Buc’s Fishing Report — 09-19-2025

ON-SITE UPDATE. East to northeast breeze early with calm harbors at first light. A Small Craft Advisory is expected to build later today into Saturday.MOON & SOLUNAR BITES. Waning crescent about 6 percent illumination. Major Bite Window ET 10:55 AM to 12:55 PM. Minor Bite Windows ET 04:20 to 05:20 AM and 06:15 to 07:15 PM.WEATHER BRIEF. Partly to mostly sunny with east winds 10 to 15 knots backing northeast. Waves near 1 foot early increasing later with advisory conditions tonight.BAROMETER. Traverse City about 30.03 inHg. Manistee about 30.23 inHg. Ludington about 30.05 inHg.HOT SEVEN PIERS AND JIGGING FOCUSFRANKFORT. Pier mouths staging fish; pier-casting glow spoons and short vertical jig hops producing at first light.MANISTEE. Vertical jigging and pier action headline; target harbor mouth and tailrace seams with glow jigs.LUDINGTON. Pier casting spoons early and small-boat vertical jigging near harbor marks and Big Sable points.WHITEHALL. Pier and nearshore jigging producing salmon and steelhead 40 to 60 feet on glow spoons and tipped jigs.GRAND HAVEN. Pier action light for salmon; most fish marking deeper 70 to 140 feet though a few coho are coming to spoons.MUSKEGON PIER. Piers and the basin producing scattered fish; boats finding fish 80 to 120 feet and jigging glow plugs where fish are marked.BURT LAKE MAPLE BAY. Fair for perch and occasional walleye; minnows on weed edges and points.RIVER FLOWS AND WATER TEMPERATURESMANISTEE RIVER near Wellston Tippy Dam 1,540 cfs, gage 8.74 ft, water temp 63.3 F.WHITE RIVER near Whitehall 205 cfs, gage 0.63 ft, temperature not reported.BOARDMAN RIVER at Beitner Road Traverse City 178 cfs, gage 4.58 ft, temperature not reported.PERE MARQUETTE at Scottville 375 cfs, gage 0.55 ft, temperature not reported.MANISTIQUE RIVER near Manistique 770 cfs, stage 611.7 ft, temperature not reported.SALMON RIVER DETAILED PRIORITYMANISTEE RIVER near Wellston. Warm water has slowed upstream movement and many fish have slid back to the harbor or lake. Tailraces and pools still hold fish at first light on beads and spawn sacks.WHITE RIVER below HESPERIA DAM. Salmon staging in deep pools and tailrace holes; float-drift bead and spawn-sack rigs are producing.BETSIE RIVER. Warm weather has slowed pushes; fish remain staged in the lower river waiting for cooler water.BOARDMAN RIVER. Salmon holding in deep pools and run-to-pool transitions; bead and float presentations effective in shaded seams.PERE MARQUETTE. Flows are low and warm; fish movement is light but staging salmon remain in deeper pools.MANISTIQUE area. Salmon are present in the harbor and river mouth; include Newberry and Paradise waters in weekend plans with fish moving on cooler nights.SALMON TACTICS QUICKPier cast spoons and small plugs into the seam and retrieve with short ripping strips.Vertical jigging let the jig fall to the mark then use slow 6 to 24 inch hops with pauses; tip Mission Luna or P-Line glow jigs with a pea-size skein piece.River and tailrace fish first light; use 18 to 30 inch leaders with beads or spawn sacks; float-drift tailraces and try a small skein under a slip-bobber.PERCH REPORT FULL MINNOWS FIRSTPerch summary. Bite improving with minnows the top bait. Wigglers and Perch Pounder rigs producing when fish are tight to bottom.WHITE LAKE. Yellow belly perch biting down by the marina; white belly perch found on the west side.BURT LAKE MAPLE BAY. Good perch action on minnows along weed edges and humps.BLACK LAKE. Fair bite on minnows and wigglers.MULLETT LAKE. Fair perch bite off points and weed edges.PM LAKE. Perch