Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 5/15/14
By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Coho Start The Season in Milwaukee!
Had fantastic action on Coho Salmon. To get my fish reports and how to videos first go to http://www.jimhirt.com By subscribing you will keep ahead of the other anglers. When I post you will get it fast!
How
Coho are coming on small size spoons. Reapers and Vulcans made by http://www.badgertackle.com have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan has been hot on the lead cores. Six inch flashers or dodgers with green or blue Howies peanut flies must be part of your presentation for Coho. A hot presentation for us was a size O orange dodger with a 15.5 inch lead to a medium size blue fly. Coho are in the top 25 feet. Steady action on Slide Divers set to #3 no ring and 25 feet of line out. Run all boards with 3/8 ounce keel sinkers. Our fish have been very high in the water column. Speed is very critical with the 46 degree water. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed at the ball. For spoons use the regular size Silver Vulcan. No Chinook yet as we are targeting Coho. The boat speed of 1.9 to 2.2 has been best. Tie your flies 14.5 to 16 inches on 6 inch dodgers, 24 inches for 6 inch flashers. All orange dodgers and flashers. I hope this helps.
Where!
Fish are sucked up to the break wall and shore line. It can be a zoo in close with all the traffic and it may be better to fish the shore line south of Milwaukee. Have a great fishing season. Let’s go fishing! Note All alone we put together groups at $125 per person. Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2013, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 7/9/2013
By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Lakers a plenty with some Coho and Chinook too. To get my fish reports and how to videos first go to http://www.jimhirt.com By subscribing you will keep ahead of the other anglers. When I post you will get it fast! Alyssa Bryant brought her beautiful family out fishing and after a hard fight landed this 17 plus pound Chinook. Great job Alyssa!!
How Coho
Coho are coming in 105 feet of water 75 down. Eight inch coyotes in green with Howie aqua flies have been the best with some action on small size spoons. Reapers and Vulcans made by http://www.badgertackle.com have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan has been working on the 300 copper. Coho are down as the water has warmed to 66 degrees on top. Water temperature varies from one area to another it pays to turn and go back over productive spots. Tie your flies 24.5 inches on 8 inch flashers. I hope this helps.
How Chinooks
Chinook are taking flies and also magnum spoons. Wire divers set to 1.5 with 100 feet of line out have been the most consistent. Chinook are coming in 105 feet of water 55 down I use the Depth Raider to measure speed at the ball. The boat speed of 1.9 to 2.2 has been best.
How Lakers
For Lake Trout magnum Reaper glow spoons presented within inches of the bottom will bring in some hogs with the most running 5-8 pounds. A size 0 dodger and Spin N Glow may be needed on some days.
Where!
Fish are marking from 80 feet and all the way out north or south of Milwaukee to 140 feet. Have a great fishing season. Let’s go fishing!
Note I have openings on the schedule. I am the only charter offering an extra hour for $35 when added to any five hour charter. Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2013, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved
Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 5/31/13
By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Coho and Chins are in! Great Action Milwaukee!
Coho Salmon a plenty and some huge Chinooks. To get my fish reports and how to videos first go to http://www.jimhirt.com By subscribing you will keep ahead of the other anglers. When I post you will get it fast! Photo of the biggest king of this year 21 pound 5oz Chinook caught by a Matthew Larsgaard yesterday.
How Coho
Coho are coming on small size spoons and dodger flies. Reapers and Vulcans made by http://www.badgertackle.com have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan has been hot on the lead cores. Six inch flashers or dodgers with green or blue Howies peanut flies must be part of your presentation for Coho. Coho are in the top 35 feet. Steady action on Slide Divers set to #3 no ring and 35 feet of line out. Tie your flies 14.5 inches on 6 inch dodgers, 24 inches for 6 inch flashers. All orange dodgers and flashers. I hope this helps.
How Chinooks
Chinook are taking magnum spoons. Run 2,3,4,and 5 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 12 to 48 feet down. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed at the ball. The boat speed of 1.9 to 2.2 has been best.
Where!
Fish are scattered from the break wall and all the way out north of Milwaukee to 140 feet. It can be a zoo in close with all the traffic and it may be better to head out the north gap Milwaukee 70 degrees and fish northeast out to 70 to 140 feet of water. Have a great fishing season. Let’s go fishing! Note All alone we put together groups at $125 per person. Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2013, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 5/23/13
By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Coho and Lake Trout Action Milwaukee!
Coho Salmon and Lake Trout predicable but not a given. To get my fish reports and how to videos first go to http://www.jimhirt.com By subscribing you will keep ahead of the other anglers. When I post you will get it fast! Kip and Rip Lilja had a great charter with this 11 pound 2oz Lake Trout and a limit of Coho.
