Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Perch fishing is Good
The perch fishing has been good with Grand Traverse Bay getting lots of action. Perch have been biting on Big Glen, Lake Leelanau, Lake Margreathe, Fife Lake, Lake Charlevoix and Burt Lake.
Saginaw Bay -Perch are still being taken along the shipping channel from Au Gres south to the mouth of the Saginaw River, when boats can get out. Beyond that, shore anglers in various marinas around the east side of the bay were getting some bluegills, crappie and rock bass on leaf worms and wax worms under a bobber.
Tittabawasse River -Has been slow with a few pike and catfish.
Saginaw River-Slow but things should pick up with cooler weather.
Whitehall -a few perch are starting show up
Wixom Lake has been super for gills being caught on waxworms
Mullett Lake -Perch fishing continues to dominate. Try fishing the points, the bays and near the mouth of the Indian River with crawlers or minnows in 15 to 30 feet of water. Walleye fishing slowed with no fish recorded. Perch anglers have also caught a few pike in 20 to 25 feet of water on minnows. Fish were 18 to 25 inches. Bass anglers can be found at Needle Point, Dodge Point, Round Point and near Aloha with crawlers, artificial worms, tube baits, crank baits and spinners.
Oscoda -Catch rates were slow even when boats can get out. Anglers fishing off the pier are having the most success with blue and silver or green and silver little Cleo’s. Boats are mainly using chrome and green J-plugs.
Higgins Lake -Perch fishing is good with fish up to 10 inches
Houghton Lake - Walleye and gills are being caught but very few fishing
Lake Margreathe by Grayling A perch bite is on with minnows in about 9 feet of water is still going strong.
Charlevoix -Perch fishing is picking up with wigglers working best.
Traverse City -Strong winds have scattered the salmon in both bays. In the East Bay, schools of whitefish are still present just south of the Center Road launch in 85 to 100 feet of water. Most anglers are jigging sand kickers. For salmon, fish were being marked from Lee Point Road down to the Center Road launch in 100 feet of water and along the east side of the bay from Dock Road north to Yuba. In the West Bay, anglers were marking fish outside the Boardman however more fish were caught north along the peninsula when starting just south of Marion Island. Try waters up to 120 feet deep with flies and plugs.
Lake Leelanau - Had steady walleye action. Perch are biting on the North lake just past the narrows.
Portage Lake -Cooler weather was good for bluegill fishing as some limit catches were reported near Little Eden. THe fishing has been great with Perch were also caught in the same area and around the buoy. Be ready to sort out the small ones.
Lake Missaukee -Was good for panfish and bass.
Lake Cadillac -Crappie fishing has been good after dark and in the early morning. Cooler weather will bring the bluegills back into shallower waters. Try wax worms, leaf worms or crickets under a bobber. Bass and pike are hitting again.
Lake Mitchell -Is producing some panfish. Bass are hitting on spinner baits and pike favored large crank baits.
Little Bay De Noc - Heavy rainfall of 4 inches caused rivers in the area to rise fast. Rivers like the Sturgeon, Ogontz and Day’s had high water and strong currents which put salmon fishing on hold until water levels recede. Walleye anglers reported mixed results with most wanting to go further south. Gladstone was good for those drifting or jigging crawlers in 25 to 35 feet of water. Several perch were also caught. The North Shore and the Ford River launch were difficult to use due to the fast water.
Big Bay De Noc -Still had primarily smallmouth anglers that were trying to make it out to the Garden Bluff area where good catches were reported 15 to 30 feet down along the break when using minnows. Walleye anglers marked fish between Garden Bluff and the Shoals in 20 feet of water however few were caught.
Indian Lake - Walleye anglers did best when drifting or trolling along the weeds around the shoreline. More fish were caught along the west shore but the fish were small. Try crawler harnesses or surface raps. A few keeper size perch were also caught this way however most of the perch anglers were fishing the north or south shore while drifting or still-fishing with crawlers.
