Fishing is starting to heat up here in Michigan!!

[jasonmichalski]

The family and I spent the week fishing and had a great time!!

[Rick]

LANSING, MI - The weekly Michigan fishing reports & hunting report from 8/1/13 are gathered by local DNR officials, angler creel surveys, county and state parks staff. They are compiled. There are always current Michigan Fishing Reports and hunting reports as well as outdoor reports in this forum. Enjoy.

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Rain and windy conditions were making it hard for anglers to get out, especially on the big waters. The cold front will make fishing a little more difficult.

SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

Lake Erie: Still had good walleye fishing around West Sister Island which is in Ohio waters. Walleye fishing in Michigan waters slowed but a few fish were still caught around the Bell Buoy and the Dumping Grounds. Perch fishing was fair to good in 18 feet around Brest Bay and 23 feet off Stony Point. Anglers should expect to catch white bass, white perch and freshwater drum as well. Smallmouth bass were caught in 12 to 16 feet. Channel catfish were caught offshore near the Metro Park and Pt. Mouillee.

Huron River: Anglers caught smallmouth bass and catfish.

Detroit River: Had few anglers as most are heading down to Lake Erie for walleye. Check around the islands for smallmouth bass or the occasional perch.

Lexington: Perch fishing was spotty. Try 15 to 30 feet of water. Boats out trolling caught lake trout, steelhead and the occasional coho.

Port Sanilac: Those trolling caught salmon and lake trout in waters between 80 and 145 feet deep. Perch fishing was hit-or-miss in 20 to 30 feet near the weed beds. Pier anglers caught some brown trout early or late when casting Cleo’s. A few pike were caught.

Harbor Beach: Walleye were caught in 35 to 50 feet. Those trolling for salmon and lake trout caught fish in waters 85 to 140 feet deep. Steelhead and coho were found in the top half of the water column and lake trout were at the bottom.

Grindstone City: Is producing walleye straight north in 22 to 30 feet and off Lighthouse Park.

Port Austin: The best walleye fishing is still west and south of town around the Hat, the Flat Rock Reefs, and the Perch Reef north of the lighthouse.

Saginaw Bay: Walleye fishing along the southernmost part of the bay is slow because the fish are moving to deeper waters. Many boats are making the trip out to Buoys 1 & 2. Walleye are still being caught in Pinconning off Gambil’s Marina, the Pinconning and Saganing Bar and the Spark Plug (buoys 11 &12). Most are using crawler harnesses, crank baits or spoons. Along the east side, persistent anglers are still taking a few walleye from the Slot however most of the boats from Sebewaing and Bay Port are crossing the Bar and heading for deeper water on the west side.

Saginaw River: A few walleye are still being caught in the lower river but catch rates are slowing down. Shore anglers at Smith Park caught a few catfish, bass and freshwater drum.

SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Skamania runs in the region have been good because of the unusually cool weather. Try fishing the tributaries to the St. Joseph River, Paw Paw River, Black River, and the Galien River just to name a few.

Kalamazoo River: Is producing a few walleye, smallmouth bass and catfish below the Allegan Dam. Check the backwaters for panfish.

Holland: Boat anglers are using bright green or yellow spoons 55 to 80 feet down in in 80 to 200 feet of water for salmon. White paddles with blue flies worked deeper. Meat rigs were also taking fish. Perch fishing was slow.

Grand Haven: Salmon anglers are fishing 55 to 80 feet down in 80 to 200 feet of water. Try spoons in bright colors such as yellow and green in 55 feet or white paddles with blue flies out deeper. Meat rigs that glow caught fish. Others did well with 150, 225 and 300 copper or 5 to 12 colors of lead. Pier fishing was slow. Some were trying shrimp under a bobber for steelhead.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Has a good number of Skamina (summer steelhead) and some were seen jumping the Sixth Street Dam in the early morning. Anglers are using half a crawler, gold and orange spinners, or chrome and blue Hot-n-Tots with a red lip. A few walleye are still being caught on crawlers and leeches. Catfish are hitting on suckers and cut bait. A couple salmon were caught downriver by those casting thundersticks.

Grand River at Lansing: Good size channel cats along with some bass were caught below the North Lansing Dam. Try live baits such as crawlers and minnows. A few pike were caught over at Fitzgerald Park in Grand Ledge.

Jackson County: The inland lakes are producing bluegill and crappie. Try live bait such as spec minnows.

Reeds Lake: Bass are still feeding even with the cooler temperatures.

Muskegon River: Continues to be good for smallmouth bass. Fish can be found in and around the brush piles. Try top water lures, spinners, tube baits or plastic crawlers. Walleye were caught on crawlers or leeches.

Whitehall: Boat anglers are fishing west of the channel or out from Duck Lake. Pier anglers caught some nice catfish at night. During the day everyone caught freshwater drum.

White Lake: Had very good walleye fishing.

NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

In Lake Huron, fish seem to be scattered in small active pods. If you catch fish, be sure to turn back on that area and stay on the active ones. Anglers may also want to try running a couple lines up high and away from the boat.

