Bait-shops in Osceala, Mecosta, and Montcalm Counties
Full line of live bait and tackle
Hilltop Sports
13700 14 mile Rd. Greenville, MI 48838
616-754-0022
Full line of bait and tackle
Twin Ponds
650 S. Sheridan Rd. Stanton, MI
989-831-4890
Full line of live bait and tackle
Paris Archery
21820 Northland Dr
Paris, MI 49338
(231) 796-2794
full line of bait and tackle
Grunst Brothers Party Store
624 N State St, Big Rapids, MI
(231) 796-7253
Worms , crawlers and tackle
π£ Michigan Weekly Fishing ReportποΈ July 12β18, 2025Presented by Bucβs Aqua Farms Inc.π www.bucsfishingreport.comπ₯ Sponsor of the Week: Captain Chucks II β Ludington, MIπ 75 N Jebavy Rd, Ludington, MIπ (231) 843-4458π capt-chuck.comπ° Prize Structure & Field SizeOver 900 boats participated, making it the largest freshwater salmon tournament in the U.S. by field size Chamber Alliance of Mason CountyMajor payouts include up to $10,000+ for Big Boys and Pro divisions, with additional prizes for Youth, Ladies, and Big Fish categoriesπ Tournament Records & StandingsTeam Katch Me registered the tournamentβs first-ever 30-lb+ king with a 32.30 lb catch on Day 2 of the Big Boys event The 2024 Big Boys winner, βHammbone,β claimed the title again in 2025 The Pro division 2025 champion, Team EZ Limits, took home the $20,000 top prize with a two-day total weight of 257.25 lb π― Gear & Depth StrategyKing salmon are staging deep: fish are hitting between 100β140 ft using meat rigs and cowbells near the 250 ft shelfπ£ Ludington Offshore Classic β July 14β20Big Boys Tournament, Ladies Pro/Am, Youth Classic, and the Offshore Classic Pro/Amπ Huge cash prizes, weigh-ins, and the kings are running deep!π§ Bait Shop of the Week: Lymanβs on the Lakeπ 6560 W Houghton Lake Dr, Houghton Lake, MIπ (989) 422-3231π¬ βNew live bait deliveries every Monday and Friday!ββ±οΈ This Week in 60 SecondsFish are deep. Salmon are staging offshore, trout are glued to thermoclines, and panfish are crushing waxworms around docks. Weedlines and early mornings are everything. Get out early β and stay mobile.π― Top 5 Bites in MichiganLudington Offshore β Kings 100β130 ft down on meat rigsTorch Lake β Lake trout at 95β115 ft on silver flashersFletcher Pond β Topwater frog bite is hot for bassDuck Lake (TC) β Bluegill under docks, bass roaming 10β12 ftHoughton Lake β Walleye active in 10β14 ft at first lightπ¦οΈ Weather Outlook & Hatch TrendsAir Temps: 83β91Β°FSurface Temps: Great Lakes ~66Β°F, Inland ~72β75Β°FThermocline: 65β90 ftBug Hatch: Caddis, ants, hoppers β trout rising at dawn and duskπ Regional Bite Reports & Tacticsπ¦ Mid MichiganLakes: Houghton, Budd, Pratt, Lancer, Missaukee, Mitchell, St. Helen, Five Lakes, Dodge, ShamrockWalleye: Houghton & Lancer on spinner harnesses at 10β14 ftBass: Missaukee and Mitchell β jigs near timber and weed bedsPanfish: Wiggins, Five Lakes β wax worms tight to docksCrappie: Pratt & Lancer β slip floats over 8β10 ft brushShamrock: Bass hitting finesse plastics around shaded coverπ¨ Northern Mid MichiganLakes: Otsego, Indian River, Sturgeon River, Bellaire, Fletcher Pond, East/West Twin, Crooked, McCormickOtsego: Pike and walleye trolling crankbaitsSturgeon River: Brook and brown trout rising to dry fliesFletcher Pond: Explosive frog bite at dawnMcCormick: Walleye on crawler harnesses in 15β22 ftTwin Lakes: Wax worms for panfish, soft plastics for bassCrooked Lake: Bass cruising structure β use chatterbaitsπ₯ Upper PeninsulaLakes: Gogebic, Indian Lake, Michigamme, Portage, Chicagon, Au TrainGogebic: Walleye and perch in 12β16 ft on jigsIndian Lake: Pike/walleye off weed edges on stickbaitsPortage/Au Train: Deep trolling for trout & splakeChicagon: Smallmouth working rocky structureπ Lake Michigan Shoreline (Port-by-Port)Ludington β Offshore Classic FocusKings running deep (100β140 ft) on meat rigs and paddlesSteelhead suspended (40β70 ft) on orange spoonsLakers on bottom in 160+ ft, slow-rolled cowbellsOther Ports:Manistee/Frankfort: Chrome spoons, 80β120 ftWhitehall/Muskegon: Steelhead and coho in top 50 ftGrand Haven: Lake trout deeper than 160 ftLake Michigan Shoreline β Full Port BreakdownFrom Grand Haven to LelandLudington (Tournament Central):Kings in 100β140 ft down over 250 ft β meat rigs early AMSteelhead suspended 40β70 ft β orange/green spoonsLakers deep, bottom-dragging cowbells in 160 ft+Familiar Bite herring is working the bestManistee: Mixed king/coho bite; chrome spoons and white paddles at 90β120 ftOnekama: Troll the βBarrelβ offshore; lakers and steelhead mixed in 100β140 ftFrankfort: Best bite near the pierheads first light; salmon running 70β90 ftLeland: Near Pyramid Point β meat and paddle bite over 180β240 ftWhitehall & Muskegon: Steelhead staging in top 40 ft; lake trout on downriggers 120β180 ftGrand Haven: Deeper water bite 140β180 ft, big paddles and meat rigs producingPier Action (all ports): Bass early on tubes, smallmouth and rock bass on live bait rigsπ· Traverse City β Mackinaw CityLakes: Torch, Glen, Leelanau, Charlevoix, Elk Lake, Duck, GreenTorch: Lakers 95β115 ft, spoons & flashersCharlevoix: Smallmouth hitting jerkbaits 10β18 ftGlen Lake: Bass active on topwater at duskDuck Lake: Bluegill tight to docks, bass on minnowsLeelanau: Perch and smallmouth 20β30 ft breaksLong Lake by Interlochen has been good for smallmouth bass and walleye best success is slip bobbers and leeches πͺ Saginaw BayKey Ports: Linwood, Pinconning, Quanicassee, Sebewaing, Bay Portπ― Tactics & Bite Conditions:Walleye: Strong bite continues in 15β23 ft using crawler harnesses with chartreuse or purple bladesHot Zones: Off the Sparkplug, Callahan Reef, and the SlotDrum & Catfish: Evening action near shallow flats and piers β live crawlers or stink baitsTrolling Tips: Slow speeds (1.1β1.3 mph) have been best; glow blades at dawnWeather Impact: Afternoon chop has helped push active fish shallowerπ§ Southwest MichiganCoverage: South Haven, St. Joseph, Paw Paw, Decatur, DowagiacTop Inland Lakes: Paw Paw Lake, Magician Lake, Lake Cora, Corey Lake, Diamond Lakeπ― Tactics & Bite Conditions:Paw Paw Lake: Largemouth bass in 6β10 ft along docks and seawalls, topwater frogs and senkosMagician Lake: Bluegill and crappie tight to structure β jig and bobber combosCorey Lake: Smallmouth in 10β15 ft near rocky transitions, tubes and swimbaits hotSt. Joseph River: Catfish and smallmouth on live bait rigs, especially at current seamsLake Michigan (St. Joe Pier): Steelhead early morning on shrimp and alewives under bobbersπ¨ US-131 Corridor (South of M-115)Coverage: Tustin, Leroy, Reed City, Big Rapids, Greenville, LakeviewTop Inland Lakes: Lincoln Lake, Little Muskegon River, Townline Lake, Martiny Chainπ― Tactics & Bite Conditions:Martiny Chain: Bass biting on spinnerbaits in channel cuts; bluegill on worms near docksLincoln Lake: Decent mixed bag on live bait β perch, small bass, and pikeBig Rapids Area: Little Muskegon River producing smallmouth and rock bass on small plugsTownline Lake: Nightcrawler harnesses drawing in walleye during low light hours … See MoreSee Less




