New Fishing Boat | New Fishing Gear | New Fishing Season

Big Bird Charters is excited to kick-off the 2017 Lake Michigan fishing season with a new boat and new gear! In fact, we're so excited about the new boat & gear we've decided to tell you all about it in this blog, but first a little about us. Big Bird Charters, a family affair, has been creating thrilling experiences and memories that last a lifetime for 34 years. Catch with the best father & son team of professional fishing guides on beautiful Lake Michigan! Our experience has taught us many of the honey holes for the biggest King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Lake Trout, Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Great Lakes. Based out of St Joseph, MI we're an easy drive from Chicago, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio! 2017 is filling up fast so give us a shout to reserve your charter today.

Captain Jim "Big Bird" Conder and Captain Eric "Little Bird" Conder are seriously pumped to deliver unforgettable fishing charters to their clientele in style. Our recently acquired Searay 340 Express has all the power we could need with twin 454s. She is set up with all of the bells & whistles we could dream of. Some things we love about this new boat include her spacious enclosed cabin with air conditioning & heat for comfort, her wide-open back deck complete with seating & spacious lavatory. Modern day luxuries like these combined with our new gear & fishing technology are elevating our customer's fishing charter experience to the highest level!

Here she is! Isn't she pretty?

Jim and Eric are so excited about taking their charter to the next level. In fact, they've been working double-time late this winter and early spring in order to get this baby equipped with some of the newest fishing gadgets & technology available. We'll get into some details on the new equipment below but just look how happy these two are on their maiden voyage from Chicago to St Joe!

Jim "Big Bird" Conder & Eric "Little Bird" Conder

Alright, alright, we're going to try to cap our excitement and end this blog with a brief description of new gear. Our Raymarine navigational system, fish finder and auto pilot is top notch when it comes to finding the best fish on Lake Michigan. In fact, it's so "top notch" the US Coast Guard is equipped with the same technology! Add our 34 years of fishing experience on Lake MI and we're unstoppable when it comes to catching the big ones.

Raymarine Fish Finder

Finally, we've upgraded our downrigging system and are proud to be equipped with the newest Magnum Metalz downriggers complimented with Cannon gear. In addition to our new navigation system our VHF communications allow us to network with other fishing pros on the lake about what the fish are biting & where the big schools have been found. Aside from all of this great technology, we are proud to fish with the best fishing gear out there. We're fully equipped with Shimano, Okuma and Abu Garcia fishing gear in order to provide the best Lake MI charter boat fishing experience to our customers! 

Magnum Metalz Downrigger

To ensure availability for your desired date please call us or shoot us an email to schedule this ultimate experience in Great Lakes fishing. 2017 is booking up fast so call us today. We love being in the business of creating priceless memories! 

Big Bird Charters

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(269) 470-4149 - Captain Jim

(615) 426-2179 - Captain Eric 

07/22/15 BIG BIRD CHARTERS FISHING BLOG - LAKE MICHIGAN SALMON FISHING REPORT & NEWS

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SHOT FROM LION'S BEACH.  HARD TO TELL, BUT THERE ARE 5 FT. WAVES ROCKING OUT DEEPER.

BIG BIRD CHARTERS is back at it again with another fishing report from Lake Michigan, Port of Saint Joseph, MI.  Alot has changed since April's fishing report.  Fishing has kicked in full gear and we are having some great days on the water with our guests.  For those that have joined us, they know how chaotic the moments can be with 2-3 fish on at a time.  Now that we are into the middle of our season, the fishing has had it's "fast bite" days and it's challenges.  The weather has presented unpredictable moments and has reflected on the fishing.  Let's be honest, some days are just straight up tough fishing, but as cliche as it is.."That's why they call it fishing and not catching".  This blog posting is a re-cap of the last month's fishing.  Hope you all enjoy!

AFTERNOON TRIP DUE TO ROUGH WATER IN THE A.M.

Day 1 with the Greenwood family:  Originally scheduled for the morning, we delayed to the afternoon due to wave conditions.  Not too shabby with 10 in the box with a mixed bag of King Salmon, Coho Salmon, Steelhead, Skamani, and Lake Trout.  This was just an appetizer for the next day of fishing!

TORE IT UP! - BIG BIRD CHARTERS

Day 2 with the Greenwood family:  With a 6 a.m. dock departure and 7 hours of fishing, we managed to find the mother load.  We fished from 110 foot of water on out to 240 fow.  We covered the entire water column range with baits in place from surface to bottom.  The fish are scattered out and in this case, very plentiful!

