Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Michigan Fishing Reports
#1
[font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, September 13, 2007 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font]
[font "Arial, Helvetica"][Image: fish_reportmap2_23340_7.gif][/font]
[url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url]

Gale force winds and small craft advisories have kept boat anglers off the Great Lakes. Those able to get out were still taking fish out deep but that could change any day now. There should be a major push of fish if the lakes roll over and cold water enters the harbors.

Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Though strong winds have scattered the fish, those perch fishing have taken some limit catches when fishing in Ohio waters. Anglers are fishing the deeper waters out near the Toledo Light and straight out from the mouth of the River Raisin. Those fishing right off the bottom have caught more fish.
Huron River - A couple steelhead were taken on spawn or small Cleo's. Walleye along with some nice catfish have been caught in the evening. Those fishing the backwaters at Huroc Park have caught some nice bluegills when using wax worms.
Detroit River - Fair to good walleye and perch fishing in the lower river. Those fishing the Trenton Channel have caught perch on minnows and walleye when using crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers or a jig and wax worm.
Lake St. Clair - Those fishing near the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club have caught some perch and smallmouth bass however the perch were running small. Boat anglers fishing near the mouth of the North Channel caught musky and smallmouth bass around Grass Island. Target the deep waters along the edge of the weedbeds.
Port Sanilac - Perch fishing has been slow.
Harbor Beach - Waters have been to rough for most boats. Pier anglers have caught pike, walleye and smallmouth bass when fishing in the early morning.
Saginaw Bay - Walleye fishing is about done for the summer but perch fishing is picking up with fish caught in 25 feet of water off Linwood. Fair catches are coming from the Spark Plug near Buoys 7,9,11 and 12. Some nice perch were taken about five miles north of Quanicassee. Off Caseville, perch were caught north of the breakwall in 25 feet of water. Channel cats were caught in the Hot Ponds.
Saginaw River - Channel cats and bass have been caught in the lower river.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph - Strong wind and wave action has kept most boats off the big lake and fishing in the channel or just in front of the pierheads.
St. Joseph River - Again, recent rains pushed the water levels back up. Fish are still passing through the ladders at Berrien Springs and Niles. Boat anglers are fishing below the dam at Berrien Springs.
Grand Haven - Cooler weather has the boats fishing in front of the harbor. Most are using plugs, spoons, and big flashers with flies in white, silver, and light blue. Pier anglers should be able to start catching fish. Jackson Street which is used to get to the Harbor Island launch is under construction so anglers will need to use the US-31 exits. Both the north and south exits are open.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Cooler weather and rain should push some fresh fish up into the river. Those fishing up near the dam have caught a few fish. Down river, anglers are taking fish when using plugs in the deeper holes. Gold and orange or chrome and blue have been good colors. Walleye were caught on a planer board and crawler harness between Wealthy Street and Johnson Park. Lots of catfish are being caught throughout the river. Large sucker minnows were the key.
Thornapple River - Good numbers of catfish have been caught.
Rogue River - Anglers are starting to catch salmon.
Reeds Lake - Anglers are catching bluegills and crappie.
Grand River at Lansing - Water levels between Moore's Park and the North Lansing Dam should be back to normal by the end of the week. Walleye were caught over at Moore's Park when fishing crawlers on the bottom. A few smallmouth bass were taken over near Grand Ledge.
Hawk Island Park - A few channel cats were taken on dough baits.
Morrison Lake - Crappie were hitting on minnows.
Muskegon - Fish can be found both out in deeper waters and right in front of the pierheads. Boats are trolling with plugs, flashers and flies. Look for fish moving up into the river system.
Muskegon Lake - A few salmon were caught around the Sand Docks.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Rogers City - The adult salmon are staging off Swan Bay. Heavy rain will draw even more fish into the Bay, but if you want the silver fish, head northwest up to Forty Mile Point. Some of the better fishing has been in 30 to 60 feet of water from Calcite Harbor to Adams Point. Most are using downriggers, dipseys, high lines and planer boards to fish the multiple depths in the water column. J-plugs and spoons in green, blue, pearl, black and white or green and silver are being used.
