July on Lake Michigan: Adult Kings and the Start of Prime Time

From Capt. John King's fishing logs, 2004–2020. Adult Kings stage on the shelf in July, and John's "prime time" began about the 3rd week of the month.

Early July: whites and chrome

"Time taught me whites and silver/chrome are good attractor colors until about the 2nd–3rd week of July when the glow stuff gets hot. Whites and silver/chromes tend to work all season long." (Capt. John, 7/7/20)

4th of July 2020, Manistee

  • Set up before dawn in 55' of water, 2 miles south of the harbor.
  • A 4.65 White Lightning Salmon Buster spoon on a rigger 50' down, just above the thermocline, at 2.5 mph took a King that fought for over 40 minutes on 20# mono. It bit by moonlight alone.
  • Around 7am, a diver pulling a White Lightning 10" BTI with a Pearl Glo trolling fly took a King of about 15 lb.
  • Balled-up bait marked on the sonar meant predators were near.

July 2004: the Reel Flasher season

  • Kings came 80–95' down, tight to structure (7/13/04).
  • A Black Mamba flasher with a clear-red meat rig took the 29 lb big fish at Ludington's Gander Mountain tournament (7/12/04).
  • Capt. Dave found 43°F water and trolled 1.8 mph at the ball for 4 Kings in 90 minutes at mid-day (7/10/04).
  • Capt. Jay: Yellowtail on the rigger and Lemon Lime on a diver 140' back for 9 Kings (7/7/04).

Late July 2008: prime time

  • Kings ran deep: 100' down to as deep as 190'. "This is attractor territory plain and simple."
  • Meat fishermen did best on Black Mamba, X-Glow Frog and Green Double Glow with 2- and 3-fly meat rigs.
  • Fly fishermen did best on 10" BTIs in gold and pearl glow.
  • Once below 80', shorten rigger leads; 10' back worked well at 100'+.

Recommended tackle

More: Spread Setup Guide · Trolling Cheat Sheet · All months

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