Northern Michigan Fishing Update – August 8, 2025

Moon Phase & Solunar Peaks (Eastern Time)Moon nearly full, part of the Sturgeon Moon cycle, reaching full illumination around 3 57 AM ET on August 9 Major feeding windows include 11 46 AM ET–1 46 PM ET, and 11 30 PM ET–1 30 AM ETMinor feeding windows include 4 23 AM ET–6 23 AM ET, and 7 10 PM ET–9 10 PM ET Water Temperatures & ThermoclineLake Michigan surface temp near Grand Haven about 72 °FWhite Lake (inland): 65 °F water temp, ideal for bass and trout Thermocline is located between 30–60 ft with a cool zone drop of 5–7 °FWind & ConditionsInshore southeast winds transitioning to northwest midday, 5–9 mphWaves remain low, about 1 ft; early calm, light haze building by late morning Live Bait Techniques (Eastern Time)Minor early morning (4 23 AM ET), use Lindy rig with live minnow or leech over structure, refresh every 20 minMajor midday (11 46 AM ET), slow drift Lindy rig through thermocline with leech or crawler, use 3–6 ft fluorocarbon leaderMajor evening (11 30 PM ET), slip‑bobber with Lindy rig leech over deep structure under moonlightSalmon Report – Frankfort, Manistee, Ludington, WhitehallFrankfort pier delivering early Chinook action on glow spoons and alewivesOffshore kings and lake trout stacking in 120–210 ft water, bites coming from top 70 ft; meat rigs, flasher‑spoon combos, and spoons set 40–60 ft behind dodgers are working bestManistee & Ludington seeing Chinook and Coho in 140–250 ft, bites down 40–80 ft behind flashers; meat rigs triggering strikes on structureLeland, West Grand Traverse Bay, East Grand Traverse BayLeland: Chinook and lake trout biting in 70–100 ft, often 60 ft down; spoons and cowbells near First Bank and Whaleback in playWest Grand Traverse Bay: steady salmon action early and late, bait pods north; lake trout still hitting spoons on structureEast Bay: solid smallmouth bass action in 15–30 ft, tube jigs and live bait working well Tight lines and Baitman out#LiveBait #bucsbait #LiveBaitFishing #TakeAKidFishing#michiganfishingreport #bucsfishingreport #letsgofishing #fishingreport #gonefishing #tightlines … See MoreSee Less

