Weekly Fishing Report – August 25th

A shift in the winds on Lake Michigan did move a few salmon into some of the river systems. Perch fishing has slowed but walleye, bass, pike and catfish are still hitting. Panfish action was fair to good on most of the inland lakes.

 

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: The walleye were scattered but fish were caught by those finding a small school of fish then trolling through the exact same area. Most anglers found walleye in 24 to 28 feet of water out from the Fermi Power Plant. Perch action was good with limit catches reported around Fermi and Brest Bay in 22 feet of water. Smallmouth bass were caught out from the River Raisin in 9 to 11 feet of water. The E-Buoy and the Dumping Grounds were producing some perch however anglers had to move around to find fish.

Huron River: Is still sporting some fair to good smallmouth bass action. Look for bluegill in the backwaters.

Detroit River: Is producing a few walleye and perch.

Lake St. Clair: Is producing some very good smallmouth bass action. Walleye fishing was good from the deep waters on the U.S. side, out towards the shipping channel and around the St. Clair Light. Look for good musky action in both the U.S. and Ontario waters.

St. Clair River: Also has good smallmouth bass fishing.

Lexington: Is producing some lake trout, a few large walleye and the occasional chinook in 100 to 130 feet of water. Perch fishing has tapered off.

Port Sanilac: Has steelhead, lake trout, walleye and salmon.

Harbor Beach: Lake trout fishing is fair in 100 feet of water straight out, south or north of the harbor when using dodgers with spin glows or flies near the bottom or when trolling downriggers with spoons 50 feet down. Good steelhead action in the same areas with color lines or long lines on boards with bright colored spoons. A few salmon were caught in the bottom 60 feet of waters 100 to 160 feet deep. Walleye fishing was slow for those trolling near shore in 25 to 50 feet of water. Walleye fishing up by Port Hope has tapered off. The harbor still has good pike and bass action.

Saginaw Bay: Weather has played a significant role in the slow fishing. Storms, strong winds and high pressure were the culprits. Perch were still caught at the Spark Plug, on the Bar east of the Spark Plug, Buoy #9, the sailboat Buoy H as well as Buoys #1 and #2. A few walleye were found around the islands on the east side of the bay in 7 to 10 feet of water near the weed beds. Smallmouth bass were caught around North Island. Port Austin and Grindstone City were slow.

 

 

Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: Boat anglers fishing in 40 feet of water south of the piers caught a few perch. Warmer temperatures this week should improve the perch fishing. Salmon were caught in 100 feet of water.

South Haven: Perch fishing was slow off the piers. Boats are taking some fish in 30 to 40 feet of water. For salmon, most are heading out to waters over 100 feet deep.

Kalamazoo River: Walleye and channel catfish have been caught below the Allegan Dam. Look for good smallmouth bass action above Marshall and the stretch between Kalamazoo and Plainwell. A few salmon are showing up near Saugatuck.

Saugatuck: Had good salmon fishing straight out from the piers in 100 feet of water.

Holland: Was also producing some nice chinook salmon in 80 to 100 feet of water.

Grand Haven: Had good salmon fishing with chinook caught in 80 to 100 feet of water. Try white flashers with flies or green and blue spoons.

Grand River at Lansing: Is producing catfish below the dams. Most are using stink baits, crawlers or minnows. A few walleye were caught on crawlers or leeches at Moore’s Park. Pike were caught on large minnows at the North Lansing Dam, Moore’s Park Dam and at the point where the Grand meets the Red Cedar River.

Morrison Lake: Was producing some nice crappie.

Sessions Lake: Was producing some nice bluegills. No word on crappie.

Jordan Lake: Anglers were catching bluegills on red worms.

Whitehall: Salmon fishing slowed as the waters have again warmed up so the fish moved back out to waters over 100 feet deep. No salmon off the piers yet, the water is still too warm.

 

 

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Rogers City: A good number of 15 to 20 pound chinook salmon have been caught. Early before the sun comes up as well as the last couple hours of daylight right into an hour or so after dark were best. Adult fish are starting to show up so look for structure, baitfish and the thermocline. Try 50 to 90 feet of water about halfway down or along the bottom if that is where the cold water is with blue, silver, black or white spoons. Many of the fish caught were full of alewife. The deep waters of Swan Bay are starting to see a few salmon. Steelhead, walleye and lake trout were also caught.

