Weekly Fishing Report: June 16, 2016

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Weekly Fishing Report June 16, 2016  Southeast Lower Peninsula  Southwest Lower Peninsula  Northeast Lower Peninsula  Northwest Lower Peninsula  Upper Peninsula  Great Lakes Temperature Map  Weekly Fishing Tip Large and smallmouth bass season on Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River will open this coming Saturday, June 18.  The catch-and-immediate-release season has been good so anglers should do well on the opener. Have a special guy in your life? Help him celebrate Father's Day this Sunday by buying him a fishing license!  Southeast Lower Peninsula Lake Erie:  Anglers fishing for walleye started the week with strong catches but inclement weather and strong winds have slowed fishing effort.  Those having the most success were trolling and drifting crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers in 22 to 28 feet straight out from Estral Beach, Stony Point and Brest Bay.  Shore anglers fishing Whitewood Creek at the Luna Pier city launch caught catfish, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass on crawlers.  Anglers fishing the lagoons at Sterling State Park caught pike, large and smallmouth bass on jigs with a twister tail, and freshwater drum, panfish, and catfish on crawlers. Shore anglers at the Pointe Mouillee access site caught a few yellow perch and lots of rock bass on crawlers.  Largemouth bass were hitting on spinners and soft plastics.   Detroit River:  Walleye fishing has slowed especially in Michigan waters.  A few fish were still being caught in Canadian waters.  The white bass are starting to thin out.   Oakland County:  Fishing in general has been good on Cass and Union Lake.  Bass anglers are casting crank baits or soft plastics along the drop-offs in six to 10 feet.  The top-water bite has been good in the shallows in the early morning or evening.  Panfish were caught along the shallow weed beds and in the coves.  A few walleye were caught when trolling or casting a crawler harness or spoon. Lake St. Clair:  Fishing slowed along the south end where anglers were right on top of the fish but they would not bite.  Smallmouth bass were hitting on chartreuse colored lures.  Largemouth fishing near the banks also slowed.  Bass anglers were starting to find success in eight to 15 feet between Metro and 9 Mile Road with crank baits, jerk baits, spinners, or the green pumpkin tube bait.  Walleye were caught in 10 to 12 feet near Gino’s when trolling or drifting chartreuse or a pink and purple crawler harness.  Yellow perch and panfish were still being caught between Metro Beach and the Clinton River Cutoff.   Muskie were found near the 400 Club in five to eight feet when casting dark colored spinners or spoons but many were undersize.  Shore anglers at 9 Mile Road caught some perch on minnows and worms.  On the north end, large and smallmouth bass were caught in three to six feet near Selfridge.  A good number of rock bass have also been caught.  Walleye were caught in 11 feet near Selfridge when drifting a white curly tail grub.  A couple muskie were taken near Selfridge and Brandenburg Park in eight to 11 feet but many were too small.  Pike were caught in the north end of Anchor Bay and west of the launch at Fair Haven.  Perch and panfish were caught by those drifting worms north of Selfridge.  Carp are spawning in the shallows and those bow fishing did well near the launch at Fair Haven.   St. Clair River:  A large number of walleye are still being caught but anglers are sorting through a lot small ones.  Marysville, St. Clair, and Marine City were producing good walleye catches for those whipping after dark.  Those fishing during the day were using jigs or crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers in Marine City, Algonac, and near Harsens Island.  A few white bass were caught.   Lexington to Port Sanilac:  Those trolling are still taking a good number of lake trout.  Some are getting the occasional steelhead, Chinook, coho or Atlantic salmon in 50 feet.  Try spoons off planer boards and downriggers.  Those working 80 to 100 feet were catching mostly lake trout.  Boats fishing south toward Lakeport did well for lake trout and other species.  Anglers report their fish being full of smelt so there must still be some smelt hanging around the south end of the lake.   Harbor Beach:  Lake trout were taken in 70 to 125 feet straight north or the harbor.  Use dodgers with spin-glo’s or clean spoons near the bottom.  Try gold and orange, black and white or green and white spoons.  A couple steelhead were taken near the color lines.  Salmon were slow but try clean spoons 40 to 50 feet down.  Pike and bass were caught inside the harbor and near shore when casting or trolling small spoons and body baits.   Port Austin to Grindstone City:  At Port Austin, those wading were still getting some smallmouth bass at Eagle Bay and the Willow River but bass fishing is tapering off.  