Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Labor Day Fishing Report
Northern Michigan now faces another economic disaster as deer baiting has been banned. This will only put more business out as most hunters will go to the Upper as they can still bait up there. Millions of dollars will be lost with no recourse to help as we are already hurting up here.
Walleye activity seems to be picking up with the coller nights, while salmon action is on getting hot on the big lake.
Perch moved back out of Ludington with warm water moving back in.
Houghton Lake has been great this week for walleye. Leeches working best along with crawlers. Walleye and bluegill are still being caught along the weedbeds in 7 to 10 feet of water. Early morning or late evening is best due to heavy boat traffic.
Lake St. Helen has been good for bass and gills.
Lake Missaukee - Boat and shore anglers are catching some nice bass and other panfish. Walleye have been caught but catch rates were not consistent.
Little Bay De Noc - Walleye action was best trolling in front of the mouth of the Escanaba River and close to shore at Kipling. Use crawler harnesses or top water lures in 13 to 15 feet of water. Perch were caught in front of the launch at Kipling and along the drop-off while smallmouth bass were taken in the weeds off the launch. Channel cats and freshwater drum have been caught off the docks.
Big Bay De Noc - Off Fairport, chinook salmon were caught about seven miles out. The better fishing was in the early morning. Fish were caught 70 feet down in waters 100 feet deep.
Brevoort Lake - Anglers are still catching walleye. Walleye are hitting on crawlers.
Manistique has been good for fishing. Walleye and bass are decent.
Indian Lake - A few walleye and some perch have been caught.
Skegemog Lake - Effort for smallmouth bass is still high in the flats between the Torch River and Baggs Road and the Narrows. Those targeting muskie are trolling large rapalas in 8 to 20 feet of water in the same area. Pike fishing has increased in the southern part of the lake where anglers are trolling or casting crank baits, rattle traps, stick baits and bombers in 3 to 20 feet of water. Bluegills are hitting on crawlers and red worms in 10 to 12 feet of water.
Big Glen Lake - Perch are still the favorite. The bigger fish are in 30 to 40 feet of water and the bait varies. Try worms, shrimp, minnows and wigglers.
Little Glen Lake - Perch anglers are doing well on the west end of the lake.
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, Hendrickson??s, and flies.
Hamlin Lake - Fishing activity is slowly picking up as the waters cool. Anglers targeting panfish are having success using worms in 8 to 12 feet on water. Good bass fishing can be found around any kind of structure.
Wixom Lake - In Gladwin County is producing some nice rock bass also crappie and gills have hitting.
Lake Charlevoix - Perch anglers are finding fish at 30 feet but they are small. The bass are off the beds and along the drop offs. Those fishing the channel of the Pine River have caught smallmouth using live bait and artificial worms. Freshwater drum and catfish are also starting to show up.
Saginaw Bay - Perch are being caught in small to moderate numbers a mile east and a mile north of the Spark Plug, near Buoy #18 along the shipping channel, just south of the Black Hole, and 2 miles north off the mouth of the Quanicassee River. The action is not fast and furious but the fish being caught are running 8 to 11 inches. Walleye action continues fair at most locations, with angler effort concentrated around the Spark Plug, off Spoils Island, and in the Slot northeast of Quanicassee up to the outside of the islands off Bay Port. Bass are still hitting in Wildfowl Bay.
Upper Herring Lake - Walleye and largemouth bass have been caught during the day when trolling the weeds with either a crawler harness or a plastic worm.
Long Lake - The walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses after dark. Also Lake Leelanau has reported in with a good walleye bite. Warmer weather walleye are hittiing leeches real good
Portage Lake - Dredging is still taking place in the channel however walleye fishing in and around the channel has been decent at night. Good numbers of largemouth bass have been caught around the docks and the weed beds. The bigger bluegills along with rock bass and perch have been caught in the northwest corner of the lake and in front of the marina in 15 to 25 feet of water. The mayfly hatch is underway so catch rates are a bit slower, but fish are being caught.
Hamlin Lake - Fishing was a bit on the slow side however some limits were taken using wax worms or leaf worms in shallow waters in the South, Middle and North Bayou’s. Bass were caught on live bait or green and purple artificial crawlers.
Muskegon Lake - Walleye are being caught along the weed edges but many are running small. A few perch have been caught on minnows. Bluegill fishing was slow as the fish may be suspended in deeper water. Bass are still being caught in shallow waters along the weedbeds and around structure.
Whitehall - Fishing has picked up with a few more chinook and lake trout coming in, but they have been small. The fish were caught in 80 to 120 feet of water and the lake trout were coming off the bottom.
White Lake - Perch are starting to show up.
East & West Twin Lakes - has picked up for walleye and bass with leeches and crawlers working best..
Higgins Lake - Boat anglers are still taking lake trout when trolling body baits behind cowbells in 80 to 100 feet of water. Lots of rock bass have been caught on minnows and worms. Those drifting leeches along the drop-off in 25 to 30 feet of water are taking smallmouth bass. Perch fishing was hit-or-miss.
Houghton Lake - Has good walleye and bluegill fishing. Anglers are fishing an area out in the middle of the lake called the “elbow” which is a weedbed in 7 feet of water. Crawlers, leeches and wax worms have caught fish.
Tittabawassee River - Catfish has been good.
Cedarville and Hessel - Still have good pike fishing. Those fishing off the pier at the Hessel Marina are taking pike, smallmouth bass and perch on crawlers or minnows. Yellow perch action picked up in Hessel Bay in 9 to10 feet of water. Musky Bay has slow yellow perch fishing and the fish are small. Moscow Channel is good, and Cedarville Bay is fair. Smallmouth bass fishing is fair but should be picking up soon. Salmon are reported in 60 to 70 feet of water or less but fishing is slow.
FISHING REPORT
Upper Peninsula:
Copper Harbor anglers have beautiful fishing weather for lake trout. Lake Superior is providing decent catches in 90-100 feet of water.
In the Bergland area, Lake Gogebic is producing some walleye. Anglers are fishing deeper waters and using minnows. Night crawlers are working well on perch right at the edge of the weed beds.
Good action in the Marquette area for walleye and perch on Independence and Greenwood lakes, the Dead River Basin and a few scattered fish on Bay DeNoc. Anglers are jigging with minnows after dark or trolling with crawler harnesses before dark.
Around Escanaba the walleye are scattered throughout Little Bay De Noc with best results in 25-40 feet of water. Trolling or drifting with crawler harnesses seems to be working well. Expect some perch to be mixed in the catch. A few salmon are being caught on Cedar River and around Fairport.
Near the Manistique area, salmon are hitting on spoons. Indian Lake is giving up nice catches of walleye and perch around the rock pile on Rapalas and night crawlers.
Around Sault Ste. Marie some very good angling action is taking place. Walleye are abundant up and down the St. Mary??s River. Small sized perch are active in the upper River. Salmon are starting to run and various pan fish are plentiful.
Tremendous fishing in the Munuscong area where anglers are obtaining limits of walleye on Raber Bay and around the shipping channels. Perch action is great around the Island??s and the St. Mary??s River. Cedarville Lake is giving up plenty of lake trout and salmon on spoons. Get in on the Salmon Derby that runs today through Sunday; call 906-647-4002 for details.
Anglers in the St.Ignace area are doing ok on walleye with crawlers and leaf worms.
Drummond Island anglers are catching some perch and bass on Lake Huron as well as on Potaganissing Bay.
Northwest:
Off of the Frankfort area salmon are hitting on Cleos, crockadiles, glow in the dark spoons, wobblers and alewives on a slider. The best location is near the piers. The Betsie River is also producing a few salmon, mostly running in bunches. Anglers are using squid, plugs, and flies. Crystal Lake is giving up some nice perch on wigglers, crawlers and minnows. Good fishing for walleye on Betsie Bay, Platt Lake and the Upper and Lower Herring lakes.
Around Alanson Burt Lake is producing a few perch and walleye. Fish are biting on minnows and crawlers. Salmon action is rated fair on Little Traverse Bay.
Lake Charlevoix near Boyne City has cooled down due to temperatures in the forties during the morning. Anglers continue to catch good numbers of bass and walleye while drifting and using body baits and crawlers.
Off of the Manistee area salmon action is good on Lake Michigan and particularly Kings are hitting on spoons around the piers. Wigglers are working well on perch off the pier as well. On the Big Manistee River anglers are doing well using junior husky jerks on salmon.
