Ludington Fishing Report – High Fives, Hot Shots, and Clown Band Dreams

7/4/20253 min read

I am…so…tired. Why? I decided to start my 4th of July “celebration” by sprinting a 1-mile “fun” run at 1:35pm… just before the big Ludington parade with 30,000 people watching, with the mid-day sun cranking. Easy peasy, right? Wrong! I’ve done three 5Ks this year. I ran 1.5 miles yesterday no problem. But today? I somehow forgot that heat + adrenaline + boat donuts = heart meltdown. I went out like a rocket trying to keep up with the pack, then walked… maybe three, four, five times (I think I blacked out for a bit, unclear). The girl in the picture passing me, I swear, is the same girl that blew by me at the last 5k, WTF girl? I ended up finishing in 9:50, but…ahh…not my best work…let’s move on to fish!

Fishing Expectations: Sky high coming off a 10-fish-on-13-bite morning yesterday, we were primed for a Ludington showdown with mister salmon. The Dream Team was assembled at last: Me, my daughter Riley, my sister Jennifer, Tim (Miller Lite, Fireball, Griddy guy), Nick (future boat mutineer) and Alison (our local lucky charm, always 100% good energy). Our pre-trip mojo was excellent…Tim gave a red Jeep in our condo garage parking lot good old fashion ducking (those little rubber ducks Jeep people leave each other). Positive juju has been activated.

Our forecast was calm, sunny, smooth – just like yesterday. The reality was windy as hell, especially from the east/southeast, meaning crabbing lines, testy waves, and me going “WTF” every 10-12 seconds.

We started near yesterday’s starting spot—just north of the lit nets in 110 FOW…halfway through setting lines, the Yeck Fireball on 5-color goes off. No skunk! Also, it meant everyone except me earned their 5:45am Fireball shot (yes, that includes Jennifer). The fish was quickly in the boat and, if you were on the water north, even with the wind, you probably heard the hooting and high-fives! I really think Tim felt that everything was right in the world.

Once we wrangled the spread into semi-straightness (is that a word?), there was no doubt our troll angles were way off, and the currents were chaos. I should’ve just pulled lines and started fresh north of the point, but noooo, I kept trying to figure out how to go straight – impossible! Once we were north of the point things were way better!

We squeaked out 3 nice king salmon, 1 baby king, and 1 long, skinny steelhead. The final tally was 5 fish for 6 bites. Not horrible, but also not the fireworks we imagined. Sometimes the fish just don’t care that it’s America’s birthday.

Hot Bites:

Showtime 10” Spindoctor Meat Rig on mag diver 120’ back – 1 bite (same one as yesterday)
Showtime 10” Spindoctor Meat Rig on mag diver 120’ back – 1 bite (Same Spinny, different meathead/teasers)
Yeck Fireball on 5 color – 1 bite, 4 Fireball shots, infinite joy
Mr. Chrome Radioactive Mag Spoon on 200 copper – 1 bite
Mr. Chrome Aurora Mag Spoon on 300 copper – 1 bite
Yeck Chubster on 3 color – 1 bite, welcome back dude

What I Learned Today:

Tim and Nick are plotting a mutiny. Their fantasy is one yellow rod, a Fireball spoon, and XM 43 Rock the Bells on full blast. WTF guys?
I won $500 for that hog we weighed at Chucks yesterday for 4th place and had the best showing out of every Ludington boat...toot toot party people!
We had more lines in the water than bites, and despite switching music, drinks, and even dumping sips in Lake Michigan for fish karma, the fish were like, “meh.” Great effort though by the crew!
I’m never doing a mid-day July race again! (Probably will but not feeling it at the moment.) Nick says he’ll do it next year… but he also drank 62 beers, one Beast and said “I love Ludington” 14 times today, so…
Jennifer may secretly love cleaning the boat head. I’m not asking questions, I’m just thankful.
The Scottville Clown Band at the American Legion are tough to beat. I might sell the boat…the rods…all the shit, and become a roadie for them. This is a big decision, so I’ll sleep on it.

Tomorrow’s Crew: Me, Tim, Nick, and Charlie Daniels (Alison confirmed he does not play the fiddle). Forecast says the wind’s kicking up early, so we’re gonna try and sneak in a few hours before everything goes sideways. I’m going to try really, really hard to get some fireworks mojo tonight down at the docks but in case I don’t make it, may your spoons glow bright, your meat rigs spin true, and your boat cooler be packed with chrome fish and cold Miller Lite (but not in the same cooler – that’s gross).