🎣 Buc’s Fishing Report — October 7, 2025

MORNING BRIEFINGToday: Unseasonably warm with highs in the upper 60s °F. Light southwest winds 5–10 mph, high clouds, and sun breaks.Tomorrow: Cooler with northwest winds 10–15 mph and a chance of light showers.Water Conditions: Rivers are low and clear; inland lakes 59–62 °F. The best bites are before 9 AM and after 6 PM as fish shy from the midday sun.Hot Bite: • Perch: Torch Lake, Lake Charlevoix, and Big Glen Lake — 25–35 ft; large minnows outfishing wigglers. Chartreuse bead above the hook has been hot. • Bluegill: Clare and Gladwin ponds — worms or waxworms early along weed edges.⸻Tiffany’s Techniques — East Bay Report10 for 12 Monday with 2 kings (~15 lbs), 2 coho, and 6 cisco (up to 4 lbs). Beaver’s Lures Wonderbread spoon led the way, followed by Bloody Nose and Silver Streak Orange Crush.Deeper water (150–180 ft) held the hungrier fish; 200 copper and deep-rigger sliders took most hits. Keep baits 30 ft down to stay above the closed lake trout zone.Action steady off Center Rd. to Acme and back.Local quote: “Even Johnny Cash on the Bluetooth couldn’t scare ’em off—East Bay is still rockin’.”Quick Tip: Next cold front will push steelhead into river mouths—single eggs and small spawn bags will be the ticket.Reg Reminder: Lake trout season remains closed on Lake Michigan.What’s Next: Cooling weekend ahead—expect perch to slide shallower and whitefish to appear off piers.⸻MOON & SOLUNAR ACTIVITYWaning crescent — 52% illuminationMajor Bite: 6:00–8:00 AM Minor Bites: 1:00–2:00 PM | 7:00–8:00 PM⸻RIVER FLOWS & TEMPERATURESManistee (Tippy Dam): 1,310 cfs | 8.52 ft | 61 °FWhite (Whitehall): 207 cfs | 0.63 ftBoardman (Beitner Rd): 181 cfs | 4.59 ftPere Marquette (Scottville): 373 cfs | 0.54 ftManistique: 803 cfs | 3.35 ftAll systems low and clear — stealth, early, and deep.⸻PIER REPORT — TRANSITION PHASEFrankfort, Manistee, Ludington, Whitehall, Muskegon, Grand Haven.Pier salmon have slowed as most fish move upriver. A few steelhead and immature kings showing at dawn and dusk on spawn bags, skein, and glow spoons. Whitefish expected soon with cooling water.⸻SALMON RIVER PRIORITYManistee River (Tippy): Improving; salmon staging deep and spawning underway.White River (Hesperia): Full below dam; beads or skein under floats.Betsie River: Lower river producing strong kings.Platte River: Coho thinning below the weir; surf anglers at the mouth taking steelhead, coho, and browns on skein and spoons.Boardman River: Fish stacked in downtown pools near Union Street Dam.Pere Marquette: Fair in lower river; upper remains clear and low.Manistique River: Salmon staging near mouth in deeper slots.Marquette Rivers: Fish concentrated in lower reaches; upper sections clear and shallow.⸻PERCH REPORT — MINNOWS & WIGGLERS FIRSTBig Glen Lake: Strong bite, larger perch showing, wigglers & minnows best.Little Glen Lake: Steady perch action.Lake Leelanau: South end near Cedar River and Pines Campground sandbar good.Crystal Lake: Fair off Railroad Point in weed cover.Portage Lake (Onekama): Morning bite best; smaller fish common.PM Lake (Ludington): Perch near docks and channel.Pentwater Lake: Fair with mostly small fish.White Lake: Yellow bellies in weeds; bluegill strong near marina.Torch Lake: Excellent — big fish in 25–35 ft on minnows & wigglers.Elk Lake: Steady bite near Whitewater Landing.Lake Charlevoix: Strong perch at Elm Point and Cedar Rest; walleye near Ironton.Burt Lake: Perch and walleye steady along points and weeds.Mullett Lake: Fair perch; larger fish deeper.Black Lake: Fair on minnows 6–12 ft.Lake Margrethe: Good perch on minnows.Drummond Island: Excellent in Scott Bay — bring wigglers with you.