🎣 Buc’s Fishing Report — Sunday, October 12, 2025⸻MORNING BRIEFINGBait Man here — crisp fall morning across Northern Michigan. Yesterday’s blow helped shove more salmon upriver, inland lakes cooled, and deer were moving hard at daybreak. Best action is early and late; fish slow and tight to structure.⸻BIG LAKE CONDITIONSLake Michigan nearshore (Point Betsie–Manistee): SE winds 10–15 kt, waves ~1–2 ft; no Small Craft Advisory in this stretch. Grand Traverse Bay: light SE winds, waves ≤2 ft. Always re-check NWS marine before launching.⸻INLAND WEATHERTraverse City today: mostly sunny, high near 68–70°F; light SE wind becoming 5–10 mph; tonight ~51°F. Barometer: steady. Water temps: upper-50s on many inland lakes. Solunar: Major 7:10–9:10 AM; Minor 2:00–3:00 PM.⸻FEATURED BAIT TIP — Frozen Shrimp for Perch (today only)Buc’s Aqua Farms 8-oz frozen shrimp is producing across Portage, Big Glen, and Lake Leelanau. Cut raw shrimp into 5–6 pieces; fish on Perch Pounders, slip bobbers, or drop-shot tight to bottom.⸻RIVER FLOWS & CONDITIONSManistee River (Wellston): ~1,380–1,420 cfs, gage ~8.6 ft; clear; kings stacked below Tippy with early steelhead.Betsie River: Low/clear; fair kings; a few steelhead nosing in.White River (Hesperia): Good flow; heavy kings below the dam; spawn/beads early.Pere Marquette River: Mixed kings/early steelhead; natural beads and skein.Platte River: Coho and some steelhead below the weir and at the mouth (spoons/skein).Boardman & Elk Rivers: Fish holding below dams; floats with beads/spawn.U.P. Rivers (Manistique, Tahquamenon, Two Hearted, Carp): Kings steady; coho/pinks scattered; slow drifts in tailouts.⸻SALMON & RIVER REPORTTippy and Hesperia lead with concentrated kings in deeper slots; first light and last light best on beads, skein, and spawn sacks. PM and Betsie are steady with the first wave of fall steelhead. Platte has coho/steelhead below the weir and at the mouth for casters with glow spoons or skein. In the U.P., the Manistique, Tahquamenon, and Two Hearted continue to run strong; fish single eggs or small sacks through slower seams.⸻PERCH & PANFISH REPORTPortage Lake (Onekama): Bigger white-bellies moving in 16–22 ft; minnows/wigglers early.Big Glen Lake: Good size, less sorting; minnows or shrimp 35–45 ft.Little Glen Lake: Perch biting near the sand bar on minnows.Lake Leelanau (South end/Cedar River & Pines Campground): 8–20 ft on minnows.Lake Charlevoix (Ironton/Elm Point): Perch strong; bonus walleye on jigs.Torch Lake: Steady 25–35 ft; wigglers and shrimp.Elk & Skegemog: Weed-edge schools; minnows best.Grand Lake (Rogers City): Along sandy flats; crawler/minnow bits.Drummond Island (Scotts & Potagannissing Bays): Weekend rebound with good-size fish on wigglers, shrimp, minnows.White Lake (Whitehall): Yellow bellies in weeds; white bellies by the channel; bluegill hot near marina.Crystal Lake (Railroad Point weeds): Fair; search edges.Houghton Lake: North-end weeds for perch; bluegill tight to shore.Green Lake (Interlochen): 8–12 ft weed edges; minnows.Long Lake (Traverse City): Weedline pods; minnows/crawlers.Burt & Mullett: Consistent schools; minnows, wigglers.⸻INLAND LAKESHoughton Lake: Bluegill strong along weeds; walleye fair at dusk.Lake St. Helen: Pike/bass on spinnerbaits; panfish on waxies.Lake Cadillac: Excellent bluegill; shallow perch mid-day.Lake Mitchell: Steady panfish; bass on outside weed edge.Lake Missaukee: Largemouth on plastics; panfish in bays.Fremont Lake: Bluegill on worms/leeches; pike on spinners.Big Star Lake (Baldwin): Early topwater bass; bluegill mid-coves.Bear Lake (Kalkaska): Bluegill and pike along cabbage.Manistee Lake (Kalkaska): Crappie dusk bite on small plastics.Otsego Lake: Dawn/dusk walleye; daytime perch.Higgins Lake (SW/Gerrish drop-off): Quality perch 40–50 ft.Arnold Lake: Bluegill on waxworms 8–12 ft.Shingle Lake: Pike and bass outer weeds.Lake George: Panfish around pads/wood.Bud Lake: Bluegill mid-morning on worms.Lake Thirteen: Crappie/pike around timber.Cranberry Lake: Bluegill near stumps; slip bobbers.Lancer Lake (Gladwin): Bluegill/crappie off the channel edge.Sugar Springs (Gladwin): Drawn down ~5 ft; shore bite decent.Five Lakes (Lakeview): Bluegill on worms; small jigs.Cowden Lake (Greenville): Bass and bluegill steady.Crooked Lake (Leroy): Good bass/bluegill early.Bear Lake (Manistee Co.): Pike/bluegill first light.LeRoy Ponds: Mixed panfish in shallow coves.