Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Lets Go Fishing this Weekend
August is off to a great start offering up plenty of angling action statewide.
Houghton Lake is hot this week with limit catches of walleye with big gills being caught also. Leeches working best along with crawlers.
Walleye have been biting good on Long Lake by TC and Hodenpyle by Mesick, with leeches working best
Lake St. Helen has been good this week with bass and bluegill biting.
Lake Missaukee - Boat and shore anglers are catching some nice bass and other panfish. Walleye have been caught but catch rates were not consistent.
Little Bay De Noc - Walleye action was slow and those that caught fish seem to do best in the southern parts of the Bay. Fish late evenings off Breezy Point while trolling stick baits or crawlers in 10 to 14 feet of water or about 20 feet down just off the break. Those fishing off the mouth of the Escanaba River in the early morning are jigging or drifting crawlers in waters up to 20 feet deep. Walleye and perch were caught in 20 to 25 feet of water off Gladstone. A few salmon were caught on spoons 80 feet down in 100 feet of water out near the Ford River Can.
Big Bay De Noc - Has good walleye action but few anglers taking advantage of it. Most are trolling crawlers and stick baits in 20 to 33 feet of water from Ansell’s Point to the “Boot” and from Garden Bluff out to the Shoals. A few perch were caught off Ogontz when jigging crawlers off the weeds just south of the launch. Good salmon action off Fairport for those trolling 80 to 90 feet down in 105 to 120 feet of water and steelhead were caught 60 to 70 feet down. Try spoons or artificial cut bait that glows.
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 - The public access site on Baggs Road is open. Walleye anglers were drifting crawler harnesses between the Torch River and Baggs Road but no fish were caught. A few nice pike were caught in the flats in 10 to 12 feet of water. Smallmouth bass action has been good especially between the mouth of the Torch River and the shallow weedy area or from the access site to the Narrows. Anglers are casting top water baits, artificial frogs, swim baits, power baits, tube baits, crank baits, jigs or spinners. Small bluegills are hitting in crawlers or leaf worms.
Big Glen Lake - Lake trout are hitting good on spoons in 70 to 100 feet of water and a few fish over 20 pounds have been caught on the west side of the lake. Bass are hard to find but a few were caught on jigs. Perch are hitting on minnows but the fish were small. Bluegills are hitting on worms.
Little Glen Lake - Perch anglers are doing well on the west end of the lake.
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 - Has excellent walleye fishing even though heavy rain and wind will slow the action somewhat. Muddy runoff is still entering the bay so anglers will want to head out far enough to find clean water for better fishing. Good walleye fishing continues from Au Gres to Sebewaing however catch rates slowed around Bay Port and Caseville.
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 are hittiing leeches real good
Portage Lake - Dredging is still taking place in the channel however walleye fishing in and around the channel has been decent at night. Good numbers of largemouth bass have been caught around the docks and the weed beds. The bigger bluegills along with rock bass and perch have been caught in the northwest corner of the lake and in front of the marina in 15 to 25 feet of water. The mayfly hatch is underway so catch rates are a bit slower, but fish are being caught.
Hamlin Lake - Fishing was a bit on the slow side however some limits were taken using wax worms or leaf worms in shallow waters in the South, Middle and North Bayou’s. Bass were caught on live bait or green and purple artificial crawlers.
Muskegon Lake - Walleye are being caught along the weed edges but many are running small. A few perch have been caught on minnows. Bluegill fishing was slow as the fish may be suspended in deeper water. Bass are still being caught in shallow waters along the weedbeds and around structure.
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 crawlers working best..
Houghton Lake - Hot Hot Hot for walleye with limit catches our inland Saginaw Bay
Tittabawassee River - Catfish has been good.
Cedarville and Hessel - At Cedarville, the herring bite is winding down in McKay Bay. Good perch fishing was reported in the Moscow Channel in 4 to 6 feet of water or in Musky Bay and Cedarville Bay in 8 to 12 feet of water. Northern pike fishing has been excellent around the Les Cheneaux Islands when trolling, still-fishing or casting with chub spawn. Smallmouth bass action has been good and should only get better. Perch have been caught off the pier at Hessel. Try minnows in 8 to 10 feet of water. Salmon were caught off Goose Island.
