Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Weather Crappy in Northern Michigan
The bad weather continues this weekend with rain and wind making thing tough for the bow hunters.
We have had lots of rain this week with the last two days sunny but cold. Fishing is on the downward slide as hunting has started and many give up there poles for new weapons. Not many out fishing but perch are still biting on Lake Margrethe, Higgins Lake, Traverse Lake and West Grand Traverse Bay. Salmon are running the rivers heavy with the last rains and high winds pushed the fish up the rivers. Walleye fishing has been good on Houghton Lake with leeches working best. Good Luck out in the woods.
Photo above was shot wednesday night as had a great night shooting big whitetails.
Saginaw Bay -The waters are stirred up after several windy days. Some perch and a few walleye were caught straight off the Quanicassee River in 6 to 7 feet of water. At Bay Port, bass anglers caught some nice smallmouth around Heisterman Island. Most were using minnows under a bobber or artificial baits in shallow waters.
Mullett Lake -Bass and pike were caught on artificial baits. Lots of little perch along with a few nice ones were caught just south of Dodge Point.
Burt Lake - Those trolling crawler harnesses have caught walleye in 30 to 45 feet of water on the north arm. Anglers trolling north of Colonial Point were also targeting walleye with crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers. The perch were scattered and had not moved into Maple Bay yet.
Lake Margrethe a decent number of walleye are being taken in about 18 feet of water using leeches or crawlers on a jig head. Perch are biting great also on minnows. Anglers are also catching a few pike as well. Also the gills have started to bite on waxworms and worms.
Higgins Lake -Weather permitting, boats are still heading out for lake trout. Perch fishing should pick up with the cooler weather but the rock bass action will slow down.
Houghton Lake - Fishing was good until the storms and strong winds hit. Anglers were catching a mix of walleye, pike, crappie, bluegills and bass. Even after the weather clears, the water will be murky for a few days.
Lake Charlevoix - Perch and smallmouth anglers are taking fish with crawlers and minnows working best.
Lake Bellaire -Surface temperatures were holding in the mid 60’s. Anglers continue to target walleye in waters 8 to 30 feet deep. They are trolling crawler harnesses or jigging crawlers in the south and northwest arm and near the access site. Good bass fishing along the drop-offs in 15 to 25 feet of water. Try artificial worms or tube baits. Pike anglers were trolling stick baits in the northwest arm. Perch were still hitting on crawlers in 3 to 20 feet of water but the fish were small.
Glen Lake - Is again producing some nice catches of perch around the point off the marina and along the beds at the north end of Big Glen. Try minnows or wigglers.
Elk River - Has a fair to good number of salmon in it. Try drifting spawn, wax worms body baits or small spoons.
Boardman River - Salmon are hitting on spawn.
Lake Leelanau - The perch have started to move and limit catches were reported in the bays when using minnows or wigglers.
Long Lake by Traverse City has picked up on both perch and walleye
Lake Missaukee - Is hot for all fish and lots of action this week with panfish really on the bite and waxworms are the ticket.
Portage Lake -Is producing a good mix of largemouth bass and smallmouth bass on the west end of the lake. Panfish are deep and scattered.
Manistee -Before the strong winds, boats were heading out to waters as deep as 400 feet as the fish were scattered. Some steelhead and salmon were caught in 50 to 150 feet of water. Orange and green spoons did the trick. Pier anglers were taking a few fish when casting glow spoons. Green and blue were good colors.
Manistee River - The rain and cooler weather has once again sparked the salmon runs as they move upstream to the gravel beds. Good chinook action at Tippy Dam.
Ludington -When boats can get out, they found steelhead and salmon in 60 to 120 feet of water. Pier and surf fishing were slow but should pick up soon.
Brevort Lake near Allenville and north of St. Ignace is producing walleye and anglers are doing well when they can get out. Wind, rain and chilly temperatures limited angling activity this week but the weekend is looking up.
Manistique anglers are dealing with chilly temperatures and rain this week, but when anglers can get out the fishing is good on Indian Lake for decent counts of walleye. Good fishing off of the Manistique area on Lake Michigan where the salmon and trout are active. Spoons are working in just about every color. Good luck to all anglers fishing in the 24th Annual Manistique Area Salmon and Trout Derby this weekend. Call 1-800-342-4282 or 906-341-5241 for information.
Little Bay De Noc-Had very good walleye fishing. Anglers are trolling stick baits or drifting crawlers in 9 to 20 feet of water from Little Round Island to the “Fingers” and No-See-Um-Creek. Fish early morning or at dusk. Catch rates slowed near the Black Bottom. Perch were caught in the “Narrows” when still-fishing with minnows in 13 to 28 feet of water. Several large pike were caught off the mouth of the Escanaba Yacht Harbor when trolling buck tails just off the break. Shore anglers reported salmon near the mouth of the Ford River.
Big Bay De Noc-Good numbers of walleye were reported around Round Island but few anglers were targeting them. Smallmouth bass were caught near Garden Bluff when casting tube baits in 15 to 25 feet of water. Off Fairport, a few salmon were still caught by those trolling 60 to 120 feet down in waters 125 to 160 feet deep.
Grand Marais -Lake trout are still active in waters up to 150 feet deep. Those trolling near the mouth of the river have caught a few salmon.
Cedarville and Hessel -Splake are back in the bay however no one is fishing for them. Musky Bay and the Middle Entrance are producing some yellow perch. Try minnows in 6 to 12 feet of water. The south side of Connors Point is also producing perch in 8 to 12 feet of water. Look for smallmouth bass around the shoals and the rocks.