| Weekly Fishing Report | |
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Thursday, September 8, 2005 Strong winds and fog have hampered fishing conditions on both the inland waters as well as the Great Lakes. Rain showers and cooler temperatures are still needed to push salmon into the river systems. Anglers are reminded that a Michigan fishing license can be purchased online at www.michigan.gov/dnr. Click on the orange box that says Hunting and Fishing Licenses.
Southeastern Lower Peninsula In Lake Erie, perch fishing is starting to pick up and is sure to improve as water temperatures cool. Good numbers have been caught out of Brest Bay between the 1st and 2nd buoys using perch rigs. A few have been caught south of Stony Point in 22 to 26 feet of water. Walleye have been caught while trolling crawler harnesses between the Fermi Power Plant and Stony Point in 19 to 20 feet of water. In the Huron River, fishing is slow as water levels remain low. Light numbers of steelhead have been caught near 4th Street. Perch fishing on the Detroit River has been good. Anglers have caught good numbers around Sugar Island near the Canadian border. Another good spot has been on the south end of Celeron Island using perch rigs and minnows. Walleye have been caught in the lower end of the river between Celeron Island and Grosse Ile while hand lining or drifting with crawler harnesses. In Lake St. Clair, perch and walleye have been caught straight out from 8, 9, and 10 Mile Roads in waters 16 to 18 feet deep. Musky have been caught on the Canadian side of the lake near the Belle River. In the St. Clair River, fishing has been steady. Walleye have been caught just south of the Black River using crawlers or crawler harnesses. A few salmon and steelhead have been caught. In the Black River, anglers have caught good numbers of catfish on crawlers or stink bait. Good numbers of white perch have been reported as well. At Port Sanilac, recent windy weather kept a lot of anglers of the water. Perch have been caught while drifting minnows in waters 30 to 32 feet deep. Pier anglers at Lexington and Port Sanilac are catching mostly rock bass, bluegill, and a few small perch. Near Harbor Beach, chinook and steelhead have been caught in waters 80 to 100 feet deep. At Port Austin, those trolling are getting mostly lake trout from 80 to 110 feet of water. In Saginaw Bay, perch fishing has been good. Anglers have had the best luck fishing out of Bay City near the Spark Plug and H-Buoy. Perch rigs and minnows have worked well. Near Sebewaing, perch anglers are having success fishing around the commercial nets. Another good spot has been near Oak Point just north of Caseville in 30 to 35 feet of water. Near Linwood, perch fishing has picked up. Anglers are having luck fishing near the Black Hole in waters 20 to 22 feet deep using minnows or perch rigs. Surface water temperatures on the inland lakes have dropped to the lower 70’s. Trout fishing has picked up. Steelhead have been caught while trolling cowbells and a minnow 25 to 50 feet down in waters 70 to 90 feet deep. Splake fishing has slowed. Bluegill have been spotty and on the small side. Try fishing the drop-offs in 10 to 15 feet of water with a wax worm or pieces of crawlers. Bass fishing has been slow. Most catches have been taken near the drop-offs or around the docks in 4 to 15 feet of water. Try using a watermelon tube jig or a chartreuse grub. Southwestern Lower Peninsula At St. Joe, bass fishing continues to be good on the St. Joe River. Anglers drifting crawlers are doing best. Walleye continue to be slow, though there are quite a few steelhead to be caught. Anglers should target the cold water streams that dump into the river. On Paw Paw Lake, pan fishing is good. Using wax worms in waters 12 to 15 feet deep has been successful. Northern pike and bass fishing has been slow. Near Holland, salmon fishing has been good. Anglers are finding the best success in waters 40 to 120 feet deep using dodgers and flies, J-Plugs, or blue and green spoons. The best catches have been while fishing in the shallows in the early morning or deeper waters in the evening. Perch have been caught in waters 15 to 35 feet deep. In Lake Macatawa, good numbers of bluegill have been caught using wax worms by the docks and buoys. Walleye fishing has been slow. Anglers have had the best luck while using body baits and various spoons. On the Grand River in Grand Rapids, anglers are still waiting for good numbers of salmon and steelhead to show up near the Sixth Street Dam. Try fishing either early morning or late evening with spinners and spoons. Flathead and channel catfish have been caught in the holes. Walleye have been caught while bottom bouncing hair jigs or golden shiners. On the Rogue River, rainbow and brown trout have been caught using dry flies. The best areas have been from the dam past West River Drive, and from 10 Mile Road to Packer Drive. Good fishing was reported on local lakes. Good numbers of bluegill have been caught at Reeds Lake. Anglers are using jigs tipped with wax worms near the sunken island in waters 5 to 10 feet deep. Splake can be caught near the drop-offs. On Big Wabbis Lake, good numbers of bluegill and perch have been caught in waters 5 to 10 feet deep. Anglers have had the best luck using flathead minnows, small