08-31-2007, 09:52 AM
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, August 30, 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)
[/font]
[url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
Looks like we're moving into the typical late-August weather pattern where conditions change daily and one cold front after another shuts fishing down. Walleye fishing is winding down and perch fishing is just getting started. Salmon in the Great Lakes seem to be a bit scattered as the storms last week rolled the lake over once again pushing warm water up into the harbors.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Is very muddy from all the recent rain. There have been reports of some large debris floating in the lake as well, so boat anglers will want to use caution while navigating. Perch fishing has picked up the past few days. Those fishing out near the E Buoy were bringing in 20 to 40 fish from waters 20 to 22 feet deep. Almost all the fish were caught on minnows. Walleye fishing was still slow but a few fish were caught when drifting crawler harnesses. Bass fishing was spotty.
Huron River - A light number of steelhead have been caught off the Ford Street Bridge. Anglers are using spawn near the cold water discharge. A few walleye were caught in the evening.
Detroit River - Some walleye were taken in the lower river. Boats are fishing in 10 to 15 feet of water between the Michigan waters of Gibraltar and the Canadian waters of Amherstburg. Fishing will improve as the waters clear up.
Lake St. Clair - Bass fishing remains very good, with lots of fish being caught. Muskie fishing continues to be good. Try the shipping channel or the weedbeds along the channels. Walleye fishing has been tough but a few fish were caught. Try the shipping channel or the Dumping Grounds. A few perch were taken in the area of the shipping channel.
St. Clair River - Walleye fishing has been slow however the bass fishing has been very good up in the channels and all the way up to St. Clair. Yellow perch fishing was spotty but anglers willing to do some exploring should check out the weedbeds along the North Channel and the Middle Channel.
Port Sanilac - Some 7 to 12 inch perch were taken in 15 to 30 feet of water.
Saginaw Bay - Fishing has been slow from all ports. A few walleye were taken west of the Spark Plug near Buoys 11 & 12 and in 7 to 8 feet of water in the Slot off the islands. Some nice perch were taken near the Spark Plug and around Buoy 15. The Hot Pond is still producing some channel cats.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - There were a few fish taken close to shore. When boats can get out, they are trolling just outside the pierheads in the early morning and evening, but moving out to deeper waters during the day. Try spoons, meat rigs, J-plugs, flashers and flies. Jumbo perch have been caught in 20 to 35 feet of water.
St. Joseph River - Is still running high. This is prompting the movement of steelhead which are going through the ladder at Berrien Springs.
Grand Haven - Pier fishing slowed as very few alewife and shad could be found close to shore. Salmon were in 100 to 150 feet of water, but the action has not been fast and furious. Plugs and spinnies are working best.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Coho along with some large brown trout have been caught up near the Sixth Street Dam. Anglers are using spawn bags, yarn, crawlers or pink and chartreuse flies. A couple steelhead were taken on a jig with a wax worm under a bobber. A few salmon were taken in the lower river when drifting plugs through the deep holes. Walleye were caught when jigging the ledge or drifting crawler harnesses. Crappie were caught on minnows and catfish on crawlers.
Reeds Lake - Anglers have caught some big bluegills.
Grand River at Lansing - Rain bought the lower river up, but the waters are still fishable. Pike fishing continues to be good. Some nice fish have been caught at the point where the Grand River and the Red Cedar River come together. Catfish have been caught up and down the river.
Muskegon - Salmon were being caught in 70 to 90 feet of water with plugs taking the most fish in the early morning. No perch reports.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Rogers City - Fish are scattered up and down the coast so anglers will want to concentrate on areas with structure and places like Swan Bay where the fish usually start staging before the spawning run. Boats are running 10 to 45 feet down in waters 30 to 70 feet deep with lead core and dipsey divers. Most are trolling J-plugs and spoons with flashers and flies or squid. Good colors have been white, green, blue, purple, silver, yellow or black and white.
Presque Isle - Fishing here picked up with a mix of chinook, lake trout and steelhead taken in waters 30 to 80 feet deep. Good places to fish have been straight out, north between the lighthouses and in North Bay.