Presque Isle: Is producing a mixed bag of salmon, lake trout and a few walleye from the thermocline in 60 to 110 feet of water straight out from the Red Can, between the lighthouses, and north of the marina. Hot colors were blue, green, white, and black.

Rockport: Some limit catches of walleye were reported by those trolling one ounce weights 50 to 60 feet back with crawler harnesses about halfway down in 30 feet of water. One of the hot spots was the end of the island. Catfish were also caught.

Alpena: With no real angler pressure, walleye action has been tough. It seems that some of the walleye have moved northward. Fish can still be found in the shallows but they are tough to find. Lake trout were caught off the second set of “Humps’ which is about 20 miles out when fishing right on the bottom in 100 to 150 feet of water with dodgers, flashers and peanuts.

Thunder Bay River: Walleye anglers are casting small spinner baits. Smallmouth bass were hitting on crawlers and leeches. No catfish to report this week.

Harrisville: Those heading north of the harbor and out to waters 90 to 120 feet deep have caught some lake trout, steelhead and a couple salmon when using spoons with flies. Try using dodgers and flashers for added attractions. Most of the fish are suspended so planer boards with lead core will also work. Green, blue and orange were good colors. Walleye were caught up near the lighthouse. Fish close to shore in the early morning, deep in the afternoon, and then move back in as evening falls.

Oscoda: Lake trout and a few salmon are being caught north of the river up towards the Greenbush water tower when fishing 20 to 70 feet down in 90 to 120 feet of water. White and silver, green or darker colors caught fish. Walleye moved to deeper water and a couple fish were caught on body baits and small spoons in 120 feet of water.

Tawas: Fishing was slow but those trolling did manage to catch a couple walleye out past Buoy #2 in 35 feet of water. Pier anglers caught perch however be ready to sort out the small ones. Bass and rock bass were caught.

Tawas River: Shore anglers caught some bass, bluegill and freshwater drum.

Au Gres: Walleye fishing was slow here as well. A few fish were taken straight off the mouth of the river in 25 feet of water. Perch fishing was pretty good between Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres in 25 to 45 feet of water. The fish are running 7 to 9 inches with an occasional jumbo caught.

 

 

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Petoskey: The salmon bite was good in Little Traverse Bay when trolling between the pier and Bay Harbor in 90 to 130 feet of water. Most are using green and blue spoons with spin flies.

Charlevoix: Salmon fishing improved with most anglers catching a few fish each trip. Try 50 to 90 feet down in 80 to 120 feet of water with downriggers. Spoons were the most productive. Try black, green and blue or flasher fly combos in white, green, or red.

Traverse City: Salmon fishing has been up and down as the cool water that was in the bay is gone. Salmon activity was just getting started in the West Bay. Anglers are trolling in 110 feet of water with green and blue spoons near Greilickville. The East Bay is good for lake trout but slow for salmon and whitefish.

Frankfort: Chinook salmon ranging 20 to 25 pounds were caught on a regular basis straight out from the lighthouse and trolling north in 90 to 110 feet of water. Coho have now arrived in Platte Bay and were caught on spoons in the early morning. Try the top 50 feet in waters 60 to 90 feet deep with two colors of lead, spoons and flies. Meat rigs were good later in the day but glow spoons were best before the sun comes up. Salmon were caught in the harbor.

Onekama: The “Barrel” has produced good numbers of fish with several chinook over 20 pounds hitting on spoons and plugs in the morning or meat rigs after daylight. Coho were also caught depending on the day. Try three colors of lead in waters 75 feet deep.

Portage Lake: Worms are still taking a good number of big bluegills and other panfish. Perch moved to deeper and the bass are holding tight to the drop-offs.

Manistee: Salmon are being caught in 75 to 140 feet of water. Meat rigs are catching adult chinook. Pier fishing was slow.

Ludington: Salmon are being caught in 80 to 160 feet of water. Try running green and blue flies or meat rigs. Boats fishing in 40 to 50 feet of water are doing very well on coho and steelhead. Salmon and perch are slow off the pier.

Pere Marquette River: A few salmon have come up into the river and fresh fish were caught at the bridge on Pere Marquette Highway when using spawn. Fish were caught throughout the river all the up to the flies only section above Green Cottage. Steelhead were caught in the Rainbow Rapids by those using a #3 Mepps spinner.