schools finally bunched up, minnows producing in coves and docklines.PENTWATER LAKE. Fair perch bite on minnows along docks and weedlines.LAKE CHARLEVOIX. Fair perch action near Ironton on minnows and short leaders.TORCH LAKE. Perch starting to produce on the south end, minnows and drop-shots working.BIG GLEN. Perch on the first break around forty feet with wigglers and minnows on Perch Pounders; sorting required.NORTHPORT. A few perch in thirty-eight feet on weedbeds; no large schools located.BOWERS HARBOR. Perch near the launch and breakwall six to twelve feet on minnows.SKEGEMOG TORCH CHANNEL. Perch on weed edges and narrows six to fifteen feet on slip-bobber minnows.OTSEGO LAKE. Perch near shallow bays eight to fifteen feet on minnows.LAKE LEELANAU south end. Small perch near the Cedar River on minnows.LONG LAKE TRAVERSE CITY. Perch on small rigs with minnows.GREEN LAKE TRAVERSE CITY. Perch on minnows, worms, or crawler chunks with slip bobbers.MUSKEGON LAKE. Perch on small minnows, wigglers, or Perch Pounder rigs at Sand Docks, Bear Lake Channel, and Snug Harbor; electronics help.HOUGHTON LAKE. North weed bed producing perch on minnows and small rigs.TOP 15 INLAND LAKESLAKE CADILLAC. Smallmouth and largemouth around humps and weed edges; bluegill on minnows and waxworms.LAKE MITCHELL. Largemouth and panfish near lily pads and stumps.LAKE ST HELEN. Pike and largemouth in weedy bays; panfish on small jigs.HIGGINS LAKE. Smallmouth on deep structure and lake trout on vertical jigs.FREMONT LAKE. Bass and pike on weedlines and points; panfish on minnows.ELK LAKE. Deep smallmouth and lake trout opportunities.WALLOON LAKE. Smallmouth and largemouth on points and rocks.LAKE MISSAUKEE. Bluegill and largemouth in shallow weedy bays.HOLTON LAKE. Bass and panfish near docks and weed edges.CRYSTAL LAKE GREENVILLE. Panfish and largemouth on small jigs.WABASIS LAKE. Bass and panfish near public access.LONG LAKE GREENVILLE. Bass and panfish on drop-shots and slip bobbers.SUNRISE LAKE LEROY. Bass and panfish with topwater early.PENASA LAKE LEROY. Panfish and bass on minnows.TAMARACK LAKE LAKEVIEW. Largemouth and pike on spinnerbaits and live minnows.TOP 10 UP HOTSPOTS 1. LITTLE BAY DE NOC Walleye and perch. 2. MUNISING GRAND ISLAND Lake trout reefs and ledges. 3. MARQUETTE Lake trout on steep drop-offs. 4. KEWEENAW COPPER HARBOR Trout and salmon on rocky points. 5. ESCANABA BIG BAY DE NOC Walleye and smallmouth. 6. ST MARYS RIVER SAULT STE MARIE Salmon and steelhead in seams. 7. PORTAGE ENTRY GRAND MARAIS Lake trout and salmon. 8. TAHQUAMENON BAY RIVER MOUTHS Walleye and panfish on weedlines. 9. DRUMMOND ISLAND LES CHENEUX Smallmouth and walleye. 10. AU TRAIN FORD RIVER AREA Trout, walleye, and perch on points and narrows.LIVE BAIT PRO TIP. Cast glow spoons into seams with short ripping retrieves. For vertical jigging let the jig fall to the mark then use slow hops tipped with a pea-size skein piece.TIGHT LINES BAITMAN OUT#LiveBait #bucsbait #pierfishing #jigging #perch #tightlines … See MoreSee Less

Let go community! Let’s welcome the Veterans back from their morning of fishing, it’s shaping up to be a great time, gift have been provided, side dishes from local restaurants are being prepared, volunteers are ready, 22 NWMI Fishing Club Captains are geared up, about 55 Veterans are excited to catch some fish, we will have the docks lined up with American flags and Service flags, so if would line up at the docks betwn 11 am and noon on Saturday and Thank these brave past and present service members, and Thank you! … See MoreSee Less

🎣 Perch are biting in Indian River!

