Fishwhisper

There is a good perch bite at Mullet, Burt, Lake Margrethe, Skegemog. Lake Leelanau and Both Glen Lakes with wigglers and minnows working best.

Northeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report

Cheboygan River: Salmon fishing is starting to pick up with the rain and cooler temperatures. Those trolling will want to try plugs, spoons or flatfish.

Ocqueoc River: Is also producing a few salmon.

Rogers City: The adult chinook salmon are now staging off Swan Bay. Those trolling in 10 to 40 feet are catching fish on boards with bombers and J-plugs. A few were caught on spoons. Hot colors were green, blue, chartreuse, black and white or anything that glows early and late. The young chinook salmon were starting to show up as well. They are feeding heavily on young smelt. Steelhead and lake trout are also taking advantage of all the baitfish.

Presque Isle: The few boats out fishing caught salmon, steelhead and lake trout. The better fishing was straight out from the red can or north between the lighthouses. A lot of baitfish marked here as well.

Alpena: Very few anglers are fishing Thunder Bay. Those targeting walleye or salmon had very little or no luck.

Thunder Bay River: More fish have entered the river. Anglers are using a variety of baits including spoons, flies, crank baits, thundersticks and spawn bags.

Oscoda: Fishing was slow. The boats heading out had limited success.

Au Sable River: Fish are moving up into the river system. Those fishing in the flies only section between Burtons Landing and the Wakeley Bridge have caught brook and brown trout.

Tawas: A few salmon were seen inside the harbor but none were caught. Pier anglers took a limited number of small perch, a few rock bass and catfish.

Tawas River: Is producing a few salmon.

Au Gres: Those heading out for perch did not have much luck. They were marking large numbers of fish along with plenty of baitfish.

Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report

It is that time of year when angler pressure can drop however there is still some good fishing to be had. Salmon are in the rivers more so on the west side than the east side of the state. Inland lakes are fair to good for panfish, bass and pike.

The salmon up up the rivers with a huge run in the Platte River.

Petoskey: Anglers are targeting salmon off the breakwall, the Clock Dock and near the mouth of the river. Try crank baits during the day and switch to glow spoons and crank baits at night. Some are using spawn under a bobber near the mouth. Boat anglers picked up a few chinook and lake trout between the breakwall and the water treatment plant.

Bear River: The amount of salmon in the river has varied over the last week. Anglers are using spawn, yarn, flies and rubber eggs. Orange and yellow were the hot colors.

Charlevoix: Boat anglers are fishing at the Can near the cement plant or trolling near the freighter slip. Try 50 to 70 feet down in 100 to 120 feet. Those casting along the breakwall are using spoons and crank baits. Boats trolling inside the breakwall caught a few fish as did those casting glow spoons at night. Pier anglers are catching smallmouth bass on crawlers and leeches. Salmon were taken on glow spoons at night. Near Medusa Creek, anglers are shore fishing or wading near the cement plant.

Traverse City: Chinook and coho were caught in the East Bay. Try 40 to 80 feet down with spoons or plugs. Lake trout were taken by those trolling or jigging in 90 to 100 feet. Good smallmouth action in 20 to 40 feet. A few chinook were caught in the West Bay. Those casting glow spoons near the mouth of the river at night caught fish as well.

Elk River: Salmon were caught on spawn near the power dam. Hot colors were pink, orange and chartreuse.

Boardman River: Had a decent push of salmon last week. Those drifting skein under a bobber caught a few but overall the bite was slow.

Glen Arbor: The number of boat anglers continues to decline but those still heading out have caught a couple chinook off Sleeping Bear Point. The fish have found their way up into the Crystal River. Fish were seen at the tubes, along the gravel and near the log jams.

Platte River: This year’s coho run arrived early and the number of fish is impressive. DNR staff estimate between 10,000 and 15,000 fish at the weir, and it sounds like there are many more in the lower river.

Frankfort: Salmon are in the bay but the bite was slow for those trolling around the breakwalls.

