Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Perch Run At Ludington
Walleye activity seems to have slowed in many portions of the state, while salmon action is on the rise.
Finally a Perch Run!!!!! Ludington Pier is hot again for perch this week with minnows working best. Look for perch to show up in Manistee and Frankfort to as they move up the coast.
Houghton Lake has been fair this week. Leeches working best along with crawlers.
Lake St. Helen has been slow this week.
Lake Missaukee - Boat and shore anglers are catching some nice bass and other panfish. Walleye have been caught but catch rates were not consistent.
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.
Indian Lake - A few walleye and some perch have been caught.
Skegemog Lake - Smallmouth bass fishing remains good. Target the flats between the Torch River and the access site at Baggs Road while casting crawlers, leeches, shrimp, crayfish, minnows, tube baits, jigs or rapalas in 8 to 20 feet of water. Rock bass were hitting near the Torch River and on the north side of the Narrows around the stumps. Anglers are still catching bluegills in 10 to 12 feet of water in front of the access site and the Torch River. A few yellow perch were also caught.
Big Glen Lake - Perch are the target. The smaller fish can be found in 25 to 30 feet of water and the bigger ones in 40 feet or more. They are using a variety of worms, wigglers, shrimp and minnows. Lake trout are still being picked up off the bottom when using spoons. One steelhead was caught when trolling in 30 feet of water on the west side of the lake near the Yacht Club. Mornings are the best time to fish. For a nice day with the kids, try the shallow waters near the Sleeping Bear Dunes. There are lots of bluegills in the weeds.
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 - Anglers fishing the Narrows and Pete’s Bayou claimed leeches were the hot bait however those trolling a crawler harness or still-fishing with minnows and crawlers were also getting bites. Largemouth bass were caught around the Dunes while the smallmouth can be found around the North and Middle Bayou’s in 15 feet of water. Bluegill fishing has been good in 8 to 12 feet of water
Wixom Lake - In Gladwin County is producing some nice rock bass also crappie and gills have hitting.
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 - Walleyes are still hitting east and northeast of the Spark Plug in 19 to 23 feet of water and north of Quanicassee in 13 to 15 feet of water. Very good walleye fishing was reported from 30 feet of water east of Eagle Bay Marina, formally known as Great Lakes Marina. Heading northwest off Sebewaing, a few walleye were caught over the Bar. Perch were hit-and-miss, but some were caught around the Black Hole northeast of Linwood and north of the Quanicassee River.
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..
Higgins Lake - Boat anglers are still taking lake trout when trolling body baits behind cowbells in 80 to 100 feet of water. Lots of rock bass have been caught on minnows and worms. Those drifting leeches along the drop-off in 25 to 30 feet of water are taking smallmouth bass. Perch fishing was hit-or-miss.
Houghton Lake - Has good walleye and bluegill fishing. Anglers are fishing an area out in the middle of the lake called the “elbow” which is a weedbed in 7 feet of water. Crawlers, leeches and wax worms have caught fish.
Tittabawassee River - Catfish has been good.
Cedarville and Hessel - Chinook and lake trout action has been fair off Hessel. Some perch have been caught 8 to 10 feet down in waters up to 70 feet deep off the marina pier. Perch fishing has picked up in Muskie Bay, Cedarville Bay and in the Moscoe Channel. Worms and minnows were the ticket.
Upper Peninsula:
Off of the Copper Harbor area, Lake Superior is producing good quantities of lake trout in 100-feet of water on divers.
Around Bergland,fishing activity has slowed a little with walleye action rated fair on Lake Gogebic. Anglers are trolling with crank baits and leeches are also working well. Perch activity is decent around the weed beds and in 8-10 feet of water when using crawlers.
In the Escanaba region, Little Bay de Noc continues to produce good numbers of walleye that are spread out all over the Bay. Drifting with crawler harnesses seems to get consistent results. Salmon action is great on Cedarville in 90-130 feet of water and fishing 45-80 feet down. Gladstone Beach remains a hot spot for perch on worms and minnows.
