lumberjohn

Launched out of Fairhaven 8 times so far this year beginning April 4th. And, so far, we have not been skunked one time! That's a first. So far, the streak continues. Leisurely breakfast on the way to fuel up for the day. Launched at 9:30 NNW out of the chute to 100 FOW. Ran all spoons. Just a 4 rod spread today, 2 rods on riggers stacked and one rod with slider cheater. One Dipsey rod out 150' down about 65'/110' on two setting w/ Two Face Std Dipsey, Blackeyed Peas flasher and Mag spoon took several hits today w/ 6.5 lbs Salmon hitting the deck and a dink natural Chinook going back in the drink. One rigger back 45' ran at 62'/116 with Mag Two-Face and Std Two-Face 7' slider took an 8 lbs Brown. Swung out to 200 and marked some fish out there and had two knock-offs. Moved back into 110-120 range where our best screens, including bait, were during midday and they'd bugged out. Trolled back in toward the piers to 65' and were seeing fish along the way. Temps 2:00 PM over 190' @ 56.5*F surface and 42.5 @ 100'.

Hit the water at 9:15 AM and headed East to 65 FOW and set up Riggers w/ sliders, Dipsey Divers/Flashers/Spoons on a 2 setting out 150 and 85 followed by 2 rods of Deep Diving stickbaits back 65-100. Woked out to 125 and back. Concentrated on best screens 65-75 FOW. Temperatures ranged from 42*-46* with down temps not staying much more than 1.5* diff btwn surface and down temp. Had just one hit at midday and it was a screamer hitting the Blackeyed Peas Dipsey/Flasher and DW Mag Glow Blackeyed Peas silver cup spoon. My son, Jordan, reeled in his PB 20 lbs Salmon, so the lack of action was more than made up with Quality. It was a "Where would you rather be than Right here, Right now!" moment when the fish jumped clear out of the water broadside at 150 yards gave us a glimpse of what we were in for. Cleared all the rods and riggers. Guided it hand lining the fish to the net. As called for it started to get snotty looking around 3-4 and packed it in.

The early near shore easy pickings, a fish every 15 minutes, is over. The Brownies and Salmon are transitioning deeper, meaning you have to put your time in locating the fish. Brother and I fished 8AM - 3PM. Shot out 8 miles East. Started in 25-40 FOW with temps 42ish. Had a 6 rod spread of 4 & 5 color lead core shallow diver sticks on planner boards outside, deep diving Bandits 80' back flat lines next, downriggers pulling spoons 35-45 behind the ball down 8-15. Nothing worked inside as we moved deeper. First fish a 5 lbs Brown off a purple deep diver Bandit over 45 FOW. Headed deeper and temps cooled into 40ish. First Salmon 12.5 lbs of the season hit the deck off Mag Green Hulk spoon down 40/100. Worked out to 160'. Mostly blank screens, some Laker marks deep. Worked back SW into 60-80' and found pocket of water temps @ 44ish and doubled up immediately. STD 107mm Two Face Dipsey Diver/Blackeyed Peas flasher/spoon out 75' on 2 setting, about 40' down at 2.1 - 2.5 mph brought in a 6 lbs Salmon. Black STD Dipsey, Rodfather Spin Doctor and Blackspoon w/ chrome cup took 14.5 lbs Salmon out 67' maybe 35' down. At docks bumped into DEC, inspected fish. They'd been busy Thursday and nailed two boats, each over limit and each w/o licenses. Those boys looking at some massive fines. 20260507_144029.mp4

Headed East to Ninemile Point/Eightmile Creek area. Worked over waters 15''-55' finding 25'-35' the sweet spot. Fished 7-11 AM with 16 hook-ups, 12 boated Browns before wind shifted west with 2-3' waves building. 2 Boards with 1 & 2 color lead core out pulling Smithwick My Secret and a Citric Shad shallow sticks took a number of hits. 2 flat lines pulling deep diver Bandits back 100 never took a shot today. Riggers were humming back 40 down 16. Stinger Helmut has outshined everything I've put in the water this season yet again. The other rigger took a few fish on a chrome Blackeyed Peas flasher and Blackeyed Peas spoon. Speed 2.1 - 2.5 Largest Brown 6 lbs. IMG_20260418_110747.heic IMG_20260418_090450.heic

Fairhaven East to 18 Mile Creek 10:30-5:00 in 15-35 FOW. Best zone 20-27 FOW. Spread port side sideplaner 1 color lead core with shallow diver stick bait, deep diving Bandit on a flat line back 80', downrigger 40 back 8 @ 12-16 down with chrome blackeyed peas flasher and DW Two face glo cup UV Glow Jeans. Starboard 2 color lead core behind planer board, Bandit deep diver 80 back on flat line and Stinger copper cup orange dot on rigger down 16 and 45 back at 2.1-2.4 mph. 25 hook-ups, 6 Browns in the Box, 6 Browns released, 13 dropped fish with 4-5 of those being Salmon. Had action all day long. Everything was firing at a rate of a fish every 15 minutes. These are the lures that worked for us today.

Out of the shoot our crew of 3 shot out East to the point by 18 mile creek where we did well last weekend. Set up just West of the point in the brown water at 8:30AM in 10-15 FOW. Only caught 2 Browns in the colored water. After an hour we moved out to 15-20' and all Hell broke loose. Out each side ran a side-planer with 1 & 2 color lead core, Rebel stick baits off the leaders. Those never took a fish all day. Next we ran flat lines off the side w/ deep-diver Bandit stick baits 45' back, which each took several fish. On the corner riggers we ran Stinger spoons down 8-10' back 40' Wonder bread and an orange something with a copper cup. Both were hot. Colored water was 42-43* clear water 40*. Wind WNW and picked up through the morning. Waves 1-2' early building to 4' when we called it at 11:30. Caught 12 Browns, kept 4 and released the rest. Top fish 5.5lbs. 3 hours averaged a fish every 15 minutes.

They've been catching Spring Browns for me for 40 years.

Fished 8:00 AM-1:00PM East out of the chute. Near shore temp 10'-20' was 40-43. Spread was 2 side planners w/ 1 color lead core behind the planner and a two core on the other pulling shallow diving, orange and green Rebel stick baits I had from the mid 80's, 2 flat lines pulling deep Diver stick baits and 2 downriggers back 35'-45' down 9'-13' pulling spoons. Action started slow first mile or two or three. Picked up and shot further East to 8 Mile Creek where it was non-stop action 10'-20' FOW on average mid water column. We ran circles around colored water. Final tally 16 Browns, kept 7 fish 3-5 lbs and released the rest. Best spoon was the orange dot Michigan Stinger with the copper cup, which I don't think they make anymore. Best Stickbait the Bandit Purplish silver & Green deep Diver straight out the back 60'. Pretty much anything with green and orange in it caught fish in the colored water.

I don't, my wife cooks it. She'll often fry it in a cast iron pan using a little olive oil, spices and sautéed veggies like tomatoes, green onion, parsley and lemon.

Take a look at my Fairhaven reports from Saturday and yesterday. Saturday was fantastic, yesterday was lousy.

550-650 FOW down 50-110.

During the month of August we are treated to a progression of 7 planets on parade across the night sky from sunset to just after sunrise. Sunset, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter, Venus & Mercury. All coming up in the Eastern horrizon. Here are Venus and Mercury at sunrise, Lake Ontario. We launched at 5:30 AM and finished at 11:30 AM with a six box limit of Chinook Salmon and Steelhead. Finished the day 8/12 having sacrificed quantity over quality. These fillets will be the perfect accompaniment for the pot luck church dinner tomorrow after service.