Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Mancelona Bass Festival Fishing Report
The 53rd Annual Mancelona Bass Festival is scheduled for May 28-June 1, 2008
http://www.mancelonabassfest.org
Little Bay De Noc - Most anglers are after walleye but those catching bass are doing well with good catches reported off Garth Point in 8 to 13 feet of water when casting crank baits or plastics. Those fishing near the mouth of the Ford River are drifting or jigging tube baits in 6 to 14 feet of water. Walleye fishing slowed but there were several reports of large fish being caught off the Center Reef. Most are drifting crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers in 18 to 20 feet of water.
Big Bay De Noc - Smallmouth action was hot with many anglers taking limits. Some fish were on the beds but most were caught in 8 to 12 feet of water when casting spinners, crank baits and tubes in South River Bay, Puffy Bay, outside Martins Bay and off Porcupine Point. A good number of fish were in the 16 to 18 inch range. Walleye fishing was fair for those trolling crawlers in 12 to 18 feet of water just north of Kate’s Bay.
Manistique had a great opener, with Indian Lake, Manistique Lake, and Curtis Area all reporting good bite last week. The St Marys River should be good also for walleye, pike and huge muskies
Cooler temperatures, rain and strong winds have been keeping fishing activity at bay across a good part of the state.
Around Grayling, The walleye are biting on Lake Margrethe with Pike fishing sporadic on inland lakes and river fishing is fair to good with live bait, Hendricksonâ??s, and flies.
Hamlin Lake - The crappie are moving out of the shallows. Some nice bluegills were caught near the drop-offs on the North Arm and walleye off Pete’s Bayou. The Bayou’s are starting to heat up and produce a good mix of panfish. Bullhead and panfish were caught at Victory Park. Largemouth bass fishing has been very good.fter dark. Bass anglers are finding beds off the points on the main lake.
Lake Charlevoix - Had good perch fishing on the northwest side of the lake when you can find a school of fish and stay with it. The fish are getting ready to disperse and spawn but some nice catches are still coming in on minnows or wigglers.
Skegemog Lake - Smallmouth bass were being targeted in the southern portions of the lake near the marshy area, around the Torch River and the public access site. Try 5 to 15 feet of water with tube baits, crank baits, jigs, spinners, wax worms or crawlers. Muskie anglers are trolling the Elk-Skegemog narrows, near the Torch River and in the south end of the lake near the marsh. Pike were also caught.
Big Glen Lake - Some nice rainbow trout were caught on silver rapalas or wigglers around the rocky shallows. Perch are still hitting on wigglers. The bass opener was good with some nice fish caught.
Long Lake - The walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses after dark. Also Lake Leelanau has reported in with a good walleye bite
Portage Lake - The bass opener was very productive with excellent numbers of both large and smallmouth caught. Pike were also caught. Walleye are starting to bite during the day.
Muskegon Lake - Perch have been caught in 20 to 30 feet of water. The northern pike action has been good. Crappie and bluegills can be found in waters 10 to 15 feet or deeper. Both the large and smallmouth bass fishing has been good. Some nice fish have been caught and released.
Whitehall - Has good walleye fishing off the pier. Most anglers are picking their spots before dark and fishing most of the night. A few salmon have been caught when trolling. The lake trout were found in shallow waters.
East & West Twin Lakes by Lewiston - Water temperatures are still a bit cold and because of it, only a couple walleye were caught when jigging with minnows, crawlers and leeches or trolling with crawler harnesses.
Houghton Lake - Bluegills are starting to move into the shallows, Also great walleye fishing this week, but many are short.
Tittabawassee River - The lower river continues to produce very good walleye fishing around the Center Road access site. A lot of smallmouth bass have been caught and released and a lot of white bass have been caught.
FISHING REPORT
Upper Peninsula:
In the Escanaba area, the weather is finally warming up and fishing activity is also on the rise. Walleye action is good on Little Bay DeNoc. Perch is decent around Gladstone when using wigglers and worms. Bass are biting at a good rate on crawlers and leeches.
In the Manistique area, rather slow fishing taking place for walleye and perch on Indian Lake. Anglers are getting the best results with golden shiners and leeches.
Around the Sault Ste. Marie area, the water is very cold and activity has slowed. Brimley is good for walleye on crawler harnesses, and Lake George and Munuscong Bay are also giving up decent walleye. White fish are doing well in the upper river on wax worms and tear drops.
