10-13-2007, 10:08 AM
Upper Peninsula:[/url]
The lake trout and splake fishing is fair on Copper Harbor.
Anglers on Lake Gogebic (go-GEE-bic) are catching a few walleye during the early evening hours, before it turns dark. The best fishing is found in water about 10 feet deep, with minnows being the preferred bait.
Around Marquette, the lake trout fishing is good on Lake Superior, including the lower and upper Marquette harbors. The salmon action on the big lake is fair. The brown trout fishing is good on the Dead and Chocolay (chalk-oh-lay) rivers.
Anglers on Little Lake are catching a few perch and walleye.
By Escanaba, the pike and walleye fishing is fair on Little Bay de Noc. The salmon fishing ranges from slow to fair on the Ford and Escanaba rivers.
In the Manistique area, anglers on Indian Lake are catching good numbers of perch, using minnows as bait. The steelhead and salmon fishing is good along on the Manistique River.
The upper end of the St. Marys River near Sault Ste Marie is producing some good perch fishing. The walleye action on the river is fair.
On Munuscong (muh-nuss-cong) and Raber bays the walleye fishing is good. The perch action is fair and the musky fishing is starting to improve. In the Drummond Island area, the perch fishing is fair on both Maxton and Scott bays. Minnows are working well as bait.
And at St. Ignace, the salmon fishing is good off the docks along the Straits of Mackinac. Evenings are the best time to cast a line in the water.
Northwest:[/url]
Crooked Lake near Alanson is producing good perch and walleye fishing.
Around Boyne City, the perch fishing is good on both Lake Charlevoix and Walloon Lake. Minnows, crawlers and wigglers are all being used as bait. The salmon and steelhead fishing is fair on both the Boyne and Jordan rivers.
The walleye fishing is good on both Leelanau and Long lakes near Traverse City. The fish being caught on Long Lake are on the small side.
Evenings are the best time to drop a line in the water. Anglers along the Boardman River are reeling in a few salmon.
In the Frankfort area, the salmon fishing is fair on the Betsie River. Strong winds have been keeping people off Lake Michigan.
On the Big Manistee River near Manistee, the salmon fishing is good.
By Kalkaska, the perch fishing is very good on both Skegemog and Manistee lakes. Both minnows and wigglers are working well as bait. Anglers on Skegemog are catching good numbers of smallmouth bass. The salmon action is good near the Elk River Dam.
Out of the Gaylord area, the salmon fishing is very good on the Boyne and Jordan rivers. Bradford and Otsego lakes are producing good bass and walleye fishing.
And at Cadillac, the crappie fishing is good on the east end of Lake Cadillac. The bass and pike fishing is good all around Lake Cadillac.
West:[/url]
Around Ludington, the salmon fishing is good on both the Sable and Pere Marquette rivers. Anglers on the upper end of Hamlin Lake are reeling in good numbers of bluegill.
In the Pentwater area, the salmon and steelhead fishing is good on Lake Michigan, when the weather allows anglers to get out. The fish are found in the top 50 feet of water that is up to 200 feet deep. The king salmon fishing is good in the Pentwater River.
Out of the Muskegon area, the salmon fishing is fair on the Muskegon River and Lake Michigan. On the lake, the fish are found 90 to 140 feet below the surface in water up to 160 feet deep. The white perch fishing ranges from good to very good on Muskegon Lake. Anglers on the west end of the lake are reeling in a few walleye at night.
Chippewa Lake is producing good bluegill fishing, fair bass and pike action.
And at Baldwin, the bluegill fishing is good on most of the local lakes. Both crickets and waxworms are being used as bait.
Southwest:[/url]
In the Holland area, the bluegill fishing is good on Lake Macatawa. Anglers on the pier on Lake Michigan are reeling in a few perch during the morning hours.
Around Benton Harbor, the salmon fishing is good on Lake Michigan. The fish are found about 60 feet below the surface, in water that is up to 100 feet deep. Anglers using minnows as bait are catching a few perch in the lake, in about 50 feet of water.
By New Buffalo, the salmon fishing is fair on Lake Michigan, the perch action on the lake is spotty. Anglers along the Galien River are reeling in a few bass, catfish, salmon and steelhead.
And at Kalamazoo, the pike fishing is very good on both Gun and Long lakes. Anglers on Long Lake are using crank baits or sucker minnows as bait. The best fishing on Gun Lake is out in from of the Yankee Springs State Park. Gull and Huzzy lakes are producing good bluegill fishing. Both waxworms and leaf worms are being used as bait. Anglers on Scott Lake are catching a few crappie in the evenings, using minnows as bait. On the Kalamazoo River near Galesburg, the smallmouth bass fishing is good. The perch fishing ranges from fair to good on the river, near the Allegan Dam.
