T hings are starting to pick up. Some nice 12–14 pound, four-year-old kings, arrived here in Grand Haven just in time for Mothers’ Day just like they’re supposed to. Steelhead, brown trout, and some lake trout made up most of the action prior to this point along with some early arriving first-year kings looking healthy and weighing about a pound each. The fish seem to be paying attention to the calendar this year with the only exception being that the steelhead run is late. I expect we’ll have a pretty decent month in June. The steelhead returning to the lake as well as those that passed on spawning this year will make up a good portion of the catch during the early part of the month when trolling out in deeper water near slicks and scum lines marking temperature breaks on the surface.
Remember to use plenty of small to medium sized spoons in bright colors like the Stinger Jawbreaker, Orange Crush, Jager Bomb and Fireball patterns. Troll a little faster, usually 2.9–3.4 mph and keep your baits in the top 25 feet of the water column for the best action. Larger kings that are still in the area will be suspended 25 to 50 feet further down and will be aggressive first thing in the morning and again as the sun sets. I like to have a white 10” Paddle and a Pickled Sunshine fly on my deepest rig with some Hello Darlin and Capt. Gary patterned Dreamweavers on my outdowns set to find the kings or any lake trout that are in the area.
As June progresses look for some lake trout to return to the area in decent numbers in the 80–150 foot depths. This is a hunch of mine but everything I’m seeing and hearing indicates their numbers are on the rise. With a little luck June could once again be a great time to catch these tasty fish in the Grand Haven area. Try the metal Trash Can UV dodger trailing a yellow and orange spotted Wobble or Spin’N’Glo trolled slowly, 1.5–2.2 mph, near the bottom. For many of us it’s been a while since we’ve targeted lakers so remember to put your boat in neutral occasionally as trout have a hard time resisting baits that stop near their nose.
Late June will likely see at least a week of exciting fishing for the Skamania strain of steelhead again this year as this has become a pretty reliable fishery over the last few years. These fish love to stay near shore and will tolerate water temps in the mid 60’s. Keep an eye on pier anglers and as soon as you see one of these silver giants tail walking across the channel mouth while a guy on the pier strains to get him turned around you’ll know the time has arrived. Fish fast, over three mph, and use plenty of orange and gold. Body baits capable of tracking at high speeds as well your favorite steelhead spoons will all work well. If you find yourself stuck as a spectator while pier fisherman struggle to lift heavy stringers of steelhead from the water, go to the grocery store and buy some frozen peel and eat jumbo cocktail shrimp, cocktail sauce, and a couple bobbers. Next head back out to the lake and anchor outside of casting range from the pier, stick a small treble or number 6 bait saver hook into a piece of shrimp, hang it about 6’ under the bobber and let it drift out away from the boat. Finally, while waiting for a fish, open the cocktail sauce and eat as much of your bait as you’d like but try to save a couple just in case you need more to fish with. It’s a win/win way to fish.