During Winter Lake Michigan surface temperatures will drop to nearly 32 degrees. Spring thaw and rain run-off flows into Creeks, Streams, and Rivers warming them quicker than the Lake. When these Feeder Streams & Rivers flow into Lake Michigan they can be 10 degrees warmer than the lake water. We call these Warm Water Inlets or Hot Spots.

March through April Rainbow Smelt migrate to these Hot Spots to stage and spawn. The St Joseph River at the St. Joseph Pier Head, and the warm water discharge “The Boils” at the Cook Power Plant 7 miles south of the Harbor are Hot Spots. Huge schools of Smelt search the Lake Michigan shoreline for these Hot Spots. They migrate along shore using the deeper Troughs between the Nearshore Sandbars.

Lake Run “Brown Trout” in the 5 to 15# class show up in significant numbers pursuing the shallow nearshore Smelt. The Trigger is the Temperature Difference. If Lake Michigan is 36 degrees and the St. Joseph River is 42 the Smelt & Browns will be there. The Browns use the same Deeper Troughs the Smelt use. They run between Shore and the 1st Sandbar, or between the 1st and 2nd Sandbar, or the 2nd and 3rd hunting for Schools of Smelt. Sometimes Browns will hold right in the flow of a Warm Water Inlet waitng for Smelt to show up.

We set up the “Nearshore Brown Program” using a combination of Speed Compatible, Shallow Running Body Baits (Plugs) and Spoons. See the Diagram Below.

Typically, we’ll run 3 Down Riggers with Spoons on longleads. A Flatline to a Plug 80-120’ back on each side. A Dipsey Diver turned out to 3 1/2, 20-40’ back with a Rotator & Fly on each side. They generate interest from courious Browns, Coho, and Kings. Then 4-6 Bird Rods per side towing Plugs 60-150’ back. This is a 15-20 Rod Program, and its alot of fun.

The majority of the Browns will come in one of the three Deeper Troughs. Sometimes the Birds in the right Trough is what they want, other times they want the Boat Setup. So I try to fish the Boat in say the middle Trough and run my Bird in the 1st Trough between Shore and the 1st Sandbar. If that doesn’t work, we’ll move out to the 2nd & 3rd Troughs. But once we hit a few Fish we will learn:

• Where Their At
• What They Want
• How They Want It.

The Key to Maximizing our Success is Paying Close Attention to “What The Fish are Telling Us They Want” I’ll Tweek the Program to give them what they want. As we learn more, we’ll Tweek a little more. Untill we have the Baits, Presentation, Direction, Location, and Speed Down. Then we’ll Pound that water and “Nail Em”.

A Good Fisherman is Opportunistic. I learned long ago not to spend Valuable Fishing Time on “Dead Water.” April requires me to be flexible and opportunistic. If the Browns are on the Beach we’ll be there running our “Nearshore Brown Trout Program”. If not, we’ll set up the “Bottom to Top” Fishing Program for Coho, Kings & Skamania in 35 to 90’ of water. When I’m fishing every day I know the “Pulse of the Lake” and have a good idea where we’ll get our fish.

During April & May we’ll catch fish 8-10’ down all the way to the bottom. On Cloudy or Choppy Days the fish will come higher in the top 20’. On Sunny , Flat Calm Days the majority will come 20-40’ down. But under all conditions I never give up on the bottom. There a Big 4 year old Adult 15-30# Kings lying down there Digesting their last meal of Alwives. Their always in the mood for an easy Snack. Theres also Big Lake Trout. They natually orient themselves near the bottom. So the “Bottom to Top” Program is designed to catch those High Running Coho & Skamania. Those Bottom Hugging Kings & Lake Trout, and everything in between.

Southern Lake Michigan Warms First!!

Southern Lake Michigan from Michigan City to St. Joseph warms first during April. Nearshore temperatures can rise to nearly 50 degrees, while it may still be 38 degrees, 10 miles out in 200’ of water, or farther North in Grand Haven to Ludington.

Warmer Southern Lake Michigan Waters draw a Tremendous Migration of Alewives into the St. Joseph Harbor Area. Alewives migrate in Schools the Size of your House. They are the Primary Food Source for Lake Michigan Sportfish including: King (Chinook) Salmon, Coho Salmon, Skamania Steelhead, Brown Trout and Lake Trout. As the Alewives migrate South to the Warmer Waters the Sport Fish migrate with them.

ALEWIVES (Baitfish)

During the Winter when the Sportfish live in 38-39 degree water their metabolism slows down, they become lethargic, and hungry. Once water temperatures rise to 42 degrees their metabolism picks up, they get a surge of energy, and become Alewife Eating Machines. Combine the migration of the Alewives, and Sportfish to our area with this surge of enegy and you’ve got Tremendous Fishing in St. Joseph.

About the 2nd week of April the Coho Salmon will begin to show up, then the Kings. Soon after the Skamania Steelhead fresh and hungry after their April Spawning Run up the St. Joseph River will be in. Fishing on Lake Michigan is in Full Swing in St. Joseph. Remember the water at the Northern Harbors of Grand Haven, Muskegon, and Ludington is still Cold. They’re fishing is limited to the Brown Trout Program,but in St. Joseph we’re getting Box Filling Limit Catches of Coho, King Salmon, Skamania Steelhead & Browns.

This is a Big Fishing Program. Michigan Law allows me to run 3 Rods per Angler, and I run all I can for our Greatest Success. We fish the “Deep V” Program keeping higher sets to the outside and deeper sets to the inside. When fish get hooked they rise up and flow over to the center of the boat. By keeping good tension to the fish, it will rise and flow over the inside lines allowing us to bring him in straight behind the boat. Notice how all Devices & Presentations are higher on the outside and deeper towards the middle. It's alot of fun. Especially when we get a double, triple or even a quad going as we do this time of year.

It’s alot of work to run all these Rods. Most of my Clients like to help Set Rods, Record our Bites & Fish, Net Fish, Steer the Boat, Watch the Fishfinder, and Change Out Baits. Remember after a few bites the “Fish Will Tell Us What They Want” I’m constantly paying close attention to the Program, Speed, and Currents. Sometimes the direction and speed we fish (with or against the Current) is more important than the Baits we’re running. I’ll Tweek, and Tweek, and Tweek my Program to it’s Maximum Fish Catching Potential. We’ll all work together and have alot of fun.

On average Lake Michigan is Fishable 65-70% of the time in April. If the Lake is rough, the Steelhead fishing on the St. Joseph River is very good, and I would be able to get you out on the Fin Nailer III. My 24’ enclosed and heated River Boat.

Dress warm for April fishing. The Lake water is cool. We have a heater for the Cabin, but a warm Jacket and Hat would be good when you’re on the Bridge or Back Deck Fishing Area.