Buc’s Fishing Report — Friday, November 7, 2025Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.Halloween cold front follow-up / Deer Camp kick-off edition⸻BAIT MAN’S MORNING BRIEF.We have a big cold front rolling through for the weekend with a chance of snow and plenty of wind, so most folks will be in the woods instead of on the lakes. The next 10 days are all about getting ready for firearm season and deer camp — a great tradition in Northern Michigan and the U.P.The lakes will be quiet, but the rivers and piers should fish well as flows rise and water cools. This is the time of year when whitefish usually start showing up down at Whitehall, and steelhead push into the systems behind the last of the salmon. There’s still a good bluegill bite on Manistee Lake (Manistee), and anyone willing to bundle up and get out on the perch and walleye lakes can put together a nice mess of fish while everyone else is chasing venison.⸻INLAND WEATHER — NORTHERN MICHIGAN (TRAVERSE CITY AREA)TODAY (FRIDAY). Cold front in place with scattered rain and snow showers. High around 40–42°F. Northwest wind 15 to 25 mph with higher gusts. Wind-chill in the low 30s.SATURDAY. Mostly cloudy, cold, a few flurries possible. High near 36–38°F. Northwest wind 10 to 20 mph. Very chilly on the water.SUNDAY. Cold but calmer. More clouds than sun, high around 38–40°F with southwest wind 8 to 12 mph. Best day of the weekend if you’re sneaking out fishing.BAROMETER. Around 29.5 inHg and slowly rising behind the front.⸻MOON PHASE & BITE WINDOWS (EASTERN TIME)MOON. Waning gibbous, a little over half full.FRIDAY.Major Bite Window 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.Minor Bite Windows 6:00 to 7:00 AM and 5:30 to 6:30 PM.SATURDAY.Major Bite Window 12:10 to 2:10 PM.Minor Bite Windows 6:40 to 7:40 AM and 6:10 to 7:10 PM.SUNDAY.Major Bite Window 12:45 to 2:45 PM.Minor Bite Windows 7:20 to 8:20 AM and 6:50 to 7:50 PM.⸻RIVER FLOWS AND CONDITIONS(Flows are described generally since gauges jump around with each rain.)MANISTEE RIVER TIPPY DAM. Flow slightly above normal fall level with good stain; salmon mostly spawned out but steelhead present in runs and pockets on beads and spawn.PERE MARQUETTE RIVER BALDWIN TO SCOTTVILLE. River has good color with scattered leaves; kings mostly done on gravel but fresh steelhead and some late coho from Rainbow Rapids down to Scottville on beads, spawn sacks, and small plugs.BETSIE RIVER. Good flow with cold water; kings thinning but still some fish in the holes and a few steelhead moving through between Homestead and Benzonia.BOARDMAN RIVER. Pools below the dam fishing best; darker kings and browns with the first trickle of chrome steelhead on beads and spawn.WHITE RIVER HESPERIA. Salmon run winding down, but steelhead are starting to trickle in below the dam; fish beads, skein, and spawn under floats.ELK RIVER ELK RAPIDS. Fresh steelhead showing up below the dam; cast spawn sacks and beads in the holes and seams.PLATTE RIVER. Coho mostly done; a few fish hang in the lower river and some early steelhead show around the mouth and surf.MANISTIQUE RIVER. Good flow with late coho and early winter steelhead; fish deeper runs with spawn and bright beads.⸻PERCH REPORT — MINNOWS, WIGGLERS, SHRIMPBIG GLEN LAKE. Perch fair to good in 30–40 feet; lots of sorting, minnows and wigglers best.LITTLE GLEN LAKE. Perch biting but schools on the move; fish edges and deeper pockets as they slide off the flats.LAKE LEELANAU SOUTH END. Perch improving from the Cedar River mouth and along the Pines Campground sandbar; minnows on the weed edge.PORTAGE LAKE ONEKAMA. Fair perch bite with many small fish; persistent anglers finding better size in 18–25 feet.CRYSTAL LAKE. Perch better this week along south-end drops in 25–30 feet; use minnows on perch rigs.GREEN LAKE INTERLOCHEN. Perch on weed edges in 15–25 feet; minnows and wigglers on light rigs doing well.LONG LAKE INTERLOCHEN. Perch on edge of weeds, especially south end and points; minnows under slip floats.WHITE LAKE. Perch good along the west-side weedlines and near the channel; minnows are top bait.MUSKEGON LAKE. Strong perch bite in 35–50 feet; electronics help stay on roaming schools, minnows and wigglers.P.M. LAKE LUDINGTON. Perch picking up with fish on deeper breaks; evenings best with minnows.MANISTESE LAKE MANISTEE. Perch moving in now that salmon are thinning; fair bite on small minnows with an excellent bluegill bite on the weed edges.PENTWATER LAKE. Perch fair with lots of small fish; weed edges and deeper holes worth checking.TORCH LAKE. Perch steady with some nicer fish; work deeper structure with minnows, wigglers, and shrimp as backup.ELK LAKE. Perch near the Whitewater Township access and along breaks; minnows and wigglers.LAKE SKEGEMOG. Perch good off the Torch River drop and weed edges; minnows and wigglers producing.BURT LAKE. Perch decent on weed edges and humps, often mixed with walleye; minnows on perch rigs.MULLETT LAKE. Perch on breaks near Aloha and other points; minnows and wigglers.GRAND LAKE (ALPENA AREA). Perch on weed edges and points; minnows or small worms.HOUGHTON LAKE. Perch strong on the north end weedbed and canal mouths; minnows and small rigs near bottom.INDIAN LAKE MANISTIQUE. Excellent perch bite reported using wigglers and wax worms in 10–15 feet.DRUMMOND ISLAND BAYS. Perch and a few walleye in Scotts Bay and Potagannissing Bay; minnows, worms, and wigglers as the fall pattern winds down.PERCH NOTE. Minnows and wigglers are the staples — bring some raw shrimp as an extra option when the bite gets tough.