Fishing Tips

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#10Leaping Rainbow Trout Fishing Milwaukee
Leaping Rainbow Trout Fishing Milwaukee By Lake Michigan fishing Charter Capt. Jim Hirt Activity and habits of fish are dictated by many variables. A rather basic approach will put you on fish and keep you there. I will cover how to find the most productive zones by species Now let's look at Rainbow Trout as it applies to Lake Michigan and other ecosystems. Questions Should you have a question please e-mail me from my Blue Max website contact us page. Read all my articles and see video fish reports at Zones By Species Last year was an above average year for Rainbow Trout on Lake Michigan Milwaukee. Wisconsin Lake Michigan holds the state record of over 27 pounds for this species. We boated many between fifteen and twenty pounds. This fish can be elusive to some anglers; however, armed with the information in this article you will be on your way to many great outings of this tail-walking acrobat. Allow me to offer environmental preferences for this fish. Breaking each fish down by their preferences is the best way to find steady consistent action on any fish. Rainbow Trout Zone By Temperature Rainbows offer great action. Nothing matches the excitement of being on the rod with ten pounds plus of leaping muscle on the line. Once again the answer to putting them in the box is temperature. A thermal break is the way to find them. Thermal break is a point where water changes temperature. Look for them in temperatures between 43 and 58 degrees. This is a wide range and offers some challenges. My article will provide information on how to locate them as the water goes from 40 to 75 degrees through out the season. The trick to success is mobility and presentation. Forage big part of the equation The principal types of forage for most fish in Lake Michigan are the Alewife and Goby. You will find at times the contents of their gut contain these bait fish. My experience with rainbows may change your mind on bait and presentation. The spring and early summer is the answer to easy pickings on the big pond. The reason for easy rainbow fishing at this time is the abundance of insects. Following the bugs may seem like a crazy way to catch any fish but it is key for rainbows. Any warm spring day will provide an excellent hatch of the diet of all size Rainbow Trout. The location on the water with the most bugs will have the best concentration of fish. Where to start looking When I am on a rainbow hunt, off shore is the place to be. It is smart to start trolling in about 50 feet of water and head out deeper. As action picks up you should note GPS, depth and temp info. This info will be your key to staying on fish. With the water in the forties don't be surprised to find some huge fish in this cold water. When the bite slows troll back to your best GPS numbers. I have found that in deeper water fishing the surface is always better for monster bows all season long. The best months April, May and June. Work the temp breaks and bugs for hot action. The top 25 feet where warm water has accumulated is the answer to your best numbers. Early May run your baits in the top twenty-five feet and progress to deeper in the water column as the water warms up. Anytime of day is a good time for them. I call them fish with banker’s hours 9 to 5 is the time to get them. What baits are best? Water temperature will dictate your best bait. I will break this down by temperature. All season long use crankbaits; minnow type lures and small spoons like the regular size Vulcan in silver or bright colors sold by Badger Tackle. Eight-inch flashers and dodgers with flies or squids are a staple as the water warms up to 60 and above. The distance between the attractor and the fly or squid will vary with the temp of the water. Try two to three times the length of the flasher or about sixteen up to twenty-four inches. Longer lead on the fly seems to work better in colder water. Presentation advice You may catch some fish on downriggers but they are not my first choice for presentation. Church Tackle Walleye Boards and leadcore are the way to go. I run three or more on each side of the boat working an area over three hundred feet wide. You should set up for rainbows with a 1,2,3,4,5 color leadcore. This will give you coverage from 5 to 25 feet. The Church Planer Board will run well off to the side of the boat out of your travel path. Hot Lures Define The Day Let's wrap this up with my favorite lures. For spring crankbaits, minnow type lures and small spoons like the regular size Vulcan or 8-inch flashers and dodgers with flies or squids. My best spoon color is chartreuse/silver/green. Magnum Reaper spoons did very well for us in July and August on Bows in recent years. Baitfish size should be considered when selecting your spoon size. Vulcan and Reaper spoons are both sold by http://www.jimhirt.com http://www.badgertackle.com I will continue with Zones for Lake Trout in the next article. Good Luck! 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© 2013, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved..
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#11 Early Presentation
Dear member of the Badger Tackle Fishing Community: I would like to thank you for reading my articles. I hope they bring you enjoyment and information to make your fishing experience the best it can be. You will find forty plus articles when the entire current articles are posted. New articles will come out every two weeks. During the months of April thru October I will also post fishing reports for my homeport of Milwaukee Wisconsin under What's Biting! Book Mark this site and come back often!! To read Early Presentation Click on photo...
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#12 Temperature is the key
In the last article, we started with the Importance of location, tackle, temperature and good record keeping. I also covered some of my key ways to find fish in early spring on Lake Michigan and the hot set ups to keep the rods dancing. CLICK ON PHOTO TO READ ARTICLE...