⸻SAGINAW BAY & RIVERBay: Walleye jigging good near Linwood, Callahan Reef, and inner-bay structure; purple/fire-tiger jigs with minnows. Perch fair around Quanicassee/Pinconning.River: Early walleye showing at Zilwaukee and Bay City bridges; vertical jig orange/chartreuse with live minnows.⸻U.P. LAKES & U.P. RIVERSIndian Lake: Walleye/perch steady on minnows.Big Manistique: Perch/pike near weeds; jig minnows.South Manistique: Fair perch on wigglers.Milakokia: Perch 12–15 ft on minnows.Muskallonge: Mixed perch/pike.Brevort Lake: Walleye/smallmouth steady.McKeever: Bluegill mid-morning.Kingston: Pike on spoons near shore.Gogebic & Huron: Walleye improving on minnows.Gratiot: Perch/walleye near breaks.Big Shag: Bluegill/perch steady.Emily: Pike active in weeds.Brown: Good perch on wigglers.Perch Lake (Gogebic Co.): Excellent early window.Manistique, Tahquamenon, Two Hearted: Kings strong; coho/pinks scattered; small sacks/eggs in tailouts.⸻Fish smart, fish hard, tight lines — Bait Man out.
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The Next Generation of AnglersWhen you set 62 kids loose on 80 trout, something special happens. The pond at Fox Ford of Cadillac came alive this weekend with the laughter of children, the hum of conversation, and the splash of trout hitting the net. For a few hours, time slowed down. The only things that mattered were bent rods, smiles, and memories being made.This event, hosted once again by Fox Ford of Cadillac, has become a fall tradition in Northern Michigan. The leaves start to turn, the mornings cool down, and the kids line the banks with fishing poles in hand. A big thanks goes to Steve at Pilgrim’s Village for providing the bait that kept the trout biting from start to finish.By day’s end, there weren’t many fish left in the pond and plenty of kids left grinning. The Northwest Michigan Fishing Club deserves a huge thank-you for the time, energy, and heart they put into this. Fifteen volunteers made sure every child had a chance to fish, learn, and feel that rush when a trout bends the rod.Events like this remind us why we fish. It’s not just about catching—it’s about teaching, sharing, and passing along something that lasts a lifetime. The outdoors brings us together, and on this day, every cast told a story worth remembering.Tight lines,Bait Man#BucsFishingReport #HookAndPaddle #BaitMan #FoxFordCadillac #NorthwestMichiganFishingClub #PilgrimsVillage #YouthFishing #KidsFishingDay #FutureAnglers #MichiganOutdoors #CommunityEvent #TroutFishing #TightLines #FishMichigan #BaitShopLife #FishingTradition
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The Next Generation of AnglersWhen you set 62 kids loose on 80 trout, something special happens. The pond at Fox Ford of Cadillac came alive this weekend with the laughter of children, the hum of conversation, and the splash of trout hitting the net. For a few hours, time slowed down. The only things that mattered were bent rods, smiles, and memories being made.This event, hosted once again by Fox Ford of Cadillac, has become a fall tradition in Northern Michigan. The leaves start to turn, the mornings cool down, and the kids line the banks with fishing poles in hand. A big thanks goes to Steve at Pilgrim’s Village for providing the bait that kept the trout biting from start to finish.By day’s end, there weren’t many fish left in the pond and plenty of kids left grinning. The Northwest Michigan Fishing Club deserves a huge thank-you for the time, energy, and heart they put into this. Fifteen volunteers made sure every child had a chance to fish, learn, and feel that rush when a trout bends the rod.Events like this remind us why we fish. It’s not just about catching—it’s about teaching, sharing, and passing along something that lasts a lifetime. The outdoors brings us together, and on this day, every cast told a story worth remembering.Tight lines,Bait Man
