Fishing Report — 08-27-2025

Prepared by: BaitManMoon & Solunar Bites. WAXING CRESCENT (~14% illum). MAJOR BITE WINDOWS (ET): 4:29 AM – 6:29 AM and 4:44 PM – 6:44 PM. MINOR BITE WINDOWS (ET): 11:22 AM – 12:22 PM and 9:57 PM – 10:57 PM.Weather Brief — Northern Michigan. Partly sunny with a cooler false-fall pattern; highs mid-60s to low-70s and light northwest winds 5–12 mph. Expect spotty showers possible in some areas this afternoon/evening.Hot Seven BitesFRANKFORT. Chinook and coho showing in deeper water; spoons, meat rigs and herring strips behind medium flashers are producing.MANISTEE. Kings and coho offshore; spoons and flasher/fly combos in the 80–150 ft range working well.LUDINGTON. Early spoons then meat rigs later — fish from about 30–100 ft depending on current.WHITEHALL. Kings and steelhead 40–60 ft; glow spoons and herring strips getting bites at low light.HOUGHTON LK. Walleyes on crawler harnesses and drop-shot leeches around structure at dawn.LAKE CHARLEVOIX. Smallmouth and walleye on drop-shot crawlers along rock edges.BURT LK. Walleye steady on crawler harnesses and drifted minnows.Salmon Report — Charlevoix to Grand HavenCHARLEVOIX. Chinook and lake trout 50–90 ft; herring strips behind flashers producing hits.WEST GRAND TRAVERSE BAY. Kings and lake trout 40–70 ft on spoons and meat rigs.EAST GRAND TRAVERSE BAY. Lake trout steady; kings taking spoons 40–65 ft near bait pods.FRANKFORT. Chinook/coho holding offshore; spoons and meat rigs best early.MANISTEE. Chinook, coho and lake trout 80–150 ft; spoons and flasher/fly rigs producing.LUDINGTON. Kings and coho 30–100 ft; morning spoons then meat rigs later.WHITEHALL. Kings and steelhead 40–60 ft; glow spoons and herring strips working.GRAND HAVEN. Kings holding 60–100 ft down; sunrise meat rigs producing early.Inland & M-1 Lakes — Top 10 HighlightsHOUGHTON LAKE. Walleyes on crawler harnesses and drop-shot leeches.LONG LAKE (TRAVERSE CITY). Smallmouth on drop-shot rigs with crawlers.TORCH LAKE. Smallmouth and lake trout on drop-shot minnows over deep structure.LAKE CHARLEVOIX (inland). Perch and smallmouth on small jigs and minnows.BURT LAKE. Walleye on crawler harnesses and drifted minnows.MULLETT LAKE. Walleye and perch on live minnows and crawlers.BLACK LAKE. Perch and walleye early on live bait rigs.PORTAGE LAKE (ONEKAMA). Walleye and perch 18–25 ft.ELK LAKE. Deep smallmouth and lake trout on drop-shot minnows.LITTLE BAY DE NOC. Walleye hot on crawlers and drop-shot leeches.River Update — Right now (Salmon & Steelhead focus)BOARDMAN RIVER. Moderate flows and fair clarity — steelhead and lake-run trout holding deeper pools and the tailrace; spawn and small beads working.BETSY RIVER. Low–moderate flows — tailwaters and runs staging early salmon and steelhead; eggs and spawn under a float producing.MANISTEE RIVER. TIPPY DAM area moving moderate — deeper runs and pools holding salmon/steelhead; spawn sacks, beads and small jigs near structure effective.TIPPY DAM (WELLSTON). Tailrace and lower pools holding fish — drift spawn and small stripped-minnow presentations near the bottom getting bites.PENTWATER RIVER. Low, clear flows — try spawn presentations and small jigs near riffles.WHITE RIVER. Pockets and cut banks holding steelhead — eggs and small nymphs in eddies producing.BEAR CREEK. Low/clear — fish tight to cover; short leaders and egg/pearl patterns working best.PETOSKEY STREAMS. Low, clear — trout and staging steelhead in deeper holes; beads and eggs getting bites.Familiar Bite Update. Herring strips behind medium flashers or paired with tuned meat rigs remain top producing salmon bait across the region.Live Bait Pro Tip. Drop-shot leader 12–18” with crawlers or leeches; nose-hook the bait and use subtle rod-tip shakes to keep it hovering just above cover.Tight lines and Baitman out.#LiveBait #bucsbait #LiveBaitFishing #TakeAKidFishing #michiganfishingreport #bucsfishingreport #tightlines … See MoreSee Less

