FISHING CONDITIONS ON LAKES CADILLAC AND MITCHELL
FROM PILGRIM VILLAGE FISHING SHOP
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2013
Eighty degree days and 50 degree nights are perfect. It can stay this way forever. The fish seem to enjoy it also. For late Summer, the bite has been good.
Bass seem to be hungry on both lakes. Large and small mouths in the 3 to 4 pound range have been common and occassionally larger. Surface baits have been hot early when cast over the weed matts.
Bluegill anglers fishing the south side of Lake Mitchell are happy. Using the Mitchell Condos (Country Club Area) as a reference point, try depths of 9 to 12′ Its a long way from shore but there are scattered patches of cabbage weed. Hand size gills have been biting on leafworms, crickets and waxworms.
Walleye catches have been good and bad. . . . mostly bad. A few have been caught slip bobber fishing baited with leeches. Those trolling with crank baits or crawler harnesses catch plenty of bass and pike. If they’re catching walleyes, they’re not talking. When the lakes cool it will improve.
Good catches of crappie have been reported on Lake Cadillac’s East side. It’s the panfishermens first choice. Good size and even some limits are normal in the mornings and just before dark. A few keeper size perch are showing up in the same area.
Salmon are the talk of the town. Not just in Lake Michigan, they’re in the Big and Little Manistee Rivers. Some have made it as far at Tippy Dam. Schools are reported staging at Manistee Lake before entering the rivers. Clusters of anchored boats are verticle jigging their favorite Megabait or P-Line Lazer Spoons. This has turned into a major sport.