8/30/23 Southeastern, Michigan Fishing Report

 

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Anglers caught yellow perch out from Stony Point in 27 feet of water on minnow perch rigs, with green being the most successful color. Walleye were few and far between unless fishing Ohio or Canadian waters. Smallmouth bass were caught in 20 feet of water using crawlers. Largemouth bass were caught using soft plastics closer into shore.

• If you're planning on fishing out of Sterling State Park or the Brest Bay area you can pick up tackle from the nice people at Jeff's Bait & Tackle
  
  
• If you're planning on fishing any of the canals near Lake Erie Metro Park or Point Mouillee State Game Area you can get all of your bait & tackle needs met at  Bottom Line Bait & Tackle.

Lake St. Clair: Anglers reported smallmouth bass action as slow, but using dark green baits worked well. Anglers did well in front of the Lake St. Clair Metropark in 12 to 14 feet of water. Perch anglers did fair in the Sny in 13 feet of water while fishing with artificial bait and crawlers. Walleye were caught in deep water in the channel mouths in approximately 26 feet of water.  The water was muddy in many areas due to heavy rainfall. Angers who fished near the 30 can and the St. Clair lighthouse caught some walleye and smallmouth bass. Musky anglers did not have much success but did report catching sizable northern pike in the mouth of the middle channel. 

Saginaw Bay: Heavy wind and rain kept anglers off the bay. Anglers who were able to make it out near Quanicassee struggled fishing for walleye and perch. The Sebewaing to Caseville area was also slow for walleye, with very few anglers out. 

• For a more accurate report on Saginaw Bay I suggest taking a look at the weekly Saginaw Bay Fishing Report given to you by Saginawbay.com
  
  
• Saginaw County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Lower Saginaw Bay: Boat anglers fishing in the lower part of the Saginaw River were successful in catching small numbers of yellow perch using perch rigs with minnows.

Below are links to bait shop listings organized by county:  

• Wayne County Click Here!
• Washtenaw County Click Here!
• Bay County Click Here!
• Monroe County Click Here!
• Livingston County Click Here!
• Ingham County Click Here!
• Genesee County Click Here!
• Saginaw County Click Here!

Your area may not be listed within this fishing report so below is a list of links to pages in Southeast Michigan to help guide you to public lakes in your county.

• Clinton County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Genessee County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Hillsdale County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Jackson County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Lapeer County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Lenawee County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Livingston County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Oakland County Public Lakes Page 1: Click Here! 
• Oakland County Public Lakes Page 2: Click Here!
• Washtenaw County Public Lakes: Click Here!
• Wayne County Public Lakes: Click Here!

8/17/23 Northeast Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

 

