Lake Michigan Coho May 2022

Coho salmon fishing trip with 2 of my best friends. This was my second trip to Lake Michigan in May. We camped at Illinois Beach State Park and launched the boat out of North Point Harbor in Winthrop Harbor, IL. Great Lakes fishing is a more recent activity for me. I fished a bit as a kid and got more into fishing when I met my husband. Our go to is walleye but we like a bit of variety and trying new things. Great Lakes salmon (and trout) fishing has been a fun challenge and a great opportunity to meet people and explore new places.

My husband has some friends from work, and some friends of their friends, that were fishing and camping at the state park at the same time. One of these people was "Captain Rog", a retired charter boat captain who has been fishing on Lake Michigan for over 50 years. He has a young heart a mentoring spirit and lots of great stories including his induction into a fishing hall of fame. "Captain Rog" ended up having Chris tie some flies for him and it was fun to hear about his ideas about the perfect coho fly.

Fishing people in Illinois seem particularly friendly to me. Sometimes they will offer fishing intel without a person even having to ask for it. There is an established way to quickly share the number of fish landed and the number hooked. For example, our first day out we hooked 21 fish and 15 made it in the boat, so we were "15 for 21".

I took a few notes each day. We caught our limit every day except the last day because we left early to get home at a decent hour. Even with leaving early we were only 2 short of the limit.

Mon 7/16/2022 - 15 for 21

Traveled from MN. Small craft advisory but still went out. North Point is a nice harbor with large modern launches. Nice fish cleaning facilities complete with several water sprayers and 2 grinders. Caught our limit on the evening bite. Fished with peanut flies (blue dolphin like colors), dodgers, flashers, spoons (blue dolphin and nbk) planers, dispsy divers and riggers down an average 30 feet. Water temp between 51 and 54. Fishing with the wind which was out of the west to northwest. Average troll speed 2 mph. Air temp low 54, high 78. Pressure 29.35 inches. Sunrise 05:32 sunset 20:07.

Tue 5/17/2022 - 15 for 19

Port planer board was hot with a red dodger with peanut fly (blue, gold, green). Water temp from 52 to 54. Air temp low 51, high 66. Pressure 29.35 inches. Sunrise 05:30 sunset 20:08. Wind out of the east.

Wed 5/18/2022 - 15 for 21

Thurs 5/19/2022 - 13 for 17