Archive for May 7th, 2009

May 6th AAA Fishing Report

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Better weather has created a remarkable improvement for anglers this week. Some areas of the state have exceptional fishing. Before heading to your fishing destination, visit http://www.autoclubgroup.com/michigan/autos/traffic/index.asp for the latest traffic, construction, weather and road conditions that may affect your route.

Upper Peninsula  Northwest  West  Southwest
Northeast  East  Central  Southeast

 

Upper Peninsula:

In the Marquette area anglers are anxiously awaiting the walleye and pike season opener on May 15. A few anglers are out catching and releasing bass. Overall the fishing activity is bleak and so far no hatches have taken place. A few anglers are out trolling in 50-75 feet of water on Lake Superior for trout using Moonshine Spoons and getting fair results. A Trout/Salmon Tournament takes place this Saturday on the lower Harbor, for details call 906-226-8300.

In Escanaba the perch fishing is heating up and anglers are doing well in waters 25 to 45 feet deep out in the Bay using perch rigs. The local rivers continue to give up decent counts of steelhead. Anglers are getting prepared for walleye season next May 15.

Fishing is rated average for anglers on Indian Lake where perch are hitting on perch minnows. The Manistique River is still producing some steelhead, but the suckers have really moved in.

Around Sault Ste. Marie the perch have really started to pick up in the upper St. Mary’s River this week. Minnows seem to be working well. Whitefish can be found by the power house using wax worms and Rainbow Trout are running in just about all the streams with spawn and wax worms doing the trick.

Off of Hessel and Cedarville anglers are doing well for splake casting spoons and spawn. All of the trout streams throughout Munuscong are doing well. Anglers will find nice numbers of steelhead near the mouth of the rivers leading from both Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Pike, walleye and musky season opens May 15.

Walleye season opens May 15th for Drummond Island anglers but in the meantime anglers are getting decent perch catches off the docks around Maxton Bay. Overall perch is slowing down and the majority of the perch are now male.

St. Ignace activity is very minimal this week and for the most part, most anglers from the area are heading to Drummond Island for perch.

Information Providers: Johnson’s Sports-Drummond Island; Bay View Bait & Tackle-Escanaba; Top O’ Lake Sport-Manistique; Gander Mountain-Marquette; Hank’s Sporting-Sault Ste. Marie; Wilderness Treasurers-Munuscong Bay and ACE Hardware-St.Ignace.

Northwest:

Alanson anglers finally got a break and the weather has improved creating good pike action on most creeks and rivers with minnows working well. Suckers are also strong in the rivers and creeks. Crooked Lake is giving up some walleye near the marina where the waters have warmed up.

Around Boyne City the Jordan and Boyne rivers are full of suckers, steelhead are minimal at this point. Lake Charlevoix the perch activity is off and on and when they are biting the fish are hitting on minnows and wigglers. Walloon Lake is good for walleye on minnows and body baits and anglers are targeting bass, some catching and releasing.

Traverse City and Kalkaska anglers are finding some nice angling activity this week. Manistee Lake and Guernsey Lake are exceptional for blue gill with jigs and wax worms working very well. Lake Bellaire and Manistee Lake are both producing nice quantities of walleye on jigs and minnows. Elk Rapids Dam has a fresh steelhead run and spawn bags and jigs with wax worms seem to be working well. Skegemog Lake has hundreds of bass cruising but it is only catch and release right now. Off of Leelanau walleye are being found in the north and south narrows.

Good fishing in Gaylord where walleye are hitting on crank baits on Otsego Lake. Steelhead action continues to be good on the Boyne, Sturgeon and Jordan rivers and anglers are having success with egg and nymph patterns.

Both Mitchell and Cadillac lakes are producing nice size pike on Rapalas. Crappie action is also good but it depends on the time of day whether the fish are suspended or deep. A few blue gill are hitting on wax and leaf worms.

Information providers: Alphorn-Gaylord; Boyne River Bait Shop-Boyne City; Jack’s Sports-Kalkaska; Pilgrim’s Village-Cadillac; Young’s Bait Shop-Alanson and Gander Mountain-Traverse City.