Betsie River: Anglers are doing well but the salmon are moving fast. A good number of males have been caught and the females with eggs were still tight.

Onekama: Catch rates were slow even for those trolling out near the Barrel. They were using spoons, plugs and meat rigs in the top 40 to 80 feet.

Portage Lake: Bass anglers continue to do very well for both large and smallmouth. Panfishing slowed a bit with the cooler temperatures. Anglers were struggling to find keeper size bluegill and perch.

Manistee River: Had a big push of fish. Anglers are catching some large fish when casting flies, crank baits and thundersticks. There is still a good number of fish staging in Manistee Lake.

Pere Marquette River: Has a good number of fish at the mouth as well as up near Custer and Walhalla. Anglers are casting flies, crank baits and thundersticks. Try anything that glows in the early morning and late evening.

Pentwater: Catch rates were slow. Charters were heading north and fishing along the shoreline but few fish were caught. Pier angler did manage to take a couple salmon. Hot colors were green and white or blue and silver.

FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP

September is a great time to fish. Take your pick, the rivers, the piers or the lakes all are alive. The fish start bulking up for Winter and are hungry. The only problem is that it’s also the start of small game hunting with archery Season close by. Decisions! Decisions!

Manistee River:

The cool nights are dropping the water temperatures and the salmon are migrating up the rivers. Chinook salmon mixed with Coho and a few trophy Browns have made their way as far as Tippy Dam on the Big Manistee. On the cloudy, drizzly days they can be caught all day. Fresh fish cruising up river are aggressive and will attack crank baits – especially Strom Thundersticks. Another effective method is bobber fishing with fresh skein.

The reports I’m getting the salmon hit the rivers this weekend with lots of fish and many people fishing. There are reports of 20,000 coho below the weir at Platte River. All the rivers north of Muskegon have fish in them , Ludington reporting a big run with lots of fish being caught.

Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report

Salmon fishing on the big lake is winding down, at least for the big adult kings. Some are still being caught around the piers as well as Betsie Bay, Manistee Lake and Pere Marquette Lake. The salmon have started up the rivers and they are busting tackle this year because they are hawgs!!!!!

Hearing of a great smallmouth bite on East Grand Traverse Bay, Skegemog, Elk and Torch with 5+ pounders common this week. Cold front today might effect the bite.

Harbor Springs: Anglers are focusing on the waters near Harbor Point and straight out from the marina. Not a lot of fish however boats are usually bringing in one trout or salmon.

Petoskey: A few salmon were caught by those fishing the breakwall and the pier east of the boat launch. They are casting spoons and crank baits. Early morning and late night were best when using anything that glows. Boat anglers caught a few salmon, lake trout or whitefish in the early morning when using glow spoons, plugs or flies. Those trolling between the breakwall and Bay Harbor caught salmon 75 to 80 feet down or lake trout 80 to 100 feet down.

Bear River: Salmon are moving up into the river. Anglers caught fish at the dam and between the two bridges downstream. Most are using spawn bags. Green and yellow were good colors for beads, felt and flies.

Charlevoix: Boat anglers are fishing between the Can and North Point. Lake trout were in 80 to 120 feet just past North Point. Chinook were caught 70 to 75 feet down in 80 to 100 feet with spoons, plugs and flies. A few coho were also caught. Pier anglers caught smallmouth bass on leeches and crawlers. Fish have moved into Medusa Creek. A good number of fish were in the boat slip at the cement plant. Those wading and the shore anglers are casting spoons and crank baits.

Lake Charlevoix: Anglers are still fishing the area near the Coast Guard Station as well as into the lake. Catch rates for salmon were hit-or-miss. A couple salmon were caught in Round Lake.

Traverse City: Chinook along with the occasional coho and lake trout were caught on spoons, plugs and meat rigs 80 to 110 feet down. Smallmouth bass were in 20 to 40 feet. In the West Bay, chinook are staging in front of the Boardman River but the bite was slow. Those caught were about 80 feet down. Big Smallmouth bass are hitting in 20 to 40 feet.Guys are trying for perch but no bite the last few days.
Elk River: A few salmon are beginning to arrive and the number of fish should pick up by the weekend. Steelhead were hitting on spawn or crank baits.

