Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
FIshing Report for Northern Michigan 7/31/08
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 been 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 - 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.
Skegemog Lake - The public access site on Baggs Road is open. Walleye anglers were drifting crawler harnesses between the Torch River and Baggs Road but no fish were caught. A few nice pike were caught in the flats in 10 to 12 feet of water. Smallmouth bass action has been good especially between the mouth of the Torch River and the shallow weedy area or from the access site to the Narrows. Anglers are casting top water baits, artificial frogs, swim baits, power baits, tube baits, crank baits, jigs or spinners. Small bluegills are hitting in crawlers or red worms.
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, 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 - 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 - 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 - At Cedarville, the herring bite is winding down in McKay Bay. Good perch fishing was reported in the Moscow Channel in 4 to 6 feet of water or in Musky Bay and Cedarville Bay in 8 to 12 feet of water. Northern pike fishing has been excellent around the Les Cheneaux Islands when trolling, still-fishing or casting with chub spawn. Smallmouth bass action has been good and should only get better. Perch have been caught off the pier at Hessel. Try minnows in 8 to 10 feet of water. Salmon were caught off Goose Island.
Upper Peninsula:
Lake Medora near Copper Harbor is producing some very good bass fishing. Anglers on Lake Fanny Hooe are catching good numbers of bass and perch. The splake action on Copper Harbor is fair.
On Lake Gogebic, the perch fishing ranges from fair to good. Crawlers are working well as bait, and the best spots to fish are in water eight to 12 feet deep near weed beds. The walleye fishing on the lake is fair. Anglers are using leeches as bait or trolling with crank baits.
Out of the Marquette area, the lake trout fishing on Lake Superior is fair in water 125 to 150 feet deep. The smallmouth bass and walleye fishing ranges from fair to good on Lake Independence. Anglers on the Greenwood Reservoir are catching a few panfish.
By Escanaba, the salmon fishing is good on Little Bay de Noc. The salmon are hitting on spoons, with the south end of the bay producing the best fishing.
In the Manistique area, the salmon and steelhead fishing is good on Lake Michigan. The best fishing is found about five miles off shore. The bluegill and perch fishing is fair on Indian Lake. Anglers along the Manistique River are starting to catch an occasional walleye.
Around Sault Ste. Marie, the Atlantic salmon fishing ranges from being good to very good on the St. Marys River. The best fishing is found behind the “powerhouse.” On the river south of the Soo, the walleye fishing is fair to good from 9 Mile Road to Raber Bay. The marble eyes are mainly hitting on crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers.
The smallmouth bass fishing is very good on Maxton, Scott and Whitney bays near Drummond Island. Crawlers are the preferred bait. The perch and walleye fishing on the bays is fair, at best. Anglers on Scott Bay are reeling in a few northerns. The pike are found in water 12 to 14 feet.
And at St. Ignace, the smallmouth bass fishing is fair on Brevort Lake.
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:
Typical summer fishing patterns are developing on Burt and Crooked lakes near Alanson. Anglers are catching a few perch and walleye on the lakes.
Out of the Boyne City area, the bass and walleye fishing is very good on Lake Charlevoix. The bass are hitting on live baits, such as leeches and crawlers, the walleye seem to prefer body baits.
Around Traverse City, the walleye action is good on Lake Leelanau. The fish are found in water 40 to 50 feet deep.
By Frankfort, the king salmon fishing is very good on Lake Michigan and off the pier on the big lake. Along the Betsie and Platte rivers the brown and rainbow trout fishing is very good during the evening hours. Anglers on Crystal Lake are reeling in some very good numbers of perch, rock bass and smallmouth bass. The panfish fishing is also very good on Turtle Lake.
In the Manistee area, the king salmon fishing is very good on Lake Michigan. The kings are hitting on J-plugs and spin doctors. The walleye action off the pierheads is good. Good numbers of panfish are being caught on many of the local inland lakes.
Lake Skegemog near Kalkaska is producing some very good bluegill and smallmouth bass fishing. The best area to cast a line in the water seems to be on the east side of the lake near the mouth to the Torch River. Anglers on Twin Lake are catching good numbers of bass and walleye using leeches and crawlers as bait.
Anglers on Otsego and Bradford lakes near Gaylord are catching good numbers of bass and walleye. The fly-fishing is good in most of the local streams.
And at Cadillac, the bass and pike fishing is good on both lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. Lake Cadillac is also producing some good panfish and crappie fishing.
