Classified Enterprises LLC Loc: Downers Grove. Il.

A Great Man Once Said: “There is nothing to fear, but fear itself!”

One day I noticed my neighbor was getting his new 16′ deep “v” fishing rig ready for a fishing trip. I asked him,“Are you going to Lake Michigan?” He looked at me and replied, “Hell no, Lake Michigan is too rough for me!” I asked him if he ever fished the lake before. He answered, “No”….. I told him that I have been fishing for salmon on Lake Michigan with a 16 foot deep V like his for over forty years and have never had a dangerous situation of any kind. I went on to explain how terrific fishing is on the lake. When I asked him why he did not even fish the big pond on calm days, he said he was not as crazy as me. Well, there is some justice in this mixed up world of ours. A week after our conversation I went fishing out of Portage Indiana on Lake Michigan and caught two big King Salmons. I showed my neighbor the monsters . He asked me where I caught them…..I told him that I was crazy enough to catch the beasts fishing on the big, bad, dangerous lake! I laughed at him and walked away!

REMEMBER! BRODY KILLED JAWS A LONG TIME AGO…..LOL! THERE IS NOTHING DANGEROUS ABOUT FISHING ON THE GREAT LAKES….. It is only a SUPER MYTH!

This myth has been around since boaters first started using the lakes, and has been perpetrated by the Media, and others that do not even fish on the big lakes, like my novice neighbor!! Fact is; there are more 16′ foot fishing boats trolling on the Great Lakes than any other size boat. However, I’m not a fool! There certainly are times that boaters should not even go near the water! Everyone knows that big bodies of water, like the Great Lakes are extremely rough at times….. so that means people should never fish on them? Do golfers stop golfing because lightening might take their lives? Do skiers stay home when there could be a landslide? Here is a good one! What if the NFL players stopped playing football because they might get a broken neck? I could go on and on, but I think I have made my point. Over the past 50 years I have learned a few basic things to keep myself safe on Lake Michigan.

This is most important: Make sure you have all the safety requirements on your rig, a backup motor in case your motor dies and some sort of device to call someone if you do get in trouble. Carry a heavy river type anchor attached to about 200 feet of a strong rope. This could keep you from drifting across the lake and also, keep you bow in the right place in heavy water….. Then, a few hours before your fishing trip, check the weather for wind speed and direction. Find out how high the waves will be…..If they are predicting any more than 1-3 foot waves building to 2-4 footers, I usually take a pass, especially if they are north or northeast winds. If storms are in the area, I usually take a pass. If the predictions are one foot or less, or 1-2 footers building to 1-3 footers with any wind direction is should be a go! Sometimes the fish will be active even with north or east winds depending on the time of year and the water temperature. Now here is the rub, and most important. Try to stay within about 8-10 miles of shore, and if you have a small motor, even less. Use what God gave you between your ears! Always be checking the weather with a weather band radio while fishing. Never wait until the last minute to pack up and get the hell off the lake if a storm is in the area…..This is where boaters get in trouble! It’s a matter of everyday common sense!

As far as actual boating accidents go, they are mostly caused by stupid mistakes, and the fools that go to the lake to drink, do drugs and screw around (Actually these dummies are more dangerous than the lake) Then the Media picks up on it and the lake gets a bum rap! In most cases, the truth never gets told anyway!

Remember, horrible news & spin is the Media’s bread and butter! Indeed! There is no better fishery in America then the Great Lakes, and that includes LAKE MICHIGAN…..

Have a great day!

Ron

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Welcome to the Forum, Ron. Very true, and very well said. Thank you!

Iowa Farmer Loc: Iowa City Iowa

Good read, Ron.

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

I think the Atlantic Ocean is a bit larger than the Lakes, and I’ve been miles out on 16’ boats. I’ve been a couple miles out in my canoe! It’s all about the weather.

hemihappy Loc: pawleys island s.c.