West:

Baldwin anglers are finding decent blue gill fishing on the majority of inland lakes in the area. The shallow water seems to be the hot spot with tied flies, particularly black gnats and ants seem to be popular. Other baits that are working include worms, night crawlers and crickets.

Fishing is ok around the Muskegon area where anglers are fishing Lake Michigan for salmon in 40 to 60 feet of water and getting results in 32 to 55 feet down. Fish are ranging towards the smaller end of the scale, averaging 5-11 pounds. Perch action in the area is slowing down and walleye action is decent off the break wall when using Countdown Rapalas in the very early morning or late evening hours. Trout action is good on the north branch of the White River with worms, crawlers and spawn doing the job.

The fish seem to have moved from the channels and in to Chippewa Lake. The walleye and blue gill activity is good. Popular baits include speck minnows, wax worms, leaf worms and crawlers.

Southwest:

Off of Benton Harbor the angling activity for salmon on Lake Michigan is very good. Anglers are fishing in 40-60 feet of water and getting results 20-30 feet down. Coho and Chinook are ranging 12-18 pounds. Blue, orange and green spoons are very popular as well as Rapalas.

New Buffalo fishing is very good for Kings, Coho and steelhead right out from the mouth of the Galien River. A variety of baits seem to be working, but a few more popular include Thin Fins with orange a hot color, and Rapalas in blue and silver.

The Kalamazoo River near the Allegan Dam has slowed for steelhead fishing and Lake Michigan is giving up one or two when trolling. Fishing from the pier has also slowed for steelhead action. King Salmon activity is good between St. Joe and South Haven on Lake Michigan. Fish are averaging 18-pounds. Anglers are getting good results in 40-50 feet of water using spoons, Gotcha Flies and Rapalas. Augusta Creek and Whiskey run are both giving up nice numbers of brown trout on night crawlers and metallic spinner baits. Pine and Crooked lakes are both giving up good counts of crappie on minnows in the 16-inch/two pound range. Spotty blue gill activity on Portage and Long lakes, wax worms and leaf worms are working ok. Scott and Campbell lakes are both producing some pike; yesterday an angler reeled in a pike that weighed 13 pounds and 40 inches, pretty skinny. Walleye action is good on Cedar Lake and Maple Lake using crawler harnesses and Rapalas. Don’t forget the Fish Contest is going on now through August 31, get your fish weighed to win some prizes, call 269-372-2277 for details.

Three Rivers has much improved action this week at Corey, Harwood and Bear lakes for good crappie action. Minnows, wax worms and red wigglers all are working well.

Information providers: Tackle Haven-Benton Harbor; D.& R. Sports-Kalamazoo; Captain Cook’s-New Buffalo and Fisherman’s Luck-Three Rivers.

Northeast:

Good fishing for Alpena anglers on Thunder Bay for walleye. Rapalas and body baits are working well. The steelhead action remains good around the Ninth Street Dam on spawn and flies. Crappie fishing is just starting and so far is fair to good with minnows doing the trick.

It’s all good around Oscoda where perch, blue gill and crappie action is great on live baits on Cooke and Foote Dam ponds. Pike is good on Foote Dam Pond. Walleye, steelhead and sucker action is good on the Au Sable River when using minnows, spawn and crawlers.

Walleye are biting on Lake Margrethe around the Grayling area. Good results can be found near the east shoreline and the north side using minnows. The pressure is light to good for a few blue gill in the shallows from about 8-feet in.

The bite is good on Houghton Lake for walleye on minnows and blue gill and crappie on leaf worms. Blue gill are a good size averaging 11-13 inches. Crawler harnesses and teardrops are working on pike near the Reedsburg Dam.

Higgins Lake is producing fair amounts of perch on minnows but so far no trout action.

Around Au Gres walleye are biting on size seven Husky Jerks up river in the shallows of the Aus Gres. Again this week on the east branch of the Au Gres steelhead continue to run. Additional baits that are also popular include crawler harnesses, Rapalas and bombers.

Information providers: Clem’s-Alpena; Skips-Grayling; Lyman’s-Houghton Lake; Sports Barn-Higgins Lake; Wright’s Sport Shop-Au Gres and The Dam Store-Oscoda

East:

Off of Standish the perch seem to have shut down, but outstanding walleye fishing is taking place. The walleye are really turned-on in 13-18 feet of water and limits are being taken in short order on crawler harnesses. A few hot spots include near the Rifle Bar, black hole and catfish hole.