One of our guests has been reeling them in with great success this week — check out the catch 👇At Waterway Inn, we make fishing trips simple:✨ Outdoor fish cleaning station — with lights & hose for easy cleanup✨ Freezer space to store your catch✨ Trailer parking for your boat✨ Comfortable rooms & mobile homes for when you’re done on the waterWhether you’re here for a weekend or a week, we’ve got everything you need to make your fishing trip smooth from cast to catch.📍 Waterway Inn — Clean rooms, great value!Book online at www.waterwayinnIR.com or by calling 231-238-9370#perchfishing #burtlake #fishingtrip #greatcatch … See MoreSee Less

Buc’s Fishing Report — 09-18-2025

ON SITE UPDATE. Light winds and calm seas early this morning. A midday shift to northwest 5 to 15 knots with 1 to 2 foot waves is expected from Pentwater to Manistee.MOON AND SOLUNAR BITES. Major bite window this morning roughly 09:50 to 11:50 AM Eastern.WEATHER BRIEF. Partly sunny with a chance of a stray shower as winds turn northwest this afternoon.RIVER FLOWS AND WATER TEMPERATURES.Manistee River near Wellston Tippy Dam 1,740 cfs, gage 8.75 ft, water temp 63.9 F.White River near Whitehall 204 cfs, gage 0.63 ft, temperature not reported.Boardman River at Beitner Road Traverse City 178 cfs, gage 4.58 ft, temperature not reported.Pere Marquette River at Scottville 368 cfs, gage 0.52 ft, temperature not reported.Manistique River near Manistique 790 cfs, gage 3.30 ft, temperature not reported.HOT SEVEN PIERS AND JIGGING FOCUS.Frankfort. Salmon staging tight to the pier mouths at first light with spoons and short vertical jig hops.Manistee. Harbor mouth and tailrace seams producing early on vertical jigs.Ludington. Pier casting at dawn and deeper vertical marks off Big Sable points.Whitehall. Salmon and steelhead 40 to 60 feet on glow spoons and tipped jigs.Grand Haven. Pier action light with most fish marking 70 to 140 feet.Muskegon. Scattered marks 80 to 120 feet with occasional pier bites on glow jigs.Burt Lake Maple Bay. Fair for perch and occasional walleye on weed edges and points.SALMON RIVER PRIORITY.Manistee River near Wellston. Salmon staging at the mouth and lower tailrace pools, fish first light with beads or spawn sacks on short leaders.White River below Hesperia Dam. Salmon holding in deep pools and tailrace holes, float drifts with beads or spawn sacks are producing.Betsie River. Low flows with heavy staging in the lower river, fish will move after rain.Boardman River. Salmon staging in deep pools and run to pool transitions, beads and floats effective.Pere Marquette. Flows low for fall, watch gauges for upriver pushes after rain.Manistique area. Salmon present in the harbor and river mouth, with good flows setting up for a push; include Newberry and Paradise waters in your plans.SALMON TACTICS QUICK. Cast glow spoons into seams and retrieve with short ripping strips. Use slip bobber skein in calm or sliding pyramid rigs in current. Vertical jigging with slow 6 to 24 inch hops tipped with skein. River rigs at first light with 18 to 30 inch leaders, beads, and spawn sacks.PERCH REPORT FULL MINNOWS FIRST.White Lake. Yellow belly perch on the west end by the channel.Pentwater Lake. Perch around docks and weedlines six to fifteen feet.PM Lake. Perch in coves and docklines six to fourteen feet.Manistee Lake. Perch and bluegill on small minnows and perch rigs.Portage Lake Onekama. Perch on weedbeds near thirty eight feet mid morning.Big Glen. Perch on the first break around forty feet on wigglers and minnows with sorting.Northport. A few perch in thirty eight feet on weedbeds.Bowers Harbor. Perch near the launch and breakwall six to twelve feet.Skegemog Torch Channel. Perch on weed edges six to fifteen feet on minnows.Torch Lake. Perch on structure and ledges ten to twenty five feet.Burt Lake Maple Bay. Perch and walleye on humps and weed edges eight to eighteen feet.Black Lake. Perch on flats and weed cuts six to twelve feet.Otsego Lake. Perch in shallow bays eight to fifteen feet.Mullett Lake. Perch on weed edges eight to eighteen feet.Lake Charlevoix. Perch along rockpiles and docklines six to fourteen feet.Lake Leelanau south end. Small perch near the Cedar River.Long Lake Traverse City. Perch on small rigs with minnows.Green Lake Traverse City. Perch on minnows and crawler chunks under slip bobbers.Muskegon Lake. Perch at Sand Docks, Bear Lake Channel, and