Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
FIshing Report for Northern Michigan 9/6/07
The big news is Salmon Fever is now in the rivers and piers has started which slows pressure on inland lakes. Now after Labor day jetskis should be on the way down. I say that and it will be ninety degrees like Wednesday. The salmon are having a had time getting up some sreams as the water is so low.
The number of people fishing has trailed off this week, which is common following the Labor Day holiday. For anglers that are heading out, fishing activity is pretty good on many lakes and rivers.
Houghton Lake - Fishing remains steady for a variety of fish. Avoid getting hung up on the weeds in 8 to 10 feet of water and fish will be caught. Pike are getting back on the bite.
Little Bay de Noc - Walleye fishing has been spotty throughout the Bay. The better fishing was reported near the Black Bottom when trolling crawlers in 10 to 25 feet of water. Good smallmouth bass fishing in 15 to 20 feet of water off Hunters Point. Northern pike were caught when trolling crankbaits in 10 to 20 feet of water off the mouth of the Escanaba River. Fair perch fishing was reported around Butler Island and off Gladstone when jigging worms in 14 to 25 feet of water. Good numbers of salmon have been marked out by the Ford River Can, but catch rates were slow.
Big Bay de Noc - Good numbers of walleye were marked off Garden Bluff, but the bite was slow. Walleye were caught just south of St. Vitals Island when drifting crawlers in 14 to 19 feet of water. Several nice smallmouth bass were caught off Ansel’s Point when casting crankbaits and spinners in 10 to 20 feet of water. A few perch were caught near Garden Bay. Boat anglers trolling spoons 30 to 50 feet down in waters 80 to 130 feet deep have caught some salmon off Fairport.
Traverse City - Those fishing the East Bay have caught chinook in the early morning off Deepwater Pont and the Bluffs. Spoons and Hootchie Mama’s and flies have worked best. Near Elk Rapids, chinook were caught south of the harbor near the Humps when trolling plugs and spin doctors. Lake trout fishing has been very good from the launch at Center Road to the Bluffs, off Dock Road and Yuba Creek. Whitefish action was slow with only a few fish taken when jigging spoons in 80 to 100 feet of water in the south end of the Bay. In the West Bay, chinook salmon were caught between Lookout Point and Elmwood and up to the White Wall. Early morning is producing some kings off the mouth of the Boardman River when trolling spoons and plugs. Lake trout fishing has been good near the Gravel Pit. Limit catches of lake trout and near limits of chinook have been caught in Bowers Harbor, where the boat launch is very shallow so bigger boats will not be able to launch at this location.
Muskegon - A few salmon were caught in the channel and off the piers. Rain in the forecast will most likely push more fish into the river system.
Whitehall - Salmon are being caught off the piers. Most are using Cleo’s. Boat anglers are catching mature fish close to shore. Younger salmon along with steelhead have been caught in 160 to 200 feet of water.
White River - Is just starting to get some salmon action.
Lake Leelanau - Reported good walleye fishing.
Lake Margrethe reports a fair walleye bite with most being caught in the middle of the day drifting with crawlers.
Long Lake - Has good walleye fishing but the fish are biting from 10am to 2pm. Anglers are jigging leeches at different depths or using a single hook with a leech or minnow under a slip bobber. Smallmouth bass fishing has been very good.
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.
Portage Lake - The panfish bite is starting to pick up. Decent numbers of large rock bass, sunfish and bluegills have been caught on crawlers, wax worms, or red worms either alone or on a jig. Largemouth were caught around the piers and docks.
Saginaw Bay - Fishing has been slow from all ports. A few walleye were taken west of the Spark Plug near Buoys 11 & 12 and in 7 to 8 feet of water in the Slot off the islands. Some nice perch were taken near the Spark Plug and around Buoy 15. The Hot Pond is still producing some channel cats.
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.
Dixon Lake - In Otsego County, is also producing some walleye when fishing with crawler harnesses at dusk.
Cedarville and Hessel - Salmon pressure is low with only a few anglers targeting them. The best locations to fish are the west side of Goose Island, off Point Brule, the east end of Yacht Entrance, the south end of Boot Island and east of Gravely Island when fishing 35 feet down in 50 to 70 feet of water. Perch are hitting in the Middle Entrance and Government Bay. Use minnows or worms and fish deep. Northern pike fishing has been excellent in the bays.
FISHING REPORT
Upper Peninsula:
The bass fishing is fair on lakes Fanny Hooe and Medora near Copper Harbor.
Out on Lake Gogebic, the bass and perch fishing is good. Anglers are reeling in a few small walleye.
Around Escanaba, the walleye fishing ranges from fair to good on Little Bay de Noc. The bluegill action is fair in the Escanaba Harbor. Anglers on Big Bay de Noc near Fairport are catching a few salmon.
By Manistique, the perch fishing is good on Indian Lake, the salmon fishing is fair on Lake Michigan.
In the Sault Ste. Marie area, the walleye fishing is good on the St. Marys River. Anglers on the river behind the “powerhouse” are catching a few salmon.