St. Mary’s River -The pink salmon run has slowed however a few are still being caught off the Pier Power Plant when casting pink Little Cleo’s. Walleye and yellow perch fishing slowed with the recent storms. Smallmouth bass action is still good on the rock piles along the south end of Neebish Island. Crank baits worked best in the stained water.
Cedarville and Hessel -Few anglers were out except for those targeting perch in the east end of Hessel Bay, the west end of Snows Channel, Musky Bay and the Middle Entrance. Fish were caught on minnows in 12 feet of water. Both pink salmon and chinook salmon can be found in Bush and Beavertail Creeks.
Northwest:
Petoskey - Has been hit-or-miss with good numbers of salmon one day and light numbers the next. Shore anglers fishing off the breakwall, piers, and docks have taken fish on glow spoons, reef runners and rapalas.
Bear River - The fish were not holding in the river very long. They are either dropping back to the lake or pushing past the falls. Try spawn, yarn or flies.
Charlevoix - Boats were long-lining with plugs in 10 to 40 feet of water. Those casting have caught fish on glow spoons, rapalas, thundersticks and rattle traps. Medusa is producing the best salmon action for those using skein under a slip bobber. The first harvest at the Medusa weir produced 684 chinook and 6 coho.
Traverse City - The East Bay shows good numbers of fish in 120 feet of water but the bite was slow. Those boats finding the baitfish also found active whitefish. Those jigging caught good numbers of cisco and lake trout. Whitefish were active in 100 feet of water south of Yuba Creek. In the West Bay, good numbers of fish were marked at various depths in front of the Boardman. Strong winds have slowed the bite but try trolling thundersticks or plugs in the early morning or late evening in shallow waters.
Elk River - Salmon and lake trout are slowly moving up near the dam. Mid-day seems to be best bite. For lake trout, try using live or artificial minnows due to the number of baitfish at the dam.
Boardman River - Has seen a very good run of fish and many have moved up river to the weir. The next good rain should push another round of fresh fish into the river. Try drifting skein under a bobber in the deeper holes.
Platte Bay - Salmon were caught in shallow waters in the early morning when using small spoons.
Frankfort - Boat anglers heading out did mange to mark fish however could not get them to bite. A nice steelhead was caught in 75 feet of water on an orange crush spoon. Pier anglers caught fish as well.
Betsie River - Fishing is still good around the Homestead Dam with chinook caught on the gravel, in the holes and near the log jams. A fresh run of fish just moved into the river. Most anglers are drifting artificial bait.
Portage Lake - Cooler weather pushed the perch into shallow waters.
Manistee - Weather permitting, boats are finding good numbers of steelhead and immature chinook salmon 8 to 16 miles offshore. Try running small spoons in orange or green. Those trolling around the piers caught few fish.
Manistee River - Is still producing salmon. Those fishing up near Tippy Dam are drifting spawn and flies or casting spinners and crank baits.
Big Sable River - Salmon have been in and out of the river mouth depending on the day. Only a few fish were up near the Hamlin Lake Dam.
Ludington - Boats are doing well for salmon and steelhead in 200 to 400 feet of water when trolling small spoons. Both pier anglers and those surfcasting at the State Park reported slow action.
Pentwater - Big water fishing has shifted to steelhead and two year old salmon. The fish are out deep about 100 feet down in 250 feet of water.
Pentwater Lake - Is producing some salmon. Good bluegill and perch action in 15 feet of water.
Pentwater River - Salmon have been caught in the flats off Monroe Road.
Northeastern Lower Peninsula
Mullett Lake - Perch fishing continues to dominate. Try fishing the points, the bays and near the mouth of the Indian River with crawlers or minnows in 15 to 30 feet of water. Walleye fishing slowed with no fish recorded. Perch anglers have also caught a few pike in 20 to 25 feet of water on minnows. Fish were 18 to 25 inches. Bass anglers can be found at Needle Point, Dodge Point, Round Point and near Aloha with crawlers, artificial worms, tube baits, crank baits and spinners.
