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Thursday, December 9, 2004 Recreational Fishing Report
Low angler turnout is always the case this time of year as many are now hunting or getting their gear ready for the ice fishing season. This is a good time of year to inspect those rods and reels, replace old line, and clean out that tackle box so there will be room for all that new tackle that might be under your Christmas tree.
Southeastern Lower Peninsula A handful of anglers and duck hunters are still braving conditions and venturing out on Lake Erie. Boats are slow trolling in 12 to 20 feet of water for walleye just off Sterling State Park. Fair to good fishing was reported in Brest Bay. Those fishing off the docks at Lake Erie Metro Park have caught bluegills and crappie. Some large northern pike have been caught in the River Raisin. Fair fishing in the Huron River, but the steelhead did slow a bit at Flat Rock. Walleye have been caught near Rockwood when jigging minnows or wigglers. In the Detroit River, a few walleye were caught when jigging minnows. The warm water discharge near the Detroit Edison Plant is a good place to fish this time of year. While most boats have been put away for the season, a few have been fishing for perch on Lake St. Clair. Action has been slow, but some fish have been caught around Grassy Island. Perch and musky have been caught when trolling in Canadian waters. Perch are hitting on minnows in the North Channel of the St. Clair River. Boat anglers have caught walleye when trolling just north of the Blue Water Bridge. Some limit catches were reported. At Lexington, light numbers of steelhead and brown trout have been caught off the pier. A few perch were taken on minnows. No reports from Harbor Beach to Port Austin due to low angler activity. In Saginaw Bay, perch fishing has been fair from Linwood to Quanicassee with the better catches reported near the mouth of the Saginaw River on jigs and minnows. Walleye have been caught in the Saginaw River on Swedish Pimples or when jigging minnows, but the fish are running on the small side. Fair fishing was reported on the Tittabawassee River near Midland when fishing the deeper holes. Southwestern Lower Peninsula Fishing has been slow from the port of St. Joe. Light numbers of steelhead and whitefish have been caught off the pier, but the fishing has not been consistent. High water levels along with muddy conditions from recent rains have slowed fishing in the St. Joe River. Only light numbers of steelhead and walleye have been caught from Niles to Berrien Springs. High water levels are the reason for slow fishing in the Dowagiac River. Those able to fish have done best when fly fishing with egg patterns. Boats are drifting over the deep holes to find fish. Steelhead and walleye are in the Kalamazoo River, and the bite should resume once the water levels recede. High water levels were reported on the Grand River at Grand Rapids. As of this report, most anglers are fishing from shore as water levels are too high to wade. A few are standing on the rocks on the east side of the river, but caution should be used. Those fishing from shore and off the bridges are floating spawn under a bobber or casting small spoons and plugs for steelhead and walleye. There has been a lack of anglers fishing the Grand River near Lansing. Northern pike have been caught on minnows at Babcock’s Landing on the Looking Glass River. Some are fishing from a canoe on the Cedar River and catching pike. At Holland and Grand Haven, light numbers of brown trout and whitefish have been caught off the pier. The fishing has been hit-or-miss, depending on wind and weather patterns. Inland, boat anglers are starting to catch bluegills and crappie when fishing waters at least 10 feet deep. Most fish have been caught on small jigs with minnows or wax worms. Boat anglers fishing on Reed’s Lake have caught bluegill on crawlers or wax worms. At Muskegon, light numbers of steelhead have been caught off the pier. Good numbers of whitefish have been caught off the south pier in the Muskegon Channel near the Coast Guard Station. Most fish have been caught at night with a small hook and single egg. Perch are starting to hit in Muskegon Lake. In the Muskegon River, boats are trolling with small spoons or plugs for steelhead. Northeastern Lower Peninsula At Alpena, the whitefish are just about done spawning. The tail end of the spawning run can be good fishing as the whitefish are ready to feed and easier to catch. The usual hot spots are the reefs in Thunder Bay and at the Ninth Street Dam. Some brown trout have also been caught. The fall steelhead run has apparently peaked and fair to good numbers of fish can be found at the Ninth Street Dam. Those fishing off the bridge have caught whitefish on spawn. Near