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🎣 HOT BITE 60 – SHRIMP: THE UNDERRATED PERCH BAIT Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.Bait Man here — and this week’s Hot Bite is all about a bait most anglers overlook. Frozen shrimp from Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc. is turning into one of the most effective baits for perch across Northern Michigan and Lake Michigan. Available now at Osborne’s Sport Shop in Bear Lake, Captain Chucks in Ludington, Johnson’s Great Outdoors in Montague, Armstrong’s on the Lake in Whitehall, Hesperia Sport Shop, Wolfie’s Fisherman Headquarters in Wellston, and Roy’s General Store in Traverse City.Here’s why it works — perch feed on natural crustaceans and invertebrates, and shrimp matches that perfectly. Use uncooked frozen shrimp, cut into small pieces. The tail section works best. Never use cooked or “peel-and-eat” shrimp — raw only!Rig shrimp on a Perch Pounder rig or a two-hook dropper with a ¼ to ⅜ oz sinker. Pound bottom lightly or lift and pause — most hits come on the fall. Use 6–10 lb mono or braid with a fluoro leader for best sensitivity.Shrimp shines on rocky humps, deep weed edges, or sand-grass flats. It’s effective from midsummer through fall — and even under ice. It’s affordable, easy to store, and outfishes minnows on tough days. Fish smart, fish hard — and tight lines, Bait Man out.#HotBite60 #BucsAquaFarms #PerchFishing #FrozenShrimp #PerchPounder #BucsFishingReport #BaitMan #LiveBaitTips #MichiganFishing #LakeMichigan #NorthernMichiganFishing #FallFishing #FishingReport #TightLines
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🎣 BUC’S FISHING REPORT — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2025⸻🌅 MORNING BRIEFINGBait Man here — it’s a crisp fall morning across Northern Michigan, the kind we wait for all year. Yesterday’s strong northwest winds rolled whitecaps across the bays and kicked the last of the kings upriver, cooling surface temps on the inland lakes and setting up a classic mid-October pattern.It’s 53 °F this morning under partly cloudy skies, with NW winds 10–20 mph and gusts to 25 mph. The barometer sits at 30.12 inHg and slowly falling, a sign of active feeding ahead of the next minor front. Inland water temps have dropped to 57–60 °F, while the big lake runs 54–56 °F. Waves on Lake Michigan are 1–3 ft, with a light chop on the larger inland lakes.The major solunar feeding windows for today are 7:20–9:25 a.m. and 7:10–9:15 p.m., with a minor mid-day window from 1:05–2:00 p.m.. Expect the best action early and late when the wind lays down.Salmon have stacked heavy below Tippy and Hesperia Dam, with anglers drifting beads, skein, and spawn sacks at dawn and dusk. The last few bright fish are pushing upriver while darker spawners hold tight to gravel. A few steelhead have shown in the lower Betsie and Platte, marking the start of the transition run.Out on Drummond Island, the perch bite slowed when the water warmed earlier in the week, but these cooler nights should pull the big fish back into Scotts Bay and Potagannissing Bay any day now. Wigglers, shrimp, and minnows remain the ticket.East Grand Traverse Bay continues to produce outstanding catches of cisco with a few late salmon and smallmouth pushing five pounds — one of Michigan’s most consistent fall mixed bites. Portage Lake was strong Thursday with larger white-belly perch moving in, while White Lake is offering both yellow bellies in the weeds and bluegill near the marina.Inland, bluegill and perch remain steady across most lakes. Higgins Lake reports quality perch off the Gerrish Township Marina on the southwest corner, and Cadillac and Mitchell have been excellent for bluegill, perch, and evening walleye. Sugar Springs is down nearly five feet, making launching tricky, but shore anglers are still catching panfish. Deer are on the move at daybreak, the air’s crisp, and today’s calm-after-the-front pattern should deliver one of the best fishing weekends of October.