Statewide fishing Report ,April 12,2007 - Printable Version +- Fishing Forum (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum) +-- Forum: Michigan Fishing Forum (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=364) +--- Forum: Michigan Fishing General (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=36) +--- Thread: Statewide fishing Report ,April 12,2007 (/showthread.php?tid=325912)

Statewide fishing Report ,April 12,2007 - lonehunter - 04-12-2007 [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, April 12, 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] The return of winter will once again slow fishing around the state. Many of the lakes in the northern sections of the state are ice covered however there is no safe ice. This would be a good time to get that spring and summer fishing gear ready to go. Southeast Lower Peninsula Lake Erie - Walleye have been caught near the Fermi Power Plant, off Stony Point, and in Brest Bay. Try fishing over the mud flats and near the mouth of the rivers with a variety of things such as a jig and minnow, crawler harnesses, spinners or rapalas. A few perch have been caught in the marinas. Huron River - Water levels are getting back to normal. Steelhead fishing has been fair with most fish hitting wax worms under a bobber. Look for fish in the slower waters below the dam at Flat Rock. Detroit River - The water levels were good and the walleye fishing has been very good with some limits taken. Boats are launching along the entire river from Wyandotte down to Elizabeth Park. A good number of males have been caught, some up to 12 pounds. Most are using a jig and minnow or plastics. Clinton River - Steelhead can still be found up near the Yates Dam. Spawn usually works best. A few white suckers have also been caught. St. Clair River - Walleye have been caught when vertical jigging with large emerald shiners or plastics. The better fishing has been near the mouth of the Black River. The docks are in at Port Huron. Lexington - Some coho and steelhead have been taken in the southern waters of Lake Huron when trolling planer boards with bodybaits in shallow waters. Saginaw Bay - The unseasonably cold weather shut down the spring runs all around the Bay. Fishing should pick back up as the weather improves. It does not appear that the perch spawn is underway yet as not even the commercial fishermen are getting many. Southwest Lower Peninsula St. Joseph - Boat anglers trolling in shallow waters were taking a few brown trout and steelhead. The coho will not come in until the water temperatures warm up. St. Joesph River - Steelhead can still be found in the river between the Sportsmen's Club and the dam at Berrien Springs. Saugatuck - Some big brown trout have been caught on the channel side. Kalamazoo River - Steelhead can still be found but the run is slowing down. Holland - A few small boats are trolling in shallow waters along the shoreline and near the end of the piers. Port Sheldon - Boat anglers caught steelhead and brown trout when trolling with planer boards and rapalas in 5 to 12 feet of water. Perch were taken on wigglers. Grand Haven - Pier anglers have been catching a few brown trout and steelhead. Spawn has been working best. Perch and whitefish have also been caught. Grand River at Grand Rapids - Good steelhead fishing continues. The water is clearing up so anglers are using long leaders with light line. Spawn bags and red Wobble Glows have caught fish. Those fishing the backwaters are catching crappie when using minnows. Grand River at Lansing - A couple steelhead have been caught over at Moore's Park. Some are now starting to look for catfish when using dip baits. Thornapple River - Has good crappie fishing. Muskegon - Pier anglers have been catching a few brown trout and steelhead with spawn working the best. Boats are trolling in shallow waters 8 to 12 feet deep. Muskegon River - Perch have been caught below the Croton Dam and the Hardy Dam. Some limits were reported when using crappie rigs with minnows. Northeast Lower Peninsula Rogers City - Fishing has come to a complete stand still as everything is iced in including the ramps and marinas. There is ice all along the shoreline and on the rocks and breakwall making those areas very dangerous. Before the bad weather hit, brown trout were caught by boat anglers in front of the breakwall and in Swan Bay. Atlantic salmon were taken around the light at Calcite and in the harbor as the fish were concentrating in the warmer waters. Rockport - Fishing has been slow, especially for brown trout. As of this report, the docks had not been put in and the restrooms were closed. Anglers will need waders to launch a boat. Thunder Bay River - The current is strong and constantly changing due to the opening of the chutes at the dam. Anglers are targeting steelhead by drift fishing with flies, spawn or wax worms. The lucky ones are taking a few fish, but many are getting snagged because of the currents and debris near the bottom. The suckers have moved in early this year. The fish cleaning station remains closed and the restrooms are locked. Oscoda - Cold weather slowed the catch rate, but a few walleye have been caught off the end of the pier. Water temperatures have been about 39 degrees. Au Sable River - Steelhead are in the river but the bite was slow due to colder weather. Boat anglers will want to fish the deeper holes until it warms back up. Tawas - Boats are trolling close to shore for steelhead and brown trout. Pier anglers are taking steelhead on spawn. A few perch were hitting on minnows. Au Gres - The docks are now in. Boat anglers are trolling for walleye off the mouth of the river, but the action has been slow. The bite should pick up as the waters warm up. Most are trolling rapalas or husky jerks. Au Gres River - Good numbers of steelhead are reported to be up in the East Branch of the river, but fishing down at the Singing Bridge has been very slow. Rifle River - The sucker run at Omer has slowed with the cooler weather. Look for action to pick back up as it warms up. Higgins Lake - Had some ice out towards the middle of the lake, but no safe ice. Windy conditions are blowing the ice around the lake and no boats have been out. Northwest Lower Peninsula Traverse City - Cold and windy conditions have limited access to most boats. Those able to get out reported spotty whitefish action in both bays. Boardman River - Steelhead continue to bite, and some limits were reported. Frankfort - Decent numbers of brown trout and steelhead have been caught by both pier and shore anglers, though snow and ice have again made the piers very slippery. The best fishing has been in the morning and early afternoon hours when using spawn. Betsie River - Good numbers of steelhead have been reported from M-22 up to the Homestead Dam. Anglers are having the most success using spawn or yarn. Manistee - Pier anglers have caught steelhead off both the north and south piers when using spawn. Once the waters warm the brown trout should be back. Menominee are hitting on wax worms or a single egg. Boat anglers had some luck when trolling in shallow waters 7 to 12 feet deep between the water tower to the north and Gurney Creek to the south. Big Manistee River - Has good steelhead and brown trout fishing even with the recent cold spell. Most are fishing up near Tippy Dam. A good number of suckers are also in the river. Little Manistee River - Steelhead fishing has been good and should only improve this week as the egg take is done. The weir is now open and any fresh fish coming up will have free run of the river. Ludington - The boat launch as well as the harbor entrance are currently being dredged. Brown trout and steelhead were taken off both piers when using spawn. Pere Marquette Lake - Boat anglers trolling with bodybaits have caught some steelhead and brown trout. Upper Peninsula Marquette - Strong winds, cold and snow put a damper on fishing. Before the weather hit, anglers were taking a mixed bag of coho, chinook, brown trout and steelhead in both the Upper Harbor and the Lower Harbor when trolling or casting spoons or using lead jigs with cut bait. Menominee River - Boat anglers are catching walleye. Little Bay De Noc - No anglers means no report. Very cold temperatures produced some new ice in the bays which is making boat access impossible. Only two launches are set to go, the north shore launch in Escanaba and the one at Ogontz. The launch in Escanaba also has three brand new fishing piers for shore anglers to use. The piers will hold quite a few people and are located in a prime fishing hole right on the river. Escanaba River - Is running fast and pushing ice. Anglers are hitting the river for steelhead but no word on catch rates. Munising - The return of winter has shut down fishing activity. All launches and access points are either iced or snowed in. The ice forming at the head of the bay is not safe for ice fishing.