West Coast Sportfishing Charters, is a Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing service located right in the heart of beautiful Manistee, MI. We are here because the Manistee area offers some of the best Salmon & Trout fishing to be found on Lake Michigan. Enjoy fishing aboard our 29' Baha Cruiser... outfitted for serious fishing and maximum safety & comfort!!! We are a member in good standing in the Michigan Charter Boat Association (MCBA)
Cell 989 928-2810 Text Msg CaptEd Email CaptEd
9/13/09 We could see the reflection of other boat lights on the water as we headed to our hole this morning. The lake had warmed up a few degrees and the fish were a little deeper but still were in the same location. The problem is that they weren't biting this morning. We landed one 2 yr old salmon in the first two hours of fishing when the bite is normally pretty good. We started searching for more fish out in deep water. We found some active fish eventually around 11am in 400 feet of water. The lake was still pretty calm, and we saw some fish splashing on the surface there. Less than a minute later we had a double going, with both fish coming right out of the water. I set up the camera real qucik to video, and we taped it. I will post that segment with a link later today. In the meantime here is a pic of our final outcome for the morning. Click the pic to view it larger.
9/12/09 afternoon We fished with RoseAnn's group this afternoon. We set up in 300 fow, and caught a 10 pound fish about 200 feet down, we thought he was bigger since we couldn't reel him in, but one of the hooks had caught outside his mouth and he was rotating through the water. These ladies had never caught a salmon before so they experience something new today.
9/12/09 I fished with Ron, Larry and Joe this morning and tied into a few big fish. They weren't hopping into the boat, it was slow fishing. We need a little colder weather to make the big fish more active.
9/2/09 pm Verhala's fished with me this afternoon. We had a couple knockoff's right away, but didn't manage to land the fish. But we land some nice fish. Laura caught the big one tonight, about 20 pounds. 7 year old Conrad reeled in a 34 inch salmon that weighed 14 pounds. Click the link to check out the pictures. I have been out fishing a number of times since then, and the lake has been just as calm each time. We are going south now, almost 10 miles and more on some days.
7/17/09 pm We sailed North tonight about 7:30om because the bite has been really late, just as the sun is setting. I set up my rods with herring, KRW flies, and a couple of favorite spoons, as well as some herring on some Walker dipsy divers and one Pro-Troll echip flasher with a KRW fly on it as a test to see if it caught fish with a hoochie side by side. The echip caught 2 fish. The herring took 4 fish and spoons took 3 fish. The biggest was a 21 pound chinook (king) on a protroll flasher with a KRW riverside fly on a downrigger at 60 feet down. The bite lasted a little over an hour, and we had a full box of big fish. It was exciting, as all three of us were reeling at one point. Click on the picture to view a larger image. Call or text me rather than email, as I don't get a chance to look at emails but once a day,
7/11/09We started early today, because it was supposed to be very windy in the afternoon. Pink was the hot color again, and these Army veterans caught their limit out next to the 3 fingers near buoy 1.
7/3/09Today we fishing out by the shipping channel of Saginaw Bay. WE had a stiff west wind blowing 15 knots that produced 4foot waves. We caught 14 keepers, a few shorties, and a sheepshead. Mostly the fish came on a pink blade with white and black spots. The motor started backffiring on the trip to port, and we idled in, but not before Capt Dick pulledd up alongside and the group transfered 10 cold refreshments (beer) to our boat. They tossed them across the 10 foot gap into our net which Eric was proficient with. That was the catch of the day.
Bauer's 6/28/2009 walleye fishing trip on Saginaw BayHunter, Shannon and Jeff, Jason, Michelle and Dennis came out fishing in 3 foot waves this morning as part of a charter trip I dontated to hands of hope at Covenant Healthcare. Nick and I set lines and we started catching fish out near #1 buoy in Saginaw Bay. We had 21 walleye when the wind starting blowing hard. We decided to quit as we didn't want to have a 2 hour boat ride back to the dock against 6 foot waves. The small craft advisory was put into effect by the time we arrived back at the dock.
Bob Sauve's family 6/27/2009 pm walleye fishing trip on Saginaw BayBobby, Paul and Mark got to my dock at 3pm expecting me to hop on the boat and start fishing and get done early. I turned the key and the boat was dead. No power anywhere. It turned out after 90 minutes of troubleshooting that the problem was a 50amp circuit breaker had gone bad. I replaced it and off we went to buoy #1. There we picked up our limit in about 2 hours and we caught that 11 pound catfish that qualifies them for a master angler patch.
