Coho Salmon Crazy In 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

Busting Spring Brown Trout Milwaukee

Busting Spring Brown Trout Milwaukee

By Lake Michigan fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Spring is definitely the season for coolers full of Brown Trout. Let me explain how to be more productive by following some basic rules and using basic tools. Activity and habits of fish are dictated by many variables. A rather basic approach will put you on fish and keep you there. I will cover how to find the most productive zones by species in the next several articles. Now let’s look at Brown Trout as it applies to Lake Michigan and other big water ecosystems.

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.

Environmental Preferences
The top of the most important list and what I look for is food and temperature. When you are in a zone with the correct temperature and good forage you will increase your chances. Other important factors are cover, habitat, maturity of fish, light intensity, water depth, weather, current flow, current intensity, oxygen level and fishing pressure. Your ability to measure, monitor and locate the ideal set of fishing preferences for your target is key.

Brown Trout Zone By Temperature
Big browns are common in the estuary created in the Milwaukee area by three rivers. Brown Trout are a warm water species, so look for them in temperatures above 55 degrees. They will tolerate colder water and temperatures above 65 however my biggest browns over twenty pounds have come at near 55 degrees. Keep your baits in 55-degree temperature and you will increase your odds on big fish. When I am catching small fish, I know the water is too warm for a trophy. It is time to adjust the tackle to colder water. A temperature gauge is a tool a trout fisherman cannot be without.

Location And Forage
The principal types of forage for trophy fish in Lake Michigan are the Alewife and Goby. Look for pods of forage for consistent action. I have caught browns in water as shallow as 5 feet and out to 100 feet. Most consistent action however is in shallow water or the top 25 feet where warm water has accumulated. Early spring in the months of March April And May we find are consistently the best for browns. Over the years 90% of this species are caught when the water is below their preferred temperature. The reason for outstanding spring fishing for this fish is the cold water of Lake Michigan concentrates the fish. The Lake temp is in the mid to high thirties and this causes the fish to stay near the warmer water of the river mouths and harbor gaps. Later in the season the browns disperse along the shoreline. 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.

Presentations For Lunker Browns
First light of the day is the best time to catch this quarry. They seem to be more sensitive to light than other types of fish. Light up a Vulcan or Reaper Magnum Glow spoon sold by Badger Tackle before first light for fish in the box ahead of the rest of the pack of anglers. A stealthy approach is necessary for the biggest fish. In definition stealth is a presentation that avoids being notice. Several are used for trolling.

I would skip the downriggers as a presentation for browns. I have found this to be the least productive of presentations I have tried. The most successful for me is Cortland leadcore. A weighted line with a Seaguar fluorocarbon leader is attached to a Church Walleye Planer board. The planer board is run well off to the side of the boat out of the travel path. Leadcore is graduated to allow five feet of depth for every color. Five colors will run lures approximately 25 feet down 10 colors fifty feet and so on. This allows you to fish any depth you want.

Hot Lures Define The Day
Let’s wrap this up with my favorite lures. Magnum spoons are my first choice. Use Glow in dark for before first light and in heavy overcast. When fishing in very bright conditions or with the presence of small baitfish go to regular or small lures. My magnum spoons are about five inches long, regular four inches and small three inches. The two most productive spoons for me during the 2012 season was the Vulcan magnum and Reaper Magnum both sold by http://www.badgertackle.com For a slow 2.0 M.P.H. or slower presentation I use the Reaper. Above 2.0 speeds the Vulcan is best, it mixes well with most big plugs and flasher flies.

I will continue with Zones for Coho Salmon 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

How do I use my G.P.S

How do I use my G.P.S
By Lake Michigan fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Finding and consistently producing fish is the goal of every fisherman every trip out on the water. The question is how can it be done? This article will communicate the importance of G.P.S. for filling the cooler and returning home safely.

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

The Tool
For those of you not familiar with G.P.S. I will give you a brief overview of the product. Global Positioning System is a series of satellites that circle the earth each with a distinctive signal. This signal is sent by the satellites to a receiver. The receiver will then tell you your location on the earth in longitude and latitude. The accuracy of this information is within 15 feet or less.