Northeast Lower Peninsula Presque Isle: Weather conditions limited the amount of activity. Anglers who made it out caught lake trout and salmon straight out of the harbor in 70 to 150 feet of water. Fish were scattered throughout the water column so running lines at different depths worked best. The waters from the lighthouse to black point were giving up trout, Chinook salmon, steelhead and a few Atlantic salmon. Bright colored spoons ran high were taking steelhead and Atlantic salmon while watermelon-colored spoons worked well on trout and Chinook salmon lower in the water column. Walleye were reported to be scattered 20 to 35 feet down in 50 to 100 feet of water. Cheboygan River/Lake Huron: Smallmouth bass and pike were caught in the river with most of the pike being around or downstream of the foot bridge. Freshwater drum were still around and the first numbers of salmon should begin to enter the river soon (1-2 weeks most likely). Rockport: Anglers reported decent numbers of lake trout, Chinook salmon, coho and Atlantic salmon near Stoneport south to Middle Island. A wide variety of spoons and flasher/fly combos were catching fish 30 to 70 feet down in depths of 60 to 120 feet. Walleye were found suspended along the reefs and were caught on spoons and deep diving crankbaits.  Alpena: Anglers who fought the winds reported slow fishing as in the bay. A few walleye were caught on crankbaits in the late evenings near North Point and south near Scarecrow Island. Anglers using jigs and leaches found a few fish along the shipping channel to the mouth of the Thunder Bay. Pier anglers reported catfish and bass were caught while using crawlers and a few northern pike were caught while using crankbaits and spinnerbaits. For more Alpena County Lakes: Click Here! For a list of Alpena County bait and tackle shops: Click Here! Thunder Bay River: Anglers reported low fishing pressure on the river. Several anglers targeting catfish had success near Mill Island Park and below the 9th Street Bridge. Crawlers and minnows worked the best. A few were caught throughout the river on crawlers and tube jigs. Tawas: Anglers were targeting 60 to 65 feet of water and catching walleye, just not as many. Harvests were essentially cut in half as anglers were coming in with 3 or 4 walleye. Shore fishing at Gateway Park was producing catfish for the few anglers out there. Later in the evening, anglers were catching a walleye or two when fishing off the pier. Oscoda/Au Sable: Fishing pressure was low but the anglers that did make it out were fishing around 140 feet of water. Anglers were catching a couple walleye and steelhead. Anglers fishing off the pier in the early morning had the occasional luck of a walleye, but mainly caught smallmouth bass. More anglers were taking boats in the river and catching smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, pike, and at times got lucky with a walleye. Most of the catches in the river occurred in the early morning. Rogers City: Anglers were mostly fishing south between Calcite and Adams Point. The Chinook salmon were there but getting them to bite was difficult. The water was warm top to bottom. Anglers reported that the best fishing occurred very early or very late. Anglers were using a variety of lures from spoons to J-Plugs to attractors with flys, squids and meat rigs. Meat was starting to be very effective now with the adult salmon starting to show up. Anglers were deploying downriggers, lead core, dipseys, and copper to spread lines throughout the water column. Good colors were greens, blues, black and white, glow stuff early and late.  Below are links to bait shop listings organized by county: Alpena County Click Here! Arenac County Click Here! Alcona County Click Here! Bay County Click Here! Clare County Click Here! Crawford County Click Here! Montmorency County Click Here! Ogemaw County Click Here! Oscoda County Click Here! Your area may not be listed within this fishing report so below is a list of links to pages in Northeast Michigan to help guide you to public lakes in your county. Alcona County Public Lakes: Click Here! Alpena County Public Lakes: Click Here! Clare County Public Lakes: Click Here! Crawford County Public Lakes: Click Here! Gladwin County Public Lakes: Click Here! Iosco County Public Lakes: Click Here! Montmorency Public Lakes: Click Here!  Ogemaw County Public Lakes: Click Here! Oscoda County Public Lakes: Click Here! Presque Isle County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Product Review: Berkley Trilene XL Smooth Casting Line

Product Description: Berkley's Trilene XL® Smooth Casting Line is an excellent all-purpose mono line that combines incredible handling with exceptional strength for trouble-free fishing. Famous for its super limpness, low memory, smooth handling and toughness, this easy casting Trilene XL Line's unique formula also ensures less line twisting, fewer kinks, minimal backlashes and superior abrasion resistance.

• Incredible handling plus exceptional strength
• Super limp
• Low memory
• Smooth handling

Price:  $5.78

How I Used: I matched the Berkley Trilene XL Smooth Casting line, in 10lb test, up with a Quantum Triax 30 spinning reel. The reel and line combo were paired up with a 6'6" Shakespeare Outcast rod that I did a review on.  I used this combo because I figured it would be a good combination for both lipless crank bait fishing and bottom fishing for catfish.

Review: The Berkley Smooth Casting line is very accurately described in its company description.  Overall it turned out to be very strong, catching multiple catfish and carp over 10lbs without having any issues of line breakage.  It is limp and has very little memory even after a years worth of use on my set up.

The only issue I found with the Berkley Trilene XL Smooth Casting line is that it is prone to line stretch under certain conditions.  What conditions do I mean? This year I spooled my Okuma Voyager spinning reel with the Trilene smooth casting line in 6lb test in the hopes of it being a good fit for the kit.  What I found is that after catching around 15 or 20 fish with it the line got very bad line stretch causing me to have to cut off large sections of it in order to retie without having knot slippage.

