05-10-2007, 11:47 PM
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, May 10, 2007 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]![[Image: fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif]](http://www.mi.gov/images/fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif)
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[url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
Warmer temperatures have improved fishing conditions around the state. Walleye, northern pike and muskellunge season on the Upper Peninsula inland waters not otherwise closed to fishing, waters of the Great Lakes, and the St. Mary's River will open on May 15th. The early catch and immediate release bass season for all of the Upper Peninsula waters including the Great Lakes will also open on May 15th.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Shore anglers are taking white bass and even some catfish off Luna Pier. Boats were trolling in shallow waters in front of Luna Pier and Bolles Harbor for walleye, but windy conditions slowed the bite. Walleye fishing in front of the Fermi Power Plant was very good when drifting crawler harnesses.
Detroit River - Very good walleye fishing continues along the entire river. Limits of fish have been taken in the Trenton Channel when jigging or hand-lining. Yellow perch have been caught east of Sugar Island near the Cross Dike. Good numbers of white bass are starting to run.
Lake St. Clair - Some nice perch and bluegills have been caught in Mitchell Bay. No word on walleye activity.
St. Clair River - Has very good walleye fishing from Algonac to St. Clair. Most are vertical jigging. Shore anglers reported slower action but a few fish have been taken when casting Twisters and jigs.
Black River - Anglers are catching lots of smallmouth bass during the early catch and release season.
Port Huron - Boat anglers are reporting good chinook salmon fishing when running planer boards and downriggers in shallow waters north of the port. The salmon look good and appear to be after the emerald shiners. Brown trout and steelhead were also caught.
Lexington - The southern end of Lake Huron is once again experiencing good catches of chinook salmon. Most are using bodybaits, bombers or spoons on downriggers in shallow waters 10 to 15 feet deep. Orange has been the hot color.
Saginaw Bay - Windy conditions have kept most anglers off the water.
Tittabawassee River - Look for good walleye fishing from Gordonville down to the confluence with the Saginaw River.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - Pier fishing remains slow. Boats are picking up some chinook, lake trout and steelhead when trolling in waters up to 140 feet deep.
St. Joesph River - Walleye fishing slowed a bit with only a few fish taken when drifting crawlers. Anglers have done well for both large and smallmouth when using a variety of baits and lures including jigs and spinner baits. Bluegills and crappie are hitting on crawlers and minnows.
South Haven - Pier anglers reported slow fishing. Boat anglers are catching trout and salmon when trolling.
Holland - Dredging is currently being done both in the channel and around the end of the piers, so anglers need to go slow until they have cleared the machinery. Boat anglers are trolling for brown trout. Perch were taken in the channel.
Grand Haven - Chinook, coho and brown trout have been caught on spoons 15 to 30 feet down in waters 40 to 50 feet deep. Blue, gold and orange were all good colors. Only a handful of perch were caught on wigglers, spikes and shiners in 60 to 75 feet of water.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Walleye have been caught on a #4 hook with a crawler or chartreuse and white Twister Tails. Northern pike were caught in the holes when floating shiners under a bobber. Some large smallmouth bass were taken on shiners and crawlers. Channel catfish are hitting on crawlers and chicken liver. Flatheads have been caught off Bridge, Wealthy and Fulton Street.
Reeds Lake - Lots of crappie have been caught on the east side of the lake when fishing the shallows with a gold hook and a fathead minnow. Perch can be found in 4 to 12 feet of water on the north side of the lake near the Sunken Island. Fathead minnows and worms worked best. Pike have been caught on large sucker minnows or when trolling spoons and Husky Jerks. Bluegills are staring to move into the shallows and are hitting on leaf worms and wax worms.
Sessions Lake - Anglers have started to catch bluegills and crappie.
Grand River at Lansing - Walleye and bluegills have been caught at Moore's Park. Crappie were taken near the Waverly Road Bridge but anglers will need a boat to access the hot spots. Those night fishing at the North Lansing Dam have also caught a few walleye.
Muskegon - Salmon have been caught 40 to 60 feet down in waters 70 to 110 feet deep. The east winds have pushed the fish out and down into deeper waters.
Muskegon Lake - Bluegills can be found in shallow waters inside the marinas and bays. Crappies are hitting on minnows.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Rogers City - Lake trout season is now open, but anglers will also find brown trout and atlantic salmon in the same waters. Surface water temperatures were still in the upper 30's which means the fish will be in shallow waters. Boats are fishing south towards Calcite Harbor, Swan Bay and off Adams Point. Most are using bodybaits in blue and silver, chartreuse and silver, black and silver, perch or rainbow.