Northeast:[/url]
Anglers along the Thunder Bay River by Alpena are catching a few salmon and steelhead by the Ninth Street Bridge.
On Lake Margrethe near Grayling, anglers are catching a few perch. Afternoons are the best time to be out, with minnows working well as bait. The walleye action on the lake ranges from fair to good. Try using either a minnow or crawler as bait, in water 15 to 20 feet deep.
In the Oscoda area, the perch fishing is good on Van Etten Lake. Anglers on both Cooke Dam and Foote Dam ponds are catching good numbers of perch, pike and salmon.
Higgins Lake is producing good perch fishing, in water about 20 feet deep.
Out on Houghton Lake, the bluegill action is good in water four to six feet deep. Anglers drifting or trolling during the evening hours, are reeling in a few walleye.
And Au Gres, the perch fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay. The best fishing is found in water about 40 feet deep, from the Au Gres River -- south.
East:[/url]
By Linwood, the perch action is steady on Saginaw Bay.
Anglers on Saginaw Bay by Bay City are reeling in good numbers of perch, using minnows as bait.
In the Saginaw area, the catfish fishing is fair on the Saginaw, Cass and Tittabawassee rivers. Anglers along the Tittabawassee are also reeling in a few smallmouth bass.
Out of the Bay Port area, the perch fishing is good on Saginaw Bay.
At Harbor Beach, some salmon are starting to move into the harbor.
Around Port Sanilac, the perch fishing ranges from fair to good on Lake Huron. The best fishing is found north of the harbor in water 30 to 35 feet deep. In Lexington, the perch have moved into the harbor and the fishing is fair.
On the St. Clair River in Port Huron, the walleye fishing ranges from fair to good. The brown trout and salmon fishing is fair on the river.
And at St. Clair, the bass and perch fishing is fair along the banks of the St. Clair River.
Central:[/url]
With a lot of people focused on hunting, fishing action around Mount Pleasant this week is slow.
Out of the Lansing area, the bluegill fishing is good along the Grand River. The bass action ranges from slow to fair on the river. Sycamore Creek is producing fair salmon fishing.
And at Jackson, the bluegill fishing is very good on most of the local lakes.
Southeast:[/url]
Out on Anchor Bay near Fair Haven the perch fishing is good. The best fishing is found between Grass Island and buoy “B.” Mornings are the best time to be out, with minnows and crawlers working well as bait. The bass fishing is good all around the bay. The walleye action is fair on the St. Clair River near the Algonac State Park.
Elsewhere on Lake St. Clair, the perch fishing is very good on both and U.S. and Canadian sides of the lake. Early mornings are the best time to be out, but the fishing is good all day long. Minnows are the preferred bait. The smallmouth bass fishing on the lake is good, and the musky action is fair.
Along the Detroit River in the Downriver area, the perch fishing is good south of Celeron Island and north of Sugar Island. The bass fishing is good along the river. Anglers on the Trenton Channel are catching a few walleye. The steelhead action is fair on the Huron River.
On Lake Erie out from Monroe, the perch fishing is very good. The best fishing is found by the Toledo Lighthouse and Turtle Island. The fishing is also pretty good by the “E” buoy, Stony Point, Brest Bay and Luna Pier.
And at Belleville, the bluegill and crappie fishing is fair on both Belleville and Ford lakes. The gills are hitting on waxworms, the crappie on minnows.
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, October 11, 2007 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]![[Image: fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif]](http://www.michigan.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]
Now that the weather has finally cooled down, fall fishing in the river systems should pick up. Mature salmon have been caught out deep, and those fish should move in closer to shore. Color in the Northern Lower Peninsula is about 40 to 50 percent. This would be a good weekend to combine that fall fishing trip with a color tour.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Perch fishing was spotty as the fish have been moving daily and those willing to try different spots seem to have the most success. The waters south of the E-Buoy and off the Fermi Plant have been the most productive when using minnows in 12 to 24 feet of water. Walleye were caught off Sterling State Park when fishing near the Michigan-Ohio boundary line, but most of the fish remain in Ohio waters.
Huron River - Steelhead have been caught in the deeper holes downriver. Bluegill fishing continues to be very good as the fish prepare for winter. This is a good time to take the kids fishing. All you need is a pole, bobber, and a worm.
Ford Lake - Near Ypsilanti, has anglers targeting bass, crappie, perch and walleye. For carp, try corn on the bottom. Ford Lake Park is a good spot for shore anglers.
Detroit River - Anglers are still catching perch around Mud Island and Grassy Island.
