🎣 Buc’s Fishing Report — Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.⸻🌅 BAIT MAN’S MORNING BRIEFBait Man here — the rain continues and so does the wind across Northern Michigan. Steelhead fishing is improving each day as river levels rise, but many anglers report so many leaves drifting downstream it’s tough to fish clean right now.The inland lakes have been quiet — cold, windy, and wet conditions have kept most folks off the water. Still, this soaking rain is a good thing, recharging both rivers and lakes after a long dry spell. Once skies break and the water clears, the perch, walleye, and bluegill bite will pick up fast.Few anglers are braving the elements this week, but it’s one of the best times of year to catch fish. The rut is starting, so many are chasing deer, but those who stick with a rod and reel will find some of the most rewarding fishing of the season.⸻🌦️ INLAND WEATHER — NORTHERN MICHIGAN (TRAVERSE CITY AREA) • Today: Rain through midday, showers tapering late. High 51°F, NW 10–20 mph, gusts to 30 mph. • Tonight: Cloudy and cool. Low 42°F. • Tomorrow (Thu): Partly sunny, cooler, lighter winds. High 49°F, NW 8–12 mph. • Outlook: Cooler temps and stable pressure ahead — a great setup for steelhead and inland fishing by the weekend.Barometer: 29.61 inHg and rising.Solunar Bite Windows: • Major: 10:45 AM – 12:45 PM • Minor: 5:20 – 6:20 AM and 5:30 – 6:30 PM⸻🌊 RIVER FLOWS & CONDITIONS(Rivers are up and stained with leaf drift — brighter beads, heavier shot, and short leaders are key.)Manistee River (Tippy Dam). Flow ~1,610 cfs, stage 8.8 ft. A few late kings, but steelhead showing strong on beads and spawn.Pere Marquette River (Baldwin). 512 cfs and rising; early steelhead moving up behind salmon, best on pink/peach beads.Betsie River. Good color, plenty of leaves; kings thinning, steelhead holding in deeper holes from Homestead downstream.Boardman River (Traverse City). Pools fishing best with stain; some early chrome reported.White River (Hesperia). Leafy flow; a few steelhead below the dam, bright beads or skein.Bear Creek (Manistee). Decent steelhead action where water’s cleared; drift small spawn bags.Elk River. A few bright steelhead near the dam; salmon about done.Platte River. Coho mostly gone, some steelhead nosing in at the mouth.Manistique River (U.P.). ~790 cfs and rising; great color, mix of coho and early steelhead.⸻🐟 PERCH REPORTTorch Lake. Good numbers midweek; minnows best, try shrimp when bite slows.Lake Charlevoix. Larger perch near Ironton and Oyster Bay; minnows and wigglers.Big Glen Lake. Decent fish in 35–40 ft; perch pounders tipped with minnows.Little Glen Lake. Fish pushed deeper with cooling temps.Portage Lake. Steady bite on minnows and wigglers in 18–22 ft.Crystal Lake. Fair bite south end, off drops in 25–30 ft.White Lake. Perch active in weeds and near the channel.P.M. Lake (Ludington). Slow, but a few quality fish near dusk.Manistee Lake (Manistee). Light bite; use small minnows on slip rigs.Muskegon Lake. 40–50 ft; electronics help find roaming schools.Burt & Mullett Lakes. Stronger bites off Maple Bay and Aloha; larger fish.Grand Lake (Alpena). Weed edges and points producing.Lake Skegemog. Good catches off Torch River drop.Drummond Island. Custeyes Charters reports steady perch and walleye; wigglers, minnows, and shrimp working.Tip: Minnows and wigglers are staples — pack raw shrimp as a backup bait when the bite slows.⸻⚡ WALLEYE REPORTBurt Lake. Harnesses and minnows near drop-offs, 15–25 ft.Mullett Lake. Evening jig bite steady near Aloha.Lake Margrethe. Good numbers along breaks, trolling slow.Manistee Lake (Kalkaska). Dusk bite improving; jig and minnow.Lake Mitchell & Cadillac. Fish shallow weedlines at sunset.Hamlin Lake. Jigging spoons in 20 ft producing.Upper Herring (Frankfort). Walleye starting to show, jigs and minnows best.Drummond Island. Walleye limits reported in Scotts Bay; weather-dependent.⸻🪣 SMALLMOUTH BASS REPORTTorch Lake. Strong bite on live suckers and minnows; fish up to 6 lbs caught.East Grand Traverse Bay. Consistent for 3–5 lb smallmouth; tubes, dropshots.Elk Lake. Deep edge bite with jerkbaits and plastics.Walloon Lake. Rocks and ledges; live bait and craw tubes.Green Lake & Duck Lake (Interlochen). Both steady for bass on jerkbaits and small swimbaits.⸻🐠 UPPER PENINSULA RIVERS — TOP 10St. Mary’s River. Coho, steelhead, and walleye near the locks.Manistique River. Coho thick, first steelhead hitting.Two Hearted River. Early steelhead showing in deep runs.Tahquamenon River. Coho below the falls; steelhead trickling in.Carp River (St. Ignace). Coho still in fair numbers.Chocolay River. Coho best near the mouth.Escanaba River. Bright coho early and late.Ford River. Coho and some steelhead below the dam.Au Train River. Steelhead in the deep holes.Black River (Gogebic Co.). First chrome steelhead of the season caught this week.