Boardman River: Chinook salmon are in the river, but it is still a bit early for the run. Try drifting spawn or skein near the bottom.

Glen Arbor: Catch rates have slowed significantly. Those surfcasting did manage to catch a few chinook and coho on artic spinners and homemade hooks.

Platte River: Is producing a good number of fish down near the mouth. Anglers are using spawn and yarn in the fast water. Use light tackle and bright colors.

Frankfort: Water temperatures have been up and down over the last week. Boats heading out to deeper water caught steelhead along the “Shelf.” Pier and shore anglers reported slow catch rates.

Betsie River: The salmon run has been fast and heavy. The fish are not holding in the holes for long.

Onekama: Anglers are heading out to waters 220 to 300 feet deep and fishing the top 80 feet with spoons or plugs. They are catching chinook, coho and steelhead.

Portage Lake: Bass anglers are doing very well for large and smallmouth bass in 20 to 25 feet of water. One angler landed a nice 7 pound smallmouth. Bluegill, perch and rock bass were caught on crawlers.

Manistee: Boat anglers were still taking a few salmon around the piers. Early morning is best with white and glow plugs. Pier anglers caught a few fish when casting green, glow or white spoons.

Manistee River: Salmon fishing improves as more fish have entered the river. Chinook and coho have been caught up near Tippy Dam.

Ludington: Boat anglers caught salmon and steelhead 40 to 80 feet down in 300 to 400 feet of water. Orange and green spoons were the ticket. Pier anglers casting glow plugs caught a few fish.

Pere Marquette River: Continues to produce salmon.

Pentwater: Salmon were caught 50 to 70 feet down in 120 to 150 feet of water near Silver Lake. Pearl colored J-plugs worked best but fish were also taken on cut bait. Those casting body baits off the pier caught bass. Perch have been hit and miss

George and Leneah Cheylava worked for Buc’s Bait in the 50’s though the 80’s and ran the Upper Peninsula routes along with transporting bait from Minnesota to Interlochen.

Rest in Peace George and Leneah!!!

Thompsonville husband and wife dies in Thursday morning crash

 

Thursday, September 12, 2013

SPRINGDALE TWP.  The Manistee County Sheriff’s Office reported that George Cheylava was a passenger in a Ford Windstar minivan driven by his wife, Laneah Cheylava, 81, when the van was struck at the passenger door by a Ford truck at the intersection of Springdale Road and Tomasek Road.

Laneah Cheylava was transported to Munson Medical Center after the accident and was listed in critical condition Thursday morning and passed away in the afternoon.

 

Bob Brott caught lake trout and salmon out of Elk Rapids last week

FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP

Several say they caught larger fish that could beat those entered, but didn’t bring them in. Fish stories!
The days are shorter with the smell of Fall in the air. Warm days, longer cool nights. The lake water temperatures are falling. Soon the fish start returning to shallower depths.

Bass fishing has been good. Both large and small mouths are cooperating. Some are fishing for fun but there are several boats practicing for the last tournament or coming Classic. The crayfish are molting (soft shells) and many of the small mouths caught are missing scales on the noses from rubbing on the rocks and gravel for them. There’s plenty in the 2-3 pound range, but several reported over 4.

Panfish activity has picked up. Reports of near limits come from both Cadillac and Lake Mitchell. Crappies predominate the catches. Bluegills and perch come close. This is catch and eat.

Now that the lakes are cooling we’ll see larger pike. They get hungry in the Fall. Bass anglers seem to automaticaly catch several.

Searching for walleyes? Find another lake. They’re some where out there. Those specifically targeting them are catching everything else. Those few reported were accidentally caught fishing for other species, usually on leeches.

Salmon fever has infected the majority of anglers. The local rivers are filling with large, fresh salmon. The near by Big Manistee has good numbers of chinook, but lately schools of Coho have made their way to Tippy Dam. Happy, Happy, Happy! Boat anglers and shore fishermen are filling their coolers.