Near Kalkaska the salmon are starting to pick up on Grand Traverse Bay and anglers are using dipsy divers and Hot-n-Tots with good results. Small mouth bass are also hitting on the Bay in good numbers as well. Excellent bass fishing is taking place on Skegemog Lake on leeches.
Fantastic fishing is taking place in the Gaylord area on all of the inland lakes and streams. Expect excellent conditions for trout during the morning hours on Tricos. Grasshoppers and cadis patterns are working well in the evening. Bass and walleye continue to offer up good opportunities for anglers fishing Lake Michigan.
In Cadillac, crappie are active on the east end of Lake Cadillac. Mitchell Lake is giving up crappie and blue gill on wax and leaf worms. Both Cadillac and Mitchell lakes are producing large mouth bass. Headed over to Lake Michigan the salmon are hitting on a variety of baits, spoons are working well around the piers, while Cleo??s and cast masters seem to work better out on the Lake. Salmon are biting on J-Plugs and storm lures on the Pine and Manistee rivers.
Northeast:
Oscoda angling is very good with pike, bass, crappie, blue gill, perch and walleye all active on a variety of baits that include minnows, leeches and worms. Cooke and Foote Dam Ponds are providing plenty of pan fish on leaf worms. Salmon action is starting to pick up on the AuSable River, and Van Etten Lake is giving up nice catches of pike, perch and walleye.
Lake Margrethe in Grayling is giving up fair to good catches of pike. Best results are found in 20-feet of water using sucker minnows and fishing the middle grounds. Anglers are trolling in 17-feet of water for walleye and fish are biting on leeches. Perch are hitting on wax worms and minnows.
Around the Alpena area fishing opportunities are fair for salmon and lake trout out on Lake Huron. A variety of spoons seems to be working well.
Higgins Lake anglers will find really great fishing for perch, lake trout and rock bass. Minnows are working well on perch when fishing in 22-35 feet of water. Swedish pimples are popular on the lake trout in 100 feet of water, and crawlers are doing the trick on rock bass just about every where on the Lake.
In the Au Gres area, perch activity has slowed a bit, but the walleye ranges from fair to good depending on the day you head out. Best action seems to be taking place in 35 feet of water and using crawlers and minnows.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
DNR Bans Baiting in Lower Michigan
DNR Acts to Implement CWD Surveillance and Response Plan
In the wake of Monday??s announcement that Chronic Wasting Disease
(CWD) has been confirmed in a three-year old privately-owned
white-tailed deer in Kent County, the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources is acting immediately to implement provisions of the state??s
Surveillance and Response Plan for CWD.
Among the provisions is an immediate ban on all baiting and feeding of
deer and elk in the Lower Peninsula. DNR conservation officers will step
up surveillance and enforcement efforts on baiting. Baiting and feeding
unnaturally congregate deer into close contact, thus increasing the
transmission of contagious diseases such as CWD and bovine tuberculosis.
Bait and feed sites increase the likelihood that those areas will
become contaminated with the feces of infected animals, making them a
source of CWD infection for years to come.
Additionally, the provisions include a mandatory deer check for hunters
who take a deer within Tyrone, Solon, Nelson, Sparta, Algoma, Courtland,
Alpine, Plainfield, and Cannon townships, which contain the surveillance
area or ??hot zone.? All hunters who take a deer during any deer
hunting season this fall within the ??hot zone? will be required to
visit a DNR deer check station so that their deer can be tested for CWD.
The DNR currently is seeking locations for additional deer check
stations in the area to make it more convenient for hunters. To prevent
unintentional spread of CWD, the only parts of deer harvested in the
surveillance zone that will be allowed to be transported out will be
boned meat, capes, and antlers cleaned of all soft tissues.
In addition, all transport of live wild deer, elk and moose will be
prohibited statewide, including transport for rehabilitation purposes.
Currently, there is no live animal test for CWD, and infected animals
often show no signs of illness for years in spite of being infectious
for other animals. Movement for rehabilitation purposes may speed
geographic spread of the disease.
The DNR will act immediately to test an additional 300 deer within the
??hot zone? in Kent County. The DNR will be cooperating with local
officials to collect fresh road-killed deer, and will be urging deer
hunters participating in the early antlerless season on private land in
September to comply with the mandatory deer check.
Landowners in Kent County ??hot zone? who would like to obtain
disease control permits to cull deer from their property and assist with
the collection of deer for testing should contact the DNR??s Wildlife
Disease Lab at 517-336-5030. Permits will be available immediately upon
request. Landowners who do not want to cull deer, but want to
participate in the collection of deer for testing, can obtain assistance
from the DNR in culling deer.
DNR officials reminded citizens that, to date, there is no evidence
that CWD poses a risk to humans, nor has there been verified evidence
that the disease can be transmitted to humans.
CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk and moose.
Most cases of the disease have been in western states, but in the past
several years, it has spread to Midwestern and eastern states. Infected
animals display abnormal behaviors, loss of bodily functions and a
progressive weight loss. Current evidence suggests that the disease is
transmitted through infectious, self-multiplying proteins (prions).
Prions are normal cell proteins whose shape has been transformed,
causing CWD. The disease is transmitted by exposure to saliva of
infected animals. Susceptible animals can also acquire CWD by eating
feces from an infected animal, or soil contaminated by them. Once
contaminated, soil can remain a source of infection for many years,
making CWD a particularly difficult disease to manage.
More information about CWD is available on the State of Michigan??s
Emerging Diseases Web site at http://www.michigan.gov/chronicwastingdisease.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Otter in My Pond Today
I was trying to get a few photos of green heron and had this otter sneak in the pond for a few minutes. Love watching them put hope they stay out of my minnow tanks.
The perch have moves out of Ludington this weekend with the south winds, but with north winds the next few days they should show back up.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
The lakes are calming down. The numbers of boaters and fishermen have decreased with school starting. Although fishing is still descent, many have turned their attention to catching salmon on Lake Michigan or the Manistee River.
Crappie fishing is good, especially on the east side of Lake Cadillac. This has been the hot spot most of the summer. Limits of 8 to 10 inch specks are common. Big rock bass and bluegills are coming from this deeper side of the lake.
Surface water temperatures on both lakes are over 70 degrees.
Panfishing on Lake Mitchell has picked up. Mixed catches of gills, sunfish and crappie are coming from the west side, especially the mouths of the coves. Work the cabbage beds.
Few have been targeting bass or pike. Most caught have been accidental catches while fishing for panfish. Spinner baits are your best bet for pike. Bass are eating senkos, tubes or jigs. No one bait is hotter then another. As the lakes cool down the bass and pike will become more aggressive. Marianne Gay from Eaton Rapids caught her pike while fishing in Cadillac.
It is well known that all the ports along the Lake Michigan shoreline are catching salmon. Big salmon! Charter captains can almost guarantee catches. The piers are also hot. From Manistee to Frankfort pier fishermen are casting Cleo??s, Kastmasters, and K.O. Wobblers or using alewives along the pier heads.
The Manistee River has also begun for salmon. Lots of snags, but the numbers of fish are increasing daily. Nice chrome fresh salmon. Most guides and river rats are casting Thundersticks. Fire tiger is the most popular color. They??re up to Tippy Dam but accesses down river, like High Bridge, Pine Creek and Rainbow Bend have better numbers. Pictured is an example of an August Chinook caught from the Manistee River.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Perch Run At Ludington
Walleye activity seems to have slowed in many portions of the state, while salmon action is on the rise.
Finally a Perch Run!!!!! Ludington Pier is hot again for perch this week with minnows working best. Look for perch to show up in Manistee and Frankfort to as they move up the coast.
Houghton Lake has been fair this week. Leeches working best along with crawlers.
Lake St. Helen has been slow this week.
Lake Missaukee - Boat and shore anglers are catching some nice bass and other panfish. Walleye have been caught but catch rates were not consistent.
Little Bay De Noc - Walleye action was slow and those that caught fish seem to do best in the southern parts of the Bay. Fish late evenings off Breezy Point while trolling stick baits or crawlers in 10 to 14 feet of water or about 20 feet down just off the break. Those fishing off the mouth of the Escanaba River in the early morning are jigging or drifting crawlers in waters up to 20 feet deep. Walleye and perch were caught in 20 to 25 feet of water off Gladstone. A few salmon were caught on spoons 80 feet down in 100 feet of water out near the Ford River Can.
