Baitman Fishing report

BAITMAN’s Morning Bite – Thursday, July 9, 2026: Fly Hatch Fading, Fish Waking Up

Good morning from Northern Michigan. The weather is cooperating nicely today—sunny to mostly sunny skies with highs in the low-to-mid 80s, light to moderate south to southwest winds, and waves 1-3 feet on the big lake in many spots. No major small craft warnings are posted for most northern Michigan waters right now. Surface temps on Lake Michigan are running in the mid-60s in northern areas and warming toward the upper 60s/low 70s farther south. Light enough for comfortable trolling early, with a chance for some chop later.Overall the bite continues to build across the region. On the big lake, kings are showing up more consistently with solid mixed bags of coho, steelhead, and lake trout. Familiar bite herring and meat rigs have been catching mature kings across the ports — awesome reports coming in on that new cotton process, they’re rolling perfectly. The fly hatch on the lakes is getting over with, so the fish should start biting again as they’ve been filling up on the flies. As the water moves to get warmer, the fish should start moving deep into deeper holes — slip bobbers and leeches, bobbers and crawlers or drop shot with live bait should be your best bet. Inland, things are steady with practical presentations paying off. In the Grayling area, Margarita Lake (Lake Margrethe) has been doing fairly good with leeches and worms for panfish and leeches for walleye. Green Lake near Interlochen has been good for bass, with some lake trout and lots of rock bass—worms working well for rock bass while crawlers and leeches are producing on smallmouth. The Northwest Michigan Fishing Club reported a great day fishing bite in Saginaw Bay. East Grand Traverse Bay and West Grand Traverse Bay are producing smallmouth, salmon, and lake trout — the smallmouth are finally getting off their beds and heading to deeper water.Hottest Ports on Lake Michigan for Salmon & Lake Trout (Charlevoix, East Grand Traverse Bay, West Grand Traverse Bay, Leland, Frankfort, Onekama, Manistee, Ludington, Whitehall, Muskegon; meat rigs and familiar bite herring producing mature kings in many areas; light to moderate winds, waves 1-3 feet, no major small craft warnings posted for most northern waters today; surface temps mid-60s north, warming south):1. Charlevoix – Decent lake trout and some salmon; jigging or trolling near structure and deeper water with meat rigs and herring producing mixed results. Weather: Sunny, light winds, surface temp ~66°F, waves 1 ft or less, no small craft warning.2. East Grand Traverse Bay – Producing smallmouth, salmon, and lake trout; smallmouth finally moving off beds to deeper water. Weather: Sunny, light winds, surface temp ~66°F, waves 1 ft or less, no small craft warning.3. West Grand Traverse Bay – Producing smallmouth, salmon, and lake trout; smallmouth finally moving off beds to deeper water. Weather: Sunny, light winds, surface temp ~66°F, waves 1 ft or less, no small craft warning.4. Leland – Kings and steelhead showing; focus on 60-100 feet with green/orange spoons, flashers, meat rigs, and herring. Weather: Sunny, light north winds, surface temp ~65°F, waves 1 ft or less, no small craft warning.5. Frankfort – Chinook salmon arriving in solid numbers (10-16 lb range common); trolling 40-100 feet down with spoons, meat rigs, and herring effective, lake trout jigging in Platte Bay 40-70 feet. Weather: Sunny, light winds, surface temp ~64-66°F, waves 1 ft or less, no small craft warning.6. Onekama – Solid mixed salmon and lake trout action; good reports on spoons, meat rigs, and herring in typical summer depths. Weather: Sunny, light winds, surface temp ~65°F, waves 1-2 feet, no small craft warning.7. Manistee – Strong mixed-bag fishing with kings, lake trout, and steelhead; trolling spoons, flashers, meat rigs, and herring in 50-100+ feet yielding consistent action. Weather: Sunny, light winds, surface temp ~65°F, waves 1-2 feet, no small craft warning.8. Ludington – Big kings active and building; good mixed bag in 40-140 feet, fishing 30-70 feet down with spoons, flasher-fly combos, plugs, meat rigs, and herring catching mature kings. Scott at Captain Chuck’s has been