Alpena - Fishing for walleye off the end of the pier at night has been productive when casting bodybaits or drifting crawler harnesses.
Thunder Bay River - A few anglers targeting steelhead near the dam have been drifting flies. Though a fair number of fish could be seen, the bite was slow. The fish cleaning station is now open.
West Twin Lake - In Montmorency County is producing fair to good walleye fishing.
McCormick Lake - Located west of Atlanta, is producing some very good brown trout fishing. The minimum size limit for brown trout is 12 inches.
Harrisville - Has seen limited fishing pressure. Boat anglers going out have caught a few lake trout near the bottom in 55 feet of water.
Au Sable River - The Hendrickson, Olive and Black Caddis fly hatches continue. Streamers are also fishing well for brown trout, brook trout and steelhead. Closer to the mouth, perch and bass have been caught in the ponds at Foote Dam and Cooke Dam. Suckers are also in the river.
Tawas - Walleye have been caught out near the tip of Tawas Point.
Higgins Lake - Boats are trolling along the drop off for brown trout and rainbow trout. Most are using live bait or stickbaits. Lake trout were taken just off the bottom in waters 90 feet deep when using cowbells and live bait.
Houghton Lake - Walleye have been caught just after dark in the shallow waters where the minnows are. Some are fishing jigs with leeches just off the bottom. Shore anglers are casting crankbaits that look like minnows. Pike have been caught but many are just under legal size. Panfish can still be found in the canals.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Bear River - At Petoskey is producing light numbers of steelhead.
Lake Charlevoix - Some small perch have been caught in 80 feet of water on the northwest end of the lake.
Thumb Lake (Lake Louise) - Angling pressure is starting to pick up with many targeting splake and smallmouth bass. For splake, anglers are focusing on the southern tip and western side of the island where 8 to 12 inch fish have been caught in water up to 20 feet deep. Those seeking smallmouth bass are fishing the West Basin near the public access site and around the island. In the East Basin, anglers are fishing the shoreline near the church camp. All are using rapalas and tube baits. Anglers are pike fishing in near the county beach but the bite was slow.
Walloon Lake - Fishing remains on the slow side as strong winds have kept most boats on shore. A few were lucky enough to catch smallmouth bass and northern pike in the shallow waters of the North Arm.
Traverse City - Strong winds have kept many on shore. Those able to get out have taken lake trout when jigging in 90 to 100 feet of water in the East Bay, but catch rates were spotty. A few whitefish were taken in Old Mission Harbor.
South Lake Leelanau - Walleye have been caught with the better fishing in the early morning or late evening. Try the shallow waters in Weisler Bay and Perrin's Bay.
Long Lake - Fishing looks to be picking up as anglers are catching a few more fish every day, especially before dawn. Walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses with worms or leeches in 8 to 20 feet of water around the islands, with Fox Island being the hot spot. Most are slow trolling in deeper waters or drifting near the bottom in shallow waters. Catch and release bass anglers casting stickbaits and top water spinner baits are doing very well on the shoals and the rock piles just off the islands and in the bays.
Crystal Lake - Good perch fishing was reported on the south end of the lake.
Frankfort - Boat anglers have caught good numbers of brown trout inside the piers, and out in open water they have picked up steelhead, brown trout and lake trout. Orange, gold, and yellow rapalas and other stickbaits are working best in the early morning or evening around sunset. Pier anglers have taken steelhead and brown trout when using spawn on a slip sinker rig or casting spoons and rapalas.
Onekama - Boats trolling near the Saddle have picked up a few brown trout and lake trout. Pier anglers have caught a few brown trout after dark when casting orange and white spoons.
Portage Lake - Walleye fishing has started to pick up with fish taken from 9pm until midnight when using rapalas in perch patterns. Lots of perch have been caught but the fish are running small. Anglers fishing the early bass season have caught good numbers of both large and smallmouth bass.
Manistee - Officials are in the process of dredging the harbor. Boat anglers need to use caution and watch for the pipe which is marked. Most are trolling near Gurney Creek where the waters are warmer. Anglers casting off the piers have caught some steelhead and brown trout. A few small perch were taken on minnows and wigglers off the North Pier. Those casting at night have caught walleye.
Lake Cadillac - Good crappie fishing was reported.
Ludington - Water temperatures are still in the low 40's which is still a bit cold. Boat anglers have caught brown trout off The Project and the Power Plant where the water temperatures are up to 46 degrees because of the warm water discharge. Those trolling at night caught walleye around both piers and in the harbor. Pier anglers have also caught walleye at night.
Pere Marquette Lake - Anglers are taking walleye when trolling bodybaits at night.
