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Thursday, December 14, 2006
Recreational Fishing Report
Great Lakes temperature map
It is that time of year when angler activity is slow as we are in
between seasons. In the Upper Peninsula, the shallow lakes had some ice
but it may not be fishable at this time. The northern section of the
Lower Peninsula also had some ice, but nothing fishable. The rest of the
state has open water fishing only.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Shore action has been good for those seeking
walleye. The better catches have come between Stony Point and Sterling
State Park when casting bombers, rapalas or similar crankbaits that
float.
Huron River - Steelhead action has been slow as it appears the
fish have not dropped back into the holes like they usually do this time
of year.
Detroit River - Perch are still being caught in the canals and
around the marinas. Walleye have been caught from the Detroit Edison
Stacks down to Gibraltar. Boat anglers are jigging or handlining with
crankbaits.
St. Clair River - Shore anglers have been catching steelhead
and walleye just north of the Black River. Large emerald shiners have
worked best. Boat anglers fishing between Port Huron and the Black River
are vertical jigging with twister tails and minnows.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph River - Boat anglers reported good steelhead and
walleye fishing, even though water levels are still high. The better
fishing has been below the Berrien Springs Dam.
Paw Paw River - Steelhead fishing has been good below the
first dam when drifting spawn bags and jigs with wax worms.
Kalamazoo River - Has fair to good steelhead fishing below the
Allegan Dam.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Water levels have come down so
anglers are using small spawn bags and white jigs tipped with wax worms
for steelhead. Chartreuse and silver rapalas have also caught fish along
with Hot-n-Tots or thundersticks in the colors hot orange and green.
Those fishing off the bridges have caught fish on bucktail jigs.
Rogue River - Has good steelhead fishing from the mouth all
the way up to the Paper Mill Dam. Spawn or jigs tipped with wigglers or
wax worms have done best.
Muskegon - Weather permitting, some steelhead have been caught
off the breakwalls.
Muskegon Lake - Boats trolling around Strawberry Island have
caught steelhead on purple Husky Jerks. Those walleye fishing in the
channel are jigging with Hopkins Spoons.
Muskegon River - Most of the steelhead caught have been taken
in the upper section of the river between Bridgeton and Newaygo. Further
inland, those fishing over near Houghton Lake have caught some northern
pike near the Reedsburg Dam. Sucker minnows were the ticket.
White River - Steelhead have been caught between Hesperia and
Skeels Road.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Oscoda - Few anglers have been out, but those seeking
steelhead have managed to catch an occasional fish off the pier when
using spawn bags and wax worms. No whitefish action to report as this
fishery could done for now.
Au Sable River - Boat anglers should be able to launch their
vessels this week as warmer temperatures open the ramps back up. A
couple steelhead have been caught when drifting wax worms or spawn bags
in the lower river between the Bank in Oscoda and the mouth.
Tawas - Anglers are still pursuing whitefish off the piers but
catch rates have been slow as it appears the run could be just about
done.
Higgins Lake - Has no ice. Boat anglers trolling with rapalas
have caught some trout. Those surfcasting from shore near the road ends
have managed to catch a few rainbow trout.
Houghton Lake - Skim ice was still covering the lake as of
this report however the ice is not safe. Many are now fishing the river
systems while they wait for the start of the ice fishing season.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Traverse City - Both bays have open water fishing only. This
should be a good week to fish the waters in the East Bay for whitefish
and perch. Look for the whitefish to be in shallow waters.
Boardman River - Steelhead along with some nice coho have been
caught up near the dam. Wax worms have been the bait of choice.
Platte River - Anglers are still picking up some steelhead
when fishing the deeper holes.
Crystal Lake - Has open water fishing, and should be good for
perch right now.
Betsie River - Decent numbers of fish can still be found in
the river even though water levels are still a bit high.
Big Manistee River - Continues to produce fair to good numbers
of steelhead especially up near Tippy Dam and above the coffer dam. Some
nice brown trout have also been caught.
Upper Peninsula
Little Bay De Noc - Some ice was reported in the upper bay
near Kipling and Butler Island but warmer weather this week will most
likely take out any remaining ice in the area. Anglers need to use
extreme caution as first ice is dangerous ice. |