Big Bay De Noc - Has good walleye action but few anglers taking advantage of it. Most are trolling crawlers and stick baits in 20 to 33 feet of water from Ansell’s Point to the “Boot” and from Garden Bluff out to the Shoals. A few perch were caught off Ogontz when jigging crawlers off the weeds just south of the launch. Good salmon action off Fairport for those trolling 80 to 90 feet down in 105 to 120 feet of water and steelhead were caught 60 to 70 feet down. Try spoons or artificial cut bait that glows.
Brevoort Lake - Anglers are still catching walleye. Walleye are hitting on crawlers.
Manistique has been good for fishing. Walleye and bass are decent.
Indian Lake - A few walleye and some perch have been caught.
Skegemog Lake - Smallmouth bass fishing remains good. Target the flats between the Torch River and the access site at Baggs Road while casting crawlers, leeches, shrimp, crayfish, minnows, tube baits, jigs or rapalas in 8 to 20 feet of water. Rock bass were hitting near the Torch River and on the north side of the Narrows around the stumps. Anglers are still catching bluegills in 10 to 12 feet of water in front of the access site and the Torch River. A few yellow perch were also caught.
Big Glen Lake - Perch are the target. The smaller fish can be found in 25 to 30 feet of water and the bigger ones in 40 feet or more. They are using a variety of worms, wigglers, shrimp and minnows. Lake trout are still being picked up off the bottom when using spoons. One steelhead was caught when trolling in 30 feet of water on the west side of the lake near the Yacht Club. Mornings are the best time to fish. For a nice day with the kids, try the shallow waters near the Sleeping Bear Dunes. There are lots of bluegills in the weeds.
Little Glen Lake - Perch anglers are doing well on the west end of the lake.
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, Hendrickson??s, and flies.
Hamlin Lake - Anglers fishing the Narrows and Pete’s Bayou claimed leeches were the hot bait however those trolling a crawler harness or still-fishing with minnows and crawlers were also getting bites. Largemouth bass were caught around the Dunes while the smallmouth can be found around the North and Middle Bayou’s in 15 feet of water. Bluegill fishing has been good in 8 to 12 feet of water
Wixom Lake - In Gladwin County is producing some nice rock bass also crappie and gills have hitting.
Lake Charlevoix - Perch anglers are finding fish at 30 feet but they are small. The bass are off the beds and along the drop offs. Those fishing the channel of the Pine River have caught smallmouth using live bait and artificial worms. Freshwater drum and catfish are also starting to show up.
Saginaw Bay - Walleyes are still hitting east and northeast of the Spark Plug in 19 to 23 feet of water and north of Quanicassee in 13 to 15 feet of water. Very good walleye fishing was reported from 30 feet of water east of Eagle Bay Marina, formally known as Great Lakes Marina. Heading northwest off Sebewaing, a few walleye were caught over the Bar. Perch were hit-and-miss, but some were caught around the Black Hole northeast of Linwood and north of the Quanicassee River.
Upper Herring Lake - Walleye and largemouth bass have been caught during the day when trolling the weeds with either a crawler harness or a plastic worm.
Long Lake - The walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses after dark. Also Lake Leelanau has reported in with a good walleye bite. Warmer weather walleye are hittiing leeches real good
Portage Lake - Dredging is still taking place in the channel however walleye fishing in and around the channel has been decent at night. Good numbers of largemouth bass have been caught around the docks and the weed beds. The bigger bluegills along with rock bass and perch have been caught in the northwest corner of the lake and in front of the marina in 15 to 25 feet of water. The mayfly hatch is underway so catch rates are a bit slower, but fish are being caught.
Hamlin Lake - Fishing was a bit on the slow side however some limits were taken using wax worms or leaf worms in shallow waters in the South, Middle and North Bayou’s. Bass were caught on live bait or green and purple artificial crawlers.
Muskegon Lake - Walleye are being caught along the weed edges but many are running small. A few perch have been caught on minnows. Bluegill fishing was slow as the fish may be suspended in deeper water. Bass are still being caught in shallow waters along the weedbeds and around structure.
Whitehall - Fishing has picked up with a few more chinook and lake trout coming in, but they have been small. The fish were caught in 80 to 120 feet of water and the lake trout were coming off the bottom.
White Lake - Walleye have been caught early or late when trolling or drifting. Look for both large and smallmouth bass around the points and along the weedbeds. For northern pike, try trolling with large spoons or plugs, casting into the weeds or bobber fishing with large sucker minnows..
East & West Twin Lakes - has picked up for walleye and bass with leeches and crawlers working best..
Higgins Lake - Boat anglers are still taking lake trout when trolling body baits behind cowbells in 80 to 100 feet of water. Lots of rock bass have been caught on minnows and worms. Those drifting leeches along the drop-off in 25 to 30 feet of water are taking smallmouth bass. Perch fishing was hit-or-miss.
Houghton Lake - Has good walleye and bluegill fishing. Anglers are fishing an area out in the middle of the lake called the “elbow” which is a weedbed in 7 feet of water. Crawlers, leeches and wax worms have caught fish.
Tittabawassee River - Catfish has been good.
Cedarville and Hessel - Chinook and lake trout action has been fair off Hessel. Some perch have been caught 8 to 10 feet down in waters up to 70 feet deep off the marina pier. Perch fishing has picked up in Muskie Bay, Cedarville Bay and in the Moscoe Channel. Worms and minnows were the ticket.
Upper Peninsula:
Off of the Copper Harbor area, Lake Superior is producing good quantities of lake trout in 100-feet of water on divers.
Around Bergland,fishing activity has slowed a little with walleye action rated fair on Lake Gogebic. Anglers are trolling with crank baits and leeches are also working well. Perch activity is decent around the weed beds and in 8-10 feet of water when using crawlers.
In the Escanaba region, Little Bay de Noc continues to produce good numbers of walleye that are spread out all over the Bay. Drifting with crawler harnesses seems to get consistent results. Salmon action is great on Cedarville in 90-130 feet of water and fishing 45-80 feet down. Gladstone Beach remains a hot spot for perch on worms and minnows.
In the Sault Ste. Marie area, very good action for walleye on the St. Mary??s River using crawler harnesses. The Garden River off of Lake George is producing some really big salmon (21 pounds), as well as around DeTour. Anglers are using J-plugs and spoons.
In the Munuscong area anglers are finding excellent conditions for walleye on Munuscong Bay using night crawlers and bottom bouncers. Off of Cedarville the pike are hitting all around the Islands as well as Musky and McKay Bays and off all the points. Anglers are fishing in 30-feet of water and using Mack??s Smile Blades and many are drifting at less than one mile per hour. Salmon action has slowed a bit.
St. Ignace the fishing has seemed to slow for walleye and perch, but decent catches of salmon can be had from Lake Huron.
Information Providers: ACE Hardware-St. Ignace; Bayview Bait & Tackle-Escanaba; Gaslight-Copper Harbor; Hank??s Sporting-Sault Ste. Marie; Nine Pines-Bergland and Wilderness Treasures-Munuscong Bay.
Northwest:
In the Alanson area the fishing has slowed a bit, however some pike are hitting on Hawaiian skirt on Crooked Lake.
Angling activity around Boyne City is good for bass and walleye on Lake Charlevoix. Best results are drifting in 25-30 feet of water using floating jig heads with crawlers or a variety of body baits.
Around Petoskey, Lake Michigan is giving up plenty of lake trout and salmon in 60-80 feet of water. Blue, purple and green spoons are working well.
Frankfort fishing is good with the Betsie Bay giving up nice counts of salmon near the pier heads on glow in the dark spoons. The Betsie and Platt Rivers are providing good catches of brown trout in the early morning and evening hours. The Big Platt Lake is offering plenty of walleye opportunities, while small inland lakes are producing good quantities of pan fish. Many anglers are waiting for the salmon to come up stream.
In Manistee, the salmon action is good all over and especially in the cold waters of Manistee Harbor. Plugs are working well. Kings are starting to move on the Big Manistee River. Perch are active south of the pier heads.
Decent fishing taking place around Kalkaska, the inland lakes are producing decent catches of bass on rubber worms, night crawlers and live bait. Salmon are starting to pick up on Lake Michigan and the Manistee River is producing some walleye and pan fish with spinners and leeches working best.
