Weekly Fishing Report -
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 07/04/2013 08:00 AM EDT
Weekly Fishing Report
July 4, 2013
Weekly Fishing Tip: How to clean and care for your catch
Fishing with family and friends is a great way to spend time together, but taking your catch home and making a meal out of it – that makes it special! Check out the video below to learn the simple steps to properly clean and care for your catch.
For more information on cleaning and caring for your catch, check out this handout: www.michigan.gov/documents/dnr/How_to_Clean_and_Care_for_Your_Catch_-_May_2013_422761_7.pdf?20130701130449.
Click on the links below to jump to the report section that interests you most:
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Upper Peninsula
The Fisheries Division is now producing a quarterly outreach publication for anglers titled Reel in Michigan’s Fisheries which will showcase waters that are actively managed and provide the public with enhanced knowledge and the opportunity to access information contained in survey reviews and management reports. The quarterly publication can be found at: www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10364-306572--,00.html.
Lake Erie: Anglers are seeing good walleye fishing between Fermi and the Banana Dike in 17 to 19 feet of water. The dumping grounds south of Bolles Harbor are also producing good numbers of walleye. Most fish are being caught on purple and pink harnesses or spoons. Good numbers of perch have been caught in Brest Bay in 17 to19 feet of water and out from Toledo Beach in 14 to 16 feet of water.
Lake St. Clair: White bass are showing up in good numbers at the Clinton Beach and Metro Beach points.
St. Clair River: Walleye fishing has been good in the river at Port Huron and downriver to Marine City. White bass are prevalent in the river channels all the way up to Lake Huron.
Harbor Beach: Some anglers have reported that fish are scattered. When anglers can get out, they are fishing steelhead and lake trout in 100 feet of water running baits in 70 feet of water to the bottom.Port Austin: Has been very windy with a few walleye being caught. Fish appear to be scattered.Caseville: Anglers are starting to pick up a few walleye off Sleeper State Park.
Saginaw River: Walleye trolling from Consumers to the Coast Guard Station and at Smith Park (Essexville) – some freshwater drum, channel catfish and smallmouth.
SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
St. Joseph: Salmon anglers are still finding fishing very spotty. Most fish are being caught in 60 to 100 feet of water. Pier fishing has been slow but anglers have caught some steelhead. Anglers casting orange spoons were doing best. Some fish were also caught on shrimp and alewives fished under bobbers. Perch fishing has been very spotty. The fish seem to be moving a lot and have been caught in 20 feet out past 50 feet of water.
South Haven: Perch fishing is finally improving. They are being caught in 35 to 45 feet of water. Anglers that are drifting are doing significantly better than anglers who are anchoring. Salmon anglers are catching a few fish in 75 to 140 feet of water. Anglers that were doing best were targeting the upper half of the depths they are fishing. Pier anglers are catching the occasional steelhead, but overall pier fishing is slow.
Holland: One boat angler had good luck fishing in 80 feet of water targeting lake trout while fishing the bottom with "trash cans" and picked up one lake trout and a king. Boat anglers here are pretty sparse. Perch are being caught south of
Saugatuck. Pier anglers are struggling to catch steelhead with shrimp and a bobber.
Grand Haven: Salmon anglers are targeting steelhead since kings are still scarce in 200 to 240 feet of water at the top portion of the water column. Spoons that are orange are working best. Water around the piers has warmed so pier anglers are struggling to catch steelhead. They are using shrimp and a bobber for bait. No perch.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Is producing smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish and the surprise summer run steelhead.
Branch County: Coldwater Lake is producing largemouth bass, northern pike, rock bass and bluegills along the drop offs.
Kalamazoo River: Smallmouth bass are biting when the water clears between rains.
NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Rogers City: Fishing here is definitely on the upswing. Anglers are catching mostly lakers, Chinook salmon and steelhead. The occasional Atlantic salmon, coho and pinks are also showing up. Bugs are really starting to show up on the surface and steelies are starting to show in some numbers. Anglers are fishing high for them with lead cores of 1, 3, 5, and 7 colors. Chinook are being caught in 60 to 120 feet of water and about half way down with spoons. Greens, blues, black and white, yellow and chartreuse have all been good colors. A lot of smaller fish are now making up the catch with many just over 15 inches. Remember 15 inches and up is the legal size for keeping lake trout in this area. They are being taken close to the bottom with spoons, cowbells or dodgers with spin glows.
Please be on the lookout for adipose fin clipped fish. Many of these fish contain a metal tag that was planted in them when they were released. These fish are part of a study that is helping to determine the many things that are happening with them out in the lake. Please take the time to save the head and to fill out a small data sheet. The bags and data sheet are located in the cleaning station in Rogers City. You can also see the creel clerk for a kit and more information.
Presque Isle: Weather has kept many anglers off the lake here. Lakers are still being taken off the red can or off the big lighthouse point. Try waters up to 80 feet and fish the bottom 25 feet or so with cowbells, dodgers and spin glows. The fish have been scattered all over in waters 50 to120 feet. Anglers are using downriggers, lead cores, dipseys and high lines to catch fish.
Rockport: Angler pressure out of Rockport this week was very low. No walleye were reported and a handful of lake trout up to 15 pounds were caught. A few steelhead were also being caught. Look for trout and steelhead in around 60 to 70 feet of water around Middle Island. Flashers and peanuts were catching lake trout.
Alpena: Thunder Bay out from Alpena has been fished heavy this week for walleye. Many people are venturing out at all times of the day with best catches coming late evening into the night and even after dark. Limits have been reported with most people getting three to four fish. Most are fishing off of the north shore and Sulfur Island in 15 to 20 feet of water. The occasional catfish, northern pike and smallmouth bass have also been caught.
Harrisville: Angler traffic has been light, but those making their way have had good success with lake trout, steelhead, salmon and walleye. Steelhead are in 50 to 70 feet of water. Lake trout and salmon seem to be in 80 to 100 feet of water. Walleye early in the morning and late evening are in 12 to 20 feet of water in front of the harbor and north up to Sturgeon Point.
Oscoda: Walleye have slowed in the river, but water temps are coming up so they should be making their way in and out. Crawlers and body baits seem to be hot right now. Lake trout seem to be in 70 to 90 feet of water and suspended along with a few salmon. Steelhead have been hanging in the 40 to 60 foot range and along any scum lines.
Tawas: Trollers are still finding walleye in 25 to 60 feet of water, often fishing 30 feet down using crawlers and some plastics. A few smallmouths are being caught. No pier action reported.
Tawas River: Anglers are fishing catfish, freshwater drum and smallmouth bass.
Au Gres: Has slowed somewhat but walleye anglers are still getting fish and many limits. Anglers have been fishing in 30 to 40 feet of water from Pt. Au Gres to Point Lookout, the Charities and Gravelly Shoals. Fish appear to be a bit more scattered. Incidental catches of freshwater drum and catfish.
Au Gres River: Anglers are still getting catfish and freshwater drum.
NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
Harbor Springs: Lake trout were being found around Harbor Point on spoons with cowbells or dodgers, spin n’ glows and spoons. There have been lots of undersized lake trout caught but some keepers as well. There are still lake trout to be caught further north between the condos and 7 Mile Point.
Petoskey: The pier is producing lots of small smallmouth bass, rock bass and bullhead. Most people are fishing with crawlers, but some are using crank baits, spinners, and jigs with soft plastic lures. Anglers on the break wall were catching some smallmouth and an occasional yellow perch on crawlers and minnows. Boat fishing is still pretty slow but it is expected to pick up when reports of salmon start coming in.
Bear River: There were very few people fishing at the dam or in the river this week. Anglers that were there trying for steelhead with spawn bags were having their bait swiped by chubs.
Charlevoix: Walleye fishing in the channel has been slow for the last week. Smallmouth are being caught in the channel on crawlers as are freshwater drum and rock bass. Boat fishing has been slow in Charlevoix. A lot of undersize lake trout are being caught.
