Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Fourth of July Fishing Report
More severe weather accompanied by cold fronts slowed fishing however a warm up by the weekend should once again improve conditions. Fishing on the inland lakes has been good for walleye, pike, bass, and panfish. The rivers are producing pike, catfish and carp. This week the fishing activity has really started to ignite now that the weather is cooperating. Angling activity is booming on a majority of inland lakes and rivers, as well as the Great Lakes for a variety of fish. The long holiday weekend should provide some great fishing opportunities.
Grand Traverse Bay has been good for lake trout with the whitefish moving into deeper water
Lake St. Helen has been good this week with bass and bluegill biting.
Lake Missaukee - Is producing some nice panfish.
Little Bay De Noc - Mayfly hatches did cause fishing to slow however walleye are still being caught off Breezy Point when trolling or drifting crawlers in 8 to 14 feet of water. Fair walleye action was noted from the mouth of the Escanaba River to the Black Bottom. Several nice catches of perch were taken in 15 to 20 feet of water when jigging worms. Smallmouth bass were caught near the mouth of the Ford River when casting crank baits and spinners along the rocks.
Big Bay De Noc - Walleye anglers marked good numbers of fish in 20 feet of water off Ansell’s Point but catch rates were slow. Bass fishing slowed however some nice fish have still been caught outside South River Bay or the weed beds off Ogontz when casting crank baits and spinners in 8 to 14 feet of water. Action off Fairport is a bit slow this year as water temperatures are still on the cool side in the low 40’s. Light numbers of salmon have been caught 40 to 50 feet down in 100 to 105 feet of water when using various colored spoons.
Brevoort Lake - Anglers are still catching walleye. Walleye are hitting on crawlers.
Manistique has been good for fishing. Walleye and bass are decent.
Skegemog Lake - Bass fishing has been fair for those targeting 5 to 15 feet of water near the mouth of the Torch River and between the public access site and the Narrows. Fish up to 18 inches were caught on tube baits, crank baits, power baits, spinners or jigs. Good numbers of rock bass have been caught.
Big Glen Lake - Fishing has been difficult due to the abundance of minnows and other natural food. Perch are still biting and shrimp seems to be the favored bait. Lake trout are starting to hit in 100 feet of water. Try spoons or rapalas. The bass are off the beds and the rock bass are hitting along the weeds.
Around Grayling, The walleye are biting on Lake Margrethe with Pike fishing sporadic on inland lakes and river fishing is fair to good with live bait, Hendricksonâ??s, and flies.
Hamlin Lake - Panfish and bass are being caught in moderate numbers..
Wixom Lake - In Gladwin County is producing some nice rock bass.
Lake Charlevoix - Perch anglers are finding fish at 30 feet but they are small. The bass are off the beds and along the drop offs. Those fishing the channel of the Pine River have caught smallmouth using live bait and artificial worms. Freshwater drum and catfish are also starting to show up.
Saginaw Bay - Pick any port around the bay for excellent walleye fishing! Fish the vicinity of the Black Hole, the Spark Plug, Callahan Reef, off Jones Road, and the Slot from about 4 miles north of Quanicassee all the way up to the tip of Sand Point. They’re also taking fish off the Bar on the west side of the Slot. Fish a variety of depths but in some area anglers need to fish in a minimum depth of 10 feet. From Bay Port and Caseville, fish the Slot outside Heisterman and North Islands northeast to the tip of Sand Point.
Upper Herring Lake - Walleye and largemouth bass have been caught during the day when trolling the weeds with either a crawler harness or a plastic worm.
Long Lake - The walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses after dark. Also Lake Leelanau has reported in with a good walleye bite. Warmer weather walleye will hit leeches real good
Portage Lake - Bass fishing continues to be good along weeds and drop offs throwing crank baits or plastic worms. Walleye are hitting on body baits or a crawler harness in the early afternoon and evening. Some nice bluegills were caught in 17 to 20 feet of water in front of the marina..
Muskegon Lake - Boat anglers are catching walleye at night. Both boat and shore anglers are catching bass and bluegills.
Whitehall - Fishing has picked up with a few more chinook and lake trout coming in, but they have been small. The fish were caught in 80 to 120 feet of water and the lake trout were coming off the bottom.
White Lake - Walleye have been caught early or late when trolling or drifting. Look for both large and smallmouth bass around the points and along the weedbeds. For northern pike, try trolling with large spoons or plugs, casting into the weeds or bobber fishing with large sucker minnows..
East & West Twin Lakes - has picked up for walleye and bass with leeches and crwlers working best..
Houghton Lake - Fishing has been great with lots of walleye being caught but many are small
Tittabawassee River - The lower river continues to produce very good walleye fishing around the Center Road access site. A lot of smallmouth bass have been caught and released and a lot of white bass have been caught.
Upper Peninsula:
Copper Harbor anglers are finding good fishing for perch on most inland lakes. Pike, trout and splake are doing well on the Harbor as well as fishing from shore. Crawlers, leaf worms, leeches and artificial baits are working well.
In the Escanaba area, the Escanaba River is providing good numbers of walleye while trolling with thunder sticks or crawler harnesses. King salmon are abundant off of Fairport. Bass are good all over the Escanaba River and Bay DeNoc on spinners and tube jigs.
In the Manistique area, Lake Michigan is giving up good catches of salmon six miles out with spoons working well. A mayfly hatch has slowed activity on Indian Lake.
Off of DeTour, Atlantic salmon and whitefish are doing very good near the back of the powerhouse and in the upper river.
