Labor Day in Ludington!

9/1/20253 min read

My parents started hauling us up to Ludington for Labor Day back in the 80s, and let me just say—this has been the best three-day stretch of weather I’ve ever seen on Labor Day weekend in Ludington (we used to call it “Floodington”). Honestly, maybe the best three days for any weekend, ever! Sunshine, flat seas, and hog kings!

This morning’s crew: me, Tim, Nick, Brad (aka “Big Fish Brad,” possibly also “Raw Dawg”? We’re still working out the branding), and Charlie Daniels. Kaedin had gone back to Rockford, and Parker? Probably still mowing lawns. On a holiday.

Last night, Tim and I went down to set the opening lineup and ran into some loopers from Destin, Florida on C dock. They were talking up how Destin was the “Fishing Capital of the World,” until they saw our rigs—Swiss cheese hulls with a thousand holes drilled for salmon gear. Ludington fleet = instant respect. I donated four fillets to their rations—love giving away fish, love the good mojo.

We shoved off at 5:01 a.m. Zero traffic—either the weekend warriors packed it in or they’re still sleeping under a Tiki Bar table. The plan was simple: set up in 60 FOW, troll west until fish #25 hit the deck. We nailed step one: 60 FOW, lines down, best weather of the year. Step two? Not so much. Seventeen lures in the water, nothing on the graph, zero bites. WTF? I even tried to get a Badger fish picture. Nailed the Badger…forgot the fish part.

Then Todd texts: hot bite in front of the sand dunes. Great, except that’s 15 miles south. Long ride, but better than trolling Lake Michigan’s version of a desert. We yanked rods and burned lots of fuel.

Set back up in 105 FOW between Pentwater and the dunes. Same drill—17 lures down, no bites. AGAIN. That’s four times in three mornings we’ve hit the full 17-rod spread with nothing. But this time didn’t last. We ended with 7 or maybe 8 fish (photo shows 7, but someone swears we had an 8th…mystery fish? Ghost salmon?). Either way, mostly kings, plus a coho on 13 bites. Thanks Jackpot!

Hot Bites

Blue Slice meat rig, low diver 100 back: 4 bites
Red tail meat rig, high diver 150 back: 2 bites
Unknown 8” paddle + Sweet Pea fly, high diver 150 back: 2 bites
Yeck Chubster, 3 color
Moonshine Raspberry Carbon Plug, 10 color
Moonshine Mag Blue Knight RV USA, rigger 63 down
Mr. Chrome Mag Yeah Mon, 7 color
4” chrome/red plug, 3 color

What I Learned Today

Brad and Jim Beam. We bought the Beam for the copper fireball bite. Brad decided to test it himself at 5:45 a.m. Bite didn’t come right away, but when he boated a 20-pounder ninety minutes later, he wiped his brow and went straight for the Beam…again. Got 12 more bites…Legendary, but I don’t think I want to run with this one?
Charlie Daniels & fish management. He’s got a special gift: either misses bites completely or loses hooked fish two or three times before reeling them back in. Keeps my blood pressure intact!
Tim + physics = bowfishing upgrade. Net’s got an 8’ handle, fish weighs 20 lbs. I lift by the hoop. Tim lifts way back by the end. Result? Beckman Net Catapult 3000. Just need a waxed bowstring and we’re launching salmon across the deck.
Brad’s fashion game. Forget Kaedin’s wardrobe issues—Brad showed up like a runway model. Black dress pants with tortoise ass-pocket buttons, 2019 Electric Forest shirt, shoes to match. Mid-troll he rotated the shirt around his neck without flashing belly, just so he could read the band lineup. Pro move.
Thanks vs. cans. I love a good heartfelt “thank you,” but the boat don’t run on gratitude. Gas kick-ins = gold. Cans left behind = dime apiece. Out-of-staters, that’s Michigan’s secret economy.

Well, we ended the weekend 28 (or 29) for 46 bites…boat’s wrapped, blog’s done, three-hour drive ahead. This weekend’s in the books. Coming up: a few big meetings, University of Wisconsin homework, fixing my busted truck, Soup Club tomorrow, and six more weekends on Lake Michigan before the marina shuts down…Tick, tick, tick…(I don’t think I like the tick, tick, tick – maybe the last time)…