Thursday, October 12, 2006
Recreational Fishing Report
 

Good numbers of salmon can still be found in many of the major river systems around the state. Pay close attention to water levels by weeks end as strong storms may increase water flows. Heavy rains along with strong winds will most likely have the fish scattered on the inland lakes.

Lake Erie - Those fishing the deeper waters caught few perch, but those fishing more shallow such as 15 to 17 feet of water straight out from the State Park seem to catch more fish. Perch were caught near Buoys 3 and 4 off the River Raisin and near the E Buoy. Walleye anglers said the weeds have made trolling almost impossible. Good numbers of largemouth bass and catfish have been caught from the Hot Pond.

Huron River - Anglers are just starting to catch steelhead up near the Flat Rock Dam in the early morning or late evening. Shore anglers will find access at the parks in Flat Rock and Rockwood. Lots of bait fish are in the river right now and this may slow fishing. Try drifting or floating spawn under a bobber or using flies.

Detroit River - Good perch fishing continues near the mouth. Anglers have done well around Celeron Island, north of Sugar Island, and around Powder House Island using perch rigs with shiner minnows in 4 to 12 feet of water.

Lake St. Clair - Has good perch fishing. Boats are anchoring with perch rigs and minnows in 10 to 12 feet of water around Grass Island. Some are slow trolling. Good fishing was also reported off New Baltimore and Fair Haven.

St. Clair River - Boat and shore anglers near Port Huron have caught chinook and steelhead on redeye spoons and bombers. Walleye were caught off the wall near the Blue Water Bridge when using thundersticks or bombers. Those fishing the mouth out near Buoys 1 and 2 caught walleye when trolling, drifting or hand-lining.

Lexington - A few salmon along with a couple brown trout have been caught inside the harbor. Boat anglers are marking a lot of fish stacked up just outside the harbor, but the bite has been slow.

Port Sanilac - Smaller perch have been caught inside the harbor, but it looks like the really good perch fishing is done for this year. A few salmon and brown trout were taken inside the harbor. Lots of fish have been marked, they just won't bite.

Saginaw Bay - Perch fishing was fair from Au Gres to Linwood. Perch rigs with minnows or pieces of crawler have caught fish. Perch can still be found near the mouth of the Quanicassee River. A couple channel cats were taken near the Hot Ponds.
 

St. Joseph - Water temperatures are still warm out on the big lake. Boat anglers are taking fish 100 feet down in waters 150 feet deep. Jumbo perch were taken in deeper waters 70 to 80 feet deep.

St. Joseph River - Though the salmon run is winding down, fish can still be caught at the Berrien Springs Dam. A few fresh steelhead were caught in the early morning.

Dowagiac River - Anglers continue to catch salmon up near the dam.

Big Crooked Lake - Has good crappie fishing in 12 to 16 feet of water.

Paw Paw Lake - Has good crappie fishing.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Still has a few chinook salmon up near the Sixth Street Dam. Brown trout along with some nice steelhead are now in the river. Try floating spawn bags or a single egg up near the dam or off the Fulton Street and Pearl Street Bridges. A few walleye were caught between Riverside Park and the dam. Big crappie and some nice bluegills were caught near Riverside Park.

Rogue River- Has good numbers of fish in it, as the salmon are still pretty thick. Most fish have been caught up near the Childsdale Dam. Steelhead and brown trout have started to move up into the river as well.

Grand River at Lansing - Is experiencing a pretty good salmon run. The fish in Sycamore Creek are heading up to Mason, and fish in the Red Cedar are heading to Williamston. Good fishing opportunities can still be found above and below the North Lansing Dam and below the Moore's Park Dam. Those seeking resident fish should try crickets for bluegills and minnows for crappie.

Muskegon - Boat anglers are still catching some fresh fish when trolling 40 to 60 feet down in waters 80 to 90 feet deep. Some nice silver salmon and steelhead have been caught. Pier anglers caught steelhead in the early morning or late evening.

Muskegon River - Has lots of salmon in the river. Those fly fishing seem to have better luck than those casting lures. Many are fishing between Croton Dam and Newaygo, however there are good numbers of fish to be found along the entire river.
 

