Of course, just like walleye fishing, I usually set the hook and hand someone the rod so I guess that wouldn't be much different. I'll even reel one if if we have mutliples. Salmon however, I'm liable to set the hook, sit back and watch the caos unfold. Even if it is a triple header!

You mean Ralph & HURL?

Rich, I can understand that thinking. That's probably why I could never be a Charter Captain.

Year before last I had allot of people want to go, we would catch something, I would clean it, bag it, and let them take the fish, but I like Salmon to grill as well. When season was over, I had no Salmon. So I started a 1/2 fish Rule, we can go, but I get to keep 1/2 of all fish. I had a relative who got pissed off at me for that, needless to say, he no longer goes with me and I don't mind. Actually I was surprised at how many people would no longer go, they didn't like it, it was "Their Fish"

It turned something I love doing, turn into WORK, whether Salmon, Crappie, Walleye, or even "Striped Carp". i was telling Steve how some people I know Walleye fish, and its STRESSFUL, and not enjoyable.

I told Steve before we even got there, I liked this trip, it was going to be a great day, not because the lake, fishing, etc, but I was with a friend, and was not rushed, no time limit, just a relaxing afternoon. It helps he knows I'm Polish, and has low expectations...... & it was a great day of fun with a friend.


I handed every rod to Steve yesterday as well. Was actually pretty humorous. I'm so used to fishing alone, I was reeling in all the rods. It took a bit for me to realize, "Hey, I have a Friend, but I can still put him to work and learn some stuff" So I was giving Steve the numbers, etc, to help set rods, handed him a rod I was reeling in and he thought it was a fish at first, I had a chuckle, and had to tell him I was just swapping out tackle.

Probably the most awkward part for me was actually having some else there to help. I'm so used to launch and retrieve by myself, that it was actually very WELCOME to have some help. So Steve, if I was quiet while launch, was not mad, just going through my entire mental check list of launch/retrieve.

Every one seems to have a different method with the same basic concepts.

As for Chaos, YEP, we had a bit of that........ Just need to get him on a bigger fish.

So maybe if you went and sat with Friends you might enjoy it again one day. Good ole fashioned ribbing, and a good time, can change attitude towards any fishing.

If you go with me though, you have to sign a Non Disclosure agreement. I don't want people really knowing that, I don't know what I'm doing.... I got a good thing going here, and people think I know what I'm doing......... (Did I say that out loud)


OE

Man, I don't know where to start, so many funny ( to me ) comments rattling around inside my head.

With you being Polish, are you telling us that's your boat on the rocks.
Instead of being the Polish Prince, you would have to be King of the Jews if that​ fish is going to feed the masses
What did you do after you caught the days bait.
I have a few more, but this being a family friendly site, I'll save them till we go fishing again.

I posted this in the off topic thread but I'll add it here.....

TowboatUS had this on their FB page along with a video freeing the "Just Do It" from the breakwall. Don't know how to copy the video, I was amazed they used a small nylon rope to pull her off. Then it was towed to a marina


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Wow,
When first seeing it, I would have guessed that they would have needed to lift it off.


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I cannot tell you how many of those things I have seen on the breakwall over the years. Seen a few deaths as a result as well.

Many of these issues result from people charting a course to a waypoint they set inside the perimiter of the breakwall. The other issue is that they do not know how to turn the lights down on their map plotter/fishfinder. We didn't have this issue in the 80's and early 90's when people used a compass and charts to navigate. As well as the actual navigation lights. The old rule of thumb is "Red, Right, Return". No days, a captains license comes with every boat people purchase.

Over the years, one of the safest things I've learned to do is to turn on my Tracks at every new port I come out of. I run a track (in red) all the way out to safe water before I shut the record off. I always display it and can always get back to my safe entry. When charting a course back, I go to the end of my track and NOT inside of a harbor. This saved me in Alpena when I launched in the black river and had to go through the surf out about 1/2mile to safe water. Coming in, the wind was blowing and we had what we call a "Flush" coming out of the river. Had I shut my motor down inside of that half mile, the flush would have put my boat on the bottom!

Anyone that copies my chart card will always get my safe harbor passages. As well as all my secret waypoints (Steve has them all on his old fish finder).

I know what you mean in reference to taking people out. In most cases, I give away most of the catch simply because I do it all the time and my boat riders don't. On the flip side, I've also paired down "who" I take.

When I take people out, I usually like to have them watch me make a couple of sets and then, let them do it. They will ask questions but they get to learn at the same time. I do catch myself trying to do everything however which is the disadvantage of going from a charter to a regular Joe fisherman. I've fished by myself so much that I'm used to it but prefer to have a person or two with me.

I'll go with you guys. If for nothing else, just so that I can point and laugh at people! You never know, a few "tricks of the trade" may come out. Like running light sticks on your downrigger balls, using surgical tubing and a sliding three way to create a fixed slider based on friction, using a three way and attaching a crank bait and a trailing bait, running drop weights... lots of "old school" tricks that many people don't know about.

You can have my half of the fist (or 1/3rd)! I haven't eaten a salmon in more than 15 years and don't plan to start now