Snug Harbor on minnows or Perch Pounder rigs.Houghton Lake. North weed bed producing perch on minnows.TOP 15 INLAND LAKES.Lake Cadillac. Smallmouth and largemouth on humps and weed edges, panfish on minnows.Lake Mitchell. Largemouth and panfish near lily pads and stumps.Lake St Helen. Pike and largemouth in weedy bays, panfish on small jigs.Higgins Lake. Deep smallmouth structure and lake trout on vertical jigs.Fremont Lake. Bass and pike on weedlines and points.Elk Lake. Deep smallmouth and lake trout.Walloon Lake. Smallmouth and largemouth on points and rocks.Lake Missaukee. Bluegill and largemouth in shallow bays.Holton Lake. Bass and panfish around docks and weed edges.Crystal Lake Greenville. Largemouth and panfish with small jigs.Wabasis Lake. Bass and panfish near public access.Long Lake Greenville. Bass and panfish on drop shot rigs.Sunrise Lake LeRoy. Bass and panfish with topwater early.Penasa Lake LeRoy. Panfish and bass on minnows.Tamarack Lake Lakeview. Largemouth and pike on spinnerbaits and minnows.TOP 10 UP HOTSPOTS.Little Bay De Noc. Walleye and perch.Munising Grand Island. Lake trout reefs and ledges.Marquette. Lake trout on drop offs.Keweenaw Copper Harbor. Trout and salmon on rocky points.Escanaba Big Bay De Noc. Walleye and smallmouth.St Marys River Sault Ste Marie. Salmon and steelhead in seams.Portage Entry Grand Marais. Lake trout and salmon.Tahquamenon Bay river mouths. Walleye and panfish on weedlines.Drummond Island and Les Cheneux. Smallmouth and walleye.Au Train Ford River area. Trout walleye and perch on points and narrows.LIVE BAIT PRO TIP. Cast glow spoons into seams at dawn and retrieve with short ripping strips. Vertical jig with slow hops and tip jigs with a pea size skein piece for scent.TIGHT LINES BAIT MAN OUT … See MoreSee Less

Buc’s Fishing Report — 09-17-2025

ON SITE UPDATE. Light nearshore winds this morning and calm seas in most harbors. Recent wind driven mixing has pushed most salmon tight to pier mouths and harbor entrances so trolling is parked and pier casting and short vertical jigging are the best bets today.MOON AND SOLUNAR BITES. Major bite window this morning roughly 09:29 to 11:29 AM Eastern.WEATHER BRIEF. Mostly sunny with a possible afternoon sea breeze shift, check wind direction before you launch.RIVER FLOWS AND WATER TEMPERATURES.Manistee River near Wellston Tippy Dam 1,730 cfs, gage 8.82 ft, water temp 63.1 F.White River near Whitehall 207 cfs, gage 0.63 ft, temperature not reported at this station.Boardman River at Beitner Road Traverse City 181 cfs, gage 4.59 ft, temperature not reported at this station.Pere Marquette at Scottville 373 cfs, gage 0.54 ft, temperature not reported at this station.Manistique River near Manistique 803 cfs, gage 3.35 ft, temperature not reported at this station.HOT SEVEN PIERS AND JIGGING FOCUS.Frankfort. Pier mouths are staging fish and pier casting glow spoons and short vertical jigs are producing best at first light.Manistee. Pier and river mouth seams are producing with vertical jigging showing Chinook and coho.Ludington. Pier casting spoons early and deeper vertical marks near Big Sable points are producing fish.Whitehall. Pier and nearshore jigging producing salmon and steelhead 40 to 60 feet on glow spoons and tipped jigs.Grand Haven. Pier action is light for salmon while most fish mark 70 to 140 feet with a few coho coming to spoons.Muskegon. Pier and basin marks are scattered and boats are finding fish 80 to 120 feet and jigging glow plugs.Burt Lake Maple Bay. Fair for perch and occasional walleye, fish weed edges and points and expect sorting.SALMON RIVER PRIORITY.Manistee River near Wellston. Many salmon are staging at the mouth and lower tailrace pools, fish first light with beads spawn sacks and short leader drift presentations.White River below Hesperia Dam. Salmon are staging in deep pools and tailrace holes, float drifts with beads and spawn sacks on short leaders are producing.Betsie River. Low flows with heavy staging reported in lower reaches and upriver pushes likely after rain.Boardman River. Fish are staging in deeper holding pools and tailrace sections, work run to pool transitions with subtle float and bead presentations.Pere Marquette. Flows are low near early fall levels, watch gauge readings for upriver pushes after rain.Manistique area. Include Manistique Newberry and Paradise area lakes and harbors in your plans