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#13 Spring Fishing Presentation
In articles one and two, we covered general overview and the specifics of temperature breaks and their location. Now let us start on spring presentation. Click On Photo For Article...
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#14 Lure set ups
The last article was a general discussion of spring presentation with a focus on planer boards, lines and terminal tackle. This was good information for a starting point but you will need more information to produce every trip out. Click on photo to read article..
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#15 Cold Water Lure Presentation
Let's continue with lure selection, colors, boat speed, and lure action for spring. The cold water slows down the metabolism of the fish; this in turn requires you to slow down your presentation. I select lures that are small and work well at slower than normal boat speeds. Click on photo for article..
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#16 Sharp Hooks Make the Difference
The last article closed with a promise of exploring the different types of hooks I use on Lake Michigan and the techniques I use to sharpen them. This is a somewhat controversial issue for most fishermen. Everyone has an opinion I can only state what works for me. One thing I believe all will agree on is a sharp hook will catch more fish. There are many types of sharpeners out there. Click photo for article..
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#17 Salmon and Trout May & June
Now let's continue with spring presentation and location. If you start early you will be on Lake Michigan when the surface temperatures are below the preferred temp of your target species. I will cover late May and early June in this article. This time period provides great action on Brown trout, Chinooks, Coho and Rainbows. Click on photo to read article!..
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#18 Transition Fishing Spring to Summer
As we go into summer our presentation evolves to follow the temperature of the fish you are targeting. This time of year look for most of your fish in the top 40 feet. Click on photo to read article!..
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#19 Leadcore Presentation Basics
The primary presentations I use at this time of year are planer boards, dipsy divers and leadcore. If your budget allows, I would recommend trying a leadcore line set up. Click photo to read article..
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#20 Cold Start Finding Fish
In this article I would like to explain where to start if you have not been out for awhile. Click on photo to read article...
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#21 Best Fishing Lures For Salmon
What lures to buy for a typical July or August trip on Lake Michigan. Click on photo to read article...
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#22 Fishing Spoon Speed By Species
In this article let's address lure speed as it relates to fish species. The easy way to remember how fast to run your presentation for your target is to think of the temperature they prefer. Click on photo to read article...
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#23 Fishing Spoons For Salmon Too Much Tackle
On clear blue skies late in the day cut down on the number of rods and run long...
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#24 Fall Salmon Habits
Presentation for Salmon in the last several months of their life. Click on photo to read article...
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#25 Fishing Downriggers 101
I will try to cover topics like rigging, tackle and presentation for downriggers. Click on photo for article...
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#26 Downrigger Diversity Add Up to Success
I will try to cover topics like rigging, tackle and presentation. My goal is to provide information, which should lead to more fish and less slow fishing. Click on Heading to read article..
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#27 Fishing Diving Planers
It is a fisherman with a full arsenal of presentations that finds action when fishing gets tough. Click on heading to read article...
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#28 Fishing Leadcore Rigging Article
The hot rig for the last several years has been leadcore. Click on heading to read fishing tip...
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#29 Rigging Tackle For Success
The top fishermen know that when the action stops or never starts its time to spread the tackle and work all the different types of fish. Click on heading for fishing tip..
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#30 GPS Fishing By The Numbers
Finding and consistently producing fish is the goal of every fisherman every trip out on the water. The question is how can it be done? Click on heading to read tip...
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#31 Milwaukee Trophy Salmon And Trout Fishing Variables.
Several factors determine the size and quantity of your catch. If you are a member of a fishing club, you probably noticed the same persons seem to place very well for the biggest fish every year...
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#32 Fishing Spoons For Coho Salmon
Spring fishing season on Lake Michigan to most means only one thing Coho fever. This article is my run and gun approach to some of the hottest fishing action you will find anywhere. Click on heading to read more..
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#33 Fishing Tackle For The Ugly Days
Unfortunately very few of us can fish on the best days of the season. We must learn to cope with the conditions Click on heading to read more...
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#34 Fishing Lure ForThe Ugly Days Part #2
Now I will cover fishing for fish that are neutral or negative with ideal boating circumstances of calm clear water and clear sunny skies. Click on heading to read more....
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#35 Salmon Trolling Tackle Fishing Spoon!
I often get the question of what tackle do I need to get started salmon fishing. I will take you from bare essentials to no budget all inclusive fishing equipment...
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#36 Salmon Trolling What Do I Need? Plan "B"
This article will introduce you to an all stealth option plan "B"...
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#37 Electronics For Salmon fishing!
It makes no difference whether you go plan basic or all out. Electronics are your eyes and ears. To try to fish with out them would be very difficult...
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#38 Fishing Spoons More Fish For Only $20.
The best anglers catch more fish because they focus on getting as close to a natural presentation as possible. Every time you go fishing, whether it's for salmon or any other specie, think about how your bait is working...
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#39 Hot Locations For Salmon And Trout
I would like to share with you some of my key locations to find fish and the hottest set ups for early summer..
