New Buffalo / St. Joe 7/3 & 7/4

Marc_Withers_265 · Post by **Marc_Withers_265** » Thu Jul 06, 2023 4:39 pm

Tried my luck out of new Buffalo for the first time on 7/3. Fought some big rollers all morning, which eventually started to settle down around noon. No bites on 7/3. Morning of 7/4, went out of Saint Joe. Ended up 5/9 with 4 nice coho and 1 laker caught later in the day. All but one fish caught on flies, one of a rigger spoon. Worked 90-120 fow with the most productive being 95 foot right out in front of the port. Lost 3 of the 9 within 20 feet of the boat. I believe I may be rushing the retrieval and the fish just have too much energy left when I get them to the boat. Any feedback on bringing in the fish would be helpful!

Post by **Tmik34** » Thu Jul 06, 2023 6:57 pm

Usually slow and steady, head shakes and pressure from the fish dont reel. You'll get the feel.

Pikesmith · Post by **Pikesmith** » Thu Jul 06, 2023 7:00 pm

Thanks for the report! Nice work!

Trent · Post by **Trent** » Thu Jul 06, 2023 9:23 pm

Thanks for the information! Congratulations!

Post by **bob** » Fri Jul 07, 2023 5:47 am

Thanks for the report

BNature · Post by **BNature** » Mon Jul 10, 2023 4:35 am

Hook up to fish in the net ratio always drops on summer cohos. I don't think it's the "rush" factor so much as they have relatively soft mouths and just wear out the hole where the hook penetrates. Long lines seem to be worse for me, most likely because it takes longer wind them in. I don't know what would help - maybe rigging flies with two trebles or an extra hook. Be a bitch to tie-up. I've made some in the past, but I haven't found an easy way to tie up what some call the "tournament" rig.

BigEdV · Post by **BigEdV** » Wed Jul 12, 2023 9:14 pm

Not sure about the Coho but Kings I always let them play out away from the boat. If they want to run, I just let them run and reel them in once they have tired themselves out. I prefer them to be pretty much just floating by the time I get them to the net. This may not work with Coho since they have the softer mouths. Also for just basic better land ratios, I always have sharp hooks. I sharpen all my hooks over the winter and the ones that get a few fish on, I sharpen again.

Trent · Post by **Trent** » Thu Jul 13, 2023 5:53 pm

Sharp hooks are definitely key to catching fish. I've used VMC Hooks for years and they never needed to be sharpened but since I've gotten back into fishing again I've been very disappointed. Take a new lure out of the package and the hook wont stay on my fingernail, just slides off. I was at Meijer a while back and they had Berkley Fusion Treble hooks and they are sharp and stick on my fingernail right out of the package so we are starting to change hooks now. Also, I've noticed new lures with 1X hooks and change those as well.

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