Gaylord has great fishing on the majority of streams for trout, as well as the Boyne, Black, Sturgeon and Manistee Rivers. Tricos and flies work best in the early morning, while terrestrials and cadis seem to work better in the evening hours. All inland lakes as well as Lake Michigan are doing well for bass and walleye.
Around In the Cadillac area, salmon action is starting to pick up on the Manistee River. Flies, spawn, spoons and thunder stick juniors are working well. Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell are producing some bass and pike, as well as a few crappie and blue gill. Blue gill and crappie have moved to deeper waters and anglers are working hard to catch.
Information providers: Alphorn-Gaylord; Backcast Fly Shop-Frankfort; Boyne River Bait-Boyne City; Jack??s Sports-Kalkaska; Riley??s-Manistee; Pilgrim??s Village-Cadillac, and Young??s Bait Shop-Alanson.
West:
In Ludington, on Lake Michigan perch are hitting near the north break wall on minnows leaf and wax worms. Salmon are active around the pier heads when casting spoons or using alewives. Pere Marquette River also is good for salmon fishing. Hamlin Lake has excellent fishing for a wide variety of species with worms working best on several fish.
Around the Muskegon area salmon fishing is heating up. Chinook and Coho are plentiful in waters 30 to 120 feet. Anglers are using flashers and flies behind divers, J-plugs on lead core, and moonshine spoons. Very good fishing for perch right out from the beach to 30-feet of water. Muskegon Lake is good for walleye in the early morning hours using spinner baits, while the evening hours are best with crank baits. Bass activity is very good as well.
Baldwin anglers are doing well for blue gill using crickets, but overall waiting for the salmon run.
Information providers: King Sports-Baldwin; P.M. Sports-Ludington, and Shoreline Bait & Tackle-Muskegon.
Southwest:
Around the Benton Harbor area, good angling action is taking place for salmon on Lake Michigan in waters 80-120 feet. Anglers are fishing 65-70 feet down using an MBK with yellow killers. Perch are scattered north and south, and anglers are using minnows for best results.
In the Holland area windy conditions prevail this week cooling the waters. Lake Macatawa is giving up plenty of blue gill near the buoys and walleye are biting on crawlers, leeches and a variety of body baits. Salmon and perch activity is good on Lake Michigan. Perch are hitting on minnows and wigglers in 20-30 feet of water, while the salmon are biting on J-plugs, flies and spoons in 40-100 feet of water.
Kalamazoo has a kaleidoscope of great fishing. Austin, Gunn and Gull lakes are giving up plenty of large mouth bass on plastic lures with cotton candy the most popular, and white spinner baits. On the Kalamazoo River, walleye are hitting on crawlers and below the Allegan Dam as well as near Swan Creek, steelhead are hitting on Hot-n-Tots in the 14 pound range. Eagle Lake is providing nice crappie on minnows, while Schafer Lake is decent for perch during the middle of the day and fishing in 30-feet of water. Portage and North lakes are giving up abundant blue gill on leaf and wax worms, and night crawlers. Pike action is good when trolling with spoons on Gull Lake and fish are biting on Rapalas and shiner minnows on Huzzy Lake. Lake Michigan is giving up nice counts of salmon, steelhead and brown trout off of South Haven, and in front of piers in 50-90 feet of water.
Within the New Buffalo area, the weather just has not been cooperating for anglers lately. The perch seem to have left the area; anglers are concentrating on salmon and trout in 100-feet of water. Several baits are working well including dodgers, flies, green and silver spoons.
Good activity around Three Rivers where most local lakes are giving up good numbers of crappie, blue gill, bass, and perch. Red wigglers, wax worms and minnows are popular baits. Information providers: American Tackle-Holland; Captain Cook??s-New Buffalo; DR Sports-Kalamazoo; Fisherman??s Luck-Three Rivers, and Tackle Haven-Benton Harbor.
Northeast:
Grayling anglers are doing well on Lake Margrethe for walleye. Anglers are trolling with bottom bouncers with leeches and crawlers at a top speed of ½ mph between 7 p.m. and midnight. In the morning slow drifting with crawler harnesses in 17-20 feet of water is best.
Anglers in Alpena are finding good numbers of lake trout and salmon near the mouth of Thunder Bay and around Presque Ile in 75-110 feet of water. Spoons in a variety of colors are working well. Long Lake is giving up decent catches of bass and walleye on crawler harnesses and Rapalas.
Good action in Oscoda, Cooke and Foote Dam Ponds are giving up nice numbers of crappie on minnows. Pike and bass are active as well on both lakes. Van Etten Lake is providing good catches of perch and walleye on crawlers and minnows. Catfish are biting on worms in the lower AuSable River as well as a variety of pan fish on wax worms and the salmon action is also picking up.
Good action on Houghton Lake where pan fish, walleye and bass are biting on crawlers, leeches, beetle spins and Hot n Tots. Anglers are finding good results for the pan fish when fishing the edge of the weed beds, right in the weed beds and in 6-10 feet of water.
Higgins Lake anglers have been dealing with windy conditions this week and the activity has slowed a bit. When anglers do get out they are catching lake trout, perch, pike, rock and small mouth bass.
Around Au Gres, perch and walleye are active in waters 30-40 feet of water and near the ship wreck and four miles south of Pte. AuGres. Crawlers and minnows seem to be doing the trick.
Information providers: Skip??s-Grayling: Lyman??s-Houghton Lake; Rivers Edge Bait Shop-AuGres; Sports Barn-Higgins Lake; The Dam Store-Oscoda and Clems-Alpena.
East:
In the Linwood area, Saginaw Bay is giving up some walleye on a variety of baits and anglers are finding best results in deeper waters. Perch remain constant again this week in the shipping channels in 19-21 feet of water, south of the Black Hole. Salmon action on Lake Huron is picking up particularly for anglers fishing off the wreck, around Presque Isle, and off of Rogers City.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Boardman River Nature Center’s Fishing for Kids
The Boardman River Nature Center’s had a fishing pond for kids for their grand opening and I donated bait for the kids.
Thanks to the support of more than 250 donors, ground was broken for the Boardman River Nature Center on September 20, 2007. We are in the final steps of our campaign to bring the Center to life, and you can be a part of it! And now, your gift counts more than ever thanks to a 1:1 challenge grant from Grand Traverse County.The Nature Center is now open!
Mission: To provide an environment that inspires exploration, appreciation and conservation of our natural world.
Location: The Boardman River Nature Center is located on Cass Rd. just 1.5 miles south of South Airport Rd.
Hours:Open Monday-Friday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Closed Saturday and Sunday
Labor Day Weekend:Open Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Closed Monday, Sept. 1
After Labor Day Hours will Change:Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10:00 am - 4:00 pm,Wednesday 10:00 am - 8:00 pm, Closed Saturday and Sunday
Monday, August 18, 2008
Perch Fishing Still Good
Reports from Pere Marquette Sport is the perch fishing was great this weekend, but a wind switch will blow the cold water and perch back out. Salmon fishing has been good also as they are close to shore chasing alewives.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
The traditional early run of salmon has started on the Manistee River. Not big numbers yet but they are there. Some are even as far as Tippy Dam.
Pier fishermen at Manistee and Frankfort are cashing in with better numbers. Many are using Sabiki rigs or cast nets to catch alewives and using them for bait.
This is the time to book one of the many charters for salmon. Captains are catching limits for their clients. All the ports along Lake Michigan are good. It??s relatively inexpensive when you consider that all their tackle is first class from the boat to rods and reels. They know what the salmon are hitting on and take you to where the fish are. Your only job is to reel the fish in.
Crappie fishermen are congregating at the east side of Lake Cadillac. Those fishing in the 16 foot depths are doing well. The morning and evening bite usually brings limits of good size specks. Another good spot has been off the deeper drop offs outside the Naval Armory.
Large bluegills are harder to find. Most are fishing too shallow. The best sizes are deep with the crappie. Usually they??re on the bottom unlike their crappie cousins who normally are suspended. Lake Mitchell has given up some good ones. The area behind Mitchell State Park to Lakeside Charlie??s is basically 12 to 15 feet deep and has been good. Some are drifting the area and catching better then average gills on crawlers or leeches. This area has also been good for pike and bass.