BaitMan’s Weekly Fishing Report

Date: Thursday, August 8, 2025Real lakes, real bait, real bite.🏆 Sponsor of the WeekSanford Sport Shop3783 N West River Road, Sanford, MI 48657Phone: 989 687 5161Website: sanfordsportshop.com🪱 Bait Shop of the WeekTamarac Sports10390 N Greenville Road, Lakeview, MI 48850Phone: 989 352 7677Facebook: facebook.com/TamaracSports🌊 Lake of the Week – Lake LeelanauNorth Basin:Smallmouth bass in 20 to 40 feet on drop shots and tubesWalleye near The Narrows at dawn and duskPerch holding near mid-lake humpsSouth Basin:Panfish active in 8 to 15 feet on wormsWalleye early and late on leeches near AdvanceBass feeding in weeds on topwater baits🔥 Northern Michigan LakesBurt Lake – Walleye biting along the drop-offs on crawler harnessesMullett Lake – Deep trolling producing trout and occasional walleyeBlack Lake – Crappie suspended over deeper weed flatsLake Charlevoix – Smallmouth bass deep, perch in South ArmSkegemog Lake – Walleye over humps, drifting leechesTorch Lake – Vertical jigging for smallmouth in 40 to 60 feetLong Lake (Grand Traverse) – Walleye and perch near breaks and weed edgesLake Leelanau – See above (Lake of the Week)Spider Lake – Bluegill and bass in back coves and fingersLake Dubonnet – Steady pike and panfish on wormsGreen Lake – Deep bluegill bite, vertical jigs in 20+ feetDuck Lake (Grand Traverse) – Perch scattered, smallmouth in rock pocketsBass Lake (near Interlochen) – Weedline bass, early bite on topwaterGlen Lake – Smallmouth along gravel and sand transitionsCrystal Lake – Lakers deep, perch near rocky dropsManistee Lake (Kalkaska) – Walleye early and late, smallmouth deep mid-dayLake Margrethe (Grayling) – Mixed bag of perch, walleye, and pikeBig Bradford Lake (Otsego County) – Panfish with leeches in 10 to 12 ftManistee Lake (Manistee) – Early pike in coves, perch starting to group up🔥 West Michigan LakesPortage Lake (Onekama) – Perch starting to bite in 12 to 18 feetPere Marquette Lake – Salmon moving through early, coho and kings stagingWhite Lake – Pike and perch in mid-depth weedlinesPentwater Lake – Pier anglers getting early salmon hitsSilver Lake – Largemouth in reeds, topwater active at sunriseHamlin Lake – Bluegill deep, evening pike off pointsBear Lake (Muskegon) – Panfish active near lily padsMuskegon Lake – Walleye on crankbaits, some bass on jigsBlue Lake (Muskegon County) – Crappie deep over brush pilesBig Star Lake (Lake County) – Largemouth good near docks, panfish deepWolf Lake (Muskegon County) – Decent panfish bite in 8 to 10 feetLake Cadillac – Crappie bite steady, bluegill slowing in shallowLake Mitchell – Weedline bass active, some early perch bites🔥 Mid Michigan & Saginaw BayHoughton Lake – Walleye early with crawlers, bluegill in 10 feetHiggins Lake – Deep perch with minnows, trout bite slowOtsego Lake – Pike and perch near structureGrand Lake (Presque Isle) – Walleye in the morning, drifting crawlersFletcher’s Floodwaters – Bluegill, rock bass, and northern pikeLong Lake (Alpena) – Bass and perch active near breaksWixom Lake (rebuilding) – Limited access but shore bluegill fishing steadySecord Lake (Gladwin) – Bluegill and crappie consistent with waxwormsLake Lancer (Gladwin County) – Decent perch bite near structureLake Missaukee – Bass near reeds, bluegill in deeper holesLake Mecosta – Walleye trolling near drop-offsChippewa Lake – Panfish near weeds, some early crappie schoolsCroton Pond – Smallmouth and catfish bite during evening hoursHardy Dam Pond – Pike and smallmouth on spinnerbaits🎣 Saginaw BaySaginaw Bay:Walleye in 10 to 14 feet near LinwoodDrifting crawler harnesses still best methodPerch bite showing signs of life near weed clumpsCatfish and bass mixed in around river mouths🐟 Salmon Report – Leland to Grand HavenLeland:Chinook and lake trout near North ManitouBite best in 75 to 90 feet down over 200 feetGreen paddles, meat rigs, and glow spoons workingFrankfort:Strong Chinook bite in 100 to 150 feet of water50 to 65 down on spoons and Familiar Bite meat rigsCoho close to shore early morningManistee:Kings and steelhead scattered 30 to 160 downFlasher-fly combos productive, meat rig slower but steadyLudington:Kings offshore 35 to 140 downBest bites on chrome flashers and spoons in low lightPier action very slowWhitehall and Montague:Mixed king and coho reports in 120 to 160 feetBite inconsistent but improving with east windsGrand Haven:Deep troll bite mid-morning to late afternoon60 to 80 feet down over 150 to 200 ft waterChartreuse and UV flashers with flies or spoons🪱 Familiar Bite Herring Available At:Fish Hook – LelandEmpire Outdoors – EmpireRoy’s General Store – Traverse CityFrankfort Tacklebox – FrankfortDon’s Sporting Goods – ManisteeInsta Launch Marina – ManisteeCaptain Chucks – LudingtonJohnson’s Great Outdoors – MontagueArmstrong’s on the Lake – WhitehallHesperia Sport Shop – HesperiaCrispy Outdoors – Grand HavenJay’s Sporting Goods – Clare and GaylordPilgrim’s Village – CadillacHilltop Sports – Greenville🎯 Deep Water PanfishSlip Bobbers: Waxworms or leeches in 12 to 25 ftDrop Shot: Hover just above structureVertical Jigging: Light tungsten jigs in bluegill podsAnchor Tips: Fluke-style or chain anchor with over 100 ft ropeRod Sensitivity: Use light gear and bite indicators🪱 Bait BreakdownLeeches: Top bait for walleye, smallmouth, and panfishCrawlers: Effective across species, especially on harnessesMinnows: Best for crappie and deeper perchWaxworms: Bluegill, sunfish, and rock bassLive bait delivery: Slip bobbers, vertical jigs, trolling harnesses, and drop shot rigs … See MoreSee Less

Photos from NWMI Fishing Club’s post … See MoreSee Less