 

 ERIN, LISA & MR. TROUT

 YEARLY TRADITION WITH THE SABATINOS

 6/21/15 The Sabatino/Kanouse family are always a real pleasure to have onboard and we have a blast on the water!  The afternoon fishing was a bit tough, but the good times are always rolling with these folks.  See you all next year!

 

ERIC AND HIS BIG BAD KING

JOE AND HIS BODACIOUS KING

7/11/15 The home town wrecking crew joined us for 2 days of fishing.  To the left and right are Eric and Joe sporting their King Salmon.  The second day of fishing proved to be a box filler of salmon and trout.  The Lake Trout we are catching in mid-summer are big and hearty.  Chuck, included in the group shot below has been a long time friend of "BIG BIRD" for decades.  He's been fishing with Jim from the very beginning starting in the early 80's.  It is always great to see you guys and good to catch up on old times.  Hope to see you all again soon!

JOE, ERIC, CHUCK & THEIR MOUND OF HOGS - BIG BIRD CHARTERS

 

BOB & KEVIN - ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BITE!

MR. PHIL IN MID-FIGHT

  7/12/15  Some good ol' boys that are always looking for the next fish bite.  Looks like your bait money was put to good use fellas and thanks for the morning grub!  Phil(right) had his very first experience of boat fishing and he got broke in right!

 

 

JERRY & MARK - GREAT JOB!

FAMILY STYLE FISHIN'

7/16/15  It was a real delight to fish with Jerry, Mark, Nicole, Zoey, & Ian.  The fishing was a little tricky this day.  Quite a few other bites that just didn't stick to the hooks.  Regardless, we caught some beauty's and had a blast fishing with this wonderful family.  Later on I joined them for some dinner chow down at Babe's Lounge in Benton Harbor for the Catch & Cook.  Lori at Babe's, does an absolute awesome job at cooking the fresh catch and it really caps off the fishing day and the overall fishing experience!

7/2/15 TRIP CUT SHORT DUE TO ROUGH WATER, BUT THE VILLAREALS STILL GOT THEIR REEL ON!

THUMBS UP STEELIE FISHIN!

Steelhead/Skamani are an allure to our Lake Michigan fishery.  They put on a heck of a show with their acrobatics and unpredictable movements and speed.  Our Skamani count is down a tad from last year, but we are still getting them.  Recently Steelhead and Skamani were right up close to the pier heads, which creates a "battle zone" of boats and jam packed piers.  Skamani fishing is very popular and draws many for the excitement of the bite!

MIXED BAG O' FISH - STEELHEAD, LAKE TROUT & KING SALMON

 

 

 

7/21/15 STARTED OUT WITH 3 FOOT WAVES, BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP THIS CREW.  

Thanks to all that follow and support what we do, if it wasn't for you all we wouldn't be able to do what we do!  If anyone has questions about fishing or just wants to drop a line on how fishing is going for them, we would love to hear from you.  Also, for those that may me interested in planning a fishing charter...there are plenty of days left to get in on the action before the season ends.  Fish on and keep it reel!

CAPTAIN JIM & CAPTAIN ERIC - BIG BIRD CHARTERS

Captain Eric  615-426-2179

Captain Jim  269-470-4149

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06/07/15 BIG BIRD CHARTERS FISHING BLOG - LAKE MICHIGAN SALMON FISHING REPORT & NEWS

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Welcome to this week's blog posting from BIG BIRD CHARTERS.  Fishing in Southwest MI. in Saint Joseph, MI. has had it's great days and challenging days.  Whether the fishing is exceptionally great, or our skills are put to the test....we always fish hard to have the best day possible.  The weather has been very inconsistent, which reflects on the fishing.  Regardless, we always have a great time on the water with the fine folks that join us!

YESTERDAY'S FISHING PROVED TO BE A GREAT ONE! - BIG BIRD CHARTERS

FISH WERE DEFINITELY ON! -  BIG BIRD CHARTERS

The deck got very fishy on this trip.  Steelhead (Rainbow Trout), Coho Salmon, and Lake Trout have been prevalent in their spring feeding.  The highly revered King Salmon of Lake Michigan have been scattered out and not present in great numbers.  This is due partly to the decrease in the hatchery of King Salmon because of a

THANKS FELLAS! - BIG BIRD CHARTERS

low population in Alewife, which are the preferred diet of our mighty King Salmon.  This is a balancing act of the food chain from predator to prey.  Not to worry, as the DNR balances the King Salmon fishery, our other salmon and trout fish species keep the allure of Lake Michigan Sport Fishing alive and thriving.