Initially I thought I just had a random bad package, as this happens some times.  But after purchasing a new spool and putting it on the reel I found that I was having the same problem. When this happened I started looking at the differences in set up to figure out why this line wasn't performing as well with the voyager set up as it had with the outcast set up.

What I figured out is that this line is designed to be fished with slow to moderate action rods, which the voyager spinning kit is not.  Due to its limpness then Trilene line needs this slower action so the rod can absorb more of the energy produced by fighting fish, rather than the energy being absorbed into the line itself. So if you're gonna use this line, especially in the low pound test, make sure you pair it up with a slow to moderate action rod to get the full benefits of the line.

Beyond the line stretch issue I had with the line it is great and I'll definitely use it again, just under the right circumstances.

Pros: strong, low memory, limp and cast very well

Cons: subject to bad line stretch


Quick Tips: 
1. If you're gonna use this line, pair it with a slow to moderate action rod that way the rod can absorb a fair amount of the shock and stress of catching fish.  If you don't you'll incur alot of line stretch due to the suppleness of the line.

2. If you're gonna use this line tie on your baits with a palomar knot as it will hold better in case of line stretch.

Here is some footage of the Berkley Trilene XL Smooth Casting Line in action:

Bass Fishing Newburgh Lake With Lipless Crankbaits

Here is a quick video of one of my early spring days kayak fishing.  I'm using a Bass Pro Shops XTS Vibrator lipless crankbait.  I started out with a texas rigged craw and a chatterbait but the bass only wanted to the lipless crankbait.

Thanks for watching and feel free to like and subscribe.

January 2017, Mystery Tackle Box Unboxing

Live Target frog popper
Model: FGP65T
Company Description: The LiveTarget Frog Popper features a neatly dressed trailer hook and a clear-cupped mouth that slaps and sprays when popped. With its unparalleled level of detail, the Kppers Live Target Frog Popper is ideal for fishing in open water, around light vegetation, docks, or laydowns.
Size: FGP75T 3" @1/4 oz.  & FGP65T 2 1/2" @ 1/2 oz.
Color: Fluorescent Green/Yellow (5 Colors to choose from)
Price: $14.99

Zorro Baits: Casting Booza Bug
Company Description: Its unique head and hook (5/0 laser point, 28 degree pulling point) design with brush guard and spurs for plastic trailers makes it the most weedless flipping bug on the market.

All Booza Bugs, flippin or casting, have the newest silicone skirts in the shadows, glimmers and two tone tips models.
Weights: 1/8 oz., 3/16 oz., 1/4 oz., 3/8 oz. Magnum, 1/2 oz. Magnum
Color: Black & Red (8 head colors & 26 skirt colors to choose from)
Price: $3.00

Gambler Lures: Little Otter
Company Descriptions: The Little Otter measures 3.25" long. The smaller version of the Ugly Otter features a pair of boot leg feet on both sides of the bait. These two legs put a tremendous amount of vibration for a small compact bait. Enhanced Gambler BITE so fish hold on longer, 9 per bag.
Color: Junebug (14 colors to choose from)
Price: $2.08

Catch Co.: Swimmin' Grub
Company Description: The Catch Co. Simmin' Grub is a brand new soft plastic with a tail to dance and dangle in front of any species of fish. Trail any swim jig with the Catch Co. Swimmin' Grub and you will be in business. Slow roll this grub along the bottom on a shaky head for lethargic bass and you'll have them chasign your line all across the lake.  The thick body slides right onto any hook and the tail swims enticingly through the column behind it.
Price: $2.99

Daiichi: Offset Wide Gab Bleeding Bait Hooks


1.40

October Mystery Tackle Box Unboxing

River2Sea: Dahlberg Diver Frog
Company Description: The Dahlberg Diver Frog is a bait unto its own class.  It's designed to exactly replicate the mannerism and features of a frog. It doesn't just look like a frog, it does frog: not walking, but swimming and kicking like a real one.
Color: Lime
Retail Price: $10.99



