Lake St. Clair - Has good perch fishing between the Grosse Point Yacht Club and Metro Beach. Anglers are using both minnows and worms. Smallmouth bass are still hitting near the rock piles and along the weedbeds.
Lexington - Salmon action was spotty. Night fishing may be more productive. Boats fishing outside the harbor are marking fish but no bites. Pike are still being caught in the harbor.
Harbor Beach - Boat anglers trolling just outside the harbor say the fish are there but the bite has been slow.
Port Austin - Boats trolling for salmon in the harbor are seeing fish but none were caught. Cooler temperatures should improve the catch rates. A few small perch were caught in Bird Creek.
Saginaw Bay - Perch fishing has been good around the commercial nets that are set from Killarney Beach all the way north to the Black Hole. Buoys 9 and 15 were also productive. Anglers were consistently catching 10 to 12 inch fish, but some were taking the occasional 14 inch perch. The successful ones were using pieces of store-bought shrimp instead of minnows. Near Quanicassee, perch were caught off the channel in 6 to 12 feet of water. Sebewaing, Bay Port, and Caseville were slow.
Saginaw River - Bass and catfish are still being caught in the lower river.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - Pier fishing has been slow. Boats are picking up fair to good numbers of Chinook salmon in 70 to 90 feet of water.
St. Joseph River - Has good numbers of coho and steelhead. Chinook were caught in the lower river, but rain should push these fish up into the river system.
Paw Paw River - Is reporting good catches of Chinook salmon in the lower river.
Van Auken Lake - Has fair to good crappie fishing in 12 to 14 feet of water. Largemouth bass are hitting in early morning and late afternoon in shallow waters. Northern pike are hitting in 12 to 20 feet of water when trolling spoons or plugs.
Kalamazoo River - Smallmouth bass fishing was outstanding as clear waters along with warm weather have kept the bite on through the summer and into the fall. The action has been good between Marshall and Plainwell.
Gull Lake - Northern pike fishing has been good with fish caught in waters 15 to 20 feet deep. Panfish action was good for those targeting sunfish, perch and rock bass.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Fresh steelhead have been caught this week. Salmon and brown trout have been caught between the Sixth Street Dam and Wealthy Street. The salmon are hitting on micro yarn in chartreuse with an orange spot and spawn bags while the brown trout are hitting on spawn or green caddis. Walleye have also been caught. Beds can be found along the east side of the river between Bridge Street and Fulton Street.
Grand River at Lansing - Only a few salmon have been caught below the dams when using small orange spinners or small spoons. A couple walleye were caught up at Moore's Park. Panfish action was good as the fish are still aggressive. Try a piece of crawler or red worms under a bobber. Carp were caught off River Front Park.
Looking Glass River - Northern pike and bowfin have been caught by those fishing at Babcock's Landing.
Muskegon - Boat anglers have caught mature Chinook salmon out in deeper waters. Colder weather should push these fish closer to shore. Perch have been caught but the action should pick up in the next few weeks.
Muskegon Lake - Walleye fishing has picked up. Boat anglers are trolling the channel at night or casting crankbaits in 18 to 20 feet of water along the drop offs.
Muskegon River - There is still a good number of salmon in the river. Anglers are fishing between the mouth and Croton Dam.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Thunder Bay River - Very few Chinook salmon have been caught at the dam. The lucky ones caught fish in the 8 to 11 pound range when using spawn.
Harrisville - A few Chinook salmon are in the marina, but they are not biting. Anglers are casting Cleo's, rapalas or spawn with little success. Boats trolling outside the breakwall caught a couple salmon and walleye in 10 to 30 feet of water.
Oscoda - Fishing at the mouth of the river has been slow as only a light number of salmon were seen. Pier anglers reported limited success.
Tawas - A few boats are trolling for salmon off the mouth of the Tawas River and around the pier where the fish are porpoising, but few have been caught. Pier anglers have caught salmon along with a few perch and smallmouth bass.
Tawas River - Night fishermen are getting a few salmon out of the lower river.
Au Gres - Perch fishing continues to be spotty. While most are fishing along the shipping channel, others are going south and fishing around the commercial nets where catch rates were better.
Au Gres River - Those fishing the East Branch have taken a few salmon when fishing at night in the lower Whitney Drain and near the Singing Bridge.
Higgins Lake - The few anglers still out trolling continue to catch lake trout.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Bear River - Anglers fishing from the Lake Street Bridge down to Lake Michigan have caught salmon on flies and spawn.