Rogers City: Fish are scattered so target waters 45 to 120 feet deep with downriggers, lead core, copper and dipseys to get lines about halfway down. Anglers are fishing all over the place and have caught mostly Chinook followed by lake trout and the occasional steelhead. Good colors are orange and silver, green or blue with silver or chartreuse, black and white or purple. Conditions are constantly changing right now so anglers will have to be ready to adjust each day.

Presque Isle: The fish are scattered so put your lures between 20 feet down and halfway down in waters 45 to 90 feet deep. Anglers have caught Chinook, steelhead, walleye and smaller lake trout.

Rockport: Was producing a mix of trout, salmon and walleye off Stoneport, Middle Island and down near the wreck. Salmon and steelhead were caught 10 to 50 feet down in 60 to 120 feet of water. Walleye were caught south of Rockport. Hot colors were pink and purple.

Alpena: Those trolling caught brown trout, steelhead and walleye around Thunder Bay Island, the “Humps”, and out near the Nordmere Wreck. Most are using spoons, peanuts and spin-glows for lake trout and salmon. Steelhead were caught on green, blue and orange spoons.

Thunder Bay River: Had few anglers. The walleye were small but some nice smallmouth bass were caught on crawlers or leeches.

Harrisville: Is producing a good number of lake trout, steelhead, salmon and walleye. All species seem to be in the same area as far as depth and water temperature. Most fish were in 80 to 150 feet and hitting on spoons, flies and cut bait. Target the fish in the lower two-thirds of water. Look for the scum lines for good numbers of steelhead.

Oscoda: Pier fishing for walleye has slowed but good numbers of smallmouth bass and freshwater drum were caught. Late night fishing is producing good numbers of catfish. Boat anglers caught walleye, salmon, steelhead, and lake trout. A good number of walleye were caught in 100 to 150 feet of water. As for salmon, fish were on the small side but the numbers were up.

Higgins Lake: Look for lake trout in 80 to 100 feet. Anglers are catching a good number of rock bass. For smallmouth, try the weed beds, off the points and out near Treasure Island.

Houghton Lake: Catch rates were steady but not great. Walleye and bluegills were found in six to 10 feet along the weed beds.

Lake St. Helen: Is producing bluegill and other panfish in six to eight feet. Catch rates for walleye were slow but the bass fishing was good for those using top water baits or plastic worms around the weeds and lily pads. Pike fishing was average.

Tawas: Pier fishing was slow except for a few smallmouth bass or rock bass. Walleye were caught in the early morning or evening when casting spoons. Those trolling in 20 to 40 feet were still catching walleye north of Big Charity Island and down near Alabaster. The occasional steelhead or brown trout was taken 15 feet down in 50 feet of water near Alabaster.

Au Gres: Continues to have very good walleye fishing with most boats heading north of Big Charity Island, south to the inner bay and the north end of the shipping channel in 20 to 40 feet of water.

Au Gres River: Is producing quite a few catfish.

NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Harbor Springs: Still has a good number of lake trout but no sign of salmon on the harbor side of the bay. Lake trout can be found just off the bottom. The thermocline in Little Traverse Bay was more defined in 75 feet of water.

Petoskey: Those fishing near the mouth of the river caught bass, bluegill, freshwater drum and rock bass. Small perch were caught inside the piers. Charter boats did manage to catch a few salmon. Lake trout were caught in front of Bay Harbor. Anglers are using glow spoons and flies. Salmon were 70 to 80 feet down and hitting on spoons, dipsey divers and flies. Some are using meat rigs. Charter captains were also catching whitefish when trolling for trout and salmon.

Bear River: Water levels rose with all the rain. This usually triggers an influx of fish. Some reported a few salmon up at the dam. A couple nice steelhead were taken on flies in the early afternoon.

Charlevoix: Lake trout are once again just off the bottom in 120 feet. On the windy days, try 60 to 80 feet down in 130 to 160 feet. Most were using glow spoons. A couple salmon were caught however they are still few and far between. Salmon were caught higher in the water column. Spoons and meat rigs worked best in the early morning. Try between the cement plant and North Point. Pier anglers were catching mostly sub-legal smallmouth bass when using leeches, crawlers or minnows near the bottom. Rumor has it a couple walleye were caught in the early morning.

Traverse City: The East Bay is producing lake trout in 60 to 110 feet of water. Those jigging caught whitefish. Chinook salmon were taken on spoons along the southern end of the bay. Try 60 to 110 feet down. Smallmouth bass were holding near the drop-off in 20 to 40 feet. In the West Bay, those trolling in 70 to 110 feet caught lake trout. Chinook were 70 to 80 feet down near “the Hole”. For smallmouth bass, try fishing along the drop-offs.

Elk River: Is producing some moderate size smallmouth bass. Try crawlers, leeches or plastic baits.

Boardman River: Was slow. Some decent panfish were caught near the dam. Most were using live bait.

Frankfort: Boat anglers were trolling 40 to 50 feet down in 150 to 200 feet of water. Hot colors were pink and chartreuse. Those trolling the harbor and car ferry caught Chinook on J-plugs or brown trout on spoons.

