On Sunday we went to the Confo picnic… here are the boys after gorging themselves on Mt Dew:
On Monday I took out a family from Lansing… mom Gail, dad Brad (I finally got his name right with the rhyme) and son Scott along with daughter, photographer and lighthouse keeper Abby. The priority was to sight-see and take picts of lighthouses, so we set out in the fog with the guidance of my radar we went along the shore to Bear Bluff, Montreal, then Gull Rock and Manitou lighthouses. Fishing in the fog did not go so well as we only landed one after loosing some. As a consolation to Scott, who was the fisherman on board, I offered to take him again later in the week as they were staying at sister Janine’s place on Lac La Belle, just 1/2 mile away.
Notice the fog.
Still looking for the Splake Trout that come around the Keweenaw Point from Copper Harbor, but have not caught one for a couple of weeks. The Coho Salmon have been elusive lately too, but we’ve brought in quite a few lake trout.
Tuesday morning we set out early to fish Stannard Rock with a boatload of good guys from Nebraska and Kansas city who have relatives in the Lake Linden and Calumet area and friends scattered around Houghton county. There was Shippers Todd and Zach, Stock Broker Chris, Ameriprise Financial consultant Jeff, Dave, and Paypal worker Noah, who is looking for a new job. May memory fails me for Dave’s profession.
As soon as we reached my fishing weighpoints, I dropped DR #1, then #4, but before I reached bottom, we had a nice fish on. Fishing was good and active for a good part of the morning, with a few breaks for coffee and goodies, like smoked fish. Got some nice comments on the smoked fish, which I usually have for my clients… it did not last very long once it came out of the cooler.We trolled with dypsy divers and downriggers, with action on all of them. Ran some FinnAction Lures, a Laker Taker flutter spoon and dodger with spin and glows. the fish were not picky.
When all was said and done… after loosing a little gear and many misses, we headed in after landing 22 lake trout, nothing to break the record books, but a few in the 10 lb range, with many natives and only one fat.I am waiting for pictures from Shipper Todd, since my camera was too complicated for this old grandpa
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On Wednesday, Darlene deck-handed for me with a nice couple from Tampa, Florida who came here to tour Keweenaw County and try to find some Salmon. We combined the trip with some sightseeing all the way to Gull Rock Lighthouse and Manitou, with some trolling along the way. Although no coho or Kings (chinook) were landed, we came in with 5 nice lean lake trout, one of which was approaching the color of salmon meat. I Filleted the up and they brought some to the Tamrack Restaurant in Copper Harbor to have it cooked. Jane has some pre-conceived notions about lake trout, so I’d be curious to hear her comments after eating these LEAN lakers.
Today was a day off for me, at least from customers, so I fished by myself and came in after 3 hours with my limit. Actually it was only about 1-1/2 hours of fishing as I explored for coho salmon before going deep for the lakers. 
Tomorrow I’m taking out a couple from Fort Atkinson, WI to do some trolling once again for Lake Trout. Perhaps I’ll smoke some lakers tomorrow after the morning fishing.
Brian Helminen
