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