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA LAKES — 20+ REPORTSLittle Bay de Noc. Walleye bite building on reefs at dusk.Big Bay de Noc. Smallmouth hot; perch fair.Indian Lake. Perch solid in 12–15 ft.North Manistique. Walleye and panfish mixed.South Manistique. Perch along weed edges.Au Train Lake. Minnow bite steady for perch.Milakokia Lake. Perch fair on minnows.Muskallonge Lake. Pike and perch active.Deer Lake. Walleye decent near rock bars.Baraga Lake. Walleye strong after rain.Skeels Lake. Pike steady on spoons.Bass Lake (Schoolcraft). Panfish steady.Portage Lake (Keweenaw). Trout/salmon mix, watch winds.Gogebic Lake. Big perch showing on mud flats.Teal Lake. Panfish fair.Michigamme Reservoir. Walleye on points.Peavy Pond. Pike and walleye mixed.Bewabic Lake. Panfish strong on small plastics.Camp 7 Lake. Clear-water bite for panfish.Thunder Lake. Pike and perch consistent.Drummond Island Bays. Walleye and perch limits with minnows and shrimp.⸻🌅 SAGINAW BAY & SAGINAW RIVERSaginaw Bay. Perch fair from Linwood to Sebewaing, 15–18 ft; minnows best.Saginaw River. Walleye action picking up at bridges and channel edges; vertical jigs with minnows producing.⸻🎯 HARRISON • CLARE • GLADWIN • MIDLAND COUNTY LAKESBud Lake (Harrison). Bluegill solid, bass slow.Arnold Lake. Crappie decent in deeper brush.Cranberry Lake. Bluegill strong near shore.Sutherland Lake. Pike and panfish active.Lake Thirteen. Excellent bluegill action.Lancer Lake (Gladwin). Crappie light, bluegill fair.Sugar Springs. Low water; shore anglers still catching bluegill.Pratt Lake. Pike and bass on windy edges.Ross Lake. Walleye and crappie below dam.Secord Lake. Bluegill good; perch slow.Pleasant Lake (Midland). Bluegill and perch both fair.Beaverton Lake. Crappie consistent around structure.⸻🧠 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPAs cold fronts roll through, minnows are the meal of choice for perch, walleye, and smallmouth. Wigglers draw bites from perch in deeper water also on Holton Lake they’ve been using medium golden to catch bigger perch and they’ve been real successful. Use bright beads and slow presentations when water color increases from rain.⸻Fish smart, fish hard, and tight lines — Bait Man out. … See MoreSee Less

Buc’s Fishing Report — Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.⸻🌅 MORNING BRIEFINGBait Man here — yesterday was finally fishable and the folks who got out mostly ran minnows for perch and walleye. Today it’s raining hard again; we may get a brief 2–3 hour lull, then more showers return. As we head into the last week of October, the king run is winding down and steelhead are starting to show behind the salmon. Rivers finally have some water. A lot of folks are putting boats up for winter and grabbing the bow for whitetails, but the bite should improve mid-week once levels stabilize and temps cool.⸻🌤️ INLAND WEATHER — TRAVERSE CITY AREAToday: Showers with a brief midday window; high ~53°F, SW 10–15 mph with gusts near 30 mph.Tonight: Showers redevelop; low ~42°F.Tomorrow (Wed): Cooler with on-and-off showers; high ~51°F, NW 5–15 mph.Barometer: Unsettled today, trending steadier late Wednesday.Solunar: Major ~11:00 AM–1:00 PM • Minors ~5:30–6:30 AM and ~5:30–6:30 PM.⸻📈 RIVER FLOWS & WATER COLOR(Rains have most gauges up and stained — shorten leaders, brighten beads/spawn, add a touch more shot.)Manistee @ Tippy (Wellston). Rising with fresh color; tailrace seams best.Pere Marquette @ Scottville. Elevated and stained; kings scattered, first steelhead in runs.Boardman @ Beitner Rd (TC). Up from last week; pools and run-to-pool transitions.White River near Whitehall (below Hesperia). Holding up with runoff; gravel and pocket water.Betsie (Benzonia corridor). Solid rise; late kings holding deep, stain pushing through.Manistique (U.P.). Slow, steady rise; harbor color improving.⸻🐟 PERCH REPORT — FULL MINNOWS FIRSTTorch Lake. Schools steady in 30–35′; minnows and wigglers top, shrimp closes tough fish.Lake Charlevoix. Ironton/Oyster Bay edges giving larger fish; wigglers or shrimp.Big Glen Lake. Better than Little Glen; 35–40′ breaks with small minnows.Little Glen Lake. Cooling pushed fish deeper; work inside turns patiently.Portage Lake. White-bellies mixing in 18–22′ on minnows; keep moving to stay on pods.Crystal Lake. South-end drops producing mixed sizes; hop weed points.White Lake. Channel and weed edges up; minnows and shrimp best.P.M. Lake (Ludington). Slow overall; a few quality fish near dusk.Manistee Lake (Manistee). Fair near channel bends; short leaders with minnows.Muskegon Lake. 40–50′ over mud; use electronics to sit tight on schools.Grand Haven (channel). Fair pods near the mouth on small minnows.Burt Lake (Maple Bay). Humps/edges active; minnows best.Mullett Lake (Aloha area). Consistent in 25–30′; search until you mark.Grand Lake (Alpena). Weedline hop with minnows; sort for keepers.Lake Skegemog. Torch River drop producing on Perch Pounders/small jigs.Drummond Island — Scotts & Potagannissing. Good weekend reports with nicer fish on wigglers, minnows, and shrimp.Black Bass Bay (Alpena). Mixed sizes; wigglers and shrimp shine after rain.Big Lake (Otsego Co.). Fair on deeper breaks with small minnows.Green Lake (Interlochen). Weed-edge pods in 8–12′; minnows best.East Bay (TC). Perch sporadic; better for cisco/smallmouth right now.Carry every trip: full minnows, wigglers, and raw shrimp — shrimp is the closer when schools turn neutral.