Pentwater: Had good fishing with some big chinook salmon caught by those trolling south to the first point and fishing 50 feet down in 40 to 80 feet of water with dark colored spoons and J-plugs.

 

 

Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay: Fishing was slow but those heading out in the early morning did catch a few fish when trolling spoons in 130 to 150 feet of water. Fair pike action was reported near the Baraga Marina and the weed beds in L’Anse Bay. In Traverse Bay, anglers were still doing well trolling in 60 to 140 feet of water along Five and Seven Mile Reefs. Fish were caught in 130 to 185 feet of water off Big Louie and Gay Point.Those jigging in 170 to 260 feet of water have caught a few limits of fish and those trolling in 40 to 50 feet of water off Buffalo Reef caught a few coho.

Marquette: Surface water temperatures remain in the low 60’s. A few lake trout were caught north of the White Rocks, the Clay Banks and Granite Island. The fish averaged 3 to 4 pounds. Those trolling outside the harbor breakwall did manage to catch the occasional coho.

Menominee: Salmon and trout fishing were slow even for those trolling spoons near Green Island and Chamber Island. A couple walleye were caught near Green Island by those trolling stick baits or crawler harnesses however the bigger fish were caught by those jigging minnows. Some were trolling the drop-off along the Wisconsin shoreline with crawler harnesses.

Menominee River: Is producing smallmouth bass, catfish, rock bass and freshwater drum for those drifting crawlers. Those jigging crawlers or minnows in the morning have caught a few perch off the breakwall. Walleye were caught upstream of Boom Landing or Mystery Ship Landing when trolling crawler harnesses or stick baits.

Au Train: Lake trout were scattered but most boats were still coming in with a few fish. Try north and east of Au Train Island and around Laughing Fish Point when fishing the bottom 30 feet of waters 160 to 180 feet deep.

Munising: Lake trout were scattered but most boats were still coming in with a few fish. Try north and east of Au Train Island and around Laughing Fish Point when fishing the bottom 30 feet of waters 160 to 180 feet deep.

Grand Marais: Lake trout were caught 5 to 7 miles north in the shipping channel, near Caribou Island or Grand Portal. Most were fishing in waters 70 to 200 feet deep. Lake trout were hitting on lures tipped with cut bait. The most popular lures were white, watermelon, and copper.

Manistique: Anglers are averaging 0-3 fish per boat with 6 or more hours of effort. Most are trolling spoons and flies in different colors and sizes while traveling 8 miles or more to 110 to 140 feet of water. The number of baitfish has decreased but so has the number of fish being caught.

Manistique River: Pike, smallmouth bass and freshwater drum have been caught by those putting in a lot of time. Catch rates for walleye were low. Pier and shore anglers are drifting crawlers and leeches while boat anglers are using spoons, crank baits or rapalas.

St. Mary’s River: Walleye and pike are hitting in the channel of Munuscong Lake. Crawler harnesses with round or smiley V blades in orange, black and chartreuse.

Detour: Salmon are still present and averaging 8 to 16 pounds. Anglers are trolling the shipping channel to the #3 green can and lighthouse area and the Drummond Island side to the #2 red can with some boats continuing 3 miles south. Try silver and green flashers and flies or spoons in light orange, black and white or purple with pink dots. Lake trout and Atlantic salmon were also caught.

Cedarville and Hessel: Anglers fishing Hessel Bay for northern pike and yellow perch reported excellent fishing. Pike are hitting on chubs in 8 to 13 feet of water. Musky Bay and Government Bay are also good locations for pike in 10 to 15 feet of water. Perch action was also good along the south shore, off the marina dock, Haven Island and the first cut of Snows Channel when using minnows or crawlers. Those heading out for salmon have caught fish out of Hessel, the Yacht Entrance and off Goose Island when fishing 25 to 35 feet down in 60 to 70 feet of water.

St. Ignace: More anglers are heading out for chinook, lake trout, and steelhead. Salmon averaging 5 to 15 pounds were caught off the Coast Guard Station and around Mackinac Island. Try black, chartreuse, watermelon or green and gold and be ready to change colors if you are not getting any hits. The primitive launch on the east side of the bridge is always a good spot for pike and bass.