At Grindstone City, those trolling took lake trout on spin-glo’s in 60 feet and walleye on crawler harnesses in 25 to 30 feet.   Saginaw Bay:  Had good walleye fishing on the right day.  Fish were caught in 20 feet off Linwood, 22 feet east of the Spark Plug, and in 26 feet out near Buoy #1.  From the Saginaw River mouth, some boats were fishing out on the Bar.  Harnesses were best but some were also trolling spoons and crank baits.  On the east side, the Slot continues to be the best spot for walleye in 16 to 18 feet.  The Callahan Reef is also producing fish.   At Bay Port, walleye were caught outside the islands in the Slot and in seven to 10 feet in Wildfowl Bay.  Crawler harnesses and slow trolling speeds were the ticket.   Spinner colors were purple, pink, chartreuse, anti-freeze, brass and copper.  Those trolling also caught lots of freshwater drum.   Saginaw River:  Shore anglers in the lower river at Smith Park in Essexville were taking catfish, freshwater drum, rock bass and smallmouth bass with crawlers on the bottom.       Back to Top Southwest Lower Peninsula St. Joseph:  Pier fishing for steelhead slowed but a couple were caught when floating shrimp or alewife.  Catfish and freshwater drum were caught on crawlers along the bottom.  Boat anglers reported slower catch rates as the fish were scattered between 40 and 100 feet.  Perch fishing was very slow.    St. Joseph River:  Anglers caught a few walleye and smallmouth bass when drifting crawlers.  South Haven:  Pier anglers were catching a decent number of steelhead on shrimp and alewife under a bobber.  Boat anglers targeting salmon said the fish were scattered so few were caught.   Grand Haven:  Boats trolling near the piersheads caught steelhead on orange spoons or body baits.  Those heading offshore found trout and salmon in 150 to 210 feet.  Orange spoons and white flies worked well.  Pier anglers are catching steelhead on shrimp and a few perch on minnows.    Grand River at Grand Rapids:  Is producing bass and catfish.    Grand River at Lansing:  Is producing smallmouth bass and rocks bass.  Some of the better fishing has been below the dams.  The pike and walleye bite slowed.   Muskegon:  The action was slow for boat anglers.  Some did report a mix of trout and salmon taken 45 to 120 feet down in 120 to 180 feet with orange or green spoons.  Green or white flies worked well for those fishing deeper in the water column.   Muskegon River:  Those fly fishing have done well for both rainbow and brown trout.  Water levels were up a bit after the rain.     Whitehall:  Anglers have caught a couple steelhead and Chinook salmon in 180 to 225 feet.  Those fishing between the pierheads caught freshwater drum and pike.      Back to Top Northeast Lower Peninsula Cheboygan:  Boat anglers fishing Cordwood Point and Lafayette Point caught lake trout.  Some reported the occasional Chinook or pink salmon and a couple steelhead were caught by on high-lines.       Cheboygan River:  Is producing a few walleye but the bite has slowed.  Those drifting crawlers in the day or trolling crank baits at night did the best.  A few pike, smallmouth bass, and perch were caught but no large numbers.   Mullett Lake:  Walleye anglers were struggling to find fish especially with the large mayfly hatch on the north end.  Those that had success did better after sunset when using crawler harnesses and body baits.  A few smallmouth bass were still on the beds on the north end of the lake.     Rogers City:  When boats can get out many reported limit catches of lake trout in 45 to 60 feet.  The fish were close to the bottom as well as suspended.  Try cowbells or dodgers with spin-glo’s and green spoons along the rocky bottoms because that is where the gobies are.   Atlantic salmon are starting to be caught.  Try orange and green, orange and silver or orange and gold spoons.   Presque Isle:  Continues to provide excellent fishing for Atlantic salmon and lake trout.  The Atlantics are finally spreading out from Stoneport.  Fish up high in the water column with spoons in combos of orange with green, silver or gold.   Alpena:  Lake trout are being caught in good numbers in 80 to 130 feet.  Check water temperatures and look for baitfish.  Wobble glo’s, spoons, spin-glo’s and body baits are all working well.  Fish the entire water column as steelhead were higher up and hitting the same baits as lake trout.   Walleye were hit-or-miss in 20 to 40 feet around North Point.     Oscoda:  Pier fishing for walleye was slow but catfish were moving in during the late evening.  Those still-fishing had good luck.  Those trolling out in 80 to 120 feet caught lake trout on spoons, wobble glo’s and spin-glo’s.  Steelhead are still in the area so anglers will want to look for colored lines and temperature breaks when trolling spoons in 50 to 100 feet.  Blue and silver, orange and silver or solid orange were good colors.    Houghton Lake:  Was producing some bigger walleye and perch along the north shore.  