jigs, or teardrops tipped with wax worms. On Muskegon Lake, good numbers of chinook have been caught while slow trolling with J-Plugs. Some of the best catches have been while jigging with spoons or casting and retrieving just inside the channel. Good numbers of bluegill have been caught using wax worms in the weed beds. Good numbers of catfish have been caught. One angler reported catching a 30 pound, 41 inch flathead catfish while fishing from shore. Northeastern Lower Peninsula At Rogers City, salmon have been caught south of the harbor from Calcite to Adams Point, or north up to Forty Mile Point Light. Try fishing downriggers 30 to 60 feet down in waters 50 to 120 feet deep. Some anglers have had luck using planer boards and J-Plugs. Others are using spoons, J-Plugs, or flies in an assortment of colors. Good locations in Presque Isle have been straight out of the harbor towards Stoneport in waters 40 to 70 feet deep. Anglers are using downriggers from the surface down to 60 feet deep. Common lures include spoons, J-Plugs, or flies in various colors. At Alpena, anglers have caught a few salmon out near the 9-Mile can using J-Plugs or spoons in waters 50 to 65 feet deep. Salmon have been caught in the Thunder Bay River near the Ninth Street Bridge. Off Rockport, boat anglers reported good salmon fishing when trolling 30 to 35 feet down in waters 60 to 75 feet deep at Middle Island. Inland fishing was fair. On Hubbard Lake, walleye have been caught using Rapala’s. Northern pike and bass fishing continues to be slow in Fletchers Floodwaters. A few perch were reported while using a hook and worm in 5 feet of water. Walleye fishing has been slow at Black Lake as the water has been rough. Most catches have been taken while trolling with crawler harnesses in 15 to 30 feet of water early in the morning or just before dark. Perch and pan fish seem to be the only thing biting during the day. Near Oscoda, lake trout fishing has been good. Boat anglers have reported good catches straight out from the piers in 100 feet of water using spoons, flies or spin-n-glows. A few salmon have been caught in the mouth of the Au Sable River and off the pier heads in the early morning hours. Catfish have been caught near the mouth using crawlers on the bottom. At Harrisville, lake trout have been caught in waters 70 to 120 feet deep. Boat anglers are fishing north near Sturgeon Point or as far south as Greenbush. A few walleye have been caught outside the rock wall in waters 16 to 50 feet deep. Fishing on the Au Sable River has been fair to slow. River traffic was heavy with canoes, as most holiday travelers were out enjoying the sights rather than fishing. Anglers near Grayling have caught a few brook and brown trout. Brown trout have been caught mostly in the evening using big dry flies. Good numbers of catfish are being caught below the dams. Fishing should pick up now that the summer traveling has slowed. At Tawas, fair to good perch fishing has been reported. The best catches have come from the buoy area anywhere from Oscoda to Au Gres. Good lake trout fishing has been reported as well. Inland fishing has been good. Nice catches of bluegill and smallmouth bass have been taken in Tawas Lake. On Cedar Lake, walleye fishing has been good. Slow fishing on Higgins Lake this week, as most boaters were out for recreation and not fishing. Some good size smallmouth bass were reported. Perch have been caught near the sunken island using shiners. Lake trout have been caught in waters 100 feet deep while trolling with spoons. On Houghton Lake, perch, pike and bass have been caught using crawlers. Northwestern Lower Peninsula At Petoskey, boat anglers are catching salmon in Little Traverse Bay in waters 40 to 70 feet deep. Light numbers of salmon have been caught in the Bear River as well. At Traverse City, salmon fishing has been good in both bays. In East Bay, anglers are having luck anywhere from Elk Rapids down to the South Bank area and out from the M-37 boat launch. Try trolling with green or white spoons 50 to 90 feet down. In West Bay, the best catches have been taken from the mouth of the Boardman River out to the Red Buoy off of Grelickville. Anglers have caught fair numbers of salmon off of Peshawbestown in Suttons Bay. The bait of choice seems to be Hoochie Mama’s with flies containing green, blue or silver. Try trolling spoons in blue and red combinations 65 feet down in waters 100 to 150 feet deep. At Burt Lake, perch and walleye have been caught using crawlers or crawler harnesses. Walleye numbers have slowed on Crooked Lake. A few have been caught using bottom bouncers. Perch and bass fishing has been good on both Crooked and Pickerel Lakes using crawlers or crawler harnesses. At Frankfort, salmon fishing has been good. Pier anglers are seeing the best catches in the early morning hours casting spoons, spawn, or alewives. Boat anglers have had good catches of chinook, coho and a few steelhead and brown trout while trolling in the bay straight out from the piers or to the north near Pt. Betsie. Most are being caught in waters 20 to 150 feet deep on green, blue, purple, yellow, or orange flies, spoons, or plugs. At Onekama, trout and salmon fishing has started to pick up to the north and south of the pier heads in 80 to 140 feet of water. Good numbers of