Traverse City: The East Bay reports good smallmouth bass fishing in five to 15 feet of water. Lake trout, cisco, and a few whitefish were caught jigging in 50 to 80 feet of water. Lake trout were also caught trolling at depths around 75 feet. Anglers fishing in West Bay report lake trout catches while jigging and trolling in depths around 100 feet. Smallmouth bass were caught in 10 to 20 feet of water.
Elk River: Smallmouth bass fishing has been good, but most of the fish are on the small side. Try leeches, crawlers, or plastic baits for the bass.
Boardman River: Fishing has been relatively slow. Smallmouth and rock bass have been caught along with the occasional pike. Live bait seems to be working the best.
Frankfort: Chinook salmon are in the area but not in great numbers. The ones that are being landed are caught in 180 to 220 feet of water and trolling 65 to 110 feet down. Limits of lake trout have also been reported around the six mile hole area while bouncing the bottom with spin and glows and cow bells.
Onekama: Anglers are reporting a good early morning bite in 140 to 240 feet of water trolling 70 to 120 feet down just off the golf course. Several kings are being reported hitting on blue spoons and on meat. Lake trout are also hitting well in the same area on cow bells.
Portage Lake: Bass anglers are working the drops due to warming temperatures. Activity has slowed but still some nice large and smallmouths are being caught. Bluegills, sun fish, rock bass and perch are all reporting good numbers off all the weed beds. Please be cautious in the area with all the vacationing recreational boaters.
Manistee: Fishing continues to be tough. Salmon and trout have been caught 40 to 80 feet down in 120 to 240 feet of water. Try running green or orange spoons. Freshwater drum have been caught off the pier.
Ludington: Boat anglers have found the salmon and trout bite tough. Some fish have been caught 40 to 100 feet down in 110 to 240 feet of water. Try running blue and green spoons along with meat rigs down deeper.
Pentwater: A few anglers have taken steelhead and Chinook salmon. These anglers fished in 100 to 150 feet of water and trolled with lines running 50 to 80 feet down. Anglers are still taking a few pan fish from Longbridge and from various points along the shoreline.
Whitehall: Anglers trolling in 100 to 150 feet of water are taking a few coho salmon. Pier and channel fishing at both ports have turned up little besides freshwater drum and a few catfish. Pan fishing is slowing down but anglers are still taking a few from the channel at Whitehall.
White Lake: Bass fishing continued to be very good this week. These fish are still in tight to shore with green, white, and gold being the hot colors this week.
UPPER PENINSULA
Keweenaw Bay: Fishing has been slow the past few days. Pollen is very thick on the water right now. Anglers fishing for salmon here in the bay had some success through most of the week. Anglers were trolling from Sand Point up to Carla’s restaurant trolling in 150 to 240 feet of water 25 to 100 feet down. Flies and spoons in a variety of colors were working best.
South Portage Entry: Anglers here have picked up some lake tout trolling and jigging near Farmers, Newton’s and Big Reefs. A few Chinook, lake trout and coho have been caught trolling from the Entry southward to the Red Rocks near
Keweenaw Bay Roadside Park and trolling the White City break wall in 25 feet of water in the early morning. Some Chinook and coho have also been picked up near the lighthouse. Anglers have been trolling in waters 150 to 170 feet deep and 30 to 140 feet down using a variety of spoons and colors.
Marquette: The upper harbor dredging of the launch area is complete and is open to boaters. A number of anglers have had success for coho salmon outside the lower harbor break wall, trolling with high-lines near Shot Point/Sand River area and near the White Rocks. Lake trout anglers have reported some limits for about five hours of fishing. Most anglers are using assorted spoons and others reporting good success trying spoons tipped with sucker meat. Stannard Rock continues to produce good catches of lake trout with jigging being the most productive method.
Menominee River: Walleye anglers are doing fair to good. They are jigging minnows, trolling crawler harnesses or trolling different size and colored Rapalas. These anglers are also catching freshwater drum. Shore anglers are catching smallmouth bass, walleye, freshwater drum, and rock bass. These anglers are mainly drifting crawlers or minnows or casting crank baits.
