Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Fantastic Holiday Weekend Ahead
Finally a great weekend in store for Northern Michigan. 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. Some salmon are up the rivers also with pier fishing picking up. Inland lakes have had no pressure this week so have not heard too much on a bite. Houghton Lake fishing is still good with limit catches of walleye today.
Sturgeon Joe at Otsego Lake is saying fishing is real slow this week with some pike being caught on suckerss. A sad note in the Gaylord area Don’s Sport Shop is closing this week 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. Limit walleye catches this week and the big bluegill are biting along with big bass. 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 - We seem to be in the fall fishing mode a bit earlier this year. Walleye fishing is shutting down, as it usually does around Labor Day. As for catch rates, walleye were taken 2 to 3 miles east of the Black Hole in 23 feet of water. Other spots were the Callahan Reef and out near the Slot however anglers are fishing a long time to get a couple walleye. Perch fishing is still slow, with better action about a month away. A few fish were caught around the Black Hole and Buoy H. Enough fish 7 to 10 inches long were caught to make the trip worthwhile
Mullett Lake -Anglers are targeting perch,and walleye Some walleye were caught near the Sunken Islands and Needle point in 50 to 75 feet of water when trolling crawler harnesses. Bass are hitting on sand colored tube baits, spinners and drop shot minnows in waters as shallow as 4 feet or as deep as 14 to 17 feet. Perch and rock bass were hitting in the shallows. Walleye were caught when trolling crawler harnesses in 35 to 45 feet of water along the north end of the lake.
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. Also some perch are showing up
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 or trolling are still catching lake trout. A few perch were caught around the Sunken Island and lots of rock bass have been caught all over the lake. Hoping with wigglers back in season they will stat catching perch.
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.Those jigging leeches or trolling crawler harnesses have caught walleye. Many were sub-legal. Bluegill and crappie were in the weedbeds and some nice pike were caught on spoons, spinner baits or large minnows.
Lake Charlevoix -Good pike fishing was reported at the north end of lake when using live minnows. Expect perch to bite soon and the walleye have started to bite again with some bass on the bite.
Lake Bellaire -Surface temperatures are still around the mid to low 60’s throughout the entire lake. Pressure for walleye continues to be high with a few fish caught each day. Anglers are trolling and jigging near the Fisherman’s Paradise Access, the Northwest Arm and the Narrows. Try crawler harnesses, spoons, stick baits or floating jigs with leeches or crawlers in 10 to 40 feet of water. Bass have been caught on artificial worms, tube baits or crank baits. Pike were caught by those trolling crawler harnesses or casting spoons near the mouth of the Intermediate River and the Grass River outlet in 8 to 12 feet of water. Perch were hitting crawlers in 5 feet of water near the mouth of the Intermediate River.
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. with a few salmon
Boardman River - Salmon are in the river with early morning the best using spawn
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 -Those trolling for walleye and pike had a hard time locating fish. Good numbers of largemouth bass are once again being caught on the east side.
Manistee -Boats are catching salmon in the harbor and around the piers. Try using glow plugs in low light conditions and chrome plugs once the sun comes up. Pier anglers are catching salmon on glow spoons.
Ludington -Salmon are being caught when trolling plugs in front of the pier and out to 60 feet of water. Pier anglers have caught salmon when casting spoons.
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-Walleye anglers are still trolling near the “Fingers” with stick baits in 10 to 30 feet of water. A few fish were caught at the mouth of the Escanaba River when drifting crawlers along the weedbeds. Light perch action off Brach’s Cabins when jigging minnows in 10 to 14 feet of water. Fair salmon action off Portage Point when trolling glow spoons 70 feet down in waters 80 to 90 feet deep.
Big Bay De Noc-Is producing walleye north and south of Round Island when trolling small moonshine glows in 20 to 33 feet of water. Smallmouth were caught in 10 to 14 feet of water near Ogontz and 10 to 25 feet of water outside Garden Bay. Off Fairport, boat anglers are still heading out deep and fishing 110 to 170 feet down with green and black glow spoons. A few large fish were caught however most were less than 10 pounds.
Grand Marais - Light numbers of salmon, lake trout and steelhead have been caught. Catch rates should improve this week.
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 -Catch rates from the Hessel pier seem to fluctuate with the weather. Catch rates for perch and pike have dropped. Smallmouth bass action has picked up as it usually does when the weather starts to cool. Try casting along the reefs and the rocks. Salmon have been caught off Goose Island when fishing 25 to 40 feet down. Perch can still be found in Cedarville Bay or the Moscoe Channel.
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