Steelhead action continues to build in the river systems. November is the month where catch rates increase for perch, pike, whitefish, walleye, bass and steelhead. Some decent bluegill fishing was reported on inland lakes. This is a good time of year to grab a pole and head out for some fall fishing.
Detroit River: Not much has changed from last week. Walleye are still being caught in the lower river by those hand-lining with rapalas. A few trolling perch rigs with minnows caught perch south of Sugar Island. Smallmouth bass fishing is good.
Lake St. Clair: A few walleye were caught but the action was spotty. Boat anglers caught perch between the 400 Club and Grosse Pointe.
Lexington: Is producing some perch as well as light numbers of steelhead and brown trout. Perch fishing was spotty, good one day, poor the next.
Port Sanilac: Some perch are being taken, as well as steelhead and a few brown trout. Perch fishing was not consistent. Look for steelhead and whitefish to move in now that we are into the month of November.
Harbor Beach: A few walleye were caught out of the Edison discharge channel. Brown trout are in the harbor but they do not want to bite.
Saginaw Bay: Perch are starting to show up in river mouths, cuts, and marina basins as the colder weather sets in. Shore and pier anglers are starting to catch fish and the best location depends on the day. If you do not catch fish in the first half-hour, move on to another spot.
Kawkawlin River: Is producing some perch in the lower river.
Saginaw River: Shore anglers have started catching perch near the mouth and upstream as far as Smith Park in Essexville. Walleye are starting to hit up near the confluence of the Tittabawassee and Shiawassee Rivers. A few limit catches were reported. Anglers can fish the rivers effectively with small boats and motors.
Quanicassee River: Shore anglers are catching perch.
Sebewaing River: Is also producing some perch in the lower river.
St. Joseph: Pier anglers continue to catch good numbers of whitefish when using a small hook with a single egg. Steelhead were also caught.
St. Joseph River: Has good steelhead action all the way up to the Berrien Springs Dam. A few chinook were still going through the fish ladder at Berrien Springs. The river still has plenty of fish but few anglers were out.
South Haven: Whitefish and a couple steelhead have been caught however fishing pressure was low. Anglers are using spawn bags or a single egg on a small hook.
Kalamazoo River: The salmon run is reaching its end but steelhead activity is starting to increase up near the Allegan Dam.
Grand Haven: Is producing some steelhead off the pier but catch rates were still hit-or-miss. Those fishing the south pier caught whitefish on a single egg or spikes.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Is still producing a few leftover salmon however most are targeting steelhead, especially up near the Sixth Street Dam. Try spawn, spinners, small spoons, or a jig and wax worm. A few walleye were also caught.
Grand River at Lansing: Steelhead were caught at Lyons but the fish have not made it up to Lansing. Walleye were caught over at Moore’s Park.
Looking Glass River: Is producing some pike for those fishing with minnows.
Muskegon: Is producing some steelhead for those fishing off the pier with spawn.
Muskegon Lake: Has walleye for the taking. Boat anglers slow trolling in the late evening have caught fish.
Muskegon River: Water levels are good and lots of steelhead are downstream from Newaygo. Some are fly fishing while others are floating fresh spawn. Walleye and northern pike have been caught near Hardy Dam. Those fishing upstream of Hardy Dam have caught some big smallmouth bass.
Rogers City: The docks are still in but the marina is closed for the season. Boat anglers are still getting some young salmon along with some steelhead. Anglers are fishing the top half of waters 60 to 85 feet deep. Good colors were still green, blue and silver, orange and silver or black and white. There are a lot of brown trout in the marina however the bite was slow. November should be an excellent month to target brown trout when casting spoons and body baits or fishing spawn under a bobber.
Ocqueoc River: Steelhead fishing should kick into high gear in November until the river freezes over. Try drifting spawn or small orange spinners.
Presque Isle: The docks are still in but the marina is closed for the season. Boat anglers are still catching young salmon along with some steelhead. Lake trout season is closed so any fish caught need to be released immediately.
Thunder Bay River: Was still producing some yellow perch for those fishing off the docks with minnows. Watch for steelhead and brown trout to start moving in.
Harrisville: Is still producing light numbers of chinook and coho as more steelhead move in. Try early morning or late evening with spawn, spoons or body baits. A couple walleye were caught by those trolling crawler harnesses.
Au Sable River: Continues to produce chinook and coho. A lot of fish are still fresh and some of the females still had tight skein and have not spawned. A big push of steelhead moved up into the river where anglers caught them between the mouth and Foote Dam. Spawn of flies work best.
Tawas: Pier anglers are doing a lot of sorting but still getting some nice perch for their trouble. Average catches are 15 to 20 keepers per angler. No whitefish to report yet but a few are trying for them. The best whitefish action is usually during the firearm deer season.
