Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Memorial Holiday Fishing Report
The weather is still a big issue as it continues to give us bad weekends of weather. Cool weather is once again hampering fishing conditions around the state, but the last two days eighties"AWESOME’‘. This coming Saturday May 23rd is the opening day of bass season on the Great Lakes and all the inland waters except Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River and the Detroit River which do not open until the 3rd Saturday in June. The early catch and release season has been very good so the opener this weekend should also be good. Muskie fishing has started to heat up and the warmer weather should produce some good bluegill action. We have had a warm up but high winds have kept people off the lake.
On the inland waters, bluegills are beginning to show up in the shallows, but it will probably be another week or so before spawning begins in the Lower Peninsula. Largemouth bass are active in the shallows. Anglers are reminded that all largemouth and smallmouth bass must be released immediately. Bluegill are still on the bite on most lakes and hearing good reports.
Mushrooms are popping in Northern Michigan with blacks being the main fungi.
Otsego Lake by Gaylord has had a great walleye and perch bite this week
Higgins Lake - Once boats are able to get out, look for the big perch because not many have been out fishing for them. Look for smallmouth bass activity.
Houghton Lake - A few walleye were still being caught when boats could get out. The bass opener should be good in the shallows along the weed beds. The crappie and bluegill bite should also pick up by the weekend.
Lake Charlevoix - Perch fishing was slow. Anglers jigging and using shiners did manage to catch a few nice fish but many were small.
Lake Bellaire - Water temperatures are in the 52 to 54 degree range. Walleye were caught at night when trolling near the mouth of the Intermediate River and the Grass River outlet. Try a crawler harness, jigs or rapalas in 5 to 20 feet of water. Those targeting bass have done well along the east side of the lake when casting spinners, tube baits, stick baits and grubs in 6 to 20 feet of water.
Traverse City - Whitefish have been caught in both bays when boats can get out. In the East Bay, whitefish and lake trout were caught when jigging in 100 to 160 feet of water with a pearl Swedish Pimples. In the West Bay, lake trout were caught when trolling or jigging in 70 to 150 feet of water between the Boardman River and Marion Island. Jigging was best in the early morning.
Saginaw Bay - Walleye fishing was good in 20 feet of water around the Spark Plug. Finn Road, Jones Road and Knight Road were also good spots when using a crawler harness in 4 to 6 feet of water. Good walleye action off Quanicassee when using a crawler harness or Hot-n-Tots in 10 to 14 feet of water. Boat anglers off Sebewaing have caught some limits straight out, off Lone Tree Island or Thomas Reef. Anglers saw fish off Bayport however weeds and debris made fishing a challenge. Try trolling between North Island and Sand Point.
Saginaw River - Some walleye were caught near the Independence Bridge when using minnows or twisters. Channel catfish were caught off the stone docks near Essexville.
Tittabawassee River - Walleye were caught near Gordonville Road. Smallmouth bass were also caught and released.
Portage Lake- Those trolling or casting for pike have caught good numbers of fish along the weed beds and the drop-offs. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass along with a few rock bass have been caught in the shallows. Bluegills and crappie were still deep but should start to move into the shallows as it warms up.
Manistee - Boat anglers are catching brown trout and the occasional steelhead on body baits. Green and orange were good colors. Perch were caught off the pier however anglers will need to sort out the small ones.
Ludington - The docks have been pulled at the Loomis Street boat launch due to dredging. Anglers are catching brown trout while trolling along the shoreline. Most fish were caught between the Lincoln River and the Point.
Lake Cadillac - Panfish were caught near the M-115 causeway and the City Dock.
Little Bay De Noc - The walleye opener was slower than usual because of the weather. Fish were caught along the entire stretch between the Escanaba River and Whitefish Point however the best reports came from the First and Second Reefs. Most are trolling stick baits in 20 to 40 feet of water or jigging crawlers in 16 to 23 feet of water along the edge of the reef. Perch and many sub-legal walleye were caught in the Narrows.
Drummond Island - The walleye and pike opener was slow with only a few pike taken in Paradise Point Bay when drifting frozen smelt in 4 to 8 feet of water. Smallmouth bass were caught near the mouth of the harbor when fishing in 6 feet of water around the rock piles. Though water levels are higher this year, caution still needs to be used around the rock piles and reefs.
De Tour - A few boats are beginning to head out from the city launch. They were marking fish but catch rates were slow. A couple steelhead can still be found in Albany Creek.
Cedarville and Hessel - Those casting off the pier or trolling in the bay with minnows and smelt are targeting splake but also bringing in the occasional atlantic salmon and yellow perch. The northern pike opener was fantastic for those fishing off the piers, the bays and the channels.
Big Bay De Noc - Walleye fishing has been slow as high winds have hammpered fishing.
White Lake - Perch fishing was slow but the bluegill action was excellent. Some crappie were caught in front of Armstrong’s.
Upper Peninsula:
Bergland anglers are getting out and fishing for walleye despite windy conditions this week. Minnows seem to be working fairly well on Lake Gogebic.