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#40 Something Out of Nothing!
Go stealth, Go long, Go light, and Go small. This all means present small spoons at great distances on light line in waters undisturbed...
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#41 Let’s Play Favorites
In this article I would like to help you with what lures to run for a typical July or August trip on Lake Michigan..
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#42 Fishing Small Details Big Rewards!
I would like to point out several items over looked by most fishermen that should be a focus every time on the water...
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#43 Salmon Temperature and speed is key!
let's address lure speed as it relates to fish species. The easy way to remember how fast to run your presentation for your target is to think of the temperature they prefer..
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#44 Smart Fishing Efficiency!
Please allow me to tell you about some of the items I use on my boat that helps produce fish...
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#45 Fishing Spoons For all Species Fishing, Spread The Tackle.
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#46 Downrigger Leaders How Long ?
As with any tool proper usage is the answer to success. A common question I receive from fellow fishermen is how long do you run your drop back leader?..
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#47 Improving Your Fish On To In The Cooler Ratio!
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#48 Set The Drag For more Fish In The Cooler
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#49 Salmon Fishing Milwaukee Patience Puts More Fish In The Cooler
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#50 Trolling Tips For More Fish In The Cooler
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#51 Salmon Charters Milwaukee Trophy Chinooks The Best Time, Lure And Location!
Chinook Salmon, in the twelve to seventeen pound class, are a regular part of most trips. The big hogs over twenty five pounds are not as common as they used to be. It requires a special attitude on your part to target a wall hanger...
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#52 Fishing Milwaukee Early Risers Catch Trophy Brown Trout
I would like to explore location, presentation and lure selection for Brown Trout...
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#53 Fishing Spoons For Trophy Tail Walking Rainbows
Fishing Spoons For Trophy Tail Walking Rainbows..
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#54 Fishing Lures for Trophy Lake Trout
Fishing Lures for Trophy Lake Trout..
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#55 Fishing Spoons for all Seasons
Fishing spoons for spring, fishing spoons for summer, fishing spoons for fall and winter. Spoons are never the wrong bait. The variety of spoons is the reason they produce...
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#56 Smart Fishing Lures On Red Fishing Line!
The year of red has arrived. Wherever you fish and whatever you fish for fishing lures on red fishing line will increase your catch...
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#57 Fishing Lures For Catching Moody Fish
These changes in thinking or additions to your fishing arsenal will improve your success...
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#58 Hi-Tech Rigging And Tools For Trolling
This article will not be a primer for the angler starting out. It is for those interested in coming up to speed on what's new and successful for trolling..
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#59 The Three R's of Fishing #1
Many small details will make or break your day on the water. However I decided to focus on only three of the fundamentals, rigging reacting and record keeping...
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#60 Is Leadcore Right For Me?
I do not like the ready made leadcore combos. They use a Dacron backing it wears easily and breaks and there goes your set up. Power Pro costs more but it will last many seasons...
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#61 The Three R's of Fishing Lures #2
Reacting to time of year is also to be considered when trying to catch moody fish. As the seasons change, so do the temperatures of the water...
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#62 Midday Salmon Fishing Techniques Milwaukee #1
When the sun goes up the fishing action slows down. If this is the way fishing outings go for you please read on to discover some of the proven techniques used by charter captains. Chartering with six people on board is a numbers game. Steady action will entertain the group and more happy customers will follow...
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#63 Salmon Fishing, Rigging An Eighteen Foot Boat #1
This article addresses a recent question asked by a reader of my articles. It will cover the basics in what you need for fishing tackle and proper boat set up...
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#64 Midday Salmon Fishing Techniques Milwaukee #2
When the sun goes up the fishing action slows down. If this is the way fishing outings go for you please read on to discover some of the proven techniques used by charter captains...
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#65 Salmon Fishing, Rigging An Eighteen Foot Boat #2
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#66Salmon Fishing, Rigging An Eighteen Foot Boat #3
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#67Fishing Lures For Spring and Summer
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#68 Go To Fishing Lures For Fall And Winter
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#69 Key Presentations For Invisible Fish #1
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#70 Key Presentations For Invisible Fish #2
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#71 Key Presentations For Invisible Fish #3
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#72 Fishing Month by Month on Lake Michigan #1
A common question I have received is what's biting each month of the Lake Michigan season. The key to success to fishing is to target the most active species. Please allow me to give you and overview month by month April thru October. There are opportunities for late Fall and Winter however I do not get a chance to fish at that time...
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#73 Fishing Month by Month on Lake Michigan #2
The key to success to fishing is to target the most active species. Please allow me to give you and overview month by month July thru October...
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#74 How Deep Are My Downriggers?
Recommendation for set back in the rigger and your typical speed?..
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#75 What The Heck Is A SWR?
The SWR is a long presentation for days when more conventional methods do not work...
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#76 Milwaukee Salmon Fishing Heaven!