Upper Peninsula
Trout anglers are out in force, with mixed results. Some insect hatches are ahead of schedule so those fly fishing are having success on area trout lakes and streams as the fish seem to be more active than usual for this time of year.
Marquette - Fishing has been slow for nearly all species. The coho are really starting to wind down and the chinook fishery has still not started, but it will not be long once the waters warm up. Lake trout success was fair when trolling in deeper waters. Steelhead, splake and whitefish seem to be nonexistent in the harbors.
Menominee River - Has good smallmouth bass fishing, which is catch and release only until the Friday before the 3rd Saturday in June. Walleye fishing was steady when trolling crankbaits or jigging minnows.
Little Bay De Noc - Anglers are getting ready for the walleye opener on May 15th and all reports indicate it should be a good one. The new piers located at the launch on the north shore are providing fishing opportunities for lots of anglers as this is a great place to take the kids and the fishing has been good. Perch fishing has slowed. Boat anglers still-fishing with minnows in the Narrows caught fish, but those fishing in 30 to 40 feet of water only caught a few.
Au Train River - Was full of redhorse suckers but most seem to be gone now. One lucky angler caught a steelhead.
Munising - Fishing slowed with only a few coho salmon taken while trolling in Munising Bay and around Grand Island.
Grand Marais - Boat anglers reported slower catch rates. A few coho and round whitefish were taken along with the occasional steelhead and lake whitefish. Worms and spawn worked best. Dredging at the boat launch is done so everyone should be able to get out on the lake.
De Tour - Boats heading out from the city launches are targeting perch and salmon. Those looking for perch are heading towards Drummond Island, Maxton Bay and Grape Island. No chinook salmon were brought in, but some nice atlantic salmon were caught at Frying Pan Island. Those surfcasting near the mouth of Albany Creek are targeting steelhead.
Cedarville and Hessel - All of the fishing action is based out of Hessel. Splake have been caught when still-fishing with minnows or when casting rapalas off the marina pier. Best colors have been orange and gold or green. Catch rates have been excellent and the fish are in good shape. A few boats have also been out catching splake, northern pike and smallmouth bass. No perch action to report.
Carp River - A few anglers are fishing for steelhead. They are spawned out, but still fun to catch.
St. Ignace - A handful of anglers are spear fishing for carp on the west side of the Mackinaw Bridge at the primitive launch.
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]
[/font] [url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
Warmer temperatures have improved fishing conditions around the state. Walleye, northern pike and muskellunge season on the Upper Peninsula inland waters not otherwise closed to fishing, waters of the Great Lakes, and the St. Mary's River will open on May 15th. The early catch and immediate release bass season for all of the Upper Peninsula waters including the Great Lakes will also open on May 15th.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Shore anglers are taking white bass and even some catfish off Luna Pier. Boats were trolling in shallow waters in front of Luna Pier and Bolles Harbor for walleye, but windy conditions slowed the bite. Walleye fishing in front of the Fermi Power Plant was very good when drifting crawler harnesses.
Detroit River - Very good walleye fishing continues along the entire river. Limits of fish have been taken in the Trenton Channel when jigging or hand-lining. Yellow perch have been caught east of Sugar Island near the Cross Dike. Good numbers of white bass are starting to run.
Lake St. Clair - Some nice perch and bluegills have been caught in Mitchell Bay. No word on walleye activity.
St. Clair River - Has very good walleye fishing from Algonac to St. Clair. Most are vertical jigging. Shore anglers reported slower action but a few fish have been taken when casting Twisters and jigs.
Black River - Anglers are catching lots of smallmouth bass during the early catch and release season.
Port Huron - Boat anglers are reporting good chinook salmon fishing when running planer boards and downriggers in shallow waters north of the port. The salmon look good and appear to be after the emerald shiners. Brown trout and steelhead were also caught.
Lexington - The southern end of Lake Huron is once again experiencing good catches of chinook salmon. Most are using bodybaits, bombers or spoons on downriggers in shallow waters 10 to 15 feet deep. Orange has been the hot color.
Saginaw Bay - Windy conditions have kept most anglers off the water.
Tittabawassee River - Look for good walleye fishing from Gordonville down to the confluence with the Saginaw River.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - Pier fishing remains slow. Boats are picking up some chinook, lake trout and steelhead when trolling in waters up to 140 feet deep.
St. Joesph River - Walleye fishing slowed a bit with only a few fish taken when drifting crawlers. Anglers have done well for both large and smallmouth when using a variety of baits and lures including jigs and spinner baits. Bluegills and crappie are hitting on crawlers and minnows.