Traverse Bay: Anglers did well trolling and jigging for lake trout on or near Hermits Cove, the Gay Stacks, Big Louie’s Point and 5 and 6 mile reefs. Anglers trolled in water from 130 to 160 feet with spoons of different colors with speeds of 1.9 to 2.4 mph. Anglers also did well with lead headed jigs and cut bait in water of 130 to 220 feet deep.
Cedar River: Anglers trolling the Bay are looking for trout and salmon. They have marked a few game fish but no catches were reported. The river anglers are getting fair to good catches of smallmouth bass casting with crank baits or drifting crawlers. They are also getting fair catches of northern pike with a few carp in the mix.
Little Bay De Noc: May fly hatches have slowed catches considerably in both bays. The best walleye catches were reported from the Escanaba River and out to “Black bottom” area and south off Breezy Point. Most trolled or drifted crawlers or cranks just off the break 10 to 20 feet down or up on the shelf in eight to 12 feet of water. Escanaba River area anglers trolled or drifted the river using crawler’s w/harnesses. Fair catches of perch reported in Gladstone off the beach area using crawlers in 16 to 23 feet of water.
Big Bay De Noc: Anglers have reported walleye catches out by the “Boot” and south off Ansell’s Point with most using crawlers w/harnesses in 18 to 22 feet of water. Smallmouth anglers reported fair catches in Ogontz trolling cranks in around 14 feet of water. Garden Bay anglers have reported fair to good catches of bass using cranks, plastics and crawlers in 14 to 18 feet. Garden Bay was also producing good catches of rock bass drifting around the area using crawlers.
Au Train: There has been light fishing pressure this past week. The catch rate has declined for lake trout anglers where most parties were catching three to five fish within about six hours of trolling. Water temperatures remain cool generally off-shore in the mid 40’s where near-shore temperatures are in the low 50’s. Rain and north wind kept angling limited.
Munising Bay: reports a low amount of fishing effort this past week due to multiple days of wind and rain. Catch rates have been fair to poor with boat angling effort continuing to be slow over the past week. Catch rates for pier fishermen have been fair to good over the past week with a couple limit catches of splake having been reported. Some anglers have reported catches throughout the day both casting and still fishing with spawn. Sub-legal splake from recent stockings continue to be present but have decreased some. Larger splake have been reported up to 22 inches.
Fairport: Anglers have been patiently waiting for the salmon to turn on. There’s still only a few boats going out each day and they are marking bait fish and salmon but few catches have been reported.
Grand Marais: Reports a low amount of fishing activity over the past week. Pier anglers targeting whitefish continue to dwindle as many anglers begin to call it a season on whitefish. Recent reports indicate there are still limit catches to be caught though they are becoming less common, even on smaller fish. Evening fishing activity has been very light with best action in the hour around sunset, usually on fish less than 13 inches.
DeTour: Anglers are trolling from the city launch out to the #3 green can, around the lighthouse area and over to the #2 red can by Drummond Island. A few boats are venturing out to the flats (3 miles further south). Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon and lake trout are active, with early morning fishing producing the best on orange, watermelon, green and gold.
Drummond Island: Anglers are targeting and looking for lake herring. Walleye are good in Maxton Bay fishing crawler harnesses at Bay Island in six to seven feet of water. Early morning is good, just on the edge of weed beds. Anglers report harvests of muskie at Lime Island trolling large crank baits in four to six feet of water off the weed beds. Moving further up the St. Marys River to Gogomain River mouth, walleye are good in three to four feet of water using crawler harnesses with a #4 hook.
Cedarville and Hessel: Hessel Bay is producing limited perch catches off the marina pier. Pike are also good in Hessel Bay with anglers still fishing with chubs. Pike are also hitting in Musky Bay and Moscoe Channel.
St. Ignace: A handful of anglers are fishing lake trout and Chinook salmon, fishing the SW side of Mackinaw Island and the flats.
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