Big Boys Tournament: We Kept Our Thousand Bucks and Gave You This Report Instead

Let’s just get this out of the way: we didn’t enter the Big Boys Tournament. Again.
Not because we’re scared…not because we don’t want to compete…but because we like our thousand dollars. It’s cozy and likes being in our pocket. It doesn’t want to go live with one of the 33 other boats trolling the exact same contour line 6.5 miles north of the pier head. So, no donation from us.

The plan was…well…no plan. I mean, we knew we weren’t going north—that’s where everyone else went. So it was a coin flip: South or Straight Out. Straight out had no boats and that’s what Kaedin’s gut told him. That means less people to see our mistakes. Also means we could have lines in faster. Straight out it is.

Now, let me remind you: We had Lake Michigan mojo from Muskegon to Big Point Sable (see prior self-care cycling blog), C Dock mojo thanks to the Nauti Dog being in town (someone on that boat might actually read these reports! and, yes, their sacred Busch Light 30-pack(s) from Wesco), and pre-departure rituals that included Wendy’s cherry pie (best crust ever) & Kaedin’s crusty cinnamon rolls (not Charlie’s, Family Fare…a little dusty)!

The crew: Riley, Glenn, Charlie, Kaedin (Parker resting up for his next 25-pounder tomorrow)

The Action: First bite: 6:00am, Last bite: 11:30am, Total bites: 21, Boxed fish: 15 (4 kings, 5 coho, 5 lake trout, & 1 steelhead) Nice mixed bag. Decent pace. Plenty of action. Nobody got hooked. We’ll take it.

HOT BITES:

• Yeck Chubster on 3-color lead: 4 bites

• Mr. Chrome Fin’s Frog Glow on 7-color lead: 3 bites

• DW Rasta Goose, standard size, on 10-color lead: 2 bites

• Moonshine White/Black mystery spoon on 7-color: 1 bite

• ITO meat rig, 66’ down on rigger: 1 bite

• DW green/blue standard, 56’ down on rigger: 1 bite

• DW Mag “Soda,” 50’ down on rigger: 1 bite

• Sweet Pea fly/chrome flasher on mag high diver, 120 back: 1 bite

• Yeck Fireball on 5-color lead: 1 bite

• Mag Orange Slice on 200 copper: 1 bite

• Mr. Chrome Radioactive on 200 copper: 1 bite

• Mr. Chrome Aurora Mag Glow on 10-color: 1 bite

• Moonshine JJ Mac RV (standard) on 5-color lead: 1 bite

• Moonshine Mag Happy Meal, 62 down on rigger: 1 bite

What I Learned Today:

• Glenn’s netting strategy is bold: why wait for a net when you can just alley-oop a 10-lb fish over the back of the boat like he’s in a bass tournament? Chaotic good energy.

• Kaedin wore shorts, t-shirt, sweatshirt. The kid is finally learning how to layer. Everyone on the boat was shedding a single tear of joy.

• Charlie and reels… we need to keep an eye on this man. He’s got the enthusiasm alright, but every reel clicker and bail within reach is under constant threat. Top level is bail, side is clicker!

• Wendy’s cherry pie is sacred. Fish literally stopped biting while we were eating it out of respect. Might be a religion of some sort?

• This is July in Ludington people – you go with what works and not F*ck around! Just like Adam will be running pickled sunshine and Micah a pickle rig, I went with Yacht Rock – no changes!

We’re off to help Alison clean fish for the Lakeshore Food Club—because giving back is cool and also a great way to scout who’s catching what without asking too many questions.

What I really want to know is who’s gonna show up straight out tomorrow morning… Will it just be Pull Hard again? Did I post this too honestly? Or did I just send three boats on a wild goose chase? Only one way to find out.

We will have Parker in the boat tomorrow – so we’ll be leaving well before the 6am shotgun start – I’m sure he’ll be like a boat magnet after his last showing.