⸻⚡ WALLEYE REPORTLake Missaukee. Dusk jig bite steady; minnows over deeper holes.Burt Lake. 15–25′ saddles/humps; crawler harnesses and live minnows.Mullett Lake. Evening drifts near Aloha; 1/8–1/4-oz jigs with minnows.Lake Margrethe. Harnesses and cranks along breaklines.Manistee Lake (Kalkaska). Channel edges at dusk on jigs/minnows.Otsego Lake. Deep flats with crawler harnesses, 0.5–0.8 mph.Lake Mitchell. After-dark passes on outer flats.Lake Cadillac. Weedline bite turns on at last light.Hamlin Lake. 18–25′ on jigging spoons and minnows.Drummond Island (bays). Good evening walleye when wind allows.Upper Herring (Frankfort). Wind-safe windows producing on jigs/minnows.⸻💪 SMALLMOUTH BASS REPORTTorch Lake. Bigs on live suckers/minnows along steep drops.East Grand Traverse Bay. Excellent — 4–5 lb fish on tubes/jerks/dropshots.Elk Lake. Deep edge bite with jerkbaits and plastics.Lake Charlevoix. Rock points/saddles; live minnows effective.Walloon Lake. 20–25′ rock; tubes and live bait.Green Lake (Interlochen). Hard-bottom humps with plastics/deep cranks.Duck Lake (Interlochen). Submerged timber with jigs/plastics.⸻🐠 SALMON & LOWER-PENINSULA RIVERSBetsie River. Late-run kings still holding in deeper holes from Homestead down; steelhead trickling in.Pere Marquette (Baldwin & lower). Kings scattered; beads & spawn bags taking early steelhead on gravel seams.Tippy Dam (Manistee). Darker fish remain; a few after 8 PM–midnight; first steelhead in the mix.White River (Hesperia). Salmon on gravel; steelhead nosing in with rising flow.Platte River. A few coho linger below the weir; steelhead at the mouth on spawn.Bear Creek. Dark kings plus fresh steelhead after the bump.Elk River. Occasional steelhead; salmon fading.Boardman River. Early steelhead sliding into deeper pools with stain.⸻🐟 UPPER PENINSULA RIVERS — TOP 10St. Mary’s (Sault Ste. Marie). Coho/steelhead/walleye in current; spawn and cranks.Manistique. Good coho at the dam; first steelhead on color.Two Hearted. Steelhead trickling in; beads/spawn in deeper runs.Tahquamenon. Coho below the falls; first steelhead sightings.Carp (St. Ignace). Light coho; drift spawn.Chocolay. Coho active near the mouth.Escanaba. Bright coho early/late.Ford. Coho with some steelhead below the dam.Au Train. Early steelhead in holes; cover water.Black (Gogebic). First steelhead reported; fish the seams.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA LAKES — 20+ QUICK HITSLittle Bay de Noc. Walleye dusk bite building on reefs.Big Bay de Noc. Smallmouth hot on tubes; perch fair.Indian Lake. Perch 12–15′ on minnows.North Manistique (Round). Walleye/panfish mixed on breaks.South Manistique. Perch steady on weed edges.Au Train Lake. Perch good near grass; minnows best.Milakokia Lake. Perch on edges with minnows.Muskallonge Lake. Pike steady on spoons.Deer Lake. Walleye fair near rock bars.Baraga Lake. Evening walleye bump with stain.Skeels Lake. Pike steady; panfish in coves.Bass Lake (Delta/Schoolcraft). Panfish decent in pockets.Portage Lake (Keweenaw). Trout/salmon near rocky points; watch wind.Gogebic (Bergland). Perch roaming mud flats; sort for keepers.Teal Lake (Marquette). Panfish fair on lee shores.Gene’s Pond (Menominee). Pike and panfish scattered.Michigamme Reservoir. Walleye on points with jigs.Peavy Pond. Pike/walleye on current seams.Bewabic Lake. Panfish consistent on tiny plastics.Camp 7 Lake. Clear water finesse for panfish.Drummond Island (interior bays). Perch/walleye good when wind allows.Grand Sable Lake. Panfish modest; wind breaks help.Thunder Lake. Perch and pike steady on edges.⸻🌅 SAGINAW BAY & SAGINAW RIVERSaginaw Bay. Fair perch from Linwood to Sebewaing in 15–18′ on minnows; roam to stay on pods.Saginaw River. Walleye start-up bite on vertical jigs/minnows at bridges and channel turns; occasional steelhead/smallmouth at the mouth.⸻🧭 HARRISON • CLARE • GLADWIN • MIDLAND COUNTY LAKESBud Lake (Harrison). Bluegill strong; bass fair on weed edges.Arnold Lake. Crappie steady; pike on points.Cranberry Lake. Bluegill good; perch slow.Sutherland Lake. Pike on drops; panfish steady.Lake Thirteen (Farwell). Bluegill excellent; bass active.Lancer Lake (Gladwin). Crappie fair; bluegill moderate.Sugar Springs (Gladwin). Water low; shore bluegill decent.Pratt Lake. Pike and bass fair on windward edges.Ross Lake (Beaverton). Walleye/crappie near dam pools.Secord Lake. Bluegill strong; pike scattered.Pleasant Lake (Midland). Bluegill steady on small minnows.Beaverton Lake. Crappie and bass decent around wood.⸻🪣 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPPerch: Minnows & wigglers are the staples Walleye (fall minnows): Lindy/slip rigs with golden shiners or suckers at 0.3–0.8 mph, 3–4′ fluoro leader; give ’em a beat before the hookset. Also slipped bobbers are working excellent right on the humps are right on the breaks Smallmouth: Big live minnows or suckers on rock/weed transitions and sand-grass humps in 15–25′.⸻Fish smart. Fish hard. Tight lines — Bait Man out. … See MoreSee Less

🎣 Buc’s Fishing Report — Monday, October 20, 2025

Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.⸻🌧️ MORNING BRIEFINGBait Man here — a rain-soaked weekend and stiff winds kept most boats in, but the good news is those rains recharged our low systems and should lift the bite as levels stabilize and temps slip back into the high-40s. River anglers made the most of it on the Betsie and Pere Marquette, where action held steady in the downpour. Today brings gale-type wind and more rain, so use it to get gear ready; this new water should ignite perch, walleye, and smallmouth mid-week, and steelhead will start tailing the kings.⸻🌡️ TODAY’S CONDITIONS & BITE WINDOWSInland (Traverse City): Cool, breezy, periods of rain; best comfort late morning if showers break.Big Lake (nearshore LM): Hazardous waves/wind — stay in port when advisories are posted.Barometer: Unsettled early, steadying later.Solunar (local): Major ~11 AM–1 PM • Minors ~5:30–6:30 AM & ~5:30–6:30 PM.⸻🌊 RIVER FLOWS & COLOR — SNAPSHOT(Rains have most gauges rising and stained—shorten leaders, brighten beads/spawn, add a touch more weight.)Manistee @ Tippy: Rising with fresh color; seams and tailrace slots best.White (Hesperia): Sharp bump; gravel/pocket water fishing with first steelhead nosing in.Betsie: Solid rise; late kings holding deep, color pushing through.Pere Marquette (Baldwin/Scottville): Up and stained; kings scattered, early steelhead in runs.Boardman (Beitner): Up from last week; pools and run-to-pool transitions.Manistique (U.P.): Slow, steady rise; harbor color improving.⸻🐟 PERCH REPORT — “FULL MINNOWS FIRST”Torch Lake. Schools steady in 30–35′; minnows & wigglers top, shrimp closes tough fish.Lake Charlevoix. Ironton/Oyster Bay edges giving larger fish on wigglers or shrimp.Big Glen Lake. Better than Little Glen; 35–40′ breaks with small minnows.Little Glen Lake. Cooling pushed fish deeper; work the inside turns patiently.Portage Lake. White-bellies mixing in 18–22′ on minnows; keep moving to stay on pods.Crystal Lake. South-end drops producing mixed sizes; hop weed points.White Lake. Channel/weed edge bite up; minnows and shrimp best.P.M. Lake (Ludington). Slow overall, a few quality fish at dusk.Manistee Lake. Fair near channel bends; short leaders with minnows.Muskegon Lake. 40–50′ over mud; electronics are key to sit-tight schools.Grand Haven (channel). Fair pods near the mouth on small minnows.Burt Lake (Maple Bay). Humps/edges active; minnows best.Mullett Lake (Aloha area). Consistent in 25–30′; search until you mark.Grand Lake (Alpena). Weedline hop with minnows; sort for keepers.Lake Skegemog. Torch River drop producing on Perch Pounders and small jigs.Drummond Island — Scotts & Potagannissing. Good weekend reports with nicer fish on wigglers, minnows, and shrimp.Black Bass Bay (Alpena). Mixed sizes; wigglers and shrimp shine after rain.Big Lake (Otsego Co.). Fair on deeper breaks with small minnows.Green Lake (Interlochen). Weed-edge pods in 8–12′; minnows best.Grand Lake (Rogers City/Alpena). Productive sand-grass edges; shrimp as a backup.⸻⚡ WALLEYE REPORTLake Missaukee. Dusk jig bite steady; minnows over deeper holes.Burt Lake. 15–25′ saddles/humps; harnesses and live minnows.Mullett Lake. Evening drifts near Aloha; 1/8–1/4-oz jigs with minnows.Lake Margrethe. Harnesses and cranks along breaklines.Manistee Lake (Kalkaska). Channel edges at dusk on jigs/minnows.Otsego Lake. Deep flats with crawler harnesses, 0.5–0.8 mph.Lake Mitchell. After-dark passes on outer flats.Lake Cadillac. Weedline bite turns on at last light.Hamlin Lake. 18–25′ on jigging spoons and minnows.Drummond Island (bays). Good evening walleye when wind allows.⸻💪 SMALLMOUTH BASS REPORTTorch Lake. Bigs on live suckers/minnows along steep drops.East Grand Traverse Bay. Excellent — 4–5 lb fish on tubes/jerks/dropshots.Elk Lake. Deep edge bite with jerkbaits and plastics.Lake Charlevoix. Rock points/saddles; live minnows effective.Walloon Lake. 20–25′ rock; tubes and live bait.Green Lake (Interlochen). Hard-bottom humps with plastics/deep cranks.Duck Lake (Interlochen). Submerged timber with jigs/plastics.⸻🐠 SALMON & RIVERS — LOWER PENINSULABetsie River. Late-run kings still holding in deeper holes from Homestead down; steelhead trickling in.Pere Marquette (Baldwin & lower). Kings scattered; beads & spawn bags taking early steelhead on gravel seams.Tippy Dam (Manistee). Darker fish remain; 8 PM–midnight has kicked a few, first steelhead in the mix.White River (Hesperia). Salmon on gravel; steelhead nosing in with rising flow.Platte River. A few coho linger below the weir; steelhead at the mouth on spawn.Bear Creek. Dark kings plus fresh steelhead after the bump.Elk River. Occasional steelhead; salmon fading.Boardman River. Early steelhead sliding into deeper pools as stain moves in.⸻🐟 UPPER PENINSULA RIVERS — TOP 10St. Mary’s (Sault Ste. Marie). Coho/steelhead/walleye near current; spawn & cranks.Manistique. Good coho at the dam; first steelhead on color.Two Hearted. Steelhead trickling in; beads/spawn in deeper runs.Tahquamenon. Coho below the falls; first steelhead sightings.Carp (St. Ignace). Light coho; drift spawn.Chocolay. Coho active near the mouth.Escanaba. Bright coho early/late.Ford. Coho with some steelhead below the dam.Au Train. Early steelhead in holes; cover water.Black (Gogebic). First steelhead reported; fish the seams.