chinook, coho and steelhead have been caught on yellow, green, blue, or glow spoons and plugs. Pier fishing has been best in the early morning hours. Rock bass, northern pike and largemouth bass have been caught throughout the daytime hours. Anglers at Portage Lake have been catching good numbers of pan fish, as well as some nice size bass and walleye in the evening hours. At Manistee, anglers are reporting good salmon catches as well as a few steelhead. The best catches have been taken using Hoochie Mama’s and flies in waters 30 to 100 feet deep. Anglers report that salmon fishing is good anywhere from Pentwater up to Frankfort. Anglers have caught salmon in the open areas of the Little Manistee River and Manistee Lake as well. Please refer to page 10 of the 2005 Inland Trout and Salmon Guide for fishing closures currently in effect for areas of the Little Manistee River and Manistee Lake. At Ludington, salmon fishing is good. Boat anglers have had success trolling in waters 100 feet deep with spoons and J-Plugs. The best areas have been near the Ludington State Park and the Big Point Sable areas. In the Pere Marquette River, salmon fishing has picked up. Anglers are reporting good catches from the Indian Bridge downstream, using spinners and spawn. Inland fishing is slow. Good catches of bluegill have been reported on Upper Hamlin Lake. Upper Peninsula In Keweenaw Bay, anglers are having fair success trolling or jigging for lake trout. Try trolling in 150 to 185 feet of water or jigging in 200 to 240 feet of water. Anglers trolling for lake trout in Traverse Bay are having good success in 90 to 150 feet of water. Those jigging for lake trout are having fair success in waters 140 to 240 feet deep. A few coho have been caught in shallow waters. On Lake Gogebic, walleye fishing seems to be picking up a bit. Lake levels are down and water temperatures are high for this time of year. Crawlers, leeches and minnows have all been working well in the weeds. Fishing has been spotty on the Menominee River. Smallmouth bass have been caught below Pemene Falls downstream to County Road G18. Angling pressure is high at the Grand Rapids Dam with the recent sturgeon season opener. Most catches are of sub-legal size. In Menominee, good numbers of trout and salmon have been caught in the bay. At Munising and Au Train, fishing pressure is down. Good lake trout fishing continues near the bays and out at Big Reef in 150 feet of water. Still no sign of salmon as it is a bit early and water temperatures are still high. In Little Bay De Noc, walleye fishing has been spotty. The hot spots seemed to be out by the Red Buoy in Kipling and on the Stonington side. Anglers faired the best in the evening hours drifting crawlers in 20 to 25 feet of water. Perch fishing has been good off the Gladstone Beach area in 10 to 25 feet of water. Try jigging crawlers in 12 to 30 feet of water. Shore anglers on the Ford River reported some nice catches of smallmouth bass while casting spinners and crank baits. No salmon have been reported. In Big Bay De Noc, salmon catches have been high near Fairport. Anglers are trolling 110 feet down in 90 to 120 feet of water out by the big Summer Island. Walleye anglers have struggled this week with only a few catches being taken southwest of Round Island. Try trolling in waters 20 to 30 feet deep. Perch anglers are having luck in Garden Bay. The best catches have been in the morning hours while jigging crawlers in 8 feet of water. At Grand Marais, lake trout fishing continues to be good. The fish seem to be suspended on the bottom in 150 to 300 feet of water. Perch fishing on the Tahquamenon River has been slow but improving on the section between McFees Landing near Newberry and the mouth of the Sage River. Try fishing near the weed lines with crawlers or minnows. On the St. Mary’s River, walleye fishing has improved. Good catches have been taken in the channel at Gogamain Point. Try using a three ounce bottom bouncer with a 32 inch leader and crawler harness for the best success. At Drummond Island, perch fishing has been good. Limit catches have been taken at Black Rock Point using minnows and spreaders in 14 feet of water. Another good area has been off the piers and docks at Yacht Haven using minnows with a slip bobber in 8 to 10 feet of water. In De Tour, fishing pressure is low. Those targeting salmon are fishing near the #3 Green Can by the lighthouse and near Drummond Island. White flashers with a blue or white fly or silver J-Plugs seem to be working well. Salmon catches have been fair in Cedarville and Hessel. Try fishing the Dolomite Shipping Channel and right in front of the Dolomite docks with J-Plugs or stick baits in 30 feet of water. Perch have been active around Little Joe Island, Moscow Channel and Musky Bay. Northern pike and smallmouth bass have been biting on shiner minnows in shallow waters. Good catches have come from areas in Government Bay, Cedarville Bay, Musky Bay and Hessel Bay. At St. Ignace, salmon fishing is improving. Boat anglers are having good success fishing around Mackinac Island and the Coast Guard Station using flashers with flies or spoons. Salmon are starting to arrive in the mouth of the Carp River. Anglers are using silver J-Plugs and green glow spoons. |
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