The warmest water we found, 52, did NOT hold the fish and bait. By the time we found bait and fish, the water was about 48.
First fish - on and off. Second fish - on and off. We started our morning at 0-2. As I recall, those were the only two we didn't get in the boat. Things picked up fast. We finished 22-2 based on the "bean counter" but I'm pretty sure in the hustle and bustle we forgot at least a couple "beans" so I'm going to call it 24-2. 20 salmon, 4 lakers. Caleb caught the fish unless we had a double and then I got a rod. That happened more than once.
Caleb was putting on sunscreen when a rod fired so I got to pick it up. While I was bringing that one in, another rod went off. Caleb took it, a small salmon on the cheater. Just as Thorny was netting it, another fish broke the surface just behind the boat! We all saw it but couldn't find the rod it hit. Phantom was the one who figured out that it had hit the main lure on Caleb's rod. He had a DOUBLE on one rod!(I have the video but can't figure out how to upload it.) The small salmon hadn't pulled the fixed cheater down to the main lure and the action drew in another fish. Thorny cut the line on the salmon once it was in the boat and Caleb finished his fight with fish #2, a nice Laker. We kept a few and released most.
Already an experienced fisherman, Caleb boated many fish including the two below, a 32" 11lb Laker(freezer) and a 24" 5lb Salmon(released for next time). Both are Master Angler level for ADULTS! That Laker had an 11" Yellow Perch in its belly! Even that belly perch was master angler ...not sure what the rules are on that.
Everything else had been feeding heavily on smelt with a few alewives thrown in. Mostly clean fish, only one had a real bad lamprey wound though some others had marks. We dispatched two lamprey that made it in the boat.
A few fish came off of two colors of lead on side planers, a couple fish came off of flatlines on the planers but most fish came on the cheaters with riggers down 25-50. Silver and Chartreuse was hot and so was black and purple. All spoons. I hope I didn't give away too much but gave enough for folks to have as much fun as we did. We learned A LOT, had FUN, which was the point, and caught a lot. What a great day and great memories! Huge THANKS to Thorny and his phenomenal auto-pilot, Phantom! ...I'm going to have to save up and get me one of THOSE!
THANKS Thorny and Phantom!
