Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Solitary Fishing Report
Shot this Solitary Sandpiper near Traverse City this week before he migrated south.
Traverse City - In the East Bay, salmon fishing has been very good from the Bluffs to the south end of the Bay when trolling spoons, J-plugs, Hootchie Mama’s and flies. Limit catches were reported. Pier anglers have done well when casting spoons or bodybaits. Whitefish action was slow but those willing to put in the time have caught fish. Chinook and steelhead have been caught off the mouth of Mitchell Creek. In the West Bay, good salmon fishing off the mouth of the Boardman River. Steelhead are also starting to show up. Lake trout were caught near the gravel pit.
Long Lake - Fishing slowed as the lake has turned over. Walleye were caught on leeches in 10 to 20 feet of water around the islands and off the points. Many were undersize, but some keepers were reported. Perch are hitting on minnows and wigglers in 30 feet of water. Excellent smallmouth bass fishing was reported around the islands. Some trophy largemouth were caught in the shallows.
Frankfort - The better fishing has been off the Elberta Wall or when anchoring in front of the marina. Boats trolling in front of the piers or in 60 to 80 feet of water from the harbor up to Point Betsie have caught a mixed bag of dark and chrome colored fish. Try J-plugs and flies in white, blue, green, pink or glow.
Betsie River - Though catch rates have stared to slow, fish are still being caught from River Road up to the Homestead Dam. The fish here are fairly dark.
Onekama - Trout and salmon catches are starting to slow but a few chrome fish have still been caught on the north end of the Barrel and along the Shelf. Pier anglers have caught a few salmon and pike when casting spoons.
Portage Lake - A few chinook, coho, and the occasional steelhead were caught when trolling near the Inn. The salmon caught were dark in color. Catch rates for panfish have started to pick up with some big bluegills and sunfish caught in 30 feet of water. Pike and walleye were caught when trolling crawler harnesses along the weedbeds. Perch were caught in front of the channel.
Little Bay De Noc - Had fair to good walleye fishing around the Black Bottom when trolling or drifting crawlers right on the bottom in 14 to 20 feet of water. Walleye measuring 24 to 28 inches were caught off Portage Point when using crawlers or crankbaits 15 to 25 feet down. Small perch were caught east of Butler Island.
Ford River - Shore anglers near the mouth have caught a few salmon when casting spoons or crankbaits.
Big Bay de Noc - Pretty much everyone here is fishing for smallmouth bass. Most are drifting from Snake Island down to Fayette Harbor.
Cedarville and Hessel - Perch have been caught in 10 to 15 feet of water in Government Bay. Smaller fish were caught in the east end of Hessel Bay and in Musky Bay. Most are trolling or casting with minnows along the weedbeds. Splake and smallmouth bass were caught near the rocky points. Salmon activity has picked up in Hessel Bay. No activity in the rivers yet.
Upper Peninsula:
Anglers on Copper Harbor are catching a few splake.
The walleye fishing is improving on Lake Gogebic. The best fishing is found on the north and south ends of the lake, in water ten to 15 feet deep. The perch and smallmouth bass fishing on the lake is fair.
Around Marquette, the salmon fishing is fair to good on the Carp and Dead rivers. The best fishing is found at the mouths of the rivers. Anglers on the Upper Marquette and Lower Marquette harbors are catching a few salmon and lake trout, when the weather allows boaters to get out. The perch and walleye fishing ranges from fair to good on both Little and Independence lakes.
Out of the Escanaba area, the smallmouth bass and pike fishing is fair on Little Bay de Noc. The walleye action has been slow for the most part this past week, the exception being near the mouth of the Cedar River. Anglers trolling at night are reeling in good numbers of marble eyes. The salmon fishing is fair near the mouth of the Ford River.
By Manistique, the salmon and steelhead fishing is good on the Manistique River. The perch fishing ranges from fair to good on Indian Lake. In the Sault Ste. Marie area, the perch fishing is improving on the St. Marys River. The walleye fishing is fair to good and the perch action is fair.
On Munuscong and Raber bays, the walleye fishing is very good. The pike and musky action is improving.
By Drummond Island, the perch fishing is good on Maxton, Scott, and Whitney bays, in water 17 to 22 feet deep. The bass fishing is fair on the bays and anglers are also reeling in an occasional pike.