⸻WALLEYE REPORTBURT LAKE. Walleye steady along breaks in 15–25 feet; jig and minnow or slow-trolled harnesses.MULLETT LAKE. Evening jig bite near Aloha and along main-lake points.OTSEGO LAKE. Perch and walleye both decent out from the state park; minnows on jig or slip-rigs.LAKE MARGRETHE. Walleye along breaks and points; slow live-bait presentations working best.MANISTEE LAKE KALKASKA. Walleye at dusk on jig and minnow in deeper holes.LAKE MITCHELL. Walleye and perch in evening on weed edges; jig and minnow.LAKE CADILLAC. Mixed panfish and an evening walleye bite on deeper breaks.HOUGHTON LAKE. Walleye scattered but biting along drop-offs at low light on cranks and jig-and-minnow.HAMLIN LAKE. Walleye on deeper breaks, vertical jigging with minnows.LOWER HERRING LAKE. Walleye showing on structure near the outlet; jig and minnow.INDIAN LAKE MANISTIQUE. Occasional walleye mixed with strong perch catches.DRUMMOND ISLAND. Walleye still active in deeper cuts and along breaks in Scotts Bay when wind allows.⸻SMALLMOUTH BASS REPORTTORCH LAKE. Smallmouth on deep breaks and rock edges; live suckers and minnows producing big fish.ELK LAKE. Smallmouth on steep structure and humps; jerkbaits and tubes.LAKE SKEGEMOG. Bass along edges where weeds meet sand; plastics and minnows.EAST GRAND TRAVERSE BAY. Smallmouth still biting on structure with tubes and dropshots, plus a few bonus cisco.WEST GRAND TRAVERSE BAY. Scattered smallmouth, mostly on deeper rock and breaks; jerkbaits and finesse plastics.WALLOON LAKE. Smallmouth on rocks and ledges; minnows and craw-style plastics.GREEN LAKE INTERLOCHEN. Smallmouth along deep weed edges; jerkbaits and swimbaits.DUCK LAKE INTERLOCHEN. Bass around points and breaks; jigs and live bait.⸻SAGINAW BAY TO ALPENA COASTAL REPORTSAGINAW RIVER. Walleye building around bridges and channel edges; vertical jigging with minnows working best.SAGINAW BAY. Perch fair from Linwood to Quanicassee in 15–18 feet on minnows; walleye scattered but taken on slow-trolled cranks and harnesses when wind allows.AU GRES. Perch and walleye mixed in 20–25 feet off Point Lookout; minnows and small spoons.TAWAS. Pier anglers picking up steelhead and the occasional walleye on spawn bags and glow spoons; perch fair outside the harbor.OSCODA. Steelhead starting to show off the Au Sable pier; walleye at night on jig-and-minnow; some perch near the river mouth.HARRISVILLE / HUBBARD LAKE. Harrisville wall giving up a few browns and steelhead on spawn. Hubbard Lake has perch and walleye along 20–30 foot drop-offs; drift minnows with light rigs.ALPENA / THUNDER BAY. Perch fair on weeds and points; walleye at dusk on jigs and trolling cranks along breaks.⸻UPPER PENINSULA RIVERS — TOP 10ST. MARYS RIVER. Coho, steelhead, and some walleye in current seams near the locks and channels.MANISTIQUE RIVER. Late coho with early winter steelhead in deeper runs.TWO-HEARTED RIVER. First chrome steelhead in classic pools and tailouts.TAHQUAMENON RIVER. Coho below the falls and some steelhead moving in.CARP RIVER (ST. IGNACE). Coho tapering, steelhead starting to show.CHOCOLAY RIVER. Coho and early steelhead near the mouth and lower river.ESCANABA RIVER. Coho and steelhead below the dam and in deeper runs.FORD RIVER. Mixed coho and some steelhead in pools and slots.AU TRAIN RIVER. Steelhead holding in deeper holes; spawn and beads.BLACK RIVER (GOGEBIC). First reports of chrome steelhead in fall holding water.⸻UPPER PENINSULA LAKESLITTLE BAY DE NOC. Walleye bite building on reefs at dusk.BIG BAY DE NOC. Smallmouth active, perch fair along edges.INDIAN LAKE (MANISTIQUE). Perch excellent with wigglers and wax worms.NORTH MANISTIQUE LAKE. Walleye and panfish mixed on deeper breaks.SOUTH MANISTIQUE LAKE. Perch along weed edges in 8–15 feet.AU TRAIN LAKE. Perch and walleye on drops with minnows.MILAKOKIA LAKE. Perch fair on minnows near weeds.MUSKALLONGE LAKE. Pike and perch active in cold water.DEER LAKE. Walleye decent on rock bars.BARAGA LAKE. Walleye solid on points and breaks.LAKE GOGEBIC. Perch on mud flats; walleye mixed in.PORTAGE LAKE (KEWEENAW). Trout and salmon trolling continues when weather allows.TEAL LAKE. Panfish fair on small jigs.MICHIGAMME RESERVOIR. Walleye on points and deep structure.PEAVY POND. Pike and walleye mixed along channels.BEWABIC LAKE. Panfish strong on small plastics.CAMP 7 LAKE. Clear-water panfish on light presentations.THUNDER LAKE. Pike and perch consistent around weedlines.DRUMMOND ISLAND BAYS. Walleye and perch steady on minnows, worms, and wigglers as fall winds down.⸻HARRISON • CLARE • GLADWIN • MIDLAND COUNTY LAKESBUD LAKE (HARRISON). Bluegill solid, bass slow but present on structure.ARNOLD LAKE. Crappie decent in deeper brush piles.CRANBERRY LAKE. Bluegill strong along shore weeds.SUTHERLAND LAKE. Pike and panfish active on live bait.LAKE THIRTEEN. Excellent bluegill bite on small jigs and worms.LANCER LAKE (GLADWIN). Crappie light, bluegill fair off deeper edges.SUGAR SPRINGS. Water low, but shore anglers catching bluegill and some perch.PRATT LAKE. Pike and bass along windy shorelines and weeds.ROSS LAKE. Walleye and crappie below the dam on jigs.SECORD LAKE. Bluegill good along remaining weeds, perch slow.PLEASANT LAKE (MIDLAND). Bluegill and perch fair on small rigs.BEAVERTON LAKE. Crappie steady around brush and docks.⸻GEAR SPOTLIGHT — NEW FOR 2025–26CLAM X-SERIES THERMAL SHELTERS.Clam’s newest X-Series thermal hubs are built for late-season and first-ice hunters. Full thermal fabric keeps heat in and frost off the walls, lighter poles cut weight, and improved hub systems make setup fast even in the wind. Pair one with a small heater and sled, and you’re ready for scouting perch and walleye as soon as safe ice forms.⸻LIVE BAIT PRO TIP — LATE FALL TACTICSAs water temps drop into the low 40s, think slow and subtle. Big perch and walleye want an easy meal. Use a lively minnow or wiggler on a light slip-bobber rig, set so the bait rides just off bottom. Let the wind or current barely move the float and resist the urge to over-jig. When the float tips or slowly slides under, give the fish a moment to turn the bait before setting the hook. In cold water, patience puts more fish in the bucket.⸻Fish smart, fish hard, and tight lines — Bait Man out.