⸻INLAND LAKES — MULTI-SPECIES BITEHoughton Lake: Walleye and panfish early & late.Lake St. Helen: Pike and bass steady in bays.Higgins Lake: Deep smallmouth and panfish fair.Lake Cadillac: Bass and bluegill near humps and docks.Lake Mitchell: Largemouth and bluegill steady near pads.Missaukee Lake: Bluegill and bass shallow, perch fair.Long Lake (Traverse City): Perch and walleye south end.Green Lake (Interlochen): Perch along weed edges 8–12 ft.Fremont Lake: Pike and bass on spinnerbaits.Big Star Lake (Baldwin): Bluegill and bass early; pike mid-day.Walloon Lake: Bass and panfish on drop-offs.Otsego Lake: Walleye and perch mix at dusk.Crystal Lake (Greenville): Panfish near town access.Wabasis Lake: Bass and panfish on worms.Long Lake (Greenville): Bass on weedlines; perch light.Sunrise Lake (LeRoy): Bluegill near docks; bass deeper.Penasa Lake (LeRoy): Quiet but improving bite.Tamarack Lake (Lakeview): Pike and bass in shallow weeds.Bear Lake (Manistee Co.): Evening walleye and bass steady.⸻HARRISON – CLARE – GLADWIN COUNTY LAKESArnold Lake: Bluegill and crappie fair on worms and minnows.Bud Lake: Perch light; bluegill steady near drop-offs.Sutherland Lake: Bass and panfish good early and late.Lake Thirteen: Crappie and bluegill biting on waxworms.Lake George: Bass and pike active on spinnerbaits.Shingle Lake: Steady panfish; perch light.Pratt Lake: Bluegill and perch fair on minnows.Wiggins Lake: Crappie and bass on jigs and plastics.Secord Lake: Bluegill and crappie fair; pike active in cuts.Lancer Lake (Sugar Springs): Excellent mixed bite—perch, crappie, and bluegill on minnows and worms.Sugar Springs (Lake Lancelot): Steady panfish near docks and coves; bass active late afternoon.⸻UPPER PENINSULA — TOP 10 HOTSPOTS 1. Little Bay de Noc: Night walleye hot; perch fair. 2. Big Bay de Noc: Smallmouth steady on tubes. 3. Munising / Grand Island: Lake trout reefs productive. 4. Marquette: Salmon in lower rivers. 5. Keweenaw / Copper Harbor: Trout and salmon on rocky points. 6. St. Marys River: Steelhead and salmon in current seams. 7. Portage Entry / Grand Marais: Coho and lake trout mixed. 8. Tahquamenon Bay: Walleye and perch on weedlines. 9. Drummond Island: Hot perch bite in Scott Bay. 10. Au Train / Ford River: Walleye and trout along points.⸻LIVE BAIT PRO TIP — MINNOW HARNESS SERIES (Day 3)Indiana-blade harnesses (size 4–5) behind a 2-oz bottom bouncer are ideal for mixed water clarity. Troll live minnows 1.0–1.4 mph for perfect balance of flash and vibration — a proven fall combo for walleye and smallmouth.⸻TIGHT LINES — BAIT MAN OUT#BucsBait #LiveBait #Perch #SalmonRun #Walleye #Bluegill #TightLines … See MoreSee Less

Buc’s Fishing Report — 10-06-2025