How
Coho are coming on small size spoons and dodger flies. Reapers and Vulcans made by http://www.badgertackle.com have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan has been hot on the lead cores. Six inch flashers or dodgers with green or blue Howies peanut flies must be part of your presentation for Coho. Coho are in the top 35 feet. Steady action on Slide Divers set to #3 no ring and 35 feet of line out. Tie your flies 14.5 inches on 6 inch dodgers, 24 inches for 6 inch flashers. All orange dodgers and flashers. I hope this helps.
Lake Trout are taking magnum spoons. Run 2,3,4,and 5 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 12 to 48 feet down.
Chinooks are slow with a few on magnum spoons 30 to 45 down. Speed has been very critical with the 46 degree water. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed at the ball. The big Chinook are hitting on Reaper Magnum Glow spoons at first light. The boat speed of 1.9 to 2.2 has been best.
Where!
Fish are scattered from the break wall and all the way out north of Milwaukee to 140 feet. It can be a zoo in close with all the traffic and it may be better to head out the north gap Milwaukee 70 degrees and fish northeast out to 70 to 140 feet of water. Have a great fishing season. Let’s go fishing! Note All alone we put together groups at $125 per person. Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2013, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
Fish,report,salmon,lake,michigan,milwaukee
Coho Salmon Crazy In Milwaukee
By Lake Michigan fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
From Brown Trout we go to Coho Salmon. This article will point out and explain what has worked for me over 25 years of fishing. In my opinion Coho are the most predictable of all salmon species. Activity and habits of fish are dictated by many variables. Get on board and allow me to share some tricks for Coho with you. Now let’s look at Coho Salmon as it applies to Lake Michigan and other big water ecosystems. Get caught up by reading article number one titled Busting Spring Brown Trout Milwaukee. This information you may find necessary to understand the following article.
Questions
Should you have a question please e-mail me from my Blue Max website contact us page. Read all my articles and see video fish reports at http://www.jimhirt.com
Zones By Species
Lake Michigan Milwaukee is an outstanding fishery with many options for anglers. The most popular targets of anglers here are Chinook salmon, Coho Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout and Lake Trout. Allow me to offer environmental preferences for each of these. Breaking each fish down by their preferences is the best way to find steady consistent action on any fish.
Coho Salmon Zone By Temperature
Coho offer great action with the reward of some of the best eating of all Lake Michigan fish. Once again the answer to putting them in the box is temperature. Look for them in temperatures above 50 degrees up to 57 degrees. Exceptions to this temp zone are possible but not the norm. As they come in to spawn they will be less sensitive to temperature. They will tolerate colder water and temperatures below 50, however they are less active.
Location And Forage
The principal types of forage for all game fish in Lake Michigan are the Alewife and Goby. Look for pods of forage for consistent action. I have caught Coho at all depths all season long. Don’t make the mistake of not running tackle for them, but they do require a different approach.
May and June on fire for Coho
Most consistent action is in the spring months of May and June. The reason for this is the water is very cold and the top water is the best habitat for them. The shallow water, or the top 25 feet where warm water has accumulated, is the answer to your best numbers. Early May run your baits in the top five feet and progress to deeper in the water column as the water warms up. The reason for outstanding spring fishing for Coho is that the cold water of Lake Michigan concentrates them.
Fish the break
Finding a temperature break is the key to finding fish. A break is defined as a major or minor change in water temperature. At times a small change of a degree or two will hold fish, but I have found the greater the change the better the concentration of fish. In spring the Coho that have wintered on the southern end of Lake Michigan will migrate north. You will find some action near shore and this is a good starting spot. My experience is deep water can be very productive. I fish out to ten miles off shore in 250 feet of water for fantastic action and limits on this exciting spring fish.
Presentations For Limits On Coho Salmon
Anytime of day is a good time for this quarry. I categorize them as day feeders with angling success all day. Water temperature will dictate your best bait. I will break this down by temperature. Below 50 degrees use small crankbaits, minnow type lures and small spoons like the regular size Vulcan in silver or bright colors sold by Badger Tackle. Above 50 degrees the cold water baits will produce but not as well as six inch orange flashers or dodgers with flies or squids. The distance between the attractor and the fly or squid will vary with the temp of the water. Try one and a half times the length of the flasher or about nine inches up to eighteen inches. Longer lead on the fly seems to work better in colder water. You may catch some fish on downriggers but they are not my first choice for presentation. Church Tackle Walleye Boards are the way to go. I run four or more on each side of the boat working an area over three hundred feet wide. Set up for Coho with a six foot 15 pound leader tied to a 3/8-ounce keel sinker attached to the 20-pound main line to your reel. Baits are attached with a ball bearing snap and ran 10 to 25 feet behind the planner board. The planer board will run well off to the side of the boat out of your travel path.
