MDNR Fish Report...Game On!

Weekly Fishing Report
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Recreational Fishing Report517-373-0908
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Great Lakes temperature map
Cooler temperatures along with rain last week did push salmon into some of the rivers, especially on the west side of the state where the runs are typically one or two weeks ahead of the east side. Boats trolling out in the Great Lakes are still catching fish. September looks to be a good month for trout and salmon fishing.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie - Fishing was slow with a few walleye caught when trolling crawlers or spoons. Perch fishing has started to show signs of improvement over the last few days for those using minnows between Bolles Harbor and Toledo Beach. Catfish have been caught at the Monroe Hot Ponds.
Huron River - Anglers are catching bass, bluegills, catfish and carp. A couple trout were caught by the coldwater discharge but no significant numbers yet.
Detroit River - Walleye were caught in 18 to 20 feet of water up near Sugar Island and the Cross Dike. Some were handlining near McClouth Steel and around Calf Island. Perch were hitting in 14 feet of water near the Huron River and 9 feet of water north of Sugar Island.
Lake St. Clair - Walleye anglers are still taking a few fish when handlining or trolling a crawler harness. Smallmouth bass and perch were caught in 12 to 14 feet of water however some of the perch were small. Some big muskie were also caught.
St. Clair River - Walleye anglers are trolling crawler harnesses or handlining.
Lexington - Lake trout are still hitting in 100 to 125 feet of water. Lake trout season is open until the end of September. Perch fishing is spotty.
Harbor Beach - Lake trout fishing is still good straight out and north of the harbor in 80 to 100 feet of water in the morning, then moving out to 105 to 130 feet of water. Fish close to the bottom with green dodgers. For steelhead, fish the top 50 to 60 feet with lures in bright colors like pink, yellow, and orange about 150 feet back of the offshore boards, downriggers or dipseys. If the bite is slow, try speeding up. For salmon, try closer to shore in the morning with plugs or body baits 25 to 40 feet back and adjust for deeper waters. Good colors were black with glow, gold, green or blue. Walleye were scattered but anglers may still want to try straight out or north of the harbor with crawler harnesses and Hot-n-Tots. Try 25 to 30 feet of water in the early morning.
Port Austin - Walleye and smallmouth bass were caught in 40 feet of water between the harbor and the lighthouse.
Saginaw Bay - We seem to be in the fall fishing mode a bit earlier this year. Walleye fishing is shutting down, as it usually does around Labor Day. As for catch rates, walleye were taken 2 to 3 miles east of the Black Hole in 23 feet of water. Other spots were the Callahan Reef and out near the Slot however anglers are fishing a long time to get a couple walleye. Perch fishing is still slow, with better action about a month away. A few fish were caught around the Black Hole and Buoy H. Enough fish 7 to 10 inches long were caught to make the trip worthwhile.
Saginaw River - Trollers using crank baits in the lower river have caught a few walleye. This is a good place to try if it is too windy to get out on the bay. Channel cats were caught near Essexville.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joe - Boat anglers are catching chinook and coho when trolling near the end of the piers. Early morning is best. Pier anglers are also catching a few salmon.
St. Joe River - The cool nights are still producing some good skamania fishing, especially below the dams.
Kalamazoo River - Steelhead have been caught between the mouth and the Allegan Dam. Some are floating spawn while others are fly fishing. Early morning is best. Anglers caught a few walleye.
Grand Haven - The fall salmon action has started. Anglers are trolling around the piers and in the channel. Hot baits were J-Plugs in chrome with a red head or green ladderback with downriggers or dipsey divers. Pier anglers have caught chinook, coho and steelhead when casting spoons or alewife. No luck on perch.
Grand River at Grand Rapids - Anglers are catching salmon, steelhead and brown trout up near the Sixth Street Dam or below the first coffer dam. Try spawn bags under a bobber, rapalas, yarn, spoons, plugs or Hot-n-Tots. The best time to fish was 5 A.M. through 10 A.M. A few fish have also been caught in Prairie Creek near Ionia. Walleye were hitting on crawlers and rapalas and pike were hitting on sucker minnows and spoons.
Grand River at Lansing - A few walleye are still being caught. There have been reports of salmon at Lyons and Portland. Bass and channel catfish were caught below the North Lansing Dam. Try minnows, crawlers or crickets.
Muskegon - Boats are catching chinook, coho and steelhead when trolling J-Plugs around the piers and in the channel. Good colors were chrome with red or the green ladder back. Pier anglers jigging or casting spoons have caught chinook.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Mullett Lake - Bass are hitting on sand colored tube baits, spinners and drop shot minnows in waters as shallow as 4 feet or as deep as 14 to 17 feet. Perch and rock bass were hitting in the shallows. Walleye were caught when trolling crawler harnesses in 35 to 45 feet of water along the north end of the lake.
Rogers City - Most of the action has been between Calcite and Adams Point. Those fishing between Adams Point and Swan Bay were running J-Plugs and Bombers on highlines and planer boards. Try halfway down in waters 45 to 75 feet deep. Good colors were green, blue, silver and chartreuse or black and white. Use anything that glows early and late. Anglers were catching mostly chinook along with the occasional lake trout, brown trout or walleye.
