Reel Repair by Alan Tani

welcome to the great lakes!

Thank you Alan!  For those that haven't witnessed the awe and beauty of the Great Lakes, they are essentially inland freshwater seas.  They are so vast that you can get far away enough from shore and not be able to see land over the horizon.  The Great Lakes offer world class fishing for a variety of species; from smallmouth bass and walleye to salmon, steelhead, lake trout, musky, and sturgeon.  While not a Great Lake, Lake St. Clair is one of the best musky fisheries in the world, being so numerous that they are often caught as bycatch by people jigging for walleyes or fishing smallmouth.  Lastly, there is the stream trout.  Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and upstate New York are chock full of choice trout waters, with Michigan having the most blue ribbon trout streams in the entire country.  More than Wyoming, more than Montana, and more than Utah.  It is a trout fisherman's paradise, whether you want to catch browns, rainbows, brook trout, or even potamodromous brook trout, known as Coasters which grow large in Lake Superior and migrate to streams to spawn.  There is something for everybody in the Great Lakes.  If you haven't visited, make sure to at some point and enjoy the inland Big Water.

I have never fished them but I have seen lakes Superior and Michigan and was impressed.

Excellent addition, Alan!

I provide and work on a lot of spinning reels for folks who fish the Great Lakes & Canadian waters also.

The fishery is possibly second to none for large Lake Trout, Pike, Muskies, Walleyes, and other species.

Basically inland freshwater oceans.

Thanks!

Best, Fred

The weather on the Great Lakes can rival the oceans as well...

Quote from: foakes on August 30, 2024, 04:24:29 PMExcellent addition, Alan!

I provide and work on a lot of spinning reels for folks who fish the Great Lakes & Canadian waters also.

The fishery is possibly second to none for large Lake Trout, Pike, Muskies, Walleyes, and other species.

Basically inland freshwater oceans.

Thanks!

Best, Fred

Once November rolls around the lake trout will be in shallower waters to spawn, making them good pier targets.  The fish under 30" make for the best eaters, probably one of the best fish on the smoker due to the oil content.  I usually go to the tip of the Thumb in Caseville at that time, fishing shiners off the bottom for burbot and casting spoons for lakers.  Burbot is another great fish to eat, they are freshwater cod and fry up just like the saltwater cod at the pubs and restaurants.  Michigan DNR considers burbot to be trash fish, so there is no limit.  They have a sweet and flaky white meat and are excellent with a good batter recipe.

Thanks Alan !

Quote from: Gobi King on August 30, 2024, 11:48:26 PMThanks Alan !

your stomping grounds!!!!!

All streams connected to the lakes should also be part of the sub board.

Quote from: Keta on August 31, 2024, 12:33:19 AMAll streams connected to the lakes should also be part of the sub board.

Good point.  The kings are running the west coast of the state right now, but it is a little late at this point so more guys are catching boots (aka zombies) than silver fish.  Cohos usually start to ramp up once the kings are finished, then once they're done it'll be steelhead from October until April.  The east coast of the state doesn't get much in the way of kings anymore.  Michigan and Wisconsin DNR stock kings according to the amount of alewives in the lakes, and on Lake Huron Michigan DNR and Ontario MNR do the same.  On Lake Huron we get coho and Atlantic salmon.  Coho will be a September and October thing, and the Atlantics are usually in the system come October and November.  Like the west coast of the state, steelhead will be in from late fall until early spring.  Atlantic salmon are one of my favorites.  They get similar in size to steelhead but fight like a king, and make for excellent table fare.  Probably my favorite to eat.

Ta Da...Recognition.  Good addition.  Dominick

Tincanary,

Don't leave out smallmouth and walleye.  Do sportsfishermen target whitefish in the lakes?

One of my best friends moved to Illinois last year.  He is just getting started fishing there, but has done some kayak fishing in some local lakes and some charters out on bigger water.  So far, Salmon, trout, large and smallmouth bass, pickerel, perch, and pike.  I'm down for some autumn light tackle steelhead fishing, it looks like around Milwaukee might be worth a look.

Many great memories of 25 years fishing Lake Ontario for salmon, browns, big "bows" and a host of other fish. The power of those lakes is awesome to witness. Many fond memories!
Randy McConnell
Reeltyme

No sharks, no salt, no problem!! Thanks Alan  -  Jimmer