Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Fishing Report for Labor Day Weekend 2007
The big news is Salmon Fever has started which slows pressure on inland lakes. With the big Labor Day Weekend fishing inland should be good with cooler nights and rain should get the fish back on the bite. I was at Betsie Bay at Frankfort Sunday and the water is so low the salmon are beaching themselves trying to get up the river. Leland still reports the best salmon fishing in Northern Michigan. Photo above is a nice catch at Leland aboard the Whitecap with Capt. Jack Duffy
Houghton Lake - Fishing remains steady for a variety of fish. Avoid getting hung up on the weeds in 8 to 10 feet of water and fish will be caught.
Little Bay de Noc - The better walleye fishing was off Gladstone when jigging or drifting in 10 to 25 feet of water and between the Second and Third Reefs off Kipling when trolling or drifting crawlers in the evening. Good smallmouth action when casting or jigging crankbaits and tube baits in 10 to 18 feet of water at Hunters Point and just south of the Day’s River. Perch anglers have been few but several nice fish were harvested in the Kipling area when jigging worms out past the island in 23 feet of water. A few salmon were caught when trolling spoons 40 to 50 feet down in waters 80 to 120 feet deep.
Big Bay de Noc - The better fishing here has been for smallmouth bass. Most are working the weedlines in 10 to 25 feet of water when casting crankbaits or jigging plastics. Ogontz and Garden Bay have been hot. Several nice perch were caught in Fayette Harbor when jigging worms in 14 to 25 feet of water. Fairport is still reporting good catches when trolling spoons and flies 35 to 50 feet down in waters 80 to 130 feet deep..
Traverse City - Those fishing the East Bay have caught chinook in the early morning off Deepwater Pont and the Bluffs. Spoons and Hootchie Mama’s and flies have worked best. Near Elk Rapids, chinook were caught south of the harbor near the Humps when trolling plugs and spin doctors. Lake trout fishing has been very good from the launch at Center Road to the Bluffs, off Dock Road and Yuba Creek. Whitefish action was slow with only a few fish taken when jigging spoons in 80 to 100 feet of water in the south end of the Bay. In the West Bay, chinook salmon were caught between Lookout Point and Elmwood and up to the White Wall. Early morning is producing some kings off the mouth of the Boardman River when trolling spoons and plugs. Lake trout fishing has been good near the Gravel Pit. Limit catches of lake trout and near limits of chinook have been caught in Bowers Harbor, where the boat launch is very shallow so bigger boats will not be able to launch at this location.
Muskegon - Salmon were being caught in 70 to 90 feet of water with plugs taking the most fish in the early morning. No perch reports
Whitehall - Had good salmon fishing as the fish have moved in closer to the pierheads. Boats are trolling close to shore before dawn and then moving out to deeper waters 80 to 120 feet deep as the sun comes up. Pier anglers have taken a few fish when casting spoons.
Lake Leelanau - Reported good walleye fishing.
Lake Margrethe reports a fair walleye bite with most being caught in the middle of the day drifting.
Long Lake - Has good walleye fishing but the fish are biting from 10am to 2pm. Anglers are jigging leeches at different depths or using a single hook with a leech or minnow under a slip bobber. Smallmouth bass fishing has been very good.
Portage Lake - Some big panfish are still being caught when drifting wax worms or red worms in 15 to 30 feet of water. A few nice walleye and pike were caught in the early afternoon when bottom bouncing.
Wixom Lake the gills and crappie have moved to deep water and the bite is picking up..
Fletchers Pond - Is producing some nice northern pike and bass. Anglers can take limits of panfish on a daily basis.
Anglers by Alpena are reeling in a few bass and perch on both Grand and Long lakes. The best fishing is found near the weed beds in the lakes. The salmon and lake trout fishing is fair on Thunder Bay and Lake Huron out from Presque Isle. The fish are found in the bottom half of water that is up to 100 feet deep.
In the Grayling area, the walleye fishing is fair on Lake Margrethe.
Saginaw Bay - Fishing has been slow from all ports. A few walleye were taken west of the Spark Plug near Buoys 11 & 12 and in 7 to 8 feet of water in the Slot off the islands. Some nice perch were taken near the Spark Plug and around Buoy 15. The Hot Pond is still producing some channel cats.
In the Kalkaska area, the bass fishing is good on Elk, Skegemog and Torch lakes. Anglers are catching a few bluegill on many of the other local lakes, in water up to 25 feet deep.