Anglers are using a jig and leech or a leech harness.  Fire-tiger, purple or copper with green were good colors.  Some are also trolling crank baits.  Hot colors were silver and black or colors that resemble perch and bass.  Bluegills were on the beds along the south shore weed beds.  Anglers were catching lots of rock bass in the same area.   Tawas:  Those trolling for walleye did best around Buoy #2 but it was still slow as there was a pretty good mayfly hatch going on and that usually depresses the walleye bite.  Boats going out to the Charity Islands and the Steeples caught fish.    Tawas River:  Shore anglers were getting a few catfish, freshwater drum and the odd smallmouth bass on crawlers.      Au Gres:  Walleye fishing was good in 25 to 35 feet between Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres.  Those looking for bigger fish were out beyond the Charities and fishing in 60 to 70 feet.  Crawler harnesses work best but a few were using spoons or crank baits.  Some boats going south of Pointe Au Gres found walleye out near Buoys 1 & 2.   Au Gres River:  Shore anglers were getting catfish and freshwater drum on crawlers. Back to Top Northwest Lower Peninsula Harbor Springs:  Anglers are targeting smallmouth bass though not many fish were on the beds yet.  Lake trout were caught 35 to 50 feet down in 50 to 100 feet except around Harbor Point where the fish were 70 feet down in 90 feet.   Petoskey:  A couple lake trout were caught from the breakwall to Bay Harbor when trolling near the bottom in 90 feet.   Bear River:  Those fishing near the mouth, off the rocks and the D Pier caught smallmouth bass, rock bass, pike, carp, bullhead, carp, suckers and even a couple small perch.  A large catfish was also caught.   Charlevoix:  Boat anglers caught a few very small Chinook in 120 feet. The fish hit spoons about halfway down.  Lake trout were caught near the bottom or suspended in 80 to 100 feet.  Try spoons, spin-glo’s or peanuts.  Those fishing the channel caught the occasional smallmouth bass.  Cisco fishing was good for those using spoons or jigs.  Lake trout were still in the channel and staying close to the bottom.  A large pike was caught off the pier.   Traverse City:  Cisco fishing especially in the East Bay has been very good.  The West Bay continues to produce lake trout.  Some are trolling along the drop-offs while others are jigging out in deeper water.   Boardman River:  Anglers were still catching a few smallmouth bass.     Leland:  Boat anglers are getting lake trout and the occasional Chinook.     Lake Leelanau:  Is producing some walleye and those targeting them were also catching some pike.       Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell:  Walleye are being caught by those trolling or drifting crawler harnesses.  Anglers caught bluegills, crappie, sunfish, bass and bullhead.   Manistee:  The north pier is still closed due to construction.  Lake trout and a small number of Chinook salmon were caught in 100 to 300 feet and steelhead were caught in 200 to 400 feet.  A few walleye were still being caught in the channel at night.   Manistee Lake:  Bass anglers casting along the shoreline have caught good numbers of large and smallmouth bass when on crank baits and plastic worms.  Small pike were in abundance and found when trolling near the old submerged docks.   Big Manistee River:  Anglers at Tippy Dam caught some fresh steelhead on flies, crawlers and shrimp.  Smallmouth bass, rock bass and pike were becoming more active.   Ludington:  Boat anglers caught a few Chinook and lake trout in 100 to 300 feet.  Steelhead were caught higher in the water column.  Be advised the Copeyon Park fish cooler is not working properly so please dispose of your fish at the Loomis Launch.   Pentwater:  Boat anglers trolling in 60 to 150 feet caught lake trout and the occasional steelhead.   Pentwater Lake:  Large and smallmouth bass are being caught throughout the lake and within the channel.  Try jigs tipped with soft plastics, crawlers or shiners.    Back to Top Upper Peninsula Menominee River:  Those trolling stick baits and crawler harnesses caught walleye from Stephenson Island to the mouth.  The smallmouth bite was slow.   Little Bay De Noc:  Fishing did slow.  The best walleye catches were from Breezy Point south to Round Island and out to the “Fingers” when trolling or drifting crawlers and stick baits in 10 to 27 feet.  Pike were very active throughout the bay and though most were undersize, anglers did catch some that were 28 to 30 inches around Butler Island in eight to 14 feet.  Smallmouth bass anglers had fewer catches but those casting crank baits, spinners or plastics did take some off Hunters Point, the mouth of the Escanaba River and the Ford River in 5 to 14 feet.   Big Bay De Noc:  Walleye anglers reported fair catches at best when trolling stick baits or crawler harnesses in 18 to 24 feet.  