Door County Report - July 4th Weekend

[lotalota]

Mixed a family mini-vacation with a fishing expedition over the long weekend of the 4th on Door County. Between dodging lightening and visiting wineries we did manage to get into some good fish.

6/2 - Little bit of a late start but were on the water by 0530 out of Baileys Harbor. We set up in 60 fow and worked out to 120 fow. Most fish were taken on riggers 50 to 65 feet down. Dipsies were slow.

6/3 - At 0430 we set up in 50 fow. Found most fish 65 over 90. We lost A LOT of fish on Sunday morning. Tried changing hooks, lead lengths, all sorts of things but still kept having fish pull off...FRUSTRATING!!!

6/4 - AM - At the ramp at 0400...about the same time as the T-storm was passing through. We finally ran out after it passed to the south but only got in about 30 minutes of fishing before the wind came out of the south and pushed the lightening back on us. Major bummer. We'd hit 4 fish in 30 minutes but sparks skipping off the Ugly Stiks isn't my idea of fun.

6/4 - PM - Fog at BH moved us to Gills Rock. Lines down at 1830 and we were into fish right away. We stayed along the breaks at about 85 fow and had fish hitting at all depths. We ended up with 16 fish for the day. The bite shut down at 2100...just before the Gills Rock fireworks display!

6/5 - The MAFOR predicting waves 1'-2' from the north lead us to Gills Rock again. The MAFOR was wrong. We ran to the bluff north of the harbor and found a plenty rough deck. We fished the windward shore between the mainland and Washington Island. The fish were in 50-65 fow. We boated 8 fish for the morning including going 3 fer 4 in a QUAD release.

The hot flasher/fly combinations were a white flasher/LBB flies 24" back and a smoke Opti-Dodger/double aqua 21" back. Top spoons were the Great Lakes Jewel spoon in the new ultimate glow blue with pink spots and the Needlenose spoon in green glow. We tried running the Moonshine spoons a bit but the Jewel blew 'em away. We brought along a black light and charged the Jewels on the way out. The glow from the charged Jewels lit up the boat in the early morning darkness and we didn't have to recharge them during that outing. The Needlenose is a standard for us on Lake Superior but this is the first time we've run them over on Michigan. The kings loved it on a power pro dipsy out 180'.

We'll be headed back over in a couple of weeks. Can't wait for that connection to a screamin' king!!!

Lota Lota...

[evntam]

Lotalota:

Sounds like you had fun - good report.

Plans changed on this end, so we're heading to B Harbor on 7/21. I know the locations of nets will most likely change by then, but do you recall where the nets out of BH were located? we'll be going out blind the AM of 7/22, and I hate the thought of not knowing where the nets are.

[lotalota]

We did see some nets set up due south of the red can in about 130 fow. We never got that far out so they weren't an issue. Most of the boats are still working in the 60-80 foot range.

If you called the Bailey's Harbor Marina they might be able to give you up to date info.

Lota Lota...

[Fish'n guy]

I'll be headed out to Bailys Harbor on 7/20 for a week. Hopefully the fishing holds up or gets better. evntam, What is your name maybe I will see you at the cleaning station or boat ramp or something.

Thanks for the report lotalota!!!! What was the water temp where you were fishing?

GOOD FISHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[evntam]

Fishnguy:

Boat name is "BlueJeans"

1976 Starfire - Light blue bottom, white top, 25HP white Johnson kicker. My e-mail is "evntam AT msn.com". If you want, I'll send you a jpg with the boat picture so you can pick us out from the crowd.

We'll be staying at Bailey's Grove campground, #114. The host of the campground says they have a good fish cleaning station, so I hope to clean my limits there (ha).

I'm sure willing to tag team with you on what's working when I'm out there - besides, it makes it more fun.

What's your boat name, etc.?

[lotalota]

The surface temps were in the low 60s most of the time. I don't have a temp reading at the ball either. We didn't ever run too far off shore in search of a break since we did mostly 3-4 hour outings. It was pretty cool at night and the wind was whipping around during the day. Not too much change in temps throughout the daylight hours.

Lota Lota...

[Fish'n guy]

Thanks for the report lotalota!!!!!!! Those temps sound like they are about right where they should be at for the good bite. I just got a Subtroll 900 to tell me the speed and temp at the ball. So that should be fun to try out and who knows maybe it will put a few more fish in the boat .

evntam, I am running a 2003 Lund 1800 Fisherman and we go by the name "White Bird" on the radio. My e-mail is [email protected] so if you want to send pics that would be great. I would definately like to tag team with you on whats working. We are staying at Journeys End. Hopefully the salmon will be rampaging like last year!!!!!

GOOD FISHIN!!!!!

P.S. lotalota, what were the size of the kings you were catching and did you get any rainbows? Thanks again!!

[lotalota]

No steelhead but we didn't target them. Most of the kings we got were nice sized 4 year olds. We did have a few smaller fish mixed in...more than usual actually. I never put a tape on the fish but there were quite a few that were curled up in the 160qt cooler. The dimensions on that are something like 42" long. Of more interest is the fact that we were taken out beyond 400 feet on the line counters more than a couple of times. Those kings can count from 100 to 400 REALLY fast!!!

Let us know how you like Journey's End. We'll be staying there in August.

Lota Lota...

[Fish'n guy]

envntam, did you get my e-mail I am not sure that it went through but it had the picture of my boat on it. I got yours so thanks.

GOOD FISHIN!!!!!!!!!

[evntam]

Fishnguy: Nope, didn't get your mail. I just saw your post, then checked my in box. I was away on a long (anniversary) weekend in the Apostle Islands -Nice fishing, and really good swimming water.

We're leaving Thursday evening for BH - Hope to make it there to get out by 330-400 Friday. I'm a bit nervous of finding the nets the hard way before the sun comes up.

Maybe I'll set lines and hail you Friday AM.

Ev