The Guys From Henry's Sports

Arnold and Rich

Unbelievable Day! The fishing was very tough, but when I put out the lead lines (the water was flat, and very sunny). Almost every fish was taken on an orange spoon on the lead lines.

Big Northern Pike finally!

What kind of salmon is that?

This morning I was invited to fish with my friend Capt. Jaimie in Diversey Harbor. I was throwing a hot-n-tot and within a few minutes hooked up into a very large fish that began taking a lot of line. It had to be a king or a nice steelhead, but after about ten minutes the beast came up to show itself...a northern pike! The fish was 40 inches and was released unharmed after a few pictures that I will be posting very soon.

The lake is beat up, but as soon as the winds dies there will be amazing action again. The season is over mid-November so last chance guys!

Best fishing of the season!

The salmon and browns are staying on the temperature buckles that was 50 degrees on the surface where the fish were most abundant. Spoons are working best, yesterday the fish were in 65-70 feet of water (down 50-55). We caught out limit for four guys!

Hint...Orange and other bright colors work best when the sun is out.

Salmon , trout, and perch on spoons!

The salmon and trout have moved out from 75 - 85 feet of water, down 65 feet with sppons and lead core lines are working well.

The perch are out there also and are taking our spoons near the bottom, BIG PERCH.

Finally!

The fish are all inside of 50 feet of water! The only fish out deep are the pre-spawn "hogs" lakers.
The best bet to catch fish is to find the bait schools and work them with small spoons.
The action is very good and seeming to be getting better.
No perch sightings other than down south.

They are back!

We are having the best fishing since the big storm, great action in 40-60 feet of water, you need to look for them, but small spoons are best down 30-45 feet

Time to break out the salmon gear!

Here is another opportunity for the shore fishermen to be able to access some nice fish. The kings are around the mouth of all the harbors and also inside! The marine police are giving tickets to anyone(including boaters) for fishing within a 100 feet of any boat.

The lake fishing is finally stabilizing and producing five specie trips (the grand slam)

The best fishing since the big storm!

Finally the fish have decided where they want to be! They have been anywhere from the opening of the harbor to 15o feet, and every in between. The best action is just outside of 80 feet.

The perch are still in Indiana, but will be coming back up the shore real soon.

I found the Perch!

The perch have moved down to the beaches of Indiana with huge balls of bait. There are kings staging outside of all the harbors here and in Indiana! It is time to cast at night.

Where have the perch gone?

Since our little storm on Thursday there has been cold water that was sucked in to the shore by an upwelling of cold water. The shore temp. dropped 10 degrees in a few hours! Now there is comfortable water everywhere(67). The salmon are sniffing around and in the harbors at night, but they go back to the ridges during the day. So fishing for them on the lake involves finding the structure(50-80 feet) depending on the conditions.

The perch are out with the bait in 45 to 60 feet of water and are happy so far, but they will be coming in soon.

Time to catch the big spawning KINGS!

The fish have left the harbors since the storms, but the trout and salmon are thick (40 -100 feet)depending on the sun. 40 down to 45 feet with orange spoons are working best.

Don't Go Too Deep!

There are plenty of salmon and trout being taken in the "skinny water" so if you are going out, make sure to work the harbor opening early and late. There are kings and cohos being taken when I leave the harbor at 6am. The rest of the fish are anywhere from 35 feet to 50 early and later they move out much deeper if the sun is out, and if there is no wind. Spoons with orange are doing best from 20-40 feetdown(early and late).

Big kings are approaching!

The fishing has set up for the fall patterns, which means there are two separate groups of fish out there to work. The spawning kings are staging along the shallow ridges(40-50 feet). The cohos are deeper(70-80) in the morning and a little deeper during the day. Great catches are being taken!

So here's the deal guys!

If you are looking for incredible action on perch there has been non-stop catches happening on my perch charters. You bring your cooler filled with beer and sandwiches and then later take it home filled with fillets!

The salmon are still on the ridge (72-80 feet) There are no real consistent patterns right now.

Got Perch?

The salmon and trout are relating to the "humps" that are located in 50- 80 feet of water.I took all 5 species yesterday in 50 feet of water! All the usual stuff is working, the lake trout came 30 feet down on a lead core line on an orange and green spoon. During flat or high sun conditions they move out to the bottom in 80 feet of water which is just at the base of the ridge (the same one that the "Straits" wreck is on.)

The perch are on hard bottom in 18- 20 feet of water taking minnows. We took 120 JUMBO PERCH in the morning on minnows in 90 minutes between 8 people, trowing back only a few smaller ones. Using my shadrap rig took most of the largest perch by far!