Rockport - Anglers were catching salmon and steelhead when fishing 45 to 50 feet down in waters 50 to 100 feet deep. Most boats were heading to Middle Island and fishing right in front of the launch. Green and yellow were good colors.
Harrisville - Windy conditions have kept many off the lake. Those targeting trout and salmon caught one walleye when trolling about halfway down in waters 20 to 50 feet deep.
Van Ettan Lake - Perch fishing has been very good with some limit catches reported. Most of the fish are averaging 6 to 8 inches. Minnows, wax worms and red worms worked best.
Oscoda - A few kings have been caught off the pier where anglers reported seeing some alewife. Boats were picking up a few fish, but the action was slow. Most are waiting for a good west wind.
Au Sable River - Water temperatures are still to warm for the trout and salmon runs. Bluegill fishing was good in the Cooke Dam Pond.
Tawas - Walleye are still being caught south towards Alabaster in 30 to 50 feet of water. Both crawlers and crankbaits have caught fish.
Au Gres - Has slow walleye fishing. Some are running north towards Alabaster while others are heading out toward the Charity Islands. A few perch were caught in 30 feet of water off the hotel.
Higgins Lake - Fishing was slow but should pick up by the weekend. Lake trout are hitting on cowbells and bodybaits. Some nice perch ranging from 9 to 12 inches were taken on minnows and crawlers.
Houghton Lake - Fishing remains steady for a variety of fish. Avoid getting hung up on the weeds in 8 to 10 feet of water and fish will be caught.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Petoskey - High winds caused lake temperatures to vary and as a result the salmon can be found in shallow waters. Boat anglers are using a wire dipsey, glow spoons, J-plugs and flies. Fish have been caught from 30 to 80 feet with more salmon up high and the lake trout at the temperature break.
Charlevoix - Pier anglers are starting to catch salmon as the fish are starting to stage near shore. Those fishing near the Cement Plant are starting to catch fish.
Lake Charlevoix - Smallmouth bass and perch are biting.
Thumb Lake (Lake Louise) - Few splake were caught over the last week. Boats continue to jig, troll or drift with minnows, crawlers or spawn, but catch rates were slow. Angling pressure for bass has been extremely heavy. Anglers are casting in 10 to 30 feet of water near structure with tubes, deep diving crankbaits and poppers. Some are targeting perch in the western basin. Keep moving to locate schools of fish in waters 5 to 10 feet deep. Panfish are hitting worms in 10 to 15 feet of water.
Platte River - The Lower Weir was put in place on August 15th and is currently being monitored. The Upper Platte Weir has been out since early July however the DNR is currently in the process of putting the boards back in. All the boards should be in place by the time this report comes out. No salmon were reported at the Upper Weir.
Frankfort - Good catches of chinook, coho and steelhead are coming from the Herring Hole all the way up into West Platte Bay. Fish are being caught in 50 to 120 feet of water in front of the piers and in the top 50 feet of waters 220 to 300 feet deep in front of Point Betsie. Anglers are using a variety of spoons and plugs along with white and blue or white and green flasher and fly combos. Pier anglers fishing with alewife caught a few salmon in the early morning and evening.
Betsie River - Anglers are reportedly catching salmon as far up as Homestead Dam.
Onekama - Boat anglers trolling straight out from the piers and up in the Barrel have caught a good mix of chinook and coho. The bite in the early morning and evening was best however fish have been caught in deeper waters during the day. Pier anglers caught a few fish when casting Cleo's.
Portage Lake - Those trolling or drifting in 35 to 40 feet of water are picking up good numbers of northern pike and a few small walleye. Some nice perch were caught near the mouth of the channel. Those casting off the piers and along the south shore have taken some nice catches of largemouth, smallmouth and rock bass.
Manistee - Pier anglers reported slow action due to warm waters. Only a couple chinook were caught were when using alewife for bait. The boats had to fish way out deep, but when they did they caught lots of chinook when trolling spoons, meat rigs, flies and J-plugs. Glows work early and late and green ladder backs during the day.