Walloon Lake - Most of the boat anglers are targeting bass in shallow waters. They are casting spinners, shallow diving baits, or crawlers. Others are targeting perch in waters 15 to 40 feet deep. Boat anglers trolling after dark have caught walleye.
Charlevoix - The waters near the plant have provided some opportunity for wading and small boat anglers. The best fishing is still at dawn and dusk using either spawn or casting minnow baits, diving crankbaits or spoons.
Traverse City - Salmon fishing slowed but a few fish were caught around the bay and off the mouth of Mitchell Creek. Near Elk Rapids, steelhead were caught off the breakwall in the early morning. Whitefish action has been very good in 70 feet of water off the Center Road launch site. Jigging Swedish Pimples on the bottom worked best. In the West Bay, steelhead were caught off the mouth of the Boardman River. Yellow perch have started to show up, but no big numbers or size at this time.
Elk River - Coho salmon are still being caught regularly at the dam when drifting spawn or casting hardware.
Boardman River - Salmon fishing continues to be very good from Union Street to the Trap and Transfer Facility. Spawn bags and casting spoons worked best.
Frankfort - Some silver salmon along with a couple steelhead were caught up near Point Betsie when trolling 70 to 100 feet down in waters 150 to 220 feet deep. Inside Betsie Bay, a few dark fish were caught off the old Elberta Marina. Chinook, coho and steelhead have been caught off the North Pier. Spawn is best for steelhead, but the salmon are hitting on Cleo's and glow baits.
Betsie River - Fishing was slow with only a few fish caught just below the dam. For those looking to fish above the dam, the river is now closed above Kurick Road.
Portage Lake - Catch rates for panfish are starting to improve. Bluegills, sunfish, and perch have been caught in 17 to 25 feet of water near the marina and the green buoy. Large rock bass and pike have been caught when trolling in front of the Inn, and along the north shore near the city launch.
Manistee - Those trolling had some luck catching Chinook salmon out on the Shelf. Steelhead were caught in the deeper holes north of the port and off Orchard Beach State Park.
Manistee Lake - Boat anglers have caught Chinook salmon.
Manistee River - Anglers fishing up near Tippy Dam are still taking some Chinook. Look for more fish with the cooler temperatures.
Ludington - Boats trolling up near the point have caught Chinook and steelhead. Pier anglers have also caught fish when casting spoons or spawn.
Pere Marquette Lake - Boats trolling near the mouth of the river have caught salmon.
Pere Marquette River - Chinook salmon were caught when drifting spawn.
Upper Peninsula
Marquette - When boats can get out, lake trout were being caught north of the white rocks in 160 feet of water and near the lower harbor in 60 feet of water.
Dead River - Some nice 10 to 12 pound Chinook salmon have been caught along the stretch before the waterfall off CR550. A few coho and plenty of pink salmon caught when casting orange spinners.
Carp River - Nice coho were seen from the mouth to about 150 yards upstream. Chinook and pink salmon could be found in the pool near the ski hills.
Chocolay River - Is still full of salmon along with the occasional steelhead.
Little Bay De Noc - Walleye fishing has improved with anglers marking and catching good numbers of fish. The Black Bottom and Portage Point areas were best when trolling or drifting crawlers in 12 to 22 feet of water. Walleye were caught off the Third Reef and north to the mouth of the Whitefish River. Some nice perch were caught off Butler Island when jigging minnows. Smallmouth bass have also been caught.
Ford River - Shore anglers have caught salmon when casting spoons or crankbaits.
Big Bay De Noc - Usually has low angler participation for this time of the year. There were rumors of walleye being caught just south of Big Bay Shoals, but no details were given. Good smallmouth bass action continues just outside Snail Shell Harbor when drifting and casting tube baits and minnows along the shoreline. Northern pike were caught off Ansel's Point when trolling crankbaits.
Grand Marais - Coho and steelhead have been caught in the bay.
De Tour - Boats fishing north of the city launch have caught smallmouth bass and northern pike. Those targeting salmon are trolling the shipping channel to the #3 Green Can and around the Lighthouse. Best baits were silver J-plugs or blue and white or green and gold spoons.
Drummond Island - A few small perch were caught near Boulanger Island.
Cedarville and Hessel - Yellow perch activity has picked up slightly. Anglers are fishing Government Bay, Musky Bay, Hessel Bay, Middle Entrance, Snows Channel and around Little Joe Island. Use minnows, crawlers or wigglers. Smallmouth bass and northern pike were caught in Snows Channel and the Middle Entrance when still-fishing with minnows or casting spinner baits.
Carp River - Anglers fishing from the mouth up to the Mackinaw Trail Bridge have caught Chinook and pink salmon. Chinook were caught as far up as the McDonald Rapids. Most are using J-plugs, spinners, spoons, or spawn.
