12-29-2006, 01:15 PM
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#00e010]Weekly Fishing Report[/#00e010][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, December 21, 2006 [/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]
Special Note: The report will not be updated for the next two weeks due to the holidays. The next update will come on January 11, 2007. Happy Holidays![/b]
As of this report, the only fishing in Michigan is open water fishing. Maybe January will bring some ice. Anglers are reminded that large and smallmouth bass season on both the Great Lakes and inland waters will close on December 31, 2006. [/b]
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Shore anglers continue to fish for walleye near Bolles Harbor and between Stony Point and Sterling State Park. Try using a variety of lures including floating rapalas and bombers.
Detroit River - Walleye have been caught between the Detroit Edison Stacks and Gibraltar. Boat anglers are jigging or handlining with crankbaits.
Lake St. Clair - Try fishing the cuts and canals for bluegill, crappie and perch.
St. Clair River - The walleye are still feeding on baitfish in the river. At Port Huron, shore anglers are catching fish at Pinegrove Park. Boat anglers fishing near the mouth of the Black River and south are vertical jigging for walleye.
Black River - Those launching boats to go out and fish on the St. Clair River should be aware that the city has pulled the docks. Launching a large boat would be difficult.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - Pier fishing has been very slow, but a few whitefish were caught.
St. Joseph River - Boat anglers continue to catch steelhead and walleye in the upper river near the Berrien Springs Dam. Walleye are hitting on jigs with minnows, twister tails and small spoons. Chartreuse and white jigs have worked best. For steelhead, try flatfish or Hot-n-Tots, with gold being the hot color. Most fish have been caught in the deeper holes.
Magician Lake - In Cass County, has good bass fishing in 20 to 30 feet of water. Try plastic worms or deep diving crankbaits just off the bottom. Bass season closes on December 31st.
Paw Paw River - Steelhead can still be found below the first dam.
Paw Paw Lake - Has open water fishing for bluegills and crappie. Try 8 to 12 feet of water. Bass fishing has also been good, but the season will close on December 31st.
Kalamazoo River - Check out the waters below the Allegan Dam for steelhead.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Water levels are not only coming down but also clearing up. Steelhead and walleye action has been very good with limit catches reported. Up near the Sixth Street Dam, anglers are using jigs with minnows and spawn. Action has picked back up for those fishing off the bridges. Try Hot-n-Tots, thundersticks, rapalas, or minnows.
Rogue River - Good steelhead action was reported in the lower sections of the river.
Reeds Lake - Crappie can be found in 25 to 30 feet of water. Bluegills are hitting on leaf worms and wax worms.
Grand River at Lansing - Word has it light numbers of steelhead have been caught up near the North Lansing Dam even though the river is a little harder to fish right now. Try the slower back waters for bluegill, crappie and pike.
Muskegon - Those trolling, surfcasting, and pier fishing have caught steelhead.
Muskegon Lake - Perch have been caught in the channel on the west end of the lake. Anglers will need to do lots of sorting as the fish are running small. Walleye have been caught on husky jerks after dark.
Muskegon River - The better steelhead fishing continues in the upper section of the river between Bridgeton and Newaygo. Spawn and crankbaits are still catching fish. Northern pike are still hitting on sucker minnows at the Reedsburg Dam.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Alpena - Most of the launch ramps are clear but the docks have been pulled. Those willing to brave the chill are still catching steelhead and whitefish.
Oscoda - Spawn bags and wax worms are still catching steelhead off the piers. Whitefish action was slow, but some fish are still being caught. The launch ramps are pretty much clear but the docks have been pulled. Watch for ice patches especially in the early morning or late evening.
Au Sable River - Steelhead fishing has picked up. Fish are scattered throughout the river system, but the better fishing continues to be in the lower section. Spawn has worked best.
Higgins Lake - Still has open water as of this report. The only fishing action to report is a few boats out trolling for trout. Most are using minnows or spawn.
Houghton Lake - Still had open water as of this report and no one out fishing. Most are waiting to see if January will bring ice.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Traverse City - Though not many boats have been out, some nice yellow perch have been caught in the West Bay.
Boardman River - Continues to provide good steelhead fishing.
Platte River - Has good numbers of steelhead in it.
Frankfort - Both pier anglers and those surfcasting are catching steelhead.
Betsie River - Also has good numbers of steelhead in it.
Manistee - Pier and shore anglers have caught some steelhead. Those fishing for menominee were not having much luck.
Big Manistee River - Steelhead and brown trout have been caught up near Tippy Dam and above the coffer dam. Try spawn, white jigs tipped with minnows, rapalas or small spoons.