Rogers City - Reported slow going for salmon. Anglers in the shallow waters of Swan Bay are trolling, anchoring and casting. Those trolling are using bombers off planer boards while those casting are using Cleo’s or body baits. Pier anglers have caught a few brown trout, but no salmon.
Thunder Bay River - Is producing some chinook, steelhead and pink salmon.
Harrisville - Salmon are starting to come into the harbor and the fish look healthy. Try spawn in the harbor and J-plugs outside the walls. If you plan to fish spawn, anglers will want to purchase their bait before they get to Harrisville as there are no bait shops in town.
Oscoda - Catch rates were slow even when boats can get out. Anglers fishing off the pier are having the most success with blue and silver or green and silver little Cleo’s. Boats are mainly using chrome and green J-plugs.
Au Sable River - There are no fish in the river and only a few caught off the piers.
Tawas - Pier anglers caught walleye at night behind the State Police Post.
Au Gres - Perch are still being caught along the shipping channel when boats can get out. Fish were also caught out near Buoy 18 as well as 30 to 40 feet of water straight out from the mouth of the Au Gres River.
Upper Peninsula
Black River Harbor - Lake trout have been caught in 80 to 120 feet of water when trolling spoons about halfway down.
Black River - Water levels were high and fast. Anglers are now catching chinook in the 10 to 12 pound range. Coho and brown trout are also starting to run.
Ontonagon - Fishing was slow and the mud line was out in 100 feet of water. A few lake trout were taken 60 to 70 feet down in 100 to 115 feet of water when trolling spoons or spin and glows.
Firesteel River - Has good pink salmon fishing but the chinook action was only fair.
Keweenaw Bay - The bite was good with most anglers catching coho along with a couple steelhead. Boats are trolling from Sand Point northward to the first set of red rocks. Try 30 to 70 feet down in waters up to 150 feet deep with spoons, body baits or dodger and flies. Fair to good action for lake trout in Traverse Bay for those trolling spoons or dodgers with peanuts in 130 to 150 feet of water.
Marquette - Angler reports say salmon are moving up into the rivers however high water levels made fishing difficult. Pink salmon along with a few chinook salmon were caught on small Mepps spinners in the Dead and Carp Rivers. Fish were marked inside the Lower Harbor breakwall.
Little Bay De Noc - Heavy rainfall of 4 inches caused rivers in the area to rise fast. Rivers like the Sturgeon, Ogontz and Day’s had high water and strong currents which put salmon fishing on hold until water levels recede. Walleye anglers reported mixed results with most wanting to go further south. Gladstone was good for those drifting or jigging crawlers in 25 to 35 feet of water. Several perch were also caught. The North Shore and the Ford River launch were difficult to use due to the fast water.
Big Bay De Noc - Still had primarily smallmouth anglers that were trying to make it out to the Garden Bluff area where good catches were reported 15 to 30 feet down along the break when using minnows. Walleye anglers marked fish between Garden Bluff and the Shoals in 20 feet of water however few were caught.
Au Train - Heavy rain did push some fish into local rivers. Anglers did catch a few coho, chinook and steelhead in the Rock River when using spawn sacks.
Munising - Anglers had mild success when trolling the bay for coho however they had to work hard for the fish they caught. Coho fishing has increased, with a successful trip yielding 1 or 2 salmon for the most part as limit catches were few and far between. Coho were caught by those using spawn bags or casting spinners and spoons. Steelhead were also caught but the fish were running small. Shore anglers were taking splake on spawn bags and the time of day did not seem to matter.
Grand Marais - Fishing was slow as boats had found it difficult to troll near the mouth of the Sucker River due to strong winds. Those able to get out into the bay caught the occasional coho and steelhead. Pier and shore anglers had limited success.
Indian Lake - Some walleye were caught along the west shore in front of the park when trolling crawler harnesses and small rapalas. Smallmouth bass and pike were caught near the weeds on the north end when casting crank baits or crawlers. Fair to good numbers of perch were caught when drifting or jigging crawlers in the deeper holes on the south, west, and north shore.