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Bait Man here with your fall fishing update from across Northern Michigan. The perch bite is still going strong on Big Glen, both North and South Lake Leelanau, and over at Torch, Skegemog, and Elk Lakes. White Lake and Muskegon Lake are hot for perch right now, and Manistee Lake is producing good bluegill action too. Steelhead are showing up in the rivers, with a few fresh coho mixed in. Burt and Mullett Lakes are giving up both perch and walleye, and the Upper Peninsula is still solid for perch on Indian Lake near Manistique. Most folks are chasing deer and ducks, but for those still fishing, the action is steady.Fish smart, fish slow, and tight lines.Hashtags#bucsfishingreport #baitman #fishingmichigan #perchbite #steelheadrun #walleyefishing #northernmichiganoutdoors #torchlake #muskegonlake #ManisteeLake #bigglenlake #lakeleelanau #fallfishing #michiganfishing #tightlines #fishmichigan #midwestfishing
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🎣 Buc’s Fishing Report — Thursday, November 6, 2025Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.⸻🌅 BAIT MAN’S MORNING BRIEFBait Man here — there aren’t a lot of people out fishing right now, but the fish are biting.A beautiful sunrise on Lake Skegemog this morning as I sat there and witnesses the dock still in there’s one guy going out looking for musky when I was thereI’m getting good reports from perch anglers on Big Glen and both North and South Lake Leelanau. A few perch are being caught at Northport, with a fair bite at Suttons Bay and Bowers Harbor. Green Lake and Long Lake by Interlochen are producing perch, and Crystal Lake has gotten a little better this week.Portage Lake has been fair. Manistee Lake by Manistee has a few perch moving in, and there’s an excellent bluegill bite there as well. P.M. Lake is picking up with good perch catches. White Lake and Muskegon Lake are both reporting a great perch bite right now.The rivers are slowly transitioning to steelhead season. On the P.M. River, from Rainbow Rapids down to Scottville, there are some nice steelhead along with a fresh run of coho salmon.The Chain of Lakes has been good — Elk Lake, Lake Skegemog, and Torch Lake are producing nice perch. Burt and Mullett Lakes have been giving up good perch and an excellent walleye bite. Up in the U.P., Indian Lake near Manistique fished excellent for perch, with anglers doing well on wigglers and wax worms.Most folks are deer or duck hunting now, but if you launch the boat, the fish are there.⸻🌦️ INLAND WEATHER — NORTHERN MICHIGAN (TRAVERSE CITY AREA)(General early-November pattern — double-check your favorite weather app for exact temps and wind.) • Today (Thu): Cool, mostly cloudy to partly sunny. Afternoons topping out in the mid-40s to around 50°F with a light northwest to west breeze. • Tonight: Clear to partly cloudy and cold, likely dipping near or just below freezing. • Friday: A touch milder, still cool fall weather, light winds and some sun — a good day to sneak out for perch or walleye.Barometer pattern: High pressure building behind the last front, so we’re in a stable, fish-friendly pattern for the next day or so.⸻🌕 MOON PHASE & BITE WINDOWS (GENERAL)We’re just past the full moon in a bright waning gibbous phase. I can’t see the exact tables today, but for this part of November you can plan on: • Major bite window: Roughly late morning into early afternoon. • Minor bite windows: Around first light and again near sunset / just after dark.Use this along with your favorite solunar app, but in simple terms:👉 Fish early, fish late, and don’t ignore that late-morning/early-afternoon window.⸻🌊 RIVER CONDITIONS & STEELHEAD / COHOFlows are up from the recent rains and slowly settling into good fall shape. Water has a bit of stain, with some leaves still drifting but less than right after the blow. • Pere Marquette River (Rainbow Rapids to Scottville). Fresh steelhead and coho in the runs and pools; drift beads, spawn sacks, and skein through deeper seams. • Manistee River (Tippy area). Salmon mostly winding down; more steelhead showing each day in tailouts and deeper slots. • Betsie River. Steelhead moving into classic holes; lighter pressure now that king season peaked. • Boardman River. A few early steelhead below town; fish deeper pools and slower seams. • White River (Hesperia). Chrome fish below the dam; short leaders and bright beads or skein. • Chain of Lakes tributary mouths. Any inflow with decent flow will start seeing lake-run fish nosing around after rain.Pier and surf anglers should find better skein and spawn-bag action now at river mouths and along breakwalls as the water cools into the low- to mid-40s.⸻🐟 PERCH REPORT — PRIMARY FOCUSBIG GLEN LAKE. Perch are biting in deeper water; use minnows or wigglers on perch rigs or Perch Pounders.LAKE LEELANAU (NORTH & SOUTH). Good perch action; work the drops and sand/weed edges with minnows and wigglers.NORTHPORT. A few perch showing up; patient anglers picking fish off breaks and weed edges.SUTTONS BAY. Fair perch bite; minnows under slip bobbers along deeper weedlines.BOWERS HARBOR. Perch action fair; move often to stay on scattered schools.GREEN LAKE (INTERLOCHEN). Perch on mid-depth weed edges; minnows and wigglers working best.LONG LAKE (INTERLOCHEN AREA). Perch holding along weed edges and small points; light rigs with minnows.CRYSTAL LAKE. Bite has improved; target 25–35 ft off the breaks with minnows or small spoons tipped with bait.PORTAGE LAKE. Fair perch fishing; lots of smaller fish with keepers mixed in — minnows and wigglers are the go-to.MANISTEE LAKE (MANISTEE). A few perch are moving in and there’s an excellent bluegill bite along inside weed edges.P.M. LAKE (LUDINGTON). Perch fishing is picking up; work deeper channels and basin edges.WHITE LAKE. Great perch bite along the west side weeds and breaks; minnows working best.MUSKEGON LAKE. Very good perch action; use electronics to stay on roaming schools in deeper water.ELK LAKE. Solid perch bite on deeper breaks; minnows on perch rigs.LAKE SKEGEMOG. Nice perch around the Torch River side and main-lake weed edges.TORCH LAKE. Good perch mixed with a few bonus fish; look for big marks near breaks and humps.BURT LAKE. Perch steady along weed edges and points; minnows and wigglers.MULLETT LAKE. Perch holding near Aloha and main points; classic fall minnow bite.INDIAN LAKE (MANISTIQUE). Excellent perch fishing; wigglers and wax worms are top producers.Tip for all perch water: Minnows and wigglers first — and keep raw shrimp in the box as a change-up when the bite slows.⸻⚡ WALLEYE REPORTBURT LAKE. Excellent evening walleye bite on jig-and-minnow along breaks and humps.MULLETT LAKE. Strong dusk bite; work drop-offs and points with live bait.LONG LAKE (TRAVERSE CITY). larger minnows producing along sharper breaks. In the humps out on the lake.LAKE MARGRETHE. Classic fall walleye pattern on edges and bars; slow jigging is best.OTSEGO LAKE. Walleye along drop-offs near the State Park and main points; minnows working well.LAKE MITCHELL & LAKE CADILLAC. Evening bites on weedline edges; jig/minnow and slow-trolled crankbaits.HOUGHTON LAKE. Walleye sliding into shallower water and canals at dusk; perch and pike mixed in.SAGINAW BAY. Walleye fair to decent from Linwood toward Quanicassee when wind allows; minnows and harnesses fished slow.⸻🎣 SMALLMOUTH BASS — FALL PATTERNTORCH LAKE. Big smallmouth on live suckers and larger minnows along breaks and rock edges.EAST GRAND TRAVERSE BAY. Tubes, drop-shots, and jerkbaits taking 3–5 pound fish on rock and gravel flats.ELK LAKE. Deep edges, rock transitions, and ledges holding fall bass.WALLOON LAKE. Smallmouth along deep rock; craw-style plastics and jerkbaits.GREEN & DUCK LAKES (INTERLOCHEN). Steady smallmouth on jerkbaits and small swimbaits near drops.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA HIGHLIGHTSINDIAN LAKE (MANISTIQUE). Excellent perch bite on wigglers and wax worms.MANISTIQUE RIVER. Steelhead mixing with late coho; deeper runs and holes best.LITTLE BAY DE NOC. Walleye setting up on reefs and drops for the late-fall bite.ST. MARY’S RIVER. Walleye and steelhead around current breaks and edges.GOGEBIC LAKE. Good perch on deeper mud flats.⸻🎯 MID-MICHIGAN LAKES — HARRISON • CLARE • GLADWIN • MIDLANDBUD LAKE. Bluegill and sunfish along remaining green weeds.ARNOLD LAKE. Fall crappie in deeper brush and basin holes.SUGAR SPRINGS. Low water, but shore anglers picking bluegill and perch.ROSS LAKE. Walleye and crappie near the dam area.PRATT LAKE. Pike steady along windy shores and points.BEAVERTON LAKE. Crappie fair on minnows over deeper wood.⸻🧠 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPAs water settles into the low-40s, slow presentations with minnows, wigglers, and wax worms are the program. For perch and walleye, keep baits close to bottom and movements subtle. On rivers, small spawn bags and beads fished slowly in deeper runs will catch the early steelhead while most folks are in the woods chasing deer.⸻Fish smart, fish hard, and tight lines — Bait Man out.