The lake trout and splake fishing is fair on Copper Harbor.
Anglers on Lake Gogebic (go-GEE-bic) are catching a few walleye during the early evening hours, before it turns dark. The best fishing is found in water about 10 feet deep, with minnows being the preferred bait.
Around Marquette, the lake trout fishing is good on Lake Superior, including the lower and upper Marquette harbors. The salmon action on the big lake is fair. The brown trout fishing is good on the Dead and Chocolay (chalk-oh-lay) rivers.
Anglers on Little Lake are catching a few perch and walleye.
By Escanaba, the pike and walleye fishing is fair on Little Bay de Noc. The salmon fishing ranges from slow to fair on the Ford and Escanaba rivers.
In the Manistique area, anglers on Indian Lake are catching good numbers of perch, using minnows as bait. The steelhead and salmon fishing is good along on the Manistique River.
The upper end of the St. Marys River near Sault Ste Marie is producing some good perch fishing. The walleye action on the river is fair.
On Munuscong (muh-nuss-cong) and Raber bays the walleye fishing is good. The perch action is fair and the musky fishing is starting to improve. In the Drummond Island area, the perch fishing is fair on both Maxton and Scott bays. Minnows are working well as bait.
And at St. Ignace, the salmon fishing is good off the docks along the Straits of Mackinac. Evenings are the best time to cast a line in the water.
Northwest:[/url]
Crooked Lake near Alanson is producing good perch and walleye fishing.
Around Boyne City, the perch fishing is good on both Lake Charlevoix and Walloon Lake. Minnows, crawlers and wigglers are all being used as bait. The salmon and steelhead fishing is fair on both the Boyne and Jordan rivers.
The walleye fishing is good on both Leelanau and Long lakes near Traverse City. The fish being caught on Long Lake are on the small side.
Evenings are the best time to drop a line in the water. Anglers along the Boardman River are reeling in a few salmon.
In the Frankfort area, the salmon fishing is fair on the Betsie River. Strong winds have been keeping people off Lake Michigan.
On the Big Manistee River near Manistee, the salmon fishing is good.
By Kalkaska, the perch fishing is very good on both Skegemog and Manistee lakes. Both minnows and wigglers are working well as bait. Anglers on Skegemog are catching good numbers of smallmouth bass. The salmon action is good near the Elk River Dam.
Out of the Gaylord area, the salmon fishing is very good on the Boyne and Jordan rivers. Bradford and Otsego lakes are producing good bass and walleye fishing.
And at Cadillac, the crappie fishing is good on the east end of Lake Cadillac. The bass and pike fishing is good all around Lake Cadillac.
West:[/url]
Around Ludington, the salmon fishing is good on both the Sable and Pere Marquette rivers. Anglers on the upper end of Hamlin Lake are reeling in good numbers of bluegill.
In the Pentwater area, the salmon and steelhead fishing is good on Lake Michigan, when the weather allows anglers to get out. The fish are found in the top 50 feet of water that is up to 200 feet deep. The king salmon fishing is good in the Pentwater River.
Out of the Muskegon area, the salmon fishing is fair on the Muskegon River and Lake Michigan. On the lake, the fish are found 90 to 140 feet below the surface in water up to 160 feet deep. The white perch fishing ranges from good to very good on Muskegon Lake. Anglers on the west end of the lake are reeling in a few walleye at night.
Chippewa Lake is producing good bluegill fishing, fair bass and pike action.
And at Baldwin, the bluegill fishing is good on most of the local lakes. Both crickets and waxworms are being used as bait.
Southwest:[/url]
In the Holland area, the bluegill fishing is good on Lake Macatawa. Anglers on the pier on Lake Michigan are reeling in a few perch during the morning hours.
Around Benton Harbor, the salmon fishing is good on Lake Michigan. The fish are found about 60 feet below the surface, in water that is up to 100 feet deep. Anglers using minnows as bait are catching a few perch in the lake, in about 50 feet of water.
By New Buffalo, the salmon fishing is fair on Lake Michigan, the perch action on the lake is spotty. Anglers along the Galien River are reeling in a few bass, catfish, salmon and steelhead.
And at Kalamazoo, the pike fishing is very good on both Gun and Long lakes. Anglers on Long Lake are using crank baits or sucker minnows as bait. The best fishing on Gun Lake is out in from of the Yankee Springs State Park. Gull and Huzzy lakes are producing good bluegill fishing. Both waxworms and leaf worms are being used as bait. Anglers on Scott Lake are catching a few crappie in the evenings, using minnows as bait. On the Kalamazoo River near Galesburg, the smallmouth bass fishing is good. The perch fishing ranges from fair to good on the river, near the Allegan Dam.
