| Weekly Fishing Report | |
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Thursday, October 27, 2005 Rain along with cooler temperatures is a welcome change for those seeking steelhead. Salmon are still on the gravel in many rivers, and the steelhead can be found in the pools right behind them. Anglers are reminded that the season to take lake sturgeon from the Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Waters will close on Tuesday, November 1st.
Southeastern Lower Peninsula High winds this week kept most anglers off Lake Erie, as it’s that time of year when inclement weather makes for difficult fishing. If the weather clears, anglers should still be able to still find some good perch fishing off Stony Point, around the Dumping Grounds, and out near Buoys E and C. Rumor has it the walleye are starting to come into the shallows at night off Brest Bay and Luna Pier. A few walleye have been caught in the River Raisin, and bass are hitting on spinners. Anglers continue to catch steelhead in the Huron River. Some are drifting spawn or flies, while others are casting spoons and plugs. The better fishing continues between Huroc Park and Ford Street, but some are also fishing up near the Flat Rock Dam. In the Detroit River, a few walleye were taken at the mouth between the Lake Erie Metro launch site and Celeron Island. Yellow perch were caught in Airport Bay along the south end of Grosse Ile on perch rigs with minnows. Musky have been caught when casting crank baits in 6 to 8 feet of water around Peche Island and in 25 feet of water on the north end of Grassy Island. In Lake St. Clair, fair catches of yellow perch were reported in 12 feet of water near 9-Mile Road and the 400 Club. Those trolling for musky have caught fish on body baits between Metro Beach and 8-Mile Road. In the St. Clair River, anglers continue to troll for steelhead near the Blue Water Bridge, while others are drifting spawn and small spoons off the wall. When boats can get out on Saginaw Bay, anglers are catching yellow perch. Colder weather will bring in the bigger fish. Buoys 5 and 15 are still producing as well as Spoils Island and the Spark Plug. Smaller perch can be found in the Quanicassee River and the Sebewaing River. Southwestern Lower Peninsula Near St. Joe, strong winds have kept many on shore, but those able to get out have caught chinook and steelhead in 70 to 110 feet of water. When the weather permits access to the piers, anglers have caught some steelhead in the early mornings. In the St. Joe River, salmon and trout fishing have been excellent. Anglers targeting salmon are doing very well casting spoons and spinners. Those targeting steelhead including boat anglers have done best when drifting spawn. Walleye fishing is slow. Water levels below the Berrien Springs Dam are low, and all boat anglers need to use caution. In the Kalamazoo River, anglers continue to catch chinook in the deeper holes, but the run is beginning to wind down. Boat anglers continue to do best when fishing just below the Allegan Dam. A few walleye have been caught near the dam when fishing at night with Husky Jerks or jigs tipped with minnows. On Paw Paw Lake, northern pike anglers have done well with the majority of fish taken when trolling crank baits in waters 10 to 25 feet deep on windy days. On the Grand River, salmon can still be found on the gravel, but many are starting to turn dark. Anglers have done well for steelhead and brown trout when using spoons, spinners or spawn below the Sixth Street Dam. Others are fishing both above and below the Blue Bridge, below Bridge Street, and by the Art Museum. Those seeking steelhead are float fishing with a jig and wax worm. Not much action closer to Lansing as anglers are awaiting the arrival of salmon and steelhead in bigger numbers. There have been reports of chinook caught at Lyons, and it seems the bluegill are hitting at Sleepy Hollow State Park. At Grand Haven, pier fishing has been the highlight. Steelhead, whitefish, and menominee have been caught off the north pier, and steelhead have been caught off the south pier. Spawn seems to be working best. Anglers have caught yellow perch in the 60 foot hole just off the beach house and in front of the north pier. When boats can get out, they are still catching steelhead when fishing the top 50 feet in waters 150 to 210 feet deep and using the same lures that are normally used for springtime fishing. At Muskegon, try fishing off the south pier for steelhead. Boats are fishing out in deeper waters up to 200 feet deep. It was reported that some of the docks at the boat launches have been removed for the winter. The salmon run in the Muskegon River is in full swing right now. A good number of fish are up on the gravel in the upper section of the river. A light number of steelhead have also started to come into the river and can be found sitting back in pools just behind the salmon. Northeastern Lower Peninsula This is a good time of year to fish the inland lakes. Yellow perch and walleye can be found in Mullett Lake and Black Lake. Those fishing Grand Lake and Fletchers Pond have caught northern pike and bass. Try fishing Hubbard Lake for musky, walleye, yellow perch and largemouth bass. For Alpena, anglers are still targeting the Ninth Street Dam. The salmon are pretty much done, and the big run of steelhead is yet to come. The few fish caught seem to favor spawn. The steelhead should be entering in good numbers by the first week of November. The whitefish will not be found close to shore until at least November 10th, as the best fishing is usually during the firearm deer season. Those heading north to go deer hunting might want to think about taking that fishing gear, as this can be a great fall fishery. At Harrisville, a small number of salmon are still present in the harbor but the fish are turning dark. Most anglers are fishing off shore near the docks or are surfcasting with glow spoons or plugs. A few boats have been fishing for walleye near the rock walls. Near Oscoda, steelhead and walleye have been caught at the mouth of the Au Sable River. Anglers reported fair to good fishing as the steelhead are moving up the river to the Foote Dam. Most fish have been caught when floating spawn. Carp and suckers have been caught off the end of the south pier, and a few walleye were taken when fishing at night. At Tawas, yellow perch can be found in the weedbeds inside Tawas Bay. Some leftover salmon along with some brown trout have been caught