Always work structure when the fishing is tough

The salmon and trout are really spread out so the sure bet is to go to known structure and work that area well. The one that I have been doing well is along the ridge(50-75 feet). 45 feet to 60 are best, but early, late, and cloudy conditions will bring the fish way up. Spoons and flies are working. The perch are also on the same ridges, but shallower(20-40 feet)

So here is that Brown Trout from yesterday!!

The afternoon was much different than the morning... flat lake with high sun. The fish were outside of 80 feet and the shallowest down-rigger was at 75 feet! Low light(early and late) allowed the lead core lines to produce and shallow riggers. Magnum D/W spoons down near the bottom was the hottest bait(including the big brown).

"What are we going to do with all these fish?"

There are so many large fish in 75-85 feet of water that you don't need to go deeper, but 115 feet of water also has a huge population also. Magnum spoons are working well, down 50 to the bottom. This morning we took a 24# brown trout down 80 feet in 85 foot of water. Use purple spoons in low light conditions, including sunrise and sunset.

Find The Bait and Fish Outside Of Them During the Day

THe fishing has moved offshore during the day, but early and late(no sun in sky) are times you can save gas and fish where the bait is...55-65 feet. Use glow spoons and black and purple only! Run them 30 to 45 feet down and go fast. Kings like fast.
During the day dodgers and flies down 55 to 75 feet work best @2.5 knots(S.O.G.) and a large red dodger with prism tape on one side with a green crinkle fly (22 inches from the bottom of the hook to the top of the loop, 50 lb. line!!!!!! and 50 feet back)

This is Chicago or did I take a wrong turn and wind up in Alaska...

The fishing is beyond good! There are coho salmon out deep(100 feet to 140), but the KINGS are where the bait is and that is how they get to be so big. Anywhere on the ridges you will find them feeding (40-65 feet) and spoons seem to be working the best. A fast troll also needs to be experimented with to figure out how they want it that day.

Kings, Kings, and Big Big Kings....

So if you have been waiting for the big "kings" to show up, it is time! They are stacked up with the bait balls is 45 to 55 feet of water. During high sun they move out to 80-90, but follow the action. When the bites stop, turn around. Best action on the magnum lemon ice spoon down 20-30feet and caramel spoon down 40-45 in the early and late periods or cloudy conditions{kavorkian is also a good option). The green plastic dodger and green crinkle down near the bottom.

This Is What We have Been Waiting For

The strong west winds have created a situation called an "upwelling". All the warm surface water has been pushed onto the beaches in Michigan(60 miles across the lake)and the cold water from down deep has been coming in close to the shore to fill in the vacancy. The ridges at about 45 feet stops the inflow and concentrates all the fish right on that break. The fishing is almost as good as it can get and about to get even better!

Talking About Being Unpredictable...

So as unpredictable as fishing is, the salmon are back in the 45 feet to 65 feet range. They just were in 100 feet a few days ago,the catching is really good! All the usual patterns are working.

Very Unpredictable Perch!

The perch are one of the most unpredictable fish that swims in our great lake. Huge schools of the large female have been hanging around the harbors(on the lake side) feeding on crayfish. They are on the move competing with the sheephead to gain access to the ever decreasing amount of crayfish. On a wreck off of Evanston in 32 feet of water there were amount of large of crayfish(more than ever before recently) and in 80 feet of water on the wreck "Staits of Mackinaw" there were perch coils(that is how their eggs look) all over. On a reef that comes up to 76 feet of water out of 142 feet also has perch spawning all over. They also spawn in the harbors...go figure.

Fantastic Summer Fishing!

The weather has concentrated our salmon in predictable areas which adds up to my baits remaining in the "line of sight" for the fish. The more fish that have an opportunity to see my presentations the better because more get to come home with us. Fishing is great and the catching even better!

I just had my Saturday afternoon reschedule.
The noon to 5:30 is available, 6 people for $650.

For The Bluegill Fisherman...

The perch are still out deep, 50 feet of water, good thing they are out of season for the month.
The bluegills are doing their pre-spawn thing...schooling up and feeding.
I use a wax worm with a tiny gold hook with no weight, drop it down where there are weeds or shade, watch, if they don't grab it just keep looking.
They are small, but very delicious, and great practice for someone learning how to use an electric fillet knife. If you mess you mess up, just catch more.

Lock and Load

The Coho Salmon are being concentrated by the winds and have become very easily caght.
Last week was tough, but it is all "Lock-and-load" from now on.
The fish are mostly in 100 feet of water and deeper, down 30 to the bottom. Everything is working that should be at this time of the year... big flies, spoons...

I Am Back!

My computer fell and needed a new hard drive.

The perch are everywhere, but you should have fished yesterday before the NORTH WINDS.
It begins again, the recovery from the front, slow bite...
The shad rap has been my best bait for the JUMBOS.


The salmon have moved out and scattered because of the inconsistent winds and weird weather! Most of the action is outside of 124 feet of water, straight out. The shallowest lines are my 10 color lead cores.