Manistee River - Rain and cooler temperatures have pushed the first wave of fish into the lower river.
Ludington - Pier anglers have caught some chinook in the early morning when using alewife for bait. The fish moved back out to deeper waters, so boat anglers moved back out to waters 80 to 120 feet deep. Chinook, coho and steelhead were caught when trolling flies and J-plugs.
Pere Marquette River - A few more fish have moved into the river system where those fishing are using spawn.
Upper Peninsula
West Portage Lake - Walleye fishing has been fair to good on the Humps. They are using a variety of methods including trolling with shad raps, reef runners, rapalas or a crawler harness off a board, or jigging with lead head jigs and half a crawler.
Torch Lake - Reported slow fishing. Smallmouth bass have been active in waters 15 to 20 feet deep. A couple nice pike were also caught in waters up to 20 feet deep.
Little Bay de Noc - The better walleye fishing was off Gladstone when jigging or drifting in 10 to 25 feet of water and between the Second and Third Reefs off Kipling when trolling or drifting crawlers in the evening. Good smallmouth action when casting or jigging crankbaits and tube baits in 10 to 18 feet of water at Hunters Point and just south of the Day's River. Perch anglers have been few but several nice fish were harvested in the Kipling area when jigging worms out past the island in 23 feet of water. A few salmon were caught when trolling spoons 40 to 50 feet down in waters 80 to 120 feet deep.
Big Bay de Noc - The better fishing here has been for smallmouth bass. Most are working the weedlines in 10 to 25 feet of water when casting crankbaits or jigging plastics. Ogontz and Garden Bay have been hot. Several nice perch were caught in Fayette Harbor when jigging worms in 14 to 25 feet of water. Fairport is still reporting good catches when trolling spoons and flies 35 to 50 feet down in waters 80 to 130 feet deep.
Marquette - Fishing has picked up as many anglers were getting their limits. The salmon are finally here. Chinook, coho and lake trout mixed in the occasional brown trout and northern pike were caught. Schools of fish have been marked in 40 to 50 feet of water in front of the dome. Some nice fish were caught near the mouth of the Carp River. Those fishing north of the white rocks have caught fish in waters 150 to 200 feet deep. Lake trout were found in 40 to 80 feet of water.
Munising - A few catches were reported in Trout Bay. No reports from the mouth of the Anna River.
Grand Marais - Limits of lake trout are still being taken 3 to 5 miles off shore. The average size of the lake trout has gone up with many in the 5 to 8 pound range. No reports of coho and steelhead but anglers are starting to look for them.
De Tour - Bigger salmon are coming in with the average size ranging from 10 to 17 pounds. Anglers are fishing 40 to 80 feet down with a multi blue fly with a green or silver flasher, a hammered blue and green spoon or silver J-plug. Fish both sides of the shipping channel, south of the city launch, out to the #3 Green Can, and around the lighthouse.
Drummond Island - A few perch have been caught off the Yacht Haven dock. Set minnows about a foot off the bottom in 8 feet of water. Northern pike have been caught on silver spoons in the early morning and evening when targeting the edge of the weedbeds around Grape Island.
Cedarville and Hessel - Salmon anglers are targeting the west side of Goose Island, the south end of Boot Island and southwest of Brule Point. Perch anglers are fishing Moscoe Channel, Musky Bay, Middle Entrance, Connors Point, the east end of Hessel Bay and off the pier at Hessel. The large fish were caught near and after dark when using worms. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and sunfish were also caught. Good northern pike fishing in the Moscoe Channel, Cedarville Bay and the south end of Hessel Bay.
St. Ignace - Anglers continue to fish from the Mackinaw Bridge to the Coast Guard Station, behind Mackinaw Island and around Bois Blanc Island. A variety of lures, including green flies and flashers with seaweed or green squid or green and white glow spoons are bringing in chinook , lake trout, steelhead, and a few pink salmon. Some walleye and catfish have been caught near the mouth of the Pine River.
