Chicago Fishing with Mplant » Cold Water Crankn' For Ugly Salmon

by mplant1

Tis been a while since my last blog, but an eventful month of cold water salmon crankn’ has ignited a strong salmon bite this last week or so. I’ve made it out a few times during this month, and each and everytime has produced action. If you’re looking to catch a salmon, now through the Halloween is probably your final chance. Sure, they’re really ugly right now, but they do have some fight left in em – especially the big males who are very angry fish right now.

Spots, spots, spots. I have posted an occasional report, dropped a picture in a thread, etc etc, and people are just nuts for moldy oldies. Some people are absolutely convinced that fish are caught in one spot, and just about demand where I have been fishing. That’s not nice . The truth of the matter is the 4 year old kings have flooded the tribs and harbors of all the shorelines of Lake Michigan, and fish can be caught just about anywhere right now.

I got the month started by joining my friend Tom. We went north of the border and hit up a couple of spots. The night ended for us going a combined 8 for 13. Not a bad evening at all. Here are a couple pics of the outting – 6 kings around the size Tom is holding, and a couple of “Steelies”. All fish taken were on the crank. Jointed shallow diving thundersticks or rapalas. The key is shallow diving…

So that’s how we’ve been doing it. Cranks, shorter and stiffer rods, and non stretch line. That’s the key for enticing bites. However, I have been out there and seen lots of people trying to mimic the method of extraction, but it seems that only a few can replicate. Salmon fishing isn’t hard, but it does take some work and effort before you start hooking into and landing fish. As I recall, I got skunked my entire first season of chasing kings back in the day…

Read more...