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π£ Michigan Fishing Report β July 12β18, 2025π₯ This Weekβs Top Bites: 1. Ludington Offshore Classic: Kings 100β130 ft deep on meat rigs. Tournament weigh-ins daily! π 2. Torch Lake Lakers: Solid bite at 95β115 ft with silver flashers. 3. Fletcher Pond: Explosive bass action on topwater frogsβfish early! 4. Houghton Lake: Walleye cruising weed edges (10β14 ft) on crawler harnesses. 5. Duck Lake (Traverse City): Bluegills thick around docks; bass chasing bait shallow.π Bait Shop of the Week:@lymansonthelake (Houghton Lake)βfresh bait Mondays & Fridays!π Quick Tips by Region:Β Β Β β’Β Β Β Northern Mid MI: Trout on dries, bass near weeds.Β Β Β β’Β Β Β UP: Walleye deep, perch steady on minnows.Β Β Β β’Β Β Β Lake Michigan Shoreline: Salmon, steelhead active from Manistee to Ludington; spoons & meat rigs best.Β Β Β β’Β Β Β Traverse City Area: Lakers deep, bass hitting jerkbaits.π¦οΈ Weather: Warm, 80β90Β°F; Fish early mornings and dusk!πΈ Photo highlights: Big Ludington kings, topwater explosions, Torch Lakers.π Sponsored by @captainchucks2π Full details at bucsfishingreport.com#MichiganFishing #BucsFishingReport #CaptainChucks #FishingReport #LakeMichiganFishing #PureMichigan #OffshoreClassic … See MoreSee Less

