Island report 5/19/22

[Baha299]

First trip of the year and we headed towards the south passage between Kellys and SB. Stopped short in 24 feet of water when we started graphing fish and noticed a few boats trolling the area. Fished 1:15 to 6 pm and finished with 11 Walleye for 2 persons. Had a big fish break off and threw one 14 inch back for a total of 13 caught. Best speed 2.2-2.6 mph.

Fish caught:

1- Blue/Chrome bandit at 30 back

2- Blue/Chrome Little Chloe spoon on 40 true trip 60 back

5- Perch Michigan stinger on #1 Dipseys setting 2 and 3. 32-44 back (plus the throwback and lost fish)

3- Perch colored worm harness on #1 Dipsey 2 setting. 40-44 back.

Average fish 18-20 inches with biggest at 24 inches.

Fish on graph tight to bottom but feeders were higher in the water column. Not bad for first time out.

Baha299

[RobM1969]

Thank you for the detailed report! Looks like they will eat just about anything.

[Fishing Tiger]

Thank you. This is very helpful.

[rickerd]

Great Report and thank you!
Rickerd

[slimshady]

First trip of the year and we headed towards the south passage between Kellys and SB. Stopped short in 24 feet of water when we started graphing fish and noticed a few boats trolling the area. Fished 1:15 to 6 pm and finished with 11 Walleye for 2 persons. Had a big fish break off and threw one 14 inch back for a total of 13 caught. Best speed 2.2-2.6 mph.

Fish caught:

1- Blue/Chrome bandit at 30 back

2- Blue/Chrome Little Chloe spoon on 40 true trip 60 back

5- Perch Michigan stinger on #1 Dipseys setting 2 and 3. 32-44 back (plus the throwback and lost fish)

3- Perch colored worm harness on #1 Dipsey 2 setting. 40-44 back.

Average fish 18-20 inches with biggest at 24 inches.

Fish on graph tight to bottom but feeders were higher in the water column. Not bad for first time out.

Baha299

Wow, you really covered the spectrum with baits. Nice report. Did you run various stuff at different times, or were you running all of that at the same time? The reason that I ask is that those things all have different optimal speeds. Right now, Bandits have been best between 1.7 and 2.1 mph. Harnesses are usually best (for me anyway) between 1.2 and 1.5 mph. Spoons usually need at least 2 mph to run ok, but 2.2 - 2.8 is where I usually run them. I catch fish on all of those things, just not at the same time. I have found that it is best to pick a method, and then if that doesn't work, switch methods, locations, or both. When I have tried to do them all at once, I have learned that I don't do any of them well.

[Drdave]

Was in this area earlier the same day. Many charter boats. Most boats drifting. Only saw 2 trollers. Marked many fish and took 2 man limit in about 3 hours. Size varied from 17 to 25 inches. Had a nice drift going with 1-3 ft waves out of the west.

[Baha299]

Sorry about any confusion with the report. The number before the bait is the number of fish caught on that type of lure. We started with bandits but only caught 1 fish. Switched to spoons and one worm harness and caught the rest. Best lure was the Michigan stinger spoon in Perch (caught 5 keepers and the lost fish and throwback for a total of 7 fish). We were only running 5 rods yesterday to avoid tangles with the dipseys.
Baha299