Hunting season has started but the nice weather has many still fishing and the bite has been great. Perch are biting on Big and little Glen, Lake Margrethe, Skegemog, Mullet Lake, Burt Lake Lake Charlevoix by Ironton, Higgins Lake off of Treasure Island, Crystal Lake and Grand Traverse Bays.
Smallmouth Bass are biting great and Walloon Lake has been great with med. suckers working best, also Skegemog would be a great place.
It is raining today so the salmon should hit peak at Tippy Dam with spawn and salmon grabber Jigs working best. Salmon runs are nearing their peak in some locations. Once again anglers need to be reminded that snagging is illegal. It is unlawful to snag or retain a fish not legally hooked in the mouth. Anglers are reminded that all Type 1 and Type 2 rivers and streams as well as all Type A and Type D inland lakes closed to fishing on September 30th. Lake trout season on the waters of Lake Huron and northern Lake Michigan also closed on September 30th. The waters of Lake Michigan between Arcadia and New Buffalo remain open for lake trout until October 31st.
Pike fishing has picked up on most lakes with suckers working best. Houghton Lake has been good for pike and nice gills
Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Petoskey: Salmon fishing was slow for pier anglers casting spoons or crank baits but those surfcasting near the breakwall caught the occasional fish on spoons. Salmon can be seen near the mouth of the river but they are not interested in anything being thrown at them. Boat anglers reported slow fishing.
Bear River: Had a large run of fish. Anglers have caught chinook and coho at the dam. Most were using flies but yarn, artificial eggs and spawn have also caught fish.
Charlevoix: The few boats heading out did catch fish around the Can and in the slip at the cement plant. They did best between 2am and 7am when casting spoons or crank baits. Smallmouth bass were caught on crawlers and leeches in the channel. Angling pressure was still high near the Medusa Weir. Catch rates were still a bit slow but should improve with rain and cooler temperatures. Anglers are wading and casting spoons, crank baits or spawn. Best time to fish is early morning or at night.
Traverse City: Lake trout season is now closed in both bays. Coho and cicso have been caught in the East Bay. Anglers are trolling spoons about 80 feet down. A few perch were caught by those still-fishing with minnows and wigglers. In the West Bay, cisco were caught by those trolling. A small number of boats were perch fishing along the weed beds in 20 to 30 feet. Salmon were caught after dark by those casting glow spoons near the mouth of the Boardman. Both bays had good smallmouth bass fishing.
Elk River: Fishing has been hit-or-miss but chinook and coho have been caught near the dam. Young steelhead were also caught.
Boardman River: Has a decent number of salmon however the run is likely past the peak. The bite was slow but a few were taken by those drifting skein under a bobber.
Glen Arbor: Fishing has pretty much stopped as the kings are heading up into the Crystal River and Shalda Creek.
Platte Bay: Fishing at Platte Point is slow but a few were taken by those surfcasting with glow spoons before sunrise. There are chinook and coho at the mouth but they do not want to bite.
Betsie River: Is full of chinook salmon and plenty of anglers are taking advantage of the opportunities at hand. Anglers are reminded that snagging is illegal.
Onekama: Had no fishing activity because of dredging in the channel.
Portage Lake: Those trolling J-plugs caught a few chinook and coho along the west side of the lake. Bass anglers are working hard but some good size fish have been caught along the breakwalls and drop-offs.
Manistee: Pier anglers and those surfcasting have caught the occasional steelhead. Boat anglers caught young salmon and steelhead in the top 60 feet of waters 300 to 600 feet deep. Orange spoons were the ticket.
Manistee River: The salmon run is near its peak. Anglers are reminded that snagging is illegal. Foul hooked fish must be released.
Ludington: Some boats have found salmon and steelhead. They are using short coppers and lead core with orange and green spoons. No steelhead to report.
Pere Marquette River: Is producing some big chinook right along with a few brown trout and steelhead.
Pentwater: The salmon are pretty much done though a couple fish were caught by pier anglers casting orange and red body baits. A few were trolling along the shoreline but no fish were caught.
Northeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Rogers City: Adult salmon are still in and around the bay. Those going out at 3am and fishing until sun up have caught fish. Once the sun comes up, the bite quits. Most are using bombers off boards. Those fishing off the breakwall caught a few when casting spoons and body baits or floating spawn. Young salmon were caught between Swan Bay and Adams Point. Try halfway down in 40 to 80 feet with smaller spoons. Hot colors were green, blue, orange and silver, black and silver, or purple and white. They are running sliders off the main lines and getting two fish on one rod. Lake trout season closed on September 30th.
Presque Isle: Anglers are doing well for young chinook along with a limited number of steelhead and walleye straight out or north between the lighthouses, off Black Point and north of North Bay. Try halfway down in 40 to 90 feet with smaller spoons.
Thunder Bay River: Has chinook salmon but some have already turned. Try casting spoons and crank baits or floating spawn. Use glow spoons after dark.