Smallmouth bass catches slowed in Ogontz with many reporting undersize fish when casting spinners or plastics in six to 14 feet.  Garden Bay had fair to good catches in four to 12 feet.    Marquette:  When boats can get out, they have caught lake trout when jigging cut bait out near Standard Rock.  Those still-fishing near the “white rocks” had no luck.   Coho fishing has been slower.  Those fishing the Lower Harbor breakwall and near Shot Point in the early morning had some success.  Steelhead were caught when trolling spoons between both harbors.  Water levels in the Carp River were still high.     Munising:   Some boat anglers did catch a few Chinook and coho between eight and 12 pounds in Trout Bay and towards Miner’s Beach in less than 30 feet.  Those specifically targeting lake trout did best near the west channel with downriggers, spoons and cut bait just off the bottom in 150 to 200 feet.  Catch rates were still a bit slow as surface water temperatures were still in the mid 40’s.  Pier fishing off the Anna River was slow but a few splake 17 to 20 inches were taken on spawn or crawlers.   Grand Marais:  Gusty winds have made trolling difficult.  Those trolling within a mile of shore had no luck.  Those targeting lake whitefish off the pier caught some but many were too small.  The bigger fish came in the early morning hours with some reporting limit catches.   Detour:  Several targeting Atlantic salmon and lake trout caught more Atlantic salmon at the Detour Reef when trolling spoons 10 to 12 feet down in 80 feet from the green buoy to the lighthouse.  Lake trout were taken in 25 to 35 feet.  Hot colors were orange and white or purple and copper.  Sliders are taking fish just 10 feet below the surface.  Atlantic salmon were caught on the east side of the Detour lighthouse.  Around Drummond Island, Scott Bay was still producing a few 15 to 20 inch walleye for those trolling planer boards and bottom bouncers in four to 12 feet on the north side from Paw Point to Peck Island.  Good smallmouth action on the south end of James Island when drifting or casting spinners in four to six feet.   Cedarville and Hessel:  Those trolling spoons in 6 feet along the weed beds caught lots of smaller pike.  Those using large chubs and frozen smelt caught fish ranging 28 to 32 inches in the early morning.  Anglers reported high numbers of herring in Moscow Channel.  Those looking for perch had little success.  Try 18 to 20 feet with red worms or small minnows.  Smallmouth and rock bass were caught in in the early morning on crawlers or minnows about 4 feet down off the breakwall at Hessel.     St. Ignace:  The fish cleaning station is now open.  Very few anglers have been out because of the strong winds.  The Carp River is still producing a few walleye and a good number of small pike.  Crawlers or leeches worked best.  The Pine River is starting to produce more walleye and a few pike.   Back to Top Fishing Tip: Fly fishing frenzy June is the month in Michigan for fly fishing after dark with big bugs for big trout. The month’s hatches start with the brown drake mayfly, followed by the isonychia mayfly, and rounded out by Michigan’s biggest mayfly – the hexagenia.   Each bug can be expected to hatch one to two weeks on a given water body with some overlap. With the warm weather so far in 2016, the hatch schedule may be accelerated in Michigan so the hatches this year may be more intense and last fewer nights that usual.   Bugs will begin to emerge in the evening after sunset and can continue well after dark. Roughly48 hours later those same bugs will return to the water they hatched from and die. Both events cause a feeding frenzy in the fish community and provide a lot of fun for the anglers that take advantage of the feeding fish.   Contacting a local fly shop or bait shop is a good place to look for information on hatch activity on a specific water body. For information on fly fishing in Michigan, visitMichigan.gov/howtofish.

Fifteen Free Minutes to Jig Up Some Bluegill

Today I decided to sneak away during my 30 minute lunch to try out one of my hair jigs I'd tied this week.  Since I was already out to run an errand earlier, I had the perfect opportunity to run to the boat docks a couple of blocks from work.  So I drove over to the docks, grabbed a rod from the my trunk and tied on the 1/32 oz jig on while walking to closest dock.   I hadn't gotten any bites within my first few cast and my 10 minute time frame was quickly disappearing.  Since I was casting in to open water I decided to change tactics and pitch under the docs.  On the next cast, right under the closest dock, after a couple of quick twitches this guy aggressively snatched my jig.  The bluegill gave me a decent fight prior to being an unwilling model for the picture.  A quick release and I was back at work plodding away being productive. Hopefully I'll be able to get back out soon and chase some of the larger bluegill closer to home.

Thanks for reading and tight lines.  