And at St. Ignace, fishing activity this week is slow.
Northwest:
Out on Little Traverse Bay near by Harbor Springs the salmon fishing is fair.
By Boyne City, the perch fishing is good on Lake Charlevoix. Both minnows and wigglers are being used as bait. The salmon action is good on both Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix. The salmon fishing in the Boyne River is fair.
East Grand Traverse Bay near Traverse City is producing some very good whitefish fishing. Anglers are using jigs. The salmon fishing is fair on both the east and west arms of Grand Traverse Bay. Anglers along the Boardman River are catching a few salmon. The bass fishing is good on Lake Ann and Cedar Lake.
The Betsie and Platte rivers near Frankfort are producing some very good salmon fishing. The salmon fishing on Lake Michigan is fair, when the weather allows anglers to get out.
Anglers on Manistee Lake by Manistee are catching good numbers of salmon. The salmon fishing is fair along the Big Manistee River. The salmon action on Lake Michigan is slow, mainly because strong winds have been keeping anglers off the lake.
In the Kalkaska area, the smallmouth bass fishing is good on Lake Skegemog. The bass are mainly hitting on spinner baits. Anglers on Lake Bellaire are catching good numbers of perch and walleye.
Around Gaylord, the trout fishing is very good on sections of the Au Sable, Black, Manistee, Pigeon and Sturgeon rivers. On Otsego and Bradford lakes, anglers are reeling in a few bass and walleye.
And at Cadillac, the pike fishing is good on both lakes Cadillac and Mitchell. The northerns are mainly hitting on spinner baits. The smallmouth bass fishing is improving on both lakes. Anglers on Lake Cadillac are catching a few smallmouth bass. The bluegill fishing is fair on both lakes.
West:
Lake Michigan near Ludington is producing excellent salmon fishing. The best fishing is found in water about 60 feet deep. The salmon fishing is very good on the Pere Marquette River.
Out of the Pentwater area, the salmon and steelhead fishing is fair on Lake Michigan, when the weather allows anglers to get out. A few salmon have moved into the Pentwater River.
Around Muskegon, the salmon fishing is fair on Lake Michigan. The fish are found 60 to 80 feet below the surface in water up to 140 feet deep. The salmon fishing ranges from fair to good on the Muskegon and White rivers. The bluegill fishing is fair on Muskegon Lake, with the best fishing found along the edges of the weed beds in the lake.
And at Baldwin, the bluegill fishing is spotty on the inland lakes. Anglers along the Pere Marquette River are catching a few salmon. The water levels in the river are low, and that is limiting the fishing action.
Northeast:
By Alpena, the salmon fishing is fair along the Thunder Bay River, with the best fishing found near the Ninth Street Dam. During the morning hours, anglers on Hubbard Lake are catching a few perch, with minnows being the preferred bait.
Out of the Grayling area, the walleye fishing is fair on Lake Margrethe. Try targeting water 14 to 18 feet deep, and both crawlers and minnows are being use as bait. The bluegill and perch fishing is improving. Anglers on Frog Lake are catching a few bass and perch. The panfish and bass fishing on Section One Lake ranges from fair to good.
Van Etten Lake near Oscoda is producing some very good perch fishing. The bluegill, catfish, pike and smallmouth bass fishing is good on both Cooke Dam and Foote Dam ponds. Anglers along the Au Sable River are stating to catch a few salmon.
On Higgins Lake, the perch fishing is improving. Minnows are working well as bait in water 14 to 20 feet deep. The lake trout fishing is good on the lake.
Houghton Lake is producing fair to good bass, pike and walleye fishing. The best fishing is found along the weed beds in water 14 to 20 feet deep.
And at Au Gres, the perch fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay in water 35 to 40 feet deep. The best spot to cast a line in the water is straight out from the Au Gres River.
East:
Around Linwood, the perch fishing is improving on Saginaw Bay. The walleye action ranges from slow to fair.
By Bay City, the perch fishing is fair on Saginaw Bay near buoys one and two. Anglers along the Quanicassee River are catching a few crappie. In the Saginaw area, the catfish and bass fishing is very good on sections of the Cass, Saginaw and Tittabawassee rivers.
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