Large mouths don??t seem to mind the heat. They shade themselves under heavy weed cover, docks or pontoons. Most have been in the 14 to 17 inch range. Live bait, crawlers and leeches have been effective.
While vacationing from Flushing Joshua and Haley Galer had good luck on Lake Cadillac. Bryce Canada also from Flushing caught his 17? large mouth on Lake Mitchell.
Small mouths have been scarce. Both lakes are full of them but most aren??t fishing where they live.
Pike fishing remains good for numbers, lots of them but most have been undersized. Most keepers have been 26 to 28 inches. Ice fishing is when we always see the big ones.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Buckley Engine Show Fishing Report
Buckley Old Engine Show is this week August 14, 15, 16, 17, 2008
Ludington Pier has been hot for perch this week with minnows working best.
Houghton Lake is hot this week with limit catches of walleye with big gills being caught also. Leeches working best along with crawlers.
Walleye have been biting good on Long Lake by TC and Hodenpyle by Mesick, with leeches working best
Lake St. Helen has been slow this week.
Lake Missaukee - Boat and shore anglers are catching some nice bass and other panfish. Walleye have been caught but catch rates were not consistent.
Little Bay De Noc - Walleye action was slow and those that caught fish seem to do best in the southern parts of the Bay. Fish late evenings off Breezy Point while trolling stick baits or crawlers in 10 to 14 feet of water or about 20 feet down just off the break. Those fishing off the mouth of the Escanaba River in the early morning are jigging or drifting crawlers in waters up to 20 feet deep. Walleye and perch were caught in 20 to 25 feet of water off Gladstone. A few salmon were caught on spoons 80 feet down in 100 feet of water out near the Ford River Can.
Big Bay De Noc - Has good walleye action but few anglers taking advantage of it. Most are trolling crawlers and stick baits in 20 to 33 feet of water from Ansell’s Point to the “Boot” and from Garden Bluff out to the Shoals. A few perch were caught off Ogontz when jigging crawlers off the weeds just south of the launch. Good salmon action off Fairport for those trolling 80 to 90 feet down in 105 to 120 feet of water and steelhead were caught 60 to 70 feet down. Try spoons or artificial cut bait that glows.
Brevoort Lake - Anglers are still catching walleye. Walleye are hitting on crawlers.
Manistique has been good for fishing. Walleye and bass are decent.
Indian Lake - A few walleye and some perch have been caught.
Skegemog Lake - Catch rates for bass have been good. Anglers are fishing the flats between the mouth of the Torch River and the access site at Baggs Road. Pike action has picked up on the north side of the Narrows and near the mouth of the Torch River when using rattle traps, crank baits or stick baits in 7 to 16 feet of water. Rock bass were in 5 to 20 feet of water and the bluegills in 10 to 12 feet.
Big Glen Lake - Lake trout are hitting good on spoons in 70 to 100 feet of water and a few fish over 20 pounds have been caught on the west side of the lake. Bass are hard to find but a few were caught on jigs. Perch are hitting on minnows but the fish were small. Bluegills are hitting on worms.
Little Glen Lake - Perch anglers are doing well on the west end of the lake.
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, Hendrickson??s, and flies.
Hamlin Lake - Fishing has been slow but some fish were caught around the drop-offs in both lakes. Fish were caught in 6 to 20 feet of water between the State Park and Wilson Hill Park. Those jigging with minnows off the dunes did find some crappie and walleye and crawlers produced a few bass and bluegills in the shallows.
Wixom Lake - In Gladwin County is producing some nice rock bass.
Lake Charlevoix - Perch anglers are finding fish at 30 feet but they are small. The bass are off the beds and along the drop offs. Those fishing the channel of the Pine River have caught smallmouth using live bait and artificial worms. Freshwater drum and catfish are also starting to show up.
Saginaw Bay - Has excellent walleye fishing even though heavy rain and wind will slow the action somewhat. Muddy runoff is still entering the bay so anglers will want to head out far enough to find clean water for better fishing. Good walleye fishing continues from Au Gres to Sebewaing however catch rates slowed around Bay Port and Caseville.
Upper Herring Lake - Walleye and largemouth bass have been caught during the day when trolling the weeds with either a crawler harness or a plastic worm.
Long Lake - The walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses after dark. Also Lake Leelanau has reported in with a good walleye bite. Warmer weather walleye are hittiing leeches real good
Portage Lake - Dredging is still taking place in the channel however walleye fishing in and around the channel has been decent at night. Good numbers of largemouth bass have been caught around the docks and the weed beds. The bigger bluegills along with rock bass and perch have been caught in the northwest corner of the lake and in front of the marina in 15 to 25 feet of water. The mayfly hatch is underway so catch rates are a bit slower, but fish are being caught.
Hamlin Lake - Fishing was a bit on the slow side however some limits were taken using wax worms or leaf worms in shallow waters in the South, Middle and North Bayou’s. Bass were caught on live bait or green and purple artificial crawlers.
Muskegon Lake - Walleye are being caught along the weed edges but many are running small. A few perch have been caught on minnows. Bluegill fishing was slow as the fish may be suspended in deeper water. Bass are still being caught in shallow waters along the weedbeds and around structure.
Whitehall - Fishing has picked up with a few more chinook and lake trout coming in, but they have been small. The fish were caught in 80 to 120 feet of water and the lake trout were coming off the bottom.
White Lake - Walleye have been caught early or late when trolling or drifting. Look for both large and smallmouth bass around the points and along the weedbeds. For northern pike, try trolling with large spoons or plugs, casting into the weeds or bobber fishing with large sucker minnows..
East & West Twin Lakes - has picked up for walleye and bass with leeches and crawlers working best..
Houghton Lake - Walleye fishing slowed with the cooler weather. Some big bluegills have been caught along the weedbeds in 6 to 10 feet of water. Crawlers or leeches are working best. Bass can still be found along the weeds when casting crawlers, spinners or tube baits.
Tittabawassee River - Catfish has been good.
Cedarville and Hessel - Salmon action has been fair around Hessel, Goose Island and St. Martin’s Shoal. Northern pike action has been good between both ports and smallmouth bass were caught with the cooler temperatures. Perch are scattered in Hessel Bay, Muskie Bay, and Cedarville Bay. The better action was in the Moscoe Channel when using minnows or worms in waters 4 to 15 feet deep.
Upper Peninsula:
Copper Harbor continues to have good perch and bass fishing taking place on both Lake Medora and Lake Fanny Hooe. Several types of bait are working well. On the Big lake walleye activity is good.
In the Bergland area, angling action is slower than usual due to a may fly hatch. Walleye activity is picking up on Lake Gogebic in the deeper waters when using leeches and perch are moving in the weed beds and biting on night crawlers.
Around Marquette, good fishing is taking place out of Lake Superior for walleye, crappie, pan fish and pike on a variety of imitation lures as well as live baits that include minnows and leeches.
Near Escanaba, walleye are active all over Little Bay de Noc especially in the morning hours. Anglers are using crawler harnesses on the bottom with good results, as well as night crawlers, and leeches. Off the Gladstone Beach House and the Minneapolis Shoals walleye are active when anglers are trolling using crank bait. Perch are active around Gladstone off of Butler Island and hitting on minnows and worms.
Manistique, salmon action is good out on Lake Superior, while walleye are biting on crawlers and leeches on Manistique Lake.
Around Sault Ste. Marie, very good action for walleye taking place on the St. Mary??s River when anglers use crawler harnesses and crawlers. Salmon are hitting on spoons and plugs on the back side of Sugar Island.
Around Drummond Island, Scott??s Bay is producing decent bass and a few perch. Potaganissing Bay is giving up a few perch, bass, and pike. The walleye activity has slowed.
Around the St. Ignace area, sunfish and small mouth bass are doing well on Brevort Lake. Perch are active around Cedarville.
Information Providers: ACE Hardware-St. Ignace; Bayview Bait & Tackle-Escanaba; Gander Mountain-Marquette; Gaslight-Copper Harbor; Hank??s Sporting-Sault Ste. Marie; Johnson??s Sports-Drummond Island; Nine Pines-Bergland and Tip of the Lake-Manistique.
Northwest:
Boyne City has some good action for salmon on Lake Charlevoix in 200 feet of water and fishing 80-90 feet down. Purple, blue and green lures are working well. Walleye and bass are being reeled in waters averaging 35 feet. Walloon Lake is also producing good walleye catches in the deeper waters.