St. Mary’s River - The pink salmon run has slowed however a few are still being caught off the Pier Power Plant when casting pink Little Cleo’s. Walleye and yellow perch fishing slowed with the recent storms. Smallmouth bass action is still good on the rock piles along the south end of Neebish Island. Crank baits worked best in the stained water.
De Tour - Chinook salmon have been caught just off the bottom in 40 to 50 feet of water with spoons. Best colors were chartreuse and silver or purple and cream glow. Same areas, Drummond Island side of the red can and near the lighthouse. Albany Creek is full of pink and chinook salmon. Try orange or pink spawn bags.
Cedarville and Hessel - Few anglers were out except for those targeting perch in the east end of Hessel Bay, the west end of Snows Channel, Musky Bay and the Middle Entrance. Fish were caught on minnows in 12 feet of water. Both pink salmon and chinook salmon can be found in Bush and Beavertail Creeks.
Carp River - Salmon are on the beds near the Mackinaw Trail Bridge and the McDonald Rapids. Use caution by the rapids as this area flooded after recent rainfall.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
ake Erie - Fishing was good when anglers could get out. Good perch fishing in recent days in 18 feet of water off Bolles Harbor. A few walleye were caught in 15 feet of water near the Fermi Plant and Stony Point when using crawlers or crank baits. A good number of white bass were also caught in the same area.
Huron River - A couple steelhead along with a few walleye were caught on rooster tails near the dam at Flat Rock. Steelhead are just starting to move into the river.
Detroit River - Perch fishing has been good around the islands especially north of Sugar Island. Some limit catches were reported and the fish were 8 to 12 inches. Most anglers were hand-lining with flat fish or rapalas.
Lexington - Some 18 to 20 inch brown trout have been caught by pier anglers casting spoons or plugs.
Harbor Beach - Also has pier anglers catching small brown trout.
Saginaw Bay - Perch are still being taken along the shipping channel from Au Gres south to the mouth of the Saginaw River, when boats can get out. Beyond that, shore anglers in various marinas around the east side of the bay were getting some bluegills, crappie and rock bass on leaf worms and wax worms under a bobber.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph River - Water levels are VERY LOW due to work being done on a dam in Indiana. Some anglers are struggling just to launch a boat. Be sure to go slow and use caution. Fish are running up the river however catch rates were slow. Try early morning and night fishing. Anglers casting spinners have caught fish however most are drifting spawn. Catch rates should pick up once more fish arrive. Smallmouth bass fishing was decent for those using small crank baits or jigs.
Grand Haven - Salmon fishing was slow. Boat anglers are using downriggers 100 to 160 feet deep in 200 to 240 feet of water. Try spoons in green and yellow or your best spinner baits. Pier anglers did fair in the early morning when casting spoons.
Grand River at Lansing - Small coho are being caught on spinners at Moore’s Park and the point where the Grand meets the Red Cedar. Catfish are hitting on crawlers while pike and smallmouth bass were hitting on crawlers and minnows at Moore’s Park. Look for smallmouth bass at the North Lansing Dam.
Sessions Lake - Is still good for panfish in deep water.
Muskegon Lake - Has a few boats out perch fishing.
White River - Salmon fishing was great in the lower river with most drifting spawn.
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP 231-775-5412
FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
Don’t winterize your boat if you enjoy catching bass and pike. Both lakes, Cadillac and Mitchell are producing. With temperatures dropping, the cabbage beds are health; lush green and become magnets for fish. The other weeds are deteriorating. Cast the living beds and you’ll have success.
Only a few die hards are fishing panfish. No bluegill stories. However, the crappie have been active, especially just before dark. A few are taking advantage of them from the City Dock on the east side of Cadillac.
Young Bryson Roller knows the Fall is
a good time to catch pike
Perch fishing has been spotty. Catch them here today and they’re gone tomorrow. Mostly 8 to 10’s when you find them.
Manistee River
Salmon season may be close to peaking out. The Manistee has not been itself so far this year. Optimistically we’ll have a substantial late run of fish and everyone will be happy. Reports from the Betsey and Boardman Rivers indicate fair numbers of salmon.