Oklahoma flathead catfish weighs in at 95 pounds … See MoreSee Less

Buc’s Fishing Report — 08-26-2025

Prepared by: BaitManMoon & Solunar Bites. WAXING CRESCENT (~6% ILLUM). MAJOR BITE WINDOWS (ET): ~2:44 AM – 4:44 AM and ~3:04 PM – 5:04 PM. MINOR BITE WINDOWS (ET): ~9:49 AM – 10:49 AM and ~9:06 PM – 10:06 PM.Weather Brief — Northern Michigan. Cooler “false-fall” pattern continues with mostly cloudy to partly sunny skies, spotty showers possible in places, and daytime highs in the mid-60s. Light northwest winds 5–15 mph; calmer in protected bays.Hot Seven BitesFRANKFORT. Chinook and coho showing; spoons, meat rigs and herring strips behind medium flashers producing.MANISTEE. Kings and coho offshore; spoons and flasher/fly combos 80–150 ft are working.LUDINGTON. Early spoons then meat rigs later — fish from 30–100 ft depending on currents.WHITEHALL. Kings and steelhead 40–60 ft; glow spoons and herring strips best at low light.HOUGHTON LK. Walleyes taking crawler harnesses and drop-shot leeches near structure early.LAKE CHARLEVOIX. Smallmouth and walleye on drop-shot crawlers around rock edges.BURT LK. Walleye steady on crawler harnesses and drifted minnows.Salmon Report — Charlevoix to Grand HavenCHARLEVOIX. Chinook and lake trout 50–90 ft; herring strips behind flashers producing.WEST GRAND TRAVERSE BAY. Kings and lake trout 40–70 ft on spoons and meat rigs.EAST GRAND TRAVERSE BAY. Lake trout steady; kings taking spoons 40–65 ft.FRANKFORT. Chinook/coho holding offshore; spoons and meat rigs best early.MANISTEE. Chinook, coho and lake trout 80–150 ft; spoons and flasher/fly rigs proving productive.LUDINGTON. Kings and coho 30–100 ft with morning spoons and midday meat rigs.WHITEHALL. Kings and steelhead 40–60 ft; glow spoons and herring strips working.GRAND HAVEN. Kings holding 60–100 ft down; sunrise meat rigs producing.Inland & M-1 Lakes — Top 10 HighlightsHOUGHTON LAKE. Walleyes on crawler harnesses and drop-shot leeches.LONG LAKE (TRAVERSE CITY). Smallmouth on drop-shot rigs with crawlers.TORCH LAKE. Smallmouth and lake trout on drop-shot minnows over deep structure.LAKE CHARLEVOIX (inland). Perch and smallmouth on small jigs and minnows.BURT LAKE. Walleye on crawler harnesses and drifted minnows.MULLETT LAKE. Walleye and perch on live minnows and crawlers.BLACK LAKE. Perch and walleye early on live bait rigs.PORTAGE LAKE (ONEKAMA). Walleye and perch 18–25 ft.ELK LAKE. Deep smallmouth and lake trout on drop-shot minnows.LITTLE BAY DE NOC. Walleye hot on crawlers and drop-shot leeches.River Update — Right now (Salmon & Steelhead focus)BOARDMAN RIVER. Moderate, clear flows — steelhead and lake-run trout holding pools and tailrace; spawn and small beads working well.BETSY RIVER. Low–moderate flows — tailwaters and runs staging fish; eggs and spawn under a float producing bites.MANISTEE RIVER. TIPPY DAM area moving moderate — deeper runs and pool heads holding salmon & steelhead; spawn sacks, beads and small jigs near structure working.TIPPY DAM (WELLSTON). Tailrace and lower pools holding fish — drift spawn and small stripped-minnow presentations effective near the bottom.PENTWATER RIVER. Low, clearer flows — try spawn presentations and small jigs near riffles.WHITE RIVER. Pockets and cut banks holding steelhead — eggs and small nymphs in eddies producing.BEAR CREEK. Low and clear — fish tight to cover; short leaders and egg/pearl patterns best.PETOSKEY STREAMS. Low, clear flows — trout and staging steelhead in deep holes; beads and eggs getting bites.Familiar Bite Update. Herring strips behind medium flashers or paired with tuned meat rigs remain top producing salmon bait across the region.Live Bait Pro Tip. Drop-shot leader 12–18” with crawlers or leeches; nose-hook the bait and use subtle rod-tip shakes to keep it hovering above weeds/rock.Tight lines and Baitman out.#LiveBait #bucsbait #LiveBaitFishing #TakeAKidFishing #michiganfishingreport #bucsfishingreport #tightlines … See MoreSee Less

Congratulations Josh Johnson!!!