Around Traverse City, Green Lake is giving up good catches of bass and walleye on senkos and worms. Kings are plentiful on the south side of Traverse Bay in 110-120 feet of water and fishing down 75-80 feet. Kings are averaging 14-15 pounds. Lakers are also abundant on the Bay using spoons, Hoochie Mommas, blue flies and chicken wings.
Frankfort area anglers are doing well on Betsie Bay for rainbow trout near the pier heads using squid. Crystal Lake is good for bass on minnows and perch on night crawlers with a rig. Big Platt Lake is offering up plenty of walleye, perch and rainbow trout. Most of the small inland lakes are good for pan fish.
In Manistee, the Manistee Harbor is providing very good fishing for a variety of salmon. The best location is between the pier heads and good results are found using Castmasters, cleos, J-plugs and spoons.
Around Kalkaska, all of the rivers are producing good quantities of brook, rainbow and brown trout on spinners and worms. Lake Manistee is decent for walleye on leeches and various pan fish.
Gaylord angling is great on the Manistee, Sturgeon and Black rivers for trout. In the early morning hours Tricos size 8-22 black with white wings are working well, and in the evening hours, grasshoppers and cadis patterns are working best.
In the Cadillac area, very nice catches of crappie are being pulled from the east end of Cadillac Lake on small minnows and road runners. A few blue gill biting on wax and leaf worms. Bass are sporadic, with anglers using spinner bait in most cases. Some bobber fishing is taking place for pan fish and a few large mouth bass. Pike are active, but range in the 26 inch size.
Information providers: Alphorn-Gaylord; Backcast Fly Shop-Frankfort; Boyne River Bait-Boyne City; Gander Mountain-Traverse City; Jack??s Sports-Kalkaska; Riley??s-Manistee and Pilgrim??s Village-Cadillac.
West:
Fabulous fishing in the Ludington area, Lake Michigan is providing excellent catches of kings on spin doctors and silver streaks. Anglers are limiting out and the fish are ranging up to 22 pounds in size. Most action is near the piers.
Off of Muskegon, Lake Michigan is producing good numbers of kings near the pier heads with best results fishing down 15-30 feet. Salmon are hitting on J-plugs, all varieties. Perch action has slowed. Muskegon Lake has anglers fishing the edge of the weed beds for perch, and using minnows with good results.
On Chippewa Lake nice size pike are being reeled in with minnows working well. Some pan fish are hitting on small minnows.
Information providers: East Bay General Store-Chippewa Lake; Shoreline Bait & Tackle-Muskegon and Lakeside out of St. Clair Shores.
Southwest:
Outstanding fishing in Holland, anglers tell AAA that this week will probably be the best of the season thanks to winds moving the fish in. On Lake Michigan, the perch fishing is crazy with limits being obtained in a matter of a few hours. Minnows are working great in 25-30 feet of water. Salmon action has slowed a little, water temperature is 50 degrees. Best activity is taking place in 30-50 feet of water on J-plugs and flies. The Kalamazoo River is giving up good walleye on night crawlers when drifting. Lake Macatawa is great for walleye on jigs and spoons and blue gill on wax and red worms near the buoys.
Great angling in Kalamazoo, the catfish are hitting on sunfish, blue gill and cut baits on the Kalamazoo and St. Joe rivers. Fish up to 24 pounds are common, with the best fishing taking place between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Long and Gull lakes are giving up good catches of pike on shiner minnows and stinger spoons. Blue gill are suspended in deep water on Sugarloaf, Scott and Base Line lakes. Anglers are finding good results with leaf worms and crickets. Lake Michigan near South Haven is great for kings in the 22-23 pound range on Gotcha Flies. Anglers are fishing in waters 60-80 feet deep. Maple Lake has good walleye fishing in the evening hours with Rapalas. Schafer and Little Paw Paw lakes are giving up plenty of rainbow trout after 9 p.m. on night crawlers.
In the New Buffalo area, windy conditions created some rough water for anglers. Anglers that are getting out are fishing for kings, lake trout and salmon.
Three Rivers has good action on inland lakes for pan fish particularly perch. The perch are biting on wax worms, red wigglers and crickets. The rivers are producing good catches of pan fish as well.
Information providers: American Tackle-Holland; Captain Cook??s-New Buffalo; DR Sports-Kalamazoo, and Fisherman??s Luck-Three Rivers.
Northeast:
Around Alpena, bass and walleye action is fair on Long Lake on crawler harnesses and Rapalas. Lake Huron is giving up good quantities of salmon and lake trout in 100-feet of water on spoons.
Oscoda anglers are finding good angling action on Cooke Dam Pond for plenty of blue gill on wax worms and minnows. Foote Dam Pond is producing good catches of bass, small, large, and rock bass, crappie, walleye and pike. Most popular bait is minnows. Van Etten Lake is giving up decent catches of perch and pike. The AuSable River has good action for walleye, perch and rainbow trout. Trout are hitting on flies and spawn, while perch are biting on minnows and crawlers. The mouth of the AuSable River in 100-feet of water anglers will find an abundance of kings.
Anglers fishing Houghton Lake will find a good variety of fish to catch. Blue gill are biting on night crawlers and wax worms near the weed beds. Jumbo perch are plentiful in the weeds in 7-8 feet of water and hitting on minnows and night crawlers. Walleye are being caught in the deeper part of the lake.
Out on Higgins Lake, Lakers continue to hit on spoons and Rapalas, while rock and small mouth bass remain active on leeches and night crawlers.
In the Au Gres area, the walleye action seems to have slowed down a bit this week. A few perch are hitting on crawlers and minnows.
Information providers: Lyman??s-Houghton Lake; Rivers Edge Bait Shop-AuGres; Sports Barn-Higgins Lake; The Dam Store-Oscoda and Clems-Alpena.
East:
Around the Linwood area, the walleye fishing remains strong and steady on Saginaw Bay. The fish have moved to deeper waters, and all types of baits are working well. Perch are active in the shipping channels in 19-21 feet of water south of the Black Hole. Salmon are decent on Lake Huron near Presque Isle.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Macro Flower
Here is a flower I experimented with with hand held flash
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Perch Run in Ludington
A great perch run is going on in Ludington off the pier with minnows working best.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
The Dog Days of Summer are here. Water temperatures are in the 75 degree range. The best bite is reserved for dawn and dusk. Weed topped humps and heavy weed lines are the hottest spots. Weeds are to fish what woods are to deer, cover. Generally, bobber fishing with live bait is the most efficient. Drop your rigs into the open pockets.
You??ll have no trouble finding heavy weed pockets on Lake Mitchell. The mouths of the big and small coves have been good for gills and sunfish. Crickets, waxworms and Leafworms all work. No one bait has been best. Several anglers have reported of pike hitting panfish as they reel them in, in these areas.
Perch fishing is picking up on Lake Cadillac. They??re traveling in loose schools over the deep flats. Expect to find them over the featureless bottoms in 16 to 20 foot. They??re hugging the bottom. Use your electronics or drift till you find active fish. Minnows are your best bet. The middle of Cadillac, between Laura Lee??s on the north, and Sunset Shores condos on the south, has been particularly good.
Occasionally a few walleye have been caught in this area as a bonus. Those reported have been accidental catches.
Crappie dinners have been most common this summer. The deeper, east end of Cadillac has been and is the best area. They??ve been schooling in 14 foot and deeper. Lately, they??ve been suspending about 6 feet off the bottom. Areas where the slab wood remains are present seem to hold them consistently. Small minnows always work but Cubby jigs, Beetle spins and Blakemore jigs catch the largest one. When they??re aggressive, jigs don??t have to be tipped with live bait.
Small mouths are coming from this area also. Fish where they live, deep. Early and later they??ve been feeding on crayfish along the rocks near the city shore line. During the day they??re near the bottom as deep as 20 feet.
Most large mouths are living in the shallower weed beds. Frog baits have been effective over the heavy mats. It??s fun to have the weeds explode as they hit. Lake Mitchell has been best using this method.
Salmon, our nearest ports, Frankfort, Ludington and Manistee are all good. Salmon fever is contagious. The wait is over! John Culp returned from Frankfort with his catch, salmon and brown trout. Both were caught in less than 50 feet.