Milwaukee fishing is as easy as it gets. We truly have a world-class fishery. There are three launch ramps for trailerable boats within minutes of dozens of hotels...
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#77 Planner Boards For Salmon Fishing Milwaukee #1
The tool you need and must have for spring salmon fishing is Church Planner boards...
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#78 Planner Boards For Salmon Fishing Milwaukee #2
The tool you need and must have for spring salmon fishing is Church Planner boards. There is no simpler and more productive presentation for any time you target fish in the top 25 feet of water. Allow me to explain the how and wow of this tool for spring...
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#79 Fishing The Zone For Salmon Milwaukee #1
Let me explain how to be more productive by following some basic rules and using basic tools. Activity and habits of fish are dictated by many variables...
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#80 Fishing The Zone For Brown Trout Milwaukee #2
 A rather basic approach will put you on fish and keep you there. I will cover how to find the most productive zones by species ..
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#81 Fishing The Zone For Coho Salmon Milwaukee #3
Lake Michigan Milwaukee is an outstanding fishery with many options for anglers. ..
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#82 Fishing The Zone For Rainbow Trout Milwaukee #4
Last year was an above average year for Rainbows on Lake Michigan Milwaukee. Our port holds the state record of over 26 pounds for this species. We boated many between fifteen and twenty pounds. Here is how to catch them!!   ..
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#83 Fishing The Zone For Lake Trout #5
A rather basic approach will put you on fish and keep you there. I will cover how to find the most productive zones by species...
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#84 Planer Boards As Your Primary Trolling Tool.
Water in our ecosystem has gone from low visibility to extremely clear. With this change of environment the angler must evolve in his presentation to produce consistently. This article will talk you through a very effective way to meet these demands for sunny conditions with spooky fish. ..
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#85 Salmon On Spoons And Why!
With a few pointers and the reason behind them you may find spoons as a great addition to your salmon fishing arsenal.     ..
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#86 Salmon Fishing Puzzle Solved!
Salmon in particular and many other species can be especially finicky and difficult to catch. As all types of fish are unique in their habitat there is some common threads in their DNA. The common factors and threads are the parts of the puzzle that, when fitted together, will solve some of your most difficult questions. Now let's explore the common threads.   ..
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#87 Catching Moody Fish
From time to time we all can use a little help. These changes in thinking or additions to your fishing arsenal will improve your success. The speed of your bait whether it is a spoon, jig, or crankbait is important. The right lure at the wrong speed will be less productive...
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#88Lures For Spring Salmon And Trout
    The start of the 2011 Lake Michigan Season will be here before you know it and now is the time to think about early location and tackle. In this article, I would like to share with you some of my keys to finding fish and the hottest set ups for very early presentation!!  Click Detailed Description to read more..
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#89 Go Slow For Spring Brown Trout
Spring can be Brown Trout a plenty with the right presentation. Allow me to break it down and offer some suggestions for tons of Browns wherever you fish. Let’s discuss presentation, lures and location to jump start your spring. ..
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#90 Fishing Hooks Make the Difference
The last article closed with a promise of exploring the different types of hooks I use on Lake Michigan and the techniques I use to sharpen them. Let’s get to it. ..
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#91 Presentation Tips For Cold Water
In many parts of the world Spring means cold water. As water cools presentation must change for you to be successful. Here are a few tips of mine to get these neutral or less active fish to bite.  CLICK on detailed description for more. ..
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#92 More Fish Leadcore Presentation The Answer
Here are some ways to present lures in spring. This time of year look for most of your fish in the top 50 feet. Keep your eye on your locator and also work deeper marks when you see them. My experience this time of year is the deeper fish are less active and tend not to bite. CLICK detailed description to read more.....
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#93 Where To Go, Fish Finding Tips
In this article I would like to explain where to start if you have not been out for awhile. ..
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#94Hot Lures For Salmon And Trout
This is a very difficult question. Where I cannot possibly go into all species and all situations, perhaps I can define what I believe will catch fish 90 percent of the time. Please keep in mind that the best lure not properly presented will not catch fish. ..
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#95 Speed Advice By Species
In this article let's address lure speed as it relates to fish species. The easy way to remember how fast to run your presentation for your target is to think of the temperature they prefer...
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#96 Fish Milwaukee Salmon Too Much Tackle
Well what do you do?  No one wants to run one line! Spread your presentation and go long. ..
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#97Fishing Downriggers 101
 I will try to cover topics like rigging, tackle and presentation. My goal is to provide information, which should lead to more fish and less slow fishing...
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#98Downrigger Diversity Improves Your Success
Let’s continue with downriggers. In the last article we covered the hardware, weights, releases and manual or electric models. Now we will go into using this tool in many ways..
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#99Fishing Diving Planers
Most boats run diving planers like Dipsy Divers, Slide Divers, Deep Sixes and similar divers. This is a very simple tool that is not run to its full potential by most fishermen. ..
