Spring Kings

[jpmarko]

It's been a long winter. You know what I mean. In three weeks I'll be on the water. I'll kick the season off targeting coho nearshore out of Portage, Michigan City, New Buffalo, or St. Joseph. It's always a blast and usually a quick limit. But I'm really looking forward to chasing spring kings since I didn't catch a single one after June 3 on the south end of the lake and didn't have the opportunity to travel north last fall. Now I'm really itching.

I usually do great on spring coho and okay on spring kings. I always catch one or two kings in May, but hear about other boats landing five or six. I know stocking of king salmon was cut in 2013, which is why the fall fishing out of St. Joe is abysmal. But there are usually good numbers of kings chasing bait on the south end of the lake in the early season. So I'm not really sure what I'm doing wrong.

In late April and early May I start targeting spring kings with spoons using three to seven colors of lead core and a downrigger. I usually have a wire dipsy with a flasher and fly out. I have used everything from Moonshine glow spoons to Michigan Stinger Stingray and Magnum spoons to Dream Weaver Super Slims in various colors. In late May when the thermocline forms and the salmon are found in deeper water, I add 200 and 300 copper lines with spoons.

This year, I'm planning on adding 50 and 100 copper lines for the early season. I wonder if I should integrate more flashers and flies in May? I think I'm kind of all over the place with my spoon collection. I have too many spoons and am not sure which ones to use. Do you start out with smaller spoons or do you use magnum sizes? Do you focus on using blues and greens like you would later in the season? Maybe I should use more orange and chartreuse. Should I use more flashers and flies on copper and lead core and downrigger lines?

Do you have a preferred method or technique for chasing spring kings? I'm looking for any tips or recommendations.

[southshore]

You’ve got it. I like to mix in #3 and #4 j-plugs. Some years it’s spin drs, some years it’s spoons, some years it’s the plugs. I usually save the hassle of meat rigs for later in the season, but plenty of guys run them in April and catch fish. Some days I can’t buy a king on anything but spoons and I’ll talk to a guy at the ramp that couldn’t get bit in anything but flashers and flies.

If I want kings, I generally head east. I’ve had awesome days on the inland wall, but lately it seems they’re more concentrated east of portage.

Fish early, be where you want to be before the sun is starting to come up.

Don’t fish for coho, you’ll catch plenty of coho on your king gear, and yes there are days when you’ve got a whole spread of “king stuff” out and the only thinfin in the water is the lure you catch you only king on, but over time you’ll catch a lot more kings pulling spoons, flies, meat, and j plugs.

Don’t be afraid to do your own thing. The popular spots are popular for reasons, they collect bait and fish. But, I think kings are a little bit more shy than coho. Wander off from the packs and find yourself a little pocket of bait and it will be worth your while.

I pick colors based on conditions. I think there’s usually five other things that matter more than what color dots are in the spoon. Anything works as long as it’s orange is my saying for coho and steelhead. When it comes to kings, if it ain’t chartreuse than it ain’t no use might be the saying.

[Tmik34]

Southshore is spot on lots of good info there. I will say portage and east has been better for higher concentrations of kings but they'll be by Ec and Gary too. For me a faster trolling speed sound 3 all the time has worked better. 

Later in the year they can still be caught by you need to travel farther for them. 

[jpmarko]

I use a lot of Green Dolphin and Blue Dolphin for kings. Green Dolphin has some chartreuse in it. Maybe I'll add stuff with chartreuse like Caramel Dolphin, Lemon Ice, Michigan Blueberry. 

How much does size matter? I usually use small or regular spoons in the spring. Do you often use magnums in the spring for kings?

I hear you when you say that there are things more important than having the right color spoon. I agree with you on that point. I think I need to work on a few things to improve my catch rate like 1) mark waypoints and clover leaf them, 2) incorporate short coppers, 3) experiment with not only spoons but also crankbaits and flashers and flies. I'm usually plugged in enough and able to track the migratory movements of kings, so I'm usually at the right ports. I also don't have any issues with boat control and managing speed. 

[bloodrun]

We run magnum silver streaks on every rod on the south end for spring kings.  200 coppers and riggers on bottom. 3.0 gps speed.   Lots of glow on overcast and lots of chrome on sunny days.   Best spoons for spring kings by far.

[jpmarko]

Thanks.

[Storm1m]

I’ve been fortunate enough to fish with several guys from this group and I’ve learned a lot but I am by no means a captain.   From what I have seen the standard sized spoons boat more kings than mag in the spring.   Stinger and superslims seem to be the best.   I’m not sure if that’s what most guys fish and all I’ve seen or there is something too that.   Hope it helps.   The best flasher fly combos seem to be the less aggressive ones up close.   Clear blades with uv tape not quite as much flash.  I think it’s a little much for inshore.   Just an observation though.   Tight lines and good luck.   There are tons of great guys in the group that will gladly teach you as they taught mr

[Tmik34]

[quote="bloodrun post=30163"]We run magnum silver streaks on every rod on the south end for spring kings.  200 coppers and riggers on bottom. 3.0 gps speed.   Lots of glow on overcast and lots of chrome on sunny days.   Best spoons for spring kings by far.[/quote]
I am a huge fan of silver streaks also. 

[irishesox]

How early you start running 200 copper

[bloodrun]

Right now.   If you aren’t fishing in too tight to shore.   Typically we will find them in that 35-50 fow range and that’s when we pull the 200s.  We use the 32lb and at 2.7-2.9 you are within a couple feet of bottom right where they’re hanging.  Caught a couple already and there looks to be some bait in the area now.   Big blow will stir things up but if that bait settles back inside it should be good to go.    A mag silver streak looks exactly like a mature spawning alewife in that 4-5” range.