Detailed maps of current fish conditions are available at the Pilgrim Village Fishing Shop. Stop in.
DEER HUNTERS
If does mean anything to you, the application period for Antlerless deer will end August 15th. Private land applications are available for counties in our area.
Left over licenses will be available September 17th at 10:00 AM. Do you think there will be any for our area?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Spider Lake Nightscapes
Here is a photo I took on Spider Lake at night with pontoons going by giving the streaking on the delayed timer.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
James Psychedelic Light Show
My nephew James had to do a little work for me as I’m experimenting with night shooting and had him take his neon sticks and twirl them around for a long exposure shot. I think it came out ok
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Lets Go Fishing this Weekend
August is off to a great start offering up plenty of angling action statewide.
Houghton Lake is hot this week with limit catches of walleye with big gills being caught also. Leeches working best along with crawlers.
Walleye have been biting good on Long Lake by TC and Hodenpyle by Mesick, with leeches working best
Lake St. Helen has been good this week with bass and bluegill biting.
Lake Missaukee - Boat and shore anglers are catching some nice bass and other panfish. Walleye have been caught but catch rates were not consistent.
Little Bay De Noc - Walleye action was slow and those that caught fish seem to do best in the southern parts of the Bay. Fish late evenings off Breezy Point while trolling stick baits or crawlers in 10 to 14 feet of water or about 20 feet down just off the break. Those fishing off the mouth of the Escanaba River in the early morning are jigging or drifting crawlers in waters up to 20 feet deep. Walleye and perch were caught in 20 to 25 feet of water off Gladstone. A few salmon were caught on spoons 80 feet down in 100 feet of water out near the Ford River Can.
Big Bay De Noc - Has good walleye action but few anglers taking advantage of it. Most are trolling crawlers and stick baits in 20 to 33 feet of water from Ansell’s Point to the “Boot” and from Garden Bluff out to the Shoals. A few perch were caught off Ogontz when jigging crawlers off the weeds just south of the launch. Good salmon action off Fairport for those trolling 80 to 90 feet down in 105 to 120 feet of water and steelhead were caught 60 to 70 feet down. Try spoons or artificial cut bait that glows.
Brevoort Lake - Anglers are still catching walleye. Walleye are hitting on crawlers.
Manistique has been good for fishing. Walleye and bass are decent.
Skegemog Lake - The public access site on Baggs Road is open. Walleye anglers were drifting crawler harnesses between the Torch River and Baggs Road but no fish were caught. A few nice pike were caught in the flats in 10 to 12 feet of water. Smallmouth bass action has been good especially between the mouth of the Torch River and the shallow weedy area or from the access site to the Narrows. Anglers are casting top water baits, artificial frogs, swim baits, power baits, tube baits, crank baits, jigs or spinners. Small bluegills are hitting in crawlers or leaf worms.
Big Glen Lake - Lake trout are hitting good on spoons in 70 to 100 feet of water and a few fish over 20 pounds have been caught on the west side of the lake. Bass are hard to find but a few were caught on jigs. Perch are hitting on minnows but the fish were small. Bluegills are hitting on worms.
Little Glen Lake - Perch anglers are doing well on the west end of the lake.
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, Hendrickson??s, and flies.
Hamlin Lake - Panfish and bass are being caught in moderate numbers..
Wixom Lake - In Gladwin County is producing some nice rock bass.
Lake Charlevoix - Perch anglers are finding fish at 30 feet but they are small. The bass are off the beds and along the drop offs. Those fishing the channel of the Pine River have caught smallmouth using live bait and artificial worms. Freshwater drum and catfish are also starting to show up.
Saginaw Bay - Has excellent walleye fishing even though heavy rain and wind will slow the action somewhat. Muddy runoff is still entering the bay so anglers will want to head out far enough to find clean water for better fishing. Good walleye fishing continues from Au Gres to Sebewaing however catch rates slowed around Bay Port and Caseville.
Upper Herring Lake - Walleye and largemouth bass have been caught during the day when trolling the weeds with either a crawler harness or a plastic worm.
Long Lake - The walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses after dark. Also Lake Leelanau has reported in with a good walleye bite. Warmer weather walleye are hittiing leeches real good
Portage Lake - Dredging is still taking place in the channel however walleye fishing in and around the channel has been decent at night. Good numbers of largemouth bass have been caught around the docks and the weed beds. The bigger bluegills along with rock bass and perch have been caught in the northwest corner of the lake and in front of the marina in 15 to 25 feet of water. The mayfly hatch is underway so catch rates are a bit slower, but fish are being caught.
Hamlin Lake - Fishing was a bit on the slow side however some limits were taken using wax worms or leaf worms in shallow waters in the South, Middle and North Bayou’s. Bass were caught on live bait or green and purple artificial crawlers.
Muskegon Lake - Walleye are being caught along the weed edges but many are running small. A few perch have been caught on minnows. Bluegill fishing was slow as the fish may be suspended in deeper water. Bass are still being caught in shallow waters along the weedbeds and around structure.
Whitehall - Fishing has picked up with a few more chinook and lake trout coming in, but they have been small. The fish were caught in 80 to 120 feet of water and the lake trout were coming off the bottom.
White Lake - Walleye have been caught early or late when trolling or drifting. Look for both large and smallmouth bass around the points and along the weedbeds. For northern pike, try trolling with large spoons or plugs, casting into the weeds or bobber fishing with large sucker minnows..
East & West Twin Lakes - has picked up for walleye and bass with leeches and crawlers working best..
Houghton Lake - Hot Hot Hot for walleye with limit catches our inland Saginaw Bay
Tittabawassee River - Catfish has been good.
Cedarville and Hessel - At Cedarville, the herring bite is winding down in McKay Bay. Good perch fishing was reported in the Moscow Channel in 4 to 6 feet of water or in Musky Bay and Cedarville Bay in 8 to 12 feet of water. Northern pike fishing has been excellent around the Les Cheneaux Islands when trolling, still-fishing or casting with chub spawn. Smallmouth bass action has been good and should only get better. Perch have been caught off the pier at Hessel. Try minnows in 8 to 10 feet of water. Salmon were caught off Goose Island.
Upper Peninsula:
In the Copper Harbor area, very good angling activity for perch is taking place on Lake Medora and Fanny Hooe. Bass action is also very good on Lake Medora with a variety of baits working well. Horseshoe Harbor is giving up very good numbers of rainbow trout.
Around the Bergland area, Lake Gogebic anglers are pulling in fair amounts of walleye in 5-6 feet of water and using crank baits and leeches with good results. Natural bait in the water has slowed the perch activity.
Marquette anglers are finding fair activity in the lower harbor for lakers and salmon when using salmon spoons. The Dead River is giving up fair catches of walleye on minnows and crawlers, while the pike and bass have slowed a bit.
Off Escanaba and Gladstone, Little Bay de Noc is fair to good for perch on minnows and leaf worms in 30-feet of water, while walleye activity is slow. Anglers are finding the best results in the late evening hours and using crawler harnesses. Big Bay DeNoc is giving up good numbers of salmon on spoons when fishing the south end in 35-80 feet of water.
Around Manistique, fishing is good for perch and walleye on Indian Lake using minnows and crawlers. The Big Lake is giving up decent catches of salmon on spoons.
In the Sault Ste. Marie area, the St. Mary??s River is providing a few walleye and good numbers of salmon. Salmon anglers are getting up early or fishing in the late evening hours with spoons in 25-28 feet of water.
Near Munuscong Bay, the walleye action is good on Raber Bay on crawler harnesses. Cedarville Lake and Les Cheneaux Islands is good for perch and walleye on crawler harnesses and minnows fishing in 8-10 feet of water. Les Cheneaux is also decent for pike using live bait.
Drummond Island anglers are doing well on perch using minnows and bass on bobber fish, chubs and crawlers out of Scott and Maxton bays. Walleye activity is fair around Yacht Haven Marina and Harbor Island.
Off of the St. Ignace area, the Straits of Mackinac are providing fair action for salmon and lakers between St. Ignace and Mackinac Island while trolling with spoons.
Information Providers: ACE Hardware-St. Ignace; Bayview Bait & Tackle-Escanaba; Gander Mountain-Marquette; Gaslight-Copper Harbor; Hank??s Sporting-Sault Ste. Marie; Johnson??s Sports-Drummond Island, Nine Pines-Bergland; Tip of the Lake-Manistique, and Wilderness Treasures-Munuscong Bay.