Covenant's 6/27/2009 am walleye fishing trip on Saginaw BayRhonda and her son, Tom and Karen, Rod and Cody joined up at the Covenant work perks for a great day on the bay. The wind was light and variable, and there were virtually no waves except for other boats, which stayed away from us. We caught a 6 man limit in just under 4 hours, with both Nick and I working the rods. The bite was constant and we probably only had all the lines in the water for 10 minutes total during the morning. I hear there was a hatch that afternoon, but we had finished before the bugs hatched and got back into port early.
6/21/2009 Chris and Andy fished with me in 25 fow by the number 1 buoy in Saginaw Bay. The best harness was any color bead with a white #4 blade (back and front were both white). #2 producer was pink with a white back and white stripe in middle with black dots in white stripe. #3 was white beads with a orange blade (back and front). 1 oz at 45 feet, 2oz at 35 feet, 3 oz at 23 feet all produced equally. We took 25 on Saturday, and 15 on Sunday. We stopped when we hit our limit for the number of people on board each day. Both days, we had to throw keepers back because as we reeled in lines, fish were still biting. The color is really important, they hit an occasional fire tiger, but if white or pink was involved, the fish inhaled the bait. Today we were done before the sun broke through the clouds. Yesterday it was the same colors early, but as soon as the sun came out almost anything was taking fish. We were pulling lines and throwing fish back that hit after our last fish.
6/20/2009Tom and Jill, Matt, and Bobby fished with me this morning. We left the dock about 6:30am just before the walleye tournament was scheduled to start. A bunch of speedboats passed us while we went to our location to fish. Check out the pictures. It was overcast most of the morning, but the fish cooperated pretty good as you can see by the board holding our catch. We kept 25 fish, and caught 3 more as we were pulling lines. They will be back this summer to fish again.
6/15/09The contest winners fishing for an Onstar promotion got to fish compliments of Kerstan. Some of their pictures are below.
6/14/09Betsy is getting ready to plant one on this walleye.
6/13/09 Some members of the moose club fished with us today. Mike caught this 14 pound sheepshead that Kathy is holding. Just a huge old thing. They also caught 2 catfish, 14 walleye, and several white bass. I got off to a slow start, but mived to a good spot within an hour, but by that time I was already 8 fish behind the other boat that carried the other half of the group. The weather was warm, and the fish are really starting to bite good now. For several hours straight, all I did was reset lines from the bites we were getting.
6/12/09 The Schroeder's fished with us today. We caught 14 walleye, 1 perch and a couple 8 pound catfish. What a beautiful day it was, and the water is getting warmer now and fishing is starting to heat up.
Click the Walleye button on the left to see more pictures.
5/23/09 We only had a few hours to fish, and caught 5 fish this morning. We pulled lines to head in for a wedding at 9:30an. I got a call from Dick Donovan (Adventure1 Charters) and talked to Jay (Strikezone Charters) a little bit later (11am) who both said the fishing turned on about 10am. Wish I could have stayed another hour.
5/16/09 We caught 10 fish this morning. It was cold out there, with a 20 knot breeze, and 50 degrees, the chill was freezing my hands early in the morning.
Saginaw Bay temperatures are in the 50's now after the warm weekend. Check out this walleye limit (below) we caught in 17 fow trolling crawler harness's at 1.4 mph. Put out you harness 40 feet back with a 1.5 or 2 ounce weight at that speed. The hot color today was green blades, with a diagonal chartruese strip.
Capt. Ed
On Saturday, April 18th, I couldn't get out early as planned, but I did make it out walleye fishing out of Linwood Beach Marina about 4pm. I headed south and started trolling in 13 fow about half way to the Kawkawlin river mouth. We trolled south without success for 30 minutes, then we trolled west directly into the wind, and picked up our first walleye on a orange crawler harness with a one ounce bottom bouncer, trolling at 1 mph. We marked the spot and trolled for another five minutes and turned around. The wind changed from the west to NE and started blowing about 20 - 30 knots. We pulled lines and headed to port. I talked with a buddy who was out there in that vicinity from 9am - 4pm and he pulled in 10 fish using crawler harness's and husky jerks in 14 fow. I passed him in the parking lot - he was leaving as I was arriving. I was checking out the weather report and it is going to be breezy and we will get some rain showers the next few days, but the long range forecast looks good for next weekend. I hope to be out there then.
Capt. Ed
Click the Photo Gallery link on the left to see last years details and photo's.