as flows are healthy this morning.SALMON TACTICS QUICK. Cast glow spoons into the seam and retrieve with short ripping strips, use a slip bobber skein in calm and a sliding pyramid or mesh bag skein in current, and vertical jig with slow 6 to 24 inch hops tipping jigs with a pea size skein piece. River fish first light with 18 to 30 inch leaders using beads or spawn sacks.PERCH REPORT FULL MINNOWS FIRST. Perch are slow but improving and minnows on slip bobbers or perch rigs remain the top presentation.White Lake. Yellow belly perch on the west end by the channel and bluegill on Eagles flats are taking minnows on slip bobbers.Pentwater Lake. Perch around docks and weedlines six to fifteen feet are taking minnows on perch rigs.PM Lake. Perch in coves and docklines six to fourteen feet are taking minnows on perch rigs.Manistee Lake. Perch and bluegill are taking minnows and small perch rigs.Portage Lake Onekama. A few perch on weedbeds around thirty eight feet are showing mid morning on minnows.Big Glen. Perch on the first break around forty feet are coming on wigglers and minnows on Perch Pounder rigs with lots of small fish and sorting required.Northport. A few perch are being taken around thirty eight feet on weedbeds with no large schools yet.Bowers Harbor. Perch around the launch and breakwall six to twelve feet are taking minnows on short leaders.Skegemog Torch Channel. Perch on weed edges and narrows six to fifteen feet are taking slip bobber minnows.Torch Lake. Perch on structure and ledges ten to twenty five feet are taking minnows or short drop shot.Burt Lake Maple Bay. Perch and occasional walleye on weed edges and humps eight to eighteen feet are taking minnows on slip floats.Black Lake. Perch on flats and weed cuts six to twelve feet are taking slip bobber minnows.Otsego Lake. Perch near shallow bays eight to fifteen feet are taking perch rigs with minnows.Mullett Lake. Perch on weed edges eight to eighteen feet are taking slip bobber minnows.Lake Charlevoix. Perch along rockpiles and docklines six to fourteen feet are taking short leaders with minnows.Lake Leelanau south end. Small perch by the Cedar River are taking minnows.Long Lake Traverse City. Perch on small rigs are taking minnows.Green Lake Traverse City. Perch are taking minnows small worms or crawler chunks on small slip bobbers.Muskegon Lake. Perch on small minnows wigglers or Perch Pounder rigs on the bottom around Sand Docks Bear Lake Channel and Snug Harbor are producing.Houghton Lake. North weed bed producing perch on minnows and small perch rigs.TOP 15 INLAND LAKES.Lake Cadillac. Smallmouth and largemouth around humps and weed edges, panfish on minnows and waxworms.Lake Mitchell. Largemouth and panfish near lily pads and stumps.Lake St Helen. Pike and largemouth in weedy bays and panfish on small jigs.Higgins Lake. Deep smallmouth structure and lake trout opportunities on vertical jigs.Fremont Lake. Bass and pike around weedlines and points.Elk Lake. Deep smallmouth and lake trout water.Walloon Lake. Smallmouth and largemouth on points and rocks.Lake Missaukee. Bluegill and largemouth in shallow weedy bays.Holton Lake. Bass and panfish around docks and weed edges.Crystal Lake Greenville. Town lake panfish and largemouth opportunities.Wabasis Lake. Bass and panfish near public access.Long Lake Greenville. Bass and panfish with drop shot and slip bobbers.Sunrise Lake LeRoy. Park lake with topwater early and small jigs.Penasa Lake LeRoy. Quiet panfish and bass action.Tamarack Lake Lakeview. All sports lake producing largemouth and pike.TOP 10 UP HOTSPOTS.Little Bay De Noc. Walleye and perch.Munising Grand Island. Lake trout reefs and ledges.Marquette. Lake trout on steep drop offs.Keweenaw Copper Harbor. Trout and salmon on rocky points.Escanaba Big Bay De Noc. Walleye and smallmouth.St Marys River Sault Ste Marie. Salmon and steelhead in current seams.Portage Entry Grand Marais. Lake trout and salmon.Tahquamenon Bay river mouths. Walleye and panfish on weedlines.Drummond Island and Les Cheneux. Smallmouth and walleye.Au Train Ford River area. Trout walleye and perch on points and narrows.LIVE BAIT PRO TIP. For pier anglers cast a glow spoon and use a short ripping retrieve into the seam, and for vertical jigging let the jig fall to the mark then use slow hops and tip the jig with a pea size skein piece for extra scent.TIGHT LINES BAIT MAN OUT … See MoreSee Less