Everything is HOT! So Strike While the Iron is Hot

The salmon have moved out. Start in 60 feet of water. Down riggers down 50 feet to the bottom. Go out to 100 ft and look for fish. Early morning and evenings they are shallower, during the day they move out deeper. Yellow birds are still taking a few fish with an ounce of weight. Small tied to the hook flies are catching fish on the dipsy divers and /birds . This morning we caught two Lake Trout and two Kings and two steelhead along with 10 Cohos, mostly on dodger on fly.

Perch frenzy inside and outside or the harbor. It is lock and load!

As Per Earlier Report, North Winds Bad!

I hope you took advantage of the awesome shore perching while it was close to shore.
The Jumbos have moved offshore again with the North winds. They are still accessable from boats.
Small perch are still here, maybe this afternoon they will be back.





The salmon are still in 70-80 feet of water down 40-45 feet is best, spoons and flies working, but you need to keep changing stuff until the magic appears.

It Doesn't Get Better Than This!!!

The salmon are on the bite, 20-30 fish average per charter has been the norm. 70-80 feet of water down 45 has been the best lately. Spoons and flies are taking fish.



The perch are going nuts!
I went outside of the harbor just now and caught my limit on a paddle bug in 15 minutes...JUMBOS.
Everyone got their limit!


6 people $650, you bring your lunch and beverages, I take care of everything else.
I have some available slots open during the week, the weather is unbelievable, flat lake.

Holy Cow!

We left at 6AM and had 5 kids on board and one adult. We caught 150 perch and kept the biggest 90 to take home( average fish was 12 inches).


The salmon are going nuts wherever there is bait... the reefs are holding the bait and perch.
I had 14 boats trolling and catching all around us the whole time.

You Have To Strike When The Iron Is Hot!

The perch are biting all outside of the harbors and Navy Pier extremely well, so this would be the time to go while the weather is consistent (before the next cold front or July).


The salmon are hitting from 50 130 feet if water, but all you need is to find a school of bait fish and work the area. Today trolling out(east) was the best direction to catch fish even though there was a tremendous slide down below, towards the south which made all the lines run to the south( not directly behind the boat) causing some tangle issues. It was still really good action, mostly coho salmon.

Consistent West/South Winds....Great Fishing!!

The salmon are still on the bite, but have moved deeper (70 feet of water)
They are eating bugs on the surface and alewives down 20 to 60, 40 being the best yesterday.
Spoons and dodgers and flies are working.



The perch are biting like mad all over the lakefront. Soft shells working best for the JUMBOS, but I still am catching them on a shad rap with 3/8 oz. of weight about 3-4 feet above.

A Little North Wind goes a Long Way

I would have sworn that the perch would be in the harbor, but a little North by North West has been the problem. There are perch being taken on the outside of the harbor.

The coho salmon are still hitting real well just beyond the crib-line about a mile or so, just look for the bait schools.

The Perch Are Back

Four days later a few perch are beginning to show up outside of the harbor. This West wind should clear the water and suck in the cooler water that is just a few miles offshore, that is where the majority of the huge bait balls are. That is also where the salmon and huge schools of Jumbo's are hanging out.
The bait is beginning to show up in the harbor and it looks like there should be visible perch this afternoon also (if you use polarized glasses you can see them)



I have a cancellation for this Sunday morning for a perch or salmon charter or both.
The weather will be perfect and the fishing is still great!

All the ducks were in a row, but the perch did not show

Three days after a cold front, S.W. winds, low pressure...still no bait and not a perch to be seen.
Tomorrow should be what we have been patiently waiting for, I hope!



The salmon are still in 40 to 50 feet of water, the flies I am using are starting to get larger. I still run a few tiny flies up on the surface for the bug-eaters.

Great action again for thusday, take the morning or day off!

Yesterday and today were flops for perch and most fishing, but tomorrow will be amazing for perch. Open water will be called on account of wind from hell.
In case anyone was wondering how someone can have such an intimate knowledge of the water without actually living on the water.

Well that is the case. I live. work. play, and fish on the water...all summer!
Captain Gintas

Cold Front Still in place

This morning at 5:30 I caught one nice perch, that was it for the rest of the day. Shore fisherman outside the harbor caught a few, but that was it.

Off shore salmon fishing was good in the morning(17 fish) within 50 feet of water.
The afternoon trip was much less. the wind was a big factor which limited the amount of lines run and the capability to turn around and work a school of fish.

North Winds Bad!

I have caught no Jumbo Perch without live bait , and then slim pickings only.
Open water fishing has been called on a weather today.