The Cost
The price of a G.P.S. can range from $80 to several thousand dollars. The more expensive units will offer more graphic information that makes them easier to use, although the accuracy is the same. My experience with both high and low priced units tells me I do not need an expensive unit. The key to successful operation is learning how to apply the extensive information available.

G.P.S. and Safety
The question is how do I use my location as provided by G.P.S. to fill the cooler and return home safely? Let’s start with safety. You should always enter in the memory of your unit the spot where you put your boat in the water. We will call this your home waypoint. Most units will store 500 or more waypoints. Assuming there is no shallow water or obstacles like land in your path, use your home waypoint and compass to find your way home. Fog, darkness or bad weather does not effect the operation of this unit. In the event of an emergency you could call someone with your coordinates and they would know where to find you.

G.P.S. and finding fish
In the more sophisticated units a map showing your position with the depth of water at your location is displayed. The use of this information is critical when working bottom structure for fish.

There are many ways to use G.P.S. for finding fish. On my boat we log the coordinates of every fish caught on a sheet of paper. These coordinates are used to return to the same spot day after day. After a fish hits a lure it makes perfect sense to turn the boat around to try the same spot again. Many times we will get another fish on immediately as we pass the same location. When no additional fish are taken, we will circle in that area using the original coordinates as the center of our search.

Save the spot
I usually enter one of the areas where action has been very good as a waypoint in the G.P.S. for future trips. Working with latitude and longitude numbers takes a little practice, stay with it the work is worth it. There are chart plotter units that draw a line showing the path of the boat on the display screen to simplify this process. As I mentioned earlier a chart plotter G.P.S. with a map chip for your area will give you your position relative to water depth, land features and harbor entrances. I use the water depth when I follow a bottom contour for fish holding near the bottom. Lake trout are known for staying near the bottom. This technique is very effective for them.

G.P.S. save tackle
On the Great Lakes we often fish in areas where wrecks are located. The location of wrecks entered in the G.P.S. will save a lot of lost tackle. It will allow you to fish near wrecks without the fear of hanging up on them.

G.P.S. a must have
I like to enter the location of schools of bait fish you see on the locator when under power heading out to a spot or trolling for further investigation.

On a trip that starts before daylight, you must have G.P.S. to pin point the location of yesterday’s hot first light action.

I could go on and on about the importance of knowing precisely where you are and where you want to be. Some would consider G.P.S. a luxury or not needed. I find the information this unit supplies as invaluable and you will too. 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 8/29/12

Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 8/29/12

By Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Hog Lake Trout and All Size King Salmon in Milwaukee!
Surface temperature is 70 degrees and the fish are 35 feet to bottom. 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!

All day action
If you haven’t been out for awhile now is the best time to fill the freezer with Chinooks, Coho and trout. In recent weeks the fish have been deep but not any more. There are fish down deep but the best action has been 35 to 65 feet down. Thirteen year old Master Jack Hansen battled this sixteen pound two ounce Lake Trout up from 100 feet down. The trophy came on a Vulcan Magnum Monkey Puke Glow Spoon. Vulcan spoons are made by http://www.badgertackle.com

Presentations
Our best presentations are 8 & 10 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 40 to 75 down. Fish have been on regular and magnum spoons in a blue and silver or green and silver pattern. Our best boat speed is 1.7 to 2.0 mph on the Depth Raider. Divers are producing very well set to #2 with 50 to 125 feet of line out with the ring.

Where!
Cold water is in and there is an all day bite from the break wall and out to 150 feet. With all the current troll southwest to northeast. Set up in 60 and troll northeast. 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. 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 8/21/12

Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 8/21/12

By Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Biggest King Salmon of The Year in Milwaukee!
Surface temperature is down to 70 degrees and the fish are 40 feet to bottom. The weather has been clear in the morning pop up storms in the afternoon.