Strike Pro: SuperSonic Jointed Crankbait
Company Description: The new Jointed Supersonic is a jointed crankbait that utilizes Strike Pro's patented "bike chain" joints to connect the head to the body.  The jointed head gives the lure more wiggle and is less mechanical looking than a traditional crankbait. Features high pitched rattles and black nickel coated VMC hooks.
Color: Ghost Shad
Retail Price: $8.99

Charlie's Worms: Baby Juke
Description: This 4" soft jerk bait is the smaller version of Charlie's Worms Swimming Juke. Per the company description it works best being fished on a jighead.  However small offset worm hooks will work well with this bait as well as its about he same size as the 4 inch sluggo's I use when the fish are chasing small minnows and 1/0 offset worm hooks work great with those.
Color: Watermelon Red
Retail Price: $3.12 (5 pack) &  $4.99 (8 pack)


















Mizmo Bait Company: 5" Quiver Stix
Description: These are simply salt covered and impregnated worms senko style worms.  These I cant give too much of a description for until I get them on the water and use them.  At that point you all will see an in depth review on the Mizmo Quiver Stix in video format as well as her on the blog.
Color: Watermelon Red
Retail Price: $2.454 (4 pack) & $4.79 (8 pack)


 

Understanding Spinnerbaits Pt. 2 "Spinnerbait Tips"

I have to admit when I first started using spinnerbaits I had no confidence in them whatsoever.  I'd tie one on, fish with it for a little while, and catch nothing.  Subsequently I'd quickly toss the spinnerbait back into my tackle box opting for something I knew I'd catch fish with.  However, because I'm cheap and hated wasting money on baits I couldn't use, I decided I would start researching spinnerbait fishing in order to figure out what I was doing wrong.  

Well what I found is that spinnerbaits do work but work exceptionally well under certain circumstances and if used correctly.  You see, I just thought i could just cast anywhere and I'd be successful also I was under the false belief that the spinnerbait was not for use in heavy cover.  Well, I couldn't be more wrong.

The first thing I learned when I started my research was that spinnerbaits are the all around bait.  They are not limited to certain water, weather or structural conditions.  In fact they function at their very best in heavy cover and along weeds.

This is because spinnerbaits are best used as contact baits in other words they reap the best results when they are bumping up against structure.  That structure can be weeds, trees, stumps or the lake bottom. It's when these baits are bouncing of structure that most predator fish will grab spinnerbaits as the contact alerts bass that there is something wrong with this meal size critter making it an easy target.

As well from what I've noticed I catch more fish on spinnerbaits when it is overcast outside or in murky water.   In clear water you want to tone down the flash possibly going to singles blade spinnerbaits with copper blades to catch more fish.

Another thing I learned was that spinnerbaits fell into two categories and particularly the elbow or safety pin style spinnerbaits had some different characteristics that would make me use them differently.

1. Twinspins: Are great when fishing along the bottom making contact with any structure along the lake bed. 

2. Long arm spinnerbaits: Can be fished anywhere the short armed spinnerbaits can but are especially suited for grassy or brushy cover as the longer arm works to keep the spinnerbait weedless. 

3. Short arm spinnerbaits: Can be fished anywhere but is especially suited for being helicoptered along ledges and vertical cover.

4. Singles blade: Great for clear water, cool water or any other time when fish aren't actively feeding. Due to their lesser amount of flash they are less likely to spook inactive fish in clear or cool water. Single blades with colorado blades can be retrieved slower with due to increased water resistance. 

5. Tandem Blades: Work great in murky water or conditions where visibility is low.  

Different Spinnerbait Retrieves

Slow Roll:

This retrieve is good when bass are resting deep along drop offs or submerged cover.  Simply cast into shallow water that leads to the drop off where the fish are holding.  With your rod tip pointed downward reel slowly allowing your spinnerbait to bump the bottom or the tops of any weedy or brushy cover following the lakes drop off to the bass.  