Cheboygan River - Salmon can still be found up near the dam in Cheboygan. Cooler temperatures by the weeks end should push some fresh fish into the river.

Ocqueoc River - Salmon anglers are doing well when fishing between the US-23 Bridge and Hammond Bay. Boat and shore anglers are drifting spawn or flies.

Rockport - Has been slow with little or no activity. Most anglers are now fishing off the piers or from shore with a variety of spoons and body baits. The most popular casting locations are beginning to mid pier facing south and the corner of the main parking lot facing north. Pier anglers targeting perch are using a minnow under a bobber. Boat anglers are trolling the deeper holes for walleye.

Alpena - A few boats are still going out, mostly trolling or casting near the river for salmon. Early mornings and late evenings after dark get the best results, but its real hit and miss. When the weather breaks, boats are fishing North Point for walleye.

Thunder Bay River - The salmon run continues. They are lined up at the Ninth Street Dam using spawn to catch chinook, coho and pink salmon. Many are fishing out in front of the dam in the deep hole, as the recent opening of chute #4 stirred things up. Some are fishing off the boardwalk or on Mill Island. A half dozen steelhead have been caught, but the fish are running on the small side. Try drifting flies just above the rapids near the bridge. Construction continues on the Ninth Street Bridge and new boardwalk. The bridge is closed to all crossing and there is no fishing allowed under it. Fletcher Street is also being worked on which is making access difficult.

Harrisville - Had slow fishing. Those fortunate to catch salmon were using spawn under a bobber near the gas dock.

Van Etten Lake -

Van Etten Lake - Perch are hitting on minnows in 10 to 20 feet of water just off the Camp. Look for channel cats at night up near Van Etten Creek.

Oscoda - Anglers targeting salmon off the piers and by boat have only been catching lake trout.

Au Sable River - The only salmon caught were taken just upstream using Hot-n-Tots or spawn.

Higgins Lake - Perch have been caught in 25 feet of water along the drop off and out near the South Sunken Island. Boat anglers trolling for brown trout and rainbow trout reported fair catches.

Houghton Lake - Walleye fishing is picking up as the cooler weather has the fish chasing minnows into the shallows. The better fishing is in the early morning or late evening. Bluegill fishing is steady with fish caught along the weed beds on wax worms or leaf worms. A few northern pike were caught on minnows or stick baits.
 

Petoskey - Pier anglers have caught salmon on spawn.

Bear River - Salmon along with a couple steelhead were caught on spawn.

Traverse City - The East Bay has fair whitefish action. Boat anglers are jigging spoons or still-fishing with a single egg just off the bottom in 70 to 80 feet of water. Try fishing near the Wall or off Bunker Hill Road. On West Bay, perch were caught on wigglers in 60 to 80 feet of water near the Gravel Pit.

Elk River - Good numbers of chinook and coho salmon have been caught when drifting spawn bags or casting spoons. A couple steelhead were also caught.

Boardman River - Still has good numbers of chinook and coho. The better catches have come when drifting spawn bags or casting spoons.

Crystal Lake - Perch can still be found in fair to good numbers along the west side of the lake. A few lake trout were caught when trolling just off Railroad Point in 50 to 70 feet of water. With colder temperatures in the forecast, watch for lake trout to start moving into the shallow waters off Beulah.

Frankfort - Anglers trolling out and around the piers are getting a few chinook and steelhead. The better steelhead fishing is right off the beach on the Frankfort side. No large numbers of fish yet, but this area has been the most consistent. Pier anglers have not only caught steelhead, but have also taken a few menominee when fishing past the elbows.

Betsie River - At the Homestead Dam, salmon are still being caught when drifting spawn. Fishing has been steady below the dam, but is slowing above the dam.

Onekama - Fishing was somewhat slow with only a few chinook salmon caught when trolling south towards Manistee in 65 to 80 feet of water. Pier anglers have caught some steelhead along with some perch and rock bass.

Portage Lake - Anglers have caught chinook salmon when trolling over the hole in front of the Inn, and right in front of the channel.

