In the dim dockside lighting, I looked down at the boat lined up with the rest, quietly resting in the calm predawn water. I looked at Ken with concern and asked him if this boat was really big enough for the waters of Lake Michigan. The C-Worthy just bobbed quietly as if to say, yes, I am. Ken smiled and told me not to worry. Ken’s father, Howard, walked up to us and we waited patiently for the remainder of our group and our Captain, Bill Crandell to begin our journey.
King salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) or as it is better known, Chinook salmon, were our target. This large salmon species can attain weights of 30 pounds in the Great Lakes. July was turning to August and this is when the best fishing for Kings begins. Ken and I had planned this trip since early spring and were very excited to be joining up with his father, brother Wayne and sister-in-law Brenda. This was my first time to fish for salmon and fish on one of the Great Lakes. I had checked to solunar tables a few days prior and they promised us a great haul. Hopefully the weather would hold out, as it had been shaky over night.
As the dock in Leland came to life we shuffled off for some hot coffee as Captain Bill and his Mate readied the boat for our excursion. We would be fishing in between the Leelanau Peninsula and the northwest lying North and South Manitou Islands. This is home territory for Ken and his family; they were all raised here. Besides being a superb destination for Chinook Salmon, Lake Trout and Brown Trout, it is cherry country. Here Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay surround the narrow Leelanau Peninsula. The surrounding water tempers the climate on the peninsula to make for huge cherry harvests. The rolling land often stretched for miles with forests of cherry trees.
Some interesting facts about Lake Michigan: Lake Michigan is the third largest Great Lake by surface area and the sixth largest freshwater lake in the world. The world's largest freshwater dunes line its shoreline. It is 307 miles long and 118 miles at it’s widest and averages 279 feet deep. The deepest measurement is 925 feet and has a surface area of 22,300 square miles. An Indian name for the lake is Michi Gami.
The Chippewa Indian Legend tells us of the mother bear, Mishe Mokwa, who fled a great forest fire in Wisconsin with her two cubs. Mishe Mokwa swam across Michi Gami reaching the Michigan shore and climbed a steep bluff to await her cubs. The cubs became exhausted by their long swim and never reached land. The mother bear waited day after day to no avail. Finally Mishe Mokwa died. The Great Spirit, Manitou, marked her resting-place with the Sleeping Bear Dunes and raised the North and South Manitou Islands from the spot where the cubs perished.
Coffee in hand, we returned to the dock, boarded the C-Worthy and quickly set off towards the islands with hopes of landing some really big fish. The big lake looked even bigger 
as we cruised far away from the peninsula and across the Manitou Passage. The C- Worthy easily blasted through the early morning waves. Other boats made many large waves on their way out for the same prize. Some of the rough water was caused by squalls beginning to make their way across the lake.
Soon the Manitous were visible through the misty morning fog. Our mate began setting various rods up which was a very interesting process to watch. The goal was to set up our own "school" of bait fish with several rods and lures and get them to the right depth where the Chinook lurked. They stay only in a certain temperature to feed and that was what we were looking for. Once the lures were attached to a line each pair were attached to a large lead ball and let down into the water. We were finding the right temperature at about 50 feet this day
It wasn’t long before we had our first strike, and Ken’s dad was first to go. The next rod to tip was mine and then everything went around the boat several times over until we had brought in a generous haul. I think we made our limit. I quickly learned when a rod tip went up that a fish was on. One had to grab the pole right away to hook the fish or it could be lost. Captains radioed each other through out the morning reporting what was being caught, the depth, and where they were finding fish. It was share and share alike; there was plenty of room and most definitely plenty of fish.
Some were small fish, some medium, and some 20 plus pound giants. I was fortunate enough to land one of these monster-sized fish. Once you hook one, be prepared for a battle. In no time, your arms grow w
eary from the fight. However, you don’t give up, knowing you have a prize on the other end. The sound of the reel zipping out more and more line causes you worry. You will struggle to take up the slack as your arms are burning. Sometimes the boat is turned to follow the fish, which helps tire it out. After a time, you find more and more slack and you can take in line. The boat bounces in the waves and you are amazed you are doing all of this with out falling down. Sometimes these fish will leap and it is awesome to see. Just as you think you have won and are bringing your fish to the boat they see you and run again! Then one of the other rods will tip up and the mate yells, "FISH ON!"
In the big waters of the Great Lakes, Chinook salmon are planted each year by our DNR. They live to be about four years of age when they will run up the rivers and spawn in the fall of their fourth year. Here they die, if they were in their natural ocean environment they would return to the seas for another year. Several of our large fish were females full of roe. The roe is saved for spring Steelhead fishing.
We limited out by 10:30 that morning and made the journey back to the dock with a lot of smiling faces. This is well worth trying for a great summertime weekend escape. You must book your date early; these boats fill fast.
