Weekly Fishing Report; November 19, 2015

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Weekly Fishing Report

November 19, 2015

Southeast Lower Peninsula
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Upper Peninsula

Great Lakes Temperature Map
Weekly Fishing Tip

Now that the firearm deer season is open, even fewer anglers are out. With the warmer weather, those hunting might want to break out the fishing pole. Those that have been out were catching steelhead, brown trout, whitefish, walleye, and some panfish.

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Had good perch fishing in front of the Metro Park Marina and the Banana Dike. Most are using minnows on perch rigs. Catch rates were also good in the marinas however; anglers may have to sort out the small ones.

Huron River: Is producing a few trout. Anglers were fishing in the lower river between Rockwood and the mouth.

Detroit River: Had fair to good yellow perch fishing in the lower river. Anglers are using perch rigs with minnows. Walleye were caught in front of the Trenton Power Plant. Anglers were hand-lining with rapalas.

St. Clair River: Walleye along with the occasional steelhead were caught up near Port Huron. Those fishing the North Channel have caught and released a good number of lake sturgeon.

Saginaw Bay: Had a few boats out targeting perch, catch rates were slow however. Many have put their gear away and are waiting for ice fishing season.

Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: When the weather allowed, pier anglers were taking steelhead and whitefish. Try a Swedish pimple with a single egg for the whitefish.

St. Joseph River: Steelhead fishing slowed but should pick back up with rain and cooler temperatures in the forecast. Most fish were caught on spawn. Those fishing near the dams have caught the occasional walleye or bass.

Kalamazoo River: Is producing steelhead below the Allegan Dam. Anglers reported fair to good walleye action as well. Try crank baits or stick baits.

Grand River at Lansing: Some good size pike have been caught near the North Lansing Dam by those floating a sucker minnow or using spoons and spinners. Crappie were caught near the Waverly Road Bridge. Near Lyons, anglers caught walleye on minnows and crawlers.

Looking Glass River: Those targeting pike have caught some nice fish near Babcock’s Landing. Try bouncing sucker minnows or golden shiners along the bottom. A few pike were also caught at the city parks in DeWitt.

Muskegon Lake: The better perch fishing is usually between Hartshorn Marina and the Muskegon Yacht Club. Anglers should also find a few walleye in the same area.

Muskegon River: Has steelhead throughout. Try the deeper holes up near Croton Dam during the warm spell. A few brown trout have also been caught.

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Burt Lake: Was producing some bass and panfish including some yellow perch.

Alpena: Whitefish were caught but the numbers were low. Look for catch rates to pick up by the weekend as much colder air moves in.

Thunder Bay River: Had few anglers. A handful of anglers fishing in the very early morning did manage to catch a few trout. Whitefish were still slow but should pick up by the weekend.

Au Sable River: Steelhead were caught in the lower river in the early morning and at night. Warm daytime temperatures have slowed the bite. A few walleye were caught between the mouth at the first dam.

Tawas: This is the time of year that whitefish are caught by those fishing off the State Docks in East Tawas. Try a small hook with a single egg. Walleye should be up in the shallows.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Petoskey: Surf fishing for steelhead was very good around Little Traverse Bay off the Clock Tower Dock and the Bayview Dock. West or northwest winds are best when fishing these locations.

Bear River: Is giving up some steelhead. Water levels were up after the last rain.

Upper Peninsula

Little Bay De Noc: Had a slow week overall and low angler participation. The better walleye catches were reported from the “Narrows” area and north to Third Reef when trolling stick baits in 28 to 45 feet. Night anglers reported fair catch rates when trolling stick baits in ten to 30 feet in the North Bay. Good northern pike action continues with most fish caught by walleye anglers using artificial baits. No perch to report.

Fishing Tip: Got a deer? Head out for some steelhead fishing

Fishing for steelhead is very hot right now so if you’ve already gotten your doe or buck this season, consider hitting the rivers again for the fall run of chrome.

In the last 10 years, steelhead fishing with bobber and eggs has really taken off – however, “older” fishing methods are still very effective during the early season. Many anglers enjoy actively casting spinners and plugs. The secret to this type of fishing is finding a good hole or run that is deep enough to hold fish.

Cast your offering across the river and retrieve it as slow as possible while still making sure the lure is “swimming” close to the bottom. As you retrieve, the river’s current will swing your plug or spinner down stream in an arch. Eventually the last part of your retrieve will be almost completely up stream. Many bites will come at the bottom of the arch or during the upstream retrieve. Start your casts at the top of the hole or run and after two to three casts take a step down stream. Cast two to three more times before taking another step down stream. Repeat this process until you have covered the entire length of the hole or run. After your last casts, you can either head back to the top and start over or explore the river for another spot.

This manner of fishing can be a lot of fun because the strike of a steelhead on a retrieved lure is second to none.

The Weekly Fishing Report is intended to give anglers an idea of what is going on around the state. Updates come from DNR Fisheries seasonal and field staff, and DNR Conservation Officers. With more than 11,000 inland lakes, the Great Lakes and thousands of miles of rivers and streams, not all locations can be listed. However, it is safe to say if a species is being caught in some waters in the area, they are likely being caught in all waters in that section of the state that have that species.

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