Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Fishing is Still Good
Higgins Lake is reporting a good perch bite the last couple weeks with minnows and waxworms working best. Surprise is there are many perch over 9 inches up to 11 which is not the norm for this lake
Walleye have en 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 - Is producing some nice panfish also walleye and bass.
Little Bay De Noc - Not many anglers have been out because of the mayfly hatch. Most boats have been targeting the southern parts of the Bay between Breezy Point and south to the “Fingers” while trolling crawlers in 18 to 30 feet of water. Some nice pike were caught off Kipling when trolling crank baits in the evening..
Big Bay De Noc - Continues to host walleye action with fair to good reports around the “Boot”, west of Big Bay Shoals and the in the deep water off Garden Bluff. Most anglers are trolling crawlers or stick baits in 20 to 35 feet of water. Several perch were caught near Ogontz when jigging crawlers in 8 to 10 feet of water along the weeds. Off Fairport, salmon catches were up this week but lots of fish were able to get off. Try 40 to 80 feet down in 80 to 105 feet of water.
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 still closed. Construction is scheduled to be completed on Friday, July 25th. Smallmouth bass have been caught along the east side near the mouth of the Torch River and the shallow weedy areas. Anglers are casting crank baits, power baits, swim baits, tube baits, crawlers or artificial frogs. Bass anglers have caught a few pike on the south end near the exposed weeds when using spinners, artificial crayfish and lizards. Bluegills and rock bass were caught near the mouth of the Torch River and the access sites.
Big Glen Lake - Trout fishing has picked up with rainbows hitting glow on green and black glow in the dark spoons when trolling in 70 to 100 feet of water. Lake trout are also hitting on spoons bounced off the bottom. Limits of walleye have been caught on minnows. Try fishing the drop-offs for bass.
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 - Continues to have phenomenal walleye fishing at virtually all possible locations from Au Gres around to Port Austin. Crawler harnesses on bottom bouncers trolled off planer boards are a sure thing, but Hot-n-Tots in various colors are also taking fish. Limit catches are the rule. Anytime the weather is stable and the wind isn’t blowing too hard, expect excellent fishing. Some nice perch were caught in 20 to 23 feet of water north of the Spark Plug which is near Buoys 11 & 12. At Caseville, good walleye catches were reported up by Oak Point.
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 - Houghton Lake - Walleye are still being caught on a crawler harness with a leech or crank baits. Some jumbo perch measuring 12 inches plus have been caught on worms around the Middle Ground and south shore weedbeds. Good bluegill action on the calm days. Crappies were spotty..
Tittabawassee River - Catfish has been good.
Cedarville and Hessel - Perch have been caught off the pier in Hessel and around Haven Island in 15 feet of water. Good pike action however few are targeting them. Try casting from the pier or trolling chubs around the islands. At Cedarville, most are targeting the herring because the bite has been excellent in McKay Bay and Prentice Bay. Use a wax worm or mayfly on a red teardrop.
Upper Peninsula:
In the Bergland area, Lake Gogebic has good walleye action in 20-25 feet of water. Anglers trolling the deeper basin are using fire tiger, blue and silver crank baits.Leeches and crawler harnesses are also working well.Small mouth bass are doing great on gold and brown crayfish in 8-10 feet of water. Jumbo perch are plentiful in the muddy areas and weed beds using a piece of crawler on a number six hook.
Marquette anglers will find some good activity on Lake Superior for lake trout. King salmon have moved to deeper waters and are not biting. The Dead River Basin is giving up decent walleye, however small in size. The Greenwood Reservoir is good for a few crappie and walleye. Anglers are using gulp, live baits, leeches and night crawlers.
Around Escanaba,walleye activity is decent on crawlers and crawler harnesses in the shallow waters of Little Bay DeNoc.A few perch are biting on the Escanaba and Rapid rivers. Bass are decent all over in the weed beds and from the shoreline. Salmon are biting on moonshine baits and picking up on Fairport, Escanaba, and Cedar rivers.
In the Manistique area,Lake Michigan is giving up good catches of salmon on silver spoons.Get in on the 23rd Annual Salmon and Trout Derby this Saturday and Sunday, call Dave to register at 341-8264 or get your tickets at Tip of the Lake.
In the Sault Ste. Marie area, Raber Bay is producing very good amounts of King salmon and white fish, while the walleye have slowed.
Munuscong Bay has good walleye activity taking place on the St. Mary’s River. Anglers are using crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers with good results. A few walleye are being taken from Raber Bay and the herring are scattered but doing well between Drummond Island and Sault Ste. Marie when using teardrops with a wax worm.
Drummond Island anglers are catching a few pike on Scott, Maxton and Whitney bays using chubs with a bobber. Small perch are being reeled in out of all the bays on minnows or crawlers. Walleye activity is best in the evening on Scott Bay and bass action is decent on crawlers or bobber fishing with a chub.
St. Ignace, fishing has slowed a bit on Brevort Lake due to several Blackstone Fly hatches. Salmon are doing well in the Bay.
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:
Alanson area anglers are doing well on rock bass and blue gill using crawlers and leaf worms on small inland lakes.Fair activity is taking place for walleye and pike on Burt and Crooked lakes. Anglers are doing the best in the evening hours when trolling with body baits and crawlers.
