Reel Addiction Charters

     After having to postpone or cancel yesterday's trips due to high winds, we finally made it back out this morning.  Cold water has upwelled thanks to the wind and the warm water has left the area.  Surface temps are back down in the low 60's.  There was bait around this morning but not many fish yet.  We landed 4 for 5 kings, 2 coming on a 50 foot Savant spoon and 2 on a deep fly.  We are back out tonight but the wind has picked up again...in for another bumpy ride, but I am getting use to it.

     The last few days I have been at family gatherings so I haven't been fishing much.  It is the first little vacation I have had since the 4th of July!  This morning I made it out with a few friends but water conditions haven't changed...yet...  We only had 2 releases and landed one 10lb king in about 3 hours of fishing. 
     A strong west wind has picked up and is suppose to continue for the rest of today and tomorrow with small craft advisories being issued until tomorrow night and 4-6 foot waves expected.  This may finally change the waters off of Rowleys Bay for the better as warm water gets pushed out into the lake and cold bottom water upwells.  I am suppose to have  2 trips tomorrow and one on Tuesday morning depending on the weather, so we will see what the weather brings.

      In the last 2 days the waters off of Rowleys Bay have warmed dramatically and the fish have all gone missing.  Surface temps are near 80 and bottom temps aren't much colder with 65 at 80 feet.  I have been fishing in 100+ fow, looking for 60 degrees and below and trying everything in the tacklebox with poor results.
     Yesterday morning a 4 hour trip turned to a 3 hour trip as thunderstorms approached.  The family from Minnesota ended with 6 kings.  Yesterday evening we trolled for almost 3 1/2 hours without a fish.  The last half hour of daylight we landed 2 kings and lost 3 others.  This morning another family from Minnesota landed 4 kings in the first hour but not even a bite the last 2 hours of their 3 hour trip.
     I hope something changes here shortly or the last two weeks of the season are really going to be frustrating and tough.

      Yesterday morning a family from Marthasville, MO fished Michigan for their first time.  They had a great morning landing 10 nice kings.  Although the young ladies were a bit tired from the 5am departure time, they did a great job handling the rods and landed some hard fighting fish.  Check out their picture below
    This morning another group of fishermen from Hipke Electric and Calmes Construction drove up from Kaukauna, WI.  This was their 2nd "aboard" meeting this year as they had to tie up some loose ends and finalize some deals discussed during previous meeting last week.  They landed 7 for 12 or so fish on what was one of the calmest and warmest mornings on the water this year.  You can see their catch on out photos page.  Thanks for the great trips Dwayne!  I had a blast fishing with your crew.

     The last 24 hours have been pretty tough for fishing.  Wind and storms have been a persistent problem all summer.  Yesterday on both the morning and evening trips we were pounded by wind and waves out to the south.  We landed 5 or 7 in the morning and 4 for 6 in the evening before being forced from the lake at 7:30pm by thunderstorms.  This morning's trip also had to be cancelled due to thunderstorms.  Luckily we were able to reschedule this morning's group for an evening trip tonight.  The wind has finally died down and we should be in for, dare I say it... a calm evening run.

     Yesterday was by far the best day of the season for both numbers and size.  We found nice 3 and 4 year old fish on both the morning and evening trips and landed a total of 23 fish for the day.  As the water continues to warm, its now 65 at 70 feet, fish have moved deep.  All fish came from water 120-150 deep using downriggers 80 feet and below. 
      The morning group from Iowa landed 11, including a tricky triple.  You can see their rack on our photos page.  Here is a picture a group from De Pere, WI, with the evening catch.  The big fish were in the mid teens.
     This morning the fish bit early and quit by 6:30.  We also were once again pounded by 3-4 foot seas and strong SE winds until about 7am.  That made it tough to fish.  This morning's group ended the morning with 5 kings.

     Last night and tonight fishing in the evenings remained tough.  Both nights we came in with 4 fish and had 3 or 4 others on that got away.  Warm water and lack of bait fish are an ongoing problem off of Rowleys Bay. 
     This morning we had a late run, leaving the dock at 9am with a wedding party on more of a boat ride than a fishing trip.  We floated around out in the lake enjoying the great weather and water.  After fishing for about 2 hours we did land 3 salmon.  The groom landed a nice 14lb king that really made his day.  Good luck to the bride and groom as they will be tying the knot on Friday!

     Last night and tonight we had to battle 4+ foot waves off of Rowleys Bay.  The darn weather forecasts and wave reports have been so far off it isn't even funny!  Tonight we were suppose to have 1-2 foot waves and 5-10kt winds.  It was more like 3-5 foot waves with 15-20kt winds!  Last night we stayed out but tonight we headed for harbor early.  
     This morning we did pretty well landing 11 for 15 fish and releasing one little one.  Although the Lake Michigan flu caught 2 of the passengers this morning they did a great job landing the fish.  Sticking with this summer theme of inconsistency, almost all fish this morning came on flasher flies.  Yesterday most came on spoons.  Here is a pic of their catch.

     Once again this year a group from Hipke Electric and Calmes Construction out of Kaukauna, WI, held their annual "aboard" meeting on the Reel Addiction.  In between phone calls and a bloody mary or two, some nice fish were caught.
     After a really late start due to several wrong turns and touring most of Northern Door County on the way to the harbor, we made it out and found fish right away.  They landed 9 fish in about 2.5 hours.  Fish this morning were in 80-100fow and working pods of alewives.  Unlike the past few days, spoons were hot catching all but 1 of the fish.  A Savant Lady Slipper Sun King and glowing Moonshine landed most of the fish.  Here is a picture of their catch.  Great job guys but keep working on those driving directions!

     As the last day of July wrapped up, fishing was still hit and miss.  During the last few trips out we are coming home with 4 or 5 fish.  Water temps are in the mid-70's and boat traffic was high due to the KD Salmon Tournement which ended today.  Biggest fish I heard of was a nice 28lb king that came off of Washington Island. 
     Full moon is now going away so, assuming the water doesn't warm too much more, fishing should start to pick up again.  I am keeping my fingers crossed.