JUST ANOTHER DAY OF WORK - BIG BIRD CHARTERS

As we return from our fishing trips, this is just one of many things we see coming in.  The mighty MISSISSAGI is offloading salt as many boaters make their way around "her".  It is quite impressive how these massive cargo ships navigate the narrow St. Joseph River. 

THANKS TO TERRY, STEPHANIE, & THE BOYS!

We had a great time with our IL. crew.  It was a calm, beautiful, smooth day on the water.  This day presented it's challenges, but we came out on top.  7 caught, 4 to 5 other that didn't stick on the hook, and all while dealing with massive cottonwood build up on our fising lines. 

HAD A BLAST WITH DAN AND CREW.

Great trip with Dan and the wrecking crew!  We had fast action in the morning and then it slowed down by late morning.  We had 15 or so bites with 9 fish landed.  Coho Salmon and Steelhead came primarily in the top 20 foot of the water column in 280 foot of water.  Lake Trout are still all over the water column biting from the surface to the bottom.  You guys were great and thanks for the comraderie fellas!

DUELING KINGS

 

We are catching alot of 1-2 year old fish as we typically do this time of the season.  Altough they are smaller fish, they supply fast action and are the best eating, especially the Coho Salmon.  To the left are 2 King Salmon, also known as Chinook Salmon.  Kings put on a show and are the most challenging to fight and land in the boat.  We are starting to notice bigger Coho and Steelhead as we move along in our season.  Soon, big Steelhead and Skamani will be peeling our lines.  For those that have not experienced our sky-rocketing Steelhead, your missing out!  June is always a great month for these fighters.  For those interested, reserve your charter now to get in on the action!

FISH GRINNIN!

 

This last picture was taken a few days ago from an afternoon trip.  2 Lake Trout, 1 King, and 3 Coho Salmon had these boys grinnin' from ear to ear.  We love having children aboard because for most, these are the biggest fish they have ever caught and their excitement is more than words can explain.  It's always great when the fishing is non-stop and we can get everyone's limit, but that just doesn't happen every day.  With 6 in the box and stories of the fish that got away, this was a successfull day with the Mimnito Family.  Good times and memories down the road!

 

 

At Big Bird Charters, we would be happy to hear from any and all of you about questions you may have about our fishery and what we do here.  For those that would just like to talk fishing and share any fish tales, just drop us a line in our blog box!

Thanks to all that follow us and support what we do.  Till next week, Bird's The Word.

-CAPTAIN ERIC 

Captain Eric  615-426-2179

Captain Jim  269-470-4149

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3/22/15 Michigan Salmon Fishing Report – BIG BIRD CHARTERS

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Welcome to Big Bird Charters Salmon Fishing Blog.  With another week behind us, fishing is picking up here in the St. Joseph, MI. region.

St. Joseph, MI.  Piers 3 weeks ago - Big Bird Charters

Although the piers are still ice covered, it does not stop the hardcore anglers from dropping their lines.  Coho Salmon fishing is picking up, but still a slow catch rate.  The pier fisherman are also catching Steelhead, Brown Trout, and White Fish.  Yesterday, a five foot long Sturgeon found itself hooked on an anglers line, what a catch!  It was caught and released, as Sturgeon are not legal to keep at this time.  The basic baits used are spawn bags and chunks of skein.  The rig consists of a slip sinker ahead of a barrel swivel on the primary line(usually a 1.5 oz. to 2.5 oz. pyramid sinker).  A 3 to 4 foot floro-carbon leader is then tied to the barrel swivel with the hook at the end.  An egg loop knot is used when tying to the hook for using skein.  The loop harnesses the bait in place, otherwise much time will be spent on just changing out bait. 

Winter Steelhead Shoreline Fishing - Big Bird Charters

Another gathering spot for fisherman is the Berrien Springs Dam.  This dam is at the top of the St. Joseph River and separates the river from Lake Chapin.  Many of the big game fish that have made it this far upriver congregate and also navigate through the fish ladder of the dam.  When the fishing is ON, the shoreline is packed with anglers.  To avoid tangles, they systematically cast their drift lines in rhythm with each other.  When the rhythm is off, everyone knows it because the tangles and tempers flare up.  Many anglers use corkys, wobble glos, flys, skein chunks, and spawn bags.  They basically have a drop sinker ahead of their leader and bait, cast upstream and let their bait drift downstream….and repeat until someone yells FISH ON!