Morning Action
Clear skies and calm winds go deep to 110 to 150 feet. With all the current troll southwest to northeast. Set up in 110 and beat the bottom for the deep marks as it gets deeper. Our Lowrance HDS Gen 2 has been keeping us on fish with most of the marks in 105 to 155 feet. Tons of warm water out there and a very slow troll (1.5 – 1.7 MPH) has been best with Badger Tackle Magnum Reaper spoons. Bill and Mike Imhoff double teamed this 21.5 pound 35 inch Chinook. Smile and laughs all around with action on some of the biggest fish of the year the last five days. Reaper spoons are made by http://www.badgertackle.com

Afternoon pop up storm action!
Our best presentations are 8 & 10 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 40 to 75 down. Fish have been on regular and magnum spoons in a blue and silver or green and silver pattern. Our best boat speed is 1.7 to 2.0 mph on the Depth Raider. Divers are producing very well set to #2 with 50 to 125 feet of line out with the ring. Yes the big kings are in the warm water!

Where!
Head north south or due east compass bearing and set up in 110 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. Fished northeast of the Milwaukee shipwreck 43° 08.242’N / 87° 49.888.00’W with steady action in 120 feet. It’s eight miles north but can be worth your time and gas.
On the way out we have seen some big marks in the gaps. We spent a half hour on them nothing. Shore fishing is zip nada nothing! 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 8/1/12

Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 8/1/12

By Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
King Salmon Fishing Has Maxed Out in Milwaukee!
Surface temperature is up to 74 degrees and the fish are 40 feet to bottom. The weather has been great! In about a month the four year old Chinooks will run the rivers. Now is your chance to wrestle the biggest KINGS of the year. Fishing has been exciting with a mixed bag of all species. Mostly Chinooks, Rainbows and Coho. Chinook to 19 pounds are screaming line and all are enjoying some great action. Fish from 100 to 180 feet of water anywhere east of Milwaukee. Grant Courley landed the biggest fish of his young life on a Vulcan Magnum Silver Spoon! It was just under 18 pounds. Vulcan spoons are made by http://www.badgertackle.com

How!
Our best presentations are 8 & 10 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 80 to 155 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. Our best boat speed is 2.0 to 2.1 mph on the Depth Raider. Slide Divers are producing very well set to #2 with 50 to 85 feet of line out with the ring.

Where!
Head north south or due east compass bearing and set up in 100 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. The gaps are dead and the shore fishing is zip nada nothing! 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 6/13/12

Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 6/13/12

By Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim
Kings! Coho! Lakers! Browns! Snapping in Milwaukee
Surface temperature is up to 58 degrees and the fish are 30 feet to bottom. The weather has been full sun at times windy but the fishing has been consistent. Heavy coolers the last five days with and all species mix. 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. All alone we put together groups at $125 per person. 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.

How!
Our best presentations are 8 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 30 to 65 down or five feet off the bottom. Ran the SWR over the weekend at 45 feet and it produced very well. The 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. 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. Water color has cleared up so their should be some action in close to shore 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 5/29/12

Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 5/29/12

By Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Many Kings Over Fifteen Pounds In Milwaukee!
Surface temperature is up to 53 degrees and the fish are top to bottom. The weather has been full sun, rainy and at times windy but the fishing has been consistent. Heavy coolers the last five days with and all species mix. Chinook to 20 pounds are screaming line and all are enjoying some great action. Fish from 60 to 125 feet of water north of Milwaukee. All alone we put together groups at $125 per person. 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.

How!
Our best presentations are 8 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 40 to 75 down or five feet off the bottom. Ran the SWR over the weekend at 45 feet and it produced very well. The 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 1.7 to 2.0 mph. Slide Divers are producing very well set to #2 with 70 to 125 feet of line out with the ring.

Where!
Head northeast at 47 degrees 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. Water color has cleared up so their should be some action in close to shore 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 4/29/12

Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Report 4/29/12

By Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Fishing Hot, Chinooks Heavy!
Weather blew us off on Saturday but Sunday was great. In the morning we had Coho Salmon, Brown Trout, one ten pound Lake Trout and Chinooks in the teens. Our new Lowrance HDS Gen 2 is keeping us on fish. The hot bait was the regular size Reaper Peacock made by http://www.badgertackle.com We also had action on Spin Doctors or orange flashers and flies. Check out the photo of Andrew Blade with a great 15 pound 8 ounce Spring King!!