Hot Lures Define The Day
Let’s wrap this up with my favorite lures. For Spring crank baits, minnow type lures and small spoons like the regular size Vulcan. I have selected four of my top Coho spoons and assembled them in a Coho Trophy pack at Badger Tackle. Later use six inch orange flashers and dodgers with flies or squids. As the Coho put on weight later in the season go to larger 8 inch dodgers and flies along with all size spoons in silver green. Magnum Reaper spoons did very well for us later in the season on Coho in recent years. Baitfish size should be considered when selecting your spoon size. Vulcan and Reaper spoons are both sold by http://www.badgertackle.com I will continue with Zones for Rainbow Trout in the next article. Good Luck! Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2013, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved
Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 6/21/12
By Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Fishing Hot No Change in Milwaukee
Surface temperature is up to 55 degrees and the fish are 30 feet to bottom. The weather has been perfect fishing has been consistent. Heavy coolers the last four days with mostly Chinooks and Coho. Chinook to 18 pounds are screaming line and all are enjoying some great action. Fish from 60 to 125 feet of water anywhere east of Milwaukee. The hot bait was the Magnum size Reaper Fish n Chip spoons made by http://www.badgertackle.com We also had action on orange flashers and flies. Ron Von Haden caught this 15 pound 2oz Lake trout on a Reaper Spoon.
How!
Our best presentations are 8 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 30 to 65 down or five feet off the bottom. Fish have been on regular and magnum spoons in a blue and silver or green and silver pattern. The Vulcan Magnum or Reaper Magnum spoons by Badger Tackle have caught most of our fish. Six inch orange dodgers and Johnnie Peanut Flies are also doing a good job on Coho. Our best boat speed is 2.0 to 2.1 mph on the Depth Raider. Slide Divers are producing very well set to #1.5 with 50 to 85 feet of line out with the ring.
Where!
Head north south or due east compass bearing and set up in 65 feet of water. Out in front of the water filtration plant is a good option for small boat anglers the fish seem to be closer to shore in that location. Boats are fishing the gaps but I haven’t fished it try this at first light. Have a great fishing season. Let’s go fishing!! Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2012, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 6/1/11
By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Best Coho Fishing ever in Milwaukee!
Had fantastic action on Coho Salmon and the Chinook are coming on strong. Photo of Joe Milton and company. They know how to put them in the box. To get my fish reports and how to videos first go to http://www.jimhirt.com By subscribing you will keep ahead of the other anglers. When I post you will get it fast!
How
Coho are coming on all size spoons. Reapers and Vulcans made by http://www.badgertackle.com have been working for us. The small Reaper Peacock and Fish n Chip has been hot on the lead cores. Six inch flashers or dodgers with green or blue Johnnie peanut flies must be part of your presentation for Coho. A hot presentation for us was a size O orange dodger with a 21.5 inch lead to a medium size blue fly. Coho are in the top 35 feet and Chinooks are 30 to 45 down. Steady action on Slide Divers set to #3 no ring and 55 feet of line out. Run 4 and 5 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 12 to 48 feet down. Speed has been very critical with the 47 degree water. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed at the ball. The big Chinook are hitting on Reaper Magnum Glow spoons. The boat speed of 1.9 to 2.2 has been best. Tie your flies 14.5 inches on 6 inch dodgers, 12 inches for 6 inch flashers. All orange dodgers and flashers. I hope this helps.
Where!
Fish are from the harbor break wall and all the way out north of Milwaukee to 120 feet. It can be a zoo in close with all the traffic and it may be better to head out the north gap Milwaukee 70 degrees and fish northeast out to 70 to 100 feet of water. Have a great fishing season. Let’s go fishing! Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2011, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 5/22/11
By Milwaukee Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Coho Fever and it just got better in Milwaukee!
Had fantastic action on Coho Salmon, Lake Trout and check out the photo of TJ from Brookfield Wisconsin with great Chinook Salmon. To get my fish reports and how to videos first go to http://www.jimhirt.com By subscribing you will keep ahead of the other anglers. When I post you will get it fast!