Around St. Ignace, Brevort Lake is providing plenty of walleye and salmon are active in Moran Bay.
In the Munuscong Bay area, the herring are decent on Cedarville Lake and walleye are biting on Raber Bay and Munuscong Lake on crawler harnesses Swedish pimples, and tear drops.
Drummond Island fishing is good on Scott and Maxton bays where walleye activity is good in 15 feet of water using crawlers and crawler harnesses. Pike and bass are also plentiful. Salmon are hitting near the lighthouse in 50-60 feet of water on chartreuse spoons. Herring are biting near Howard Island and Maxton Bay on teardrops and wax worms.
Northwest:
In the Alanson area, the angling activity slowed a bit this week due to windy conditions but when anglers can get out they are doing well on a variety of fish out of Burt, Crooked and Pickeral lakes.
Near the Boyne City area, Lake Charlevoix and Walloon Lake are doing well for walleye and bass. Crawlers, leeches and body baits are working well.
Around the Manistee area, lake trout, kings, browns and steelhead are doing great on Lake Michigan, with a fruit cocktail of colored spoons working well. Portage Lake is giving up plenty of walleye on stick baits when trolling. Most inland lakes are doing well for blue gill and bass with some fish still spawning.
Frankfort area anglers are pulling in decent numbers of bass and pan fish on inland lakes using Hoola poppers. Walleye are active on the upper and lower Platt River. Imitation crawlers, live bait, and minnows are working well.
In Kalkaska, a big Hex hatch is taking place on the Manistee and Boardman lakes. Blue gill are active on most inland lakes and many still spawning. Lake Skegemog is giving up plenty of bass on slip bobbers and leeches or sinko baits.
In the Cadillac area, the water remains high, use caution if fishing from a boat, several docks are submerged creating hazards for anglers. Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell are doing well for pike on spinner bait, and bass hitting on live bait, crawlers and leeches. Blue gill are bedding and crawlers and leaf worms seem to be working well. Crappie are biting on beetle spinners, and sunfish on leaf worms.
Gaylord area, the waters have returned to normal levels and fishing is good. Otsego Lake is providing good catches of small and large mouth bass, and walleye. Rubber baits and Rapalas are working well.
West:
In the Ludington area, the fishing is outstanding for rock bass, pike, perch, and blue gill. Perch action is very good off of the pier. Charter fishing is very good for salmon. Bass are hitting on leeches and pike on green garlic worms. Minnows and crawlers are also working well.
In Baldwin, perfect conditions for some great fishing. Bass and blue gill are very active and the pike are just starting.
Around Chippewa Lake, walleye and pike action is excellent. Walleye are hitting on Dixie Dancers and pike on crawlers.
Southwest:
In the Holland area, Lake Macatawa is giving up plenty of blue gill on wax worms and in 30-feet of water the perch action is good when using minnows.
Around Benton Harbor, anglers are pulling in good catches of salmon on killer dolphin and mongoose in waters 65-120 feet. Perch are doing well in 32-35 feet of water more towards the south.
Around New Buffalo, perch action is decent in 45 feet of water headed towards the Red Roof and when anglers use minnows.
Kalamazoo anglers have a variety of fish to be had. Below the Allegan Dam catfish and walleye are doing well in 19 feet of water. Cut bait using sucker minnows and crawlers seem to work best. Gull Lake is good for small mouth bass and top water baits or white spinners are working well. Crappie are biting on minnows or slider grubs in the evening hours on Pine Lake. Pike action is good on Gunn Lake as well as the north side of Long Lake with anglers using Rapalas. Blue gill activity is good in 15-20 feet of water on Reynolds Lake and Lake Cora with leaf and wax worms doing the trick.
Lake Michigan is giving up decent perch off of South Haven about a half mile off the pier in 35 feet of water. Salmon and lake trout fishing is fair in 100 feet of water north of the pier using Magnum spoons and Gotcha flies.
Three Rivers is a hot spot for fishing this week, plenty of anglers are out and about and the majority of lake accesses are full. A variety of fish are being caught with red wigglers, wax worms, minnows and crickets working well.
Northeast:
Alpena anglers are doing well on Thunder Bay for walleye, sheepshead, and catfish using leeches and crawlers. Around Presque Isle the salmon and lake trout activity is rated fair when using spoons.
Again this week Higgins Lake has been rough due to windy conditions however, the weekend outlook is great. Rock and small mouth bass are biting and are plentiful.
Very good fishing is taking place in the Oscoda area for channel cats just below Cooke Dam. Foote Dam Pond is providing great fishing for pike, bass, and blue gill on a variety of baits, while walleye are biting on count-down Rapalas. Perch are plentiful out of Van Etten Lake where minnows and wax worms are working well.
Grayling anglers can expect good activity for walleye on Lake Margrethe when using leeches and crawlers, bass and blue gill are also biting. Trout are doing well in both the AuSable and Manistee rivers.
Houghton Lake anglers are doing very well for walleye when drifting with leech rigs or crawler harnesses, and fishing in waters 6-8 feet near the weed beds. Blue gill are biting on leaf and wax worms and can be found hiding out in the weed beds. Pike are active, however small in size.
East:
In the Bay City area, walleye action is great just about all over the River and Bay with 75-80% of anglers using harnesses with crawlers, only a few spoons are working. Hot spots include near Finn Road and Callahan Reef. Perch are not very active just yet. Bass are doing well on the Saginaw River and catfish are doing well on night crawlers.