Weekly Fishing Report October 6th

Water levels came up in quite a few rivers however mild temperatures will once again slow trout and salmon fishing.  Inland lakes this time of year usually produce pike, bass, crappie and bluegills.

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SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

Lake Erie:  Walleye anglers are still fishing in 18 to 25 feet of water off the Fermi Plant and the River Raisin.  For large and smallmouth bass, try the rock piles and the “Humps” in Brest Bay.  Most are using spinner baits or the drop-shot method.  Perch were caught off Rat Island in 10 feet of water.  Bluegills were caught off Pt. Mouillee.

 

Huron River:  Steelhead fishing slowed with the warm weather.  Try the deeper holes early or late.  Bluegill and crappie are still being caught.

 

Detroit River:  Perch were caught on rigs with shiner minnows in 5 to 12 feet of water near the mouth.  Some reported 20 to 40 keepers per boat.  For walleye, try crawler harnesses near Celeron and Sugar Island.  Bass anglers are using sinkos and tube baits.

 

St. Clair River:  Salmon and brown trout were caught off the wall in Port Huron.

 

Lexington:  Pier anglers venturing out did manage to catch a couple steelhead or brown trout.  Try small cleo’s or rapalas.  For salmon, try glow spoons at night.

 

Port Sanilac:  Pier anglers were catching the occasional steelhead or brown trout.

 

Harbor Beach:  Those trolling inside the harbor caught some really nice brown trout.

Try the shipping channel off the Edison Plant with spoons or rapalas in 15 to 20 feet of water.

 

Saginaw Bay:  Had just a few perch caught in 22 to 24 feet of water near the Spark Plug which is Buoys 11 and 12.  Shore anglers fishing the marina basins are still getting a few nice crappie and some bluegills.  Those fishing the Hot Ponds and near the mouth of the Saginaw River caught smallmouth bass and freshwater drum.

 

SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

 

 

 

St. Joseph River:  Is producing quite a few fish below the Berrien Springs Dam.  Fish were also caught up around Niles and on the Dowagiac River.

 

South Haven:   Again, extreme weather slowed fishing as the waters were churned up by all the wind.  Fishing should improve once the lake settles down.

 

Kalamazoo River:  Has good numbers of salmon at the Allegan Dam.

 

Holland:  Anglers are fishing off the piers and small boats are in the harbor and just outside the piers.

Grand Haven:  Boat anglers are fishing 20 to 40 feet down in 160 to 260 feet of water.   Orange and yellow spoons were the ticket.  Pier anglers are using spawn bags for steelhead however no fish were caught.

 

Grand River at Grand Rapids:  Is producing good numbers chinook and brown trout on spawn, cleo’s, wobble glow and thundersticks.  Early morning or late evening is best during the warmer weather.   For steelhead, try wax worms or small spoons.  Riverside Park and Millennium Park were producing bluegill and crappie.

 

Grand River at Lansing:  Continues to produce good numbers of coho at Moore’s Park and the point where the Grand meets the Red Cedar River.  Anglers are using spinners and skein.

 

Morrison Lake:  Has been good for bluegill and crappie.

 

Jordan Lake:  Is still producing bluegill or crappie on minnows.

 

Muskegon River:  Has a good number of salmon.

 

Whitehall:  Salmon anglers had good results 70 to 90 feet down in 200 feet of water. Silver was the hot color.  Steelhead were also caught by those trolling lead core about 30 feet down or dipseys about 40 feet down.

 

White River:  Is thick with salmon at this time.  A good number of fish have been caught on natural spawn.

 

NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

 

 

Rogers City:  There is still a chance to target some adult fish if you anchor and try casting in Swan Bay.  For young salmon and steelhead, try fishing halfway down in 40 to 120 feet of water once you find some baitfish.  Good colors to try are green, blue, orange, yellow or combinations with silver.  Lots of brown trout along with a few salmon were caught off the marina wall when casting cleo’s and body baits or drifting spawn under a bobber.

 

Presque Isle:  Had great fishing for young salmon and steelhead before the storms hit. It is hard to tell if the fish are still scattered.  Try fishing the top half in waters 55 to 85 feet deep.  Look for baitfish and structure.

 

Alpena:  Had no reports of salmon, trout, or walleye being caught out in the lake. Yellow perch are starting to show up in the marina.

 

Thunder Bay River:  A few salmon were caught up near the Ninth Street Dam when drifting spawn.

 

Harrisville:  Salmon are still making their way into and around the harbor.  There are more males then females so the run may just be starting.  Spawn, spoons and body baits are all working well.  Early morning and late evening are best.  Salmon anglers caught a few walleye in and around the harbor.

 

Oscoda:  Is slow with very few salmon being caught off the pier.

 

Au Sable River:  Is still slow with very few salmon caught in the river.  The normal holes that hold fish this time of year are empty.  Only a couple fish have been caught off the pier and behind the bank by those using spoons, spawn, or stick baits.

 

Higgins Lake:  Fishing activity slowed but those fishing deep caught lake trout.

 

Tawas:  Pier anglers were finally starting to catch some decent size perch inside the harbor.  A few salmon and lots of minnows were seen inside the harbor.

 

Tawas River:  Shore anglers fishing at the mouth continue to catch chinook salmon.

 

Au Gres:  A few perch were caught in 25 to 30 feet of water straight out from the mouth of the river and down by the hotel.

 

Au Gres River:  On the East Branch near the Singing Bridge, rain, wind and work being done by the Drain Commission muddied up the waters and kept anglers away. Steelhead fishing should improve as the water clears up.

 

NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Petoskey:  Salmon action has slowed as most of the fish are in the Bear River.  Won’t be long and the steelhead will start showing up inside the piers.

