Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Fishing Report For Northern Michigan
The big news is Salmon Fever still which slows pressure on inland lakes. Warm water is holing the fish back and they have still been catching some in the lake.
Manistee River - Salmon have been caught in the river but warmer temperatures will slow the action. Look for fish in the deeper holes. Steelhead were caught on spawn.
Betsie River - Anglers are catching fish from the Homestead Dam down to the M-22 Bridge when using spawn, spinners and flies. Those wading near the old Elberta Marina have caught fish.
The perch are starting to show up on a few lakes and some are catching bigger perch on East Grand Traverse Bay off of Samulson’s
Cedarville and Hessel - Perch fishing picked up for the east end of Hessel Bay and the west end of the Snows Channel when using minnows or crawlers. Government Bay has perch in 10 to 20 feet of water. Pike are still hitting and smallmouth bass are starting to do well. As for salmon, only a few have been caught in Hessel Bay.
Crooked Lake - Some nice perch have been caught on minnows when fishing along the weedbeds. A few walleye were also caught on minnows.
Little Bay De Noc - Walleye catches were down, but the fish caught were taken around the Black Bottom and the Fingers when trolling or drifting crawlers in 15 to 20 feet of water. Good smallmouth bass fishing when drifting or jigging crawlers off Hunters Point or fishing along the weedbeds near Brock’s Cabins.
Ford River -The salmon runs have started. Anglers casting Cleo’s or crankbaits have caught some nice silver fish down near the mouth.
Big Bay de Noc - Good bass fishing was reported across the mouth of Garden Bay when drifting minnows in 15 to 20 feet of water. Snail Shell Harbor and south to Snake Island also had fair to good catches when jigging or drifting minnows in 10 to 35 feet of water. Perch have been caught in Fayette Harbor when jigging crawlers.
Long Lake - Walleye fishing has slowed, but anglers were still taking some fish when using a slip bobber and leech while anchored in 20 to 25 feet of water. A few fish were taken when trolling a crawler harness. Try both the east and west sides of South Island. The perch harvest has slowed as anglers were only catching little ones east of Long Island, in the North Bay and the South Bay. Some big bluegills were caught in and around the weedbeds
Muskegon - Most boats are trolling in the channel as windy conditions have shut down fishing on the big lake. Those fishing early and late have managed to catch salmon when trolling spoons, plugs, flashers and flies. Pier anglers have also caught fish on the channel side.
Whitehall - Pier fishing has been very good. The early bite was only lasting until about an hour after daylight. The afternoons were slow with the action picking back up from 5pm until dark when casting Cleo’s or mega baits.
White River - Is just starting to get some salmon action.
Lake Leelanau - Reported good walleye fishing and a great perch bite on the sout -end.
Lake Margrethe reports a fair walleye bite with minnows working best
Portage Lake - Some big panfish are still being caught when drifting wax worms or red worms in 15 to 30 feet of water. A few nice walleye and pike were caught in the early afternoon when bottom bouncing.
Wixom Lake the gills and crappie have moved to deep water and the bite is picking up..
Fletchers Pond - Is producing some nice northern pike and bass. Anglers can take limits of panfish on a daily basis.
Anglers by Alpena are reeling in a few bass and perch on both Grand and Long lakes. The best fishing is found near the weed beds in the lakes. The salmon and lake trout fishing is fair on Thunder Bay and Lake Huron out from Presque Isle. The fish are found in the bottom half of water that is up to 100 feet deep.
Saginaw Bay - Light numbers of perch are being caught at the Spark Plug and four miles east around Buoys 15, 17, and 22. Most of the fish are running 8 to 12 inches. A few walleye were caught off Quanicassee when using crawlers in 5 to 7 feet of water. Some perch were caught near the mouth of the Sebewaing River. Shore anglers in the marina at Sebewaing were catching crappie. Perch fishing is not good but look for things to get better when water starts cooling down.
In the Kalkaska area, the bass fishing is good on Elk, Skegemog and Torch lakes. Anglers are catching a few bluegill on many of the other local lakes, in water up to 25 feet deep.
Tittabawassee River - Is providing some good bass and catfish action.
Big Lake - In Otsego County, is producing some nice walleye that average 18 to 23 inches. Perch minnows work best. Also Otsego Lake has kicked in this week with some good catches of walleye
Dixon Lake - In Otsego County, is also producing some walleye when fishing with crawler harnesses at dusk.
FISHING REPORT
Upper Peninsula:
Copper Harbor is producing fair splake fishing.
Anglers on Lake Gogebic are reeling in a few bass, perch and walleye. The walleye are hitting on minnows, the bass and perch on crawlers.
Out of the Marquette area, the lake trout and salmon fishing is good on the Lower Marquette and Upper Marquette harbors, when the weather allows anglers to get out. Some salmon are starting to move into the Carp and Dead rivers. However, the low water levels are limiting the number of salmon, so far. The perch fishing on Little Lake is fair. The perch and walleye action on Lake Independence is spotty.