Northeast:[/url]
Anglers along the Thunder Bay River by Alpena are catching a few salmon and steelhead by the Ninth Street Bridge.
On Lake Margrethe near Grayling, anglers are catching a few perch. Afternoons are the best time to be out, with minnows working well as bait. The walleye action on the lake ranges from fair to good. Try using either a minnow or crawler as bait, in water 15 to 20 feet deep.
In the Oscoda area, the perch fishing is good on Van Etten Lake. Anglers on both Cooke Dam and Foote Dam ponds are catching good numbers of perch, pike and salmon.
Higgins Lake is producing good perch fishing, in water about 20 feet deep.
Out on Houghton Lake, the bluegill action is good in water four to six feet deep. Anglers drifting or trolling during the evening hours, are reeling in a few walleye.
And Au Gres, the perch fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay. The best fishing is found in water about 40 feet deep, from the Au Gres River -- south.
East:[/url]
By Linwood, the perch action is steady on Saginaw Bay.
Anglers on Saginaw Bay by Bay City are reeling in good numbers of perch, using minnows as bait.
In the Saginaw area, the catfish fishing is fair on the Saginaw, Cass and Tittabawassee rivers. Anglers along the Tittabawassee are also reeling in a few smallmouth bass.
Out of the Bay Port area, the perch fishing is good on Saginaw Bay.
At Harbor Beach, some salmon are starting to move into the harbor.
Around Port Sanilac, the perch fishing ranges from fair to good on Lake Huron. The best fishing is found north of the harbor in water 30 to 35 feet deep. In Lexington, the perch have moved into the harbor and the fishing is fair.
On the St. Clair River in Port Huron, the walleye fishing ranges from fair to good. The brown trout and salmon fishing is fair on the river.
And at St. Clair, the bass and perch fishing is fair along the banks of the St. Clair River.
Central:[/url]
With a lot of people focused on hunting, fishing action around Mount Pleasant this week is slow.
Out of the Lansing area, the bluegill fishing is good along the Grand River. The bass action ranges from slow to fair on the river. Sycamore Creek is producing fair salmon fishing.
And at Jackson, the bluegill fishing is very good on most of the local lakes.
Southeast:[/url]
Out on Anchor Bay near Fair Haven the perch fishing is good. The best fishing is found between Grass Island and buoy “B.” Mornings are the best time to be out, with minnows and crawlers working well as bait. The bass fishing is good all around the bay. The walleye action is fair on the St. Clair River near the Algonac State Park.
Elsewhere on Lake St. Clair, the perch fishing is very good on both and U.S. and Canadian sides of the lake. Early mornings are the best time to be out, but the fishing is good all day long. Minnows are the preferred bait. The smallmouth bass fishing on the lake is good, and the musky action is fair.
Along the Detroit River in the Downriver area, the perch fishing is good south of Celeron Island and north of Sugar Island. The bass fishing is good along the river. Anglers on the Trenton Channel are catching a few walleye. The steelhead action is fair on the Huron River.
On Lake Erie out from Monroe, the perch fishing is very good. The best fishing is found by the Toledo Lighthouse and Turtle Island. The fishing is also pretty good by the “E” buoy, Stony Point, Brest Bay and Luna Pier.
And at Belleville, the bluegill and crappie fishing is fair on both Belleville and Ford lakes. The gills are hitting on waxworms, the crappie on minnows.
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, October 11, 2007 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]
[/font] [url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
Now that the weather has finally cooled down, fall fishing in the river systems should pick up. Mature salmon have been caught out deep, and those fish should move in closer to shore. Color in the Northern Lower Peninsula is about 40 to 50 percent. This would be a good weekend to combine that fall fishing trip with a color tour.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Perch fishing was spotty as the fish have been moving daily and those willing to try different spots seem to have the most success. The waters south of the E-Buoy and off the Fermi Plant have been the most productive when using minnows in 12 to 24 feet of water. Walleye were caught off Sterling State Park when fishing near the Michigan-Ohio boundary line, but most of the fish remain in Ohio waters.
Huron River - Steelhead have been caught in the deeper holes downriver. Bluegill fishing continues to be very good as the fish prepare for winter. This is a good time to take the kids fishing. All you need is a pole, bobber, and a worm.
Ford Lake - Near Ypsilanti, has anglers targeting bass, crappie, perch and walleye. For carp, try corn on the bottom. Ford Lake Park is a good spot for shore anglers.
Detroit River - Anglers are still catching perch around Mud Island and Grassy Island.
