Fin Nailer, LLC Fishing Charters, Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing St.Joseph, Michigan

Fishing Calendar & How We Fish

July

Skamania (Steelhead) Summer Runs WOW!!!

Once Surface Temps Near shore reach 65 to 68 degrees the very next Big Blow out of the NW will turn the Lake over, the surface Temp will drop to 47 to 55. There will be Thousands of Summer Run Skamania at St. Joseph the very next day!!!

It happens every year. Fishing is Fast & Exciting. Skamania Steelhead are one of the most Exciting Freshwater Sportfish in the US. These Silver Lightning Bolts are famous for Reel Singing Runs, Magnificent Leaps of 5 to 6’ into the Air, 5, 6, 7, 8 times before coming to Net. That's if you can get them there!!

Eric Flesvig did a Great Job on this "Skamania"

Pier Head Skaminia Program

The last week of June through July there are significant numbers of Skamania milling about the Stained Water from the St. Joseph River as it empties into Lake Michigan at the Pier Head. Working this 15-35’ Inside Water is Great for an Afternoon Charter.

The Program is smaller 7-9 Rods, but very effective. We run 3 Down Riggers with Rotators & J-Plugs, 2 High Divers with Spoons and J-Plugs, and 1-2 Bird Rods with 2-4 Colors of Leadcore towing Spoons. The Program is small because when they Hook-Up they're going to Run & Jump. When you hook one they go Straight Up & Jump. You’ll be watching the Rods, then suddenly there's a 12# Skamania Jumping Around Behind the Boat 6’ in the Air.

"Skamania" Steelhead These Babys Will Just Flat Out Take You to School!!!

Amy White did the Job on this Beauty. Her Dad and Mom brought Amy and two Sisters Charter Fishing in July 2006. These Girls did Great.

Nicely Done Amy!!!

Jerry Curry's Group Fished with me out of South Haven, MI years ago. Jerry said "We Never Caught Fish Like This in South Haven Russ"

Testimonial Letter

We took 2 Trips on the Fin Nailer in 2006. What a Beautiful Boat. Capt. Russ has made the Fin Nailer one of the most “Customer Friendly” Boats on the Lake.

It is Amazing to watch Capt. Russ set up the Lines. We had 18 Lines out, and within minutes we were Catching Fish. You don’t worry about Finding Fish, because he knows where their at and gets you on them.

You can tell, Charter Fishing is not a Job to Russ, it’s a Passion.

There are No Strangers on the Fin Nailer, Just Friends he hasn’t met yet. Looking forward to 2007

FISH-ON
Jerry Curry

Great Mixed Bag Catches of King Salmon
Skamania Steelhead, and Lake Trout
await on “The Deep Break”

Deeper water 80’ and out the Thermocline is now fully developed. It holds Zooplankton, the forage for Alewives and other Baitfish. Trout and Salmon hold in this 47 to 55 degree band of water. It's close to the Dinner Table & within their “Preferred Temperature Zone”.

Fishing on the “Deep Break” is very reliable. I run a Big “Full Program” giving my customers the best opportunity for a Mixed Bag Limit Catch.

In 2006, during July I made my living in 102-108’ of water. The area was loaded with Bait and Sportfish. The North Troll into the Current was my Bread & Butter Troll. The South Troll was OK, but we had to put some serious speed on the Program to get results.

I began fishing Copper Line in lieu of Lead Core on our Deeper Sets in 2006. It’s a heavy diving line. The more you put out the deeper it goes. Two Big Advantages over Lead Core. First you put out (And Reel Back In) far less Copper to get the Depth. 300’ of Copper gets as Deep as 450-500’ of 27# Lead Core. Second it has no stretch. When a Fish Bites it Sticks the Hook in Them. I had Kings come in with all 3 Hooks through the Jaw, and the Fish’s Mouth Pinned Shut.

Our Deep Water Program proved very effective. From June 16 through July 21, 2006 we caught over 20 Fish on every Trip. A few were pushing 30. I’m on the Lake every day. I know the Pulse of Lake Michigan, and what the Fish are wanting.

