Weekly Fishing Reports

Thursday, November 29, 2007
Recreational Fishing Report
 

The whitefish action should be very good as the fish start feeding just as soon as they are done spawning. Whitefish catches should remain good at least through the first week of December. This is the only time of year this deepwater fish can be taken near shore. While skim ice is starting to form on the inland lakes, it is still too early for safe ice.
 

Lake Erie - Boats trolling in Brest Bay have caught walleye. Those casting off the piers and rock walls at night reported slow walleye action. Recent strong winds will most likely scatter the fish.

Detroit River - Walleye fishing continues in the Trenton Channel. Perch anglers have caught fish south of Celeron Island and east of Sugar Island when fishing minnows just off the bottom. Some are fishing the weedbeds in shallow waters 3 to 6 feet deep.

Huron River - Water levels are back to about normal for this time of year. Light numbers of steelhead have been caught when using a jig with a wax worm or spawn under a bobber. Bluegills and crappie have been caught in the backwaters.

Lake St. Clair - Perch are still being caught between Nine Mile and Twelve Miles Roads and off the Grosse Point Yacht Club when using jigs with wax worms. A few walleye were caught in shallow waters.

Lexington - Steelhead are being caught in the harbor when using spawn.

Harbor Beach - Some nice perch are being taken inside the harbor by the lighthouse. Remember to use caution if you plan on going out on the lake this time of year.

Saginaw Bay - Strong winds and low water levels have kept anglers off the water. When boats can get out, they are still taking perch off Linwood.

St. Joseph River - Still getting good reports of steelhead fishing from Berrien Springs down to the Paw Paw River however there are very few steelhead going through the ladder. Water temperatures are right around the 44 degree mark.

Kalamazoo River - Steelhead and brown trout have been caught up near the Allegan Dam. Walleye anglers have done well when bouncing rapalas off the bottom.

Grand Haven - Pier anglers are catching whitefish when using small egg sacks or wax worms.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Limits of steelhead have been caught on small white spawn bags or jigs with wax worms. A few lake trout were caught in the deeper holes. Walleye have been caught day and night when bouncing minnows off the bottom or when slow trolling with floating rapalas. Crappies were still being caught over at Riverside Park when using minnows.

Grand River at Lansing - Has seen few anglers and basically no reports over the last week. Look for walleye and catfish when fishing up near the dams. Good baits have been crawlers, minnows or wax worms.

Muskegon - A few boats are still going out when the weather permits, and those trolling right in front of the pierheads are still catching salmon and steelhead. Whitefish are still being caught along the channel when fishing off the wall.

Muskegon Lake - Some are catching perch while others are not. Either way, anglers will most likely need to sort out the small ones. Minnows work best.

Alpena - The last week of November is the peak of whitefish action in Alpena. As they finish spawning, whitefish resume their feeding patterns and are easier to catch. Good catches were taken along the various reefs in Thunder Bay. Most are using spawn bags to catch whitefish and steelhead. Good fishing should last through the first week of December.

Thunder Bay River - Good catches of whitefish are being taken below the Ninth Street Dam. Some steelhead have also being caught. Boat anglers are fishing mainly near the mouth.

Oscoda - Look for good whitefish action when fishing off the piers. When the spawning is done, the bite will be aggressive.

Au Sable River - A mixed bag of whitefish and steelhead are being caught in the lower river. The whitefish action should remain good through the first week of December. Spawn works best.

Tawas - Those fishing off the Tawas State Dock are catching whitefish when using spawn bags or a single egg on a small jig. This is pretty much the only time of year this deepwater fish can be caught near shore. Those fishing off the dock at night have caught some walleye when casting rapalas.

Higgins Lake - Has nothing to report at this time as most are hunting instead of fishing.

Houghton Lake - It looks like boat anglers are about done as skim ice is now covering the entire lake.

Muskegon River - A few pike have been caught on minnows when fishing near the Reedsburg Dam.

Lake Charlevoix - Perch anglers have caught fish in the South Arm when fishing minnows just off the bottom.

Traverse City - Windy conditions have kept boats off both the East Bay and the West Bay. Look for whitefish and steelhead action to continue once the winds have died down.

Boardman River - Water levels are low and clear, and this has slowed fishing. Those fishing up near the dam have caught some steelhead when using wax worms.

Manistee - Steelhead fishing remains slow with only a few fish being caught off the piers and in the surf. A few whitefish were caught but other than that, not much is going on.

Big Manistee River - The lower river is producing a few fish, but fall runs in all area rivers have been hampered by low water levels. Now colder water temperatures will start to come into play, as steelhead do not move much when water temperatures drop below 40 degrees.

Lake Cadillac - Skim ice is starting to cover the lake but anglers need to remember that skim ice is not safe ice. It is still too early for ice fishing.

Ludington - A few boats are still going out when the weather permits. Pier anglers and those surfcasting have caught fish.

Boat anglers may not be able to access their favorite fishing hole as some of the waters are starting to ice over. The small shallow lakes are ice covered but the ice is not safe. Only the large deeper lakes are still open.
 

Stanley Lake - In western Iron County, is providing some walleye action when fishing close to shore only.

Chicagon Lake - In Iron County, anglers have reported that the whitefish spearing season has been slow.

Little Bay De Noc - Thin ice is forming around the shoreline and boat launches. Not many anglers have been seen, but those going out are fishing for walleye mostly in the evening. Good to excellent catches were reported straight out of the Kipling launch and over to the East Bank when trolling stickbaits 6 to 20 feet down along the break. Some were working the waters 18 to 23 feet deep along the Narrows.