Cheese State Chinook

[jschmidt]

Hey all from Colorado, haven't be on in some time and hope everyone is doing well. Holiday's is Tying season for me and wanted to share some of the fish I have caught.
Wife and I took a trip to Milwaukee to visit some friend... just happened to time it perfectly with the Chinook run.
Jigs:
1/8 oz marabou
Black
Black and Cha
White

hen's only.... I was broken off 4 times... I am suspect all four were bucks.
now the good stuff...

Milwaukee river


Milwaukee river... first salmon ever...swinging a black jig


Milwaukee River... best fish of the trip... 36" hen swinging a jerkbait


Milwaukee harbor... twitching a White jig

 

[Ron Don]

WOW! What a trip! Beautiful fish and water. Glad to see you back.

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

Welcome back, great looking fish and scenery.

 

[Radtexan]

Dang. Never thought I wanted to visit Wisconsin ,, till now. Nice job and welcome back

 

[Hawnjigs]

Wowza! No crowds! "broken off" meaning snapped or abrasion fatigued? Can you keep & eat?

 

[Pup]

Great catches and pics. I miss my time in Michigan City, IN. Good salmon and steelhead fishing there too.

 

[jschmidt]

Wowza! No crowds! "broken off" meaning snapped or abrasion fatigued? Can you keep & eat?

I would set the hook, drag would be singing and the fish would be 50 yards down stream in a split-sec. then snap! happened with both jigs and lures. power of those fish is unreal. next time I will be upsizing my gear.
Fished a 7' ML with 16 lb braid and a 20 lb fluo leader.

I am so hard-wired for catch and release... It was later that night at dinner I realized I let like 30 lbs of quality salmon fillets swim away.

 

[LedHed]

Awesome report & waters. that some big fish!!

 

[Muskygary]

When those salmon come upstream they're going to die and the meat gets strong tasting. Best way to fix them is to smoke them. The silver fish out in lake Michigan are good tasting.

 

[Jig Man]

I bet they are strong runners in that current... Nice fish!

 

[Pup]

Some anglers soak their stream-caught adult salmon filets in milk overnight for a milder taste.