How
Coho are coming on all size spoons. Reapers and Vulcans made by http://www.badgertackle.com have been working for us. The small silver Vulcan has been hot on the lead cores. Six inch flashers or dodgers with green or blue Johnnie peanut flies must be part of your presentation for Coho. A hot presentation for us was a size O orange dodger with a 21.5 inch lead to a medium size blue fly. Coho are in the top 35 feet and Chinooks are 30 to 45 down. Steady action on Slide Divers set to #3 no ring and 35 feet of line out. Run 2,3,4,and 5 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 12 to 48 feet down. Speed has been very critical with the 51 degree water. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed at the ball. For spoons use the regular size Silver Vulcan. The big Chinook are hitting on Reaper Magnum Glow spoons. The boat speed of 1.9 to 2.2 has been best. Tie your flies 14.5 inches on 6 inch dodgers, 12 inches for 6 inch flashers. All orange dodgers and flashers. I hope this helps.
Where!
Fish are sucked up to the break wall and all the way out north of Milwaukee to 100 feet. It can be a zoo in close with all the traffic and it may be better to head out the north gap Milwaukee 70 degrees and fish northeast out to 70 to 100 feet of water. Have a great fishing season. Let’s go fishing! Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2011, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 5/19/11
By Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Coho Fever Hits Milwaukee!
Eight to twelve foot waves have kept everyone off the lake until yesterday. We went out in the rain and two to four footers with an occasional six. Had fantastic action on Coho Salmon and Lake Trout. Six man limit in four hours with many lost fish in the high waves.
How
Coho are coming on all size spoons Reapers and Vulcans made by http://www.badgertackle.com have been working for us. Six inch flashers or dodgers with green or blue Johnnie peanut flies must be part of your presentation for Coho. A hot presentation for us was a size O orange dodger with a 21.5 inch lead to a medium size blue fly. Coho are in the top 20 feet and Chinooks are 30 to 45 down. Steady action on Slide Divers set to #2 and 25 feet of line out. Run 2,3,4,and 5 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 12 to 48 feet down. Speed has been very critical with the 43 degree water. I use the Depth Raider to measure speed at the ball. For spoons Use the regular size Silver Vulcan. 1.6 to 1.9 has been best speed! Tie your flies 10.5 inches on 6 inch dodgers, 12 inches for 6inch flashers and 22 inches on the size O dodgers. All orange dodgers and flashers. I hope this helps.
Where!
Head out the north gap Milwaukee 60 degrees and fish northeast out to 70 to 125 feet of water. Have a great fishing season. Let’s go fishing!! Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2011, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 10/11/10
By Capt. Jim Hirt
Fish are moving deeper. Sunday afternoon we had a great trip with action on Chinook, Coho, Rainbow and Lake Trout. There are some big Rainbows out there and lead core with spoons is the way to catch them. A temperature break was in 150 to 175 feet of water. The best action for Chinooks and Lake Trout was 130 to 160 down. Magnum spoons are the best option for all size fish. To see my how to video fish report go to http://www.jimhirt.com
Patterns and programs 150 to 175 feet
The temperature break to 52 degrees is at least 70 feet down. The deepest we have caught fish is 160 feet down with the majority of our fish coming 95 to 160 feet down. The way to get that deep with downriggers is to add 15% to the length of the cable you let out. That is to fish 100 down run 115 feet of cable, 150 feet down run 173 feet of cable and so on. The variables are type of lure, boat speed and current. At times we have had fish with 190 feet of cable out. Ten feet or less off the bottom has been best. Head out 80 degrees from the north gap and set up in 140 feet of water. Check the down temperature and key on 50 degrees. Use Fish Fry Magnum Glow Spoons at first light working lines from 100 and down.
You will find action on big Rainbows with 2, 4, 6 and 8 color Cortland lead core with Badger Tackle Vulcan and Reaper Magnum spoons. Downriggers 95 to 160 down are taking two and three year old Chinooks and Lake Trout. I use Church Walleye Planner Boards for all my lead cores.
Some of our best producing spoons have been Vulcan Magnum Silver, Reaper Magnum Peacock Silver, and Magnum Fish n Chip. For small spoons the Vulcan Dolphin Green Silver and combinations of silver spoons with green or blue accent colors. Run the boat speed at 1.6 to 2.1 MPH.
Vulcans, Nestor Wobblers and Reapers are sold only on the web at http://www.badgertackle.com They are having a buy four spoons and get one free at this time. Have a great fishing season. Let’s go fishing!! Jim charters out of Milwaukee, WI. with Blue Max Charters. He can be reached at 414-828-1094 or visit his web site at http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2010, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
Fishing report | captjim | 
May 15, 2014 4:36 am | 
Comments Off on Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 5/15/14 
Subscribe