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🎣 Buc’s Fishing Report — Tuesday, November 4, 2025Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.⸻🌅 BAIT MAN’S MORNING BRIEFBait Man here — yesterday brought gale-force winds across Northern Michigan, keeping just about everyone off the water. A few anglers got out Sunday before the blow and caught some nice perch on Torch Lake, including one that taped out at 13 inches — it took them a while to find the school, but once they did, the bite was on.This morning was beautiful, calm, and crisp with a colorful sunrise. Most of the docks are still in, but their days are numbered, so on these nice days you better get out — we’re coming to the end of the open-water season.Sunday night’s steady rain helped recharge the rivers, giving steelhead a good push of fresh water and better flow. The few anglers still fishing are catching perch, walleye, and steelhead when the weather allows. Many are now in the woods chasing whitetails, so best of luck to all the hunters out there — and for those still on the water, it’s a great week to fish before freeze-up.⸻🌦️ WEATHER — NORTHERN MICHIGAN (TRAVERSE CITY AREA)Today: Mostly sunny, calm early, high 48°F, light NW wind 5–10 mph.Tonight: Clear and cold, low 32°F.Wednesday: Increasing clouds, high 50°F, winds turning SW 10–15 mph.Outlook: Midweek warming trend, then another front bringing rain late Thursday. Stable pressure and light wind today — great fishing window.Barometer: 29.94 inHg and rising.Water Temps: Inland lakes 43–45°F | Rivers 44°F.⸻🌕 MOON PHASE & BITE WINDOWS (EST)Moon Phase: Waning Gibbous (97% illumination).Major Bite: 11:45 AM – 1:45 PMMinor Bite: 6:05 – 7:05 AM and 6:20 – 7:20 PMBest Fishing Time: Late morning through early afternoon under bright skies.⸻🌊 RIVER FLOWS & CONDITIONSRivers have stabilized after weekend rain — good color and solid flow. • Manistee River (Tippy): Flow 1,640 cfs; water 44°F; bright steelhead showing on beads and spawn. • Pere Marquette River (Baldwin): 510 cfs; clear to light stain; chrome steelhead behind old redds. • Betsie River: Moderate flow; steelhead in deeper holes near Homestead. • Boardman River: Slightly up; fish active below Sabin. • White River (Hesperia): Steelhead below dam; leaf drift light. • Bear Creek: Fair steelhead action with rain this week. • Elk River: Early chrome below dam. • Manistique River (U.P.): 785 cfs; good color; steelhead mixing with a few late coho.⸻🐟 PERCH REPORTTorch Lake: Big perch biting mid-morning; minnows and wigglers best.Elk Lake: Drop-offs 20–25 ft; slow jigging minnows producing.Lake Skegemog: Consistent near Torch River edge.Big Glen Lake: Fair; deeper bite 35–40 ft.Lake Leelanau: Best off Pines Campground sandbar; better as November progresses.Portage Lake: Small fish but active; sort through.Manistee Lake: Bite improving as temps drop.White Lake: West side weeds producing perch and a few pike.Houghton Lake: Fish shallow canals and north-end weedbeds.Burt & Mullett Lakes: 8–12 inch perch holding off Maple Bay and Aloha; minnows and wigglers working well.Drummond Island: Steady perch and walleye in late-fall pattern; minnows, worms, and wigglers effective.⸻⚡ WALLEYE REPORTBurt & Mullett Lakes: Excellent bite at dusk; jig and minnow near breaks.Long Lake (Traverse City): Fair success using creek chubs near drop-offs.Lake Margrethe: Consistent evening bite along the breaks.Otsego Lake: Walleye steady near State Park using minnows.Manistee Lake (Kalkaska): Evening jig bite continues.Lake Mitchell & Cadillac: Weedline fish near dusk.Saginaw Bay: Fair bite from Linwood to Quanicassee; minnows best.⸻🪣 SMALLMOUTH BASSTorch Lake: Suckers and large minnows producing.East Grand Traverse Bay: Tubes and drop-shots for 3–5 lb fish.Elk Lake: Rocks and ledges with jerkbaits.Walloon Lake: Deep edges holding bass; craw tubes working.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA REPORTSSt. Mary’s River: Steelhead near locks; walleye on drop-offs.Manistique River: Good chrome showing in deep pools.Tahquamenon River: Coho fading, first steelhead arriving.Chocolay & Escanaba Rivers: Steelhead increasing with cooler water.Gogebic Lake: Big perch on mud flats.Little Bay de Noc: Walleye starting to move shallow near reefs.Indian Lake: Perch steady in 12–15 ft.⸻🎯 MID-MICHIGAN LAKES (HARRISON, CLARE, GLADWIN, MIDLAND)Bud Lake: Bluegill steady in 8–10 ft.Arnold Lake: Crappie fair.Sugar Springs: Low water; shore anglers catching perch and bluegill.Ross Lake: Walleye near dam.Pratt Lake: Pike steady.Beaverton Lake: Crappie fair.⸻🧠 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPAs temps drop into the low 40s, minnows and wigglers remain your best bet. Fish slow and near bottom. On sunny days, try raw shrimp for finicky perch or drift spawn bags for steelhead in deeper pools.⸻Fish smart, fish hard, and tight lines — Bait Man out.