reporting really good fishing here. Some perch in harbor areas. Weather: Sunny, light winds, surface temp ~66°F, waves 1-2 feet, no small craft warning.9. Whitehall – Mixed salmon and trout action; good early reports on spoons, flashers, meat rigs, and herring in 40-80 feet. Weather: Sunny, light winds, surface temp ~67°F, waves 1-2 feet, no small craft warning.10. Muskegon – Mixed salmon and trout action; good early reports on spoons, flashers, meat rigs, and herring in 40-80 feet. Weather: Sunny, light winds, surface temp ~67-70°F, waves 1-2 feet, no small craft warning.Top 25 Hottest Lakes in Northern Lower Michigan (North of US-10, with some just south for variety) (walleye, bass, pike, and mixed species focus – verified species; always featuring Hamlin Lake, White Lake, Lake Cadillac, and Lake Mitchell):1. Burt Lake – Confirmed walleye, smallmouth bass, perch, and northern pike. Good action on crawler harnesses and jigs.2. Mullett Lake – Strong walleye and pike fishery, especially north end structure and drop-offs.3. Crooked Lake – Mixed walleye and bass in deeper summer spots.4. Torch Lake – Clear, deep lake known for Atlantic salmon, lake trout, whitefish, perch, smallmouth bass, and occasional pike and muskie.5. Long Lake (Grand Traverse area) – Productive walleye and panfish with live bait.6. Elk Lake – Consistent mixed bag with smallmouth bass, lake trout, rainbow/brown trout, perch, northern pike, and muskie.7. Lake Leelanau – Good smallmouth bass and occasional walleye; clear water fishing.8. Walloon Lake – Walleye and bass in typical summer depths and structure.9. Higgins Lake – Lake trout, rainbow/brown trout, smallmouth bass, rock bass, yellow perch, northern pike. Rock bass and smallmouth currently active.10. Houghton Lake – Reliable walleye on harnesses and crankbaits; also pike, bass, and panfish.11. Hamlin Lake – Excellent for walleye, northern pike, largemouth/smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, perch, and rock bass.12. White Lake – Strong walleye, pike, bass, and panfish populations.13. Lake Cadillac – Walleye, northern pike, largemouth/smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, perch, and panfish.14. Lake Mitchell – Walleye, northern pike, largemouth/smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, perch, and panfish.15. Intermediate Lake – Bass, pike, lake trout, and walleye opportunities.16. Bellaire Lake – Mixed bass, pike, and panfish.17. Charlevoix Lake – Smallmouth bass, perch, and walleye.18. Betsie Lake – Bass, pike, and panfish.19. Clam Lake – Walleye, bass, and panfish.20. Missaukee Lake – Walleye, pike, bass, and panfish.21. Manistee Lake area – Mixed walleye, bass, and pike.22. Grand Traverse Bay inland connections – Smallmouth bass and mixed species.23. Black Lake – Walleye, pike, and bass.24. Otsego Lake – Walleye, bass, and panfish.25. Margrethe Lake (near Grayling) – Good walleye and panfish with leeches and worms.Top 15 Hottest Lakes in the Upper Peninsula (UP) (divided by region for better variety and coverage – verified species and recent bite data):Eastern UP (5):1. DeTour (DeTour Passage) – Strong walleye and mixed species action near the St. Marys River.2. Sault Ste. Marie area inland lakes – Walleye, pike, and perch.3. Drummond Island area lakes – Mixed walleye, pike, and perch.4. St. Ignace / Mackinac area inland lakes – Walleye, bass, and trout action.5. Munuscong Bay / area – Walleye and mixed fishing.Central UP (5):1. Little Bay de Noc – Strong walleye and mixed fishing, especially east side.2. Big Manistique Lake – Steady walleye, pike, and panfish.3. Munising area inland lakes – Lake trout and occasional salmon reports.4. Lake Michigamme – Pike, walleye, smallmouth, and whitefish.5. Marquette area inland lakes – Lake trout and mixed species.Western UP (5):1. Lake Gogebic – Classic walleye, jumbo perch, and smallmouth.2. Fortune Chain of Lakes – Connected system with good mixed species.3. Lake Antoine – Easy access for bass, walleye, and panfish.4. Ontonagon area lakes – Walleye and mixed species.5. Gogebic County inland lakes – Walleye, bass, and panfish.A verse to carry you through the day: Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”Tight lines. BAITMAN. OUT. … See MoreSee Less