Walleye are everywhere around the Bay City area and anglers are giving a thumbs-up for good action. Saginaw Bay is producing good quantities in 10-feet of water on crawlers. Anglers are also doing well fishing from shore along the Saginaw River jigging with minnows.

Bay Port anglers are finding good action around North Island where the walleye activity is picking up when using crawlers. Some anglers are finding a bit of perch action near the Gap and several anglers are marking bass with a few catching and releasing.

Harbor Beach, Port Hope, Port Sanilac and Port Austin are good locations to fish for Kings, Coho, Silver Bass and steelhead which are moving to deeper and north waters. Orange and lime green baits seem to work well on lake trout in the Lexington area where the trout have really turned-on. The walleye showed up in Port Huron this week and are running strong even along the wall. Vertical jigging, whipping and casting twisters all seems to be working well. Minnows arrived in huge quantities from Port Huron all the way to the Black River bringing plenty of fish in with them. Spring perch are biting at the mouth of the Black River and around Marysville, not in large quantities but big in size. Emerald Shiners are working best. The Black River has some steelhead remaining but mostly Silver Bass at this point.

Information providers: Anderson’s Pro Bait-Port Huron; 1st & Main-Bay Port; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City and Eagle Bay Marina-Standish.

Central:

In the Lansing area the fishing is slow on just about all the lakes and rivers due to muddy water and high levels. Activity is hit or miss, just nothing to write home about so far this week.

Near the Brooklyn area crappie and blue gill fishing is the best right now. The majority of inland lakes are producing nice numbers of crappie on minnows and blue gill on wax worms. Walleye activity is slow.

Information providers: Knutson’s Live Bait-Brooklyn and Grand River Bait and Tackle-Lansing.

Southeast:

The St. Clair River is hot for vertical jigging walleye from Algonac to St. Clair now that the water clarity has improved and the temperature is now around 48 degrees. Around Harsen’s Island pan fish are hitting on small crawlers and wax worms. Lake St. Clair is giving up good catches of walleye near Gino’s Restaurant, south of Metro Beach, near the 400 Club and south of the Clinton River spillway. Crawler harnesses and night crawlers are working well. Pan fish action is also picking up and blue gill and crappie are hitting on wax and leaf worms.

Near St. Clair Shores off of Masonic Boulevard anglers are catching and releasing good numbers of small mouth bass and some perch on small minnows. The Detroit River has outstanding walleye fishing taking place on the American side from the MacArthur Bridge near Belle Isle to the Ambassador Bridge. Anglers are getting limits easily when using large walleye minnows. On the Canadian side the fishing is getting better and the water is clearing up and best spots are off of the casino, near the Canadian Club plant and out in front of the fountain in Windsor. Finesse minnows and Wyandotte Worms are very popular baits.

The Detroit River around Belanger Park near River Rouge is coming on strong for Silver Bass as well as south of Trenton where the fish are moving into the river. A good spot already very active with anglers is out in front of the Trenton Stacks. The big females have just arrived and numerous fish in the one to two pound range are being caught.

Walleye action is very hot all up and down the Detroit River. Hot spots include Fighting Island between the candle stick and the water intake on the American side in 31-38 feet of water using green or chartreuse jigs with a brown Wyandotte Worm or a live minnow. Buoy 94 near the south end of Grassy Island, the west side of Mud Island, off of the golf course between Wyandotte and Trenton and around the east side of Grosse Ile. The early morning bite has been strong but a second wave of action has been taking place around noon. Hand liners on the lower Trenton channel are using Rapalas during the afternoon and at night. Other baits that are working on walleye include bottom bouncers, live bait, green jig heads, gulp minnows, stinger hooks and some anglers are starting to use crawler harnesses. The Detroit River is clean, visibility good and warming up with the temperature around 50 degrees.

The Michigan Walleye Tournament takes place Friday and Saturday on the Detroit River and Lake Erie with weigh-in at Lake Erie Metro Park. For details call 734-379-9762.

