| Weekly Fishing Report | |
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Thursday, November 17, 2005 Only the dedicated anglers can be found this time of year, as many have put away the fishing gear and are now hunting. This is the time of year when fishing reports will be limited due to low angler turnout, but should pick up once the ice fishing season is underway. Those heading out to go hunting are encouraged to also pack their poles as this is a good time of year to go fishing if the weather is not right for hunting.
Southeastern Lower Peninsula For Lake Erie, good yellow perch fishing in shallow waters close to shore. Strong winds have kept most boats in Michigan waters. Try using perch spreaders with minnows in 4 to 6 feet of water off Point Mouillee and Lake Erie Metro Park. A few walleye were caught north of Monroe off Sterling State Park. Those fishing the Huron River have caught chrome colored steelhead at Rockwood and Flat Rock. A few large fish were caught by those wading near the Footbridge at Huroc Park. Jigs with wax worms or silver hammered spoons have caught fish. In the Detroit River, walleye have been caught along the Trenton Channel and off Point Hennepin near Wyandotte. More fish are starting to move into the river. Those fishing around any structure have caught good numbers of smallmouth bass. Anglers fishing in Lake St. Clair can still find yellow perch near the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. The trick is to move around to locate schools of fish. Shore and pier anglers have caught a few walleye when jigging Swedish Pimples tipped with minnows or wax worms. Those seeking musky in Canadian waters are reminded that a Canadian license is required. Walleye fishing remains very good in the St. Clair River. The fish are running 14 to 17 inches, with a few bigger ones here and there. Limit catches have been reported along the entire river. Slow fishing from Port Huron to Port Sanilac. Near Lexington, a few yellow perch have been caught on minnows. Light numbers of steelhead were caught from Lexington to Port Austin when fishing off the piers and in the harbors. Casting small spoons, floating spawn or wax worms under a bobber have caught fish. In Saginaw Bay, anglers are fishing from Linwood to the mouth of the Quanicassee River for yellow perch. There have been reports of perch caught near Essexville when fishing the mouth of the Saginaw River. Good walleye fishing was reported in the Saginaw River near the Zilwaukee Bridge. Southwestern Lower Peninsula At the port of the St. Joe, steelhead were caught off the end of the piers when the weather permits. Watch for slippery conditions when the piers are wet. Some are surfcasting off the beach for steelhead. A few whitefish have been caught on the lakeside of the pier when using a single egg on a small gold hook. On the St. Joe River, the better steelhead fishing has been from the dam at Berrien Springs to the lake. Boat anglers reported very good steelhead fishing when drifting spawn while the shore anglers are drifting Wobble Glows. Try using flatfish with light tackle. Lake trout were also caught. Fair to good steelhead fishing was reported in the Kalamazoo River. There are still some nice silver fish being caught near the Allegan Dam. Anglers are drifting spawn off the stairs, or trolling the river with Hot-n-Tot’s or small spoons in bright colors. A few walleye were taken when jigging minnows up near the dam. In the Grand River near Grand Rapids, steelhead have been caught on small spoons and plugs up near the Sixth Street Dam. When the winds are calm, anglers have caught walleye on jigs when fishing off the wall. Near Lansing, very few chinook or coho have been caught, and those taken are in pretty bad shape. Those out trying have caught mainly resident fish, such as bluegills, crappie, catfish and even some walleye. From Muskegon, pier anglers and those surfcasting have caught steelhead using small spoons or spawn. Some whitefish have been caught in the Muskegon Channel. Those fishing the Muskegon River have caught steelhead when drifting spawn bags under a bobber. Northeastern Lower Peninsula From Alpena, the whitefish are right on schedule. By the weekend, whitefish will be found along the reefs located off the Cement Plant and Partridge Point in Thunder Bay. The fish will also be moving up the Thunder Bay River to the Ninth Street Dam. The Alpena breakwall offers good action for shore anglers. In the Thunder Bay River, steelhead along with a few brown trout can still be found up near the Ninth Street Dam. Steelhead runs could peak in the next few weeks. Near Oscoda, the best pier fishing for whitefish begins now. The better fishing can be found on the North Pier using a single egg on a hook or teardrops with wax worms fished near the bottom. Those fishing the Au Sable River have caught steelhead from the mouth