Presque Isle - Anglers are fishing straight out from the Red Can or north between the lighthouses. Stoneport has also been good however anglers need to watch out for the commercial fishing nets.
Rockport - Anglers are doing well around Middle Island in about 90 feet of water. They caught lake trout and salmon when trolling spoons. Good colors were green and silver or rainbow.
Alpena - Has good walleye fishing for those trolling the channel into the bay with crawler harnesses, body baits and reef runners. Other hot spots were Thunder Bay Island, North Point and along the north shore in 20 to 30 feet of water.
Thunder Bay River - Fishing was slow however salmon have started jumping in the river. Boat anglers are trolling near the mouth in 20 to 30 feet of water.
Harrisville - Fishing continues to be steady. Boats trolling straight out of the harbor and fishing in 75 to 90 feet of water have caught salmon and steelhead. The salmon were hitting on downriggers 10 to 20 feet off the bottom and steelhead on sliders, dipsey divers and lead core. Lake trout were scattered but once you find them, catch rates were good.
Oscoda - Boat anglers are catching salmon and steelhead in 70 to 90 feet of water. Try spoons, body baits or plugs in blue and gold or anything that glows.
Au Sable River - Those fly fishing continue to do well on brook trout and brown trout. Salmon had not yet started to come into the river however the run should start soon. A few walleye have been caught in the early morning or late evening.
Higgins Lake - Those jigging or trolling are still catching lake trout. A few perch were caught around the Sunken Island and lots of rock bass have been caught all over the lake.
Houghton Lake - Those jigging leeches or trolling crawler harnesses have caught walleye. Many were sub-legal. Bluegill and crappie were in the weedbeds and some nice pike were caught on spoons, spinner baits or large minnows.
Tawas - Those trolling are still getting some walleye in 25 feet of water out near Buoy #2, around the reef, and north of the Charity Islands. Some 6 to 9 inch perch have been caught off the pier in the early morning. No salmon yet.
Au Gres - Boat anglers are still catching some walleye north of the Charity Islands and in 25 feet of water off Point Lookout and Point Au Gres.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Petoskey - Anglers are doing well for salmon and lake trout when fishing 100 to 125 feet down in waters 130 feet deep with green and white or chartreuse glow flies behind green and white dodgers or flashers. More fish are showing up on the banks and staging before they start the spawning process.
Crooked Lake - Anglers targeting bass, walleye, and pike in 10 feet of water along the weedbeds are casting fire-tiger or blue and white crank baits or white spinners.
Charlevoix - Boat anglers continue to catch fish just off the bottom in waters up to 130 feet deep. Pier and shore anglers are also catching fish.
Lake Bellaire - Surface temperatures are still around the mid to low 60's throughout the entire lake. Pressure for walleye continues to be high with a few fish caught each day. Anglers are trolling and jigging near the Fisherman's Paradise Access, the Northwest Arm and the Narrows. Try crawler harnesses, spoons, stick baits or floating jigs with leeches or crawlers in 10 to 40 feet of water. Bass have been caught on artificial worms, tube baits or crank baits. Pike were caught by those trolling crawler harnesses or casting spoons near the mouth of the Intermediate River and the Grass River outlet in 8 to 12 feet of water. Perch were hitting crawlers in 5 feet of water near the mouth of the Intermediate River.
Traverse City - Salmon fishing slowed in the East Bay however whitefish could be found in the southern portions of the bay when jigging white spoons. In the West Bay, salmon action was hit-or-miss around the "Hole" and the Red Buoy. The fish were scattered due to warm water pushed back into the bay.
Leland - Good catches were still coming for those fishing the north end of North Manitou Island. Most fish were in 120 to 130 feet of water however recent storms and cooler temperatures have the fish moving into shallow waters. Those fishing along the First Bank did well in the evening when trolling spoons, plugs and flies.
Glen Arbor - The west side of South Manitou Island is still a favorite spot for those looking for chinook 90 to 120 feet down. At sundown, anglers are heading to Pyramid Point and Canners Point.
Glen Lake - The M-22 Bridge is open for boat traffic even though it is under construction. Perch anglers are starting to pick up good numbers when using wigglers in the shallows in the early morning.
Platte Bay - Those fishing in 40 to 110 feet of water in the East Bay have caught chinook and coho on spoons and J-Plugs off dipsey divers set 25 to 50 feet down. No fishing pressure on the surf yet but with fish up the river at the lower dam and fish at the mouth, it won't be long.
Platte River - Has salmon in it. There are some coho below the lower weir and a limited number of fish have been passed upstream. Those surfcasting at the mouth have only caught a few fish.
Frankfort - The north wind last weekend pushed some fish into the harbor. Both pier and boat anglers were catching good numbers. Boats were trolling in 80 to 100 feet of water near the Shelf with green, blue or glow plugs. Those fishing off the pier did well when casting green or blue Cleo's and live alewife.