Lake Erie is giving up some perch that are hitting near the Detroit Light, in the shipping channels, near the Sputnik Buoy and out in front of the River Raisin.

Off of the Monroe area Lake Erie is dirty due to northeast and east winds recently. A storm in the forecast may affect fishing conditions during the next few days. Straight out from Bolles Harbor walleye are biting when anglers use jigs and trolling night crawlers.

Walleye are also found in good numbers off of Luna Pier, in the shipping channels, around Turtle Island, near the Detroit Lighthouse and near the water in-take in Ohio. Minnows and worms seem to be the bait of choice.

In the Belleville area walleye action is hot and anglers are getting limits within a three-hour trip on both Ford and Belleville lakes. Shiners seem to be doing the trick on crappie at Mill Pond and on most private ponds. Blue gill are in good numbers on Belleville Lake near the Dam. The Huron River still has steelhead running. Quick selling baits include pan fish worms and night crawlers, along with jerk baits.

Information providers: Mackie’s Bait & Tackle-Algonac, WalleyeKid.com; Lance Valentine’s Walleye 101; Gander Mountain-Taylor; Lakeside Fishing Shop-St. Clair Shores; Pro-Fishing & Archery-Harrison Township; South Street Tackle-Belleville; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rock Wood; Erie Party Shop-Monroe and Andy’s Tackle Box-Melvindale.

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Erie’s Western Basin Temps

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Click on “Western Basin” to see the latest available water temps for this section of Lake Erie.

Western Basin

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May 7th Michigan DNR Fishing Report

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

On the inland waters, bluegills are beginning to show up in the shallows, but it will probably be another week or so before spawning begins in the Lower Peninsula. Largemouth bass are active in the shallows. Anglers are reminded that all largemouth and smallmouth bass must be released immediately.

 

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie - Has fair walleye fishing with most fish taken on bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses in 10 to 15 feet of water near the Banana Dike, Point Mouillee and the mouth of the River Raisin. Good numbers of white bass and freshwater drum throughout the lake.

Huron River - Water levels are high but fishable. Walleye were caught down from the DNR launch when using rapalas. Crappie can be found in the backwaters in the early morning. Good numbers of white bass are in the river.

Detroit River - A few perch were caught on perch rigs with minnows in the shipping channel. Walleye could still be found in the Trenton Channel, the east side of Grosse Isle and up near Wyandotte. Jigs and minnows or crawlers took fish. White bass can be found in the Trenton Channel near the hot water discharge and smallmouth bass are becoming more abundant. The fish are becoming more active as the waters have warmed to about 51 degrees.

Lake St. Clair - Panfish are in the marinas and some big catfish have been caught.

St. Clair River - Walleye are starting to hit in both the North and South Channels.

Lexington - Good catch rates for chinook and coho when trolling in 20 to 40 feet of water. Most are using spoons or body baits off downriggers, dipsey divers, long lines and planer boards.

Port Sanilac - Has good salmon fishing when trolling north and south of the pier.

Harbor Beach - Boat anglers caught chinook and coho when trolling spoons or body baits. Pier fishing slowed except for small perch, rock bass and bullhead.

Port Austin - Anglers are just starting to troll for lake trout.

Saginaw Bay - There’s still a lot of muddy water to contend with in the inner bay after all the rain. Angler activity has picked up off Linwood and Parish Road. Those trolling and drifting east of Spoils Island caught fish when using crawler harnesses and jigs with crawlers. Quanicassee had fair to good walleye action near the mouth of the river. At Bay Port, boat anglers are catching walleye in the channel off the tip of Sand Point, around North Island and out in the Slot. At Caseville, walleye were caught off the breakwall at night.

Saginaw River - A few walleye were caught down at the mouth near the Power Plant intake channel.

Sebewaing River - Walleye were caught on jigs in the early morning. Catch and release bass anglers are catching fish as well.

Pigeon River - Smallmouth are being caught and released in the lower river.

Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joe - Dredging has caused boat anglers fishing for trout and salmon to head out to waters up to 80 feet deep. Pier anglers were still catching coho.

St. Joe River - Steelhead fishing has slowed below the Berrien Springs Dam. Good numbers of smallmouth bass were hitting on plugs.

