lake michigan

[burns ditch report]

great day on the lake today...many fish caught ...i think all 14 boats fishing the mouth had their limits...hot-n-tots were definitely best for my boat....tried the red thin fins and perch fat raps which are generally good...no hits...went back to the gold hotntot and had two fish on w/in 5 minutes...same technique...slow troll with elec motor and one rod per fisherman...really nice time out there....will go again if weather permits saturday...steve

[Sparky]

What species of fish were you catching?

Sparky

[vetspet(ind)]

15 coho and 3 browns....catch and release once we got limits...steve

[Gut Hook]

Hey guys. I need some help. We were there last Sunday. It seemed that boats were catching coho, but we couldn't get a hit! We tried everything. Hot/Tot, jointed rapalas, spoons. Downriggers/flat lines - you name it.

Is speed an issue? What about depth? Are you using a swivel?

We trolled all around in the harbor there hugging the wall sometimes - other runs right through the middle.

Any ideas on what we didn't do?

Thanks,
G.H.

[vetspet(ind)]

lure selection and color seem to be important...i keep spanking them with small gold hotntots....used the red thin fins and perch shad raps and nary a bump after i got my limit..switched back and had two on in 5 min....buddy went to gary lighthouse and got limits right off on j-7 chartreus raps and small thundersticks red with black stripes.....last wk my buddy was using chrome hotntots and got one fish ...i had six...he switched and immediately got two hits....i am trolling slower than most with elec motors...wed one small boat was anchored and they estimated 20 fish casting hotntot and cleos...they were definitely getting into fish...anchored just off the ogden dunes point as you leave the ditch...i am not going more than 100 yds from the mouth of the ditch...i am not using my big boat yet and don't like to take the smaller one the two mile jog over to the port...if you see me there sat stop by and say hello...small 14 ft boat with red stripe....steve

[Gut Hook]

Thanks for the specifics Steve! It's always nice when someone is willing to help!

Gut Hook

[Bob]

Where at on lake Michigan?

[Catfish]

Steve, I'll be up there on saturday. Green 14' Starcraft. I'll look for you, thanks

[vetspet(ind)]

sounds like a lot of big waves...buddy went out today...did very well...limited right away...same lures..hotntots....in mouth...3-4 ft waves he said....steve

[M.T. Buckett]

Burns ditch is in Indiana; about the southernmost point in L Michigan. The coho are congregated heavy here because of several warm water discharges. They won't stay too long once the lake generally warms a bit. The Dean Mitchell power plant (Gary IN) can have some of the fastest fishing for trout & coho anywhere in spite of being one of the ugliest, smelliest places on the planet. On a good day it's possible to hook 5 on 5 casts.

[Catfish]

Vetspet, Thanks for all the tips. My buddy and I went out to the ditch and had a lot of fun despite the wind and waves. We got 3 cohos and 1 brown. How long do they stay in the ditch? Also,how do you cook 'em? Thanks again... Catfish

[vetspet(ind)]

probably a couple of weeks...then they disperse and i never do so well once they do...my charter boat friends still spank them out 4-9 miles off shore...generally use dodger fly combos...they look for bait fish schools and fish the schools...don't know why they seem to do much better than i do at that time of yr...they just always do...i keep up with them now because they are so easy to get now...going out wed...best way to cook them for me is fillet...salt pepper...onions...butter..lemon and garlic...bake in tin foil at 350 for like 10-15 min and i don't think there's a better way to eat em....only thing better is perch fillets..which will be hot in april/may...steve

[Lundy]

Steve the perch are hot right now!

[vetspet(ind)]

where are you getting perch?

[red ardvark]

i love hot in tot,s did they go out of bizz or what eastern ny you cant find them unles you go diving and pick them off wood

[Lundy]

Sorry to reply late Steve, but the perch are biting
at the breakwall at 95th and in the river at 92nd street
railroad bridge on minnows.
Good Luck