Most important check the weather report. Have a distress radio on board anything less is foolish for that lake or any of the great lakes. Foolish me didn't bother with any of that one day on Lake Erie in a 23 footer and almost
lost the boat and me. Squalls can come up with very little notice. I was catching walleyes and didn't want to go in.
Foolish me.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

You are absolutely correct. One of my late Uncles (served in the Navy) would go out in his 12’ rowboat with a small motor after Kings, Cohos, Steelhead and Browns regularly when the wind was right. He would go out about 6 miles and I thought he was nuts. If I remember correctly his largest was a 32# King, but he caught some Browns that came close to that, too. This was back in the 70s. I don’t have room for a kicker, so I don’t take my boat out there.

Capt. Lou Loc: PA

Terms most of those type boats are not Deep Vee , Semi maybe depending on deadrise !

JackM Loc: North East Florida

I've seen small boats in Lake Michigan many time. Anything is possible. I've had my kayak out to the jetties once, almost open ocean. It was too much work for limited results but if I was able to catch fish consistently I would go when the weather permitted. It all depends on the wind and tides. I use Windy.com for wind. It is the best for wind direction and speed. Tides are extremely important too when kayak fishing in a river mouth. If strong currents are going the wrong direction don't go or you will paddle for hours rather than fish. I us both tides4fishing.com and smartfishingtides.com.

greyghost

Your comments about fishing Lake Michigan were very well stated, but would have been better if you had left out the line that "THERE IS NOTHING DANGEROUS ABOUT FISHING LAKE MICHIGAN." You did go on to list some of the dangers and some good common sense practices to stay safe, but we still have a lot of people who just read the headlines. I lived in NW Indiana for 20+ years and fished Lake Michgan from a 16 foot Starcraft, but I always had one eye on the weather. That did not prevent me from being close enough to another boat to see three guys get blown out of a boat when it got hit by lightning. I saw the storm on the horizon but even at 30 MPH did not get back into Manistee in time. Things can happen fast on the big lake. There is a lot dangerous about fishing Lake Michigan.

Classified Enterprises LLC Loc: Downers Grove. Il.

That's the same thing I was writing about the media and the bumb raps they give when there is a problem on the big pond. Things happen on any lake. That does not make it dangerous!
Since 1967, I have never had anything happen to me!

hemihappy Loc: pawleys island s.c.

Lake Erie my home lake for 60 years was noted for squalls and when they came up that 30 foot deep lake (in my area) blew up fast and big. Every sailboat in a regatta went over during one of them. When it started getting darker better get off the Lake. Best walleye fishing on the planet though.

Classified Enterprises LLC Loc: Downers Grove. Il.

Anything that can happen, will happen on any lake, ocean, and river on planet earth!
Staying safe on all of them is a matter of common sence.
When ever I hear of a mishap from boaters and fishermen, is when attention to conditions are not followed and heeded.
Of course accidents happen on water, just like they happen when driving a car.
Does that make them DAGEROUS like the media wants you to beleive?

greyghost

Yes it does. And there is no plot out there by "the media" to make Lake Michigan or any big lake with rapidly changing conditions into a monster. Big waves, lightning, frigid water, and big freighters or ore boats are all dangerous, and it does no harm to educate people to those facts. And yes, I have been out in dangerous conditions. I have been out in dangerous conditions on Lake Michigan, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, have served as bow lookout on a Square Rigger while crossing the Gulf Stream off the tip of Florida on a stormy night and rode a destroyer from Pearl to San Diego. I own guns and am concerned about media fabrications. But the fact that Lake Michigan can be dangerous is NO myth. I lost two friends to hypothermia when they dumped a canoe in the upper Connecticut river in early spring. Was that river dangerous? Yes, it sure was. Did they know what they were doing? Prettty much. I'm sure that has happened in Lake Michigan, too. Most "accidents" don't just happen. So we should not demean people who may recognize their own limitations or demonize the media when it does tell the truth. And again, let me say you did make some very good points.

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

That's like my Crestliner 1650 Fish Hawk is not a full deep V, it's different than deep V's that are made for bigger rougher northern lakes waters

Classified Enterprises LLC Loc: Downers Grove. Il.

I wonder why you rarely see the media report how much people enjoy the Great lakes,
It's only when tragic things happen that you read how "DANGEROUS" they are!
Please, i have been reading and watching the media for over 60 years, and I know what I'm talking about.
Just like in politics, that is how the Media makes big bucks,
BY reporting misery!