 

Charlevoix:  Salmon fishing is starting to slow down with only a few fish taken in the St. Mary’s boat slip.
Traverse City:  In the East Bay, boat anglers were taking a few whitefish when jigging. Yellow perch are starting to show up for those still-fishing with live bait. Few boats were fishing in the West Bay.  Although the lake trout season has ended in the bay, shore anglers can harvest lake trout in both the Boardman River and the Elk River below the power dam.
Elk River:  Shore anglers continue to catch salmon below the dam when using spawn bags or skein.
Boardman River:  Salmon are hitting on spawn bags, skein, small spoons, spinners or rapalas.

Crystal River:  In Leelanau County had a good run of salmon from Fisher Dam downstream to Lake Michigan.
Manistee:  Boat anglers are taking limit catches of trout and salmon 40 to 80 feet down in 200 to 400 feet of water with small spoons.  Orange and green were the hot colors. Those using cut bait caught bigger fish.  Pier fishing was slow.

 

Manistee River:  Is still producing very good salmon action below Tippy Dam.  The last rain did push some fresh steelhead up into the river.

 

Ludington:  Has good fishing in the top 50 feet of waters 150 to 300 feet deep with small spoons and flies.  Pier and shore fishing was slow.

 

Pere Marquette River:  The upper half of the river is the most productive section especially between the M-37 Bridge and the launch at Bowman’s Bridge.  Try natural spawn or an orange or pink fly in the flies only section.

 

UPPER PENINSULA

 

 

 

Copper Harbor:  Much cooler water temperatures have bought splake into the harbor. Large schools of fish could be seen from the marina.  The fish are not very aggressive in shallow water so catch rates were spotty.  Boat anglers casting or trolling stick baits caught more fish than shore anglers.

 

Falls River:  Has a good number of chinook, coho, pink salmon and brown trout.

Gratiot Lake:  Gave up some nice perch for those using half a crawler under a slip bobber in 10 to 15 feet of water.  A few walleye were caught when trolling crawler harnesses along the edge of the weed beds.

                                                            
Marquette:  Surface water temperatures are still in the upper 50’s.  A few anglers were trolling for salmon between the Carp and Chocolay River but no fish were caught.  A few coho were taken on crawlers off the Lower Harbor breakwall.   

 

Dead River:  Higher water levels produced better fishing for chinook and coho.  The pink salmon are just about done spawning.

 

Carp River:  With higher water levels, chinook and coho have been caught on spawn, cleo’s and assorted spinners.

 

Menominee River:  Those fishing behind K-Mart are still catching fish but many were on the small side.  Perch are still hitting on minnows in the marina.  Trout and salmon action was slow for those wading near the First Dam.  Fish were seen jumping so it should not be too much longer.  Walleye and smallmouth bass were caught near the dam by those fishing off both sides of the river.  Try rapalas or stick baits.

 

Little Bay De Noc:  Walleye reports are spotty with few anglers out for this time of year. Fair catches came between the Second Reef and Black Bottom when trolling crawlers in 10 to 30 feet of water.  Good numbers of fish were marked between Portage Point and Round Island but few fish were caught.  Perch were caught on minnows in 2 to 11 feet of water around Butler Island.  Fair to good pike action around Butler Island and the Escanaba Harbor when trolling crank baits, spoons or spinners in 10 to 14 feet of water.

 

Escanaba River:  Had fair to good catches of chinook along with a few brown trout up near Dam #1.  Shore anglers are casting small spoons, crank baits and spawn.

 

Ford River:  Also has salmon but few fish were caught.

 

Big Bay De Noc:  Is the hot spot for those targeting smallmouth bass.  Most are drifting or jigging minnows about 10 to 25 feet down just off the break between Snake Island and Snail Shell Harbor.  This is a great time for bass fishing.

Rock River:  Water levels increased over the past week and lots of pink salmon were observed in the river.  No report on chinook or coho.

 

Munising:  Boat anglers caught coho at sunrise and just before sunset when trolling dodgers and flies or spoons.  The fish are running anywhere from two to four pounds.

Pier fishing has picked up when using spawn, spoons or spinners.

Grand Marais:  Boats heading out for lake trout caught fish in the shipping channel but many were small ranging two to three pounds.  Those trolling in the bay caught a few coho and steelhead.

Manistique:  Chinook salmon are being caught by boat anglers near the mouth of the river and just past the breakwall when trolling small spoons or rapalas.

 

Manistique River:  Anglers continue to wade near the first dam for salmon.  Most are casting a small jointed rapalas while others drift yarn near the fast water.  Steelhead and brown trout action were still slow.

 

Tahquamenon River:  Is producing a few muskie.

 

St. Mary’s River:  Had good muskie fishing off Kemps Point.

 

Detour:  Perch were caught on minnows in 8 to 12 feet of water around Ashman Island and James Island.  Those fishing off Drummond Island and in Raber Bay need to use caution and watch for rocks in shallow water.  Boat anglers found salmon 50 to 60 feet down.
Cedarville and Hessel:  Pier anglers at Hessel are catching pike and smallmouth bass. The marina is full of splake so anglers are fishing spawn bags under a bobber in 5 feet of water.  Good pike action in Musky Bay and the Middle Entrance for those trolling or casting.  Perch fishing was limited in Hessel Bay, Musky Bay and Snows Channel.

 

Nunn’s Creek:  Salmon are hitting on spawn bags.  Orange and glow or green and glow were still the hot colors.

 

Carp River:  Pink and chinook salmon can be found at the mouth.  Salmon have made their way upstream to the Mackinac Bridge Trail and McDonald Rapids.  Hot colors were orange, silver and red or black and gold.  Orange or pink spawn bags were also taking fish.