Lake St. Clair - Has good perch fishing between the Grosse Point Yacht Club and Metro Beach. Anglers are using both minnows and worms. Smallmouth bass are still hitting near the rock piles and along the weedbeds.
Lexington - Salmon action was spotty. Night fishing may be more productive. Boats fishing outside the harbor are marking fish but no bites. Pike are still being caught in the harbor.
Harbor Beach - Boat anglers trolling just outside the harbor say the fish are there but the bite has been slow.
Port Austin - Boats trolling for salmon in the harbor are seeing fish but none were caught. Cooler temperatures should improve the catch rates. A few small perch were caught in Bird Creek.
Saginaw Bay - Perch fishing has been good around the commercial nets that are set from Killarney Beach all the way north to the Black Hole. Buoys 9 and 15 were also productive. Anglers were consistently catching 10 to 12 inch fish, but some were taking the occasional 14 inch perch. The successful ones were using pieces of store-bought shrimp instead of minnows. Near Quanicassee, perch were caught off the channel in 6 to 12 feet of water. Sebewaing, Bay Port, and Caseville were slow.
Saginaw River - Bass and catfish are still being caught in the lower river.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - Pier fishing has been slow. Boats are picking up fair to good numbers of Chinook salmon in 70 to 90 feet of water.
St. Joseph River - Has good numbers of coho and steelhead. Chinook were caught in the lower river, but rain should push these fish up into the river system.
Paw Paw River - Is reporting good catches of Chinook salmon in the lower river.
Van Auken Lake - Has fair to good crappie fishing in 12 to 14 feet of water. Largemouth bass are hitting in early morning and late afternoon in shallow waters. Northern pike are hitting in 12 to 20 feet of water when trolling spoons or plugs.
Kalamazoo River - Smallmouth bass fishing was outstanding as clear waters along with warm weather have kept the bite on through the summer and into the fall. The action has been good between Marshall and Plainwell.
Gull Lake - Northern pike fishing has been good with fish caught in waters 15 to 20 feet deep. Panfish action was good for those targeting sunfish, perch and rock bass.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Fresh steelhead have been caught this week. Salmon and brown trout have been caught between the Sixth Street Dam and Wealthy Street. The salmon are hitting on micro yarn in chartreuse with an orange spot and spawn bags while the brown trout are hitting on spawn or green caddis. Walleye have also been caught. Beds can be found along the east side of the river between Bridge Street and Fulton Street.
Grand River at Lansing - Only a few salmon have been caught below the dams when using small orange spinners or small spoons. A couple walleye were caught up at Moore's Park. Panfish action was good as the fish are still aggressive. Try a piece of crawler or red worms under a bobber. Carp were caught off River Front Park.
Looking Glass River - Northern pike and bowfin have been caught by those fishing at Babcock's Landing.
Muskegon - Boat anglers have caught mature Chinook salmon out in deeper waters. Colder weather should push these fish closer to shore. Perch have been caught but the action should pick up in the next few weeks.
Muskegon Lake - Walleye fishing has picked up. Boat anglers are trolling the channel at night or casting crankbaits in 18 to 20 feet of water along the drop offs.
Muskegon River - There is still a good number of salmon in the river. Anglers are fishing between the mouth and Croton Dam.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Thunder Bay River - Very few Chinook salmon have been caught at the dam. The lucky ones caught fish in the 8 to 11 pound range when using spawn.
Harrisville - A few Chinook salmon are in the marina, but they are not biting. Anglers are casting Cleo's, rapalas or spawn with little success. Boats trolling outside the breakwall caught a couple salmon and walleye in 10 to 30 feet of water.
Oscoda - Fishing at the mouth of the river has been slow as only a light number of salmon were seen. Pier anglers reported limited success.
Tawas - A few boats are trolling for salmon off the mouth of the Tawas River and around the pier where the fish are porpoising, but few have been caught. Pier anglers have caught salmon along with a few perch and smallmouth bass.
Tawas River - Night fishermen are getting a few salmon out of the lower river.
Au Gres - Perch fishing continues to be spotty. While most are fishing along the shipping channel, others are going south and fishing around the commercial nets where catch rates were better.
Au Gres River - Those fishing the East Branch have taken a few salmon when fishing at night in the lower Whitney Drain and near the Singing Bridge.
Higgins Lake - The few anglers still out trolling continue to catch lake trout.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Bear River - Anglers fishing from the Lake Street Bridge down to Lake Michigan have caught salmon on flies and spawn.
Walloon Lake - Most of the boat anglers are targeting bass in shallow waters. They are casting spinners, shallow diving baits, or crawlers. Others are targeting perch in waters 15 to 40 feet deep. Boat anglers trolling after dark have caught walleye.