In the Sault Ste. Marie area, very good action for walleye on the St. Mary’s River using crawler harnesses. The Garden River off of Lake George is producing some really big salmon (21 pounds), as well as around DeTour. Anglers are using J-plugs and spoons.
In the Munuscong area anglers are finding excellent conditions for walleye on Munuscong Bay using night crawlers and bottom bouncers. Off of Cedarville the pike are hitting all around the Islands as well as Musky and McKay Bays and off all the points. Anglers are fishing in 30-feet of water and using Mack’s Smile Blades and many are drifting at less than one mile per hour. Salmon action has slowed a bit.
St. Ignace the fishing has seemed to slow for walleye and perch, but decent catches of salmon can be had from Lake Huron.
Information Providers: ACE Hardware-St. Ignace; Bayview Bait & Tackle-Escanaba; Gaslight-Copper Harbor; Hank’s Sporting-Sault Ste. Marie; Nine Pines-Bergland and Wilderness Treasures-Munuscong Bay.
Northwest:
In the Alanson area the fishing has slowed a bit, however some pike are hitting on Hawaiian skirt on Crooked Lake.
Angling activity around Boyne City is good for bass and walleye on Lake Charlevoix. Best results are drifting in 25-30 feet of water using floating jig heads with crawlers or a variety of body baits.
Around Petoskey, Lake Michigan is giving up plenty of lake trout and salmon in 60-80 feet of water. Blue, purple and green spoons are working well.
Frankfort fishing is good with the Betsie Bay giving up nice counts of salmon near the pier heads on glow in the dark spoons. The Betsie and Platt Rivers are providing good catches of brown trout in the early morning and evening hours. The Big Platt Lake is offering plenty of walleye opportunities, while small inland lakes are producing good quantities of pan fish. Many anglers are waiting for the salmon to come up stream.
In Manistee, the salmon action is good all over and especially in the cold waters of Manistee Harbor. Plugs are working well. Kings are starting to move on the Big Manistee River. Perch are active south of the pier heads.
Decent fishing taking place around Kalkaska, the inland lakes are producing decent catches of bass on rubber worms, night crawlers and live bait. Salmon are starting to pick up on Lake Michigan and the Manistee River is producing some walleye and pan fish with spinners and leeches working best.
Gaylord has great fishing on the majority of streams for trout, as well as the Boyne, Black, Sturgeon and Manistee Rivers. Tricos and flies work best in the early morning, while terrestrials and cadis seem to work better in the evening hours. All inland lakes as well as Lake Michigan are doing well for bass and walleye.
Around In the Cadillac area, salmon action is starting to pick up on the Manistee River. Flies, spawn, spoons and thunder stick juniors are working well. Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell are producing some bass and pike, as well as a few crappie and blue gill. Blue gill and crappie have moved to deeper waters and anglers are working hard to catch.
Information providers: Alphorn-Gaylord; Backcast Fly Shop-Frankfort; Boyne River Bait-Boyne City; Jack’s Sports-Kalkaska; Riley’s-Manistee; Pilgrim’s Village-Cadillac, and Young’s Bait Shop-Alanson.
West:
In Ludington, on Lake Michigan perch are hitting near the north break wall on minnows leaf and wax worms. Salmon are active around the pier heads when casting spoons or using alewives. Pere Marquette River also is good for salmon fishing. Hamlin Lake has excellent fishing for a wide variety of species with worms working best on several fish.
Around the Muskegon area salmon fishing is heating up. Chinook and Coho are plentiful in waters 30 to 120 feet. Anglers are using flashers and flies behind divers, J-plugs on lead core, and moonshine spoons. Very good fishing for perch right out from the beach to 30-feet of water. Muskegon Lake is good for walleye in the early morning hours using spinner baits, while the evening hours are best with crank baits. Bass activity is very good as well.
Baldwin anglers are doing well for blue gill using crickets, but overall waiting for the salmon run.
Information providers: King Sports-Baldwin; P.M. Sports-Ludington, and Shoreline Bait & Tackle-Muskegon.