On Munuscong and Raber bays the walleye fishing is good. Anglers are using crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers.
Anglers are finding some pretty good perch fishing on the bays near Cedarville. Anglers on Maxton and Scott bays near Drummond Island are reeling in a few perch. The pike fishing is fair on Maxton and Whitney bays. A few walleye are being reeled in by anglers on Maxton, Scott and Whitney bays.
At St. Ignace, the walleye fishing ranges from fair to good on Brevort Lake. The salmon fishing is spotty through the Straits of Mackinac.
Northwest:
By Harbor Springs on Little Traverse Bay the salmon fishing is good. The best times to be fishing are during the early morning or evening hours. Burt Lake is producing some very good bass fishing. The perch action is also good on the lake.
In the Boyne City area, the bass and walleye fishing is very good on the South Arm of Lake Charlevoix. Leeches are working well as bait for the bass, the walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses and body baits. Anglers on the lake are reeling in a few perch, using minnows as bait.
Around Frankfort, the salmon fishing is good on Lake Michigan and along the Betsie River. In the big lake, the silver fish are found 50 to 70 feet below the surface. Mornings and evenings are the best times to have a line in the water.
Anglers are finding some very good salmon fishing on Lake Michigan near Manistee. The salmon in the Big Manistee River are still line shy.
The smallmouth bass and walleye fishing is improving on Lake Bellaire north of Kalkaska. Fly-fishermen by Gaylord are finding fair to good trout fishing on rivers like the Au Sable, Manistee, Pigeon and Sturgeon.
At Cadillac, the bass and pike action is good on both lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. Anglers on Lake Cadillac are reeling in good numbers of bluegill and crappie.
West:
In the Ludington area, the salmon fishing is good on Lake Michigan. Mornings are the best time to have a line in the water. Anglers are using dipsey divers off downriggers or J-plugs tipped with a fly. Anglers on Hamlin Lake are catching a few bass and bluegill. The salmon action is slow on the Pere Marquette River.
Out of the Pentwater area, the salmon, lake trout and steelhead fishing is very good on Lake Michigan. The fish are found in the top 50 feet of water that is up to 120 feet deep.
By Muskegon, the salmon and steelhead fishing is good on Lake Michigan and the Muskegon Channel. Anglers on Muskegon Lake who are willing to put in a little time are catching fair numbers of bass, pike and walleye. The best areas to cast a line in the water are near the weed beds.
Anglers on Chippewa Lake are catching an occasional bluegill or pike. Mornings or evenings are the best times to be out.
At Baldwin, the bluegill fishing is good on most of the local inland lakes. Crickets are working well as bait.
Southwest:
Out of the Holland area, the salmon fishing is very good on Lake Michigan. The perch action is good on the lake, with minnows being the preferred bait. Lake Macatawa is producing good bluegill and walleye action.
In the Benton Harbor area, the salmon fishing is very good on Lake Michigan in water 80 to 100 feet deep. Anglers on the lake are catching good numbers of perch in water 30 to 35 feet deep.
Around New Buffalo, the perch and salmon fishing ranges from fair to good on Lake Michigan. The perch are hitting on minnows, and early mornings are the best time to drop a line in the water. Anglers along the Galien River are reeling in a few catfish.
By Kalamazoo, Austin and Gun lakes are producing fair to good largemouth bass fishing. Anglers on North Lake are reeling in good numbers of bluegill, using waxworms or red worms as bait. The catfish fishing is pretty good on the St. Joseph River.
At Three Rivers, the bluegill, crappie and perch fishing is good on the local lakes. The catfish fishing is good along the St. Joseph River.
Northeast:
Around Alpena, the salmon and lake trout fishing is slowing down on Lake Huron.
By Grayling, the walleye fishing is fair on Lake Margrethe. Anglers are using both crawlers and minnows as bait. Anglers on Manistee Lake are reeling in a few bluegill.
In the Oscoda area, the perch fishing is very good on Van Etten Lake. Anglers on Foote Dam Pond are catching fair numbers of bluegill, smallmouth bass and walleye. On Lake Huron, the salmon fishing is fair, out from the mouth of the Au Sable River.
Higgins Lake is producing some good lake trout and perch fishing. The perch are hitting on minnows in water about 30 feet deep.
Anglers on Houghton Lake are catching a few bass, panfish, pike and walleye. Mornings and evenings are the best times to be out.
At Au Gres, the perch fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay in water about 40 feet deep. Shiner minnows are working well as bait.
East:
On Saginaw Bay near Linwood, the perch fishing is good. Minnows are working well as bait, and the early morning hours are the best time to be out.
In the Bay City area, the perch fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay. The walleye fishing is slow.
Anglers on the Tittabawassee River by Saginaw are catching a few smallmouth bass, using crawlers as bait. The catfish fishing is fair on the Saginaw River. Anglers are reeling in a few rock bass and smallmouth bass on the Cass River.
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