⸻🐟 SALMON & RIVER UPDATETippy Dam – Heavy concentrations of kings below the dam; anglers using beads, skein, and spawn sacks early and late are doing well.Hesperia Dam (White River) – Loaded with salmon; float setups with skein and beads are producing limits.Betsie River – Fair for kings with a few steelhead showing up; colder weather may bring one last push.Manistee River – Kings thick in deeper tailrace holes; spawn and beads are top presentations.Platte River – A few coho below the weir and some steelhead at the mouth; casting spoons and drifting skein producing best.Elk & Boardman Rivers – Light runs with fresh kings and steelhead; low clear water means stealth and early timing.Bear Creek (Petoskey) – Kings and steelhead showing in the lower sections.Ocqueoc River (Presque Isle County) – A few kings and steelhead active in lower stretches.⸻🌊 U.P. RIVERS — SALMON & TROUTManistique River (Dam Tailrace). Kings stacked with coho mixed; drift beads or skein under floats at first and last light.St. Marys River (Soo Rapids). Coho, steelhead, and a few pinks in current seams; small spawn bags and #3–#4 spinners produce.Two-Hearted River. Coho staging at the mouth and lower runs; spoons and skein early, subtle bead drifts once the sun’s up.Tahquamenon River. Stained flow with coho and early steelhead sliding in; fish plugs and spawn along inside bends.Carp River (St. Ignace). Kings and coho in lower holes with lingering pinks; 6–8 lb fluoro, small beads under a float.Anna River (Munising). Coho in the lower river and harbor edges; stealthy float rigs and 1/4-oz spoons.Au Train River. Coho near the mouth on north winds; cast spoons, then switch to skein under a slip float.Chocolay River (Marquette). Kings and coho in deeper pockets below crossings; natural beads and 8 lb leaders.Dead River (Marquette). Kings holding below structure and plunge pools; drift spawn sacks tight to the seam.Ontonagon River. West-end fish in lower pools after wind shifts; bright spoons at dawn, beads once the bite slows.Black River (Gogebic). Coho and a few kings near the mouth; cast spoons across the trough.Huron River (Baraga). Coho with a shot at early steelhead; small spinners and egg bags.Falls River (L’Anse). Coho below the falls; short leaders and pegged beads in the chute.Ford River (Delta). Mixed kings/coho in lower bends; float skein through soft seams.Rapid River (Delta). Fresh coho on north wind days; micro spawns and 6 lb leaders.Millecoquins Outlet. Coho trickling along the beach rip; spoons at first light, then bead drifts inside the cut.⸻🪣 PIER & SHORELINE ACTIONJigging has wrapped up, but anglers on the piers are still catching a few steelhead and late kings using spawn bags and glow spoons early and late in the day. • Frankfort: Light salmon bite, fair for steelhead on skein. • Manistee: Pier steelhead picking up under floats. • Ludington: A few steelhead and coho after sunset. • Whitehall: Early walleye starting to show. • Grand Haven: Slow overall, but steelhead at first light.⸻🐟 PERCH REPORT — MINNOWS, WIGGLERS & SHRIMPPortage Lake (Onekama): Excellent Thursday bite; larger white-bellies moving in.Big Glen: Good numbers, with some sorting; wigglers and minnows best.Little Glen: Steady bite along the first drop.Lake Leelanau: South end near Cedar River and Pines Campground 8–20 ft.Torch Lake: Great bite on the south end, with a few Atlantic salmon mixed in.Elk Lake: Steady off Whitewater Township landing.Lake Charlevoix: Excellent perch and some walleye around Elm Point and Cedar Rest.Skegemog Lake: Productive on weed edges and narrows.Burt & Mullett Lakes: Consistent bite; minnows and wigglers productive.Grand Lake (Alpena): Productive shallows early on minnows.White Lake: Yellow bellies in the weeds, white bellies deeper by the channel, bluegill near the marina.Drummond Island: Smaller perch right now, but big ones should return soon to Scotts and Potagannissing Bays.East Grand Traverse Bay: Hot for cisco, a few salmon, and trophy smallmouth.West Grand Traverse Bay: Still slow for perch; no major schools yet.