BAITMAN’s Morning Bite – Wednesday, July 8, 2026: Sunshine Smiling, Fish Starting to Cooperate

Good morning from Northern Michigan. The weather is cooperating nicely today—sunny to mostly sunny skies with highs in the low-to-mid 80s, south to southwest winds 10-20 knots building a bit in the afternoon, and waves 1-3 feet on the big lake in many spots. No major small craft warnings are posted for most northern Michigan waters right now, but keep an eye on afternoon gusts if you’re heading out. Surface temps on Lake Michigan are running in the mid-60s in northern areas and warming toward the upper 60s/low 70s farther south. Light enough for comfortable trolling early, with a chance for some chop later.Overall the bite continues to build across the region. On the big lake, kings are showing up more consistently with solid mixed bags of coho, steelhead, and lake trout. Familiar bite herring and meat rigs have been catching mature kings across the ports. Inland, things are steady with practical presentations paying off—walleye and panfish responding well to live bait in the right depths and structure. The Northwest Michigan Fishing Club reported a great day fishing bite in Saginaw Bay. In the Grayling area, Margarita Lake (Lake Margrethe) has been doing fairly good with leeches and worms for panfish and leeches for walleye. Green Lake near Interlochen has been good for bass, with some lake trout and lots of rock bass—worms working well for rock bass while crawlers and leeches are producing on smallmouth.7 Hottest Ports on Lake Michigan for Salmon & Lake Trout (Michigan side; meat rigs and familiar bite herring producing mature kings in many areas; light to moderate winds, waves 1-3 feet, no major small craft warnings posted for most northern waters today; surface temps mid-60s north, warming south):1. Ludington – Big kings active and building; good mixed bag in 40-140 feet, fishing 30-70 feet down with spoons, flasher-fly combos, plugs, meat rigs, and herring catching mature kings. Some perch in harbor areas.2. Manistee – Strong mixed-bag fishing with kings, lake trout, and steelhead; trolling spoons, flashers, meat rigs, and herring in 50-100+ feet yielding consistent action.3. Frankfort – Chinook salmon arriving in solid numbers (10-16 lb range common); trolling 40-100 feet down with spoons, meat rigs, and herring effective, lake trout jigging in Platte Bay 40-70 feet.4. Charlevoix / Grand Traverse Bay – Decent lake trout and some salmon; jigging or trolling near structure and deeper water with meat rigs and herring producing mixed results.5. Leland / North Point area – Kings and steelhead showing; focus on 60-100 feet with green/orange spoons, flashers, meat rigs, and herring.6. Muskegon – Mixed salmon and trout action; good early reports on spoons, flashers, meat rigs, and herring in 40-80 feet.7. South Haven area – Consistent salmon and lake trout; perch also reported in harbor and nearshore zones with meat rigs and herring working on kings.Top 10 Hottest Lakes in Northern Lower Michigan (walleye, bass, pike, and mixed species focus – verified species):1. Burt Lake – Confirmed walleye (including spring runs), smallmouth bass, perch, and northern pike. Good action on crawler harnesses and jigs.2. Mullett Lake – Strong walleye and pike fishery, especially north end structure and drop-offs.3. Crooked Lake – Mixed walleye and bass in deeper summer spots; solid overall producer.4. Torch Lake – Clear, deep lake known for Atlantic salmon, lake trout, whitefish, perch, smallmouth bass, and occasional pike and muskie. Excellent structure fishing for smallmouth and trout in summer.5. Long Lake (Grand Traverse area) – Productive walleye and panfish with live bait.6. Elk Lake – Consistent mixed bag with smallmouth bass, lake trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, perch, northern pike, and muskie. Good structure fishing in summer.7. Lake Leelanau – Good smallmouth bass and occasional walleye; clear water fishing.8. Walloon Lake – Walleye and bass in typical summer depths and structure.9. Higgins Lake – Lake trout, rainbow/brown trout, smallmouth bass, rock bass, yellow perch, northern pike. Rock bass and smallmouth currently biting well in rocky areas.10. Houghton Lake – Reliable walleye on harnesses and crankbaits; also pike, bass, and panfish.Top 15 Hottest Lakes in the Upper Peninsula (UP) (divided by region for better variety and coverage – verified species and recent bite data):Eastern UP (5):1. DeTour (DeTour Passage) – Strong walleye and mixed species action near the St. Marys River.2. Sault Ste. Marie area inland lakes – Walleye, pike, and perch.3. Drummond Island area lakes – Mixed walleye, pike, and perch.4. St. Ignace / Mackinac area inland lakes – Walleye, bass, and trout action.5. Munuscong Bay / area – Walleye and mixed fishing.Central UP (5):1. Little Bay de Noc – Strong walleye and mixed fishing, especially east side.2. Big Manistique Lake – Steady walleye, pike, and panfish.3. Munising area inland lakes – Lake trout and occasional salmon reports.4. Lake Michigamme – Pike, walleye, smallmouth, and whitefish.5. Marquette area inland lakes – Lake trout and mixed species.Western UP (5):1. Lake Gogebic – Classic walleye, jumbo perch, and smallmouth.2. Fortune Chain of Lakes – Connected system with good mixed species.3. Lake Antoine – Easy access for bass, walleye, and panfish.4. Ontonagon area lakes – Walleye and mixed species.5. Gogebic County inland lakes – Walleye, bass, and panfish.A verse to carry you through the day: Philippians 4:13 (NIV) “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”Tight lines. BAITMAN. OUT. … See MoreSee Less

I got lots of Bait ready for the kidsTomorrow night we are fishing Fife Lake. Weather is looking good and we hope to see you there!

This Saturday is our annual kids fishing day with lunch being served afterwards by our good friends and sponsors at TCH GEAR We’re doing something different this year where you can fish any Lake you want within Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie County. We’re going to meet at Lake Dubonette and get kids outfitted that need to be outfitted with rods and reels with free bait provided by Dennis at bucs baitWe still have a couple of seats left on boats for kids too so get the word out for kids wanting to fish from a boat and message the club.We would like to see some of our club members and their families this Saturday. It’s going to be a blastYou do not have to come to Lake Dubonette but please message the club or call John so we have somewhat of a headcount … See MoreSee Less