Southwest:
Around the Benton Harbor area, good angling action is taking place for salmon on Lake Michigan in waters 80-120 feet. Anglers are fishing 65-70 feet down using an MBK with yellow killers. Perch are scattered north and south, and anglers are using minnows for best results.
In the Holland area windy conditions prevail this week cooling the waters. Lake Macatawa is giving up plenty of blue gill near the buoys and walleye are biting on crawlers, leeches and a variety of body baits. Salmon and perch activity is good on Lake Michigan. Perch are hitting on minnows and wigglers in 20-30 feet of water, while the salmon are biting on J-plugs, flies and spoons in 40-100 feet of water.
Kalamazoo has a kaleidoscope of great fishing. Austin, Gunn and Gull lakes are giving up plenty of large mouth bass on plastic lures with cotton candy the most popular, and white spinner baits. On the Kalamazoo River, walleye are hitting on crawlers and below the Allegan Dam as well as near Swan Creek, steelhead are hitting on Hot-n-Tots in the 14 pound range. Eagle Lake is providing nice crappie on minnows, while Schafer Lake is decent for perch during the middle of the day and fishing in 30-feet of water. Portage and North lakes are giving up abundant blue gill on leaf and wax worms, and night crawlers. Pike action is good when trolling with spoons on Gull Lake and fish are biting on Rapalas and shiner minnows on Huzzy Lake. Lake Michigan is giving up nice counts of salmon, steelhead and brown trout off of South Haven, and in front of piers in 50-90 feet of water.
Within the New Buffalo area, the weather just has not been cooperating for anglers lately. The perch seem to have left the area; anglers are concentrating on salmon and trout in 100-feet of water. Several baits are working well including dodgers, flies, green and silver spoons.
Good activity around Three Rivers where most local lakes are giving up good numbers of crappie, blue gill, bass, and perch. Red wigglers, wax worms and minnows are popular baits. Information providers: American Tackle-Holland; Captain Cook’s-New Buffalo; DR Sports-Kalamazoo; Fisherman’s Luck-Three Rivers, and Tackle Haven-Benton Harbor.
Northeast:
Grayling anglers are doing well on Lake Margrethe for walleye. Anglers are trolling with bottom bouncers with leeches and crawlers at a top speed of ½ mph between 7 p.m. and midnight. In the morning slow drifting with crawler harnesses in 17-20 feet of water is best.
Anglers in Alpena are finding good numbers of lake trout and salmon near the mouth of Thunder Bay and around Presque Ile in 75-110 feet of water. Spoons in a variety of colors are working well. Long Lake is giving up decent catches of bass and walleye on crawler harnesses and Rapalas.
Good action in Oscoda, Cooke and Foote Dam Ponds are giving up nice numbers of crappie on minnows. Pike and bass are active as well on both lakes. Van Etten Lake is providing good catches of perch and walleye on crawlers and minnows. Catfish are biting on worms in the lower AuSable River as well as a variety of pan fish on wax worms and the salmon action is also picking up.
Good action on Houghton Lake where pan fish, walleye and bass are biting on crawlers, leeches, beetle spins and Hot n Tots. Anglers are finding good results for the pan fish when fishing the edge of the weed beds, right in the weed beds and in 6-10 feet of water.
Higgins Lake anglers have been dealing with windy conditions this week and the activity has slowed a bit. When anglers do get out they are catching lake trout, perch, pike, rock and small mouth bass.
Around Au Gres, perch and walleye are active in waters 30-40 feet of water and near the ship wreck and four miles south of Pte. AuGres. Crawlers and minnows seem to be doing the trick.
Information providers: Skip’s-Grayling: Lyman’s-Houghton Lake; Rivers Edge Bait Shop-AuGres; Sports Barn-Higgins Lake; The Dam Store-Oscoda and Clems-Alpena.
East:
In the Linwood area, Saginaw Bay is giving up some walleye on a variety of baits and anglers are finding best results in deeper waters. Perch remain constant again this week in the shipping channels in 19-21 feet of water, south of the Black Hole. Salmon action on Lake Huron is picking up particularly for anglers fishing off the wreck, around Presque Isle, and off of Rogers City.
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