Michigan’s Weekly Fishing Report for Oct. 18
Weekly Fishing Tip: Maps to Help You Find the Fish
Are you looking for great places to go fishing? Or are you an avid angler who wants some inside information? Check out the various fishing-related maps available online to help in your angling adventures!
Inland Lake Maps
There are more than 11,000 lakes in Michigan – and we have maps for 2,700 of them! These maps can help with inland lake fishing efforts and highlight shore features, vegetation and other water body specifics. To access, visit http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-30301_31431_32340—,00.html.
Inland Trout and Salmon Regulations Maps
These maps assist anglers in locating waters that contain trout and salmon and the regulations that apply to those waters. To access, visit http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10364_52261_52262-211883–,00.html.
Fishing Report
SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
- Lake Erie: When boats can get out, they have done well for perch. Hot spots were around the Raisin River Buoys in 13 to 18 feet of water and off Stony Point in 22 to 24 feet. For walleye, try out from Luna Pier in 16 feet of water.
- Huron River: More steelhead should be moving up into the river soon. One fish was caught up at Flat Rock. Try floating wax worms, minnows or a single egg. Shore anglers caught some nice perch.
- Detroit River: Walleye anglers jigging in the lower river are catching a few fish. Perch anglers are also picking up a fair number of fish. Try the Cross Dike near the south end of Grosse Ile in 10 to 15 feet of water or the west side of Celeron Island in eight to 10 feet of water. Shore anglers have caught 10 to 14 inch perch.
- Lake St. Clair: Once the winds die down and anglers can get back out, perch fishing should be very good. Best areas to fish this time of year are off the 400 Club and the Grosse Point Yacht Club. Muskie fishing should also be good around the weed beds in Anchor Bay and along the St. Clair Delta Channels. Walleye fishing should also pick up in the channels as water temperatures continue to fall.
- St. Clair River: Fishing activity has been slow. Anglers continue to fish off the boardwalk in Port Huron with limited success.
- Lexington: Is producing the occasional steelhead and brown trout. Anglers are casting spoons or using spawn. Baitfish are showing up along the breakwall. Anglers did best in the early morning or late evening. A few perch were seen around the docks at the marina.
- Saginaw Bay: Shore anglers were catching a few small perch at Quanicassee, Sebewaing and Caseville. Those able to fish in the marinas have caught bluegill and crappie. Gizzard shad were starting to move in.
- Shiawassee River: Is producing a good number of smallmouth bass.
SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
- St. Joseph: Pier anglers using spawn caught steelhead and whitefish.
- St. Joseph River: Water flow has increased but levels are still below normal. The salmon run is winding down however no big push of steelhead yet. The fish cam at the Berrien Springs ladder is temporarily disabled due to some technical difficulties. It may be down for a few days.
- Paw Paw River: As the salmon run winds down, steelhead are moving in. Many are using spawn.
- South Haven: Pier and shore anglers are casting spawn or body baits for steelhead.
- Kalamazoo River: Has a fair to good number of salmon and steelhead below the Allegan Dam. Try spawn, Hot-n-Tots, small spinners or floating wax worms.
- Grand River at Grand Rapids: Has a good number of steelhead along with some brown trout. Anglers are doing well at the dam and the stretch before the dam with pink or chartreuse spawn bags with about four eggs. Use light line, four to six pounds, and small hooks. Those fishing off the Fulton Street Bridge caught trout on Hot-n-Tots. At Riverside Park, crappie and bluegills were hitting on minnows, leaf worms or wax worms. A few walleye were caught on the gravel at night when back bouncing.
- Grand River at Lansing: Salmon fishing picked back up with coho caught in the Grand and the Red Cedar. Fishing picked up at the North Lansing Dam as the number of fish increased. Most are using small spinners. Pink and chartreuse were the hot colors.
- Looking Glass River: Has lots of northern pike but most are on the small side.
- Calhoun County: Duck Lake was producing good numbers of bass, bluegills and other panfish. Those fishing Lake of the Woods and Warner Lake caught a small number of nice bluegills.
- Reeds Lake: Is producing crappie, bluegills and even some perch.
- Muskegon River: Salmon are still being caught below Croton Dam. Anglers are casting small spoons and crank baits or drifting spawn and wax worms. The rain did push some steelhead into the river.
NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
- Cheboygan River: Is producing Chinook salmon at the dam for those using rapalas, cleo’s, shallow runners and spawn. Glow works best at night.
- Rogers City: If boats can get out, steelhead and Atlantic salmon were caught between Seagull Point and Forty Mile Point. The fish are higher now and can be found 35 feet down in waters 65 to 90 feet deep. Good colors are green, blue, black and silver, orange and silver or anything that glows. The marina and the fish cleaning station are now closed but the docks are still in. The salmon run up to the Swan Weir is just about over but a few fish may trickle back down into the bay.
- Ocqueoc River: A few salmon have been caught by those drifting spawn or casting body baits. Quite a few fish are pretty dark now.
- Presque Isle: The marina is completely winterized. The docks will be in until the end of the month.
- Rockport: Pier anglers caught Chinook early or late on rapalas.
- Alpena: A few Chinook and pink salmon were caught near Mill Island in Thunder Bay. Yellow perch have been caught in the marina by those using minnows.
- Thunder Bay River: Is producing Chinook up near the 9th Street Dam. Try floating spawn or using rattle traps. Steelhead are also being caught.
- Harrisville: Salmon are still coming into the harbor, but in small schools. Most of the fish are still fairly fresh and in good shape. Spoons, body baits and spawn are all taking fish. There have been reports of steelhead following the salmon in and hitting on the same baits. Water levels are low but there is still plenty in the channel.
- Oscoda: A few walleye were caught off the end of the pier.
- Au Sable River: Salmon are making their way up to the dam. Fish down near the mouth are silver but further up some of the fish are starting to turn dark. Steelhead are making their way up as well and were hitting on spawn. Water levels are starting to come back up and the current is moving faster. This should bring more fish into the river in the coming days.
- Higgins Lake: Is producing a few perch.
- Lake St. Helen: Is producing a few pike.
- Tawas: Pier anglers did well for perch when using minnows. Those fishing outside the piers caught Chinook, steelhead and catfish when casting spoons.
- Tawas River: A few salmon were still caught by those drifting spawn.
- Au Gres: Had good perch fishing in 35 to 40 feet of water along the shipping channel.
- Au Gres River: Rumor has it salmon and steelhead have been caught. Those surfcasting in the lower drain near the Singing Bridge have caught salmon.
NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
- Harbor Springs: Had very few boat anglers. A couple smallmouth bass were caught in 30 feet of water.
- Petoskey: Those wading and those fishing off the rocks are still catching fish past the mouth. Try crank baits or floating spawn bags. Those surfcasting off the beach and near the breakwall caught fish using crank baits or spoons. Orange and green were still the hot colors. A couple coho and pink salmon were caught right along with Chinook. Some have started to target steelhead with spawn but it might still be a little early for them.
- Bear River: Did no have as many fish as last week but quite a few are still being caught. Try spawn, skein, or yarn for Chinook, coho and pink salmon.
- Charlevoix: Fishing was slow. Even the cold, wet weather did not bring salmon up to the weir. Boat traffic seems to have stopped on the big lake. Most anglers were fishing 100 feet from the mouth of Medusa Creek with crank baits. Steelhead should be near the cement plant soon.
- Traverse City: Few boats have made it out because of the weather. Those that did were targeting smallmouth bass.
- Elk River: Chinook, coho, steelhead, and the occasional brown trout have been caught. Most anglers are using pink or chartreuse spawn bags at the power dam.
- Boardman River: The salmon run seems to have peaked but a decent number of Chinook and coho remain in the river. Some have caught lake trout. Try drifting skein and spawn bags or fly fishing with an egg-sucking leech pattern.
- Frankfort: The weather gave the steelhead a good push. Pier anglers at Frankfort and Elberta have landed some nice fish when using spawn. Chartreuse seems to be the better color. Water levels are still low and those working the shallow waters have done well. When boats can get out, they caught young Chinook and coho when fishing 80 to 100 feet down along the Shelf. Spoons worked best.
- Betsie River: Could see some steelhead by the weekend.
- Onekama: The North Pier was very active with several nice steelhead and some coho caught by those using spawn or cleo’s that glow. Chartreuse spawn bags with glow floats were the ticket this week.