Weekly Fishing Report: June 9, 2016

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Weekly Fishing Report

June 9, 2016

Southeast Lower Peninsula  Southwest Lower Peninsula  Northeast Lower Peninsula  Northwest Lower Peninsula  Upper Peninsula  Great Lakes Temperature Map  Weekly Fishing Tip It’s here!  Michigan’s annual “Summer Free Fishing Weekend” will be observed this Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12.  On these two days, both residents and non-residents can fish without a license however all regulations still apply. Show us what Michigan's fisheries means to you! Consider entering a submission into our Fishing in 15 video contest!  Southeast Lower Peninsula Lake Erie:  Those fishing straight out from Fermi, Stony Point, Brest Bay, Bolles Harbor and further south to the Dumping Grounds reported an increase in limit catches.  Trolling crawler harnesses with inline spinners produce the most fish but spoons and crank baits in fire-tiger, pink or purple also caught fish.  Those bottom bouncing with rigs are catching fish but are also sorting through a lot of small ones because the bigger fish are suspended higher in the water column.  Few were targeting yellow perch but some had decent luck with shiners on spreaders.  Those fishing in La Plaisance Bay near Bolles Harbor have had good catches of large and smallmouth bass in five to 10 feet with tube baits and crank baits.  Shore anglers at Sterling State Park have caught large and smallmouth bass off the Army Corp of Engineers Pier when using twister tail jigs.  Catfish were caught in the marsh channels near the mouth of Sandy Creek.  Shore anglers at Pointe Mouillee caught largemouth bass, white bass and catfish at the boating access site.   Detroit River:  Walleye slowed but anglers were still getting some white bass.  Perch were caught around the docks in Gibraltar and near the border waters in 10 to 11 feet.  Shore fishing has been hot and heavy especially for bluegills.    Oakland County:  With bass season underway, both Cass and Union Lake have seen steady pressure from tournament and non-tournament bass anglers. Those doing best are finesse fishing along the drop-offs and flats.  On windy days, try fast moving baits, such as crankbaits or spinners.  Those targeting panfish in Cass Lake were successful.  A few walleye were caught in a variety of depths and locations in both lakes and the carp are starting to spawn and can be seen throughout the shallows.     Lake St. Clair:  Smallmouth bass were caught from Metro all the way down to the Mile Roads in six to 10 feet using swimbaits, jerk baits, and tube baits.  A few largemouth bass, pike and muskie were also caught.  Walleye were found in the stretch between Metro and the Clinton River Cut-Off ramp and around the 400 Club in 10 feet when trolling pink and chartreuse crawler harnesses.  Some reported limit catches in the shipping channel around the lighthouse.  These anglers also caught good numbers of white bass.  Perch are still being caught on minnows and worms in six to eight feet at Gino’s.  Panfish were caught around the 400 Club in eight to 10 feet when floating a minnow.   On the north end, muskie were caught on west side of Anchor Bay on muskie lures or a black and red fly in eight to 10 feet.   Pike and bass were caught in the shallows.  A few perch were caught when drifting minnows in the small bay just north of the Harley Ensign launch.    St. Clair River:  Walleye fishing has been very good.  Those whipping and casting after dark were taking limit catches around Marysville, Marine City, and Algonac.  Those jigging and bottom bouncing with crawler harnesses during the day had good success.  A few white bass have been showing up in the lower channels.  Water temperature at Algonac was 60 degrees.   Lexington to Port Sanilac:  Continues to produce lake trout, steelhead, coho and pink salmon.  Tryfishing the bottom 10 in 50 to 100 feet.   Harbor Beach:  Some nice lake trout were taken north of the harbor in 50 to 125 feet with dodgers and spin-glo’s or with clean spoons near the bottom.  Salmon were on the slow side; try clean spoons 45 to 60 feet down.  A couple steelhead were caught on spoons.  Try bright yellow, green or chartreuse.    Port Austin to Grindstone City:  Smallmouth bass fishing remains good from Port Austin to Eagle Bay and Grindstone City. Live leeches and various plastics worked best.  A few walleye were taken in 25 feet off Grindstone City.  Lake trout, steelhead, coho and pink salmon were scattered in 50 to 100 feet.  Most were fishing the bottom 10 feet.  Those looking for bigger fish were heading out to 135 feet.   Saginaw Bay:  Walleye were coming from 20 feet off Linwood and Buoys G, A, and B and the pencil buoys.  Walleye were caught around Spoils Island in the early morning before sunrise and off the Callahan Reef when heading out from the river mouth, Finn Road or Quanicassee.  The hot spinners were purple, pink, chartreuse, anti-freeze, copper, brass and chrome.  Those launching at Sunset Bay Marina and off Sebewaing found walleye.  The bite was a bit slower at Bay Port but a few fish were still taken in eight to 10 feet in Wildfowl Bay.   Saginaw River:  Shore anglers in the lower river were catching a few smallmouth bass, walleye, perch, freshwater drum and catfish off Smith Park when using minnows and crawlers.  