Tittabawassee River - Is providing some good bass and catfish action.
FISHING REPORT
Upper Peninsula:
On Copper Harbor, anglers are catching a few lake trout and splake. On the inland lakes near Copper Harbor, the bass fishing ranges from fair to good on both lakes Fanny Hooe and Medora.
Anglers on Lake Gogebic are catching a few bass and perch. Crawlers and leeches are the preferred baits. The walleye fishing on the lake is slow.
In the Marquette area, the bass and pike fishing is good on the Greenwood Reservoir. Outside of the harbors on Lake Superior, the lake trout fishing is good. The perch and smallmouth bass fishing ranges from fair to good on Teal Lake.
The perch, smallmouth bass and walleye fishing is spotty on Lake Independence.
Around Escanaba, the walleye action on Little Bay de Noc ranges from fair to good. Anglers are dragging crawler harnesses. The bluegill fishing is fair in the Escanaba Harbor. By Fairport anglers are reeling in a few salmon.
By Manistique, the salmon fishing is fair on Lake Michigan. Anglers are catching a few small perch and walleye on Indian Lake.
The walleye fishing is very good on the St. Marys River from Sault Ste. Marie to Raber Bay. Try using a crawler harness with a bottom bouncer. The perch fishing on Munuscong Bay is fair.
Around Drummond Island, the perch fishing is good by Grape and Harbor islands and on Maxton Bay. Anglers on Maxton, Scott and Whitney bays are reeling in a few bass. The salmon fishing is fair on the St. Marys River, by the lighthouse.
At St. Ignace, anglers are catching a few walleye on Brevort Lake. The salmon fishing on the Straits of Mackinac ranges from slow to fair.
Northwest:
Out of the Harbor Springs area, the salmon fishing is fair on Little Traverse Bay. Anglers on Burt Lake are reeling in a few perch. Crooked Lake is producing fair bass fishing near the drop-offs.
In the Boyne City area, the salmon fishing is good on Lake Michigan, in water 50 to 120 feet deep. The perch and walleye fishing is good on both Lake Charlevoix and Walloon Lake.
By Traverse City, the lake trout and salmon fishing is fair on both the east and west arms of Grand Traverse Bay. The walleye fishing is spotty on Long Lake.
The salmon fishing is good off and around the piers at Frankfort and Elberta on Lake Michigan. Some salmon are starting to run up the Betsie River.
Lake Michigan is producing some very good salmon fishing out from Manistee. The salmon are starting to move into the rivers. The walleye fishing is good on Manistee Lake. Anglers are trolling using stick baits.
In Kalkaska, the smallmouth bass fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. The walleye fishing is improving on Lake Bellaire.
Around Gaylord, the fly-fishing is very good on sections of the Au Sable, Black, Manistee, Pigeon and Sturgeon rivers. Ant, beetle and grasshopper patterns are working well in the late morning and afternoon hours. Blue winged olives and caddis are being used at night.
At Cadillac, the bass and pike fishing is good on both lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. The panfish fishing is improving on the lakes.
West:
Lake Michigan near Ludington is producing some very good salmon fishing. The fish are found in the top 50 feet of water that is up to 150 feet deep. Some salmon are starting to show up in the Pere Marquette River. Anglers along the breakwall are reeling in a few perch. The panfish fishing is fair on the upper end of Hamlin Lake.
Around Pentwater, the salmon fishing is very good on Lake Michigan in water 50 to 100 feet deep. Some salmon are starting to run up the Pentwater River.
Out of the Muskegon area, the salmon fishing is fair on Lake Michigan and on the lower end of the Muskegon River. In the big lake, the fish are found 35 to 55 feet below the surface, in water up to 110 feet deep.
At Baldwin, the bluegill fishing is fair on most of the local lakes. Crickets are working well as bait.
Southwest:
By Holland, the salmon fishing is good on Lake Michigan. The fish are hitting on J-plugs and spoons, in water 35 to 60 feet deep. The perch fishing is fair on the lake, in water 35 to 40 feet deep.
Around Benton Harbor, anglers on Lake Michigan are reeling in good numbers of salmon. Try using a J-plug in water up to 70 feet deep. The perch fishing is fair on the lake.
In the New Buffalo area, the perch fishing ranges from fair to good on Lake Michigan. Anglers along the Galien River are catching a few crappie and catfish.