Oscoda, anglers have caught chinook salmon when fishing near the mouth of the Au Sable River. Boats are trolling with bright colored spoons or anything that glows. Steelhead and brown trout have been caught when fishing off the breakwalls with spawn. The whitefish run is starting to wind down, but an occasional fish can still be caught when jigging minnows or wigglers. Brown trout are in the Au Sable River and have been caught on spawn or flies. At Tawas, the whitefish run is starting to wind down as well. Whitefish were caught when jigging minnows or wigglers. An occasional walleye or brown trout have also been caught off the pier. Perch fishing was slow. At AuGres, boat anglers have caught perch in the bay but the fish were small. In the AuGres River, anglers are catching light numbers of steelhead on spawn. On the inland lakes, anglers have been few due to constant rain and high winds. On Higgins Lake, shore anglers have caught some nice rainbow trout when casting plugs or floating spawn bags. A few boats were trolling the drop-off with crank baits for rainbow trout and lake trout. A few walleye and northern pike have been caught on Houghton Lake when trolling at night. Those fishing the deeper waters have caught bluegill and crappie on jigs with wax worms and minnows. Northwestern Lower Peninsula While most anglers are now waiting for ice fishing to begin, a few boats are still fishing some of the inland lakes when the weather permits. Walleye have been caught in Burt Lake, but the fishing has been inconsistent. Those fishing Long Lake, Grand Traverse County have taken a few walleye when jigging minnows. At Traverse City, a few boats have been fishing for perch in the East Bay off Deepwater Point when the weather permits. In the West Bay, boats start looking for perch near the mouth of the Boardman River and keep moving to locate schools of fish. Whitefish catches were slow in both bays, as it seems the fish are holding in deeper waters. Cold weather is needed to push fish in closer to shore. Rain and warm temperatures this week should produce some good steelhead fishing in the Boardman River. Few anglers have been out near Frankfort. Strong winds have kept most off the piers, but a handful of anglers were surfcasting for steelhead and brown trout. They are casting spawn, spoons and plugs. Inland, a few northern pike and walleye have been caught in both Upper and Lower Herring Lakes. At Manistee, anglers are still casting off the pier for steelhead and brown trout. Boats are trolling thundersticks or flatfish in Manistee Lake with good success. The better fishing remains near the mouth of the Little Manistee River. Fishing did slow on the Big Manistee River. Light numbers of fish have been caught up by Tippy Dam. The best fishing has been above the Coffer Dam before daylight when floating jigs with wax worms. Brown trout have been caught on spawn in the fast waters down by Suicide Bend. From Rainbow Bend down to Manistee Lake, they are catching steelhead on spawn or black flies. Boats are drifting or back trolling plugs through the deep holes. At Ludington, anglers are still catching steelhead off the breakwall. Most fish have been caught on spawn bags when there is a good west wind. A handful of boats are still trolling for steelhead in Pere Marquette Lake. Spoons and flatfish have worked best. Upper Peninsula Few anglers were reported in the Upper Peninsula, as fishing has taken a back seat to hunting season in both Michigan and Wisconsin. Anglers were starting to catch good numbers of panfish until the warm temperatures and rain returned to the state. In Iron County, good catches of walleye were reported on Iron Lake, Swan Lake and Emily Lake. Northern pike can be found in shallow waters. Shore anglers fishing along the Menominee River have managed to catch some walleye. Those seeking panfish were starting to catch good numbers of panfish until the recent warm-up. The better fishing should return once temperatures start to freeze. Those fishing on Little Bay De Noc have caught more walleye this week. Boats are trolling crankbaits from the Narrows north to Garth Point. Walleye are hitting near the break just south of the Second Reef. The better fishing continues to be at night. Fair to good perch fishing was also reported. North of Newberry, high winds have limited boat activity along Lake Superior. Those fishing off the pier at Grand Marais have caught menominee whitefish using a small hook and single egg. Steelhead can still be found in the Sucker River and the Big Two Hearted River. Walleye, northern pike and musky can be found in the Tahquamenon River. Fair fishing continues in the St. Mary’s River for northern pike and musky. Large minnows and rapalas were the best bait. |
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