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:
By Ludington, the bass, bluegill and walleye fishing is very good on Hamlin Lake. Anglers along the Pere Marquette River are catching quite a few salmon. On Lake Michigan the perch and salmon fishing is very good. The perch are hitting on minnows, the salmon on small spoons and little cleos.
Out of the Pentwater area, the king salmon fishing is very good on Lake Michigan. The fish are found in the top 60 feet of water that is 80 to 120 feet deep.
Around Muskegon, the perch, salmon and steelhead fishing on Lake Michigan is good. The perch are hitting on worms and minnows. The salmon and steelhead are found in the top half of water up to 100 feet deep. On Muskegon Lake, good numbers of walleye are being reeled in at night. Anglers are trolling with crank baits in water about 15 feet deep.
Chippewa Lake is producing some very good bass, crappie and walleye fishing. Crawlers are the preferred bait.
And out of the Baldwin area, the bass and bluegill fishing is good on most of the small inland lakes. The gills are hitting on crickets and leaf worms. The trout fishing for fly-fishermen ranges from fair to good on the local rivers.
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:
In the Holland area, the perch and salmon fishing is good on Lake Michigan. The perch are hitting on minnows in water 30 to 35 feet of water. The salmon are found about 30 feet below the surface, in water that is up to 120 deep. Lake Macatawa is a good spot to go to catch a few walleye.
Lake Michigan out of Benton Harbor is producing some very good coho and king salmon fishing. The fish are hitting on dodgers and spoons.
By New Buffalo, the perch and salmon fishing is good on Lake Michigan. The best area to find the salmon is straight out from the harbor in water 85 to 100 feet deep. The perch are hitting on minnows in water 35 to 40 feet deep near the “pumping station.”
Out of the Kalamazoo area, the smallmouth bass fishing is good along the Kalamazoo River. Anglers are reeling in good numbers of catfish along the St. Joseph River. Anglers will find some very good panfish fishing on Gunn Lake. The fish have moved into the shallows around the lake. The pike fishing is good on Gull Lake. Eagle Lake is producing good bluegill fishing. The gills are hitting on leaf worms. Anglers on Austin and Scott lakes are reeling in good numbers of largemouth bass.
And at Three Rivers, the bluegill, crappie and perch fishing is good on most of the local lakes. The gills are hitting on leaf worms and waxworms. The crappie and perch prefer minnows as bait. On the St. Joseph River, the catfish and walleye fishing is good.
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:
Around Alpena, the bass and walleye fishing is good on Long Lake. Walleye anglers are mainly using crawler harnesses. At the mouth of Thunder Bay, the lake trout and walleye fishing is decent. The walleye are hitting on Rapalas, the lakers on spoons.
In the Oscoda area, Foote Dam Pond is producing some very good bass and bluegill fishing, the walleye action is fair. Anglers on Van Etten Lake are catching good numbers of perch, along with a few crappie, pike and walleye. Along the Au Sable River, the catfish and walleye fishing is good.
By Grayling, fly-fishermen are catching a few trout in area streams. The walleye fishing on Lake Margrethe is slow. The walleye that are being caught are hitting on minnows.
Higgins Lake is producing some very good rock bass fishing. Both leeches and waxworms are being used as bait. The perch and lake trout fishing is slow on the lake.
Out on Houghton Lake, the bass, bluegill, crappie and walleye fishing ranges from fair to good. The gills are hitting on waxworms and leeches; the crappie prefer minnows as bait; the bass are hitting on a variety of baits and walleye anglers are using crawlers and leeches as bait.
And at Au Gres, the walleye fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay. The best fishing is found south of the Au Gres River, in water about 30 feet deep. Crawlers are the preferred bait.
Information providers: Lyman’s-Houghton Lake; Rivers Edge Bait Shop-AuGres; Sports Barn-Higgins Lake, and The Dam Store-Oscoda; Clems- Alpena; Skip’s-Grayling.
East:
The perch action is improving on Saginaw Bay near Linwood. The best fishing is found along the edge of the shipping channel in water 20-23 feet deep. The walleye fishing is steady on the bay in water approximately 20 feet deep.
Out of the Bay City area, the walleye fishing is very good on Saginaw Bay. Early mornings are the best time to be out, with crawlers being the preferred bait. Anglers on the bay are also catching a few perch. The catfish and bass fishing on the Saginaw River is good.
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