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🎣 Buc’s Fishing Report — Monday, November 3, 2025Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.⸻🌅 BAIT MAN’S MORNING BRIEFBait Man here — the weekend was cold and rough across Northern Michigan. Saturday morning started in the 20s, keeping most anglers off the water, and Sunday brought gale-force winds with freezing spray.A few hardy folks did get out, but this cold front slowed the bite through the weekend. Today’s steady rain should recharge the systems and help kick the fish back into gear. With the full moon arriving, daytime bites are improving — fish seem to feed better under brighter light.This pattern should help the steelhead runs pick up across Northern Michigan rivers, and pier and surf anglers should start connecting with steelhead and lake-run browns using skein and spawn bags. Most sportsmen right now are splitting time between chasing venison and ducks, but for those still fishing — patience will pay off this week.⸻🌦️ WEATHER — NORTHERN MICHIGAN (TRAVERSE CITY AREA)Today: Rain through the afternoon, high 47°F, winds SE 10–15 mph, gusting 25+.Tonight: Showers tapering, low 39°F.Tuesday: Partly cloudy, high 49°F, lighter NW winds.Outlook: Midweek clearing with stable barometer and rising temps — ideal setup for steelhead, perch, and late walleye.Barometer: 29.43 inHg and falling this morning, expected to rise overnight.Water Temps: Inland lakes 43–46°F | Nearshore Lake Michigan 50°F.⸻🌕 MOON PHASE & BITE WINDOWS (EST)Moon Phase: Full Moon — 100% illumination.Major: 11:05 AM – 1:05 PMMinor AM: 5:58 – 6:58 AMMinor PM: 6:15 – 7:15 PMBest Times: Midday and last hour before dark.⸻🌊 RIVER FLOWS & CONDITIONSRivers are up from recent rains, slightly stained, with leaf drift heavy in most systems. • Manistee River (Tippy): Flow ~1,720 cfs; few late kings, more steelhead arriving; beads and spawn working best. • Pere Marquette River: Flow 518 cfs; good color, chrome fish behind spawning gravel. • Betsie River: Levels up; steelhead holding from Homestead to Thompsonville. • Boardman River: Slightly high; a few early steelhead below Sabin Dam. • White River (Hesperia): Chrome fish below dam; bright skein producing. • Bear Creek: Good stain; a few steelhead in pools. • Elk River: Fresh fish stacking near the dam. • Platte River: A few steelhead showing near mouth after rain. • Manistique River (U.P.): Coho winding down; early chrome reported near power plant outflow.⸻🐟 PERCH REPORTHoughton Lake: Perch moving shallow into canals; minnows working best.Lake Leelanau: Bite better in deeper water off Pines Campground.Big Glen Lake: Fair in 35–40 ft; use wigglers.Torch Lake: Scattered schools, best mid-morning.Elk Lake: Drop-offs in 20–25 ft producing.Skegemog: Steady near Torch River edge.Portage Lake: Smaller fish but active; sort through for keepers.Crystal Lake: South end slow; better action after this front.Manistee Lake: Improving as temps stabilize.White Lake: Good on the west side weeds.Burt & Mullett Lakes: Steady on minnows around Maple Bay and Aloha.Drummond Island: Consistent perch and walleye as fish slide into late fall pattern; minnows, worms, and wigglers all effective.⸻⚡ WALLEYE REPORTBurt Lake: Evening jig bite near drop-offs in 18–25 ft.Mullett Lake: Good fish near Aloha on jig and minnow.Otsego Lake: Perch and walleye combo near State Park.Manistee Lake (Kalkaska): Slow troll or vertical jig near dusk.Long Lake (Traverse City): Bite fair on creek chubs.Lake Mitchell & Cadillac: Weed edges good at sunset.Saginaw Bay: Improving walleye numbers from Linwood to Sebewaing; minnows best.⸻🪣 SMALLMOUTH BASSTorch Lake: Live suckers producing big fall bass.East Grand Traverse Bay: Steady on drop-shots and tubes.Elk Lake: Working jerkbaits along rocks.Walloon Lake: Plastics over ledges in 20–25 ft.Duck & Green Lakes: Jerkbaits and small swimbaits producing.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA RIVERSSt. Mary’s River: Steelhead and walleye mix near the locks.Manistique River: Early chrome behind coho.Tahquamenon River: Coho near the falls.Chocolay River: Good color; fresh fish at the mouth.Escanaba River: Steelhead beginning to stage.Au Train River: First chrome reports of the season.Black River (Gogebic): Bright fish in lower stretches.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA LAKESLittle Bay de Noc: Walleye on reefs at dusk.Big Bay de Noc: Smallmouth still biting.Indian Lake: Perch and walleye steady.Au Train Lake: Fair perch on minnows.Gogebic Lake: Good perch on mud flats.Michigamme Reservoir: Walleye improving on points.Bewabic Lake: Bluegill and crappie strong.Camp 7 Lake: Clear-water bite continues.Thunder Lake: Pike and perch both active.Drummond Island Bays: Steady perch and walleye; minnows, worms, and wigglers best.⸻🌅 SAGINAW BAY & RIVERSaginaw Bay: Walleye building between Linwood and Quanicassee; minnows best.Saginaw River: Fish at bridges and channel mouths; vertical jigs with minnows.⸻🎯 HARRISON • CLARE • GLADWIN • MIDLAND COUNTY LAKESBud Lake: Bluegill steady near weed edges.Arnold Lake: Crappie fair.Sutherland Lake: Pike and panfish active.Sugar Springs: Low water but bluegill good.Pratt Lake: Pike along windy shorelines.Ross Lake: Walleye and crappie below the dam.Secord Lake: Bluegill fair.Beaverton Lake: Consistent crappie near wood.⸻🧠 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPAs temps fall, perch and walleye both prefer minnows and wigglers. A piece of raw shrimp can be a secret weapon when fish get picky — and for steelhead, natural skein and spawn bags drifted slow near the bottom are producing.Fish smart, fish hard, and tight lines — Bait Man out.
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🎣 Buc’s Fishing Report — Saturday, November 1, 2025Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.⸻🌅 BAIT MAN’S MORNING BRIEFBait Man here — it’s a chilly morning across Northern Michigan. Yesterday stayed cold with a light wind, and only a few anglers were out. Those who went did well on perch and walleye.At Houghton Lake, panfish are sliding into the canals, and the north-end weeds are producing nice perch. Around Gladwin County, anglers at Sugar Springs, Pratt, Wiggins, and Secord are finding steady bites. The cooler weather is pulling fresh steelhead into the rivers, and pier anglers are starting to connect with steelhead and a waiting for whitefishand walleye to show up steelhead fisherman using skein, casting hot and tots, spoonns and spawn.East Grand Traverse Bay continues to give up cisco and smallmouth, while the Chain of Lakes, Torch, Elk, and Skegemog — are producing perch. With the full moon next week, expect the big daytime perch to turn on.⸻🌦️ INLAND WEATHER — NORTHERN MICHIGAN (TRAVERSE CITY AREA)Today — Partly cloudy and cool, high 49°F, NW 10–15 mph.Tonight — Mostly clear, low 38°F.Sunday — Sunny early then clouds late, high 52°F, light SW wind.Barometer 29.66 and rising through the day.Water temps: Inland lakes 44–47°F | Lake Michigan nearshore 52°F.⸻🌕 MOON PHASE & BITE TIMES (EST)Moon Phase: Waning Crescent – 26 percent illumination. • Major: 10:55 AM – 12:55 PM • Minor AM: 5:40 – 6:40 AM • Minor PM: 5:48 – 6:48 PMBest overall windows → late morning and again just before sunset.