Weekly Fishing Report September 22nd

Great Lakes Temperature Map

 

Lake trout season on the waters of Lake Huron and northern Lake Michigan will close on September 30th. The waters of Lake Michigan between Arcadia and New Buffalo will remain open until October 31st for lake trout. Salmon are running in pretty much all of the rivers. Anglers are reminded that snagging is unlawful.

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Weather permitting, anglers are getting out and targeting perch in 20 to 25 feet of water between Brest Bay and the River Raisin Buoys.

Detroit River: Angler success has been slow. Light numbers of perch have been caught but the fish were small.

Huron River: Was producing some perch at the mouth.

Lexington: Pier anglers are catching some steelhead, the occasional brown trout and chinook salmon early in the morning before dawn or at night when casting spoons or rapalas. Hot colors were orange and gold, silver with green or blue.

Port Sanilac: Pier anglers are catching brown trout on small spoons. A couple steelhead and salmon were also caught.

Harbor Beach: Rough water has slowed the bite however the fish will start hitting again once the lake settles down. Trout fishing is slow to fair. Try straight out and north of the harbor with downriggers and spoons set 50 to 120 feet down or using dodgers with spin-glows or flies just off the bottom in 120 feet of water. For steelhead, try color lines in the early morning. Use bright colored small or medium spoons and start in 70 feet of water and work your way out while targeting the top 20 to 60 feet. A few salmon were caught in 70 to 190 feet of water. Walleye fishing is still very slow. Perch anglers are fishing inside the harbor and along the channel.

Grindstone City: Those trolling in 120 to 140 feet of water were taking limits of bigger lake trout.

Saginaw Bay: The best perch reports are off Linwood in 17 feet of water, west of Spoils Island in 21 feet of water and near Buoy 22. The occasional walleye was also caught off Spoils Island. Boat anglers from the east side of the bay are crossing the Bar and perch fishing off Au Gres or along the shipping channel. Bluegills and crappie have been caught in the marina basins. Not many perch are showing up in the local rivers or cuts but it is still early as the near shore perch fishing usually improves in late October and November. Not much to report outside the thumb.

Sebewaing River: A few small perch are showing up.

 

Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph:

Pier fishing was slow but a few salmon were caught. Boat anglers trolling the mouth of the river are catching fish and those heading out to waters 120 to 140 feet deep were taking good numbers of smaller chinook salmon.

St. Joseph River: Has a good number of chinook and coho in the river. Try early morning and late evening or try fishing the deeper holes.

South Haven: Has a good number of chinook and coho in the river. Try early morning and late evening or try fishing the deeper holes.

Kalamazoo River: Anglers are still catching steelhead at the Allegan Dam. Chinook and coho salmon are starting to show up as well, with limit catches reported.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Salmon have been caught up near the Sixth Street Dam. Anglers are using bottom bouncers with spawn bags or spinners. The fish are averaging 12 to 15 pounds. The occasional steelhead was also caught.

Grand River at Lansing: Is also producing some salmon with fish caught at Moore’s Park, the North Lansing Dam and the point where the Grand meets the Red Cedar River. Orange spinners were the hot bait. The fish are averaging 6 to 8 pounds.

Morrison Lake: Was producing some crappie. Try wax worms or minnows.

Muskegon River: Has a good number of salmon in the river. Some limit catches of walleye were taken in the backwaters.

White River: Is producing some salmon for those using spawn or small spoons.

 

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Rogers City: There seems to be a lot of fish hanging in and around Swan Bay as boat anglers reported seeing lots of fish jumping. Anglers are fishing anywhere from 8 to 70 feet of water. Those in shallow waters are using planer boards and high-lining bombers and J-plugs. Pearl was the hot color. For deeper waters, fish halfway down with spoons, J-plugs, attractors, squid and flies. Good colors were green, blue, orange, pink, yellow and silver. Those fishing north towards Forty Mile Point caught some nice younger fish.

Presque Isle: Silver fish should still be around and caught on occasion with lake trout and steelhead. Try north of the big lighthouse off Black Point while fishing just above the temperature break in 45 to 70 feet of water. The big thing right now is to look for baitfish as the younger fish are on a feeding frenzy as they prepare for winter.