Charlevoix - The waters near the plant have provided some opportunity for wading and small boat anglers. The best fishing is still at dawn and dusk using either spawn or casting minnow baits, diving crankbaits or spoons.
Traverse City - Salmon fishing slowed but a few fish were caught around the bay and off the mouth of Mitchell Creek. Near Elk Rapids, steelhead were caught off the breakwall in the early morning. Whitefish action has been very good in 70 feet of water off the Center Road launch site. Jigging Swedish Pimples on the bottom worked best. In the West Bay, steelhead were caught off the mouth of the Boardman River. Yellow perch have started to show up, but no big numbers or size at this time.
Elk River - Coho salmon are still being caught regularly at the dam when drifting spawn or casting hardware.
Boardman River - Salmon fishing continues to be very good from Union Street to the Trap and Transfer Facility. Spawn bags and casting spoons worked best.
Frankfort - Some silver salmon along with a couple steelhead were caught up near Point Betsie when trolling 70 to 100 feet down in waters 150 to 220 feet deep. Inside Betsie Bay, a few dark fish were caught off the old Elberta Marina. Chinook, coho and steelhead have been caught off the North Pier. Spawn is best for steelhead, but the salmon are hitting on Cleo's and glow baits.
Betsie River - Fishing was slow with only a few fish caught just below the dam. For those looking to fish above the dam, the river is now closed above Kurick Road.
Portage Lake - Catch rates for panfish are starting to improve. Bluegills, sunfish, and perch have been caught in 17 to 25 feet of water near the marina and the green buoy. Large rock bass and pike have been caught when trolling in front of the Inn, and along the north shore near the city launch.
Manistee - Those trolling had some luck catching Chinook salmon out on the Shelf. Steelhead were caught in the deeper holes north of the port and off Orchard Beach State Park.
Manistee Lake - Boat anglers have caught Chinook salmon.
Manistee River - Anglers fishing up near Tippy Dam are still taking some Chinook. Look for more fish with the cooler temperatures.
Ludington - Boats trolling up near the point have caught Chinook and steelhead. Pier anglers have also caught fish when casting spoons or spawn.
Pere Marquette Lake - Boats trolling near the mouth of the river have caught salmon.
Pere Marquette River - Chinook salmon were caught when drifting spawn.
Upper Peninsula
Marquette - When boats can get out, lake trout were being caught north of the white rocks in 160 feet of water and near the lower harbor in 60 feet of water.
Dead River - Some nice 10 to 12 pound Chinook salmon have been caught along the stretch before the waterfall off CR550. A few coho and plenty of pink salmon caught when casting orange spinners.
Carp River - Nice coho were seen from the mouth to about 150 yards upstream. Chinook and pink salmon could be found in the pool near the ski hills.
Chocolay River - Is still full of salmon along with the occasional steelhead.
Little Bay De Noc - Walleye fishing has improved with anglers marking and catching good numbers of fish. The Black Bottom and Portage Point areas were best when trolling or drifting crawlers in 12 to 22 feet of water. Walleye were caught off the Third Reef and north to the mouth of the Whitefish River. Some nice perch were caught off Butler Island when jigging minnows. Smallmouth bass have also been caught.
Ford River - Shore anglers have caught salmon when casting spoons or crankbaits.
Big Bay De Noc - Usually has low angler participation for this time of the year. There were rumors of walleye being caught just south of Big Bay Shoals, but no details were given. Good smallmouth bass action continues just outside Snail Shell Harbor when drifting and casting tube baits and minnows along the shoreline. Northern pike were caught off Ansel's Point when trolling crankbaits.
Grand Marais - Coho and steelhead have been caught in the bay.
De Tour - Boats fishing north of the city launch have caught smallmouth bass and northern pike. Those targeting salmon are trolling the shipping channel to the #3 Green Can and around the Lighthouse. Best baits were silver J-plugs or blue and white or green and gold spoons.
Drummond Island - A few small perch were caught near Boulanger Island.
Cedarville and Hessel - Yellow perch activity has picked up slightly. Anglers are fishing Government Bay, Musky Bay, Hessel Bay, Middle Entrance, Snows Channel and around Little Joe Island. Use minnows, crawlers or wigglers. Smallmouth bass and northern pike were caught in Snows Channel and the Middle Entrance when still-fishing with minnows or casting spinner baits.
Carp River - Anglers fishing from the mouth up to the Mackinaw Trail Bridge have caught Chinook and pink salmon. Chinook were caught as far up as the McDonald Rapids. Most are using J-plugs, spinners, spoons, or spawn.