up to Foote Dam when drifting spawn bags or wax worms. Excellent numbers of whitefish are in the Lower Au Sable River. Fair yellow perch fishing was reported in Van Ettan Lake. Most of the fish caught were taken just off shore in shallow waters 4 to 6 feet deep. At Tawas, the whitefish have been just a little slower coming in, as only a few fish have been caught in the early mornings. The pier at Tawas still remains one of the best places to catch whitefish. Anglers should see more fish moving in by the weekend. Pier anglers and those surfcasting have caught light numbers of steelhead on spawn, spoons or plugs. Anglers continue to fish off the Singing Bridge for chinook, brown trout and steelhead. Near Au Gres, yellow perch can be found straight off the mouth of the Au Gres River in 30 to 40 feet of water. Fishing activity and steelhead numbers should peak in the next few weeks in both the Au Gres River and the Rifle River. Northwestern Lower Peninsula Up near Petoskey, anglers fishing off the breakwall have caught only light numbers of steelhead. Those fishing the river systems including the Bear River, Boyne River and Jordan River could see more steelhead by the weekend. No fishing activity to report in the East Bay at Traverse City. Those fishing the West Bay have caught a few yellow perch when fishing straight off M-72, and in Bowers Harbor. Move around to locate schools of fish. Anglers could see good numbers of steelhead in the Boardman River by the weekend. Shore anglers on Long Lake have caught a few walleye when fishing a minnow under a bobber at dusk. Near Frankfort, fishing has slowed due to strong winds. Those that can get out have been fishing the inland lakes. Good yellow perch fishing continues on Crystal Lake and Glen Lake. Near Arcadia, yellow perch have been caught in the channel and off the breakwall, weather permitting. At Manistee, pier and shore anglers have caught steelhead and whitefish. Steelhead can be found in the Big Manistee River from the mouth up to Tippy Dam. Good numbers of fish should move into the river system by the weekend. Resident brown trout have been caught below Tippy Dam. Shore anglers are using spawn, flies and wax worms while the boats are running plugs. Steelhead and brown trout can be found in Manistee Lake when fishing near the mouth of both the Big Manistee and Little Manistee Rivers. Near Ludington, pier anglers reported fair to good fishing for steelhead and whitefish. Most fish have been caught in the early morning or late at night when using spawn, wax worms or small spoons in bright colors. Steelhead fishing in the Pere Marquette River should improve by the weekend. Cold temperatures along with rain and snow should produce a run of fresh fish. Upper Peninsula Not many anglers can be found in the Upper Peninsula this time of year, due to the annual deer hunting season. Those seeking good fishing spots may want to try some of the many inland lakes across the Upper Peninsula for musky, northern pike and panfish. Anglers on the Menominee River have caught steelhead on spawn or flies when fishing near the mouth or between the US-41 Bridge and the First Dam. A few walleye were taken off the Hattie Street Bridge when jigging. Anglers are reminded that musky season on the Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Waters will close on November 30th. In Little Bay De Noc, walleye fishing picked up this week, with the better fishing at night. Anglers reported mostly deep water trolling during the day with the Narrows south to the Black Bottom being fished the hardest. Fish were caught close to the bottom in 25 to 35 feet of water. Night anglers can be found trolling stick baits in 10 to 20 feet of water from the red buoy in Kipling north to Garth Point. Another hot spot has been an area from the Black Bottom over to the East Bank when trolling in 6 to 25 feet of water. Jumbo perch were caught when jigging minnows in 10 to 15 feet of water around Butler Island. Anglers are reminded of the excellent pike and musky fishing in this area that usually takes place late in the fall. From Marquette, Lake Superior has been unfishable due to high winds. Waves averaging 8 to 18 feet high have kept boats in and around the harbor. Lake trout and whitefish have been caught off the breakwalls. Whitefish are hitting on small jigs, flies or eggs on a plain hook and lake trout on spoons, crank baits and jigs. In Luce County, fair to good steelhead fishing was reported in the Two-Hearted River. A few nice fish have been caught in the lower river and by anglers surfcasting off the mouth. Steelhead can be found in the Manistique River. Those fishing the St. Mary’s River have caught musky and northern pike when trolling. Only light numbers of walleye and steelhead have been caught in recent days. Steelhead are in the Carp River. |
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