⸻🌊 RIVER FLOWS & CONDITIONSLevels are normal to slightly high with light stain and leaf drift. Brighter beads, short leaders, and heavier split shot help keep drifts clean. • Manistee River (Tippy): A few late kings; steelhead steady at dawn and dusk on beads and spawn. • Pere Marquette (Baldwin): Early steelhead in tailouts; pink and peach beads best. • Betsie River: Kings thinning; steelhead holding in deeper bends. • Boardman (Traverse City): Good color; chrome fish showing below Sabin Dam. • White River (Hesperia): Fresh chrome below the dam on spawn bags. • Bear Creek: Steelhead in mid-sections where water cleared. • Elk River: Bright fish stacked below the dam. • Platte River: Coho done; a few steelhead entering the lower river. • Manistique River: Strong mix of coho and early steelhead this week.⸻🐟 PERCH REPORT • Houghton Lake: Perch moving into canals and north-end weeds on minnows. • Lake Leelanau: Late-season bite off Pines Campground sandbar, down by the Cedar River • Big Glen: Fish holding on 35–40 ft breaks using Perch Pounders. • Little Glen: Deeper weed edges best midday. • Torch Lake: Roaming schools biting minnows and wigglers. • Elk Lake: Good action along weedlines in 20 ft. • Skegemog: Drop off Torch River steady on minnows. • Lake Charlevoix: Perch near Ironton and Oyster Bay. • Portage Lake: Lots of smaller fish but steady bites. • Crystal Lake: Fair off south end drops in 25–30 ft. • Manistee Lake (Manistee): Picking up now that salmon are gone. • PM Lake (Ludington): Evening bite building daily. • Pentwater Lake: Decent when winds allow boats to anchor off edges. • White Lake: Good on the west side and near the channel. • Burt Lake: 8–12 inch fish at Maple Bay; minnows best. • Mullett Lake: Perch steady around Aloha State Park. • Grand Lake (Alpena): Weed edges and points holding nice fish. • Green Lake (Interlochen): Perch in 10–14 ft weedlines biting on wigglers. • Drummond Island: Steady perch and walleye bite in Scotts and Potagannissing Bays using minnows, worms, and wigglers.⸻⚡ WALLEYE REPORT • Burt Lake: Evening jig bite near drop-offs in 18–25 ft. • Mullett Lake: Walleye steady near Aloha on jig and minnow. • Lake Margrethe: Breakline bite slow but steady. • Otsego Lake: State Park anglers taking a mix of perch and walleye on minnows. • Long Lake (Traverse City): Evening fish in deeper edges. • Manistee Lake (Kalkaska): Jig bite building each night. • Lake Mitchell & Cadillac: Weedline edges best just after sunset. • Saginaw Bay: Walleye building from Pinconning to Linwood; best at dawn and dusk with live minnows.⸻🪣 SMALLMOUTH BASS • Torch Lake: Large suckers and chubs producing trophy fish over 6 lbs. • East Grand Traverse Bay: 3–5 lb bass steady on tubes and drop-shots. • Elk Lake: Rock edges and deep transitions on jerkbaits. • Walloon Lake: Ledges and rock bars on slow plastics. • Duck & Green Lakes: Jerkbaits and swimbaits on windy points.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA RIVERS • St. Mary’s River: Steelhead and walleye mix near the locks. • Manistique River: Coho strong with first steelhead appearing. • Two Hearted River: Chrome in deep holes. • Tahquamenon River: Coho below falls; a few steelhead. • Carp River (St. Ignace): Coho fading; some late fish remain. • Chocolay River: Bright fish near the mouth. • Escanaba River: Coho and steelhead below dam. • Ford River: Coho with occasional chrome. • Au Train River: Steelhead in the lower pools. • Black River (Gogebic): First chrome caught this week.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA LAKES • Little Bay de Noc: Walleye on reefs at dusk. • Big Bay de Noc: Smallmouth hot; perch fair. • Indian Lake: Perch steady in 12–15 ft on minnows. • North Manistique: Walleye and panfish mixed bag. • South Manistique: Perch along weed edges on wigglers. • Au Train Lake: Perch consistent on minnows. • Milakokia Lake: Pike and perch mixed action. • Muskallonge Lake: Pike active; perch scattered. • Deer Lake: Walleye steady on breaks. • Baraga Lake: Perch improving with cooler water. • Gogebic Lake: Big perch on mud flats near weed ends. • Michigamme Reservoir: Walleye on points and bars. • Peavy Pond: Mixed pike and walleye. • Bewabic Lake: Panfish strong on small plastics. • Camp 7 Lake: Clear-water panfish bite steady. • Thunder Lake: Pike and perch consistent. • Drummond Island Bays: Steady perch and walleye bite using minnows, worms, and wigglers.⸻🌅 SAGINAW BAY & RIVERSaginaw Bay: Perch spotty but improving from Linwood to Sebewaing in 15–18 ft; minnows working best.Saginaw River: Walleye building below bridges and at mouth channels; vertical jigs with minnows taking fish each evening.⸻🎯 HARRISON • CLARE • GLADWIN • MIDLAND COUNTY LAKESBud Lake (Harrison): Bluegill steady near shoreline weed edges.Arnold Lake: Crappie fair in brush piles.Cranberry Lake: Bluegill excellent on wax worms.Sutherland Lake: Pike and panfish mixed.Lake Thirteen: Strong bluegill bite continues.Lancer Lake (Gladwin): Crappie light; bluegill fair.Sugar Springs: Low water but shore anglers catching bluegill.Pratt Lake: Bass and pike along windy edges.Ross Lake: Walleye and crappie below the dam.Secord Lake: Bluegill good; perch slow.Pleasant Lake (Midland): Bluegill and perch fair.Beaverton Lake: Crappie consistent around structure.⸻🧠 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPPerch bite best on minnows and wigglers — pack raw shrimp as a secret weapon when the bite slows. For walleye and smallmouth, live minnows like chubs and suckers outperform artificials as water temps drop. Move slow and let the bait work naturally.⸻Fish smart, fish hard, and tight lines — Bait Man out.
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🎣 Buc’s Fishing Report — Friday, October 31, 2025🎃 The Halloween Fishing ReportPresented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.⸻🌅 BAIT MAN’S MORNING BRIEFBait Man here with your Halloween Fishing Report. It’s the final weekend of October, and even with cooler weather, anglers are still getting out. Perch and walleye are the top targets right now.Burt and Mullett Lakes had a solid bite last week, and other perch lakes are holding their own. Torch Lake, Elk Lake, and Lake Skegemog continue to produce fish. Big Glen has been fair, and Lake Leelanau usually heats up later in November with a strong perch bite off the Pines Campground sandbar.Portage Lake is full of smaller perch. Manistee Lake is picking up now that salmon have moved out. P.M. Lake (Ludington) gets better every day, and White Lake has been productive on the west side. A few perch are coming off the pier there too, but no whitefish reports yet.The salmon run is nearly finished. A few stragglers are still around, but the steelhead are starting to show up behind them. With this weekend’s cooler weather and stable barometer, rivers should really start to come alive.⸻🌦️ WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK – NORTHERN MICHIGANFriday (Oct 31): Cloudy early with a few light showers, highs near 51, lows around 41. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph. Breezy early, improving later in the day.Saturday (Nov 1): Partly sunny and crisp, highs near 48, lows around 37. Light northwest wind 6 to 12 mph. Ideal fall fishing weather.Sunday (Nov 2): Mostly sunny early, clouds late, highs near 52, lows near 38. Southwest breeze 5 to 10 mph. Calm and clear morning — best fishing day of the weekend.Barometer: 29.62 and slowly rising.Water Temps: Inland mid 40s °F; Lake Michigan nearshore 51–53 °F.