ON-SITE UPDATEWarm October air had many anglers trading bows for rods. Mid-day heat slowed bites, but cooler weather and rain moving in will recharge activity across Northern Michigan and the U.P. Salmon runs continue in the rivers, perch are stacking on structure, and bluegill, bass, and walleye remain steady.⸻MOON & SOLUNAR ACTIVITYWaxing crescent • 55 percent illuminationMajor Bite: 7:10 – 9:25 AM Minor Bites: 1:45 – 2:35 PM • 8:25 – 9:20 PM⸻WEATHER & BAROMETERPartly cloudy with light rain at times • High 67 °F • NW winds 10–20 mphBarometer rising — Traverse City 30.10 inHg • Manistee 30.14 inHg • Ludington 30.11 inHg⸻RIVER FLOWS & TEMPERATURESManistee (Tippy Dam) 1,320 cfs • 8.55 ft • ≈ 60 °FWhite River (Whitehall) 210 cfs • 0.72 ft • ≈ 59 °FBetsie River. Low and clear with fish stacked in lower pools.Platte River. Action now at the mouth where anglers surf-fish at daybreak and sunset with skein and casting spoons for coho, steelhead, and browns.Pere Marquette. Better bite in lower river near Scottville.Boardman. Fish holding near Union Street Dam.Manistique. Healthy flow; salmon and steelhead in deeper holes.⸻HOT PIERS — TRANSITION PERIODFrankfort. Coho and steelhead at first light on glow spoons.Manistee. Skein under floats producing salmon and early steelhead.Ludington. Coho and immature kings near Big Sable; steelhead showing.Whitehall. Light bite; occasional steelhead before sunrise.Muskegon. Pier bite fading; steelhead main target.Grand Haven. Few fish left; focus on river mouth.⸻SALMON RIVERSTippy / Manistee. Fish holding in deep holes; spawning slowly increasing.White River (Hesperia). Full of salmon below the dam; beads and skein producing limits.Betsie. Strong lower-river run with fresh fish arriving.Platte. Surf bite for coho, browns, and steelhead on skein and spoons.Boardman. Salmon in downtown pools near Union Street Dam.Pere Marquette. Active lower river; upper sections clear.Manistique. Salmon steady near mouth; steelhead entering current seams.Marquette Area. Fish in lower reaches; upper river quiet and clear.⸻PERCH REPORT — MINNOWS & WIGGLERS FIRSTBig Glen. Strong bite around 40 ft; larger fish, less sorting.Little Glen. Perch on first breaks and weed edges.Lake Leelanau (South End). Good action 8–20 ft near Cedar River and Pines Campground.Crystal Lake. Weedline bite off Railroad Point 10–25 ft.Portage Lake. Fair; keepers mixed mid-morning.PM Lake. Schools active in coves; bite building.Pentwater Lake. Fair; smaller fish on minnows.White Lake. Yellow bellies in weeds; bluegill strong near marina.Torch Lake. Excellent perch south end; occasional Atlantic salmon.Elk Lake. Perch off Whitewater Landing.Skegemog. Fish 6–15 ft on weed edges.Lake Charlevoix. Good bite around Elm Point and Cedar Rest with walleye mixed in.Burt Lake. Steady perch at Maple Bay and deep points.Mullett Lake. Fair to strong on deeper weed breaks.Black Lake. Perch fair on flats 6–12 ft.Lake Margrethe. Good bite with minnows and wigglers.Drummond Island (Scott Bay). Excellent bite on wigglers and shrimp.East & West Grand Traverse Bays. Few perch reports from Northport, Bowers, and Suttons Bay.Little Traverse Bay (Harbor Springs). Light perch reports; some salmon at Bear River mouth.⸻INLAND LAKESHoughton Lake. Walleye fair at dawn and dusk; bluegill steady on weed edges.Lake St. Helen. Pike and bass active in weedy bays; bluegill on waxworms.Lake Missaukee. Bass and crappie steady on jigs and minnows.Lake Cadillac. Smallmouth and largemouth around humps; bluegill steady.Lake Mitchell. Bass and bluegill near pads and stumps.Higgins Lake. Rock bass and smallmouth on drop-shot rigs.Long Lake (TC). Walleye and bluegill along south-end weeds.Green Lake (Interlochen). Perch 8–12 ft on weed edges; bluegill good.Fremont Lake. Bass and pike along