They are larger this Fall. Many of the Kings are over the 20 pound range. Coho may range 10 pounds plus.

Take your pick, the Big lake, Piers or Rivers – the salmon are there.

Upper Peninsula Fishing Report

Marquette: Lake trout action was fair with some limit catches reported from Shot Point, the Clay Banks, Little Presque Isle and east of the White Rocks in 100 to 140 feet. The occasional chinook or coho were caught near the mouth of the Carp River and the Chocolay River.

Little Bay De Noc: Catch rates for walleye were fair. Many were trolling or drifting crawlers in 18 to 27 feet near Kipling and the Second Reef. Try stick baits or crawlers in 25 feet off the east bank in Gladstone. Pike were hitting spinners and crank baits in the Yacht Harbor. Perch fishing was fair at Kipling in 8 to 19 feet or Gladstone in 14 to 25 feet with crawlers.

Big Bay De Noc: Perch were caught in 10 to 14 feet in Fayette Harbor and a few were starting to show up in Garden Bay. Smallmouth bass are hitting on minnows or spinners in 12 to 16 feet near the Big Bay Shoals. Good numbers of salmon were caught 50 to 70 feet down in 120 to 140 feet off Fairport. The fish were hitting on spoons or artificial cut bait.

Au Train: Catch rates for lake trout slowed considerably with only a few fish taken off the flats in Shelter Bay and east of Au Train Island. Try 120 to 150 feet with assorted spoons. Only a few chinook salmon were caught. Surface water temperatures were in the 50’s.

Munising: Boat anglers targeting lake trout reported fair results while those fishing for chinook or coho had fair to good results. Most are fishing in Trout Bay. Smaller splake were caught in Munising Bay. Lake trout anglers are fishing north of Wood Island.

Grand Marais: A few boats were lake trout fishing 5 to 7 miles north of the bay. The fish were 2 to 5 pounds and were caught in 100 to 200 feet. Coho were caught about halfway down in 50 to 60 feet. Shore anglers had no luck.

St. Mary’s River: Walleye fishing in the shipping channel has slowed. Carlton Creek is still producing lots of walleye for those trolling crawlers over the weed beds in the early morning. Musky were caught around Tea Cup Island. Use large body baits.

DeTour: Anglers are still fishing between Frying Pan Island, the #3 Green can and the #2 Red Can near Drummond Island. They are catching chinook between 7 and 15 pounds and some lake trout. Spoons worked best in white, green, orange, red silver or the hammered orange.

Drummond Island: Walleye were caught around Peck Island when trolling crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers in 12 to 14 feet. Gold and purple blades worked best. For yellow perch, try Maxton Bay when drifting or still-fishing minnows, the south end of Grape Island or Arrow Island in Sturgeon Bay. Pike were on the northwest side of Grape Island in 8 feet. Good smallmouth bass action for those using tube jigs in 6 to 8 feet. Fish were also taken on crawlers along the west side of Peck Island.

Cedarville and Hessel: There was good perch fishing off the end of the marina pier and the public dock at Hessel. Use minnows or crawlers in 8 to 12 feet. The south end of Hessel Bay had excellent pike fishing for those using chubs. Both the Yacht Entrance and Hessel Bay were producing salmon.

St. Ignace: Trout and salmon are being caught around the islands.

Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
With Labor Day behind us, the majority of anglers will now turn to salmon and trout fishing. The fish are starting to move in closer to shore as well as into some of the river systems. The inland lakes have been good for both large and smallmouth bass and panfish activity has picked up. Perch fishing has started to pick up with wigglers and minnows your best bet. Smallmouth fishing on East Grand Traverse has been awesome with bigger fish from 30 to 40 feet

Harbor Springs: Salmon and lake trout were caught on the harbor side. Most anglers are fishing between Harbor Point and Forest Beach. Chinook were caught 70 to 90 feet down but the lake trout were a little deeper in 100 to 130 feet. Try spoons, flies and squid.