⸻🧊 INLAND LAKES — BLUEGILL, PIKE & BASSHoughton Lake: Nice perch on the north weed bed; bluegill close to shore.Lake St. Helen: Pike and bass in the weeds; panfish early and late.Cadillac & Mitchell: Excellent bluegill and perch; evening walleye starting to bite.Lake Missaukee: Largemouth and panfish steady.Higgins Lake: Quality perch southwest corner off Gerrish Marina.Fremont Lake: Pike and bass on weedlines.Long Lake (Traverse City): Perch and walleye south end.Green Lake (Interlochen): Perch on weed edges 8–12 ft.Otsego Lake: Fair perch, a few walleye.Big Star Lake (Baldwin): Pike and bass steady; bluegill off docks.Sugar Springs (Gladwin): Access tough, panfish and perch by shore.Wolf Lake (Lakeview): Bass and panfish active.Wabasis & Tamarack Lakes (Lakeview): Good for bass and bluegill.Bear Lake (Kalkaska): Panfish and pike.Sunrise & Penasa Lakes (Leroy): Bluegill and bass active.Manistee Lake (Kalkaska): Good for perch and bass near the drop-offs.⸻🧭 U.P. LAKESManistique & Indian Lakes: Perch steady, walleye fair.Skeels Lake (Newberry area): Fair for perch.Tahquamenon River: Walleye and pike in deep pools.Drummond Island: Smaller perch now, improving with cooler temps.Big Bay de Noc: Walleye and perch consistent.Munising Bay: Coho mix near shore.Marquette: Kings and coho in lower river.Keweenaw / Copper Harbor: Trout and salmon near rocky points.Sault Ste. Marie: Steelhead and salmon in current seams.Grand Marais & Au Train: Coho staging near river mouths.Little Bay de Noc: Walleye bite strong evenings; perch near Gladstone.Newberry Lakes: Fair perch, pike active.⸻🌊 SAGINAW BAY & RIVERGood walleye reports from Linwood to Pinconning Bars, with perch improving along the inner bay.Saginaw River: Walleye starting to build near Zilwaukee; jigs tipped with minnows top choice.⸻🎣 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPWith colder water and shorter days, minnows are the go-to bait now for perch, walleye, and bass. Add a bright bead above the hook in stained water and use full minnows for the best scent and flash.⸻Fish smart, fish hard, and tight lines — Bait Man out.
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Hook & Paddle Weekly Kayak Fishing Report — your all-access look at fall kayak fishing across Michigan and beyond.This week’s spotlight features Hodenpyl Dam Pond near Mesick, a prime fall destination for walleye, perch, and bass, plus an in-depth Ned Rig technique guide, and gear tips featuring the Apex Watercraft Tyr, the most advanced carbon-fiber fishing kayak ever built.Also inside: fall clothing recommendations, YakAttack accessory of the week, and Dwayne & Tiffany’s on-the-water pro tip for precise kayak positioning around structure.Stay tuned every Friday for new lakes, tactics, and kayak innovations across the U.S.Subscribe and follow @UncleBuckTheBaitMan for more reports, gear reviews, and real-time fishing intel.Keywords:kayak fishing, fall fishing, Michigan fishing report, finesse fishing, Ned Rig setup, kayak bass fishing, perch fishing, walleye from kayak, Hodenpyl Dam Pond, kayak gear review, YakAttack accessories, Apex Watercraft Tyr, Bucs Aqua Farms, Hook and Paddle, Uncle Buck the Bait Man, kayak fishing tips, kayak clothing for cold water, kayak safety, fishing YouTube Shorts, fall kayak fishing setup, kayak drift fishingHashtags:#HookAndPaddle #KayakFishing #MichiganFishing #FallFishing #NedRig #KayakGear #YakAttack #ApexWatercraft #FishingReport #UncleBuckTheBaitMan #BucsAquaFarms #TightLines #BaitManOut
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HOOK & PADDLE – WEEKLY KAYAK FISHING REPORTPresented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.🌬 On the Water This WeekCold northwest winds have dropped water temps into the upper 50s, with overnight lows in the low 40s across Northern Michigan. Anglers are finding success early and late on protected bays, coves, and timber edges. Mornings remain calm enough for kayak launches, but plan your return downwind as gusts rise by midday.🔥 Hot Yak Bite AlertThe Hodenpyl Dam Pond bite near Mesick is red-hot with walleye, pike, and mixed panfish active along timber and current seams. Jig-and-minnow rigs and slip floats are producing during calm morning windows.🌊 Lake of the Week – Hodenpyl Dam Pond (Mesick, MI)Hodenpyl Dam Pond offers diverse fishing and quiet water surrounded by forested shoreline.Species: Walleye, pike, smallmouth and largemouth bass, rock bass, perch, bluegill, and crappie.Hot Zones: Mouth of the Manistee River for pike and smallmouth, sandbars near the dam for walleye, and timber fields for panfish.Access: DNR Launch on Hodenpyl Dam Road, Burton’s Landing, Red Bridge, and Norman Dixon sites.Bait Shops: Thirlby’s in Mesick (crawlers, wax worms, red worms; no minnows) and The Dam Store (live minnows and tackle).