Betsie River: Is producing the occasional Chinook salmon as far up as the Homestead Dam however the number of fish is still very low. Fish coming into the cleaning station have immature eggs.

Onekama: The “Barrel” and the golf course are still good for Chinook and lake trout. Chinook weighing 20 pounds or more were caught in the early morning. Lake trout were caught later in the day when bouncing spin-glows along the bottom.

Lake Cadillac: Walleye fishing has been hit-or-miss. Those trolling crawler harnesses caught a few. Crappie were hitting near the surface in the early morning. Anglers have done well for bass and pike. They are using crawlers, leeches, spinners or crank baits.

Lake Mitchell: Those fishing the weed beds in the early morning caught walleye on jigs with leeches. Look for bass along the weed beds in the early morning or evening. During the day, fish deep. Pike have also been active.

Manistee: Salmon fishing is slowly picking up with fish caught 25 to 60 feet down in 60 to 120 feet of water. Glow plugs and orange or green spoons worked best in the morning. Even with the rough weather, boat anglers have caught a mixed bag of Chinook, lake trout and steelhead. The Chinook are much bigger this year with many more than 20 pounds and a few more than 30 pounds.

Manistee River: With cooler temperatures, a light number of salmon moved up into the river. No big numbers yet, it still too early. Those fishing below Tippy Dam have caught some nice smallmouth bass. Try crawlers, tube baits or plastics.

Ludington: Salmon have been caught 20 to 60 feet down in 40 to 100 feet of water. Most are using glow plugs or green, orange and glow spoons.

Pere Marquette River: Brown trout are still being caught. Most are fly fishing but a few were casting small spoons.

Pentwater: Chinook, coho and steelhead were caught 50 to 70 feet down in 120 feet of water due west of the channel, straight out from the Silver Lake Sand Dunes and off the point. Green and blue were the hot colors for salmon but steelhead were hitting on orange. Those fishing the channel caught bass on crawlers. Pier anglers caught a few perch on minnows.

UPPER PENINSULA

Marquette: Had fair lake trout action for those using spoons tipped with cut bait in 180 to 220 feet of water. Try north of the White Rocks and out near Granite Island. Some fish were marked in 100 feet, they could be salmon.

Little Bay De Noc: Had few walleye anglers as catch rates were slow. A couple fish were taken on crawler harnesses in 18 to 25 feet of water along the “Black Bottom” or in 16 to 30 feet along the shoals. Perch were spotty but caught in 10 to 19 feet near Kipling and off the mouth of the Ford River in eight to 12. Crawlers and minnows worked best. Smallmouth bass fishing was good near Round Island and south of the Ford River in five to 12 feet. Try crank baits, spinners or plastic baits.

Big Bay De Noc: Had no walleye reports but the smallmouth action was good in Kate’s Bay, the mouth of Garden Bay and off Nahma. Use crank baits, spinners or plastics in six to 18 feet. Fairport was producing few salmon. Better catches were 60 feet down in 80 to 120 feet with spoons or cut bait.

Au Train: Had a few boats heading out to target lake trout. A few fish were caught spoons in 160 to 180 feet of water. Surface water temperatures remain cool in the mid to upper 50’s.

Munising: Catch rates were fair at best. Most were targeting lake trout but some have shifted to salmon but the fish were small. The popular spots to fish were Munising Bay, Trout Bay, Murray’s Bay and north of Wood Island in 100 feet of water. Surface water temperatures were in the low 60’s. Pier anglers have caught a few fish when still-fishing with spawn. The bigger splake were up to 21 inches and three pounds.

Grand Marais: Boat anglers had good lake trout action and a few limit catches were reported. Fish were caught in 150 to 250 feet of water in the shipping channel or five to seven miles north. Many were small at two to four pounds but some went as high as 12 pounds. Those targeting salmon in 50 feet of water west of the bay had fair results. The fish were 18 to 20 inches long and about two pounds. Pier anglers were still-fishing with a single egg for whitefish.

St. Mary’s River: Walleye fishing was very good at the north end of Lime Island which is in Raber Bay. Most are trolling bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses in 12 to 14 feet of water. Walleye also moved into the shipping channel near Buoy 25. Try crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers in 25 to 30 feet of water.

DeTour: Atlantic, Chinook and lake trout are all active in the early morning. Anglers are using green and white flashers and flies or spoons in blue and silver, green and gold, green, white or yellow.

Drummond Island: Had excellent walleye action in Scott Bay, around Peck Island. Try the northwest side when trolling bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses in 12 to 15 feet of water. Smallmouth bass were good at Peck Island for those using tube jigs or still-fishing with minnows.

Cedarville and Hessel: Perch fishing is good in Musky Bay, Hessel Bay, Middle Entrance and the Moscoe Channel. Use minnows, leaf worms or crawlers. Hessel Bay was good for those targeting pike. Large and smallmouth bass are being caught in Musky Bay, Duck Bay and Snows Channel.

St. Ignace: Anglers are targeting Chinook and Atlantic salmon in waters up to 150 feet deep on the backside of Mackinac Island, Round Island and the Coast Guard Station.

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