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#100 Lead Core Rigging For Spoons
Lead Core Rigging For Spoons   By Wisconsin fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt Now is the time to think about changes to make your trips more productive next season. There are many ways to go on this subject. Over the next several articles I will try to cover topics like rigging, tackle and presentation. My goal is to provide information, which should lead to more fish and less slow fishing. Questions Should you have a question please e-mail me from my Blue Max website contact us page. Read all my articles and see video fish reports at Lead Core will work In the last article we covered rigging diving planers and flat lines. Let us continue with rigging presentations. The tools out there are endless. Being flexible on the slow days is the answer to more fish. It is a fisherman with a full arsenal of presentations that finds action when fishing gets tough. Clear water presentation The hot rig for the last several years has been lead core. With the influx of Zebra Muscles the waters of the Great Lakes have become very clear. In my opinion the toughest conditions are calm clear sunny days. On these types of days lead core is the way to go. Start basic then go lead I do not recommend lead core presentation for first light it is far to time consuming to run during a hot bite. After the early morning bite or about two hours after sunrise I break out the lead core. Equipment The basics are reel, rod, line and planer board. The cost of a rig will start at about $150. The reel you use is based on the amount of lead core line you want to run. When selecting a reel purchase one large enough to handle the amount of colors you would like to run. Lead core is a bulky line and most likely will not fit on the reels you are currently using. Find a tackle store that deals with this product to ensure a correct purchase. Hitting the Marks The rule of thumb is 4-5 feet of depth to every color of lead core. When your target fish is 15 feet down you should run 3 or 4 colors of lead core. Some of you may be thinking why is there a variation of 4 to 5 feet per color. The factors that affect this are type of lure and boat speed. This line is graduated in 10-yard sections each having a different color. Popular set ups are 3 colors, 5 colors and 8 colors. Correct rod is important Rods for lead core need to have plenty of backbone. I use a heavy action 8-foot rod. This should give you the power needed to reel in 500 feet of line, planer board and 20-pound Kings. Cortland Lead Core The line comes in many test weights 27 or 36 pound is what I run it all has the same sink rate. You will also need a backing line of mono, braided Dacron or one of the super lines like 50 pound Berkley FireLine Braid. From the lead core to the lure use a 20-pound fluorocarbon line. Church walleye Board the Best Planer Board To avoid tangles when running multiple lead cores you will need a planer board for each rig. The purpose of a planer board is to move the line off to the side of the boat away from other lines. Several manufactures have boards for leadcore. The Church walleye Board out performs all the others and it is what I use. Loading Up When loading the reel, start with 300 yards 50 pound FireLine Braid for a backing line then strip the lead out of the end of the lead core and tie a Willis Knot to the lead core. Finish with a Willis Knot and 30 feet of a 20-pound fluorocarbon to a ball bearing cross lock snap. Go Catching To run this rig, snap on your favorite lure I like Reaper or Vulcan by Badger Tackle and let out all of the line to the backing. Then install your board on the backing so it does not release. I usually run them 150 feet off each side of the boat. Very wide turns and low boat traffic are a must to avoid tangles and getting run over. I set my drags light. When the reel starts to scream, adjust the drag as necessary. Reel in the line until you can reach the board and hand release it. Now the line is clear to bring in the fish. Some of my biggest fish were caught on this presentation this year. The good news is it produces fish all day long. Badger Tackle has a promotion now buy 4 or more spoons and receive a free spoon. Call me anytime to help with your spoon selection. If you would like to try the hottest spoons for salmon and trout for shore anglers or trolling and jigging in 2012 go to http://www.jimhirt.com http://www.badgertackle.com Good luck. 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© 2013, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved...