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]
[/font] [url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]
Looks like we're moving into the typical late-August weather pattern where conditions change daily and one cold front after another shuts fishing down. Walleye fishing is winding down and perch fishing is just getting started. Salmon in the Great Lakes seem to be a bit scattered as the storms last week rolled the lake over once again pushing warm water up into the harbors.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Is very muddy from all the recent rain. There have been reports of some large debris floating in the lake as well, so boat anglers will want to use caution while navigating. Perch fishing has picked up the past few days. Those fishing out near the E Buoy were bringing in 20 to 40 fish from waters 20 to 22 feet deep. Almost all the fish were caught on minnows. Walleye fishing was still slow but a few fish were caught when drifting crawler harnesses. Bass fishing was spotty.
Huron River - A light number of steelhead have been caught off the Ford Street Bridge. Anglers are using spawn near the cold water discharge. A few walleye were caught in the evening.
Detroit River - Some walleye were taken in the lower river. Boats are fishing in 10 to 15 feet of water between the Michigan waters of Gibraltar and the Canadian waters of Amherstburg. Fishing will improve as the waters clear up.
Lake St. Clair - Bass fishing remains very good, with lots of fish being caught. Muskie fishing continues to be good. Try the shipping channel or the weedbeds along the channels. Walleye fishing has been tough but a few fish were caught. Try the shipping channel or the Dumping Grounds. A few perch were taken in the area of the shipping channel.
St. Clair River - Walleye fishing has been slow however the bass fishing has been very good up in the channels and all the way up to St. Clair. Yellow perch fishing was spotty but anglers willing to do some exploring should check out the weedbeds along the North Channel and the Middle Channel.
Port Sanilac - Some 7 to 12 inch perch were taken in 15 to 30 feet of water.
Saginaw Bay - Fishing has been slow from all ports. A few walleye were taken west of the Spark Plug near Buoys 11 & 12 and in 7 to 8 feet of water in the Slot off the islands. Some nice perch were taken near the Spark Plug and around Buoy 15. The Hot Pond is still producing some channel cats.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - There were a few fish taken close to shore. When boats can get out, they are trolling just outside the pierheads in the early morning and evening, but moving out to deeper waters during the day. Try spoons, meat rigs, J-plugs, flashers and flies. Jumbo perch have been caught in 20 to 35 feet of water.
St. Joseph River - Is still running high. This is prompting the movement of steelhead which are going through the ladder at Berrien Springs.
Grand Haven - Pier fishing slowed as very few alewife and shad could be found close to shore. Salmon were in 100 to 150 feet of water, but the action has not been fast and furious. Plugs and spinnies are working best.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Coho along with some large brown trout have been caught up near the Sixth Street Dam. Anglers are using spawn bags, yarn, crawlers or pink and chartreuse flies. A couple steelhead were taken on a jig with a wax worm under a bobber. A few salmon were taken in the lower river when drifting plugs through the deep holes. Walleye were caught when jigging the ledge or drifting crawler harnesses. Crappie were caught on minnows and catfish on crawlers.
Reeds Lake - Anglers have caught some big bluegills.
Grand River at Lansing - Rain bought the lower river up, but the waters are still fishable. Pike fishing continues to be good. Some nice fish have been caught at the point where the Grand River and the Red Cedar River come together. Catfish have been caught up and down the river.
Muskegon - Salmon were being caught in 70 to 90 feet of water with plugs taking the most fish in the early morning. No perch reports.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Rogers City - Fish are scattered up and down the coast so anglers will want to concentrate on areas with structure and places like Swan Bay where the fish usually start staging before the spawning run. Boats are running 10 to 45 feet down in waters 30 to 70 feet deep with lead core and dipsey divers. Most are trolling J-plugs and spoons with flashers and flies or squid. Good colors have been white, green, blue, purple, silver, yellow or black and white.
Presque Isle - Fishing here picked up with a mix of chinook, lake trout and steelhead taken in waters 30 to 80 feet deep. Good places to fish have been straight out, north between the lighthouses and in North Bay.