- Portage Lake: Bass anglers who braved nature were not disappointed when catching several four and five pound largemouth as well as some nice smallmouth bass. Work the drops in both shallow waters and those 14 to 18 feet deep. Panfish were slow but anglers are hopeful that colder temperatures will get them feeding.
- Manistee: Strong winds have prevented boats from going out. Pier anglers and those surfcasting have started to catch steelhead on fresh spawn. Those using a single fresh egg caught a few whitefish.
- Manistee River: Should see good numbers of steelhead by the weekend. The last of the Chinook salmon should be on the gravel and pretty much done by the end of the week.
- Ludington: Pier and surf anglers are catching steelhead when using salmon spawn. Strong winds have made it difficult for boats to get out.
- Pere Marquette River: Did not get as much rain as the rivers north of Cadillac but anglers should still find some steelhead.
UPPER PENINSULA
- Black River Harbor: A few salmon are still being caught below Rainbow Falls.
- Ontonagon: High winds are keeping boat anglers off the water. A few small salmon were caught in area rivers.
- Keweenaw Bay: Boat anglers that can get out have caught mostly coho followed by lake trout and steelhead. They did best between Sand Point and Carla’s which is north of Baraga. Those fishing off the rock dock caught coho and steelhead.
- Fall’s River: Is producing coho and steelhead for those casting spoons and spinners or drifting crawlers and spawn bags.
- Marquette: Surface water temperatures have cooled to the upper 40’s so fishing has improved. Lake trout and steelhead were caught outside the Lower Harbor breakwall and up towards the Carp River. The fish are running three to six pounds. They are staging before the spawn but the run has not peaked yet. Shore anglers are fishing off the Lower Harbor breakwall and from the mouth of the Carp River to the Dead River. A couple nice steelhead were caught off the Upper Harbor breakwall.
- Carp River: Coho action was fair with the occasional fish caught on spoons or spawn. An increase in water levels should increase catch rates.
- Dead River: The salmon run may have peaked as most of the fish in the river appear to be done spawning. Most are using flies.
- Menominee: Pier anglers at the marina and the lighthouse caught the occasional salmon but the fish are turning dark. A couple brown trout were caught by those casting spoons or twister tails. Walleye fishing seems to be done.
- Menominee River: Walleye fishing was slow. Those targeting smallmouth bass, pike and musky also had reports of slow fishing. Water levels were still low but recent rain may help to bring levels back up. Chinook, pink salmon, steelhead and brown trout were caught near the first dam at Hattie Street. While some are drifting yarn or spawn others are casting spoons, rapalas or twister tails.
- Little Bay De Noc: The Kipling area has been fished the most with perch and walleye caught. Perch anglers were still-fishing with crawlers in four to 10 feet of water around Butler Island but many were small. Walleye anglers did best late evening when trolling or drifting in 10 to 23 feet of water at the Second and Third Reefs.
- Escanaba River: Shore anglers are casting for salmon but few fish were caught.
- Big Bay De Noc: Smallmouth bass by those anchored or drifting with crawlers 25 to 35 feet down between the Bluff and Snail Shell Harbor.
- St. Mary’s River: Those trolling the north end of Munuscong Bay caught a few walleye around Moon Island when trolling crawler harnesses in eight to 12 feet of water. As water temperatures get colder, change to crank baits when targeting walleye in the month of November. A few musky were caught by those trolling eight to 10 inch rubber body shad baits around Tea Cup Island and Kemps Point. Smallmouth bass are excellent around Moon Island when using minnows or jigging with dark green and brown tube jigs. A few yellow perch were caught mid-afternoon across from the Neebish Island Ferry dock or the west side of Neebish Island just off the weed beds. For perch, try out near the red buoy or off Green’s Resort in 12 to 18 feet of water.
- Detour: A few walleye were caught out from the DNR Boat Launch. Anglers are trolling crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers in 12 to 18 feet of water. Around Drummond Island, perch were caught in Scott Bay or try the south side of Ashman Island in eight to 12 feet of water with minnows. A couple perch were also caught near Harbor Island and Bald Island. Good smallmouth bass fishing around Bruce Point. Try minnows or tube jigs in four to eight feet of water around the rock piles.
- Cedarville and Hessel: Anglers are targeting yellow perch in Musky Bay and the Middle Entrance in 10 to 12 feet of water. Most are using minnows.
- Carp River: The pink salmon are almost done but Chinook are moving into the river.