Au Gres: A couple walleye were caught when trolling crank baits off Whitestone Point. No perch to report this week.
Traverse City: Smallmouth bass fishing has picked up in the East Bay with a fair number of fish in the five pound range caught in 35 to 40 feet of water. A few boats continue to catch whitefish, cisco, and perch, but the action was slow. Very few boat anglers are fishing in the West Bay.
Elk River: Shore anglers are catching a mixed bag of salmon, lake trout and brown trout below the power dam. Those targeting steelhead are using spawn bags.
Boardman River: Steelhead continue to move up into the river. Anglers are using spoons, spinners, spawn bags, skein or flies. Lake trout along with a few brown trout were also caught between the mouth and Sabin Dam.
Manistee: Pier anglers and those surfcasting caught steelhead on spawn.
Manistee River: Coho were still being caught up near Tippy Dam. Steelhead action continues to increase with some very nice fish caught throughout the river. Some are using small spoons or spinners while others are using eggs and flies.
Ludington: Pier anglers are catching steelhead on spawn and small spoons.
Pere Marquette River: Is still producing some coho right along with a good number of steelhead for those using fresh spawn or small spoons.
Lake Gogebic: A few walleye were caught but the fish were just barely legal size.
Keweenaw Bay: A couple steelhead were caught off the end of the rock pier near the marina in L’Anse. Chinook, lake trout and steelhead were caught by those trolling off Sand Point, Carla’s Restaurant, the L’Anse marina and north to the township park. Most boats were trolling between 1.8 and 2.4 miles per hour in 40 to 90 feet of water.
Marquette: Surface water temperatures were in the mid 40’s. For the Upper Harbor, anglers fished from the white rocks to Granite Island but catch rates were poor with only a couple lake trout caught in four to five hours. In the Lower Harbor, catch rates were better with a few limits of lake trout taken by those trolling spoons in 40 to 80 feet of water from the breakwall to the green can and on to the Chocolay River. Anglers believe the lake trout should be spawning within the next seven to ten days. No steelhead, salmon or whitefish to report.
Carp River: Has fish but very few anglers were out.
Menominee: Boat anglers had very little to report. Those casting spoons or jigging spawn off the marina breakwall caught chinook, brown trout and steelhead in the early morning or late evening.
Menominee River: Is still producing a few chinook, brown trout and steelhead for those wading near the first dam. Some are drifting spawn or yarn while others are casting spoons or rapalas. Walleye were caught off the rocks on the Wisconsin side and off the Cat Walk when casting surface rapalas in the late evening. Some lake whitefish were also caught off the Cat Walk by those using blue and silver zip lures.
Little Bay De Noc: The best walleye catches came from 8pm until 10pm between the Second and Third Reefs with crank baits in 18 to 22 feet of water. Fair catches were taken between the Black Bottom and the Narrows when trolling crank baits or crawlers in 20 to 30 feet of water. During the day, head for deeper water in the Kipling Flats with crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers in 30 to 40 feet of water. A lot of fish were marked between Breezy Point and the Minneapolis Shoals but few fish were caught. November is shaping up for good walleye fishing.
Big Bay De Noc: Had lots of smallmouth anglers as catch rates were excellent with fish caught between Fayette and Snake Island when using minnows 15 to 30 feet down along the break. Creel numbers were down a bit from previous years but some good size fish were caught. Perch were a bit slow but a few good catches were taken near the mouth of Garden Bay when using minnows in 18 to 22 feet of water.
Munising: Boat anglers have wrapped up their season. Pier anglers caught the occasional coho but more splake. Steelhead were running small. Try spawn, spinners or spoons in bright colors. Splake prefer spawn.
Grand Marais: Boats trolling around the bay and near the Sucker River caught mostly steelhead and a few small coho weighing less than one pound. Steelhead were averaging five pounds. Black and white spoons caught the most fish. Shore anglers are still-fishing with spawn bags.
Manistique River: The number of chinook being caught has dropped over the last week for those wading near the Black Bass Hole and up near the dam. The few salmon caught have turned dark. Those fly fishing or drifting spawn and yarn in the fast water near the overflow wall caught steelhead, but many were small.
St. Mary’s River: Those fishing the upper end of Munuscong Bay around Moon Island caught a few walleye when trolling crank baits in 10 to 12 feet of water. Smallmouth bass were caught near the rock piles around Moon Island and the dumping grounds when jigging tube baits.
Detour: Smallmouth bass fishing was good for those jigging tube baits in 6 to 10 feet of water near Bruce’s Point.
Cedarville and Hessel: Anglers targeting perch are fishing Musky Bay and Little Joe Island. Four to five hours of effort is only yielding 0-5 fish.
Carp River: Is producing steelhead near the mouth, Mackinac Trail, and upstream to McDonald Rapids. The fish are hitting on spawn and range three to seven pounds.