off the piers. A few walleye were caught on body baits from the access site behind the State Police Post. Whitefish should be moving into the bay to spawn by the middle of November which presents a unique fishing opportunity for pier anglers. At Au Gres, good yellow perch fishing was reported in 40 feet of water out near the Shipping Channel. Perch are starting to show up just off the Pine River near Palmer Road. Strong winds and no anglers equal no fishing report for Higgins Lake. On Houghton Lake, a few northern pike and walleye have been caught in shallow waters at night. Northwestern Lower Peninsula From Harbor Springs to Charlevoix, the week has been very slow as the chinook salmon runs have diminished to just a few stragglers. Only a handful of anglers have been out trying to catch trout, walleye, perch and bass. Yellow perch and walleye have been caught on minnows in Burt Lake, Crooked Lake and Pickerel Lake. Salmon and steelhead can still be found in the Bear River. Up near Traverse City, those fishing the East Bay have caught yellow perch along with a few whitefish just off the M-37 boat launch as well as in 60 to 100 feet of water off Deepwater Point. Try minnows and wigglers to catch yellow perch or jigging Swedish Pimples for whitefish. Anglers continue to catch salmon while casting and drifting spoons and spawn bags just below the dam in the Elk River. In the West Bay, perch can be found in 60 feet of water in Bowers Harbor or in 90 feet of water along the old Coal Docks just outside the marina at Grelickville. Near Frankfort and Elberta, shore and pier anglers are starting to catch steelhead in the early morning hours. The fishing has been hit-or-miss, but fish are hanging around in the bay. Most fish have been caught on spawn. Fishing in the Betsie River has slowed as not very many fish are being caught. A few were taken below the dam on Thundersticks. Crystal Lake has been very good for yellow perch and walleye, with a few lake trout being caught from shore. Closer to Onekama, salmon fishing has slowed to a crawl, but anglers on Portage Lake are still catching fish. A few walleye have been taken at night on a crawler harnesses. Good numbers of small perch have been caught on wax worms. Rock bass and bluegill are also being caught in 20 to 30 feet of water on wax worms and crawlers. For Manistee, boat anglers trolling close to shore have managed to catch light numbers of steelhead. Pier anglers have caught menominee on spawn. Those willing to put in the time have caught up to 20 fish. Light numbers of steelhead have been caught by pier anglers as well as those surfcasting. In the Manistee River, some steelhead along with a few leftover chinook salmon can be found up near Tippy Dam. Slow fishing at Ludington. Boats continue to troll straight out in 90 to 110 feet of water as well as up to Ludington State Park when the weather permits. Most of the catch has been steelhead along with smaller chinook. Pier and shore anglers have caught steelhead on spawn. Pere Marquette Lake is no longer producing chinook salmon. The salmon run in the Pere Marquette River is pretty much over as the steelhead are now entering the river system. Those fishing the Big Sable River have caught some chinook. Upper Peninsula Not much boat action in Keweenaw Bay, however; lake trout and northern pike have been caught in 20 to 60 feet of water. Fish have been caught at the head of the bay off U.S. 41 between L’Anse and Baraga as well as in the Fall’s River. Pier fishing has slowed over the past week. In Traverse Bay, fair lake trout fishing was reported by boats trolling in 30 to 60 feet of water. For Little Bay De Noc, water temperatures still a bit warm and just starting to dip below 50 degrees. Walleye action has been slow in the bay but good reports have been coming from areas as far south as Deer Creek. The large fish have been taken when trolling crank baits just off the reefs in waters 16 to 35 feet deep. A few fish were caught when trolling or jigging in waters 25 to 40 feet deep in the channel near Gladstone. Perch anglers reported several nice catches when jigging minnows in 25 feet of water northeast of Butler Island and in 18 to 25 feet of water south of Gladstone. Cooler weather should bring more fish in. In Big Bay De Noc, top notch bass fishing was reported when jigging or drifting minnows in 20 to 30 feet of water between Fayette and Snake Island. Anglers reported several nice northern pike when trolling crank baits in 15 feet of water just off the mouth of Fayette Harbor. Some are jigging minnows for perch, but the catches were few. At Marquette, a few boats are still venturing out for lake trout. Trolling in shallow waters has not been producing, as most fish have been caught out deeper. Those casting spoons off the lower harbor breakwall have managed to catch a few lake trout. A couple whitefish were taken when still-fishing with spawn. Chinook along with a rare rainbow or splake have been taken in the Dead River, but most of the chinook are very dark. Munising reported slow fishing for all species. There are still a few coho being caught, some dark and some silver. Most fish have been taken on fluorescent green and pink spoons when casting off the dock. A few nice splake and whitefish have been caught on spawn, but many of the fish are running small. Steelhead fishing was slow. Walleye fishing on the Tahquamenon River has been good. Try using minnows while fishing areas with cover and the deeper holes. At Sault Ste. Marie, the St. Mary’s River still has fair to good fishing for walleye, musky and smallmouth bass. Most fish have been caught when trolling crank baits in the early mornings or late evenings. For Cedarville and Hessel, a few salmon remain in Bush Creek. Anglers still targeting salmon are using a single artificial egg with a single hook or flies with red. The yellow perch fishing has been excellent when fishing minnows and worms in shallow waters 4 to 11 feet deep in Musky Bay and Cedarville Bay. Even though northern pike and smallmouth bass are abundant, very few anglers are targeting them. A few splake have been caught off the pier and along the shoreline at Hessel. In St. Ignace, a few anglers are still fishing from shore at the city launch site. Chinook salmon have been caught when casting spinners or stick baits. Salmon are in the mouth of Nunn’s Creek and the Carp River but the numbers are dwindling and the fish are turning dark. |
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