Harrisville: Fish are making their way in and out of the harbor but catch rates were slow with the warm water temperatures. When the fish are there, they seem to be in good numbers but would not bite. Try floating spawn or casting spoons and body baits late at night. Spawn is working during the day if the fish are there.
Oscoda: Pier fishing was hit-or-miss because of the warm water. Try spoons or body baits at night.
Au Sable River: Very few fish have made their way up into the river. Watch for cooler temperatures and winds from the north or east which will bring the fish in.
Lake Margrethe: Fishing was good for perch and panfish during the warm spell.
Lake St. Helen: Is producing bluegill and sunfish in 3 to 5 feet of water. Pike are active and can be found around the weed beds. Some are still catching bass.
Tawas: Pier anglers managed to catch one salmon, some bullhead, the odd walleye or a few small perch.
Tawas River: Those fishing at night caught a couple salmon.
Au Gres: Fishing was slow. Those trying for perch had limited success. They were fishing straight out from the mouth of the river in 20 to 25 feet. Catch rates were better further down the bay.
Au Gres River: Down at Singing Bridge, a light number of salmon have been caught in the surf. Fish can be seen offshore. A brown trout was caught.
Upper Peninsula Fishing Report
Marquette: Anglers report good coho action with a couple limit catches reported. A few chinook and lake trout were mixed in. Anglers are trolling in waters less than 40 feet deep outside the Lower Harbor breakwall and the Carp and Chocolay Rivers.
Dead River: Is producing pink salmon between the mouth and the 550 Bridge.
Carp River: Catch rates were fair with a few coho caught on crawlers or stick baits in the early morning. No chinook salmon to report.
Chocolay River: Is producing a fair to good number of coho for those using spoons, stick baits or spawn sacks between M-28 and the mouth.
Menominee: Bay anglers were trolling for trout, salmon, and walleye in 25 to 35 feet. For trout and salmon try spoons and for walleye try rapalas or crawler harnesses. Catch rates for walleye were slow but a few trout and salmon were caught near the Menominee Marina.
Menominee River: Most anglers targeting trout and salmon are upstream between Stephenson Island and the Hattie Street Dam. They are drifting spawn and yarn or casting small spoons. Some walleye were caught in the early morning or evening when trolling rapalas, crawler harnesses or jigs with crawlers. Shore anglers drifting crawlers or minnows continue to catch smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, channel cats, suckers, bluegill and perch. Sturgeon season closed on September 30th.
Little Bay De Noc: Windy conditions have kept many boats at bay. A few walleye were caught along the Black Bottom and the East Bank in Gladstone when trolling or drifting crawlers in 18 to 27 feet. Perch anglers did well in Kipling and near the mouth of the Day’s River with crawlers in 13 to 16 feet of water.
Escanaba River: Is producing good numbers of chinook salmon. Most are wading out near the 1st Dam and casting spoons, spinners or crank baits along the rapids.
Big Bay De Noc: Continues to see plenty of smallmouth bass anglers fishing between Snake Island and Snail Shell Harbor. Most are drifting minnows in 15 to 30 feet. No walleye to report. A few perch were caught off the mouth of Garden Bay in 18 to 25 feet. Crawlers worked best.
Au Train: The few boats heading out did catch coho and lake trout. Salmon were caught in less than 30 feet of water near the Rock River and lake trout were taken along the drop-off east of Au Train Island.
Two Hearted River: Has a fair to good number of salmon. Those surfcasting at the mouth caught chinook and coho. The occasional steelhead has been caught.
St. Mary’s River: Most of the walleye anglers are now targeting perch however a few walleye were still being caught on the east side of Lime Island where the channel narrows down between Hart Island and Lime Island. They are using bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses in 12 to 18 feet. Muskie were caught by those trolling large black and yellow bucktail spinners in 8 to 10 feet along the rock ledges on the east side of Lime Island. In Sault St. Marie, anglers trolling bottom bouncers with purple beads and smiley blades caught fish off 6-Mile Road.
Drummond Island: Perch are schooling in and around most of the Islands in Scott Bay. Fish were caught on the south end of Ashman Island, just out from the yellow house in 12 to 14 feet. Minnows and popcorn shrimp worked best. Those drifting minnows along the south end of Grape Island caught a few walleye in 12 feet of water off the red buoy. Smallmouth bass were suspended in 12 to 14 feet on the northwest side of Burnt Island. Anglers are jigging green and brown tube baits just off the rock ledges.
Cedarville and Hessel: Few anglers were in Hessel Bay but the perch fishing was good along the east end and in Government Bay. At Cedarville, perch fishing was excellent in Musky Bay and Snows Channel for those using minnows and worms in 6 to 10 feet of water. Pike fishing remains very good for those casting along the weed beds or fishing with chubs. Bass fishing has been excellent. Lake trout and splake season closed on September 30th.
Carp River: Has a lot of anglers and they are harvesting a good number of fish. Chinook and pink salmon are hitting on small Cleo’s or spawn bags. Some of the fish were 20 pounds or more.