Petoskey: Catch rates did improve slightly as anglers caught chinook, coho and lake trout. The salmon were hitting on spoons, plugs and meat rigs 75 to 90 feet down in 120 to 160 feet. Lake trout were more abundant and were caught 120 feet down. Boats were fishing from the buoy near the breakwall to Bay Harbor. A couple anglers caught fish with long lines and plugs in shallower waters. Pier anglers caught smallmouth bass on crawlers.

Bear River: Water levels were still very low but that has not stopped a few salmon from coming in. Try spawn bags, rubber eggs and small flies at the dam.

Charlevoix: Salmon fishing is still pretty slow. The fish were scattered but some were starting to stage near the mouth of the rivers. Many were fishing between North and South Point or near the Cement Plant but some were heading further south to Fisherman’s Island. Try anywhere from 65 to 115 feet down in 70 to 150 feet of water. A white dodger and flies with red or blue beads worked best but fish were also caught on spoons. Lake trout were caught on spoons and meat rigs 130 feet down.

Lake Charlevoix: Salmon were starting to head to the Boyne River and the Jordan River. Anglers did well where Round Lake meets Lake Charlevoix. Most were using flies in 40 feet.

Traverse City: In the East Bay, chinook were caught on plugs 90 to 100 feet down in 100 to 150 feet of water. Smallmouth bass fishing was steady in 20 to 50 feet. In the West Bay, the number of salmon caught was not high but the fish are good size. Try 80 to 90 feet down in waters up to 150 feet deep with spoons, flies or plugs.

Elk River: Is producing the occasional steelhead or smallmouth bass. Try fresh spawn bags for the salmon.

Boardman River: A few salmon are in but the numbers are still low and few have been caught. Try drifting skein under a bobber. The weir grates are now in place.

Glen Arbor: Fishing has slowed as most of the fish have moved to the rivers. Anglers are finding both juvenile and mature kings in the harbor and off South Manitou Island.

Platte Bay: Is producing fish about 40 feet down in 50 to 70 feet of water in the East Bay. Anglers are using J-plugs. Those surfcasting caught fish on spinners or spawn. A dredge is now opening up the mouth of the river.

Frankfort: The Herring Hole has been doing very well for chinook salmon. Anglers are trolling 55 to 90 feet down in 100 to 120 feet with spoons and plugs. Hot colors were orange and blue. Several large chinook weighing over 27 pounds were caught off the piers by those using spawn or Cleo’s that glow.

Betsie River: Was full of fast moving chinook salmon. Not many were seen on the beds or in the holes but fishing at the dam was good.

Onekama: Those heading out to the “Barrel” had good action throughout the day for chinook and coho. The chinook were deep in 120 to 150 feet but the coho were found in shallow waters. Both are hitting on spoons or plugs.

Portage Lake: Anglers are starting to see increasing numbers of bluegill, perch and bass now that cooler temperatures have arrived. Working 12 to 18 feet of water with worms around the weed beds has produced good catches.

Manistee: Boat anglers are catching salmon between the piers and 60 feet of water. Chrome, green and glow J-plugs worked well. Glow spoons were best in the early morning. Pier anglers casting spoons also caught fish.

Manistee River: Has a fair to good number of salmon.

Ludington: Salmon were caught inside the piers and out to 50 feet of water in the early morning. Chrome plugs worked best. Pier anglers caught a few chinook when casting spoons.

Pere Marquette River: Water levels were good. Salmon were caught on flat fish. Those fly fishing reported slow catch rates.

Pentwater: Had good fishing. Anglers are running lines 50 to 70 feet down in 120 to 150 feet near Silver Lake. Try pearl, green and silver J-plugs. Some large chinook and coho have been caught.

Muskegon River: Is producing some nice smallmouth bass. No word on salmon yet but it should not be long.

Whitehall: Salmon fishing picked up for those trolling 50 feet down in 100 to 120 feet. The bite was best in the early morning hours. Most are using spoons and J-plugs that glow.