The Curry's Group Doing a Triple!!!

took my Dad, his two buddies Ted & Dick, and my brother Ron Fishing for my Dad’s Birthday. They Boated 20 Fish, including 15 Kings, 3 Lake Trout, and 2 Skamania. Catches like this were Normal June 15 through July 2006 FISH ON!!!

Fritz White Family
Fishing Charter
Nicely Done Gang!!

The Graham Bros. what a Bunch. They claim to be Pizza Chefs, but in My Book Darn Good Fishermen.

The Jim Rinehart Group Fished through a Rain Storm and Caught 27 Fish. Good Job Guys!!

Large Group Fishing Charters Available

American Village Builders, Portage, MI
Field Supervisors Fishing Charter, July 13, 2006

Our boats are licensed to carry up to 6 passengers on a Fishing Charter. For larger groups I’ll have other Good Captains help out. For this trip my dock mate Capt. Gary Gamble ran the 2nd boat. The Group met at our Docks in the morning, split up, and we went fishing. There was a small wager for “Big Catch” so they checked each others progress by radio as we fished. Then we all gathered for this Group Photo back at the Docks. These Guys were Great. We had the Best Day!!

Between both boats they boated 38 Fish. Charter Fishing is a good alternative to Golfing or Picnics for Business Outings. I had several Businesses Book Charters for their Employees, and or Customers last year. They were very pleased with the Trip, the Fishing Experience, and the Value. They’ll be back for more.

The Tarnow Family Loves to Fish. Ray as you can see Likes to Net Fish. I thought for a Minute he was taking the Net Home.

The Trevor Lenord Party these guys get the “Captains Award for the Toughest Crew of the 2006 Season” we cleared the Pier Head at 6:30am 5-6’ Waves out of the NW with 25 MPH Wind Chasing them. I put the Fin Nailer on Plane Right into them about the 3rd Wave Sprayed Right over the Bridge, and landed behind the Boat. They were on the Bridge with me. I asked Trevor “Well What Do You Think?” They all answered “Yee Ha, this is Just Like Cedar Point, Lets Do It.” By the end of the Day the Sea Built to Waves Taller than the Boat and These Guys Loved It! FISH ON GUYS!!

Testimonial Letter from an Experienced Lake Huron Fisherman

Dear Russ:

On July 15, 2006, I had the good fortune of being invited on a fishing trip by Captain Russ Jarvis, along with his Dad, brother and another friend.

Captain Russ runs a Charter Service on Lake Michigan, operating out of St. Joseph, MI. His boat, the Fin Nailer, is a comfortable 30 foot Chris Craft, having all top of the line Electronic and Fishing Equipment.

Captain Russ’s skill as a Charter Boat Captain and a Fisherman speaks for itself, as we boated 20 fish, 15 being King Salmon, the other five were Steelhead and Lake Trout. The largest fish was a 20# King Salmon.

I have over 25 years experience fishing Lake Huron on my own boat (a 25’ Tiara) out of Oscoda and East Tawas area. A few years ago, fishing on Lake Huron was good, however due primarily to lack of Bait Fish, the Success Rate on Lake Michigan by far exceeds Lake Huron. Also, fishing with Russ was a learning experience for me, he will share his Fishing Skills with you.

If you want to catch fish and have a fun Trip, I highly recommend you book a Charter with Captain Russ and the Fin Nailer.

Sincerely,
Ted Kasprzak

Teff Lewis and son Zack with a King Salmon Zack Caught. They Fished with the Jim Rinehart
Party. Zack’s 1st Time Out.
Very Nice!!

Fishing is Great in July, with Calm Seas

In July, opportunities for Great Fishing are in full swing. If there's Cold Water Inside, and the Skamania & Kings are there, We’re on them. If not we’re on the Deep Break where Fishing is Reliable Every Day.

In July the Lake will be 70-75 degrees. The City of St. Joseph is a lot of Fun, with Craft Shows in the Park most Weekends, Silver Beach is wonderful. The Sea is Fishable 90-95% of the time. We only had 1 Blow Day in 2006.