Paw Paw Lake - In Kalamazoo County is giving up good numbers of crappie.

South Haven - Pier fishing was slow but the boat anglers are catching good numbers of chinook, some coho and lake trout. Most were trolling in 60 to 80 feet of water south of the Power Plant. No perch.

Black River - Near Holland is producing white bass.

Grand Haven - Perch are still being caught in 60 feet of water south of the piers. Wigglers, minnows, spikes, and mousies are still working for bait. Limit catches were taking longer. Chinook salmon were caught in 60 feet of water along the mud lines using purple, green and orange spoons.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Water levels are still high but anglers are catching both flatheads and channel cats off the east wall and up near the Sixth Street Dam. Bluegills and crappie were caught on leaf worms, wax worms and minnows at Millennium Park.

Grand River at Lansing - Only a few catfish were caught as water levels are high and muddy.

Looking Glass River - Is still not fishable.

Maple River - Is still not fishable.

Reeds Lake - Is producing crappie in the shallows. Bluegills are hitting on leaf worms and perch were caught in 10 to 25 feet of water.

Muskegon - There have been rumors of chinook being caught. Anglers have tried for perch in 60 feet of water, but no luck.

Muskegon Lake - Anglers are trolling the channel and the lake for walleye but catch rates were spotty.

Muskegon River - Steelhead have been caught in the upper section between Bridgeton and the dam. Walleye were caught in the Maple Island area.

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Mullett Lake - Anglers are targeting northern pike along the south end of the lake.

Rogers City - Surface water temperatures on Lake Huron were about 42 degrees, so fish the muddy water off the rivers because they are slightly warmer. Lake trout season is now open and the fish will be in shallow waters. Catch rates were slow but should improve with warmer weather. Those heading out will want to fish in shallow waters 8 to 30 feet deep. Try high-lining Cowbells with Spin Glo’s for lake trout or planer boards with a variety of body baits and small spoons for brown trout and atlantic salmon. Good colors this time of year are chartreuse and silver, blue and silver, fire-tiger and orange. Shore anglers in Swan Bay and Calcite Harbor were getting a few fish when casting spoons.

Presque Isle - A couple anglers on the docks reported seeing atlantic salmon in the harbor. Try casting spoons or fishing minnows under a bobber. Lake trout should be here soon especially in the shallow waters of North Bay.

Harrisville - With lake trout season underway, more anglers should be out. A few walleye were caught around the harbor and off the wall when fishing the lake side with body baits and crawler harnesses.

Higgins Lake - Not much going on until the temperatures warm up and stay that way. There were rumors of a few trout in Big Creek.

Houghton Lake - A few bluegill, walleye and crappie were caught but overall fishing has been slow.

Oscoda - Walleye fishing heated up as more anglers are fishing near the mouth.

Au Sable River - Is getting busy with walleye and steelhead anglers. Walleye were caught at night down towards the mouth on body baits and crawlers. Steelhead were caught on body baits or spawn.

Tawas - Boat anglers have caught good numbers of walleye when using crawler harnesses in 15 to 30 feet of water down towards Alabaster. A few trout were also picked up. At the State Harbor, pier anglers caught small perch, pike and brown trout inside the wall and walleye on the outside.

Au Gres - Has very good walleye fishing off the various points when using crawler harnesses in 15 to 30 of water.

Au Gres River - On the East Branch near the Singing Bridge, steelhead action is winding down with only a few drop-back fish still being caught. Most are catching walleye at night when casting rapalas in the surf.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Lake Charlevoix - Perch fishing was slow. Anglers jigging and using shiners did manage to catch a few nice fish but many were small.

Lake Bellaire - Those targeting walleye were trolling crawler harnesses and jigs from the steep drop-offs in the northern section of the lake, west of the Intermediate River and from the Fisherman’s Paradise access site down to the southern section of the lake in 10 to 30 feet of water.

Traverse City - Strong winds have kept anglers off the East Bay. For the West Bay, lake trout have been caught along the east shoreline from the Maritime Dock down to Bowers Harbor when trolling or jigging near the drop-off. White jigging spoons caught fish. A few perch were caught on wigglers near Suttons Bay.