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#101How do I use my G.P.S
How do I use my G.P.S By Lake Michigan fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt Finding and consistently producing fish is the goal of every fisherman every trip out on the water. The question is how can it be done? This article will communicate the importance of G.P.S. for filling the cooler and returning home safely. Questions Should you have a question please e-mail me from my Blue Max website contact us page. Read all my articles and see video fish reports at The Tool For those of you not familiar with G.P.S. I will give you a brief overview of the product. Global Positioning System is a series of satellites that circle the earth each with a distinctive signal. This signal is sent by the satellites to a receiver. The receiver will then tell you your location on the earth in longitude and latitude. The accuracy of this information is within 15 feet or less. The Cost The price of a G.P.S. can range from $80 to several thousand dollars. The more expensive units will offer more graphic information that makes them easier to use, although the accuracy is the same. My experience with both high and low priced units tells me I do not need an expensive unit. The key to successful operation is learning how to apply the extensive information available. G.P.S. and Safety The question is how do I use my location as provided by G.P.S. to fill the cooler and return home safely? Let’s start with safety. You should always enter in the memory of your unit the spot where you put your boat in the water. We will call this your home waypoint. Most units will store 500 or more waypoints. Assuming there is no shallow water or obstacles like land in your path, use your home waypoint and compass to find your way home. Fog, darkness or bad weather does not effect the operation of this unit. In the event of an emergency you could call someone with your coordinates and they would know where to find you. G.P.S. and finding fish In the more sophisticated units a map showing your position with the depth of water at your location is displayed. The use of this information is critical when working bottom structure for fish. There are many ways to use G.P.S. for finding fish. On my boat we log the coordinates of every fish caught on a sheet of paper. These coordinates are used to return to the same spot day after day. After a fish hits a lure it makes perfect sense to turn the boat around to try the same spot again. Many times we will get another fish on immediately as we pass the same location. When no additional fish are taken, we will circle in that area using the original coordinates as the center of our search. Save the spot I usually enter one of the areas where action has been very good as a waypoint in the G.P.S. for future trips. Working with latitude and longitude numbers takes a little practice, stay with it the work is worth it. There are chart plotter units that draw a line showing the path of the boat on the display screen to simplify this process. As I mentioned earlier a chart plotter G.P.S. with a map chip for your area will give you your position relative to water depth, land features and harbor entrances. I use the water depth when I follow a bottom contour for fish holding near the bottom. Lake trout are known for staying near the bottom. This technique is very effective for them. G.P.S. save tackle On the Great Lakes we often fish in areas where wrecks are located. The location of wrecks entered in the G.P.S. will save a lot of lost tackle. It will allow you to fish near wrecks without the fear of hanging up on them. G.P.S. a must have I like to enter the location of schools of bait fish you see on the locator when under power heading out to a spot or trolling for further investigation. On a trip that starts before daylight, you must have G.P.S. to pin point the location of yesterday’s hot first light action.   I could go on and on about the importance of knowing precisely where you are and where you want to be. Some would consider G.P.S. a luxury or not needed. I find the information this unit supplies as invaluable and you will too. Good luck. 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.jimhirt.com http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2013, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved ...
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#102 Busting Spring Brown Trout Milwaukee
Busting Spring Brown Trout Milwaukee By Lake Michigan fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt Spring is definitely the season for coolers full of Brown Trout. Let me explain how to be more productive by following some basic rules and using basic tools. Activity and habits of fish are dictated by many variables. A rather basic approach will put you on fish and keep you there. I will cover how to find the most productive zones by species in the next several articles. Now let's look at Brown Trout as it applies to Lake Michigan and other big water ecosystems. Questions Should you have a question please e-mail me from my Blue Max website contact us page. Read all my articles and see video fish reports at Zones By Species Lake Michigan Milwaukee is an outstanding fishery with many options for anglers. The most popular targets of anglers here are Chinook salmon, Coho Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout and Lake Trout. Allow me to offer environmental preferences for each of these. Breaking each fish down by their preferences is the best way to find steady consistent action on any fish. Environmental Preferences The top of the most important list and what I look for is food and temperature. When you are in a zone with the correct temperature and good forage you will increase your chances. Other important factors are cover, habitat, maturity of fish, light intensity, water depth, weather, current flow, current intensity, oxygen level and fishing pressure. Your ability to measure, monitor and locate the ideal set of fishing preferences for your target is key. Brown Trout Zone By Temperature Big browns are common in the estuary created in the Milwaukee area by three rivers. Brown Trout are a warm water species, so look for them in temperatures above 55 degrees. They will tolerate colder water and temperatures above 65 however my biggest browns over twenty pounds have come at near 55 degrees. Keep your baits in 55-degree temperature and you will increase your odds on big fish. When I am catching small fish, I know the water is too warm for a trophy. It is time to adjust the tackle to colder water. A temperature gauge is a tool a trout fisherman cannot be without. Location And Forage The principal types of forage for trophy fish in Lake Michigan are the Alewife and Goby. Look for pods of forage for consistent action. I have caught browns in water as shallow as 5 feet and out to 100 feet. Most consistent action however is in shallow water or the top 25 feet where warm water has accumulated. Early spring in the months of March April And May we find are consistently the best for browns. Over the years 90% of this species are caught when the water is below their preferred temperature. The reason for outstanding spring fishing for this fish is the cold water of Lake Michigan concentrates the fish. The Lake temp is in the mid to high thirties and this causes the fish to stay near the warmer water of the river mouths and harbor gaps. Later in the season the browns disperse along the shoreline. Finding a temperature break is the key to finding fish. A break is defined as a major or minor change in water temperature. At times a small change of a degree or two will hold fish but I have found the greater the change the better the concentration of fish. Presentations For Lunker Browns First light of the day is the best time to catch this quarry. They seem to be more sensitive to light than other types of fish. Light up a Vulcan or Reaper Magnum Glow spoon sold by Badger Tackle before first light for fish in the box ahead of the rest of the pack of anglers. A stealthy approach is necessary for the biggest fish. In definition stealth is a presentation that avoids being notice. Several are used for trolling. I would skip the downriggers as a presentation for browns. I have found this to be the least productive of presentations I have tried. The most successful for me is Cortland leadcore. A weighted line with a Seaguar fluorocarbon leader is attached to a Church Walleye Planer board. The planer board is run well off to the side of the boat out of the travel path. Leadcore is graduated to allow five feet of depth for every color. Five colors will run lures approximately 25 feet down 10 colors fifty feet and so on. This allows you to fish any depth you want. Hot Lures Define The Day Let's wrap this up with my favorite lures. Magnum spoons are my first choice. Use Glow in dark for before first light and in heavy overcast. When fishing in very bright conditions or with the presence of small baitfish go to regular or small lures. My magnum spoons are about five inches long, regular four inches and small three inches. The two most productive spoons for me during the 2012 season was the Vulcan magnum and Reaper Magnum both sold by I will continue with Zones for Coho Salmon in the next article. Good Luck! 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.jimhirt.com http://www.badgertackle.com For a slow 2.0 M.P.H. or slower presentation I use the Reaper. Above 2.0 speeds the Vulcan is best, it mixes well with most big plugs and flasher flies.http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2013, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved..