Presque Isle - Cold water produces some good fishing. It is best to fish shallow waters 30 to 60 feet deep between the two lights, off North Bay, North Point and south towards Black Point. Boats are trolling spoons and J-plugs 20 to 35 feet down in the deeper waters and the top 15 feet in shallow waters.
Rockport - Anglers have caught some chinook, steelhead and walleye out by the Middle Island in 70 feet of water. Golden dipsey divers and yellow tails were taking trout and salmon while the walleye were hitting on green lures.
Alpena - There has been no angler pressure on the big lake.
Thunder Bay River - Some nice chinook salmon have been caught at the Ninth Street Dam. Healthy 10 to 12 pound fish were caught on yellow and orange bodybaits or anything silver.
Harrisville - A few boats did manage to catch a couple chinook when trolling spoons in 40 to 60 feet of water.
Oscoda - Fishing has been slow as storms and high winds have kept many on shore. Those able to get out only caught a couple salmon and lake trout.
Tawas - Rumor has it some walleye were taken out deep. Pier fishing was slow however emerald shiners are staging around the piers and this should eventually bring the perch in.
Au Gres - A few walleye are still being caught but most anglers have switched to perch fishing. Catch rates are fair but some nice perch have been caught out near the shipping channel. Boat anglers are fishing in 25 to 40 feet of water straight out from the mouth of the Au Gres River. The perch are ranging 7 to 11 inches.
Au Gres River - No reports of any activity at the Singing Bridge.
Higgins Lake - Lake trout are still hitting on cowbells in 80 to 100 feet of water. A few perch were caught using minnows and wigglers in waters 35 to 40 feet deep. Smallmouth bass fishing has started to pick back up northwest of Treasure Island.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Walloon Lake - Those fishing for walleye in the evening are trolling with crawler harnesses and body baits in 15 to 30 feet of water. Perch anglers have caught walleye, but the fish are running small. Jigging with minnows or worms in 20 to 40 feet of water is the best method. A few bass were caught when drifting or casting along the weedbeds in 10 to 20 feet of water.
Charlevoix - South Point continues to be one of the hot spots for salmon. Pier anglers are catching fish. Salmon action is picking up near Medusa Creek.
Thumb Lake (Lake Louise) - Bluegills and rock bass were caught by those targeting perch near the public access site, but the fish are small. Perch were caught on crawlers in 5 to 10 feet of water.
Traverse City - Boat anglers in the East Bay were catching more salmon when targeting waters in the southern half of the bay. Those fishing the West Bay are concentrating around the deep hole off the mouth of the Boardman River. Most are trolling spoons or plugs.
Boardman River - The weir is in but water levels are low. Fish can be found in the lower river.
Long Lake - In Grand Traverse County, has improved perch fishing in 25 to 45 feet of water east of Long Island. Minnows are working well but wigglers are better. Walleye were caught when still-fishing in 20 to 30 feet of water east and west of South Island. Try a leech and slip bobber about 10 feet off the bottom. Lots of bluegills were caught in the weedbeds when fishing off the points. Use a wax worm or piece of crawler.
Frankfort - Anglers trolling found the better fishing in 70 to 180 feet of water off the Bank, Point Betsie and up near West Platte Bay. The temperature break has been about 60 to 80 feet down. Chinook, coho, steelhead and brown trout have been caught on spoons, plugs and meat rigs. Those fishing in Betsie Bay caught fish along the south shore when anchoring in front of the marina and casting around the docks. Pier anglers took a couple chinook when using glow spoons in the early morning or late evening.
Betsie River - Anglers are catching fish in the lower stretch from the Homestead Dam all the way down to the M-22 Bridge. Try yarn, flies, squid or spinners.
Onekama - Anglers are catching fish 60 to 90 feet down in 80 to 120 feet of water as some of the fish are still out in deeper waters. Good numbers of chinook, coho, and steelhead are being caught around the Barrel and straight out from the piers. Plugs and meat rigs seem to be catching the most fish. Good colors have been orange, green and blue.
Portage Lake - Panfish have been caught from the Green Can to the pier. Bluegills, rock bass and sunfish have been caught on a jig tipped with a crawler in 35 feet of water. A few salmon have also been caught near the hole in front of the Inn.
Manistee - Boat anglers trolling J-plugs and flies in the harbor and out on the Shelf are catching chinook and coho. Pier anglers using glow spoons at first and last light have caught fish.
