It was only a
one day affair, but from the 5:30AM meeting in the
parking lot at the boat launch to the goodbyes in the
early evening, it was one busy, fun filled 12 hours.
Once again, members of the online site
MichiganSportsman.com gathered for a day of fishing
adventure. Salmon and trout were the target and we
planned to fish Lake Michigan out of Manistee, a port
well known for its excellent big lake fishery. Each
boat anted up $20 of which $10 would be pooled for the
winning team and the other tenspot went into a kitty
awarded to the largest fish. Species were given points
with lake trout being at the low end at five and brown
trout sitting atop the list, being worth 25 points.
Each team would weigh in six fish. The winners were to
be determined by combining weight with points. The
first three places would be in the money.
Ten boats, captained and/or crewed by members of
the MichiganSportsman online site, set out in the
predawn darkness on Saturday, August 31st. We planned
to monitor channel 69 on the marine radio to banter
back and forth and share information. This was to be a
fun tournament, rather than the cutthroat variety of
such events, where friendships are forged rather than
avoided.
I was a part of Team Danno. Danno, otherwise known
as George Munn of Metamora, MI, put together a crew of
his son Dan, Toto, and myself, known as Whit on the
site. We headed south from the pierheads on a lake
scudded with two foot rollers created by a stiffening
east wind.
When the sonar unit showed we were crossing the
dropoff marking "The Shelf", I slowed the boat. Danno
and Toto began to set lines. We were using a
combination of downriggers with spoons, rods set with
dipsey divers, hoochie mommas, and green flies, as
well as two rods with J-plugs and weighted to go down
to about 40 feet. The surface temperature of the lake
was 70ºF and we knew there was a significant break at
the 40 foot mark.
The four of us waited in quiet anticipation for the
morning’s first action. Thirty minutes passed without
a strike, and the radio was quiet. The freshening east
wind was kicking up rollers of 2-3 feet as well
trolled, the shore lights being masked by the lights
of a hundred or more boats, moving along in their
search for salmon.. A sudden burst of energy over the
radio brought us to life again. "I’m having a Caz
attack", blurted Caznik. He and his crew were onto a
fish.
This brought other boats in the tourney to thumb
their microphones and we learned that other fish,
large kings, were being hooked with many already in
the coolers. We trolled on. No hits and nothing in the
cooler for our efforts
As the first hint of light banded its way in a tiny
sliver across the eastern horizon, one of the
highlines, fitted with a silver J-plug snapped into
action. Danno grabbed the rod with a well rehearsed
motion who’s smoothness and fluidity told of his
experience. Line "zinged" off the reel signaling a
fish of large proportions trying to make his escape
westward toward the distant Wisconsin shore.
Unfortunately the line soon went slack announcing the
success of the fish’s escape attempt. Upon reeling in
the line we found it had broken just above the lure.
In quick order we hooked and lost four other fish.
In the meantime the radio crackled with cries of,
"Can’t talk, got a fish on"...."Another Caz
attack"....."Stien strikes again.", and other such
announcements of fish action. However, our spirits
never flagged.
I had been eyeing the box of plastic wrapped
muffins Danno had brought along to stave off
starvation and any requests to, "Let’s go in, I gotta
get something to eat." They were king sized muffins of
assorted variety. I choose a banana/nut specimen and
began to nibble away. Just like that a fish hit a
downrigger rod next to me. Grabbing the rod, I set the
hooks into a fish which we boated in short order. It
was a coho of about 6 lbs. The spell had been broken.
Was it the muffin?
Finishing off the tasty treat, I sat and we waited.
Nothing!
It was suggested that I eat another muffin. I
obliged with a blueberry gem. On the third bite a rod
shuddered with a fish and I deftly took it in hand and
soon a lake trout of about 9 lbs. was flopping in the
net. Indeed, it was another "muffin fish". Since I
began to dive into those muffins, we were two for two
in hooked and landed fish. With this in mind, Toto
handed me another muffin. By this time flavor did not
seem to matter. "Here’s another one Whit.", is all he
said.
Radio traffic told us that we had a lot of ground
to make up. Trapper, Big Rig, Tgafish, Tkpolsek, DanP
and Steelyhead, all were into fish and they boasted of
their size.
I was half way through the muffin when a fish
struck, and almost immediately, a second rod bounced
with the take of a fish, which was just as quickly
lost. A king salmon, the first of the morning. The
marine radio traffic told us that we really needed to
get some weight into the box. The cohos were all under
10 lbs and we were running behind the other boats.
Another muffin was offered and I eyed it balefully.
After a mild protest, I began the slow consumption of
the baked goodie. Except, by this time, they were not
quite so "good". I was getting "muffined out." I was
entering into a muffin induced daze by this time, but
the fish gods smiled and we boated another king
salmon. This one was pushing the 20 lb. mark we
estimated. Crew Danno, aboard the Munnee II, was
making a comeback and so it was announced over the
radio.
Within the next few hours I consumed more muffins
than I care to think about, none of which were of the
bran variety, thank the Lord. When fishing slowed, the
three non-eating members of the crew would entice me
with another offering. We had netted eight fish, but
badly needed another king for its weight. It was now
getting close to 1PM. The weigh in at the launch
parking lot would take place at 2:00 and we were about
four miles from the pierheads. Time was getting short.
Toto and Dan suggested that I eat one more muffin.
"It’s for the team Whit."
I vehemently protested. I could take no more, but
they would have none of that. While Danno piloted the
boat, his son Dan and Toto tackled me as I tried to
escape. They stretched my back over the gunnel of
Munnee II so that my head arched downward over the
side. With Toto sitting on my chest they force fed me
another muffin. I have no idea what kind it was. Danno,
our fearless coach went intto his Knute Rockne mode
and pleaded with me to "Eat one more for the Flipper."
.
With the muffin gone and crumbs rolling off my
chest, the two muffin stuffers let me up. Right on
cue, a long inactive rod burst downward with a strike.
We landed this fish, our last and it was a king salmon
of about 12 lbs.
It was time to head in.
Out of ten teams we ended up in 5th place with 142
pts. The combo of DonP, otherwise known as Don
Peterson who fishes out of South Haven, MI and
Steelyhead, better known to his friends as Art
Bukowski of Grosse Pte, MI. Had an outstanding day of
fishing. Art is a student at Michigan State University
in East Lansing and had never landed a salmon over 10
lbs. Don and Art won both the total points contest and
the prize for the largest fish. Their 207 pts. and a
fish of 25 lbs. garnered both prizes. Steelyhead not
only landed his first 10+ lbs., but he also landed
several that were over the 20 lb. mark.
Trouttracker/Larry Monroe of Hastings, MI and his
partner Steinfishski/Tim Stein of Grand Rapids earned
2nd place with 187 pts. Using wire line was their key
to success.
Using wire line with dipseys and/or hoochie mommas
trollng flies was the secret for the largest fish.
The weigh in was followed by what has become a
MichiganSportsman tradition, a potluck feast. Since
this was a purely male oriented banque; there was nary
a carrot or celery stick in sight. None of that raw
broccoli or cauliflower dipped in some flavored white
sauce for this crew. Elk steaks, corn on the cob
grilled over charcoal, venison BBQ, a great homemade
and hot salsa, zesty potato salad, baked, beans, stout
venison chili, and so much more made up this well
supplied table.
All too soon evening crept on and "goodbyes" were
exchanged and comments of, "Let’s do this next year",
were expressed. And indeed we shall. Danno and Toto
will bring along a ready supply of muffins you can be
sure.
