Baitman Fishing report

Willow Recker (almost 8) from Mt. Pleasant landed a monster 9 1/2″ bluegill on Houghton Lake this morning. She was using a worm under a bobber.

Great job, Willow! … See MoreSee Less

BAITMAN’s Morning Bite – Monday, July 27, 2026: Nice Weekend Behind Us, Big Lake Still Going Strong

There’s nothing quite like heading up north to these beautiful lakes, quaint towns, and friendly people. Don’t miss the ongoing summer fishing events and tournaments around Ludington and the Traverse City area — great time to get out and enjoy the water.Good morning from Northern Michigan. We had a nice weekend and got out on both the inland lakes and the big lake. Big lake fishing is still going strong. Inland fishing is picking up too — perch are doing good with slip bobbers and leeches, and trolling or drifting crawler harnesses is producing. A lot of anglers are using drop shot with crawlers for bluegills. Perch are also hitting worms or wax worms. Most of the action is in the deeper holes with perch rigs or slip bobbers. The meat bite has been very good and Familiar Bite Herring is by far the best herring to put in your meat rigs. Overall the bite continues to build across the region with practical presentations paying off.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; milder temperatures today with a chance of showers later, lighter winds, waves 1-3 feet, no major small craft warnings posted for most northern waters today):1. Charlevoix – Decent lake trout and some salmon; jigging or trolling near structure and deeper water with meat rigs and herring producing mixed results. Water temp ~70-72°F.2. East Grand Traverse Bay – Producing smallmouth, salmon, and lake trout; smallmouth moving into deeper water. Water temp ~70-72°F.3. West Grand Traverse Bay – Producing smallmouth, salmon, and lake trout; smallmouth moving into deeper water. Water temp ~70-72°F.4. Leland – Kings and steelhead showing; focus on 60-100 feet with green/orange spoons, flashers, meat rigs, and herring. Water temp ~69-71°F.5. Frankfort – Chinook salmon arriving in solid numbers; trolling 40-100+ feet down with spoons, meat rigs, and herring effective, lake trout jigging in Platte Bay and Six Mile Hole. Water temp ~68-70°F.6. Onekama – Solid mixed salmon and lake trout action; good reports on spoons, meat rigs, and herring in typical summer depths. Water temp ~68-70°F.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. Water temp ~68-70°F.8. Ludington – Big kings active and building; good mixed bag in 40-140 feet, fishing 25-70 feet down with spoons, flasher-fly combos, plugs, meat rigs, and herring catching mature kings. Water temp ~69-71°F.9. Whitehall – Mixed salmon and trout action; good early reports on spoons, flashers, meat rigs, and herring in 40-80 feet. Water temp ~70-72°F.10. Muskegon – Mixed salmon and trout action; good early reports on spoons, flashers, meat rigs, and herring in 40-80 feet. Water temp ~70-72°F.Top 25 Lakes for the DayWe got good reports from these lakes today:1. Burt Lake is producing walleye on crawler harnesses and jigs in deeper structure. Smallmouth bass are active on the drop-offs with plastics. Panfish are hitting worms and wax worms on slip bobbers.2. Mullett Lake has strong walleye action on the north end with slip bobbers and leeches. Northern pike are taking crawlers in the weeds. Panfish are responding well to wax worms.3. Crooked Lake is showing mixed walleye and bass in deeper summer spots. Drop shot with crawlers is working for bass. Panfish are taking worms on slip bobbers.4. Torch Lake has lake trout and Atlantic salmon in the deep clear water. Smallmouth bass are on structure with drop shot crawlers. Panfish are hitting wax worms.5. Long Lake (Grand Traverse area) is productive for walleye on leeches and slip bobbers. Bass are taking drop shot crawlers. Panfish are active on worms.6. Elk Lake has a consistent mixed bag with smallmouth bass and lake trout. Walleye are on leeches in deeper holes. Panfish respond to wax worms on slip bobbers.7. Lake Leelanau has good smallmouth bass on drop shot crawlers. Occasional walleye on slip bobbers and leeches. Panfish on worms.8. Walloon Lake has walleye and bass in typical summer depths. Drop shot crawlers for bass. Panfish on slip bobbers with wax worms.9. Higgins Lake has lake trout and smallmouth bass active. Walleye on leeches. Rock bass and panfish on worms.10. Houghton Lake has walleye on harnesses but is not hot right now. Bass on drop shot crawlers. Panfish on worms.11. Hamlin Lake is excellent for walleye on leeches and slip bobbers. Northern pike and bass on drop shot crawlers. Panfish on wax worms.12. White Lake has strong walleye on slip bobbers and leeches. Pike and bass on drop shot crawlers. Panfish on worms.13. Lake Cadillac has walleye on leeches. Largemouth/smallmouth bass on drop shot crawlers. Panfish on wax worms.14. Lake Mitchell has walleye on slip bobbers and leeches. Pike and bass on drop shot crawlers. Panfish on worms.15. Intermediate Lake has bass on drop shot crawlers. Pike on leeches. Panfish on wax worms.16. Bellaire Lake has mixed bass on drop shot crawlers. Pike on leeches. Panfish on worms.17. Charlevoix Lake has smallmouth bass on drop shot crawlers. Perch and walleye on leeches. Panfish on wax worms.18. Betsie Lake has bass on drop shot crawlers. Pike on leeches. Panfish on worms.19. Clam Lake has walleye on slip bobbers and leeches. Bass on drop shot crawlers. Panfish on wax worms.20. Missaukee Lake has walleye on leeches. Pike on slip bobbers. Panfish on worms.21. Manistee Lake area has mixed walleye on leeches. Bass on drop shot crawlers. Panfish on wax worms.22. Grand Traverse Bay inland connections have smallmouth bass on drop shot crawlers. Walleye on leeches. Panfish on worms.23. Black Lake has walleye on slip bobbers and leeches. Bass on drop shot crawlers. Panfish on wax worms.24. Otsego Lake has walleye on leeches. Bass on drop shot crawlers. Panfish on worms.25. Margrethe Lake (near Grayling) has good walleye on leeches. Panfish on worms and wax worms. Bass on drop shot crawlers.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.Fishing Tip of the Day: After a nice weekend on both the big lake and the inland waters, the fish are still cooperating if you work the deeper holes. Slip bobbers and leeches for perch and walleye, drop shot with crawlers for bluegills and bass, and worms or wax worms under a bobber for panfish are the ticket. On the big lake, keep Familiar Bite Herring in those meat rigs — the kings seem to think it’s the best thing since sliced bait. Just don’t forget the Bimini Top or you’ll come back looking like you’ve been slow-roasted. The fish won’t care about your tan lines, though!A verse to carry you through the day: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NIV)Tight lines. BAITMAN. OUT. … See MoreSee Less