North Winds

Usually winds from the North means bad fishing, but today the perch were slamming my bait. The paddle bug with a split shot 20 inches above was working like a charm. Fast twitching action after letting it sink for a ten count was best. Slow retrieve on the real, but fast action on the rod! Minnows and crabs will produce well as always, but I am a purist and love to fool them into eating my fake stuff with my action added! The shad rap has been disappointing me since yesterday. In the harbor is the way to go, but keep mobile.

The cohos are still on the bit , but the winds are stopping the open lake fishing for a day. The up side is that it will bring down more fish to my back yard... limit catches again!

Find The Bait...Find The Fish

The bait is thick in the harbors, so that is where the predators are, specifically the perch. Using your polarized glasses allows you to find the bait schools, which is also where the perch are, but just below. My technique is two fold, first I use a shad rap with some lead to locate and collect some fish. Second step is to use a paddle bug with a split shot to catch some of the deeper and more skittish ones. We went out yesterday with four boats morning and afternoon, resulting in an average of 10 fish per trip. The guys in Michigan City and North Point only got a few, more fishing than catching for some. Today was much better, we got a late start and went out to 40 feet of water, set lines and stayed inside of 60 feet. Surface down to 30 feet, using summer patterns, resulted in 20 fish with 9 that escaped. We focused our attention to where the huge bait balls were that were seen on the fish finder, every school that I trolled over resulted in hook-ups.

The Magical Hour

In all types of fishing there will be moments of pure pandemonium, in terms of the amount of action you get and actual fish that you see swarming all over. You just fish, catch , and hope that this incredible action will just hold on for another hour! You don't even waste the time to go to the bathroom. Unfortunately it ends just about when you get into the swing of things. The great shutdown!
I want to share with everyone about my favorite time of the day which corresponds with the fishing action now! Take a morning off and go down to your favorite Chicago Harbors. get there before 5:30. Make sure that you bring polarized glasses so you can watch the schools of different fish swimming by, not to mention the JUMBO PERCH that will be under the bait schools. Between 5:30 and 6:30 there will be fish everywhere. Bring a kid or kids! It will be worth the trip, but it ends at the end of this month! The coho fishing is still "off the hook". Limit catches the norm!!

Jumbo perch time!

The coho salmon are still hitting like there is no tomorrow. We went a little north out of Montrose Harbor and set lines in 25 ft of water. By the time we got to 45 ft of water, there were 27 cohos, one brown trout, one steelhead and one king salmon in the box. Everything came in on dodger and fly with the exception of the king which came in on a spoon.

After the charter I caught my limit of jumbo perch off the shore on shad rap. The perch are just outside of the harbors.

Coho Frenzy!

For the past week every trip has resulted in limit catches of primarily cohos
We left the harbor at 7am and went to 30 feet of water, set 17 lines and within two hours had our 30 fish
most of the action was coming on clown dodgers with small/tiny flies fished just below the surface


the perch are outside of all the harbors limit catches common
minnows, shadraps, paddlebugs, crabs are all working well
early morning and evenings are the best now because of the moon phase(full)

The Coho are back!

Greetings!

We just got back from an outstanding charter! We got our 30 fish limit, in which all were good size Cohos. They hit mostly on dodgers / flies and yellowbirds within 30 feet of water, just outside the Wilson Crib.

Perch can be had outside the harbors, although there aren't many large ones yet.

Let's go fishing!

The Cohos are back!

We've been getting an average of 15 Cohos for a 1/2 day charter for the past -3- days. They are hitting, mostly on yellowbirds at a depth of 25' - 35' just outside of Montrose and Belmont harbors.

The Perch are also here, although you'll have to work a little harder to get some big ones. They've been hitting well on minnows also just outside the harbors.

Check back soon,

Captain Gintas

Greetings!

Brown Trout are still near the breakwalls, hitting on black & gold spoons and Gobies at about 15 - 20 feet. Hint...Gobies eat worms, Browns eat Gobies.

Cohos are currently on the surface being taken on yellow birds.

Let's go fishing,

Captain Gintas

Greetings!

Fishing is starting to get more consistent. With Eastern winds, boats have been limited to fishing near the wall. Brown Trout have been abundant, catching them at depths of 15' - 20' on black spoons.

We've been averaging about 10 good fish a day, with the largest being a 14# King Salmon and a 12# Steel Head.

Perch have been spotty, while smelt are rare near Montrose Harbor at this time. Check back soon, as my updates will become more frequent and detailed.

Captain Gintas

Lake Michigan Fishing @ Montrose Harbor

4-Apr-07

Perch are being taken, mostly outside of Montrose Harbor on crappie rigs & minnows. Browns, Steelheads and Cohos have also been taken while fishing for Perch.

5-Apr-07

Cohos have entered Montrose Harbor and are being taken on minnows.

6-Apr-07

Descent perch fishing, both inside and outside of Montrose Harbor.

Angler-Charters Fishing Reports

Check back frequently to see what we're catching while fishing Lake Michigan!