Reel Addiction Charters

     The last couple days have been all evening!  Mornings have been slow, producing only a handful of fish on each trip.  The evenings, however, have been a different story!  Fish have been abundant after 7pm the last few days.   Most of them are coming on deep spoons(80+feet) and flasher flies on dipsys.  Surface temps have again warmed to the high 60's and low 70's so the fish are out in deeper water.  
     Last night a family from my hometown of Rhinelander, WI, fished and landed 10 kings including this beauty caught by Kyle(below right).  We didn't scale it but it was at least 18lbs.  He did a great job battling the fish for almost 10 minutes before we landed it.  Just before picking up his brother landed one about a half pound smaller! 

     The first major "Lake Michigan flu" outbreak of the season occured today during the morning trip.  A family of 4 from MN fished for only about 15 minutes before illness began n spread quickly through the clients.  They toughed it out, catching 4 fish, before 3 of the 4 were ill.  We ended our trip early and they were happy to be back on solid ground with the 4 kings they did boat. 
    Current conditions are perfect for sea sickness wth thick fog and small rollers off of Rowleys Bay.  The weather in the area is suppose to be the same until Friday.  Very warm, moist air over cool lake water makes a lot of fog.  If you are planning to head out in the next few days take a motion sickness pill just in case.  Nothing ruins a fishing trip faster then the "Lake Michigan flu."

     Last night a group from central Illinois fished for a few hours and landed 8 nice kings and the first coho of the year.  Their rack picture is below.  This is the 3rd time in the last 2 years this group fished with me and they are a great crew!  They left with all smiles and a cooler full of fresh salmon.
    This morning a family from Beaver Dam, WI was met with rollers from the SE and a cross chop from the SW.  It was bumpy but they did a great job handling some nice size salmon in the swells.  They landed 7 fish before we headed back to harbor.  Check out their rack pic on our photos page.

   With the first prolonged big blow of the year coming over the last 3 days the warm water has finally moved out of Rowleys Bay.  Although the strong winds force the cancelation of a trip it was needed as the water was getting too warm. 
    This morning 3 foot rollers, thick fog, light drizzle, 45 degree surface water and hungry salmon greeted Dan and Norm.  They had a great morning boating 8 of 12 fish.  Several of the kings were in the middle and upper teens.   Fish hit riggers and dipsys at all depths.  Especially hot was Savant's Green Glow Trout colored spoon.  Here is a foggy pic of their nice catch.

     I have had many trips the past few days with fairly good results.  On Wednesday night and Thursday morning a few of the Winona State faculty were onboard.  they had a great time, great conversations and in between landed 8 nice fish in the evening and 5 the following morning. 
     Last night my wife's family was in town and fished we did really well the last hour of daylight landing 6 and losing a few nice ones as it was getting too dark to land fish effectively. 
     This morning a father and son team from Green Bay and two of my wife's relatives landed 7 fish but a few were shakers.  The seas continued to build and by the time we headed in waves were close to 4 feet.
The fish seem to be more active in the evenings than in the mornings the last few day.  I suspect it may be due to the clear nights and bright moon we have been having in Door County.  Weather reports indicated the next few days will have high winds so fishing trips may be cancelled.

     Fish are biting, but you have to get out early and stay out late.  The summer work crew from Gravity Trails took a trip last evening.  Some of them were hoping to sunbath and some were hoping to catch fish.  Fishing was pretty slow until about 8:30pm when they landed 3 of the 8 fish they had on.  They had a little trouble getting to the rods in a timely manner...
This morning a family from Peoria, Illinois had a great 3 hour trip.  They landed 8 fish and released 2 shakers unharmed to grow.  All fish were caught between 4:45 and 6:30am.  If you are going to head out for salmon, set the alarm for 3:30am!  The early bird catches the fish!

     A group of fishermen from all over the country fished aboard the Reel Addiction this morning.  They are having a family reunion and 30 people are staying in the area for a few days.  Fish was tough as warm water is still a problem off of Rowleys Bay.  They landed 5 of 7 fish with 4 of them being nice sized 3 and 4 year old kings.  They were excited to lay them on the grill this evening! 
     As we headed in the seas were building and are suppose to continue to do so until tomorrow afternoon.  I may have to reschedule today's evening trip for tomorrow evening.  The busy season is starting and I am hoping the weather starts to improve...way too much wind and rain the last few weeks!

A couple of friends, both named Nick, from Port Washington and Grafton fish for 3 hours this morning.  A strong south wind gave them a little trouble before they found their sea legs.  After missing the first 3 fish, they landed theh next 5, 4 kings and a laker.  The water was very warm off of Rowleys Bay, 60 degrees at 55 feet.  We need a nice strong west wind to push all that warm water out into the lake.  Weather is suppose to be horrible this weekend so I don't know if we will be making it out.  Our next run is Monday morning.  Have a great weekend!

     We have had some great visitors and great fishing in Door County the last few days.  On Sunday night my two beautiful nieces, Kelsey and Brooke, from Georgia fished for the first time on the Great Lakes.  They each landed some nice salmon including the biggest of the year to date, a 19lber!  Guess who didn't have a camera...  They will be sending me pictures to post!  I hope they will be back next summer for more fun in Door County.
     This morning a newly married couple on their honeymoon landed 11 for 14.  They didn't want too much fish so we released 4 unharmed and they ended the morning with 7 in the box.  Congratulations and best wishes to the Dickinsens! 

A couple of gentlemen from the Milwaukee area had a great morning aboard the Reel Addiction.  Seas were calm and the fishing was hot.  They landed 11 for 14 fish, 10 kings and a nice steelhead.  Fish were hitting deep Howie flies and Savant Crusher Die Hard pattern spoons.  With the windy weather we have had the last couple days, the water temps have dropped and fish have become more active than they were earlier in the week.