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#103 Coho Salmon Crazy In Milwaukee
Coho Salmon Crazy In Milwaukee   By Lake Michigan fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt From Brown Trout we go to Coho Salmon. This article will point out and explain what has worked for me over 25 years of fishing. In my opinion Coho are the most predictable of all salmon species. Activity and habits of fish are dictated by many variables. Get on board and allow me to share some tricks for Coho with you. Now let's look at Coho Salmon as it applies to Lake Michigan and other big water ecosystems. Get caught up by reading article number one titled Busting Spring Brown Trout Milwaukee. This information you may find necessary to understand the following article. Questions Should you have a question please e-mail me from my Blue Max website contact us page. Read all my articles and see video fish reports at ? Zones By Species Lake Michigan Milwaukee is an outstanding fishery with many options for anglers. The most popular targets of anglers here are Chinook salmon, Coho Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout and Lake Trout. Allow me to offer environmental preferences for each of these. Breaking each fish down by their preferences is the best way to find steady consistent action on any fish. Coho Salmon Zone By Temperature Coho offer great action with the reward of some of the best eating of all Lake Michigan fish. Once again the answer to putting them in the box is temperature. Look for them in temperatures above 50 degrees up to 57 degrees. Exceptions to this temp zone are possible but not the norm. As they come in to spawn they will be less sensitive to temperature. They will tolerate colder water and temperatures below 50, however they are less active. Location And Forage The principal types of forage for all game fish in Lake Michigan are the Alewife and Goby. Look for pods of forage for consistent action. I have caught Coho at all depths all season long. Don't make the mistake of not running tackle for them, but they do require a different approach. May and June on fire for Coho Most consistent action is in the spring months of May and June. The reason for this is the water is very cold and the top water is the best habitat for them. The shallow water, or the top 25 feet where warm water has accumulated, is the answer to your best numbers. Early May run your baits in the top five feet and progress to deeper in the water column as the water warms up. The reason for outstanding spring fishing for Coho is that the cold water of Lake Michigan concentrates them. Fish the break Finding a temperature break is the key to finding fish. A break is defined as a major or minor change in water temperature. At times a small change of a degree or two will hold fish, but I have found the greater the change the better the concentration of fish. In spring the Coho that have wintered on the southern end of Lake Michigan will migrate north. You will find some action near shore and this is a good starting spot. My experience is deep water can be very productive. I fish out to ten miles off shore in 250 feet of water for fantastic action and limits on this exciting spring fish. Presentations For Limits On Coho Salmon Anytime of day is a good time for this quarry. I categorize them as day feeders with angling success all day. Water temperature will dictate your best bait. I will break this down by temperature. Below 50 degrees use small crankbaits, minnow type lures and small spoons like the regular size Vulcan in silver or bright colors sold by Badger Tackle. Above 50 degrees the cold water baits will produce but not as well as six inch orange flashers or dodgers with flies or squids. The distance between the attractor and the fly or squid will vary with the temp of the water. Try one and a half times the length of the flasher or about nine inches up to eighteen inches. Longer lead on the fly seems to work better in colder water. You may catch some fish on downriggers but they are not my first choice for presentation. Church Tackle Walleye Boards are the way to go. I run four or more on each side of the boat working an area over three hundred feet wide. Set up for Coho with a six foot 15 pound leader tied to a 3/8-ounce keel sinker attached to the 20-pound main line to your reel. Baits are attached with a ball bearing snap and ran 10 to 25 feet behind the planner board. The planer board will run well off to the side of the boat out of your travel path. Hot Lures Define The Day Let's wrap this up with my favorite lures. For Spring crank baits, minnow type lures and small spoons like the regular size Vulcan. I have selected four of my top Coho spoons and assembled them in a Coho Trophy pack at Badger Tackle. Later use six inch orange flashers and dodgers with flies or squids. As the Coho put on weight later in the season go to larger 8 inch dodgers and flies along with all size spoons in silver green. Magnum Reaper spoons did very well for us later in the season on Coho in recent years. Baitfish size should be considered when selecting your spoon size. Vulcan and Reaper spoons are both sold by http://www.jimhirt.com http://www.badgertackle.com I will continue with Zones for Rainbow Trout in the next article. Good Luck! 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© 2013, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved..