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Pro-Staff Update: Capt. Dave Engle from Best Chance Charter Fishing submitted a video to support his assertion regarding the effectiveness of our Familiar Bite Herring Strips on his total catch.Get the "Big One" with Familiar Bite…www.facebook.com/BestChanceFishing/www.facebook.com/CharliesFishinHole/ … See MoreSee Less
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Pro-Staff Update: Captain Dylan Tysiak from Legacy Sportfishing Charters shared a photo showcasing his customers’ impressive King Salmon haul. He mentioned, “All of our Kings were caught using Familiar Bite Herring Strips.”www.facebook.com/LegacySportfishingLLC/ … See MoreSee Less

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π£ NEW Fishing Report drops Thursday!From salmon tournaments in Ludington to slab bluegill on hidden inland lakes β weβre covering it all.π₯ This weekβs report includes:β’ Big catches from the Ludington Offshore Classicβ’ New tactics for Mid Michigan lakesβ’ Deepwater trout patterns from Torch & Higginsβ’ Walleye action across the UP and Saginaw Bayβ’ βTop 5 Bites in Michiganβ featureβ’ Photos of the Week πΈβ’ Sponsored by Captain Chucks II β Ludington, MIπ Donβt miss it. Final report goes live Thursday afternoon.π @bucs_fishing_report | www.bucsfishingreport.com#MichiganFishing #FishingReport #CaptainChucks #HoughtonLake #LudingtonClassic #BucsFishing … See MoreSee Less

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βThe Stillest HourβGreen Lake, Interlochen, MichiganβSometimes, you find yourself in the middle of nowhere. And sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.βThereβs something sacred about the hush that settles on a lake at sunset. The birds go quiet. The water softens. Even the trees seem to lean in a little closer, listening.Thatβs what I felt as I stood behind the camera on Green Lakeβnot aiming for the perfect frame, just trying to hold on to a moment that was already slipping into memory.A young girl stood alone on the dock, fishing rod in hand, barely moving. The line didnβt twitch. The fish werenβt biting. But that didnβt seem to matter.She wasnβt there for the catch.She was there for this:The glow spilling across the lake like warm molasses.The orange flame of the sun sinking behind the hills.The stillness that makes your heart beat slower and your thoughts stretch wider.Thereβs a kind of beauty that doesnβt announce itself. It just is.And this was that.Maybe thatβs why I took the shot.Not because it was dramatic or loudβbut because it was quiet.And in that quiet, it said everything.The world needs more of this.More stillness.More golden hours.More girls fishing alone on docks at sunset. … See MoreSee Less