🔎 Hottest Bites Scan — Fall Focus🧭 Northern Michigan (15 Lakes)Torch Lake (lower basin): Perch active on small minnows over mid-lake flats; smallmouth on tubes near gravel breaks.Burt Lake: Perch and walleye steady on cabbage edges and points; jig-minnow combos early and late.Mullett Lake: Deep perch schools and night walleye on crankbaits near river mouths.Elk Lake: Smallmouth and perch mixed on rocky transitions; ned rigs and minnows best.Long Lake (Grand Traverse): Walleye off island saddles at dusk; perch on weedlines in 10–14 feet.Lake Charlevoix (South Arm): Perch roaming Elm Point; walleye on crawler harnesses after dark.Big Glen Lake: Clear-water perch deep at 30–40 feet; smallmouth on tubes during wind ripple.Little Glen Lake: Perch holding at vegetation edges in 10–15 feet on small jigs.Crystal Lake (Benzie): Perch off drop-offs near weeds on small minnows; drifting pays.Platte Lake (Lower): Perch on inside turns at 8–12 feet; search until you mark tight schools.Portage Lake (Onekama): Perch consistent mid-lake and near North Point; minnows under floats best.Hamlin Lake: Perch steady along cabbage; crappie suspended over timber on tubes.Otsego Lake: Evening walleye jig bite strong on sandy bars; perch close to first break.Black Lake (Cheboygan): Perch holding in cabbage pockets; bonus pike cruising same lanes.Crooked Lake (Emmet): Perch on channel edges; minnows and hair jigs producing.🌲 Upper Peninsula (15 Lakes)Lake Gogebic: Walleye and perch strong on first breaks with jig/minnow drifts.Indian Lake (Schoolcraft): Perch and walleye tight to weeds; slip bobbers shine evenings.Big Manistique Lake: Walleye and perch on island contours; small harnesses doing work.Little Bay de Noc: Perch shallow on minnows; night walleye on reefs near Kipling.Au Train Lake: Perch and crappie steady at dusk along weedlines with small tubes.Lake Antoine: Panfish active along docks; small minnows best.Brevoort Lake: Walleye and perch in cabbage pockets on jig/minnow.Bond Falls Flowage: Panfish on timber edges; slow pike in stained coves.Michigamme Reservoir: Perch and walleye off channel flats with crawler rigs.Peavy Pond: Walleye and perch vertical jigging stump flats during calm hours.Portage Lake (Keweenaw): Perch and smallmouth on rocky transitions with blade baits.Lake Independence: Perch on mid-depth breaks; walleye at dusk on harnesses.Chicagon Lake: Smallmouth on rock points; perch mid-depth on tiny minnows.Fortune Chain Lakes: Crappie and perch near saddle edges; slip floats excel.Grand Sable Lake: Clear-water perch deep and spooky; light line and finesse jigs key.🌾 Southern Michigan (15 Lakes)Gull Lake: Deep perch forming schools; smallmouth on rocks and swimbaits.Gun Lake: Crappie and bass active on wood; mini swimmers producing.Kent Lake: Largemouth near wood; jigs and spinnerbaits early.Union Lake: Walleye near channel points; perch scattered mid-depth.Wampler’s Lake: Largemouth and perch on crawler chunks around weeds.Lake Hudson: Bass and crappie around cover on jigs and minnows.Coldwater Chain: Bluegill and perch on deep edges; drop-shot rigs effective.Crooked Lake (Delton): Bluegill on wax worms near vegetation; light floats work.Paw Paw Lake: Bass in weed pockets; perch along first drop in 12 feet.Holloway Reservoir: Walleye along old channel; crankbaits effective early.Lake Chemung: Perch off points; crappie suspended deeper midday.Silver Lake (Waterford): Panfish near docks; small plastics steady.Portage Lake (Jackson): Bluegill and perch under lily pads on wax worms.Cass Lake: Smallmouth on humps; perch deeper mid-lake on minnows.Big Wolf Lake: Bass on shallow wood; bluegill tight to pads in the evening.🌊 Top 5 Kayak-Friendly Rivers (This Week)Manistee River: Salmon, steelhead, and walleye below Tippy; spawn and beads producing.Au Sable River: Browns and smallmouth on spinners and nymphs in slower seams.Huron River: Smallmouth steady near wood; finesse worms and jerkbaits working.Betsie River: Fresh salmon entering; spawn sacks in deeper slots.Muskegon River: Walleye and smallmouth along deep seams; jig/minnow combos best.