Upper Peninsula
The shallow lakes with no current did have a little ice on them and a few anglers fishing close to shore. Extreme caution should be used especially on first ice. The deeper lakes had soft spots and open water and would not be safe for fishing. [/b][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, December 21, 2006 [/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]
Special Note: The report will not be updated for the next two weeks due to the holidays. The next update will come on January 11, 2007. Happy Holidays![/b]
As of this report, the only fishing in Michigan is open water fishing. Maybe January will bring some ice. Anglers are reminded that large and smallmouth bass season on both the Great Lakes and inland waters will close on December 31, 2006. [/b]
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Shore anglers continue to fish for walleye near Bolles Harbor and between Stony Point and Sterling State Park. Try using a variety of lures including floating rapalas and bombers.
Detroit River - Walleye have been caught between the Detroit Edison Stacks and Gibraltar. Boat anglers are jigging or handlining with crankbaits.
Lake St. Clair - Try fishing the cuts and canals for bluegill, crappie and perch.
St. Clair River - The walleye are still feeding on baitfish in the river. At Port Huron, shore anglers are catching fish at Pinegrove Park. Boat anglers fishing near the mouth of the Black River and south are vertical jigging for walleye.
Black River - Those launching boats to go out and fish on the St. Clair River should be aware that the city has pulled the docks. Launching a large boat would be difficult.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - Pier fishing has been very slow, but a few whitefish were caught.
St. Joseph River - Boat anglers continue to catch steelhead and walleye in the upper river near the Berrien Springs Dam. Walleye are hitting on jigs with minnows, twister tails and small spoons. Chartreuse and white jigs have worked best. For steelhead, try flatfish or Hot-n-Tots, with gold being the hot color. Most fish have been caught in the deeper holes.
Magician Lake - In Cass County, has good bass fishing in 20 to 30 feet of water. Try plastic worms or deep diving crankbaits just off the bottom. Bass season closes on December 31st.
Paw Paw River - Steelhead can still be found below the first dam.
Paw Paw Lake - Has open water fishing for bluegills and crappie. Try 8 to 12 feet of water. Bass fishing has also been good, but the season will close on December 31st.
Kalamazoo River - Check out the waters below the Allegan Dam for steelhead.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Water levels are not only coming down but also clearing up. Steelhead and walleye action has been very good with limit catches reported. Up near the Sixth Street Dam, anglers are using jigs with minnows and spawn. Action has picked back up for those fishing off the bridges. Try Hot-n-Tots, thundersticks, rapalas, or minnows.
Rogue River - Good steelhead action was reported in the lower sections of the river.
Reeds Lake - Crappie can be found in 25 to 30 feet of water. Bluegills are hitting on leaf worms and wax worms.
Grand River at Lansing - Word has it light numbers of steelhead have been caught up near the North Lansing Dam even though the river is a little harder to fish right now. Try the slower back waters for bluegill, crappie and pike.
Muskegon - Those trolling, surfcasting, and pier fishing have caught steelhead.
Muskegon Lake - Perch have been caught in the channel on the west end of the lake. Anglers will need to do lots of sorting as the fish are running small. Walleye have been caught on husky jerks after dark.
Muskegon River - The better steelhead fishing continues in the upper section of the river between Bridgeton and Newaygo. Spawn and crankbaits are still catching fish. Northern pike are still hitting on sucker minnows at the Reedsburg Dam.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Alpena - Most of the launch ramps are clear but the docks have been pulled. Those willing to brave the chill are still catching steelhead and whitefish.
Oscoda - Spawn bags and wax worms are still catching steelhead off the piers. Whitefish action was slow, but some fish are still being caught. The launch ramps are pretty much clear but the docks have been pulled. Watch for ice patches especially in the early morning or late evening.
Au Sable River - Steelhead fishing has picked up. Fish are scattered throughout the river system, but the better fishing continues to be in the lower section. Spawn has worked best.
Higgins Lake - Still has open water as of this report. The only fishing action to report is a few boats out trolling for trout. Most are using minnows or spawn.
Houghton Lake - Still had open water as of this report and no one out fishing. Most are waiting to see if January will bring ice.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Traverse City - Though not many boats have been out, some nice yellow perch have been caught in the West Bay.
Boardman River - Continues to provide good steelhead fishing.
Platte River - Has good numbers of steelhead in it.
Frankfort - Both pier anglers and those surfcasting are catching steelhead.
Betsie River - Also has good numbers of steelhead in it.
Manistee - Pier and shore anglers have caught some steelhead. Those fishing for menominee were not having much luck.
Big Manistee River - Steelhead and brown trout have been caught up near Tippy Dam and above the coffer dam. Try spawn, white jigs tipped with minnows, rapalas or small spoons.
Upper Peninsula
The shallow lakes with no current did have a little ice on them and a few anglers fishing close to shore. Extreme caution should be used especially on first ice. The deeper lakes had soft spots and open water and would not be safe for fishing. [/b][/font]