13 JUL 2026 Genny Offshore

[Skins]

Headed out in hopes of catching a steelie for the board...

 

We knew it was going to be nice so I made a plan to head offshore and see what we could find.  Lines in at 0930 and out at 1630.  What a gorgeous day!!! We hit our normal spot and cruised around for bait...We didn't have to look for more than 2 min.  Go time!  We were 21 for ~30...We were so tired at the end we lost a few we would normally land...

 

One of my favorite parts of being offshore is the "clean" water...There aren't logs, duckweed, other boats....there was barely a down current...There are fleas...but nothing like inside...id get a 3" bugger above my wire dispy in about an hour.  

 

Surface was 74F(!) and the break was ~55' deep...It went from 62F to 47F in ~8'....Fish were on it...

 

We ran two riggers with mags low and matching standard sized sliders...Most of the time we had our riggers at 55 and 65 but later in the day we decided to drop one to ~150.  Sometimes the deep rigger was MUP'd.  The riggers took half of our fish and the sliders were preferred.  Biggest king (19.03) came on a slider that was around 35'...

(we pulled two skippies from the 150 rigger ice water - how does that work?)

 

For long lines we go with two weighted steel lines switching between 200's and 300's with spoons on them depending on what the fish were telling us.  We did well with the long lines....

(I recently got a new Ninja board with the release button - amazing - I will be getting more)

 

Spoons that worked - UV black flounder pounder, electric funeral with silver cup, snowflake with silver cup, fat nancy's, caddy shack, get r done, double green bowtie, cobalt carbon, shelly snack, happy meal

 

Spoons that I can't catch fish with - NBK, Sea Sick Waddler of various flavors, Wonderbread

 

We also ran two meat rigs on divers...Mag diver w/ring on 2 setting out 222 was hot on both sides for 6 kings all 15-18#....Two face chrome and chrome green dot  10" SD's with matching heads took 6 fish today.  We only caught fish on meat between 230pm and 330pm but tried all day between 150-250 out.  It was a busy hour and I burned up an entire package of blue label rigged cut bait.

 

Flasher/meat rigs that didn't work today - Dragon slayer, Kevorkian, froggy, 42nd, anything white....

 

I can't catch fish on flasher fly's...but ladies, did I try it all.  colors, sizers, types, leader lengths.  Ive caught three fish on a FF this year!

 

I caught some beautiful steelhead...6-7 9# steelhead...I'll be back soon.  

 

(ETA - This is the 19.03 king) 

Edited July 14 by Skins

[Salty Nut]

Great report, Thanks!

And you confirmed my results on two of my favorite Moonshine spoons that i haven't caught a fish on either that have been incredible the last couple years too

[Jimmy Paolozzi]

Skins, awesome report, I learned a few things! What is considered offshore generally? And what size/brand hooks do you like running?

[Grady95]

Had the same thing with the spoons you mentioned.  I was able to wash off my kevorkians and froggers also!  When I switched to green and black ladderbacks, things suddenly got a lot more interesting.  Lesson is, don't sit on any one spoon too long.  The fish are there now but you may need to show them what they are looking for on any given day.  Seems like once you find a pattern, you're going to have a good day.  Fleas have been worse.  Cost of doing business I guess.  So far they are not nearly as bad as other times.  BTW, I had my hands full never getting out past 135 ft.

[Skins]

Thanks Jimmy P!

 

Coming our of the Genny I consider offshore once I get past the 27N line...I consider anything less than 200' the inside...the 200-400' range the middle water...and then 26-27N line+ offshore.  Im not necessarily looking for depth...Im trying to get away...I think it takes a while to get out of the Rochester basin and into the main lake waters.  Im trying to punch out into the stable water - I usually find that more often West of the river this time of year.  Finding  bait is key once you get our there...

 

I use the hooks that come with the spoons - all trebles...If I break a hook I'll steal one off another same sized spoon that hasnt working for me.  I believe the spoon manufactures tune their spoons for the hooks they come with and I don't want to mess with it...I will sharpen my hooks from time to time but I think we get in our heads about hooks when it's the fish that just won't commit.

 

When I fish offshore I seem to get much better hook ups...The fish are committed and the hooks are buried deep in their mouths.  Inshore I seem to get less solid hook sets...lose more fish.  Inshore I get way more of those quick dipsey rips that pull hard 3-5 times and then nothing. I don't get that as often offshore.  (I believe this is the fish getting caught in the teasers/line between the head and flasher when the fish bails at the last second)

 

Just my opinions...Im sure other anglers do very well fishing a different set-up.  

 

Ive only been fishing for a few years but I think it's really important to RUN YOUR PROGRAM and take info from other anglers to tune and develop your game...

 

 

 

 

 

[Skins]

12 hours ago, Grady95 said:

Had the same thing with the spoons you mentioned.  I was able to wash off my kevorkians and froggers also!  When I switched to green and black ladderbacks, things suddenly got a lot more interesting.  Lesson is, don't sit on any one spoon too long.  The fish are there now but you may need to show them what they are looking for on any given day.  Seems like once you find a pattern, you're going to have a good day.  Fleas have been worse.  Cost of doing business I guess.  So far they are not nearly as bad as other times.  BTW, I had my hands full never getting out past 135 ft.

 

Well said Grady95!  

 

Where were you fishing a hot bite inside 135FOW?