points; minnows and spinners.Holton Lake. Bass and panfish around docks.Crystal Lake (Greenville). Panfish good near shoreline weeds.Wabasis Lake. Bass and bluegill active near public access.Long Lake (Greenville). Bass on topwater early; bluegill steady.Sunrise Lake (LeRoy). Bluegill and perch fair on worms.Penasa Lake (LeRoy). Steady panfish bite 8–10 ft.Tamarack Lake (Lakeview). Pike and bass strong; minnows best.Otsego Lake. Fair perch and some walleye at dusk.Walloon Lake. Smallmouth on points; panfish steady in shallows.Bear Lake (Manistee Co.). Bluegill and pike fair; trolling small cranks productive.⸻HARRISON – CLARE – GLADWIN COUNTY LAKESArnold Lake (Harrison). Bluegill and perch 10–12 ft on worms and minnows.Bud Lake (Harrison). Good bluegill bite near the island.Sutherland Lake (Harrison). Crappie and perch on minnows; bass steady near timber.Lake Thirteen (Farwell). Bluegill and perch steady on crawler chunks.Lake George (Clare). Active bluegill and bass bite.Shingle Lake (Lake). Perch fair on minnows; bass good on spinnerbaits.Pratt Lake (Gladwin). Bluegill fair; perch small but improving.Wiggins Lake (Gladwin). Mixed panfish and bass; evening walleye possible.Secord Lake (Gladwin). Bluegill and pike active in weeds.Chappel Dam Pond (Gladwin). Consistent panfish bite in shallows.⸻UPPER PENINSULA — TOP 10 HOTSPOTS 1. Little Bay de Noc. Walleye and perch steady near Gladstone. 2. Big Bay de Noc. Smallmouth strong near Fayette. 3. Munising / Grand Island. Lake trout on reefs; coho near harbor. 4. Marquette. Lake trout off breaks; salmon lower river. 5. Keweenaw Peninsula. Trout and salmon off Copper Harbor points. 6. St. Marys River. Salmon and steelhead in current seams. 7. Portage Entry / Grand Marais. Mixed trout and salmon along breaks. 8. Tahquamenon Bay & River Mouths. Walleye and perch on weedlines. 9. Drummond Island / Scott Bay. Excellent perch bite on wigglers and shrimp. 10. Au Train to Ford River. Trout, walleye, and perch along points.⸻LIVE BAIT PRO TIP — MINNOW HARNESS SERIES (DAY 3)Use Indiana-blade harnesses (size 4–5) for mixed clarity. Hammered silver or nickel finishes trolled 1.0–1.4 mph with live minnows behind a two-hook rig and 2 oz bottom bouncer provide balanced flash and vibration for walleye and bass.⸻WEEKEND REVIEW — BY THE BAIT MANIt was a weekend that felt more like summer than fall. Warm air, flat water, and bright skies made midday fishing tough, but those who worked the edges of dawn and dusk were rewarded. Salmon remain the story of October, with fish stacked in the White, Betsie, and Platte systems and more entering the Manistee each day. The best presentation remains a simple one — skein or beads drifted in the tailraces at first light.Perch fishing was excellent on Torch, Charlevoix, and Big Glen, with bigger fish showing and less sorting. Drummond Island was the surprise of the week, where anglers filled buckets in Scott Bay on wigglers and raw shrimp — just make sure to bring bait with you.Bluegill and bass action was solid on smaller inland lakes until the heat spiked Saturday afternoon, then fell off. Cooler air and rain returning this week should light that bite right back up. The fall feed is building fast, and by next week, expect steady limits of perch and steelhead as the temperatures drop.Tight lines, Bait Man out.#LiveBait #bucsbait #perch #salmonrun #bass #bluegill #tightlines … See MoreSee Less

