Milwaukee Fishing Lake Michigan Salmon Reports 4/23/2008
By Capt. Jim Hirt
April fishing is very good. Most of our charter trips are catching 18 to 22 fish. Mostly Browns with some Lake Trout, Rainbows and Chinooks. We fished cloudy skies on Saturday and clear skies Sunday with the wind out of the northeast at 5-10 mph both days. The water flowing into Milwaukee harbor is 54 degrees. We have been fishing the temp breaks in front of the river mouth and harbor gaps marking fish at all depths. Our best presentations are Church Walleye planer boards with 25 foot leads behind the boards and downriggers 20 to 25 feet down.
The way I set up a planer board is with 20 lb. mono to a 1/4-ounce bead chain sinker. Use 6 feet of 15 lb. Seaguar fluorocarbon leader from the sinker to a size #1 Cross Lock snap and lure. The fish have not been too particular. Most 3-4 inch spoons and J-Plugs are taking fish. Some of our best producers have been Vulcan OL Sherbet, Orange Slush and Reaper Cheese Weasel sold at
http://www.badgertackle.com Michigan Stinger Natural Born Killer and most of their silver orange spoons.
Inside the harbor and depending on wind direction the north and south gaps are producing fish. The fish at the north gap came on small spoons. Silver blue spoons worked best for us running 60 feet behind the ball on downriggers 8-15 feet down. Our best boat speed was 2.2 mph. Slide Divers are producing very well set to #2 with 30 feet of line out.
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© 2008, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved.