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Shop Owner and Pro-Staff Update: Charles Broadhurst, the owner of Charlie’s Fishin Hole, stated, “The meat was flying out the door today; bam, it worked great for me.” That’s Mike Hall holding a handful of fish, on board High Priorities. Charlie has an ample supply of Familiar Bite Herring Strips, so give him a call and see for yourself. Inquire with Charlie regarding the Charter services that are currently available.Get the “Big One” with Familiar Bite…www.facebook.com/CharliesFishinHole/ … See MoreSee Less

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Thanks for bringing your daughter I’m glad you had a great time being part of the fishing community … See MoreSee Less

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NWMI Kids Fishing Day 2025 β Full RecapβThe purpose of life is a life of purpose.β Today, that purpose was loud and clear.I had the honor of donating the bait for the NWMI Kids Fishing Tournament this morningβand let me tell you, it was powerful. Not just because of the fish caught, but because of the meaning behind each cast. a gathering of young hearts, curious minds, and wide-eyed joy. We werenβt just teaching fishing. We were planting seeds.We werenβt just teaching kids how to fish. We were teaching them how to be patient. How to stay focused. How to believe in themselves.Some caught their very first fish. Others reeled in their personal best. A few walked away with prizes. But every single one of them left with something theyβll carry for life.This wasn’t just an event. It was a ripple of something much bigger.From the moment the rods hit the water, you could feel itβkids learning not only how to cast a line, but how to slow down, stay patient, and connect with the world around them. Some made their first catch ever. Others walked away with full baskets and great memories. But every child left with something far more important: belief in themselves.π Highlights That Hit Home:π A girl holding a bluegill on a pink Zebco, beaming like she just won the Bassmaster Classic.π A girl holding a new fishing rod with her dad and was all smilesπ One young angler with a full lineup of panfish, proudly taking home 1st place.π Big bass, caught from the dock by a quiet kid who lit up when the fight hit.π Families gathered around the station, having a great time bonding with nature and with the kids.π Tackle boxes handed out. Rods awarded. Respect earned.π Thank you toβ¦– The NWMI Fishing Club for organizing a day that truly mattered.– The volunteers who showed up early, stayed late, and coached every step.– The parents who made the time to get their kids outside and engaged.– And most of allβthe kids. Yβall showed up ready, eager, and focused. Youβre the reason I do this.Every kid walked away with a prizeβ¦ and a new passion.This is what #bucsbait stands for.Real bait. Real purpose. Real change.This is how we pass down the right thingsβone rod at a time.πΈ Photos from Today:– Group shot with all the young anglers and their gear– Kids on the boat mid-fight– Prize table with Zebco rods and plaques– Proud catchesβbass, panfish, pike– Dockside learning and family coaching– Volunteers and the NWMI crew doing what they do bestHashtags:#bucsbait #NWMI #NWMIKidsFishing #FishingWithPurpose #livebait #takeakidfishing #CatchMemories #PassTheRod #YouthFishingMatters … See MoreSee Less