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA LAKES — 20+ QUICK HITSLittle Bay de Noc. Walleye dusk bite building on reefs.Big Bay de Noc. Smallmouth hot on tubes; perch fair.Indian Lake. Perch 12–15′ on minnows.North Manistique (Round). Walleye/panfish mixed on breaks.South Manistique. Perch steady on weed edges.Au Train Lake. Perch good near grass; minnows best.Milakokia Lake. Perch on edges with minnows.Muskallonge Lake. Pike steady on spoons.Deer Lake. Walleye fair near rock bars.Baraga Lake. Evening walleye bump with the stain.Skeels Lake. Pike steady; panfish in coves.Bass Lake (Delta/Schoolcraft). Panfish decent in pockets.Portage Lake (Keweenaw). Trout/salmon near rocky points; watch wind.Gogebic (Bergland). Perch roaming mud flats; sort for keepers.Teal Lake (Marquette). Panfish fair on lee shores.Gene’s Pond (Menominee). Pike and panfish scattered.Michigamme Reservoir. Walleye on points with jigs.Peavy Pond. Pike/walleye on current seams.Bewabic Lake. Panfish consistent on tiny plastics.Camp 7 Lake. Clear water finesse for panfish.Drummond Island (interior bays). Perch/walleye good when wind allows.⸻🌅 SAGINAW BAY & SAGINAW RIVERSaginaw Bay. Fair perch from Linwood to Sebewaing in 15–18′ on minnows; roam to stay on pods.Saginaw River. Walleye start-up bite on vertical jigs/minnows near bridges and channel turns; occasional steelhead/smallmouth at the mouth.⸻🧭 HARRISON • CLARE • GLADWIN • MIDLAND COUNTY LAKESBud Lake (Harrison). Bluegill strong; bass fair on weed edges.Arnold Lake. Crappie steady; pike on points.Cranberry Lake. Bluegill good; perch slow.Sutherland Lake. Pike on drops; panfish steady.Lake Thirteen (Farwell). Bluegill excellent; bass active.Lancer Lake (Gladwin). Crappie fair; bluegill moderate.Sugar Springs (Gladwin). Water low; shore bluegill decent.Pratt Lake. Pike and bass fair on windward edges.Ross Lake (Beaverton). Walleye/crappie near dam pools.Secord Lake. Bluegill strong; pike scattered.Pleasant Lake (Midland). Bluegill steady on small minnows.Beaverton Lake. Crappie and bass decent around wood.⸻🎯 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPPerch: Minnows & wigglers are the staples — pack raw shrimp to flip neutral schools.Walleye (fall minnows): Lindy/slip rigs with golden shiners or suckers at 0.3–0.8 mph, 3–4′ fluoro leader, and give ’em a beat before driving the hook.Smallmouth: Big live minnows or suckers on rock/weed transitions and sand-grass humps in 15–25′.Modern studies and field reports confirm that cabbage, coontail, and cabomba remain prime structures for locating late‑season largemouth and smallmouth bass — and that these same weeds play critical roles for walleye and perch ecology as well.⸻Fish smart. Fish hard. Tight lines — Bait Man out. … See MoreSee Less

Buc’s Fishing Report – Sunday, October 19, 2025

Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms Inc.🌧️ MORNING BRIEFINGBait Man here — a nice buck was shot in Roscommon County and entered in the Minnow Bucket Saint Helens buck pole. It’s their new leader Yesterday it rained most of the day, and only a few folks slid out in the afternoon; most of you hit the rivers after the Friday-night/Saturday-morning soaker and there are still plenty of salmon in the systems.Today: gale-force winds on the Big Lake with rain most of the day — a good one to catch up on chores and rig gear. This rain will re-charge the lakes, cool the shallows, and turn the bite on this coming week; expect steelhead to follow the salmon as levels rise and color pushes in. • Inland Weather (Traverse City area): steady rain, upper-50s to near 60°F, NW winds 10–20 mph with higher gusts. • Big Lake (Lake Michigan nearshore): Gale conditions — NNW 25–30 kt with higher gusts and large, building waves; stay in port. • Barometer: unsettled today, rising late; best windows typically first light & last light during fronts.⸻🌊 RIVER FLOWS & WATER COLOR – QUICK READ(Rising & staining after the weekend rain — plan heavier leads, brighter beads/spawn, shorter leaders.)Manistee @ Tippy: climbing; fresh color pushing through tailrace slots.White (Hesperia): bumping fast; gravel stretches filling, first steelhead sliding in.Betsie: solid rise; deep holes fishing well on color.Pere Marquette (Scottville/Baldwin): rising; kings scattered, steelhead starting.Boardman (Beitner): up and off-color; concentrate on pools and transitions.Manistique: slow, steady rise; harbor color improving.