The weather is continuing to keep the fish on the move but when things settle in for a couple days big kings, up to 24 pounds, are showing up in coolers. Plentiful steelhead, from 8 to 14 pounds, are keeping things interesting, when the kings pack their bags and leave for a couple days.
The water is cold, and it looks like it will stay that way through the season. Because of the chilly water any bait in my tackle box is working… as long as it has plenty of orange and gold on it. UV tape on other bright baits is also effective so keep your UV Mixed Veggies and UV Jäger Bombs handy. Attractor and fly or meat rigs have had some success with the kings and cohos when they’re in but as we have been fishing pretty shallow no particular pattern has jumped out as a favorite. Use your favorite or swing by a local tackle shop and ask what’s jumping off the rack.
Start your morning working some plugs like the pearl and black dot Tomic, the Ace High Double Glow, the Grinch and the red headed chrome J-Plug. Each brand has a size chart that varies, but the most popular in this area tends to be the equivalent of J-Plugs 3 and 4.
While fishing in tight to the piers your likely to have a lot of company so here are a couple of tips.
Limit your lines! Less is more in here as you’ll want to run your gear as far back as is sensible. Too much too far back equals too many tangles, sometimes with other boats and way too much frustration. With less gear in the water, you’ll be able to maneuver easier and stay on top of fish longer.
Pay attention to the guy catching fish! Note his speed, especially if he’s fishing in the channel as it’s the most critical detail you can get without asking. Keep an eye on how far behind the boat the fish being fought are. As kings tend to surface quickly after hitting you can get a feel for how far behind the ball to run your baits.
If you start to lose your patience with the crowd, leave! You’re fishing and above all else it should be fun. The great thing about September in Grand Haven is that a short ride out of about a mile or two and you’ll find younger kings, plenty of steelhead and the occasional lake trout trying to put on a few pounds before winter arrives. You’ll also find lots of space!
As hard as it is to accept, summer is almost over but that means the run is on! Go chase the bruiser you’ve been looking for all year! Best of luck!
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