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Michigan Fishing Report β July 5β11, 2025Presented by Bucβs Aqua Farms Inc. β’ www.bucsfishingreport.comπΏ OverviewHot days and cool nights pushed thermoclines deeper across the state. Great Lakes trolling remained productive, with early-morning flashers still dominating. Inland waters produced solid panfish and bass action around vegetation. Look for fish to hold tight to structure with water temps warming into the 70s.π₯ Top 5 Bites β July 5β111. Saginaw Bay β Walleye limits trolling 16β22 ft east of Sparkplug2. Fletcher Pond β Crappie and bass aggressive in shallow brush3. Higgins Lake β Lakers deep at 90β100 ft on flashers4. Glen Lake β Trout holding deep; surface bass bite at dusk5. Otsego Lake β Walleye early, pike chasing spinners near weed edgesNorthern Mid Michiganπ― Tactics & ConditionsSturgeon River: Brown trout on spinners; dry fly action near coverOtsego Lake: Walleye on bottom bouncers early; pike active near drop-offsFletcher Pond: Crappie in 4β8 ft near brush; topwater bass at duskTraverse City β Mackinaw Cityπ― Tactics & ConditionsLake Charlevoix: Smallmouth on jerkbaits; early walleye bite in 18β22 ftGlen Lake: Trout deeper than 100 ft; dusk bass on topwaterDuck Lake: Bluegill shallow under docks; bass cruising shallowsMid Michiganπ― Tactics & ConditionsHoughton Lake: Walleye in 10β14 ft on spinner harnesses; pike chasing cranksHiggins Lake: Lake trout deep at 90 ft; perch on wigglersLake Missaukee: Bass tight to docks; bluegill on worms near weedlinesNortheast Michiganπ― Tactics & ConditionsBlack Lake: Pike on spinnerbaits in cabbage; walleye at dawnGrand Lake: Smallmouth active on rocky points; jigs producingLong Lake: Topwater action for smallmouth; trolled cranks for walleyeSaginaw Bayπ― Tactics & ConditionsBay Area: Walleye steady in 16β22 ft; crawler harnesses hotEvenings: Drum and catfish near the river mouths after darkπ Lake Michigan Shoreline β Port-by-Port ReportLelandSpecies: Chinook, lake troutDepths: 70β100 ft for salmon, 140β160 ft for lakersTactics: Early morning bite on flasher/fly combos; mag spoons laterHot Zone: Whaleback and NW trollFrankfortSpecies: Coho, steelheadDepths: 60β100 ftTactics: Orange spoons and dipsey divers producing; 4-color leadcore for steelheadHot Zone: Betsie drop, shelf edgesOnekamaSpecies: ChinookDepths: 100β120 ftTactics: Troll meat rigs low and fast; glow paddles best before sunriseHot Zone: Outside the BarrelManisteeSpecies: Lake troutDepths: 150β170 ft on bottomTactics: Spin-n-Glos behind paddles near thermoclineHot Zone: Straight out from harborLudingtonSpecies: Chinook, cohoDepths: 80β110 ftTactics: Meat rigs early, spoons later; dipsy setups at 60 ftHot Zone: The Trench firing again this weekWhitehallSpecies: SteelheadDepths: 40β70 ftTactics: Bright spoons in top 30 ft; 3-color leadcore bestHot Zone: Pier headlines and southern trollMuskegonSpecies: Chinook, lake troutDepths: 80β130 ftTactics: Glow paddles and meat combos; flasher/fly mid-depthHot Zone: North shelf line edgesGrand HavenSpecies: Lake troutDepths: Bottom at 160 ftTactics: Spin Doctors and cut bait; chrome paddles running hotHot Zone: Sandbar contour west of pier π Complete List of Lakes & Rivers Covered β July 5β11, 2025β’ Black Lakeβ’ Duck Lakeβ’ Fletcher Pondβ’ Frankfortβ’ Glen Lakeβ’ Grand Havenβ’ Grand Lakeβ’ Higgins Lakeβ’ Houghton Lakeβ’ Lake Charlevoixβ’ Lake Missaukeeβ’ Lelandβ’ Long Lakeβ’ Ludingtonβ’ Manisteeβ’ Muskegonβ’ Onekamaβ’ Otsego Lakeβ’ Saginaw Bayβ’ Sturgeon Riverβ’ Whitehall πΈ Photos of the WeekSaginaw Bay Walleye SuccessProud anglers holding up their catch after a morning limitβperfect display of the Bayβs hot walleye bite. Another Saginaw Bay TrophySharp-eyed angler lands a hefty walleye, showcasing the classic βtrophy shotβ local fishers Duck Lake Bluegill SlabYoung angler nets a beautiful bluegill from Duck Lakeβa great example of the ultralight action we reported. Saginaw Bay Spring Limit OutAnother shot of a full limit haul, reinforcing Saginaw Bayβs exceptional walleye bite this week. … See MoreSee Less




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