Wind and rain has limited some of the fishing around Escanaba but when anglers are getting out the walleye action is good on Little Bay De Noc, Big Bay De Noc and the mouth of the Ford River. Crawler harnesses and trolling with crank bait seems to do the trick. Silver bass are in good numbers and crank bait and tube baits are working well.
Weather has been an issue for anglers in Manistique. A few walleye and pike have been caught near the mouth of the Manistique River. Weekend weather and fishing are both expected to improve.
Sault St. Marie anglers have headed to Brimley for walleye since adverse weather in their own area has created minimal opportunities and the water has cooled 10-degrees.
Munuscong Bay area anglers are getting good numbers of pike and large sized splake on Cedarville. Brimley Bay is giving up excellent catches of walleye. Caribou Lake is a great location for walleye fishing and good results can be found using crawler harnesses.
Weather hasnâ??t been so great around Drummond Island but a good forecast is in the works for the holiday weekend. Wind and rain has limited activity, but anglers that are getting out are finding a few walleye, perch and pike on Maxton and Scott bays.
Good walleye action taking place out on Brevort Lake despite the weather this week in the St. Ignace area.
Northwest:
Burt Lake in Alanson is giving up very nice numbers of walleye near the north arm on minnows. The weather has improved and activity is on the rise.
Anglers fishing around the Boyne City area are doing well for walleye and pike on Lake Charlevoix near the south arm in 10-20 feet of water using crawler harnesses and body baits. Walloon Lake has decent fishing taking place for walleye, pike and perch. Trout can also be caught in 10-15 feet of water using red, orange and yellow spoons while trolling. The Boyne and Jordan rivers are decent for trout and plenty of suckers still in good numbers. Fly fishing is popular on the Jordan River for Brook and Brown trout using small spinners. Bass are heading towards the beds.
Windy conditions this week in Frankfort created for some spotty fishing, but nice weather is in the forecast for the weekend. Perch action is spotty on Arcadia and Portage lakes. Most rivers the trout fishing seems to have ended. Lake Michigan is good for salmon and browns when trolling. Crystal Lake is giving up fair counts of white fish on worms.
Otsego Lake near Gaylord is great for walleye fishing and anglers are using Rapalas and crawler harnesses with good results. The Manistee and Au Sable rivers are producing nice numbers of trout on flies and spinners.
Cadillac anglers are finding very good pike action on both Cadillac and Mitchell lakes. Crappie action is good as well as blue gill and bass.
West:
Around the Baldwin area bass season opens on Saturday and anglers are anxious. Idlewild Lake is a hot spot for blue gill on leaf worms and some spiders. Big Bass Lake is giving up really nice perch catches on wigglers, wax worms, and small perch minnows, while House Lake has some nice sunfish action. The majority of rivers in the area are doing very well for trout since a fly hatch is on. The water is low and small leaf worms are working well. Anglers are pre-fishing bass on Wolf Lake and the fish are biting on a variety of baits.
Salmon fishing is excellent out of the Muskegon area. It has been windy but anglers are getting out in waters up to 100 feet and fishing from the surface to 80 feet with good results. Fish are hitting on flashers but green and blue spoons are very productive. Walleye activity has been spotty with only one to two fish being caught. Bass season opens Saturday, fish are not bedding just yet. Marinas will be a good place to fish for large and small mouth bass over the weekend which is expected to be an outstanding opener. However, it is suggested to catch and release since the fish have not spawned yet. Muskegon Lake has some good walleye action when using Smithwickâ??s Rattlinâ?? Rogue and Rapalas.
Chippewa Lake is producing decent walleye counts and pan fish action is ok. Fish seem to bite best on wax worms and minnows.
Around the Grand Rapids area bass season opens Saturday. Morrison and Reed lakes are giving up good crappie fishing. Blue gill are starting to bed in some of the smaller ponds in the area. The Grand River has high water and anglers are pre-fishing for bass.
Northeast:
Lake Huron off of the Alpena area is giving up nice numbers of walleye on body baits and Rapalas. The Thunder Bay River near the Ninth Street Dam is producing decent catches of steelhead on flies and spawn.
Oscoda anglers are doing well with live baits fishing for pike and blue gill on Foote Dam Pond. The Au Sable River is producing good quantities of steelhead on spawn and flies and a few anglers are pre-fishing for bass.
Lake Margrethe near Grayling is fair for perch action in 14-20 feet of water when using minnows. Walleye activity has been slow but when anglers are catching them they are hitting on minnows and leeches. Many small lakes in the area are rated fair to good for blue gill and bass on live baits.
Houghton Lake is giving up nice numbers of crappie and blue gill in the canals on minnows and worms. Walleye activity is good when trolling or drifting and bobber fishing.
The perch action is rated fair on Higgins Lake this week with perch minnows working well in 30 to 40 feet of water. Trout activity is also rated fair.
The Au Gres River is producing fair amounts of steelhead on spawn. A few anglers are catching and releasing bass. The official bass season opens on Saturday.
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