🎣 Technique Spotlight – The Ned RigA Ned rig is a finesse fishing technique and rig, popularized for bass fishing but effective for many species, that involves rigging a small soft plastic bait—typically 2 to 3 inches long, often a stick bait or worm made of buoyant material—onto a light mushroom-shaped jig head.Key Features:The design causes the bait to stand upright on the bottom, mimicking a small baitfish or aquatic creature feeding or moving slowly along the bottom. This appeals to pressured and finicky fish. The presentation is “do-nothing” simple but highly effective, especially in tough conditions and clear or cold water. The mushroom head keeps the bait from tipping over, adding realism to the profile.Setup and Technique:Typical setups include a mushroom-style jig head paired with short stick baits, worms, or creature plastics in the 2–3 inch range. Use a spinning rod with light braid and a fluorocarbon leader—10 lb. braid to a lighter leader works well for sensitivity and casting. Cast and let the rig sink on a slack line, then use small hops, subtle twitches, or a slow crawl along the bottom. Avoid aggressive hooksets—a steady reel-in is usually enough, as fish often hook themselves.Application and Target Species:Although mainly associated with bass, Ned rigs catch a variety of fish, including walleye, crappie, bluegill, and perch, due to their compact, natural action. They shine in tough conditions, cold water, or when fish are wary of larger or faster-moving presentations.Origins:Named after Midwest finesse angler Ned Kehde, the rig grew out of light-line bass tactics and quickly gained national attention for its reliability and versatility. Today, the Ned rig is a staple among finesse anglers across the U.S. and one of the best kayak fishing techniques for cold, clear fall water.⚙️ Gear Review – Influencer CombosShimano Stradic FL + St. Croix Mojo Bass for finesse.Daiwa Tatula CT + Dobyns Fury for power.Abu Garcia Revo X + Veritas for all-around.Lightweight, corrosion-resistant setups remain best for kayak comfort and control.💰 Gear Spotlight – Apex Watercraft TyrThe Apex Tyr stands as the most expensive factory fishing kayak on the market at $7,999, crafted from full carbon fiber and weighing only 40 pounds for elite performance.🍂 Fall Kayak Clothing GuideLayer synthetic base, fleece mid, and waterproof shell.Boots: XTRATUF Wheelhouse, Grundéns Deviation, NRS Boundary.Gloves: Gill 3-Season or neoprene.Always wear a kayak-rated PFD and pack dry clothes in a sealed bag.🛠 YakAttack Accessory of the WeekOmega Pro Rod Holder ($39.95): Universal LockNLoad system ideal for trolling or drifting setups on kayaks.🎣 Pro Tip – Dwayne & TiffanyOne crisp morning, we paddled out across misty, timber-studded waters, knowing that sometimes the best bites come when patience and positioning work together. Instead of charging ahead, we let the kayak drift broadside, using the pedal drive to gently steer along a submerged tree line. The lures danced in the strike zone, lingering alongside the weathered wood and dark shadows where big perch and bass like to hold.Suddenly, Dwayne’s rod dipped hard—right at the edge of a steep drop-off carved out by old river currents. We kept our drift slow and steady, resisting the urge to overcorrect. That single, strategic pass over the structure kept our bait hovering just long enough for a strike. Staying broadside let us cast to every pocket and limb, doubling our chances before the wind pushed us out of position.It’s a simple move, but it turns minutes of random drifting into a focused hunt. Try it next time—especially when the pressure’s on to pick apart tough cover or tight breaks. The best stories come from small adjustments that put you in the right spot at precisely the right moment.⚠️ Safety SpotlightAlways check wind direction before launching. Plan your return downwind and carry extra dry gear. Cold water demands extra caution this week.📸 Community ShoutoutThanks to everyone sharing kayak fishing photos from across Michigan! Tag @UncleBuckTheBaitMan with #HookAndPaddle to be featured next week.
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