How!
April fishing remains average to good when you can get out. The weather has created some problems with presentation and access to the best fishing areas. Our best presentations are 2,3,4,and 5 color Cortland lead core and downriggers 12 to 45 feet down. The fish have been on regular and magnum spoons. The Reaper Magnum and regular Peacock Silver spoon by Badger Tackle have caught most of our fish. Six inch orange dodgers and Johnnie Peanut Flies are also doing a good job. Our best boat speed is 1.7 to 2.0 mph. Slide Divers are producing very well set to #2 with 70 feet of line out.

Where!
Head northeast out the north gap Milwaukee and fish north in 45 to 70 feet of water. Out in front of the water filtration plant is a good option for small boat anglers. Water color may be an issue if it is cloudy move in and out of the cloudy water for the best action. The color break is holding most of the fish.
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.

Fishing Diving Planers

Fishing Diving Planers

By Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt
Most boats run diving planers like Dipsy Divers, Slide Divers, Deep Sixes and similar divers. This is a very simple tool that is not run to its full potential by most fishermen. Here’s how and when. Should you have a question please e-mail me from my Website contact us page. Read all my articles and see video fish reports at http://www.jimhirt.com

The Arsenal

In the last article we covered some of the many ways to use a downrigger. Let us continue with rigging presentation. The tools out there are endless. It is a fisherman with a full arsenal of presentations that finds action when fishing gets tough. It is my experience that on any given day one presentation will produce better than the others.

Diving Planer Types

Most boats run diving planers like Dipsy Divers, Slide Divers, Deep Sixes and similar divers. This is a very simple tool that is not run to its full potential by most fishermen.

The set up

Start with a clear mono or fluorocarbon 25-pound line one and a half times the length of the rod you are using. On one end tie a size 5 cross lock snap to attach the lure. Tie the other end to a snubber.

Snubber or not to Snubber?

Definitely use a snubber. They come in many colors. I prefer a clear product made by Opti-Dodger. The snubber will absorb the shock of the strike and set the hook. The snubber is then attached to the diver.

What line to run with divers

On the release side of the diver tie your line from the rod. You can use a variety of different lines. The standard set up is 20 to 30 pound mono. Some other options are 50-pound Spider Wire Super Braid and stranded wire. The benefits of these options are the smaller diameter of this product allows the diver to reach greater depths.

Rod type is important

An 8 to 10 foot medium heavy action rod with a line counter reel completes this rig. They are often called poor man’s downrigger. When asked by beginning trollers on what to buy I always recommend two diver rigs. One for port one for starboard.

Pros and cons of divers

They will take lures to a prescribed depth and repeat it over and over again. The disadvantage to this rig is it does not have a release and offers some resistance when reeling in fish.

How deep are they running?

All divers come with a sheet of paper to tell you how many feet of line to let out to attain the depth you wish to fish. There is also a base plate adjustment to make the diver go to the left or right side of the boat out of the boat’s path. When fishing calm days in clear water divers offer a stealth presentation. Line counter reels give you total control of depth for repeatability. For those who do not have line counters I would measure the distance from the reel to the first eye on your rod. When setting lines pull line from the reel to the first eye. If it is 2 feet multiply the number of pulls by 2 to calculate your amount of line out. Then refer to diver depth chart to figure diver depth.

One more Option Flat lines

To finish this article I will discuss flat lining. In this presentation you troll free lines off the back of the stern with little or no weight. You are restricted to one or two lines to avoid tangles. The advantage is to spot lures far from the boat 50 to 300 feet back. This is deadly when temperature of the water for your target is right on the surface. Spooky fish like Rainbows and Brown Trout will hit midday on flat lines. My flat line rods are spooled with 12-pound test line or you may use a small barrel swivel and a 12-pound leader to your heavier downrigger line. Use a good quality size 7 cross lock snap swivel to attach your lure. To add a little depth to this presentation use a bead chain keel sinker from 3/8 to 2 ounces eight feet ahead of the snap.

Badger Tackle has a promotion for a free spoon.

Call me anytime to help with your spoon selection. If you would like to try the hottest spoons for salmon and trout for shore anglers or trolling and jigging in 2011 go to http://www.badgertackle.com 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© 2012, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.