Drummond Island around Scotts Bay is decent for walleye, pike and bass. A variety of spoons and chubs are working well.
Brevort Lake in St. Ignace is offering up good catches of walleye, small mouth bass and pike. Huge fishing tournament takes place this weekend, big prizes available, call Kurt at 906-643-7979 or Jim at 906-643-6743 for details.
Northwest:
Alanson anglers are doing fair for walleye and perch on Burt and Crooked lakes. Leeches and trolling with body baits work well.
Bass are biting in Boyne City. Lake Charlevoix is giving up good size bass in the 4-5 pound range. Walleye are in the deeper waters, 20-30 feet near the south arm. A variety of baits are being used that include plastics, shad wraps, golden shiners, suckers green crawlers and leeches.
Frankfort area anglers are hitting good numbers of silver and rock bass on Crystal Lake with crawlers and imitation baits, as well as crank baits. Perch action is slow and on the lower end of Portage Lake the walleye are active.
In the Manistee area, blue gill can be found along the shoreline. Out on the Lake in 130 feet of water and fishing in the top 50, salmon and lake trout action is good. On Manistee Lake the bass action is really good.
In the Kalkaska area, bass are starting to spawn on Skegemog Lake. Blue gill are bedding on all inland lakes, and anglers are using tear drops and beetle spins with good results.
Gaylord anglers are doing well on the Pigeon, Sturgeon and AuSable river systems for trout. Bass action is great on all of the lakes using jigs and crawler harnesses and blue gill are starting to bed.
In the Cadillac area, fishing is great for crappie, walleye, pike and bass basically all over Cadillac and Mitchell lakes. Best baits include spinners, crawlers, minnows and live bait.
West:
In the Ludington area, walleye action remains good on Hamlin Lake when anglers use body baits. A good location for crappie is at the upper end of the Lake. Lake Michigan is decent for kings and trout particularly in and around the piers. Any color spoon seems to do the trick.
In the Muskegon area, blue gill and crappie fishing is slow due to cold water. Bass, large and small are biting in good numbers on Muskegon Lake. Lake Michigan is good for perch in 60-80 feet of water and spoons, flashers and flies are working well. Salmon are also hitting in 100-200 feet top to bottom on crank and stick baits.
Walleye and browns are biting near the pier after dark. Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake are providing good fishing for lake trout just about all over and browns near the shoreline.
Southwest:
In the Holland area, salmon are biting in 160-180 feet of water in the top 60 feet. Green and blue spoons and dodgers and flies are working very well. Blue gill and crappie action has slowed this week. Lake Macatawa is giving up good numbers of walleye.
In the Benton Harbor area, some really good fishing is taking place. Salmon are biting on any type of spoon in the deeper waters, 160 feet or so. Night crawlers are working well on walleye on the St. Joe River.
Around Kalamazoo, anglers are doing well on the Kalamazoo River for small mouth bass and walleye. Austin Lake is producing good perch and bass are really moving on Gull Lake. Lake Michigan is giving up good quantities of bass in 120 feet of water.
Northeast:
Oscoda anglers are finding good luck using crawlers and minnows just below the Cooke and Foote Dam ponds for pike, blue gill and crappie. The AuSable River continues to produce decent catches of walleye and some steelhead.
In the Grayling area, bass are bedding on Lake Margrethe as well as many inland lakes. Lake Margrethe is also providing fair catches of walleye in 17 feet of water. River fishing is good for trout on nymph spinners and little Joes tipped with live bait. Blue gill are hiding out in 5-8 feet of water.
On Houghton Lake anglers will find good fishing for walleye, pike, blue gill, and good size perch. The bass season is also off to a very good start. Leeches, leaf worms and large walleye minnows are all working well.
Higgins Lake is giving up good rock bass as well as small mouth bass on crawlers and leeches. The best locations are around the points and south of Sunken Island. Perch are slow due to the 48 degree water temperature.
East:
Near the Linwood area and all the way to AuGres the walleye activity is good, especially near the shoreline of the Saginaw Bay. Anglers are fishing in 6-15 feet of water and using crawler harnesses for good results. The AuSable River continues to give up decent steelhead on spawn and wax worms. The kings and Coho are plentiful on Lake Huron near Port Sanilac.