Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Cool Weekend Again
Looks like we are going to have two bad weekends in a row. Salmon fishing is the big thing as most are heading out for the big fish as most inland lakes have been slow with the walleye bite. As we approach the end of August, we begin to move into the fall fishing patterns. Cooler temperatures by the weekend could give the salmon a push. The catfish bite has been very good and this is a good time of year to catch those big bluegills.
Sturgeon Joe at Otsego Lake is saying fishing is good on Otsego Lake Has been producing a lot of walleye along with some nice perch. Most of the walleye were sub-legal. Also pike are being caught on sucker minnows. Also surronding lakes have a good bite. The pan fish action is decent on Bradford and Big lakes jigging with worms. A sad note in the Gaylord area Don’s Sport Shop is closing this month and have been in business since the 50’s. How times are changing and your small businesses will no longer be serving the sportsman.
Dave at Four Season Party Store in Houghton Lake says off of Long Point the walleye bite is still good with leeches and crawlers working best with a bobber. Very few people on the lake this week but still catching fish. More little walleye are being caught this week so not the limit catches like a couple of weeks ago but still a good bite. The bass are still biting great. He has four special crawlers harness that he ties that are working great.There is a landing across the street( 16 foot fishing boats or smaller as the lake has dropped a foot)from him but no parking, but if you buy your supplies from him he will let you park in his vacent lot across from the landing and put you on the fish.
Call him at 989-422-5230 his address is 9613 E Houghton Lake Dr, Houghton Lake, MI 48629.
Saginaw Bay - Walleye catches are holding up on the Callahan Reef in 4 to 10 feet of water. Troll crawler harnesses without weights in this shallow water to avoid fouling in the weeds. Fishing was slower in the Slot but a few walleye were found in 15 feet of water. Walleye were caught about one and a half miles northeast of Spoils Island while perch were caught east of the island and west of the Spark Plug.
Mullett Lake -Anglers are targeting perch, bass and pike, with a few rainbow trout being taken. Some walleye were caught near the Sunken Islands and neddle point in 50 to 75 feet of water when trolling crawler harnesses.
Burt Lake - Burt Lake in Alanson has anglers trolling during the evening hours with great success, mostly using crawlers. Inland lakes are giving up plenty of blue gill.
Lake Margrethe a decent number of walleye are being taken in about 18 feet of water using leeches or crawlers on a jig head. Perch are biting great also on minnows. Anglers are also catching a few pike as well. Also the gills have started to bite on waxworms and worms.
Higgins Lake -Very Slow on perch with a few Lake trout hitting on cowbells and body baits. Those jigging Swedish Pimples or Castmasters have caught whitefish. Rainbow trout were found suspended about 60 feet down in waters 90 feet deep. Find the thermocline.
Houghton Lake - Walleye action was still good for those using crawlers, leeches or crank baits. Some big bluegills have been caught shallow but the fish are scattered. Crappie were hitting on minnows in 8 to 10 feet of water.
Lake Charlevoix -Good pike fishing was reported at the north end of lake when using live minnows.
Lake Bellaire -urface temperatures were in the mid 60’s throughout the entire lake. Walleye are still being targeted near the Fisherman’s Paradise access site as well as the Narrows and the northwest arm. Anglers are trolling spoons, stick baits and crawler harnesses or floating jigs with crawlers or leeches in 10 to 40 feet of water. For bass, try artificial worms, spinners or stick baits near the mouth of the rivers or the northwest and south arms. Small perch were caught near the Intermediate River when still-fishing with crawlers.
Lake Skegemog near Kalkaska is producing bass and pan fish on wax worms, night crawlers, sucker and perch minnows. Elk Rapids Dam has some nice blue gill fishing available. Guernsey Lake has decent trout activity.
Elk River - The action has slowed with only a few smallmouth bass caught.
Boardman River - Had slow fishing except for some rock bass, carp and smallmouth bass found just below the Union Street Dam. A few fish in the river
Lake Leelanau - Perch fishing has been good this week when they can get out with minnows working best. Some walleye are being caught on crawlers
Long Lake by Traverse City has been slow and many are fishing hard but little success
Lake Missaukee - Pan fishing improved and lots of pike have been caught with bass and walleye biting on leeches.
Portage Lake -Bass fishing on the east end of the lake has been good in the early morning. Bluegills have been caught but the fish were still out in 20 feet of water. Try wax worms or crickets.
Manistee -Boat anglers are taking salmon 70 to 120 feet down in waters 125 to 200 feet deep when running glow plugs or green and white spinnies with green flies
Ludington -Boat anglers are catching salmon in 125 to 225 feet of water. Most fish were caught deeper in the water column with spinnies and flies. Good colors were green and blue. Pier fishing was slow.
Brevort Lake near Allenville and north of St. Ignace is producing walleye and anglers are doing well when they can get out. Wind, rain and chilly temperatures limited angling activity this week but the weekend is looking up.
Manistique anglers are dealing with chilly temperatures and rain this week, but when anglers can get out the fishing is good on Indian Lake for decent counts of walleye. Good fishing off of the Manistique area on Lake Michigan where the salmon and trout are active. Spoons are working in just about every color. Good luck to all anglers fishing in the 24th Annual Manistique Area Salmon and Trout Derby this weekend. Call 1-800-342-4282 or 906-341-5241 for information.
Little Bay De Noc-Good walleye catches reported out in the southern sections when trolling crank baits in 15 to 20 feet of water out by the “Fingers” and the Minneapolis Shoals which is about 10 miles south of Peninsula Point. Several limits were reported. On the north end, walleye were caught in the “Narrows” when jigging crawlers in 20 to 30 feet of water. Perch fishing was fair near the docks in Escanaba. Try crawlers in 30 feet of water. Good bass fishing for those casting tube baits or crank baits long the weedbeds in 10 to 17 feet of water. Salmon action was fair northwest of the Ford River Buoy when trolling spoons or flies 60 to 80 feet down in 80 to 110 feet of water.
Big Bay De Noc-Fair walleye catches north of Round Island for those trolling stick baits in 20 to 30 feet of water. Perch were caught in Snail Shell Harbor. Try minnows or worms in 25 feet of water. Excellent bass fishing near Ogontz when drifting or casting crawlers, jigs or tube baits in 10 to 16 feet of water. Garden Bay also had good bass action for those casting tube baits in 12 to 25 feet of water. Fairport had fair to good salmon action 60 to 90 feet down in 120 to 160 feet of water.
Grand Marais -A few limits of lake trout were still coming in. Boat anglers have also caught salmon and steelhead. Slow action off the piers and docks.
Perch Lake - Which is 25 miles north of Newberry in Luce County will temporarily close the Boating Access Site beginning August 31st through September 17th due to reconstruction of the boat ramp and parking lot. The site will be open for public use during the Labor Day weekend.
Cedarville and Hessel -Anglers fishing off the marina pier at Hessel are bringing in perch and northern pike while still fishing with a chub and bobber. Some are trolling spinner baits in 6 to 10 feet of water in the bay and the west end of Snows Channel for bass and pike. Salmon anglers are heading out towards Goose Island and fishing 25 to 40 feet down. Catch rates were fair with more lake trout than salmon caught. In Cedarville Bay, pike are hitting in 6 to 8 feet of water. The better perch fishing was in the Moscoe Channel. Catch rates were weather dependent. Try minnows or worms. For salmon, try 50 to 60 feet of water on the south end of Boot Island.
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