⸻🐟 PERCH REPORTTorch Lake: Stable schools in 30–35 ft; minnows & wigglers steady with shrimp as an ace when they get picky.Lake Charlevoix: Ironton/Oyster Bay edges good; shrimp and wigglers for larger fish.Big Glen Lake: Better today than Little Glen; 35–40 ft edges producing on minnows.Little Glen Lake: Cooling pushed fish deeper; hunt breaks and inside turns.Portage Lake: White-bellies mixing in 18–22 ft on minnows.Crystal Lake: South-end drops giving mixed sizes; keep moving to stay on schools.White Lake: Channel and weed edges consistent; shrimp and minnows best.P.M. Lake (Ludington): Slow overall; a few quality fish near dusk.Manistee Lake (Manistee): Fair near channel bends; minnows on short leaders.Muskegon Lake: Strongest when you find them — 40–50 ft, watch the graph.Grand Haven (channel): Fair pods near the mouth on minnows and wigglers.Burt Lake (Maple Bay): Active on humps; minnows best.Mullett Lake (Aloha area): 25–30 ft edges steady with electronics.Grand Lake (Alpena): Weedline hop with minnows; sort for keepers.Drummond Island (Scotts & Potagannissing): Good weekend for nicer fish; wigglers, minnows, shrimp all produced.Lake Skegemog: Torch River drop producing with perch rigs and small jigheads.Black Bass Bay (Alpena): Mixed-size perch; wigglers & shrimp shine after rain.Big Lake (Otsego Co.): Fair on deeper breaks with small minnows.Perch baits to carry every trip: minnows, wigglers, shrimp — shrimp is the closer when schools turn neutral.⸻⚡ WALLEYE REPORTLake Missaukee: Dusk bite steady; jigs with live minnows over deeper holes.Burt Lake: 15–25 ft on saddles/humps; crawler harnesses and minnows.Mullett Lake: Evening drift near Aloha; minnows on ⅛–¼-oz jigs.Lake Margrethe: Harnesses and cranks along breaklines are producing.Manistee Lake (Kalkaska): Channel edges at dusk on jigs/minnows.Otsego Lake: Deep flats with harnesses; slow-troll 0.5–0.8 mph.Lake Mitchell: After-dark passes on the outer flats.Lake Cadillac: Weedline bite turns on at dusk.Hamlin Lake: 18–25 ft on jigging spoons and minnows.Drummond Island: Good walleye runs in Scotts/Potagannissing; cooler nights help.⸻💪 SMALLMOUTH BASS REPORTTorch Lake: Big fish on live suckers/minnows along steep drops.East Grand Traverse Bay: Excellent — 4–5 lb fish on tubes, jerkbaits, and dropshots.Elk Lake: Deep edge bite; jerkbaits and plastics.Lake Charlevoix: Rock points/saddles; live minnows effective.Walloon Lake: 20–25 ft rocks; tubes and live bait.Green Lake (Interlochen): Plastics and deep cranks on hard bottom.Duck Lake (Interlochen): Submerged timber patterns with jigs/plastics.⸻🐠 SALMON & LOWER-PENINSULA RIVERSBetsie River: Late push showed; bright fish still in holes after rain.Tippy Dam (Manistee): Darker kings present; evening bite 8 p.m.–midnight has been best, first steelhead in the mix.Pere Marquette (Baldwin & lower): Kings scattered in runs; first steelhead arriving — beads, skein, spawn early/late.White River (Hesperia): Salmon on gravel; steelhead nosing in with rising flow.Platte River: A few coho below the weir; steelhead at the mouth on spawn.Bear Creek: Mix of dark kings and new steelhead.Elk River: A few steelhead; salmon fading.Boardman River: Early steelhead sliding into pools with color.⸻🐟 UPPER PENINSULA RIVERS – TOP 10St. Mary’s (Sault Ste. Marie): Coho/steelhead/walleye near the plant; spawn and crankbaits.Manistique: Good coho near the dam; first steelhead on color.Two Hearted: Steelhead trickling in; beads and spawn in deeper runs.Tahquamenon: Coho below the falls; steelhead beginning.Carp (St. Ignace): Light coho; drift spawn.Chocolay: Coho active near the mouth.Escanaba: Bright coho early/late.Ford: Coho with some steelhead below the dam.Au Train: Early steelhead holding in holes.Black (Gogebic): First steelhead reported.⸻🌊 SAGINAW BAY & SAGINAW RIVERSaginaw Bay: Fair perch from Linwood to Sebewaing in 15–18 ft on minnows; move to stay on pods.Saginaw River: Walleye migration starting; vertical jigs with minnows near bridges and channel turns.⸻🪣 INLAND LAKES – NORTHERN MICHIGAN (Panfish • Pike • Bass)Houghton Lake: Bluegill strong on inside weeds; perch good north end.Lake St. Helen: Pike and bluegill steady on weed edges.Lake Cadillac: Bluegill and evening crappie are reliable.Lake Mitchell: Bluegill/perch solid on outer flats.Missaukee Lake: Crappie suspended 3–5 ft off bottom early/late on minnows.Otsego Lake: Pike and walleye steady on breaks.Fremont Lake: Pike good; panfish moderate.Big Star Lake (Baldwin): Largemouth and bluegill biting along cabbage.Bear Lake (Kalkaska): Panfish fair; pike active on points.Hamlin Lake: Pike excellent in 15–20 ft.Harper Lake (Irons): Bluegill/bass fair on small jigs.Long Lake (Traverse City): Bluegill strong; evening walleye possible.Penasa Lake (LeRoy): Crappie good on small minnows.Sunrise Lake (LeRoy): Bluegill mid-morning on waxies.Tamarack Lake (Lakeview): Consistent bluegill along edges.Wabasis Lake (Greenville): Largemouth active on spinnerbaits.Big Bass Lake (Lake County): Bluegill steady on slips.Crystal Lake (Greenville): Largemouth fair around docks.Long Lake (Greenville): Panfish improving on tiny jigs.Higgins Lake: Deep edges giving mixed panfish; finesse plastics help.Croton Pond: Mixed panfish near wood; light jigs.Hardy Pond: Pike on points; crappie around timber.Silver Lake (TC): Panfish fair in pockets out of wind.Arbutus Lake Chain (TC): Bluegill steady in protected bays.Bass Lake (Kaleva): Panfish & pike along remaining green weeds.