Those trolling caught some walleye in 12 to 14 feet near the Coast Guard Station.   Shiawassee River:  Was producing rock bass and suckers throughout.     Back to Top Southwest Lower Peninsula St. Joseph:  Pier anglers caught a fair number of steelhead on shrimp.  Fishing for boat anglers was slow as strong winds have made it difficult and few boats left the harbor.   St. Joseph River:  Is producing bass and large catfish.  Anglers targeting catfish continue to do well with crawlers, shrimp, bluegills or cut bait.   South Haven:  Strong winds have kept fishing pressure low.  The boats that were able to get out caught a few coho and lake trout in waters less than 100 feet deep.  Pier anglers caught some steelhead when floating shrimp under a bobber.    Grand Haven:  Trout and salmon have been caught 35 to 150 feet down in 150 to 250 feet when trolling green flies and orange spoons.  Pier anglers are catching steelhead on shrimp.  Freshwater drum were caught while casting spoons in the channel. Grand River at Grand Rapids:  Is producing a few walleye and some catfish.  Try leeches for the walleye and cut bait or shrimp for catfish.  Bass have been caught in the shallows and around structure.  Check the backwaters for bluegill and crappie.   Grand River at Lansing:  Is producing bass, pike and catfish.  Bow fishermen were doing well for carp.   Jackson County:  Anglers are taking largemouth bass and panfish.   Clinton County:  Bluegill fishing was decent on Round Lake.  Catch rates were fair on Park Lake and Muskrat Lake.   Muskegon:  Boat anglers were finding trout and salmon 25 to 125 feet down in 200 to 300 feet.  Orange and green spoons worked best.   Muskegon Lake:  Bass anglers have done well in the shallows and along the drop-offs.  Walleye fishingwas slow but a few perch were found out from the Bear Lake Channel.  Anglers are catching bluegill and crappie.   Muskegon River:  Fly fishing is the key right now especially for rainbow and brown trout.  Drake and March Browns were hatching.  Check out the backwaters for bluegill.  Whitehall:  Chinook salmon and steelhead are being caught while trolling in 140 to 200 feet.  Pier anglers caught freshwater drum and white perch on cut bait near the bottom.    Back to Top Northeast Lower Peninsula Cheboygan:  Good numbers of lake trout were caught in 40 to 70 feet near Cordwood Point when using spoons, dodgers and cowbells.      Cheboygan River:  Is producing smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye.  The smallmouth and pike improved with the warmer water.  Walleye catches were hit-or-miss with the better fishing after dark for those casting or trolling crank baits. Mullett Lake:  Water temperatures were about 68 degrees and there was a large mayfly hatch on the north end.  Walleye anglers are doing well after dark near Aloha State Park and the mouth of the Cheboygan River.  Stick baits and body baits with rattles are working best.  A few pike are still being caught in Pigeon River Bay and Scott's Bay.  Smallmouth bass anglers are struggling to catch fish, with only a few caught in the shallow rocky areas. Otsego Lake:  Was producing limit catches of walleye.  Panfish were also caught.   Rogers City:  Lake trout fishing has been excellent with plenty of limit catches reported.  Some days were better than others.  Best depths were 45 to 65 feet while fishing close to the bottom or 15 to 20 feet from the bottom with green spoons or spin-glo’s, cowbells and dodgers.  Boats were fishing north, south and straight out.  A stray Chinook or Atlantic are still showing up in the catch.  Chinook were caught in 80 to 120 feet and the Atlantic salmon were caught up high on bright colored spoons.       Presque Isle:  Has excellent lake trout fishing in 40 to 80 feet between the two lighthouses.  The fishwere suspended and not on the bottom so run lines throughout the water column.  Spoons dodgers and spin-glo’s caught fish.  A good number of Atlantic salmon were still coming in.  Fish them like steelhead, up high in the water column in 20 to 45 feet.   Alpena:  Had good lake trout fishing.  Most anglers are targeting fish in 60 to 80 feet and spreading bait throughout the water column as the fish were suspended.  Spoons, flies, spin-glo’s, wobble glo’s, cut bait and body baits in dark colors worked best.  Walleye fishing was still spotty.  Most anglers were heading out at night with planer boards and long-lining with body baits and crawler harnesses.  Thunder Bay has lots of bass and pike.   Thunder Bay River:  Fishing was slow but a few walleye and bass were caught in the early morning and late evening when using live bait.   Oscoda:  Pier fishing has been hit-or-miss over the last week.  Those targeting walleye had limited success.  Those trolling have caught lake trout and the occasional steelhead in 60 to 100 feet with spoons, cut bait or spin-glo’s.  Fish were marked from top to bottom.   Au Sable River:  Boats drifting crawlers have caught some walleye.  Some were casting body baits and stick baits.  Trout have been caught in all branches especially by those fly fishing.   Higgins Lake:   Lake trout are still being caught in 80 to 100 feet.  Anglers are catching lots of rock bass and the bite should continue for the weekend.   Houghton Lake:  Has had good fishing especially out around the Middle Grounds which were producing well.  