Elk River - Steelhead fishing was not been consistent. Those able to find fish caught them on spawn, wax worms or wigglers.

Boardman River - Still has the occasional steelhead but the bite was slow. Those fishing from the mouth to the Union Street Dam will find suckers.

Frankfort - Boats are still trolling in the harbor for brown trout and steelhead. Most are staying close to shore and fishing the warmer waters.

Betsie River - Anglers fishing up near the Homestead Dam were taking some steelhead. Fish the deeper holes until the water levels come back down.

Clam River - In Missaukee County was producing some nice brook trout.

Manistee - Boat anglers are catching brown trout and the occasional steelhead on body baits. Green and orange were good colors. Perch were caught off the pier however anglers will need to sort out the small ones.

Ludington - The docks have been pulled at the Loomis Street boat launch due to dredging. Anglers are catching brown trout while trolling along the shoreline. Most fish were caught between the Lincoln River and the Point.

UPPER PENINSULA

Copper Harbor - Water levels in the northern Keweenaw Peninsula are presently very high and moderately muddy with more snow-melt yet to occur in the coming days. Fishing for splake in the harbor is fair to good and should only get better. Trolling plugs, casting jigs tipped with cut bait or casting hardware are all effective.

Lac LaBelle - In Keweenaw County reports no fishing as the ice has just come off.

Lake Medora - Also in Keweenaw County still had several inches of ice on it but most likely is not safe for ice fishing.

Keweenaw Bay - Those trolling have caught a few coho and the occasional chinook salmon 30 to 55 feet down in waters 40 to 60 feet deep. Pier anglers caught steelhead and coho near the L’Anse Marina and shore anglers near Linden Creek. South Portage Entry has produce coho, chinook, lake trout and steelhead for those trolling in 30 to 90 feet of water near the lighthouse or between the shoreline and the Mud Bank. Lake trout were caught in 190 and 220 feet of water when jigging. Steelhead action should pick up soon. There were reports of moderate smelt catches coming in from some of the tributaries on the northern Keweenaw shoreline.

Fall’s River - Steelhead were caught in the early morning. Smelt were picked up near the first bridge next to the Baraga State Park.

Marquette - Fishing was slow but should pick up. Those trolling spoons or flies in front of the river systems caught coho, steelhead and brown trout in the warm water.

Menominee - Those trolling in Green Bay have caught some walleye along the Michigan and Wisconsin shorelines. No limits were reported but those putting in the time were getting a few fish. Pier anglers at both the Marina and the Lighthouse were getting perch, but most were small. North of Stony Point, the occasional walleye was caught in 7 to 12 feet of water when trolling or jigging. A few splake were caught near the mouth of the Cedar River.

Menominee River - Those trolling rapalas and crawler harnesses have picked up some walleye. Those wading near Boom and Stephenson Island took a few walleye but it was slow. Near the Cat Walk, the better fishing was at night. Those floating spawn along the rocks near the Hattie Street Dam caught steelhead and brown trout. Sucker fishing has been very good.

Little Bay De Noc - Perch anglers fished the Narrows near Butler Island but few fish were caught in the deeper waters. Those fishing in shallows waters 4 to 8 feet deep caught fish but they were small. Water temperatures were edging up near 50 degrees but no reports of smelt.

Ford River - Steelhead anglers can be found 7 to 10 miles upstream.

Day’s River - Steelhead anglers are fishing 4 to 8 miles upstream

Au Train - A couple coho and lake trout were caught in Shelter Bay. Schools of smelt were seen in front of the Rock River during the day.

Munising - Boat anglers were still taking some fish in Trout Bay and along the Pictured Rocks shoreline.

Grand Marais - Coho and steelhead catch rates have started to slow for boat anglers. Some whitefish were caught off the pier.

Drummond Island - Limits of perch are still being caught off the Bayside Dock and throughout Maxton Bay when using slip bobbers and minnows.

De Tour - Albany Creek is harboring a few steelhead but catch rates are slow.

Cedarville and Hessel - Pier anglers in the marina at Hessel have caught splake. Catch rates declined due to strong winds however some nice fish were caught.

Carp River - A handful of anglers are still fishing the McDonald Rapids for steelhead.

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