Helicopter:

Helicoptering your bait is almost self explanatory.  Pretty much you real to the edge of some sort of vertical cover, like a wall or stump, and let the spinnerbait fall along the edge causing it to flutter like a helicopter into the strike zone of any fish waiting at the base of the vertical cover. 

Waking or bulging:

Bulge a spinnerbait by retrieving so the blades spin just below the surface causing a bulge or wake in

the surface.  This is one by casting past your intended target cover, lifting your rod tip and reeling just slow enough to make the blades spin just beneath the surface never breaking the surface tension.  This technique will produce a unique sound and vibration that will attract bass in shallow murky water.

Buzzing: Buzzing is pretty much the same as waking or bulging.  The only difference is that you need to speed up your retrieve so the blades break the waters surfaces causing the spinnerbait to buzz along the surface.

Note: 
Rigging:  Use medium to medium heavy rods at lengths of 6.5 to 7.0 ft in order to get long cast on your spinnerbaits while giving you the backbone needed to set the hook at longer distances.  As well use high gear ratio reals in spooled with 12lb to 20lb test monofilament when spinnerbait fishing.

Trailer Hooks:  If you're gonna use trailer hooks make sure you use shorter shank hooks in order to increase hookups while staying as snag free as possible.  As well if the structure permits rig the trailer hook upside down in order to increase hookups as well. 

Overall I've learned quite a bit about fishing with spinnerbaits this last summer but I still have a long way to go.  I've been lucky enough to catch quite a few 3lb smallmouth and largemouth bass on spinnerbaits after I developed some confidence in them.  If you haven't used spinnerbaits yet make sure you try them as soon as you can as they are truly big fish baits. 

Thanks For Reading,

Kwan

How to Hold Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass

It seems obvious to many of us that holding a bass by it's lower jaw may cause injury.  But many of us just don't know, so we blindly follow the lead of the "professionals on tv" in possibly killing bass unintentionally.   I know I'm guilty of doing it as well while taking pictures with fish before I release them.  But to me, knowing better should mean doing better especially when it comes down to being a spending time outdoors.  For this reason I've been carrying a small landing net with me every time I'm chasing largemouth or smallmouth bass.
This isn't a preachy type of post just something else to consider while we're out enjoying the resource. Thanks for reading and be blessed.
Kwan

My Biggest Largemouth Bass To Date

Today was an exciting day for me. It started with me taking the time to explore Ford Lake, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, on foot.  See, I've been thinking about hitting this lake on my float tube all summer long but haven't had time to do it.  In fact the only time I've had to fish it was this spring when I was chasing carp with corn. (I'll be sure to show you my set up for that another time.)
But today was my day to fish it on foot and hopefully if we get a few more of these 70 degree days I'll break out my float tube and fish some of the less pressured areas.  So I loaded up my book bag of newly tied hair jigs I'd been itching to try and a couple of other of my usual standbys.  Well to say the least I had a few chases on the sluggo that overall turned out nothing. Then finally when I'm headed out I decided to try out a jig I tied up last night in hopes of landing a few smallmouth bass.  Well, that got me a few follows from smallmouth but because the water was super clear as soon as the fish got sight of me they turned tail.

Well I finally was on my last little spot under a bridge where I eyed a smallmouth bass sitting under a rock ledge.  One pitch past the ledge and a few hops back up to it and the small mouth ran away from my jig. With the clear water conditions I could see it all and at the time the smallie spooked my jig was sucked under the ledge into a hole I couldn't see.  So with the feel of a bump I set the hook and all heck broke lose.  She took off like bat out of you know where going airborne then making an attempt at taking me under a bridge pile on.  Can you say, fun times on 6 lb test line and an ultra-light rod and reel.  About 4 minutes later I had her in hand, my biggest largemouth bass to date.  The fish measured out at just over 18 inches but I'm not sure what it weighed, I'm guessing around 4lbs, but it was worth almost getting skunked today and even more gratifying cause I caught it on a jig I tied myself.  Let me know what you guys think this bass weighs?
Here is the link to the bunny leech jig I used to catch this bass.  How To Tie The Bunny Leech Jig

Thanks for reading
Kwan Stafford