We specialize in Michigan's Saginaw Bay walleye fishing charters in the spring and early summer, and Lake Michigan salmon fishing charters in the end of July through October, but also target Rainbow (Steelhead), Brown, CoHo's and Lake
Trout. Book now for the best dates. You will fish in comfort on board our 29'
Baha Cruiser vessel and everyone appreciates the convenience of the head in the
small washroom, and cabin! I launched in early April and will fish through October. I am a professional licensed captain (U.S.C.G.) The boat is inspected and licensed by the US Coast Guard and Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Edventure is equipped with all the safety features.
If there is anything we can do to accomodate you, please call me and ask. We want this to be fun and memorable. We watch the marine forecast closely for every trip, and will ask you to re-schedule if we think conditions are unfavorable.
Check out the pictures in the photo gallery.
There are some great places to stay in Manistee. This link is to a cottage that you can book in advance, check out their availability online: upnorthgetaway (248) 668-9925
I can personally recommend it highly. The cottage has plenty of space to accommodate large groups, has a complete kitchen, private dock, gas grills, pool table, and fireplace. While relaxing on the deck this spring I watched a bald eagle fly over, as the turkeys were gobbling in the woods across the street! If it is booked, you can also get rooms at the Microtel Inn, or other motels.
Click on the Weather (Manistee) to find out the temperature each of the next 10 days for the Manistee area.
The NOAA forecast link is to find out the marine forecast (wind direction and wave height) for the next 5 days. Be sure to check with me within 48 hours before your trip for the most accurate weather updates - Call me on my cell 989-928-2810.
I have seen it change as weather fronts get delayed or stay further south or north than anticipated.
To find directions from Mapquest, click on the Directions button. Zoom out to find Manistee. The star is located at Solberg's Marina, 47 Arthur Street, slip #5, Manistee MI 49660. It is right across from Burger King on 31. The train tracks cross 31 at the entrance to the marina. Bear to the left when entering, go past the office and bear to the left again. Look for slip # 5.
or call Captain Ed at 989-928-2810
Pager: 989-258-0934 (Enter your phone number and I will return your call
or
Bauer's 6/28/2009 walleye fishing trip on Saginaw BayHunter, Shannon and Jeff, Jason, Michelle and Dennis came out fishing in 3 foot waves this morning as part of a charter trip I dontated to hands of hope at Covenant Healthcare. Nick and I set lines and we started catching fish out near #1 buoy in Saginaw Bay. We had 21 walleye when the wind starting blowing hard. We decided to quit as we didn't want to have a 2 hour boat ride back to the dock against 6 foot waves. The small craft advisory was put into effect by the time we arrived back at the dock.
Bob Sauve's family 6/27/2009 pm walleye fishing trip on Saginaw BayBobby, Paul and Mark got to my dock at 3pm expecting me to hop on the boat and start fishing and get done early. I turned the key and the boat was dead. No power anywhere. It turned out after 90 minutes of troubleshooting that the problem was a 50amp circuit breaker had gone bad. I replaced it and off we went to buoy #1. There we picked up our limit in about 2 hours and we caught that 11 pound catfish that qualifies them for a master angler patch.
Covenant's 6/27/2009 am walleye fishing trip on Saginaw BayRhonda and her son, Tom and Karen, Rod and Cody joined up at the Covenant work perks for a great day on the bay. The wind was light and variable, and there were virtually no waves except for other boats, which stayed away from us. We caught a 6 man limit in just under 4 hours, with both Nick and I working the rods. The bite was constant and we probably only had all the lines in the water for 10 minutes total during the morning. I hear there was a hatch that afternoon, but we had finished before the bugs hatched and got back into port early.
6/21/2009 Chris and Andy fished with me in 25 fow by the number 1 buoy in Saginaw Bay. The best harness was any color bead with a white #4 blade (back and front were both white). #2 producer was pink with a white back and white stripe in middle with black dots in white stripe. #3 was white beads with a orange blade (back and front). 1 oz at 45 feet, 2oz at 35 feet, 3 oz at 23 feet all produced equally. We took 25 on Saturday, and 15 on Sunday. We stopped when we hit our limit for the number of people on board each day. Both days, we had to throw keepers back because as we reeled in lines, fish were still biting. The color is really important, they hit an occasional fire tiger, but if white or pink was involved, the fish inhaled the bait. Today we were done before the sun broke through the clouds. Yesterday it was the same colors early, but as soon as the sun came out almost anything was taking fish. We were pulling lines and throwing fish back that hit after our last fish.
If there is anything we can do to accomodate you, please call me and ask. We want this to be fun and memorable. We watch the marine forecast closely for every trip, and will ask you to re-schedule if we think conditions are unfavorable.
Check out the pictures in the photo gallery.