Betsie River - Cooler weather has anglers catching more fish when casting squid or floating spawn at the upper and lower River Road Bridges, and from the 31 Bridge all the way up to the dam. Trolling inside Betsie Lake has been somewhat slow, but casting squid and other spinners in the river channel did produce some good catches.
Arcadia - The fishing was hit-or-miss with the changing weather. The better catches came from the Steeple Hole or the Herring Hole when fishing 30 to 130 feet down in waters 60 to 400 feet deep. Most were caught on ladder backs or flies.
Onekama - Salmon fishing has been good. Fish were found near the Barrel in the early morning however by mid-morning the boats were moving out near the Bank. The fish are in a little closer but most anglers were still trolling about 45 feet down in waters 60 to 100 feet deep. Plugs, meat rigs and spoons were taking fish.
Portage Lake - Those trolling for walleye and pike had a hard time locating fish. Good numbers of largemouth bass are once again being caught on the east side.
Manistee - Boats are catching salmon in the harbor and around the piers. Try using glow plugs in low light conditions and chrome plugs once the sun comes up. Pier anglers are catching salmon on glow spoons.
Manistee River - Anglers have begun to catch fish in earnest, especially in the lower river. Most were casting body baits or floating skein under a bobber.
Ludington - Salmon are being caught when trolling plugs in front of the pier and out to 60 feet of water. Pier anglers have caught salmon when casting spoons.
Pere Marquette River - Anglers fishing the lower river have caught fair to good numbers of fish when casting body baits or floating skein under a bobber.
UPPER PENINSULA
Keweenaw Bay - Boats trolling spoons in 120 to 150 feet of water near Gay Point have caught lake trout. Those jigging in 220 to 240 feet of water out from Big Louie's Point caught lake trout when using cut bait.
Marquette - Has good lake trout action with water temperatures in the low 60's. Chinook and coho are moving in but still slow this past week. A few salmon along with the occasional brown trout have been caught near the Carp and Dead Rivers.
Lake Michigamme - Muskie are hitting on body baits.
Ottawa Lake - Near Iron River, has good smallmouth bass action.
Menominee - Trout and salmon fishing slowed in Green Bay however walleye were hitting near Chambers Island and Green Island. Most are trolling crawler harnesses or rapalas. Pier anglers caught a few chinook and brown trout near the lighthouse in the early morning. Try casting a variety of colored spoons.
Menominee River - Walleye have been caught by shore anglers off the Cat Walk, those wading near Stephenson Island and Boom Island, or by those trolling. Anglers will need to sort as many were small. Crawlers worked best.
Cedar River - Those fishing between the mouth and the first rapids have caught lots of smallmouth bass however many were sub-legal.
Little Bay De Noc - Walleye anglers are still trolling near the "Fingers" with stick baits in 10 to 30 feet of water. A few fish were caught at the mouth of the Escanaba River when drifting crawlers along the weedbeds. Light perch action off Brach's Cabins when jigging minnows in 10 to 14 feet of water. Fair salmon action off Portage Point when trolling glow spoons 70 feet down in waters 80 to 90 feet deep.
Big Bay De Noc - Is producing walleye north and south of Round Island when trolling small moonshine glows in 20 to 33 feet of water. Smallmouth were caught in 10 to 14 feet of water near Ogontz and 10 to 25 feet of water outside Garden Bay. Off Fairport, boat anglers are still heading out deep and fishing 110 to 170 feet down with green and black glow spoons. A few large fish were caught however most were less than 10 pounds.
Au Train - Has excellent lake trout action with many getting their limits when trolling spoons or jigs with cut bait around the islands.
Grand Marais - Light numbers of salmon, lake trout and steelhead have been caught. Catch rates should improve this week.
Munuscong - Walleye have been caught in the channel when using crawler harnesses with smiley blades in bright colors. Walleye were also found in 8 to 10 feet of water in Raber Bay.
De Tour - Boats are trolling the channel to the lighthouse or heading about 5 miles south of the lighthouse for lake trout.
Drummond Island - Yellow perch have been caught on the north side of Grape Island in the evening. In the early morning, try the end of the Yacht Haven Dock with minnows. A few pike were caught on the just off the weedbeds on the north side of Grape Island. Try pencil plugs the last two hours before dark.
Cedarville and Hessel - Catch rates from the Hessel pier seem to fluctuate with the weather. Catch rates for perch and pike have dropped. Smallmouth bass action has picked up as it usually does when the weather starts to cool. Try casting along the reefs and the rocks. Salmon have been caught off Goose Island when fishing 25 to 40 feet down. Perch can still be found in Cedarville Bay or the Moscoe Channel.
Pine River - A limited number of anglers are still-fishing with crawlers and leeches for rock bass and suckers.
St. Ignace - Anglers are casting for pike from the primitive launch on the northwest side of the Mackinaw Bridge. They are using red and gold spinners. Boats are trolling the bay flats to the Coast Guard Station for chinook. Most are targeting 40 to 60 feet of water with silver and red or green, orange and white combination spoons.