Broader Recap of 5-3 thru 5-6

We had a pretty busy week on the water and fishing remained excellent to good with limits all around for the most part.

Monday morning greeted us to a nice sunrise and moderate temps along with of course, a fast 17-fish limit of Coho Salmon and an early arrival back to port. However, some conditions had changed and we were no longer fishing in 12-20 feet of water. The schools of Coho had moved offshore and on Thursday afternoon we were in the deeps! But back to Monday, perhaps more memorable was the visit of not one but two birds that found a solid oasis in the form the Independence, several miles offshore on Lake Michigan's blue waters. Both critters were no doubt exhausted from a long flight or were perhaps disoriented. The first visitor's stay was more fleeting but the second bird was far less shy, at first landing on the end of a rod that was set and waiting to catch a fish and then later coming up front near the captain's chair for the ride back to port. In between, it even landed on one of the crewmember's shoulders for a minute. Back on land after a 1/2-hour rest, I helped it find it's way out of the side-window and off it went to tell his side of the story.

Monday afternoon saw a full, 6-person crew board the Independence under continually sunny skies. Fishing was decent and we took home 22 fish, a little shy of the limit, but unfortunately we lost about as many as well. It happens but maybe we were getting complacent as 2-3-4 fish would hit in fast strings and then would wait 15-20 minutes. Still, a great day all around.

On Tuesday, and old friend Matt came aboard for a research trip and we caught his and my 10-fish limit in very short order. The weather was very nice and like Monday's trip, we continually fished a little further offshore.

With a day off on Wednesday, Thursday morning's trip was beautiful again and another limit was taken with other several other fish released as well. Offshore again, and still good fishing for the most part, towards the end of the trip I sensed that something was changing, fish were starting to scatter ahead of some wind that was set to arrive in the afternoon.

As we cleared the pierheads for the afternoon charter that day, a chilly breeze from the northeast kicked up a little chop and teased us to set down the engines in 60 feet to see if the fish we caught in the morning had more friends waiting for us. Indeed the fish had begun to move and on a long, steady eastbound troll into some chop, we caught a few fish but we didn't get good action until we reached the deeps of 120-150 feet of water. The downside of the Coho schools going deep is that they become more laterally scattered and with cold water from top to bottom, they also become vertically scattered as well. But the good news in fishing the the deeps for Coho in the Spring is that it is also home to large, loose schools of Rainbow Trout (Steelhead) as well as Lake Trout. Indeed we tied into and caught a fair number of nice Rainbow and a good-size Lake Trout out that way and we started to get some good action with Coho too. At this point with a limit of 12 fish - Coho Salmon, Rainbow Trout, and Lake Trout - and a little bit chilly but still under a sun-soaked sky, we headed home a little early.

We have since had storms and higher winds move into the area but Sunday morning may afford us another chance to get back out.

Let me close out this update but telling you about the State of Illinois' Free Fishing days that are Friday June 11th thru Monday June 14th. This means anyone - resident or non-resident - is not required to purchase a license or stamp to fish in Illinois. These are popular charter days as your crew of six people stands to save a total of $33 by not having to purchase a license. While Saturday, June 12th is booked for the morning as well as afternoon for two separate, two-boat bachelor party crews(!!), other slots are available over the 11th,13th, and 14th.

As always, thanks very much for reading and thanks to the recent crews that have been on board! Photos have been updated in the Gallery.

Capt Rick