For those fishing by boat in the river, fishing is still a slow catch.  The best steelhead river fishing is taking place up by the dam.  They use the skein and spawn bag rigs as well as trolling plugs like hot n’ tots, flat fish, and mag lips. 

Ice cover on Lake MI. is still very prevalent, but it won’t be long until we are back out on the big lake!  I will cover more Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing trolling techniques as we get into our season.  To all anglers….be safe, keep your hooks sharp, and fish hard!

CAPT. ERIC – BIG BIRD CHARTER FISHING

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Saint Joseph, Michigan Summer Early Evening - Big Bird Charters

03/15/15 Big Bird Charters - Spring King & Coho Salmon Fishing www.bigbirdcharters.com

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Welcome to Big Bird Charters Sport Fishing Blog.  With the temps rising and the snow melting, the spring fishing is soon upon us!

Saint Joseph, MI. North Pier.  Fishing is right around the corner! - Big Bird Charters

The Craze For Spring Kings & Coho Salmon

Spring Kings & Coho Salmon

Standard trolling spoon

In one regard, fish are very similar to people as the warming temperatures emerge from the frozen land of the Midwest.  People are more upbeat and excited to take advantage of the outdoors and more comfortable weather.  The spring months that build our anticipation of fishing are creeping upon us as the fish rise from “hibernation”.

Healthy Spring King Salmon

As the river and lake thaws and water temperatures rise, this spikes the beginning of our fishing season.  The Spring Coho Salmon gather around the southern tip of Lake Michigan(Portage, IN., Michigan City, IN. area) due to warmer water temps because of shallow water close to shore.  Imagine how we notice a 10 degree difference in temp, fish are exponentially more sensitive  to temperature change.  All fish have a temperature range in which their bodies function with peak performance.  Coho Salmon – 40 to 52 degrees water temp.  These Coho start to migrate north following the bait 
 fish and desired water temperature which leads them straight to us in Saint Joseph, MI. 

Dipsy Divers

The Spring Kings follow a similar pattern as Coho.  Although these juvenile salmon don’t necessarily congregate in the southern shores like Coho, they are attracted to the warming waters of southern Lake Michigan.  They are most lively in 40-48 degree water temps.  They typically start their spring run just behind the Coho.  Needless to say, the fishing season starts off with a bang and provides plenty of fishing action and savory table fare.

“BIG BIRD BLING”  Lake Michigan Tackle & Baits

Effective crankbait

Planer Boards

Our Spring gear includes Shimano Ugly Stik rods (7’ and 9’) paired up with Abu Garcia Ambassador 7000 high speed reels and Okuma Convector reels.  The shallow water fishing gear include reels spooled with 20 pound test mono-filament line combined with leadcore line, which allows for covering different depth ranges.  Our normal fishing setup starts with downriggers(baits closest to boat), dipsy divers(sends baits down and away from the boat), then our planer board lines which allows more baits in the water by taking the lines out and away from the boat.  We cover the water column  range which often makes for steady action!

Coho Killers

Coho dodger & fly

As top producing baits and colors change year to year, some baits have held a top producing reputation for years on end.  One “go-to” bait for spring Coho is the “Brad’s Thinfish” crankbait.  The red body with black squiggles (presented to the right) is a coho-killer and can be found in most tackle boxes upon Lake Michigan.  Next up would be the 6” Luhr Jensen red/orange dodger(image on left) paired with what many call a peanut fly or Coho Candy.  Blue and green color schemes are the most common for Coho fishing. 

Flasher & Fly

Electric Perch

Last year(2014) prevailed some fast and furious Spring King Salmon fishing.  Our top producing rigs involved our dipsy diver rods in combination with an 8” flasher(Dream Weaver Spin Doctor - right image) and fly known as a Blue Dolphin color scheme.  The “Electric Perch”(image to left) colored trolling spoon made by “Warrior” held it’s own as well.  Year to year the desired colors can change, so we shall see what recipe our salmon prefer this season!

Thanks for dropping in and checking us out!  For those interested in experiencing our Spring King & Coho Salmon fishing….dates are available!

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