Buc’s Fishing Report — 10-05-2025

ON-SITE UPDATEWarm weather has pulled many hunters off the stand and back onto the water. Salmon runs remain strong in key rivers, perch are biting across the region, and bluegill and walleye action is building as lakes cool. Piers are quiet except for a few steelhead and late salmon stragglers.MOON & SOLUNAR BITE WINDOWSWaxing crescent at 44 percent illumination.Major Bite Window: 6:35 – 8:45 AM ETMinor Bite Windows: 1:15 – 2:10 PM ET and 8:10 – 9:00 PM ETWEATHER BRIEFSunny and warm today, southwest winds 5–10 mph; a cooling northwest pattern moves in mid-week.Barometer: Traverse City 30.08 inHg • Manistee 30.10 inHg • Ludington 30.06 inHgRIVER FLOWS & TEMPERATURES • Manistee River (Tippy Dam) – 1 720 cfs • 8.81 ft • 63 °F • Betsie River – Moderate flow • 59 °F • Strong salmon presence (lower river) • White River (Hesperia) – 215 cfs • 0.64 ft • 61 °F • Pere Marquette (Scottville) – 382 cfs • 0.55 ft • 60 °F • Boardman River (Beitner Rd) – 183 cfs • 4.60 ft • 58 °F • Manistique River – 810 cfs • 3.34 ft • 58 °F⸻HOT PIERS & TRANSITION UPDATEFrankfort. A few late salmon and early steelhead near the harbor mouth on glow spoons and spawn bags.Manistee. Scattered salmon and early steelhead off the south pier; mature fish now upriver.Ludington. Light coho and immature kings; some steelhead near Big Sable.Whitehall. Fair; a few steelhead on spawn bags and spoons at the pier head.Muskegon. Occasional steelhead; jigging season nearly wrapped.Grand Haven. Light coho and steelhead; salmon transition complete.Overall: Pier bite fading fast—expect a handful of immature salmon and early steelhead until whitefish arrive later this month.⸻SALMON RIVER PRIORITYTippy Dam / Manistee River. Steady; fish staging in deeper holes, spawning underway.White River (Hesperia). Full of salmon below the dam; beads and spawn sacks under floats hot.Betsie River. Good numbers top-to-bottom.Platte River. Fish Weir open; coho active in lower river and river mouth on bobbers and skein.Boardman River. Weir closed; salmon holding in downtown pools.Pere Marquette. Fish lower and mid-river; low clear water—fish early or late.Manistique River. Steady fish in deep pools.Marquette Area. Fish lower river; upper reach low and clear.⸻FULL PERCH REPORTBig Glen Lake. Good bite 40 ft on wigglers and minnows; larger fish, less sorting.Little Glen Lake. Perch biting near breaks and flats.Lake Leelanau. Improving on south end near Cedar River and Pines Campground sandbar.Crystal Lake. Perch off Railroad Point 10–25 ft around weeds.Portage Lake (Onekama). Fair; many small fish.Manistee Lake. Few perch with salmon still staging.PM Lake (Ludington). Schooling perch; bite picking up in coves.Pentwater Lake. Fair; mostly small fish.White Lake. Yellow bellies in weeds and bluegill by marina; worms and waxies.Muskegon Lake. Slow overall.Torch Lake. Excellent perch bite south end; some north weed beds.Elk Lake. Good perch off Whitewater Township Landing.Skegemog Lake. Perch on weed edges 6–15 ft.Otsego Lake. Fair perch and few walleye.Long Lake (Traverse City). Fair on south-end weed edges and peninsula.Green Lake (Interlochen). Perch on weed edges 8–12 ft.Burt Lake. Good perch at Maple Bay; minnows best.Mullett Lake. Strong bite on deeper weeds.Black Lake. Perch on flats 6–12 ft.Lake Margrethe. Good bite this week on minnows and wigglers.Drummond Island. Excellent perch in Scott Bay; shrimp and minnows best.East & West Grand Traverse Bay. Few perch at Northport, Bowers Harbor, Suttons Bay, and Boardman mouth — slow as 2024.Little Traverse Bay (Harbor Springs). No perch reports; limited salmon at Bear River.