The bite did slow with the latest mayfly hatch and the cooler temperatures but should rebound by the weekend.  Anglers are catching a good number of walleye in six to eight feet late at night or early morning.  Bass, bluegills and sunfish have been caught throughout the day.   Tawas:  Those trolling crawler harnesses in 35 feet off Tawas Point and Au Sable Point took a few walleye.  A few fish were also taken off Alabaster.  Those vertical jigging off the mouth of the Tawas River took a few walleye as well.  Pier fishing was slow with only a couple pike and freshwater drum taken.    Tawas River:  Shore anglers were getting a few smallmouth bass in the lower river.    Au Gres:  Most of the boat anglers were coming back with one or two fish but some did much better.  Walleye were caught in 25 to 30 feet off the Rifle Bar and between Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres in various depths.  Further south, boats launching at Eagle Bay Marina did well for walleye on the right day.   Back to Top Northwest Lower Peninsula Harbor Springs:  Had smallmouth bass anglers fishing the shallows inside Harbor Point and along Wequetonsing to the state park.  They did not have much luck.  The males seem to be preparing the beds while the females were sitting a bit deeper.   Petoskey:  Angling pressure was low but the few that did go out caught lake trout when trolling towards Bay Harbor.  The fish were hitting spoons on the bottom in 35 to 60 feet.   Bear River:  Still had a lot of rock bass up at the dam.  Those fishing off the rocks and the D Pier caught pike, suckers, bullhead, carp, rock bass and a few small perch.  This is a great place to fish with a worm and bobber, crankbait or small jig.   Charlevoix:  No salmon were reported but some big lake trout were caught 60 to 80 feet down in 80 to 120 feet.  Most boats were targeting the North Point area when trolling spoons and spin-glo’s.  Thosefishing the channel were still getting a few lake trout off the pier.  Walleye fishing slowed but a couple fishwere still taken after dark.  Cisco action was still hit-or-miss but some bigger fish were caught.     Traverse City:  Boat anglers targeting bass have done well in shallow water at the south end of the East Bay.  Lake trout anglers have done well out of Elk Rapids and Deepwater Point.  Cisco were caught south of Elk Rapids.  The Elk River by-pass still has a good number of rainbow trout left over from the kidsfishing day.  Lake trout fishing was good north of the M-22 launch in the West Bay.    Boardman River:  Continues to produce bass for those using crawlers and leeches.  Anglers have also caught pike, suckers and perch.     Frankfort:  A few Chinook have been caught off the “Shelf” in 180 to 300 feet.  Boats are heading straight out and to the north.  Lake trout are being caught off a rock pile straight out from the mouth of the Platte River in East Platte Bay.      Portage Lake:  Anglers were finding panfish in the shallows along the east side.   Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell:  Had good bass fishing.  Most were catching largemouth but a few smallmouth were also found.  Catch rates slowed with the cooler temperatures but should rebound by the weekend.  A few walleye and bullhead were caught in the canal between the two lakes.   Manistee:  The north pier still closed.  Baitfish are still in the harbor and anglers were picking up a small number of steelhead, brown trout and Chinook in the early morning.  Walleye are still being caught at night.  Those trolling caught lake trout, steelhead and Chinook in 100 to 300 feet.   Manistee Lake:  Northern pike, largemouth and smallmouth bass have been caught.     Big Manistee River:  A few summer run steelhead have been caught on crawlers in the early morning at Tippy Dam.  A couple legal size brown trout were caught but most were undersize.  Those fly fishing have been very active with good catches of trout between High Bridge and Tippy Dam.  A few suckers were still being caught.   Ludington:  Baitfish are moving into the channel and Pere Marquette Lake.  Boat anglers are getting lake trout, steelhead and Chinook in 100 to 300 feet.   Pentwater:  Those targeting Chinook and steelhead had success in 180 feet and deeper.   Pentwater Lake:  Anglers targeting large and smallmouth bass did well in waters between two and 12 feet deep.  Try jigs tipped with soft plastics near weed beds or submerged structure.  Back to Top Upper Peninsula Keweenaw Bay:  Those out in the cool rainy weather did very well with a mix of coho, lake trout and splake when trolling from the head of the bay north to the red rocks on a variety of spoons and body baits.  Trolling speeds were between 2 and 2.5 mph.    Menominee River:  The muskie bite was slow with only a few smaller fish caught in and around Boom Island and the Nest Egg Marina.  Those trolling for walleye had some limit catches of fish in the 16 to 18 inch range when using crawler harnesses or stick baits.   Little Bay De Noc:  Walleye anglers reported fair to good catches between the Center and the Third Reefs when trolling stick baits or crawler harnesses in 18 to 25 feet.  The best area was south by the Ford River and Breezy Point where anglers trolled stick baits in eight to 14 feet.  