In the Escanaba area, some salmon are showing up in the Ford River. The walleye fishing ranges from slow to fair on Little Bay de Noc. Strong winds this past week have been keeping many anglers off the bay.
Out of the Manistique area, the steelhead fishing is fair on the Manistique River. Both spawn and yarn are being used as bait.
By Sault Ste. Marie, the walleye fishing is good on the St. Marys River. The salmon action is fair and the perch fishing is improving on the upper end of the river.
The walleye fishing is good on the St. Marys River between Munuscong and Raber bays. Try using a crawler harness with a bottom bouncer.
Around Drummond Island, the bass and pike fishing is fair on Maxton, Scott and Whitney bays. Anglers on Maxton and Scott bays are reeling in a few pike. An occasional salmon is being caught on the St. Marys River, near the lighthouse.
And at St. Ignace, the pike and walleye fishing is slow on Brevort Lake. Some salmon are starting to show up in the Carp River.
Northwest:
By Alanson on Crooked Lake, the perch fishing is good, with minnows being the preferred bait. The bass fishing on the lake is fair. Anglers in Petoskey on the pier to Little Traverse Bay are catching a few salmon.
Around Boyne City, the salmon action is good on Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan. Some salmon are stating to move into the Boyne River. Anglers using minnows as bait are catching good numbers of perch on Lake Charlevoix.
In the Traverse City area, the salmon fishing is fair along the Boardman River.
Out of the Frankfort area, the salmon action is good on both the Betsie and Platte rivers. The fish are hitting on a variety of baits and lures.
Manistee Lake by Manistee is producing good salmon and steelhead fishing. When the weather allows anglers to get out, the salmon fishing is good on Lake Michigan and the Manistee River. Anglers are Crystal Lake are reeling in a few perch.
The walleye fishing is fair on Manistee Lake near Kalkaska.
On Otsego Lake near Gaylord, the smallmouth bass and walleye fishing is good. The trout fishing is fair for fly-fishermen along sections of the Au Sable, Black, Manistee, Pigeon and Sturgeon rivers.
And at Cadillac, the bass and pike fishing is very good on both lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. Anglers on the canal between the two lakes are catching good numbers of bluegill and sunfish.
West:
Anglers on the breakwater on Lake Michigan in Ludington are finding some very good salmon fishing. Anglers are casting spoons, with green being the hot color. Outside of the harbor, in water up to 50 feet deep, the salmon fishing is good. The Pere Marquette River is producing excellent salmon fishing. The salmon fishing is fair on the Big Sable River.
Out of the Pentwater area, the coho, king salmon and steelhead fishing is very good on Lake Michigan, when the weather allows anglers to get out. The fish are found in the top 60 feet of water that is up to 95 feet deep. The salmon action is improving on the Pentwater River.
In the Muskegon area, the salmon fishing is good on Lake Michigan, weather permitting. The salmon action on the Muskegon Channel, Muskegon Lake and the Muskegon River ranges from fair to good. Anglers on Muskegon Lake are reeling in a few bluegill, with the best fishing found near the weed beds.
Fishing activity this week is slow on Chippewa Lake.
And at Baldwin, the salmon fishing is good on the Pere Marquette River. Anglers are using thundersticks and spawn as bait.
Northeast:
Around Alpena, the salmon fishing is fair on the Thunder Bay River, with the best area to cast a line in the water being by the Ninth Street Dam. The bass and perch fishing is spotty on Hubbard Lake.
In the Grayling area, the walleye fishing on Lake Margrethe ranges from fair to good. The best fishing occurs from the midday period into the early evening hours. The bluegill fishing on the lake is fair and the perch action is spotty.
By Oscoda, the perch fishing is good on Van Etten Lake. Cooke Dam and Foote Dam ponds are producing fair to good bluegill and perch fishing. Along the Au Sable River, some salmon are starting to move into the river. The catfish and walleye fishing on the river is fair.
Anglers on Higgins Lake are catching good numbers of lake trout. Mornings are the best time to be out. Try trolling with Rapalas in water at least 100 feet deep.
Houghton Lake is producing good bass, perch, pike and walleye fishing. Try fishing near the weed beds in water up to ten feet deep.
And at Au Gres, the perch fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay. The best areas to cast a line in the water are by Point Lookout and by the “channel” in water about 35 feet deep.
East:
Saginaw Bay near Linwood is producing some steady walleye action. The perch fishing on the bay is improving.
Around Bay City, the perch and walleye fishing is fair, when the weather allows anglers to get out.
In the Saginaw area, the smallmouth bass fishing is good on the Tittabawassee River. Anglers on the Cass River are catching good numbers of crappies, rock bass and smallmouth bass. The catfish fishing on the Saginaw River is good.
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