Upper Peninsula Fishing Report

Christopher_Richards

Upper Peninsula Fishing Report

Keweenaw Bay: Those trolling have done well for chinook, coho, lake trout and steelhead when trolling between Sand Point and the red rocks. They are using spoons in black, white, raspberry, chartreuse, gold, blue or anything that glows. Go 25 to 75 feet down in 30 to 80 feet. Near the South Portage Entry, a good number of lake trout, coho and steelhead were taken by those trolling near the lighthouse, Mud Banks, Farmers Reef, Newton’s Reef or Big Reef. Those jigging in Traverse Bay caught lake trout in 170 to 220 feet off Gay Point and Big Louie’s Point. Those trolling took lake trout between Gay Point, Big Louie’s Point and Hermits Cove. Go 60 to 145 feet down in 80 to 150 feet. Salmon were caught 25 to 50 feet down in 30 to 60 feet.

Marquette: Surface water temperatures were in the upper 50’s. Lake trout and coho were caught on high-lines in 200 to 230 feet north of the white rocks and north of Granite Island. Some came in with limit catches of lake trout. Those fishing near Shot Point caught fish in 120 to 180 feet when using spoons and assorted flies with cut bait. Some went out to Stannard Rock and caught fish. In general, the fish averaged 4 to 5 pounds however a few were 20 pounds. The coho were 2.5 pounds and 18 to 20 inches long.

Menominee: Those trolling for salmon north and south of Green Island were not having any luck. A few salmon were caught 60 to 80 feet down in 120 to 150 feet east of Sturgeon Bay. Anglers are picking up some salmon out near Washington Island and Rock Island. Try different colored spoons with flashers 50 to 60 feet down in 120 feet of water. A few boats launching from Stoney Point were fishing near Chambers Island but catch rates were very slow.

Menominee River: Was producing walleye, smallmouth bass and a good number of freshwater drum.

Cedar River: Is producing smallmouth bass, northern pike and freshwater drum. Anglers are drifting crawlers or casting crank baits.

Little Bay De Noc: Walleye fishing was still on the slow side. Those fishing the southern waters had fair catches when trolling crawler harnesses in 8 to 14 feet between Round Island and the “Fingers”. Perch fishing was fair to good near Kipling and Butler Island when still-fishing with crawlers in 6 to 23 feet. Smallmouth bass action was fair off the mouth of the Ford River in 6 to 14 feet. Try plastics, crank baits or spinners along the weeds. A few salmon were caught out by the Ford River Can when trolling spoons or cut bait 50 to 65 feet down in 135 feet.

Escanaba River: Walleye anglers trolling or drifting crawlers in 18 to 25 feet caught fish but many were sub-legal.

Big Bay De Noc: Had no walleye catches to report. Perch fishing was fair when using crawlers in 8 to 24 feet in Fayette Harbor. Smallmouth bass were caught in 8 to 14 feet off Ogontz and in Kate’s Bay when using crank baits or plastics. Salmon fishing off Fairport was fair. Some fished 40 to 60 feet down in 150 feet south of Poverty Island while others fished 50 to 60 feet down in 110 to 300 feet. They are using a variety spoons or cut bait.

Au Train: Surface water temperatures remain cool in the upper 50’s. Northwest winds have made fishing difficult and catch rates were slow. Those able to get out were lucky to get two to five lake trout in five hours of fishing. Try just off the bottom in 150 to 200 feet of water.

Munising: Lake trout were slow and the salmon action was fair to poor. Most are fishing Munising Bay, Trout Bay and Murray’s Bay in waters less than 100 feet deep. A couple coho were caught in Trout Bay. Pier anglers have taken some limit catches of splake when still-fishing with spawn.

Grand Marais: Pier anglers targeting whitefish are still-fishing with a single egg in the early morning. When boats can get out, lake trout were caught five to seven miles north along the shipping channel in 150 to 250 feet. The fish averaged 2 to 5 pounds.

St. Mary’s River: Walleye were caught in Raber Bay near Carlton Creek. Anglers are trolling crawler harnesses with blue blades. Those trolling in 28 to 30 feet along the shipping channel caught walleye when using bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses. Most of the fish were caught between Buoy 25 and the old bell buoy.

DeTour: Chinook, lake trout and steelhead were caught between Frying Pan Island, the #3 green can, the lighthouse and the #2 red can. Anglers are using silver and green flashers with small flies or spoons in black and chartreuse, purple and yellow, white with a red nose, or green with black dots.

Drummond Island: Had good catches of walleye and smallmouth bass in Scott Bay when fishing on the northwest side of Peck Island. A few walleye were caught around Bay Island in Maxton Bay when drifting or jigging crawler harnesses just off the weed beds in 8 to 12 feet. For pike, anglers are trolling or casting chrome spoons in the weed beds around Grape Island. Moving west of Maxton Bay to Sims Point, a few yellow perch were caught in 8 to 14 feet around Arrow Island.

Cedarville and Hessel: Anglers are targeting perch in 8 to 12 feet of water around Haven Island. Some nice catches were reported in front of the marina dock and from the east end of Hessel Bay. Fair catches were taken in Musky Bay, Middle Entrance and the Moscoe Channel. Pike fishing was very good in Hessel Bay, Snows Channel, the west end of Musky Bay, and Government Bay. Most are still-fishing chubs. Bass fishing is good all over. Salmon were fair in the Yacht Entrance in 40 to 70 feet.

St. Ignace: When they can get out, boat anglers are fishing from the old fuel tanks, the flats and the Coast Guard Station. Fish have been caught around the islands. Try green flashers with flies or spoons in purple and pink, white and gold, green, white, and yellow.