⸻🧭 HARRISON • CLARE • GLADWIN • MIDLAND COUNTY LAKESBud Lake (Harrison): Bluegill strong; bass fair.Arnold Lake: Crappie steady; pike on points.Cranberry Lake: Bluegill good; perch slow.Sutherland Lake: Pike along drops; panfish steady.Lake Thirteen (Farwell): Bluegill excellent; bass active.Lancer Lake (Gladwin): Crappie fair; panfish moderate.Sugar Springs (Gladwin): Water low; shore bluegill action decent.Pratt Lake: Pike and bass fair on windward edges.Ross Lake (Beaverton): Walleye/crappie near the dam pools.Secord Lake: Bluegill strong; pike scattered.Pleasant Lake (Midland): Bluegill steady on small minnows.Beaverton Lake: Crappie and bass decent around wood.⸻🧭 UPPER PENINSULA LAKES (20+ QUICK HITS)Little Bay de Noc: Walleye dusk bite building on reefs.Big Bay de Noc: Smallmouth hot on tubes; perch fair.Indian Lake: Perch in 12–15 ft on minnows.North Manistique (Round): Walleye/panfish mixed on breaks.South Manistique: Perch steady on weed edges.Au Train Lake: Perch good near grass; minnows best.Milakokia Lake: Perch on minnows along edges.Muskallonge Lake: Pike steady on spoons.Deer Lake: Walleye fair near rock bars.Baraga Lake: Walleye picking up evenings.Skeels Lake: Pike steady; panfish in coves.Bass Lake (Delta/Schoolcraft): Panfish decent in pockets.Portage Lake (Houghton/Keweenaw): Mixed trout/salmon near rocky points; use caution in wind.Gogebic (near Bergland): Perch roaming mud flats; sort for keepers.Teal Lake (Marquette): Panfish fair, best in lee shores.Gene’s Pond (Menominee): Pike and panfish scattered.Michigamme Reservoir: Walleye on points with jigs.Peavy Pond: Pike/walleye mixed on current seams.Bewabic Lake: Panfish consistent on tiny plastics.Camp 7 Lake: Clear water — finesse for panfish.Gratiot Lake (Keweenaw): Trout/walleye mixed, weather dependent.Drummond Island (inland bays): Perch/walleye good when wind allows.⸻🎯 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPPerch: Minnows & wigglers are the staples — but bring raw shrimp to flip neutral schools.Walleye: Late-fall minnow masterclass — Lindy/slip rigs at 0.3–0.8 mph with golden shiners or suckers, long fluorocarbon leaders, and let them eat for a second before the hookset.⸻Tight lines — fish smart, fish hard. Bait Man out. … See MoreSee Less

Buc’s Fishing Report – Saturday, October 18, 2025

Presented by Buc’s Aqua Farms In🌧️ MORNING BRIEFINGBait Man here — we finally got some much-needed rain last night across Northern Michigan. The lakes have been extremely low, and this rainfall should help raise levels and get the fish feeding again instead of staying spooky in the shallows. While I don’t like to see rain on a weekend, we really did need it — and it’s going to help the bite going into next week.There was a late run of kings on the Betsie River, and quite a few salmon are holding in the deeper holes. Houghton Lake Anglers have been catching some nice perch, with a few using medium golden shiners to tempt the bigger fish.On Lake Missaukee, bluegill are biting during the low-light hours, and crappie are being caught in the deeper holes — most suspended just three to five feet off bottom early and late on minnows.East Grand Traverse Bay, Torch Lake, and Walloon Lake have been steady for smallmouth bass. The perch bite has shifted a bit — fish pulled out of Little Glen after the temperature change and moved back out to big glen, but anglers did well in Big Glen yesterday.Good reports also continue from Portage Lake, Torch Lake, and Lake Charlevoix on perch, while East Bay remains solid for cisco. Up north, Drummond Island continues to produce excellent perch and walleye action in Scotts and Potagannissing Bays.With cooler temps, and thunderstorms this weekend Saturday morning looks a little doubtful, but it looks like we got a window Saturday afternoon after a storm fish usually bite as I see we got rain coming in again Sunday🐟 PERCH REPORTTorch Lake: Steady bite in 30–35 ft; minnows and wigglers working well.Lake Charlevoix: Consistent action near Ironton; wigglers and minnows best.Big Glen Lake: Good numbers in 35–40 ft; larger perch holding deeper.White-belly perch mixed in with smaller fish; minnows steady.Crystal Lake: Decent catches on the south end; minnows and wigglers producing.White Lake: Improved bite this week near the channel on wigglers and minnows.P.M. Lake (Ludington): A few nice perch late in the day; slow overall.Manistee Lake: Fair perch near the channel; mixed sizes.Muskegon Lake: Stronger bite in 40–50 ft; electronics key to locating schools.Grand Haven: Fair catches near the channel mouth; minnows and wigglers best.Burt Lake: Active perch around Maple Bay; minnows steady.Mullett Lake: Productive around Aloha State Park in 25–30 ft.Grand Lake: Fair numbers of perch along weedlines; minnows best.Drummond Island: Custeyes Charters reporting strong perch limits in Scotts and Potagannissing Bays.Lake Skegemog: Consistent perch bite off the Torch River drop.Black Bass Bay: Mixed perch and walleye; wigglers and shrimp best.Big Lake (Otsego County): Fair catches near drop-offs on minnows.Top baits: minnows, wigglers, and shrimp. Adding shrimp gives you an extra edge when the bite turns tough.