March 21, 2007March 21, 2007Flint Steelheader’s March MeetingFlint Steelheader’s March Meeting

Capt. John King

Charter Boat Skipper from 1983 thru 2003

Big Manistee River Guide 1985 thru 2003(fulltime in both cases)

Meat Tackle Manufacturing since 2004

Website www.michigansportsman.com

Webstore: www.michiganangler.com

Flint Steelheaders Flint Steelheaders OrganizationOrganization

• Ultra best fishermen on the Great LakesUltra best fishermen on the Great Lakes

according to the stories I heard at the recent Birch Run according to the stories I heard at the recent Birch Run show show

• Thanks to the show staffThanks to the show staffbest run show I’ve ever done!best run show I’ve ever done!

• Reasonable assumptions on how to find fishReasonable assumptions on how to find fish& more importantly why?& more importantly why?

• Fishing ManisteeFishing Manistee the easy waythe easy way

• No infomercialNo infomercialnormal convention says hawk product, normal convention says hawk product, because my stuff sells it’s selfbecause my stuff sells it’s self

• Next slide lead in….., why are they Great Lakes?Next slide lead in….., why are they Great Lakes?

Glacial Glacial CoverageCoveragecreated the created the structurestructure

Biomass 101Biomass 101UnderstandinUnderstandin

g g the Food the Food Chain?Chain?

Or…useless stuff you Or…useless stuff you don’t need to knowdon’t need to know

• Structure washes w/currentStructure washes w/currenthence….fresh food sourceshence….fresh food sources

• Phytoplankton plankton=floatingPhytoplankton plankton=floatingtiny algae critterstiny algae critters

• Zooplankton Zooplankton eats the tiny critterseats the tiny critters

• Bait FishBait Fishfeeds on zooplanktonfeeds on zooplankton

• Suspends on thermocline (dark Suspends on thermocline (dark line)line)

• Lastly, the fish you want to pick a Lastly, the fish you want to pick a fight withfight with

Spiny Water Flea

Mysis Relictaopossum shrimp

Lk. Michigan’s Lk. Michigan’s

Bottom Bottom Structure Structure

• Depth PatternsDepth Patternsclearly displayedclearly displayed

• Structure ColorsStructure Colorsred red to to darker bluedarker blue

• CurrentsCurrentswater movementwater movement

• Flow PatternsFlow Patternsnorth, south, east & westnorth, south, east & west

• Lake Michigan’s Diverse Lake Michigan’s Diverse depths compared to Lake Hurondepths compared to Lake Huron3 day blow and thermo changed 3 day blow and thermo changed 7’7’(refer to glacial coverage map)(refer to glacial coverage map)

Southbound

Current

70% of the time, my

north troll has been

best

Choke

Point

Flats north of harborFlats north of harbor

Two Rivers Ridge ->

Ludin

gton B

asin

LakeMichiga

nis a vast system

of currents& depths

from water

movement

current refreshesnew foodsources

Current Choke Point

Ludington

Manistee

• Flats north of harborFlats north of harbor• Distance offshore Distance offshore (east wind) (east wind)

• 1992 thru 20031992 thru 2003

• Tuck in tight w/east windTuck in tight w/east wind

• Currents drive food chainCurrents drive food chain

• Structure fences fishStructure fences fish

• Southbound currentSouthbound current• Two Rivers Ridge Two Rivers Ridge current current

focusedfocused

Ludington

Manistee

How to Fish ManisteeHow to Fish Manistee1. First east wind-harbor? or north/flats? 2. south means 1. First east wind-harbor? or north/flats? 2. south means

sharper structure/more boats 3. tuck in here 4. the zoo 5. sharper structure/more boats 3. tuck in here 4. the zoo 5. sisters, or bears, sisters, or bears,

6. steeples even 7. humps 8. setup short 9. angle of the 6. steeples even 7. humps 8. setup short 9. angle of the dangledangle

----Cooper Creek

<-----Guerney Creek

- Blood Creek-Barr Lake Outlet

No charter boat codesall this stuff is foundon charts of the area

Big Point Sable -

Manistee

Ludington

Things that need to be Things that need to be saidsaid

• Thermocline suspends zooplankton,Thermocline suspends zooplankton,plankton have a short life cycle, dark line on graphplankton have a short life cycle, dark line on graph

• Currents/structure reload with the food Currents/structure reload with the food chain continually, find the bait and you’ll find the fishchain continually, find the bait and you’ll find the fish

• Manistee: none on shelf, head westManistee: none on shelf, head westover the deeper 200 to 500 fow, current shifts offshoreover the deeper 200 to 500 fow, current shifts offshore

• You can’t catch what’s not thereYou can’t catch what’s not theredon’t get down on yourself, cuz catching sucksdon’t get down on yourself, cuz catching sucks

• Trustworthy Sonar, don’t be cheap here!Trustworthy Sonar, don’t be cheap here!

““That’s All Folks!”That’s All Folks!”Thanks Your Patience & Being a Wonderful Thanks Your Patience & Being a Wonderful

AudienceAudience

I brought some of my best selling products in case you’re interested