Around Boyne City, the salmon are starting on the Bear River, and anglers are using a variety of flies with good results.Good bass and walleye action on crank and body baits fishing Lake Charlevoix.Walloon Lake is also great for bass, walleye and pike on body and crank baits.
In the Traverse City area, very good lake trout action taking place on both bays and the salmon are starting to pick up. Fair walleye activity is taking place on Lake Leelanau and Long Lake. Crawler harnesses are working well.
Around Frankfort,lake trout are plentiful out of Lake Michigan. Perch action is good on Crystal Lake in 60-feet of water using minnows, and the rock bass are very good. Trout activity is good on all of the rivers and fair perch and walleye action on the upper and lower Herring lakes.
Anglers headed to the Manistee area can expect some good salmon action when using spin doctors and flies on Lake Michigan. Best results are in 150-200 feet of water and fishing down around 100 feet. Portage Lake is giving up a few blue gill.
In the Kalkaska area, Lake Skegemog is very good for bass on tube baits while walleye activity is improving on Manistee Lake.
Gaylord area anglers will find very good trout fishing on Black, Sturgeon and Manistee rivers. Fly-fishing with grasshoppers and cricket patterns seems to be doing the trick. Bass, pike and walleye activity is fair to good on Otsego and Bradford lakes.
Around the Cadillac area, good action for crappie, blue gill, bass and small sized pike on Mitchell and Cadillac lakes. Minnows, wax and leaf worms, spinner baits, and leeches are all working nicely.
Information providers: Alphorn-Gaylord; Back cast Fly Shop-Frankfort; Boyne River Bait Shop-Boyne City; Gander Mountain-Traverse City; Jack’s Sports-Kalkaska; Riley’s-Manistee, Pilgrim’s Village-Cadillac, and Young’s Bait Shop-Alanson.
West:
Ludington anglers can expect good salmon action on Lake Michigan with a variety of lures working. Out on Hamlin Lake, the blue gill activity is improving and worms seem to work best.
Off of Pentwater, salmon and lake trout are doing well on Lake Michigan in 80-160 feet of water and anglers are fishing down 60 feet to the bottom with dodgers and flies. Early morning hours are best.
In the Muskegon area, very good bass action is taking place on Muskegon Lake in 10-13 feet of water. Anglers are using spinner baits in the morning hours and rubber baits in the evening hours. On Lake Michigan in 90-150 feet of water and fishing down 50 feet to the bottom the salmon activity is good using spoons and flasher fly combos. Walleye activity is starting to pick up on Muskegon Lake at the northwest corner.
In the Chippewa Lake area, fishing for bass is rated fair.
Around the Baldwin area, most inland lakes are doing well for blue gill on crickets.
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:
Around the Holland area, perch action is slow on Lake Michigan with a few being caught in waters 50-80 feet. Salmon activity is decent when anglers use blue or green flashers in 100 feet of water and fishing down about 50 feet. Only a few blue gill are being pulled from Lake Macatawa on wax worms.
Benton Harbor anglers are pulling in good catches of salmon, steelhead and lake trout on Lake Michigan when trolling with spoons or dodgers and flies in 100 feet of water and fishing between 50-80 feet down. The perch action is also good on the Big Lake in 30-35 feet of water and using minnows.
Off of the New Buffalo area, salmon action is fair on Lake Michigan on orange spoons and fishing down 85 feet. Perch angling is minimal at best.
In the Kalamazoo area, jigging seems to be working best for some good bass action on Gunn and Gull lakes in 20-30 feet of water. Overall most inland lakes are spotty for pan fish.
Around the Three Rivers area, good activity for blue gill on crickets and wax worms for anglers fishing Long, Harwood and Corey lakes. Clear Lake is giving up a few perch, and most inland lakes are providing good counts of bass. Fair crappie action on Long, Corey and Bear lakes, anglers are using minnows or red wigglers for best results.
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:
In the Oscoda area, crawlers, minnows and leeches are working well for inland lake anglers. Blue gill and perch are active on Cooke Dam Pond, while good size crappie hitting on Foote Dam Pond. Perch, walleye, pike and catfish are doing well on Van Etten Lake. The AuSable River is giving up plenty of sheepshead, catfish and walleye.
Houghton Lake is providing big blue gill on leeches and leaf worms. Walleye are hitting on night crawlers and Hot-N-Tots as well as crank baits. Good action for jumbo perch in 8-feet of water and around the weed beds. Anglers are using night crawlers and minnows with good results.
Higgins Lake anglers are doing well for rock bass using night crawlers and minnows, and perch are biting on wax worms and minnows. Lakers are active and grabbing at spoons and Rapalas.
Around AuGres, some good fishing taking place for walleye 8-10 miles south of AuGres Ponte and anglers are finding good results using crawler harnesses and Hot-N-Tots.
Information providers: Lyman’s-Houghton Lake; Rivers Edge Bait Shop-AuGres; Sports Barn-Higgins Lake, and The Dam Store-Oscoda.
East:
Around Linwood, perch are active in 20-23 feet of water near the edge of the shipping channels, and walleye are found in 20-22 using plastic baits on Saginaw Bay. Salmon activity is really picking up in Rockport, Rogers City and around the wreck in Alpena on Lake Huron.
Bay City anglers are catching limits of walleye in 4-26 feet of water near Oakhurst and Charity Island. Anglers will only need 45-60 minutes to catch a whopping amount of fish. Best results are found using crawler harnesses, Hot N Tots, and mini disks with a spoon.
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