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#104 King Salmon Rule In Milwaukee
King Salmon Rule In Milwaukee   By Lake Michigan fishing charter Capt. Jim Hirt Chinooks are big mean and a rush to catch. This fish is the most exciting fish in Lake Michigan. Location and presentation are the keys to success. Let me talk you through the details. They are not predictable and at times difficult to figure out. Now let's look at Chinook Salmon as it applies to Lake Michigan and other big water ecosystems. Questions Should you have a question please e-mail me from my Blue Max website contact us page. Read all my articles and see video fish reports at Getting Started Let me explain how to be more productive by following some basic rules and using basic tools. Activity and habits of fish are dictated by many variables. A rather basic approach will put you on fish and keep you there. I will cover how to find the most productive zone for Chinook. What Is A Zone I define a zone as a location where greater concentrations of the target species are found. You may use, as I do, this system for any type of fishing or in fact hunting. The basics are simple. What does your target want? Focus on what you know and do research to find out more. Zone Rules Pick the type of quarry you are after and make a list of the known environmental preferences for that species. Armed with that information you will have the guidelines or rules to become more successful. Breaking the rules will put you in water with less of the target fish Environmental Preferences The top of the most important list and what I look for is food and temperature. When you are in a zone with the correct temperature and good forage you will increase your chances. Other important factors are cover, habitat, maturity of fish, light intensity, water depth, weather, current flow, current intensity, oxygen level and fishing pressure. Your ability to measure, monitor and locate the ideal set of fishing preferences for your target is key. Chinook Salmon by temperature Big Chinook Salmon are a cold water species, so look for them in temperatures below 50 degrees. The exception is when they come into spawn. At this point in their life temperature is not important. Keep your baits in 45 to 52 degree temperature and you will increase your odds on big fish. When I am catching small fish, I know the water is too warm for a trophy. It is time to adjust the tackle to colder water. I have caught them in water as shallow as 10 feet and out to 300 feet fishing near the bottom. There is no limitation on the depth they like. Key in on temp for success. A temperature gauge is a tool a salmon fisherman cannot be without. Forage part of the picture The principal forage for these bruisers is the Alewife. Look for pods of forage for consistent action. The baitfish will hold Chinook in any area. Keep your fish locator cranked up on the gain to show baitfish along the bottom. Reason for Stealth Presentations Clear water and sunny conditions are the enemy. This scenario will turn off most fish. However, some fish can be had when certain presentations are used. A stealthy approach is necessary for the biggest fish. In definition stealth is a presentation that avoids being notice. Several are used for salmon trolling. Stealth Presentations Downriggers are a popular method to run tackle with many variations possible. In sunny conditions increase your downrigger leads to 100 feet or more. By running long leads you work water undisturbed by noise and turbulence of the boat. Leadcore is another good choice. A weighted line with a Seaguar fluorocarbon leader is attached to a Church Walleye Planer board. The planer board is run well off to the side of the boat out of the travel path. Leadcore is graduated to allow five feet of depth for every color. Five colors will run lures approximately 25 feet down 10 colors fifty feet and so on. This allows you to fish any depth you want and is a killer for huge kings. Best Months of the year Chinook live four and a half years and it makes sense that they will be the biggest at the end of their life cycle. These monsters will be the most aggressive and easiest to get in the months of June thru September. I have produced Kings over twenty pounds in April, although this is the exception to the rule. Weather Variables Weather is as big of a factor as any and when the conditions are favorable you can expect huge fish. Weather fronts, sky conditions, barometer and sea state all play a role in turning on the fish that dreams are made of. I always look for barometer movement. A steady barometer may offer a great chance to get a suntan but it is not conducive to trophy fishing.   Hot Tickets Let's wrap this up with my favorite lures. Magnum spoons are my first choice. Big lures big fish with a consideration to the size of the baitfish and amount of light in the time period you are fishing. When fishing in very bright conditions or with the presence of small baitfish go to regular or small lures. My magnum spoons are about five inches long, regular four inches and small three inches. The two most productive spoons for me during the 2012 season was the Vulcan magnum and Reaper Magnum both sold by I will continue with Zones for Rainbow Trout in the next article. Good Luck! 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.jimhirt.com http://www.badgertackle.com For a slow 2.0 M.P.H. or slower presentation I use the Reaper. Above 2.0 speeds the Vulcan is best, it mixes well with most big plugs and flasher flies.http://www.bluemaxcharters.com Copyright© 2013, James J. Hirt, All Rights Reserved...