⸻🌕 MOON PHASE AND BITE TIMES (Eastern Standard Time)Moon Phase: Waning Crescent – 29% illuminationFriday Major: 10:52 AM to 12:52 PMFriday Minor: 5:31 to 6:31 AM and 5:48 to 6:48 PMSaturday Major: 11:35 AM to 1:35 PMSaturday Minor: 6:20 to 7:20 AM and 6:30 to 7:30 PMSunday Major: 12:20 PM to 2:20 PMSunday Minor: 7:00 to 8:00 AM and 7:15 to 8:15 PMFish activity strongest mid to late morning and again near sunset each day.⸻🌊 RIVER FLOWS AND CONDITIONSRivers are up from last week’s rains and carry some stain. Steelhead are starting to show behind the remaining kings.Manistee River (Tippy): 1,580 cfs, stage 8.7 ft. Late kings fading, chrome steelhead hitting beads and spawn.Pere Marquette River (Baldwin): 505 cfs. Early steelhead in tailouts; pink or peach beads working well.Betsie River: Deeper bends below Homestead producing; mix of dark kings and first chrome.Boardman River: Good color, scattered steelhead near deeper holes.White River (Hesperia): Fresh chrome below the dam; brighter beads or spawn.Bear Creek (Manistee): Steelhead moving into mid sections.Platte River: Coho mostly gone; a few steelhead nosing in near the mouth.Manistique River: 780 cfs and rising; coho strong, early steelhead mix.⸻🐟 PERCH REPORTTorch Lake – Steady bite, larger fish mixed; minnows, wigglers, or shrimp.Lake Charlevoix – Bigger perch at Ironton and Oyster Bay.Lake Leelanau – South end showing life; look for peak bite near Pines Campground later in November.Big Glen – First break lines in 35–40 ft with Perch Pounders.Portage Lake – Action steady but smaller fish.White Lake – Good on west side; minnows or wigglers.Manistee Lake – Picking up now that salmon are gone.Burt and Mullett Lakes – Quality perch in Maple Bay and Aloha.Crystal Lake – Mixed sizes, 25–30 ft off south end.Drummond Island – Scotts and Potagannissing Bays steady for perch and walleye using minnows, worms, and wigglers.⸻⚡ WALLEYE REPORTBurt Lake – Jig and minnow near points in 15–25 ft.Mullett Lake – Evening jig bite near Aloha and channel.Lake Margrethe – Slow trolling minnows along breaks.Manistee Lake (Kalkaska) – Dusk bite steady.Lake Mitchell and Cadillac – Weedline bite at sunset.Otsego Lake – Perch and walleye both hitting minnows from State Park access.Long Lake (Traverse City) – Walleye showing on deeper edges.Saginaw Bay – Perch fair, early walleye bite building near Pinconning.⸻🪣 SMALLMOUTH BASS REPORTTorch Lake – Suckers and large minnows producing trophy fish.East Grand Traverse Bay – Consistent 3–5 lb fish on tubes and drop shots.Elk Lake – Deep rock edges on jerkbaits.Walloon Lake – Rock bars; slow plastics or craw tubes.Duck and Green Lakes – Smaller fish, steady near weedlines.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA RIVERSSt. Mary’s, Manistique, and Two Hearted – Coho still strong, steelhead starting to arrive.Escanaba and Ford Rivers – Coho with a few steelhead below dams.Au Train and Chocolay – Chrome beginning to show.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA LAKESIndian, North and South Manistique, Deer, Milakokia, and Muskallonge – Fair for perch and walleye.Big Bay and Little Bay de Noc – Walleye improving on reefs.Gogebic Lake – Big perch showing on mud flats.Drummond Island Bays – Steady perch and walleye on minnows, wigglers, and shrimp.⸻🎯 MID-MICHIGAN LAKESBud, Arnold, Cranberry, Sutherland, Lake Thirteen, Lancer, Sugar Springs, Ross, and Beaverton – Strong bluegill and panfish bite. Perch slower but still taking minnows and waxworms.⸻🧠 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPLate fall is all about patience and natural bait. Bring minnows and wigglers first, but keep raw shrimp ready — it can outfish live bait when perch and walleye get picky. For walleye at dusk, slow down your jigging and let the fish load the rod before you sweep.⸻Fish smart, fish hard, and tight lines — Bait Man out.
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BUC’S FISHING REPORT — THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2025Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.BAIT MAN’S MORNING BRIEFYesterday was windy across Northern Michigan with steady northwest gusts keeping most boats near shore. A few anglers braved it and found perch and walleye on protected waters. Portage Lake produced fish but many were small. Manistee Lake is now clear of salmon and producing a fair perch bite along the channel edges. PM Lake in Ludington is slowly improving and Pentwater Lake has been fair. White Lake anglers found perch on the west side weedlines with minnows. Hesperia, Baldwin, and Tippy all report the salmon run winding down and the first steelhead showing up behind them. River levels are healthy and color is ideal for beads and spawn sacks. Burt Lake gave up perch in the eight to twelve inch class to anglers who kept moving. Photo above is from torch Lake yesterday Torch Lake was slow but steady for those who covered water. The full moon coming next week should improve the bite. Steelhead are also beginning to show below Elk Rapids Dam. East Grand Traverse Bay continues to produce cisco and smallmouth bass near elk Rapids . Water temps are now in the upper forties and fish are feeding ahead of the next front.INLAND WEATHER — TRAVERSE CITY AREAToday: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers. High 49, northwest winds 15 to 25 mph.Tonight: Chilly, clouds breaking late. Low 36.Friday: Partly sunny with lighter northwest winds 8 to 12 mph. High 52.Weekend outlook: Cooler, highs in the 40s to near 50. Stable pressure returning for better weekend fishing.Barometer: 29.82 and rising.MOON AND BITE NOTESFirst quarter phase. Expect best bite windows around midday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.RIVER FLOWS AND CONDITIONSManistee River near Tippy Dam – Flow about 1520 cfs. Late kings thinning, first steelhead appearing, good color, fish beads or small spawn sacks.Pere Marquette River near Baldwin – Flow around 490 cfs. Early steelhead showing, best fishing deep pools with beads and small bags.Betsie River – Flow near 155 cfs. Water up with leaf drift, stray kings and early steelhead.White River below Hesperia Dam – Flow near 275 cfs. Bright fish under the dam, skein and spawn best.Boardman River near Traverse City – Flow around 95 cfs. Pools fair, leaves moderate.Elk River – A few chrome fish below the dam, salmon finished.Platte River – Flow near 110 cfs. Coho mostly gone, early steelhead at the mouth.Bear Creek near Manistee – Decent steelhead where water clears.Manistique River – Flow near 810 cfs. Good color with coho and early steelhead moving.PERCH REPORTPortage Lake – Lots of small fish, weed edges best on minnows.Manistee Lake – Fair perch near the channel.PM Lake, Ludington – Picking up with better size at dusk.Pentwater Lake – Moderate bite along 12 to 15 foot weedlines.White Lake – Fair on west side weeds using minnows.Crystal Lake – Slow but steady on south flats.Big Glen and Little Glen – Perch deeper after recent wind.Lake Leelanau – Mid depth bite in 14 to 20 feet.Torch Lake – Bigger fish scattered, expect better bite near full moon.Lake Charlevoix – Consistent 18 to 25 feet, minnows and wigglers best.Burt and Mullett Lakes – Decent perch off Maple Bay and Aloha.Grand Lake near Alpena – Edges and points good for keepers.Lake Skegemog – Steady perch off Torch River drop.Drummond