Rockport - Anglers were catching salmon and steelhead when fishing 45 to 50 feet down in waters 50 to 100 feet deep. Most boats were heading to Middle Island and fishing right in front of the launch. Green and yellow were good colors.
Harrisville - Windy conditions have kept many off the lake. Those targeting trout and salmon caught one walleye when trolling about halfway down in waters 20 to 50 feet deep.
Van Ettan Lake - Perch fishing has been very good with some limit catches reported. Most of the fish are averaging 6 to 8 inches. Minnows, wax worms and red worms worked best.
Oscoda - A few kings have been caught off the pier where anglers reported seeing some alewife. Boats were picking up a few fish, but the action was slow. Most are waiting for a good west wind.
Au Sable River - Water temperatures are still to warm for the trout and salmon runs. Bluegill fishing was good in the Cooke Dam Pond.
Tawas - Walleye are still being caught south towards Alabaster in 30 to 50 feet of water. Both crawlers and crankbaits have caught fish.
Au Gres - Has slow walleye fishing. Some are running north towards Alabaster while others are heading out toward the Charity Islands. A few perch were caught in 30 feet of water off the hotel.
Higgins Lake - Fishing was slow but should pick up by the weekend. Lake trout are hitting on cowbells and bodybaits. Some nice perch ranging from 9 to 12 inches were taken on minnows and crawlers.
Houghton Lake - Fishing remains steady for a variety of fish. Avoid getting hung up on the weeds in 8 to 10 feet of water and fish will be caught.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Petoskey - High winds caused lake temperatures to vary and as a result the salmon can be found in shallow waters. Boat anglers are using a wire dipsey, glow spoons, J-plugs and flies. Fish have been caught from 30 to 80 feet with more salmon up high and the lake trout at the temperature break.
Charlevoix - Pier anglers are starting to catch salmon as the fish are starting to stage near shore. Those fishing near the Cement Plant are starting to catch fish.
Lake Charlevoix - Smallmouth bass and perch are biting.
Thumb Lake (Lake Louise) - Few splake were caught over the last week. Boats continue to jig, troll or drift with minnows, crawlers or spawn, but catch rates were slow. Angling pressure for bass has been extremely heavy. Anglers are casting in 10 to 30 feet of water near structure with tubes, deep diving crankbaits and poppers. Some are targeting perch in the western basin. Keep moving to locate schools of fish in waters 5 to 10 feet deep. Panfish are hitting worms in 10 to 15 feet of water.
Platte River - The Lower Weir was put in place on August 15th and is currently being monitored. The Upper Platte Weir has been out since early July however the DNR is currently in the process of putting the boards back in. All the boards should be in place by the time this report comes out. No salmon were reported at the Upper Weir.
Frankfort - Good catches of chinook, coho and steelhead are coming from the Herring Hole all the way up into West Platte Bay. Fish are being caught in 50 to 120 feet of water in front of the piers and in the top 50 feet of waters 220 to 300 feet deep in front of Point Betsie. Anglers are using a variety of spoons and plugs along with white and blue or white and green flasher and fly combos. Pier anglers fishing with alewife caught a few salmon in the early morning and evening.
Betsie River - Anglers are reportedly catching salmon as far up as Homestead Dam.
Onekama - Boat anglers trolling straight out from the piers and up in the Barrel have caught a good mix of chinook and coho. The bite in the early morning and evening was best however fish have been caught in deeper waters during the day. Pier anglers caught a few fish when casting Cleo's.
Portage Lake - Those trolling or drifting in 35 to 40 feet of water are picking up good numbers of northern pike and a few small walleye. Some nice perch were caught near the mouth of the channel. Those casting off the piers and along the south shore have taken some nice catches of largemouth, smallmouth and rock bass.
Manistee - Pier anglers reported slow action due to warm waters. Only a couple chinook were caught were when using alewife for bait. The boats had to fish way out deep, but when they did they caught lots of chinook when trolling spoons, meat rigs, flies and J-plugs. Glows work early and late and green ladder backs during the day.