South Haven - Pier anglers reported slow fishing. Boat anglers are catching trout and salmon when trolling.
Holland - Dredging is currently being done both in the channel and around the end of the piers, so anglers need to go slow until they have cleared the machinery. Boat anglers are trolling for brown trout. Perch were taken in the channel.
Grand Haven - Chinook, coho and brown trout have been caught on spoons 15 to 30 feet down in waters 40 to 50 feet deep. Blue, gold and orange were all good colors. Only a handful of perch were caught on wigglers, spikes and shiners in 60 to 75 feet of water.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Walleye have been caught on a #4 hook with a crawler or chartreuse and white Twister Tails. Northern pike were caught in the holes when floating shiners under a bobber. Some large smallmouth bass were taken on shiners and crawlers. Channel catfish are hitting on crawlers and chicken liver. Flatheads have been caught off Bridge, Wealthy and Fulton Street.
Reeds Lake - Lots of crappie have been caught on the east side of the lake when fishing the shallows with a gold hook and a fathead minnow. Perch can be found in 4 to 12 feet of water on the north side of the lake near the Sunken Island. Fathead minnows and worms worked best. Pike have been caught on large sucker minnows or when trolling spoons and Husky Jerks. Bluegills are staring to move into the shallows and are hitting on leaf worms and wax worms.
Sessions Lake - Anglers have started to catch bluegills and crappie.
Grand River at Lansing - Walleye and bluegills have been caught at Moore's Park. Crappie were taken near the Waverly Road Bridge but anglers will need a boat to access the hot spots. Those night fishing at the North Lansing Dam have also caught a few walleye.
Muskegon - Salmon have been caught 40 to 60 feet down in waters 70 to 110 feet deep. The east winds have pushed the fish out and down into deeper waters.
Muskegon Lake - Bluegills can be found in shallow waters inside the marinas and bays. Crappies are hitting on minnows.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Rogers City - Lake trout season is now open, but anglers will also find brown trout and atlantic salmon in the same waters. Surface water temperatures were still in the upper 30's which means the fish will be in shallow waters. Boats are fishing south towards Calcite Harbor, Swan Bay and off Adams Point. Most are using bodybaits in blue and silver, chartreuse and silver, black and silver, perch or rainbow.
Alpena - Fishing for walleye off the end of the pier at night has been productive when casting bodybaits or drifting crawler harnesses.
Thunder Bay River - A few anglers targeting steelhead near the dam have been drifting flies. Though a fair number of fish could be seen, the bite was slow. The fish cleaning station is now open.
West Twin Lake - In Montmorency County is producing fair to good walleye fishing.
McCormick Lake - Located west of Atlanta, is producing some very good brown trout fishing. The minimum size limit for brown trout is 12 inches.
Harrisville - Has seen limited fishing pressure. Boat anglers going out have caught a few lake trout near the bottom in 55 feet of water.
Au Sable River - The Hendrickson, Olive and Black Caddis fly hatches continue. Streamers are also fishing well for brown trout, brook trout and steelhead. Closer to the mouth, perch and bass have been caught in the ponds at Foote Dam and Cooke Dam. Suckers are also in the river.
Tawas - Walleye have been caught out near the tip of Tawas Point.
Higgins Lake - Boats are trolling along the drop off for brown trout and rainbow trout. Most are using live bait or stickbaits. Lake trout were taken just off the bottom in waters 90 feet deep when using cowbells and live bait.
Houghton Lake - Walleye have been caught just after dark in the shallow waters where the minnows are. Some are fishing jigs with leeches just off the bottom. Shore anglers are casting crankbaits that look like minnows. Pike have been caught but many are just under legal size. Panfish can still be found in the canals.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Bear River - At Petoskey is producing light numbers of steelhead.
Lake Charlevoix - Some small perch have been caught in 80 feet of water on the northwest end of the lake.
Thumb Lake (Lake Louise) - Angling pressure is starting to pick up with many targeting splake and smallmouth bass. For splake, anglers are focusing on the southern tip and western side of the island where 8 to 12 inch fish have been caught in water up to 20 feet deep. Those seeking smallmouth bass are fishing the West Basin near the public access site and around the island. In the East Basin, anglers are fishing the shoreline near the church camp. All are using rapalas and tube baits. Anglers are pike fishing in near the county beach but the bite was slow.
Walloon Lake - Fishing remains on the slow side as strong winds have kept most boats on shore. A few were lucky enough to catch smallmouth bass and northern pike in the shallow waters of the North Arm.
