Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
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, Hendricksonâ??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. Maryâ??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, Scottâ??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; Hankâ??s Sporting-Sault Ste. Marie; Johnsonâ??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; Jackâ??s Sports-Kalkaska; Rileyâ??s-Manistee and Pilgrimâ??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 Cookâ??s-New Buffalo; DR Sports-Kalamazoo, and Fishermanâ??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: Lymanâ??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.
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