Island – Steady fall bite for perch and walleye as season winds down.Top baits are minnows, worms, and wigglers. Bring shrimp as a backup when fish slow down.WALLEYE REPORTBurt Lake – Drifting minnows on drop-offs at dusk.Mullett Lake – Evening bite near Aloha Bay.Long Lake near Traverse City – Crawler harnesses and jigs along breaks.Lake Margrethe – Slow-trolled minnows in twenty feet.Manistee Lake in Kalkaska – Jig bite steady near sunset.Hamlin Lake – Jigging spoons in twenty feet.Houghton Lake – Shallow evening bite on windy shores.Drummond Island – Steady walleye in Scotts Bay using live bait.SMALLMOUTH BASS REPORTEast Grand Traverse Bay – Tubes and dropshots around Deepwater Point.Torch Lake – Live suckers and minnows producing up to six pound fish.Elk Lake – Jerkbaits and plastics along edges.Walloon Lake – Craw tubes on rock and ledges.Green and Duck Lakes near Interlochen – Swimbaits and jerkbaits steady.UPPER PENINSULA LAKESLittle Bay de Noc – Walleye on reefs at dusk.Big Bay de Noc – Smallmouth strong, perch fair.Indian Lake – Perch solid in twelve feet.North and South Manistique – Mixed panfish.Muskallonge Lake – Pike and perch active.Baraga Lake – Walleye snapping after rain.Portage Lake, Keweenaw – Trout and salmon mix.Gogebic Lake – Big perch on mud flats.Thunder Lake – Pike and panfish steady.Drummond Island Bays – Perch and walleye steady on minnows, worms, and wigglers.SAGINAW BAY AND RIVERSaginaw Bay – Fishing slow. Reports from Linwood show light catches despite good weather. Walleyes scattered, perch fair in fifteen to eighteen feet near Sebewaing.Saginaw River – Walleye starting to move in near bridges and channel edges.HARRISON, CLARE, GLADWIN, MIDLAND COUNTIESBud Lake – Bluegill good, bass slow.Arnold Lake – Crappie fair in deep brush.Cranberry Lake – Bluegill active near shore.Sutherland Lake – Pike steady.Lake Thirteen – Excellent bluegill action.Lancer Lake – Bluegill fair.Sugar Springs – Shore anglers catching bluegill.Pratt Lake – Bass and pike along windy edges.Ross Lake – Walleye and crappie below the dam.Secord Lake – Bluegill steady.Pleasant Lake – Perch fair.Beaverton Lake – Crappie strong around structure.LIVE BAIT PRO TIPCold fronts make fish finicky. Slow down and use fresh bait. Minnows, worms, and wigglers are key right now for perch, walleye, and steelhead. Bright beads help in stained water, and raw shrimp can save the day when fish turn off.Fish smart, fish hard, tight lines — Bait Man out.
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🎣 Buc’s Fishing Report — Wednesday, October 29, 2025Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.⸻🌅 BAIT MAN’S MORNING BRIEFBait Man here — yesterday was a calm and chilly fall day across Northern Michigan, with light winds and temps in the mid-40s. Quite a few anglers got out after a few days of wind and rain. Most are targeting perch and walleye now, with the salmon runs winding down fast. The Betsie, Boardman, and Elk Rivers all have a few dark kings left, but the big story this week is steelhead starting to show up behind the salmon.Roy’s General Store in Traverse City reports steady perch fishing on Big Glen and South Lake Leelanau, while East Bay remains solid for Cisco and smallmouth bass near Deepwater Point. A few anglers are still working West Bay for perch near Northport and Suttons Bay, though the bite remains light.Walleye action is best inland — good reports continue from Burt, Mullett, Long, and Otsego Lakes, along with a few fish showing at Lower Herring and Manistee Lake (Kalkaska). As water temps fall, minnows and crawler harnesses are top choices.The inland bite is classic late October — cold mornings, steady barometer, and fish feeding heavily before the next cold front.⸻🌦️ INLAND WEATHER — NORTHERN MICHIGAN • Today: Partly cloudy and 44°F. Winds WNW 8–12 mph. • Tonight: Clear and cool, low 35°F. • Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, 46°F with light southwest winds. • Barometer: 30.06 inHg, steady. • Moon Phase: Waning crescent (best bite 10:20 AM – 12:00 PM; 4:45 – 5:45 PM).⸻🌊 RIVER FLOWS & CONDITIONS • Betsie River: Lightly stained, 190 cfs; kings nearly done, steelhead trickling in. • Boardman River: Clear, dropping; some chrome in deeper runs. • Elk River (Elk Rapids): Steelhead and a few brown trout below the dam. • Manistee River (Tippy): 1,580 cfs, 8.7 ft; low numbers of kings, fair steelhead action. • Pere Marquette River: 500 cfs, clearing; scattered steelhead, best on beads and spawn bags. • White River (Hesperia): Leafy, but a few fish below the dam on skein and bright beads. • Platte River: Coho nearly done, but fresh steelhead appearing after the rain.Expect improving steelhead conditions by the weekend as water clears.⸻🐟 PERCH REPORT • Big Glen Lake: Fair bite in 35–40 ft; minnows best. • Lake Leelanau: South end producing steady fish near the river mouth. • Crystal Lake: Better action in 25–30 ft, minnows and wigglers. • Portage Lake: Consistent bite 18–22 ft; minnows and wigglers. • White Lake: Perch steady along west weeds. • P.M. Lake (Ludington): Slow but improving. • Manistee Lake: Light bite; try early mornings. • Muskegon Lake: 40 ft schools on sonar; minnows and wigglers. • Torch Lake: Steady fish in 40–50 ft; minnows best. • Lake Charlevoix: Good size perch around Ironton; minnows and wigglers. • Burt & Mullett Lakes: Active bite near Aloha and Maple Bay. • Grand Lake (Alpena): Perch around weed edges. • Drummond Island: Steady perch and walleye on minnows, worms, and wigglers.⸻⚡ WALLEYE REPORT • Burt Lake: Evening bite near drop-offs; jig and minnow. • Mullett Lake: Good near Aloha. • Long Lake (Traverse City): Productive on crawler harnesses. • Otsego Lake: Walleye active along weed edges. • Lake Margrethe: Slow troll with live bait. • Manistee Lake (Kalkaska): Fish evening breaks. • Lower Herring: Walleye moving shallow late.⸻🪣 SMALLMOUTH BASS REPORT • Torch Lake: Still producing on live suckers. • East Bay: Consistent 3–5 lb fish on drop-shots. • Elk Lake: Deep edge bite near 25 ft. • Walloon Lake: Strong on live bait. • Green & Duck Lakes (Interlochen): Steady on jerkbaits and tubes.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA RIVERSSt. Mary’s, Manistique, and Two Hearted Rivers all report fresh steelhead entering. The Tahquamenon has a few coho below the falls, and the Escanaba River remains steady for coho near the mouth.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA LAKESIndian Lake, South Manistique, Gogebic, Baraga, and Milakokia producing perch and walleye. Drummond Island bays remain the standout — steady walleye and perch as they finish the fall feed.⸻🌅 SAGINAW BAY & RIVER • Saginaw Bay: Perch fair from Linwood to Fish Point, 14–18 ft. Minnows best. • Saginaw River: Early walleye starting near bridges; vertical jigging producing.⸻🎯 HARRISON • CLARE • GLADWIN • MIDLAND COUNTY LAKESArnold, Cranberry, Bud, Sutherland, Thirteen, Pratt, and Ross Lakes all producing bluegill and perch. Secord and Sugar Springs fair for panfish; Ross Lake giving up a few crappie.⸻🧠 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPFor fall perch and walleye, minnows and wigglers are the go-to, but don’t forget to pack some raw shrimp — they can make a big difference when fish get finicky.⸻Fish smart, fish hard, and tight lines — Bait Man out.
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