This was the 4th and last time (for tomorrow) trying to hit the lake this year.

Weather strikes again. Up to 13 footers today, 8 footers tomorrow where you might start finding fish.

I called the captain this morning saying there looks like a decent window for tomorrow morning, waves 1 to 2 feet. He said there might be a tiny window, but there are no fish in that range from shore that the forecast is based on. You need to look at the off shore forecast, that one you are looking at only goes to 5 nautical miles out. You start seeing limited fish at about 12 nautical miles off shore, and they are few and far between.

He explained that the lake turned over the other day and resulted in a DO depletion closer to shore (meaning within 12 miles or so) and there are just no fish to be found. The water is way too clear and they can see the black cannon balls (downrigger weights) to 40 feet or so. What would a secchi disc read out there?

A couple boats were out earlier this week and only picked up one or two small steelhead out that far and had to really work for them. Close in, everyone is getting skunked.

Another problem is lack of fish. At the weir at Pere Marquette, there are usually about 5000 Chinook that pass thru by this time of year. As of this morning, only about a hundred or so have buzzed up. Very few fish in the river systems as well. Should be able to go out, wet a line, and fish on, but not now.

Invasive species are altering the food chain and dominating the resources that the feeder fish rely on, so the predator fish can thrive.

It kinda sucks!!!