TOPIC:

Taking some friends and customers out tomorrow morning from Michigan City. Not sure if we should try in close for steelies or head way out right away or somewhere in between. I haven't been out in a while so any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Nick

Hard to say, this north blow might shake up the thermocline

Positives for skamania in close: got some rain, which might have a few nosing around the creek mouth.

Negatives: surface water is pretty warm and the north wind might destroy the nearshore thermocline




If the friends/customers are newbies and don't really care what they catch, and just want to have a good time on the lake - I'd head out deeper and have a couple laker setups and run some silver stuff and hope to get lucky

If it all possible I would do a PM versus AM trip to let the lake settle as much as after the wind and rain. MC Buoy still showing 3+ wave height so warm water is pounding inshore. IMHO If the crew and conditions permit I would probably head out to 90' and keep going until I find fish. Guessing the 50 degree water is still at the 50' - 55' down where it was about 10 days ago. We fished 90 - 115' and were catching coho and lake trout with a steelie or 2 mixed in. If there were any questions about the crew's stomach's I would stay in work the steelies and hope that a few gaspergoos joined the party to get some rods bent.

If you see action on the pier as your heading out give steelhead a pass or 2 then cut your losses and run deep. Or maybe not. Its Friday morning and their on Lake Michigan there is no downside.

Thanks for the replies guys. Can't wait to give it a go tomorrow.

Tried in close first thing with no action. Went out to 90 ft and trolled to 125 where we went 2/2 on lakers.
One on a slider spoon and one on a D/F.
Not a lot of action but it was a beautiful day. Thanks again for the advice!

A beautiful day and some fish in the boat, what can be better? Nice pic

12 miles out 13 degrees is clay banks should be good for King's. I use to run Brandi-k charters out of City.