Northwest:
Near Traverse City anglers are doing very well for salmon on Lake Michigan just off of Frankfort and using spoons. Lake Leelanau is good for walleye on minnows and crawlers, while bass is rate fair on many inland lakes. Green Lake is giving up good quantities of bass in the early morning hours; however the fish are small in size.
Big Manistee River near the Tippy Dam is fair for steelhead, and Manistee Harbor has good salmon fishing taking place. Anglers are using J-plugs and spoons and fishing in 100-150 feet of water and with best results in the top 50-feet. Portage Lake anglers are reeling in good walleye counts on husky jerks while trolling.
In the Kalkaska area, bass action is fair to good in the early morning and late evening hours on Lake Skegemog, with crank baits and sinkos working well. Elk Lake is decent for trout on spinners, crickets and green flies, as well as most rivers.
Gaylord anglers are finding very good opportunities for trout in the early morning hours of 6-10 a.m. using stimulators and tricos on the Black and AuSable rivers.
Around the Cadillac area, good fishing activity taking place on Mitchell and Cadillac lakes for bass, especially at day break and dusk. Plastic lures, leeches and crawlers are working well. Crappie action is moderate on minnows when fishing in waters 14-18 feet, and blue gill action is decent in deep water on crickets and leaf worms.
Information providers: Alphorn-Gaylord; Gander Mountain-Traverse City; Jack??s Sports-Kalkaska; Riley??s-Manistee, Pilgrim??s Village-Cadillac, and Young??s Bait Shop-Alanson.
West:
In Ludington, Hamlin Lake on the upper end has good fishing for blue gill and walleye on worms and crawler harnesses. Lake Michigan is giving up good quantities of salmon on magnum spoons and flies in 50-100 feet of water. The salmon action is also good near the Ludington lighthouse pier when using spoons.
Around Pentwater area, kings, Coho, and lakers are plentiful out of Lake Michigan just off of the Silver Lake area. Anglers are using fluorescent spoons in 60-100 feet of water, mostly finding the best luck in the top 60 feet.
In the Muskegon area Lake Michigan is providing good catches of perch and salmon. Perch are biting on minnows and cut baits in waters 35-45 feet, and salmon are hitting on flashers, dipsy divers, and J-plugs, yellow and green are working best. Walleye activity has slowed this week.
Around the Baldwin area, anglers are waiting for the salmon to run, but the blue gill fishing is great and the fish are biting on crickets and leaf worms on all lakes.
Information providers: East Bay General Store-Chippewa Lake; King Sports-Baldwin; P.M. Sports-Ludington; Charlie??s Marina-Pentwater, and Shoreline Bait & Tackle-Muskegon.
Southwest:
Holland anglers will find very good perch fishing off of the south side of the pier in 20-25 feet of water on Lake Michigan. Also some good activity for blue gill on wax worms on Lake Macatawa near the red cement tower.
In the Benton Harbor area, very good salmon and perch opportunities for anglers on Lake Michigan. Spoons, dodgers and flies are working well on salmon in 60-90 feet of water and fishing the bottom half. Perch are hitting on minnows in 25-40 feet of water.
Around New Buffalo, perch action has slowed on Lake Michigan, but good activity taking place for kings, lake trout and salmon. Anglers are getting good results in 100 feet of water and fishing the bottom half.
In the Kalamazoo area, walleye activity ranges from fair to good on the Kalamazoo River, and particularly near the dams. Gull Lake has excellent fishing opportunities for crappie on wax worms, and very good angling action on Maple, Burton and Allegan lakes for bass on spinner bats. The St. Joseph River is spotty this week for catfish; however anglers are reeling in a few on pieces of liver.
Good angling throughout the Three Rivers area for perch, blue gill, and crappie with red wigglers, wax worms, and minnows working well.
Information providers: American Tackle-Holland; Captain Cook??s-New Buffalo; D.& R. Sports-Kalamazoo, Fisherman??s Luck-Three Rivers and Tackle Haven-Benton Harbor.
Northeast:
Alpena anglers are finding good results out on Thunder Bay for lake trout and steelhead. Steelhead activity is best in waters 100-150 feet and fishing down around 30-feet. Salmon action is slow this week and the walleye action ranges between fair and good with the best results taking place in 25-feet of water and fishing during the day and evening hours. Thunder Bay River is giving up decent catches of walleye, small mouth bass and catfish on worms.
Around the Oscoda area, bass action is good on Foote Dam Pond on spinners, while Foote Dam Pond is giving up good catches of catfish and walleye on crawler harnesses. Van Etten Lake is good for perch on minnows and crawlers. Lake Huron is giving up plenty of salmon and lake trout in 100-feet of water, and just off the bottom with silver and yellow spoons.
In the Grayling area, walleye, bass and blue gill action has slowed a bit on Lake Margrethe. Anglers getting out are using minnows with best results anytime of the day. On the smaller lakes the morning and evening hours are best to catch a few blue gill on crawlers and leeches.
Houghton Lake has very good fishing taking place in 8-10 feet of water for bass, bluegill, pike and perch. Walleye are active before dusk near the south shore, perch are biting on live bait and found mostly near the weed beds while pike and bass are active near McDonald??s. Blue gill are hitting on leaf worms in front of the Elk??s.
Higgins Lake is offering up fair to good angling activity this week. Lakers are biting on spoons and Rapalas, rock and small mouth bass are hitting on leeches and night crawlers.
Around Au Gres, walleye activity is good on Point AuGres when anglers troll using Hot-N-Tots or crawler harnesses. Perch are decent hitting on minnows, and good quantities of catfish are being pulled from the AuGres River on crawlers and leeches.
Information providers: Lyman??s-Houghton Lake; Rivers Edge Bait Shop-AuGres; Sports Barn-Higgins Lake, and The Dam Store-Oscoda; Clems-Alpena; Skip??s-Grayling.
East:
In the Linwood area, walleye fishing is good in the deeper waters on Saginaw River and Bay. Crawlers and Hot-N-Tots are working well. In the channel and around the Black Hole, the perch action is good when using minnows.
Bay City anglers are finding good fishing activity four miles out from Quanicassee and around Thomas Reef using crawlers and Hot-N-Tots. Perch action is good on Saginaw Bay around buoy 18 and 19 when using minnows.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Piranha Caught in Northern Michigan
Sanford Lake- Last week a Piranha was caught by a lady vacationing from New York and had a big surprise. She took it to Sanford Sport Shop and they put it in their aquarium for people to see the prize catch. Woody from Sanford Sport Shop posed with the fish so I could get a photo.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
Summer fishing patterns are here! The bites been best at day break and dusk and likely spotty in the heat of the day.
Crappies are the only species that??s been consistent any time of day. Those doing well are fishing deep, 14 to 18 foot and finding them near the bottom. Small minnows under slip bobbers or small jigs tipped with/or without bait are the best baits. Use your locater to find what depth they are suspending at. Many tell of limit catches. The east side of Lake Cadillac hasn??t changed. It??s the best area for crappie. They??re schooling over the slab piles. A boat launch is conveniently located nearby which puts you in the deepest, weed free part of the lake.
Finding slab bluegills has become harder. Those catching them are bobber fishing around the weed beds. Lately, crickets have been the hot bait. Leafworms or waxworms would be the second choice. Like the crappie, go deep. Not seeing limits but most are catching enough for a meal. If you??re a bluegill purest, nearby Lake Missaukee is the place. We??re told of easy limits.
Bass fishing has been better then normal for this time of year. Live bait anglers are using leeches or whole crawlers. Using plastics, crayfish colors are doing well. Crayfish are starting to molt and are one of the bass??s favorite foods. Small mouths are lurking in the deep water while large mouths are shading themselves under docks and weed beds.
Few have been targeting pike. Both our lakes are full of them. Use spinner baits if you??re covering a lot of water. Want to relax, bobber fish with sucker minnows.
Kaleb Marois from Mesick pictured with a 30 ½ inch pike caught from Lake Cadillac.
Manistee River, Skimania are up to Tippy Dam. Mornings and evenings have been best. We??re waiting for reports of an early salmon run for August, but none yet.
Detailed maps of current fish conditions are available at the Pilgrim Village Fishing Shop. Stop in.