Pine Lake near Kalamazoo is producing some very good crappie fishing. The perch fishing is good on Gull Lake. Anglers on Gull and Duck lakes are reeling in a few bluegill. The pike, rock bass and smallmouth bass fishing is spotty on Gun Lake. Along the Kalamazoo River, the catfish fishing is very good, at night.
At Three Rivers, the bluegill fishing is good on most of the local lakes, including Corey Lake. Both crickets and waxworms are working well as bait. The perch fishing is improving on most of the local lakes.
Northeast:
In the Alpena area, the perch fishing is good on Grand Lake. Minnows are working well as bait.
By Grayling, the bluegill and walleye fishing is fair on Lake Margrethe. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to be out.
Out of the Oscoda area, the smallmouth bass fishing is good on both Cooke Dam and Foote Dam ponds. The catfish and bluegill fishing on the ponds is fair. Van Etten Lake is producing good perch fishing. Anglers on the Au Sable River are reeling in a few smallmouth bass and perch. On Lake Huron, the salmon fishing is fair.
Higgins Lake is producing some very good lake trout fishing. Anglers are trolling with Rapalas or using a jig with a Swedish pimple. The perch fishing on the lake ranges from fair to good.
Anglers on Houghton Lake are catching a few walleye in water up to 10 feet deep. The bluegill and sunfish fishing is fair by the weed beds.
At Au Gres, the perch and walleye fishing on Saginaw Bay is slow. Anglers are catching fair numbers of perch, but they are running small.
East:
Around Linwood on Saginaw Bay, the walleye fishing is fair. The best spots to drop a line in the water are near buoys one and two and by the ??blackhole.? The perch fishing on the bay is improving.
Out of the Bay City area, the perch fishing is picking up, with minnows being the preferred bait.
In the Saginaw area, the small mouth bass fishing is very good on the Tittabawassee River. Anglers along the Saginaw River are reeling in several catfish.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Bird Flips Bird
A killdeer flip me off as I was taking his photo.
Not much to report on fishing as very little pressure this week. Salmon fishing is good at most ports on the Lake Michigan Side
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Dragonfly Meets Green Heron
Shot this when I was shooting the sandpiper, Was just a fast shot and the bird was in the only sunny spot on the pond. I tried not to over expose but still did but I got the shot.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Goose Stepin Piper
This photo was shot Sunday at Betsie Bay as the migration of shore birds start.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Fishing Picking Up
With the cooler weather fishing is picking up inland, with the salmon on the lake Michigan side is really hot this week. I was down at Betsie Bay today and salmon were trying to run up the Betsie but the water is so shallow they were beaching themselves and then the birds would get them. We sure need some rain to get the water levels back up.
See picture of Gary Swiger and his grandson Mitch Underhill with their catch. Gary, a diehard spear fisherman is teaching his grandson how to fish spinner baits. They prefer using copper blades. Friday??s trip was so much fun; Gary took the boys out Sunday. Gary, a retired teacher, is still teaching!
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
The cooler weather has certainly improved fishing. Few excuses of marking fish that have lock jaw. Most species are becoming aggressive again.
Most are working Lake Cadillac. Many are afraid of Mitchell because of the low water conditions. There are large submerged rocks near the mouth of the canal connecting the two lakes. Be careful on Mitchell! The positive side is that few are fishing Mitchell and the power boats and skiers are staying on Cadillac.
The pike are back. Most report catches of 10 to 12 an outing. Nothing huge, 27 to 29 inches seem the average keeper. As usual spinner baits have been the best artificial, for those covering water. Suckers under a bobber work for those who still fish. No hot spot. They seem to be in any weed bed on either lake.
Panfishing has improved, crappie are biting again on the east side of Cadillac. Early and late they??re near the surface. During the day they??ve been suspending about 10 foot down in 12 to 15 foot depths. Better gills and sunfish are reported along the north shore of Cadillac. The area in front of the high school to the Clam River is the best choice. A few perch and rock bass are also mixed in this area.
Bass fishing has been good all season. Small mouths are feeding on crayfish. Fish the drop offs. Large mouths have been easy to pattern. Sunny days cast the shore line docks and pontoons. Cloudy days normally they??re on the flats. Try frogin in the heavy weeds.
Want walleyes. Bring your rabbits foot. Few have been caught lately.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Hard Day At the Ponds
Here is a couple of photos I took today of a sandpiper resting after chasing minnows to eat
Friday, August 24, 2007
Back Online Again
Hi everybody, after a long non support from my hosting company I have changed and will have to start all over again. I have learned a lot and will get things back up with lots of photos and daily fishing report. Thanks Curly