Rockport: Few boats were out however those braving the elements did manage to catch one chinook and one walleye. For walleye, anglers are trolling crawler harnesses or reef runners in 20 to 30 feet of water towards Middle Island.

Thunder Bay River: Has fair to good numbers of salmon. Those using spawn up near the dam have caught fish.

Harrisville: Salmon activity has started but most anglers were fishing inside the harbor because the lake was too rough. Some were fishing 15 to 45 feet of water with spoons, body baits, J-plugs, flat fish, little Cleo’s, and wobblers. Hot colors were blue and silver, orange and silver or anything that glows. Use spawn under a bobber inside the harbor. The fish were healthy and weighed 8 to 20 pounds.

Oscoda: Pier anglers are casting spoons but those fishing upstream did better with spawn.

Au Sable River: A few salmon are making their way up the river but the run in general is a bit slow. Fish were caught down near the mouth in the early morning and late evening.

Tawas: Pier anglers are getting some perch early in the morning however they are sorting out the small ones. Smallmouth bass and rock bass were also caught. Boat anglers caught perch in 18 feet of water near Buoy 4 or 35 feet of water near Buoy 2. Shore anglers casting near the mouth of the river caught some chinook salmon when casting spoons or rapalas.

Au Gres: Perch fishing remains good but spotty. You have to be in the right spot, or move around to find an active school of fish. Sometimes it pays to get away from the pack of boats. Perch are being caught between Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres in 27 to 35 feet of water which means the fish have moved a little closer to shore.
Northwest Lower Peninsula

Petoskey: Salmon fishing fair to good. Boat anglers are trolling in 20 to 100 feet of water and picking up chinook and coho on plugs, flasher/fly combos and reef runners. Those fishing from the piers and docks caught fish on body baits or when floating spawn under a bobber.

Bear River: Salmon are moving in and out of the river as water levels were low and clear. Recent rain should bring some fish back in.

Charlevoix: Salmon action was good when fishing in 20 to 100 feet of water out from the Cement Plant. Boat anglers are trolling rapalas, thundersticks, and plugs while shore anglers are using glow spoons or spawn.

Traverse City: Lake trout have been caught in the East Bay by those jigging. Anglers are waiting for perch and whitefish but no catches to report. In the West Bay, good numbers of lake trout have been caught by those jigging Swedish pimples or trolling green and blue spoons.

Boardman River: Is full of fish so angler activity has increased. Fish are hitting spawn under a bobber in the early morning or late evening.

Platte River: Fish have been passed at the lower weir however there is not a large number of fish in the river right now. Hatchery staff are expecting another big run when the temperatures drop and the winds swing around to the north, northeast.

Frankfort: Pier anglers are catching chinook salmon but many have already turned dark. Boat anglers are doing well just south of the port when trolling 25 to 40 feet down in 220 to 250 feet of water. Three year old chinook, some coho, lake trout and steelhead were also caught.

Betsie River: Chinook have been caught throughout the river on spawn and Cleo’s. Some of the 4 year olds are really dark but still putting up a good fight.

Portage Lake: With the drop in water temperature the smallmouth bass are starting to move to the drop offs. Some nice fish were caught off the point and near the launch area. Some are targeting perch but catch rates were slow.

Onekama: Fish have been caught straight out from the lighthouse in 220 to 250 feet of water. The fish are moving and most hits are coming with no reading on the fish finder. They are hitting spoons in the early morning and meat rigs after daybreak.

Lake Cadillac: Is producing pike and bass for those fishing close to shore along the weed beds. Panfish action was slow.

Manistee: A few mature salmon have been caught on flies and plugs in the harbor and around the piers. Younger salmon have been caught offshore when trolling small orange or green spoons. Pier anglers caught a few chinook on glow spoons.

Manistee River: Has a good number of salmon in the river with lots of angler activity up near Tippy Dam.

Ludington: Salmon fishing around the piers has slowed so boat anglers are heading out to waters 40 to 80 feet deep and running small spoons. Surfcasting off the Ludington State Park was slow.

 Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay: There are a few salmon and brown trout showing up in the rivers around the bay. In Traverse Bay, fishing was spotty with a few chinook and coho taken by those trolling in 40 to 50 feet of water off the Buffalo Reef. Those trolling off Big Louie’s and Gay Point caught fish when trolling spoons in 130 to 185 feet of water. The bigger fish were caught by those jigging in 170 feet of water.

Marquette: Lake trout action was fair with most anglers picking up two to five fish that averaged three to five pounds. The better fishing remains north of the White Rocks to Little Presque Isle and the Clay Banks in 100 to 140 feet of water.

Carp River: Coho and chinook action were slow.

Menominee: Walleye anglers are catching some fish near Green Island when jigging minnows or trolling crawler harnesses or stick baits. Some are also trolling the drop-off along the Wisconsin shoreline.

Menominee River: The Boom Landing launch, restrooms and cleaning station in Marinette are closed for the season. Those trolling the deeper holes have caught smallmouth bass, pike, and a few walleye on crawler harnesses, rapalas and crank baits. The area upstream of Boom Landing and the Mystery Ship Launch produced the most catches. Perch were caught at the marina and off the breakwall. Early morning and late evening produced the bigger fish. Anglers are reminded that the sturgeon season is catch-and-release only from the mouth upstream to the first dam.

Little Bay De Noc: A few walleye were caught between the Black Bottom and the Narrows when trolling or drifting crawlers in 15 to 25 feet of water. Fish were marked near Round Island but few were caught. Perch fishing was fair off the Center Reef in 20 feet of water or Gladstone in 20 to 30 feet of water. Both are using crawlers or minnows. Smallmouth bass were caught when casting tube baits or crank baits in 10 to 20 feet of water off Hunters Point and Farmers Dock.

Ford River: A few salmon have been caught at the mouth when casting spoons, crank baits or spinners.

Big Bay De Noc: The smallmouth bass are still a bit north of Snake Island and not quite staged for the fall fishing. Try between Kate’s Bay and Garden Bluff in waters 4 to 15 feet deep.

Munising: Boat anglers are now focused on coho salmon and the better fishing seems to be in the early morning in 20 to 50 feet of water when trolling dodgers, flies and spoons. Some caught the occasional pink salmon. Pier anglers caught splake and coho when using spoons, spinners or spawn.

Grand Marais: Lake trout fishing was slow and those trolling caught coho and pike. No reports of any steelhead in the bay yet. Pier and shore fishing was slow.

Manistique: Chinook salmon are being caught near the mouth of the river and just past the breakwall by boat anglers trolling small spoons or rapalas. No steelhead or brown trout were taken but some walleye were caught.

Manistique River: Anglers wading at the first dam are targeting chinook but the fish are starting to turn color.

St. Mary’s River: A few walleye were caught on the southeast side of Sugar Island in Sault Ste. Marie. Anglers are trolling bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses. Walleye were also caught down in Raber Bay, around Lime Island and Munuscong Lake. Hot colors were orange and black or chartreuse and purple.

Detour: Fishing was slow for perch, walleye and pike. Salmon and trout are still present when trolling the shipping channel to the #3 green can and the lighthouse area, but watch for the gill nets. Orange and yellow spoons worked best.

Cedarville and Hessel: A few perch were caught in Cedarville Bay, Middle Entrance, Musky Bay, the north end of Snows Channel and off the Hessel Pier in 8 to 10 feet of water with crawlers or minnows. Smallmouth bass opportunities have picked up so try fishing the rocky points off Hessel Bay, Musky Bay and Snows Channel.

Carp River: A handful of salmon have made their way upstream to the Mackinac Bridge Trail and the McDonald Rapids. Try small Cleo’s in green and white or orange with black dots.

St. Ignace: Boats are targeting chinook, lake trout and steelhead off the Coast Guard Station and the Edison Plant when fishing high in the water column with silver and green or gold and green J-plugs and fire-tiger spoons. Pink and chinook salmon are at the mouth of the Carp River but anglers need to use caution and watch for gill nets in the area.