The mouth of the Ford River is producing fair catches of smallmouth bass but the better fishing was up river where most were casting tube baits, crank baits or spinners along the banks.  Fish were also caught at the mouth of the Escanaba River in eight to 12 feet.  Shore anglers at the Ford River had a lot of action but most of the fish were too small.  Pike numbers are on the increase with good catches throughout the bay including around Butler Island and just off the Day’s River when trolling crank baits, spoons or spinners in 10 to 18 feet.  Those flyfishing on the Escanaba River did well for rainbow and brown trout.   Big Bay De Noc:  The walleye are starting to disperse but Ogontz still reported fair catches trolling stick baits in 14 to 18 feet.  Smallmouth bass anglers in the same area reported fair to good catches when casting plastics or spinners in four to 12 feet. Pike fishing was also good but many were small.  Puffy Bay, Garden Bay and South River Bay were producing smallmouth bass but South River Bay has slowed.  Those fishing Porcupine Point reported fewer fish than previous years but catch rates were still fair for those casting crank baits, spinners or plastics in four to 16 feet.    Marquette:  Lake trout fishing slowed near the “white rocks”.  Anglers were still heading north and fishingthe Upper Harbor and Shot Point in 80 to 200 feet.  The coho action slowed as well but some were still caught around the breakwall in the Lower Harbor.  Water levels in the Carp River were high due to recent rains.  Those targeting brook trout had little success.   Munising:  Heavy rains lowered water temperatures into the low to mid 40’s.  Lake trout were caught near the Wood Island Reef.  The fish averaged two to three pounds.  A few boat anglers caught Chinook salmon up to eight pounds when trolling near Trout Bay and inside Munising Bay.  Pier activity at the Anna River was slow but those out did catch some decent size splake right along with several small ones.   Grand Marais:  Water temperatures have dropped into the low 40’s.  A few anglers did okay on lake trout anywhere from a few miles offshore in 150 feet to ten miles out in 250 to 300 feet.  Some limit catches were taken in the morning hours when anglers could get out.  Whitefish are coming in all sizes from eight to 20 inches for those using eggs off the pier.   St. Marys River:  Had a few reports of lake trout being caught east of the lighthouse on the Drummond Island side with hammered silver and gray four inch spoons.   Detour:  Anglers targeting Atlantic salmon caught a couple Chinook while trolling black and chrome spoons near the lighthouse.  The Chinook were in 28 feet right close to the lighthouse and between the green can and the lighthouse.  Anglers off Drummond Island are reporting walleye on the north side of Scott Bay trolling eastward from Paw Point with planer boards and white rubber body spinners.  Crawler harnesses worked best in the early morning.   Cedarville and Hessel:  Anglers did well fishing for northern pike in Musky Bay.  They were trolling with rubber bodied minnows and a spinner blade in six to eight feet in early morning hours.  In and around Wilderness Bay a few pike were caught in six feet when trolling light colored bucktail spinners.  West of the Hessel Dock, fish were also taken on the west side of Combe Island in six to eight feet on live chub minnows.  Those looking for yellow perch should try inside the finger docks in the Hessel Marina with wax worms about six inches off the bottom in six to eight feet.  Early morning is best.   St. Ignace:  Had few anglers going out.  The Carp River has produced some walleye and lots of northern pike but most of the pike and about half of the walleye were undersize.  The Pine River is starting to produce a few more walleye and pike.  Most are using crawlers or leeches for the walleye and casting spoons or stick baits for the pike.       Back to Top Fishing Tip: Visit the DNR's YouTube channel for useful fishing videos Do you learn better by seeing how something’s done? Then check out the DNR’s YouTube channel atwww.youtube.com/MichiganDNR for a variety of videos to help you build your fishing skills!

Special Delivery: Time To Tie Some Bucktail Jigs

Today my order of jigs came in from TJ's tackle. So I decided I'd show you all what I ordered earlier this week.  As well in a later post I'll take the time to walk you through the steps of powder painting them.

Let's start with the jigs I purchased. They're sizes 1/4 oz. and 3/8 oz in a walleye style which means they're fish heads with a triangular shape.  As well they come with either a thin or thick wire hook, depending on what you'd prefer.  Lastly they  have a collar thats gapped in front of the keeper point which makes them perfect for tying bucktail jigs.

This year is the first year I've been tying bucktails on this style of hook and I love them.  I haven't gotten hung up on rocks as much as I have with round head jigs.  Not only that but because they have the lead keeper point they make perfect jig heads for soft minnow baits like the gulp alive minnows.  In fact I'll be using 1/8 oz walley jigs combined with gulp alive minnows for crappie this summer and fall. Below are some images of the jig heads before and after powder paint has been applied.

Thanks for reading and tight lines!