Manistee River - Rain and cooler temperatures have pushed the first wave of fish into the lower river.
Ludington - Pier anglers have caught some chinook in the early morning when using alewife for bait. The fish moved back out to deeper waters, so boat anglers moved back out to waters 80 to 120 feet deep. Chinook, coho and steelhead were caught when trolling flies and J-plugs.
Pere Marquette River - A few more fish have moved into the river system where those fishing are using spawn.
Upper Peninsula
West Portage Lake - Walleye fishing has been fair to good on the Humps. They are using a variety of methods including trolling with shad raps, reef runners, rapalas or a crawler harness off a board, or jigging with lead head jigs and half a crawler.
Torch Lake - Reported slow fishing. Smallmouth bass have been active in waters 15 to 20 feet deep. A couple nice pike were also caught in waters up to 20 feet deep.
Little Bay de Noc - The better walleye fishing was off Gladstone when jigging or drifting in 10 to 25 feet of water and between the Second and Third Reefs off Kipling when trolling or drifting crawlers in the evening. Good smallmouth action when casting or jigging crankbaits and tube baits in 10 to 18 feet of water at Hunters Point and just south of the Day's River. Perch anglers have been few but several nice fish were harvested in the Kipling area when jigging worms out past the island in 23 feet of water. A few salmon were caught when trolling spoons 40 to 50 feet down in waters 80 to 120 feet deep.
Big Bay de Noc - The better fishing here has been for smallmouth bass. Most are working the weedlines in 10 to 25 feet of water when casting crankbaits or jigging plastics. Ogontz and Garden Bay have been hot. Several nice perch were caught in Fayette Harbor when jigging worms in 14 to 25 feet of water. Fairport is still reporting good catches when trolling spoons and flies 35 to 50 feet down in waters 80 to 130 feet deep.
Marquette - Fishing has picked up as many anglers were getting their limits. The salmon are finally here. Chinook, coho and lake trout mixed in the occasional brown trout and northern pike were caught. Schools of fish have been marked in 40 to 50 feet of water in front of the dome. Some nice fish were caught near the mouth of the Carp River. Those fishing north of the white rocks have caught fish in waters 150 to 200 feet deep. Lake trout were found in 40 to 80 feet of water.
Munising - A few catches were reported in Trout Bay. No reports from the mouth of the Anna River.
Grand Marais - Limits of lake trout are still being taken 3 to 5 miles off shore. The average size of the lake trout has gone up with many in the 5 to 8 pound range. No reports of coho and steelhead but anglers are starting to look for them.
De Tour - Bigger salmon are coming in with the average size ranging from 10 to 17 pounds. Anglers are fishing 40 to 80 feet down with a multi blue fly with a green or silver flasher, a hammered blue and green spoon or silver J-plug. Fish both sides of the shipping channel, south of the city launch, out to the #3 Green Can, and around the lighthouse.
Drummond Island - A few perch have been caught off the Yacht Haven dock. Set minnows about a foot off the bottom in 8 feet of water. Northern pike have been caught on silver spoons in the early morning and evening when targeting the edge of the weedbeds around Grape Island.
Cedarville and Hessel - Salmon anglers are targeting the west side of Goose Island, the south end of Boot Island and southwest of Brule Point. Perch anglers are fishing Moscoe Channel, Musky Bay, Middle Entrance, Connors Point, the east end of Hessel Bay and off the pier at Hessel. The large fish were caught near and after dark when using worms. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and sunfish were also caught. Good northern pike fishing in the Moscoe Channel, Cedarville Bay and the south end of Hessel Bay.
St. Ignace - Anglers continue to fish from the Mackinaw Bridge to the Coast Guard Station, behind Mackinaw Island and around Bois Blanc Island. A variety of lures, including green flies and flashers with seaweed or green squid or green and white glow spoons are bringing in chinook , lake trout, steelhead, and a few pink salmon. Some walleye and catfish have been caught near the mouth of the Pine River.