Mgiven Loc: Michigan

I'm taking Thursday off and want to try out Tawas for the first time this year. Reports are browns, steelhead and coho are doing ok here and there. Wind conditions are looking good for my 18' to be out there so if someone wants to go fishing just hit me up. Fishing buddy has to work. I've got the tackle just need to bring your snack/beverages. Hope to launch early.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Good Luck Mgiven, we'll be looking for the pictures.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Sounds like a very tempting offer! I just got home from Bay City after having spent the day with my Mom as an early Mother's Day celebration so I am kind of "driven out" for now in terms of travelling across State.

Good luck out there when you go!

Mgiven Loc: Michigan

Thanks, I'm mostly looking to try out different rod holder setup for dipsy rods. They seem to be easier for me to put out. The holders I had last year were angled to high.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

When I'm running dipsey divers I typically lower my rod holders and let them be parallel to the water and straight outwards. Mine are mounted on the gunnel forward of my downriggers that are located in the stern corners like yours.

I also run my leadcore lines on the same mounting plate right next to the dipsey's, only I do angle the leadcore rods upward a few clicks on those Big Jon rod holders...as well as being guided out with large planer boards out beyond where the dipsey's are running.

I always set the diving rotater to the #3 setting so they run outward as far as possible when deployed at depth. I use the magnum sized disks with the added depth ring since I am typically in at least a 100' of water during Summer and Fall.

For Spring fishing I suspect that you are using the smaller dipsey's and trolling in shallow water...perhaps less than 30'? I have some of the smaller dipsey models but for some reason do not use them very often. It would be fun to fish with you and exchange ideas!

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Managed to scrounge up an old photo...

dipsey rod deployed under quite a bit of pressure. When a fish strikes you just want to be sure you have a good grip on the rod when pulling it out to fight the fish!

Mgiven Loc: Michigan

Awesome pic, it's hard to beat watching the sun come up or go down on the water.

Thank you for the wealth of information. Last year I ran the dipsies on my rod tree and wasn't getting the right angle as you described. Hopefully this will make things better/easier to run. I'm a little leary of laying the rod holders down like that but that's the way it seems to work best. Like you said the resistance of the gear pulling should keep it in there until you pull it up. These techniques of fishing feel like you are fighting a fish just putting your stuff out lol.

Yes they've been working the 20-40 range lately and picking fish up in the shallower water. Hope to pick up a brown or laker to put on the smoker this weekend.


In the past this has been a good time to troll shallow long lining stick baits and putting out a spread with boards in the shallower water. I haven't done it in a while but it's a nice run down to the Singing Bridge and you will pick up a mixed bag of walleye, coho and browns. It's about an 8 mile run so you have to pick your days to run that far in a smaller boat.

Again, thank you for the help it is appreciated.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Sounds like you have a good plan dialed in. I agree that at this time of year the long lining of stick baits works very well in shallow waters. If fish are present...you will definitely catch them!

I'll be out in my boat over the next week or so targeting the same fish types that you are seeking here locally. Once I find them in decent numbers I switch things up to the kayak and then just run a single line.

Mgiven Loc: Michigan

Went 0-1 today but it was a very nice day. Trolled 30-35 ft off Tawas Point and lost a nice steelhead at the back of the boat. I need to update the net with a bigger hoop lol.
Bugs came out big time and I quit about 11:30.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Nice to hear you report! Bugger about that steelie right at the boat! Looks like it was a great day as far as weather goes.

Was that your first time out this season with the boat?

I managed to get out in my kayak today and had a good time right close to home. I have a little story planned but when I reached shore I dropped my phone in the water so all my pictures are trapped! I scooped it up quickly and had it resting in a bowl of dry rice within a half hour. Hopefully in a few days I can turn on the power and cross my fingers that it still works!

Mgiven Loc: Michigan

Bummer about your phone. Hopefully the rice trick works for you. It worked on an Ipod my son drowned when he was younger. took about 3 days I think.

We were down in Ohio a couple weeks ago and did well on walleye every day we were down there so we have some in the freezer for summer fish fry and now I can fish for silver fish for the smoker.

We're camping up that way towards Tawas Memorial Weekend so hopefully weather will get me out again.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

I got lucky with the phone...just an overnight stay in a bowl of "Minute Rice" did the trick. I was able to use it this morning to offload some photos and take new ones as well.

Very cool about your walleye trip. Those are a blast to catch and delicious on the table! Enjoy your camp out in Tawas coming up. I have stayed at the State Park on the point and really enjoyed that region.