⸻INLAND LAKES REPORTNORTHERN & CENTRAL MICHIGANLake Cadillac. Bass on humps; bluegill on minnows.Lake Mitchell. Largemouth and panfish near pads.Lake St. Helen. Pike and bass in bays; panfish on small jigs.Higgins Lake. Deep smallmouth on drops; rock bass active.Fremont Lake. Bass and pike on weedlines.Elk Lake. Smallmouth and perch steady.Walloon Lake. Bass on rocky points.Lake Missaukee. Bluegill and bass in shallow weeds.Holton Lake. Bass and panfish near docks.Crystal Lake (Greenville). Panfish and largemouth steady.Wabasis Lake. Bass and panfish near access.Long Lake (Greenville). Bass and panfish on drop-shot.Sunrise Lake (LeRoy). Topwater bass bite early.Penasa Lake (LeRoy). Panfish steady.Tamarack Lake (Lakeview). Pike and largemouth on spinners.HARRISON / FARWELL / CLARE & GLADWINBudd Lake (Harrison). Perch and bluegill 8–14 ft on minnows or waxies.Long Lake (Harrison). Perch and bass along first break with slip-bobbers.Little Long Lake (Harrison). Panfish steady near docks.Cranberry Lake. Bluegill and crappie 6–10 ft on slow jigs.Arnold Lake. Perch and rock bass on points; minnows best.Sutherland Lake. Largemouth early on topwater; perch mid-day.Lake George (Farwell). Perch and bluegill on cabbage edges.Lake Thirteen (Farwell). Crappie at dusk; bluegill on wax worms.Stevenson Lake. Mixed panfish and bass on weed turns.Shamrock Lake (Clare). Shoreline panfish on split-shot rigs.Crooked Lake (Clare). Perch on minnows off drop; bass on worms.Eight Point Lake. Perch and crappie 10–16 ft on small spoons.Ross Lake (Beaverton). Pike and bass on weedlines; perch pockets on minnows.Wiggins Lake (Gladwin). Perch and bluegill along outer weeds.Pratt Lake (Gladwin). Perch and crappie 15–20 ft on plastics.Lake Lancer (Sugar Springs). Perch, bluegill, and walleye on breaks.Lake Lancelot (Sugar Springs). Steady panfish bite.Secord Lake (Gladwin). Panfish and pike around weedbeds.Smallwood Lake (Gladwin). Perch and crappie on brush edges.⸻U.P. HOTSPOTS 1. Little Bay de Noc – Walleye & perch. 2. Munising / Grand Island – Lake trout on reefs. 3. Marquette – Lake trout off drops. 4. Keweenaw – Trout & salmon on rocky points. 5. Escanaba / Big Bay de Noc – Walleye & smallmouth. 6. St. Marys River – Steelhead & salmon in current seams. 7. Portage Entry / Grand Marais – Trout & salmon. 8. Tahquamenon Bay – Walleye & panfish on weeds. 9. Drummond Island / Les Cheneaux – Perch excellent. 10. Au Train / Ford River – Trout & walleye on points.⸻SAGINAW BAY & RIVER UPDATESaginaw Bay producing perch and walleye around Kawkawlin, Linwood, and Quanicassee. Saginaw River showing steady walleye on jigs and plastics near bridges. Minnows and half-crawlers best as water cools.⸻LIVE BAIT PRO TIP — Minnow Harness Series (Day 1)Colorado-blade harnesses excel in stained or low-light water. Use size 5–6 hammered gold or pink blades behind bottom bouncers at 0.8–1.2 mph. The slow, heavy thump draws walleye and bass that hunt by vibration. Tip hooks with live minnows and match bead color to local forage.⸻TIGHT LINES, BAIT MAN OUT#LiveBait #bucsbait #perch #salmonrun #tightlines #northernmichiganfishing … See MoreSee Less