⸻⚡ WALLEYE REPORTLake Missaukee: Steady walleye bite early and late; jigging minnows best.Burt Lake: Walleye active in 15–25 ft; crawler harnesses and live minnows working.Mullett Lake: Evening drift bite continues; live minnows near Aloha State Park.Lake Margrethe: Productive trolling harnesses and crankbaits along drop-offs.Manistee Lake (Kalkaska): Dusk bite steady; jigs and minnows near the channel.Otsego Lake: Walleye holding near deep flats; crawler harnesses best and minnows on a slip bobberLake Mitchell: Decent bite after dark near deeper structure.Lake Cadillac: Walleye showing up at dusk near weedlines.Hamlin Lake: Strong action in 18–25 ft on jigging spoons.Drummond Island: Excellent walleye bite in Scotts and Potagannissing Bays; cooler nights helping.⸻💪 SMALLMOUTH BASS REPORTTorch Lake: Trophy fish landed this week; two over 6 lbs on live suckers.East Grand Traverse Bay: Strong bite; 4–5 lb fish on tubes and jerkbaits.Elk Lake: Bass holding deep on drop-offs; jerkbaits and soft plastics best.Lake Charlevoix: Fish near rocky points and saddles; live minnows producing.Walloon Lake: Active smallmouth in 20–25 ft on live bait and tubes.Green Lake (Interlochen): Consistent bite on plastics and deep cranks.Duck Lake (Interlochen): Bass near submerged timber; moderate activity.⸻🐠 SALMON & RIVERS REPORTBetsie River: Late run of kings showing; several bright fish holding in deep holes.Tippy Dam (Manistee): Slower action but some salmon being caught from 8 p.m. to midnight; a few steelhead mixed in.Hesperia (White River): Salmon still on gravel below the dam; early steelhead showing.Platte River: A few coho below the weir; some steelhead near the mouth.Bear Creek: Good mix of darker kings and steelhead.Elk River: Occasional steelhead; salmon fading out.Boardman River: Early steelhead reported; fish holding nearPere Marquette River Report – October 18, 2025Water is low and clear, requiring light leaders and small presentations. King salmon remain scattered from Custer up through Baldwin, with late fish spawning on gravel and in deep runs. Fresh runs have mostly ended, though the occasional coho is showing up.The first steelhead are entering the system, particularly in the lower and mid stretches. Best action is early and late using beads, spawn, or skein under floats. These fish are holding behind spawning kings and taking advantage of drifting eggs.Resident brown trout are active behind salmon redds, feeding on egg patterns, beads, and nymphs. Stealth and soft presentations are critical in the clear water.Summary:• Kings: Scattered, mostly on gravel• Steelhead: Early arrivals, increasing weekly⸻🐟 UPPER PENINSULA RIVERS REPORTSt. Mary’s River (Sault Ste. Marie): Coho, steelhead, and walleye near Cloverland Plant.Manistique River: Good coho numbers; a few steelhead beginning to show.Two Hearted River: Steelhead trickling in; spawn and beads productive.Tahquamenon River: Coho holding below the falls; a few steelhead mixed in.Carp River (St. Ignace): Light coho run; drifting spawn working.Chocolay River: Coho still active near the mouth.Escanaba River: Bright coho entering; morning bite best.Ford River: Coho and steelhead mix below the dam.Au Train River: Steelhead beginning to show in deeper holes.Black River (Gogebic County): Early steelhead catches reported.⸻🌊 SAGINAW BAY & SAGINAW RIVER REPORTSaginaw Bay: Fair perch bite from Linwood to Sebewaing; minnows working in 15–18 ft.Saginaw River: Walleye action improving near bridges; vertical jigs and minnows best.Steelhead and smallmouth occasionally caught near the mouth.⸻🪣 INLAND LAKES (NORTHERN MICHIGAN)(Panfish, Pike & Bass)Houghton Lake: Bluegill strong near weeds; perch good on the north end.Lake St. Helen: Pike and bluegill steady.Lake Cadillac: Great bluegill and evening crappie.Lake Mitchell: Bluegill and perch solid.Missaukee Lake: Walleye and crappie early and late.Otsego Lake: Walleye and pike steady.Fremont Lake: Pike good; panfish moderate.Big Star Lake (Baldwin): Bass and bluegill strong.Bear Lake (Kalkaska): Panfish and pike active.Hamlin Lake: Pike excellent in 15–20 ft.Harper Lake (Irons): Bluegill and bass fair.Green Lake (Interlochen): Bass and pike good.Duck Lake (Interlochen): Panfish steady.Long Lake (Traverse City): Walleye and bluegill strong.Penasa Lake (LeRoy): Crappie good.Sunrise Lake (LeRoy): Bluegill fair.Tamarack Lake: Steady bluegill bite.Wabasis Lake (Greenville): Bass excellent.Big Bass Lake: Bluegill solid.Crystal Lake (Greenville): Largemouth fair.Long Lake (Greenville): Panfish improving.⸻🧭 HARRISON • CLARE • GLADWIN • MIDLAND COUNTY LAKESBud Lake (Harrison): Bluegill strong; bass fair.Arnold Lake: Crappie steady; pike on points.Cranberry Lake: Bluegill decent; perch slow.Sutherland Lake: Pike good near drop-offs.Lake Thirteen: Bluegill excellent; bass steady.Lancer Lake: Crappie fair; bluegill moderate.Sugar Springs: Water still low; shore anglers catching bluegill.Pratt Lake: Pike and bass fair.Ross Lake: Walleye and crappie near the dam.Secord Lake: Bluegill strong; pike scattered.Pleasant Lake (Midland): Bluegill steady.Beaverton Lake: Crappie and bass decent.⸻🎯 LIVE BAIT PRO TIPFor perch, minnows and wigglers remain top producers, but adding shrimp can save a slow day.For smallmouth, use large minnows or suckers on Lindy or three-way rigs, fished slow along rock piles or drop-offs.⸻Fish smart, fish hard, tight lines — Bait Man out. … See MoreSee Less