Traverse City - Strong winds have kept many on shore. Those able to get out have taken lake trout when jigging in 90 to 100 feet of water in the East Bay, but catch rates were spotty. A few whitefish were taken in Old Mission Harbor.
South Lake Leelanau - Walleye have been caught with the better fishing in the early morning or late evening. Try the shallow waters in Weisler Bay and Perrin's Bay.
Long Lake - Fishing looks to be picking up as anglers are catching a few more fish every day, especially before dawn. Walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses with worms or leeches in 8 to 20 feet of water around the islands, with Fox Island being the hot spot. Most are slow trolling in deeper waters or drifting near the bottom in shallow waters. Catch and release bass anglers casting stickbaits and top water spinner baits are doing very well on the shoals and the rock piles just off the islands and in the bays.
Crystal Lake - Good perch fishing was reported on the south end of the lake.
Frankfort - Boat anglers have caught good numbers of brown trout inside the piers, and out in open water they have picked up steelhead, brown trout and lake trout. Orange, gold, and yellow rapalas and other stickbaits are working best in the early morning or evening around sunset. Pier anglers have taken steelhead and brown trout when using spawn on a slip sinker rig or casting spoons and rapalas.
Onekama - Boats trolling near the Saddle have picked up a few brown trout and lake trout. Pier anglers have caught a few brown trout after dark when casting orange and white spoons.
Portage Lake - Walleye fishing has started to pick up with fish taken from 9pm until midnight when using rapalas in perch patterns. Lots of perch have been caught but the fish are running small. Anglers fishing the early bass season have caught good numbers of both large and smallmouth bass.
Manistee - Officials are in the process of dredging the harbor. Boat anglers need to use caution and watch for the pipe which is marked. Most are trolling near Gurney Creek where the waters are warmer. Anglers casting off the piers have caught some steelhead and brown trout. A few small perch were taken on minnows and wigglers off the North Pier. Those casting at night have caught walleye.
Lake Cadillac - Good crappie fishing was reported.
Ludington - Water temperatures are still in the low 40's which is still a bit cold. Boat anglers have caught brown trout off The Project and the Power Plant where the water temperatures are up to 46 degrees because of the warm water discharge. Those trolling at night caught walleye around both piers and in the harbor. Pier anglers have also caught walleye at night.
Pere Marquette Lake - Anglers are taking walleye when trolling bodybaits at night.
Upper Peninsula
Trout anglers are out in force, with mixed results. Some insect hatches are ahead of schedule so those fly fishing are having success on area trout lakes and streams as the fish seem to be more active than usual for this time of year.
Marquette - Fishing has been slow for nearly all species. The coho are really starting to wind down and the chinook fishery has still not started, but it will not be long once the waters warm up. Lake trout success was fair when trolling in deeper waters. Steelhead, splake and whitefish seem to be nonexistent in the harbors.
Menominee River - Has good smallmouth bass fishing, which is catch and release only until the Friday before the 3rd Saturday in June. Walleye fishing was steady when trolling crankbaits or jigging minnows.
Little Bay De Noc - Anglers are getting ready for the walleye opener on May 15th and all reports indicate it should be a good one. The new piers located at the launch on the north shore are providing fishing opportunities for lots of anglers as this is a great place to take the kids and the fishing has been good. Perch fishing has slowed. Boat anglers still-fishing with minnows in the Narrows caught fish, but those fishing in 30 to 40 feet of water only caught a few.
Au Train River - Was full of redhorse suckers but most seem to be gone now. One lucky angler caught a steelhead.
Munising - Fishing slowed with only a few coho salmon taken while trolling in Munising Bay and around Grand Island.
Grand Marais - Boat anglers reported slower catch rates. A few coho and round whitefish were taken along with the occasional steelhead and lake whitefish. Worms and spawn worked best. Dredging at the boat launch is done so everyone should be able to get out on the lake.
De Tour - Boats heading out from the city launches are targeting perch and salmon. Those looking for perch are heading towards Drummond Island, Maxton Bay and Grape Island. No chinook salmon were brought in, but some nice atlantic salmon were caught at Frying Pan Island. Those surfcasting near the mouth of Albany Creek are targeting steelhead.
Cedarville and Hessel - All of the fishing action is based out of Hessel. Splake have been caught when still-fishing with minnows or when casting rapalas off the marina pier. Best colors have been orange and gold or green. Catch rates have been excellent and the fish are in good shape. A few boats have also been out catching splake, northern pike and smallmouth bass. No perch action to report.
Carp River - A few anglers are fishing for steelhead. They are spawned out, but still fun to catch.
St. Ignace - A handful of anglers are spear fishing for carp on the west side of the Mackinaw Bridge at the primitive launch.