March 21, 2007 Flint 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 Webstore:

Flint Steelheaders Organization Ultra best fishermen on the Great Lakes according to the stories I heard at the recent Birch Run show Ultra best fishermen on the Great Lakes according to the stories I heard at the recent Birch Run show Thanks to the show staff best run show I’ve ever done! Thanks to the show staff best run show I’ve ever done! Reasonable assumptions on how to find fish & more importantly why? Reasonable assumptions on how to find fish & more importantly why? Fishing Manistee the easy way Fishing Manistee the easy way No infomercial normal convention says hawk product, because my stuff sells it’s self No infomercial normal convention says hawk product, because 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 Coverage created the structure

Biomass 101 Understanding the Food Chain? Or…useless stuff you don’t need to know Structure washes w/current hence….fresh food sources Structure washes w/current hence….fresh food sources Phytoplankton plankton=floating tiny algae critters Phytoplankton plankton=floating tiny algae critters Zooplankton eats the tiny critters Zooplankton eats the tiny critters Bait Fish feeds on zooplankton Bait Fish feeds on zooplankton Suspends on thermocline (dark line) Suspends on thermocline (dark line) Lastly, the fish you want to pick a fight with Lastly, the fish you want to pick a fight with Spiny Water Flea Mysis Relicta opossum shrimp

Lk. Michigan’s Bottom Structure Depth Patterns clearly displayed Depth Patterns clearly displayed Structure Colors red to darker blue Structure Colors red to darker blue Currents water movement Currents water movement Flow Patterns north, south, east & west Flow Patterns north, south, east & west Lake Michigan’s Diverse depths compared to Lake Huron 3 day blow and thermo changed 7’ (refer to glacial coverage map) Lake Michigan’s Diverse depths compared to Lake Huron 3 day blow and thermo changed 7’ (refer to glacial coverage map) Southbound Current 70% of the time, my north troll has been best Choke Point

Flats north of harbor Two Rivers Ridge -> Ludington Basin Lake Michigan is a vast system of currents & depths from water movement current refreshes new food sources Current Choke Point Ludington Manistee

Flats north of harbor Flats north of harbor Distance offshore (east wind) Distance offshore (east wind) 1992 thru thru 2003 Tuck in tight w/east wind Tuck in tight w/east wind Currents drive food chain Currents drive food chain Structure fences fish Structure fences fish Southbound current Southbound current Two Rivers Ridge current focused Two Rivers Ridge current focused Ludington Manistee

How to Fish Manistee 1. First east wind-harbor? or north/flats? 2. south means sharper structure/more boats 3. tuck in here 4. the zoo 5. sisters, or bears, 6. steeples even 7. humps 8. setup short 9. angle of the dangle  ----Cooper Creek <-----Guerney Creek  - Blood Creek  -Barr Lake Outlet No charter boat codes all this stuff is found on charts of the area Big Point Sable -  Manistee Ludington

Things that need to be said Thermocline suspends zooplankton, plankton have a short life cycle, dark line on graph Thermocline suspends zooplankton, plankton have a short life cycle, dark line on graph Currents/structure reload with the food chain continually, find the bait and you’ll find the fish Currents/structure reload with the food chain continually, find the bait and you’ll find the fish Manistee: none on shelf, head west over the deeper 200 to 500 fow, current shifts offshore Manistee: none on shelf, head west over the deeper 200 to 500 fow, current shifts offshore You can’t catch what’s not there don’t get down on yourself, cuz catching sucks You can’t catch what’s not there don’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!” Thanks Your Patience & Being a Wonderful Audience I brought some of my best selling products in case you’re interested