Manistee River - Salmon have been caught on spawn in the lower river.
Big Sable River - Some fish are moving into the river system. Anglers floating spawn have been able to catch a few.
Ludington - Those trolling are catching fish in the harbor first thing in the morning and moving out to deeper waters 60 to 120 feet deep. They are trolling with J-plugs and flies. Pier anglers caught chinook salmon when casting spoons off the North Pier. Those surfcasting up near the State Park have also caught a few fish.
Pere Marquette River - Anglers fishing the lower stretch of the river are catching fair to good numbers of chinook salmon. The run should continue to build this week especially if the lake turns over.
Upper Peninsula
Portage Lake - A couple walleye and smallmouth bass were caught in the Humps between the Sturgeon River and Chassell. A walleye was caught in Pike Bay.
Torch Lake - Boats are coming out as summer winds down. When fishing during the midday, target waters 20 to 25 feet deep with structure. For the early morning or late evening, try trolling or jigging minnows and crawlers in waters 6 to 14 feet deep.
Michigamme Reservoir - Walleye and pike anglers are catching fish however anglers need to use extreme caution when motoring about. The reservoir has been drawn down about 6 feet which is about a foot more than usual due to the drought. More stumps and obstructions are either showing or are just below the surface in areas that have been passable during previous summers. Some boats have hit these obstructions at running speeds.
Little Bay De Noc - Walleye anglers marked good numbers of fish down by the Fingers in 14 to 20 feet of water, but catch rates were slow. The hot spot was still the Black Bottom when trolling or jigging crawlers in 12 to 20 feet of water. Fair to good action was reported off Gladstone when trolling crawlers 15 feet down in waters 30 to 40 feet deep. Early morning was best. Smallmouth bass are hitting just south of the Day's River. Try casting spinners or tube baits in 10 to 14 feet of water. Good perch fishing in the deeper waters out past Butler Island when jigging crawlers.
Big Bay de Noc - No word on walleye this week. Bass anglers reported fair catches of smallmouth along the reefs near Ogontz when casting tube baits in 8 to 10 feet of water. Northern pike were caught when trolling crankbaits in 10 to 14 feet of water. Perch anglers have caught fish in Garden Bay. Though catches were few, the quality was good with some 13 and 14 inch fish caught. Those targeting salmon were trolling spoons 35 to 60 feet down in waters 80 to 150 feet deep.
Marquette - Salmon have been caught in 20 to 40 feet of water near the mouth of the Chocolay River and the Carp River. Those trolling the shallows were surprised when they caught some lake trout. Try fishing off the Lower Harbor breakwall, north of the white rocks, or in the Sand Hole. Salmon are moving into the Dead, Carp and Chocolay Rivers.
Munising - Those willing to travel to Wood Island have caught lake trout when trolling in 90 to 180 feet of water. Some are jigging and catching fish. A few splake were caught off the mouth of the Anna River when using spoons or spawn.
Grand Marais - No boats have gone out for lake trout in the last week. Most are waiting for the coho to come in.
De Tour - Only a few boats have gone out, bringing in a limited number of chinook salmon. Anglers are trolling the shipping channel; out to the #3 Green Can, around the lighthouse and over the reef. Try chrome J-plugs or white spoons with bright orange stripes. A few anglers were successfully targeting walleye and northern pike when fishing around Sweets Island and Watson Reef.
Drummond Island - Good catches of yellow perch are being taken around Grape Island which is located in Scott Bay. Most are using minnows in 9 feet of water. Perch fishing should only get better as we move through the month of September. Pike fishing was good during the evening hours when trolling chrome lures with a red eye along the weedbeds.
Cedarville and Hessel - Northern pike fishing has been consistent throughout the islands. Depths and lures vary however spoons with red or spinner baits were producing some good catches. Sunfish, smallmouth bass and yellow perch are being caught in Government Bay, Musky Bay, Hessel Bay and the cuts going into Snows Channel. Anglers are using spinner baits, worms or small minnows. Only a few boats have been out targeting salmon in 30 to 40 feet of water between Strongs Island and Boot Island.
Reply


Messages In This Thread
Michigan Fishing Reports - by lonehunter - 09-16-2007, 12:56 PM

Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)