Trolling for salmon on Lake Michigan with a sailboat

[Jason]

It's always good to have goals, so as we kick off 2014 my sailing goals are:

Introduce my daughter to sailing

Complete a sailing trip around rock island st Martin island poverty island up to summer island in northern Lake Michigan.

Develop a good trolling technique out on Lake Michigan with the CP16.  Will probably launch from Port Washington WI, and will put out two dipsy divers with flashers and plugs or streamer-jigs.  The part I need to practice is keeping the boat at 2 or 2.5 kits, maybe jib or stormjib alone will be the right speed.  I used the two rod holders for trolling last year they worked well. They angle out and backwards from the stern rails and do not interfere with any lines or the boom.  The boat has a depth/fish finder installed already.   Hopefully I can provide some updates mid summer. 

Happy New Year!

Jason

[kickingbug1]

   i thought about trying that on my lake for white bass----i might

[Tim Gardner]

Jason,  I use a 30# thrust Minn Kota on my 19 to troll for Stipped Bass on SML.  Works great at 1/2 throttle for these fish.

TG

[TedStrat]

Hi Jason
I trolled salmon on our lake in Maine on a 13' Catspaw- wooden cat rigged sailboat. Instead of going deep with led line and spoons, i trolled on top with streamer flies in dead of summer and would occasionally land salmon. If you are going too fast an old trick we used was simply to drag a bucket.
I just bought an Eclipse and am looking forward to sailing but also will try trolling here on Long Island - stripers not salmon of course - maybe just use the jib ?  Looking rforward to trying it next spring when I launch her.
Happy New Year! -Ted

[Bob23]

Hi Ted:
   I see this is your first post so I wanted to welcome you to this wild, wacky world of the Compac-o-nauts. Looking forward to your contributions.
Bob23 and "Koinonia" 1985 23/2  in NJ

[Jason]

Thanks Ted, good idea to throw a sea anchor / bucket overboard to fine tune speed.

-Jason

[brackish]

When I kept my last boat on the Gulf, each time we left Gulfport harbor, the first thing we would do is put a rod out for trolling.  Caught a lot of fish.  Mostly Spanish Mackerel, but an occasional Redfish of Speckled trout.  

[TedStrat]

Hey thanks Bob-happy to be part of this wild world too! Good to hear from a fellow east coaster and looking forward to what I can learn and also contribute here....great forum you guys have going!

[bmiller]

Not salmon or Lake Michigan, but should count for something!





Yellowtail caught just off Isla San Pedro. Enroute from San Carlos to Santa Rosalia aboard Pooka my previous ComPac 27.

[Bob23]

BM:
   I remember those original posts...made me want to move south and sail in the Sea of Cortez. Glad to see you are still lurking around.
Bob23
(Any boats in your future?)

[bmiller]

I'm looking.

Pooka is happily sailing the Chesapeake now.