While fishing with his oldest brother, Isaac ,Josh had fun catching fish , Isaac was good at netting his fish plus driving the boat.The two had alot fun and making great. memories. Taking after Grandpa” Gary Johnson “and their Dad, Mitch. I’m sure Gary’s enjoying watching them from Heaven plus I’m excited watching them enjoying the great outdoors . … See MoreSee Less

35-pound, 10-ounce Chinook salmon from Lake Michigan … See MoreSee Less

Buc’s Fishing Report — 08-25-2025

Prepared by: BaitManMoon & Solunar Bites. WAXING CRESCENT (~6% ILLUM). MAJOR BITE WINDOWS (ET): 2:03–4:03 AM and 2:23–4:23 PM. MINOR BITE WINDOWS (ET): 8:46–9:46 AM and 8:48–9:48 PM.Weather Brief — Northern Michigan. Mostly cloudy with spotty showers possible this afternoon and evening. HIGHS mid-60s. LIGHT northwest winds 5–15 mph.Hot Seven BitesFRANKFORT. Chinook and coho showing in deeper water; spoons, meat rigs and herring strips behind medium flashers working best.MANISTEE. Kings and coho offshore; spoons and flasher/fly combos in the 80–150 ft range producing fish.LUDINGTON. Early spoons then meat rigs later — fish from about 30–100 ft depending on current.WHITEHALL. Kings and steelhead 40–60 ft; glow spoons and herring strips are getting bites in low light.HOUGHTON LK. Walleyes on crawler harnesses and drop-shot leeches along structure at dawn.LAKE CHARLEVOIX. Smallmouth and walleye on drop-shot crawlers along rock edges.BURT LK. Walleye steady on crawler harnesses and drifted minnows.Salmon Report — Charlevoix to Grand HavenCHARLEVOIX. Chinook and lake trout 50–90 ft; herring strips behind flashers producing consistent hookups.WEST GRAND TRAVERSE BAY. Kings and lake trout 40–70 ft on spoons and meat rigs.EAST GRAND TRAVERSE BAY. Lake trout steady; kings taking spoons 40–65 ft near bait pods.FRANKFORT. Chinook and coho holding offshore; spoons and meat rigs best during early light.MANISTEE. Chinook, coho and lake trout 80–150 ft; spoons and flasher/fly rigs producing.LUDINGTON. Kings and coho 30–100 ft; morning spoons then meat rigs during the day.WHITEHALL. Kings and steelhead 40–60 ft; glow spoons and herring strips effective.GRAND HAVEN. Kings holding 60–100 ft down; sunrise meat rigs producing early.Inland & M-1 Lakes — Top 10 HighlightsHOUGHTON LAKE. Walleyes on crawler harnesses and drop-shot leeches.LONG LAKE (TRAVERSE CITY). Smallmouth on drop-shot rigs with crawlers.TORCH LAKE. Smallmouth and lake trout on drop-shot minnows over deep structure.LAKE CHARLEVOIX (inland). Perch and smallmouth on small jigs and minnows.BURT LAKE. Walleye on crawler harnesses and drifted minnows.MULLETT LAKE. Walleye and perch on live minnows and crawlers.BLACK LAKE. Perch and walleye early on live bait rigs.PORTAGE LAKE (ONEKAMA). Walleye and perch 18–25 ft.ELK LAKE. Deep smallmouth and lake trout on drop-shot minnows.LITTLE BAY DE NOC. Walleye hot on crawlers and drop-shot leeches.River Update — Right now (Salmon & Steelhead focus)BOARDMAN RIVER. Moderate, clear flows; steelhead and lake-run trout holding deeper pools and tailrace; spawn and small beads producing.BETSY RIVER. Low–moderate flows; tailwaters and runs are staging fish — eggs and spawn under a float effective.MANISTEE RIVER. Tippy Dam area moving moderate flows; deeper runs and pools holding salmon and steelhead — spawn sacks, beads and small jigs near structure working.TIPPY DAM (WELLSTON). Tailrace and lower pools holding fish; drift spawn and small stripped-minnow presentations close to the bottom are getting bites.PENTWATER RIVER. Low, clearer flows; try spawn presentations and small jigs near riffles for early pushes.WHITE RIVER. Pockets and cut banks with steadier flows holding steelhead — eggs and small nymphs in eddies producing.BEAR CREEK. Low and clear; fish tight to cover — short leaders and egg/pearl patterns work best.PETOSKEY STREAMS. Low, clear flows; trout and staging steelhead in deeper holes — beads, eggs and small nymphs producing.Familiar Bite Update. Herring strips behind medium flashers or paired with tuned meat rigs remain top producing salmon bait across the region.Live Bait Pro Tip. Drop-shot leader 12–18” with crawlers or leeches; nose-hook the bait and use subtle rod-tip shakes to keep the bait hovering.Tight lines and Baitman out.#LiveBait #bucsbait #LiveBaitFishing #TakeAKidFishing #fishingreport #tightlines … See MoreSee Less