Manistee - Steelhead have been caught when trolling south of the port in 100 to 120 feet of water. Pier anglers had some luck drifting spawn. Both the North and South Piers have produced a few brown trout and steelhead. Menominee were caught off the North Pier in light numbers, as the fish are just starting to come in.

Big Manistee River - As the salmon wind down, the steelhead numbers should improve especially with colder temperatures in the forecast. Those fishing up near Tippy Dam are still catching salmon. Look for steelhead in the lower sections of the river by the end of week.

Lake Cadillac - The fishing has slowed for panfish, but good numbers of northern pike have been caught. Bass anglers have caught more pike than bass when casting top water spinner baits in 8 to 12 feet of water.

Lake Mitchell - Also has good pike fishing when casting spinner baits. A few keeper size bass were caught in between all the pike.

Upper Hamlin Lake - Has fair to good crappie and bluegill fishing in 8 to 12 feet of water. Try minnows, wigglers or wax worms. Northern pike fishing was a bit slow.

Ludington - Action is still slow. Boat anglers caught a few steelhead out in 120 feet of water. Pier anglers drifting spawn had some luck just before the bend on the North Pier. Shore anglers had no luck.

Pere Marquette River - Salmon have been caught off the Indian Bridge when floating spawn under a bobber. Those fly fishing have caught and released fish on the flies only section from M-37 downstream to Gleason's Landing.
 

Keweenaw Bay - Anglers trolling for salmon have picked up coho, steelhead and lake trout on spoons 25 to 40 feet down in 30 to 60 feet of water. In Traverse Bay, lake trout and steelhead were caught when casting Wobblers or Cleo's off the pier. Best colors have been green, gold and orange.

Marquette - Has fair lake trout fishing in 140 to 180 feet of water near the white rocks. Those trolling in shallow waters near the Lower Harbor have caught coho, lake trout and steelhead.

Dead River - Shore anglers have been landing the occasional chinook or pink salmon. There were reports of steelhead and lake trout taken as well.

Little Bay De Noc - Few anglers have been out fishing. Those seeking walleye are working the breaks in 30 to 40 feet of water with crawler harnesses. Walleye were caught when jigging crawlers near the mouth of the Whitefish River, but the fish were small. Excellent smallmouth bass fishing when drifting or casting in 4 to 15 feet of water right on the break near Hunters Point. Several nice jumbo perch were caught in 13 feet of water at the head of the Bay.

Big Bay De Noc - Walleye anglers should try fishing down by Round Island, just watch out for the commercial fishing nets. Good bass fishing when drifting or jigging minnows or tube baits in 10 to 25 feet of water from Fayette north to Garden Bluff.

Munising - Coho fishing is still fair to good using flashers and flies or spoons. Orange seems to be a hot color. Shore anglers are using spawn or casting bright colored spoons and spinners. Splake and steelhead fishing were slow.

St. Mary's River - The pink salmon run has ended. Chinook salmon can still be caught in front of the Edison Power Plant, using J-Plugs 18 feet down in 35 feet of water. A few whitefish were caught when drifting spawn just off the current in front of the Power Plant. Good northern pike fishing on the Lake George side of the river when casting split body crankbaits in and around Gem Island, which is on the east side of Sugar Island. Good perch fishing in 25 feet of water in Frenchman's Bay. Smallmouth bass fishing has really turned on with limit catches reported on the southeast end of Sugar Island. Try 12 to 15 feet of water with tube baits tipped with a crawler.

De Tour - Boats are fishing the deep holes on the west side of Drummond Island for northern pike and smallmouth bass. Lures include fire-tiger, small black and silver stick baits or small spinners. Fair to good perch fishing reported off Grape Island and Drummond Island.

Cedarville and Hessel - Northern pike and smallmouth bass fishing has been very good, but few anglers are targeting them. Most are going for yellow perch in the northwest end of Government Bay, Musky Bay, and Hessel Bay. Try minnows in 14 feet of water.

Albany Creek - Is producing salmon. Anglers can fish from the bridge below the lamprey weir to Lake Huron only. Most fish were caught wading near the mouth.

Nunns Creek - Is closed to fishing, however some nice chinook salmon have been caught when surf-casting near the mouth in St. Martin Bay.