Upper Peninsula:
In the Copper Harbor area, very good angling activity for perch is taking place on Lake Medora and Fanny Hooe. Bass action is also very good on Lake Medora with a variety of baits working well. Horseshoe Harbor is giving up very good numbers of rainbow trout.
Around the Bergland area, Lake Gogebic anglers are pulling in fair amounts of walleye in 5-6 feet of water and using crank baits and leeches with good results. Natural bait in the water has slowed the perch activity.
Marquette anglers are finding fair activity in the lower harbor for lakers and salmon when using salmon spoons. The Dead River is giving up fair catches of walleye on minnows and crawlers, while the pike and bass have slowed a bit.
Off Escanaba and Gladstone, Little Bay de Noc is fair to good for perch on minnows and leaf worms in 30-feet of water, while walleye activity is slow. Anglers are finding the best results in the late evening hours and using crawler harnesses. Big Bay DeNoc is giving up good numbers of salmon on spoons when fishing the south end in 35-80 feet of water.
Around Manistique, fishing is good for perch and walleye on Indian Lake using minnows and crawlers. The Big Lake is giving up decent catches of salmon on spoons.
In the Sault Ste. Marie area, the St. Maryâ??s River is providing a few walleye and good numbers of salmon. Salmon anglers are getting up early or fishing in the late evening hours with spoons in 25-28 feet of water.
Near Munuscong Bay, the walleye action is good on Raber Bay on crawler harnesses. Cedarville Lake and Les Cheneaux Islands is good for perch and walleye on crawler harnesses and minnows fishing in 8-10 feet of water. Les Cheneaux is also decent for pike using live bait.
Drummond Island anglers are doing well on perch using minnows and bass on bobber fish, chubs and crawlers out of Scott and Maxton bays. Walleye activity is fair around Yacht Haven Marina and Harbor Island.
Off of the St. Ignace area, the Straits of Mackinac are providing fair action for salmon and lakers between St. Ignace and Mackinac Island while trolling with spoons.
Information Providers: ACE Hardware-St. Ignace; Bayview Bait & Tackle-Escanaba; Gander Mountain-Marquette; Gaslight-Copper Harbor; Hankâ??s Sporting-Sault Ste. Marie; Johnsonâ??s Sports-Drummond Island, Nine Pines-Bergland; Tip of the Lake-Manistique, and Wilderness Treasures-Munuscong Bay.
Northwest:
Near Traverse City anglers are doing very well for salmon on Lake Michigan just off of Frankfort and using spoons. Lake Leelanau is good for walleye on minnows and crawlers, while bass is rate fair on many inland lakes. Green Lake is giving up good quantities of bass in the early morning hours; however the fish are small in size.
Big Manistee River near the Tippy Dam is fair for steelhead, and Manistee Harbor has good salmon fishing taking place. Anglers are using J-plugs and spoons and fishing in 100-150 feet of water and with best results in the top 50-feet. Portage Lake anglers are reeling in good walleye counts on husky jerks while trolling.
In the Kalkaska area, bass action is fair to good in the early morning and late evening hours on Lake Skegemog, with crank baits and sinkos working well. Elk Lake is decent for trout on spinners, crickets and green flies, as well as most rivers.
Gaylord anglers are finding very good opportunities for trout in the early morning hours of 6-10 a.m. using stimulators and tricos on the Black and AuSable rivers.
Around the Cadillac area, good fishing activity taking place on Mitchell and Cadillac lakes for bass, especially at day break and dusk. Plastic lures, leeches and crawlers are working well. Crappie action is moderate on minnows when fishing in waters 14-18 feet, and blue gill action is decent in deep water on crickets and leaf worms.
Information providers: Alphorn-Gaylord; Gander Mountain-Traverse City; Jackâ??s Sports-Kalkaska; Rileyâ??s-Manistee, Pilgrimâ??s Village-Cadillac, and Youngâ??s Bait Shop-Alanson.
West:
In Ludington, Hamlin Lake on the upper end has good fishing for blue gill and walleye on worms and crawler harnesses. Lake Michigan is giving up good quantities of salmon on magnum spoons and flies in 50-100 feet of water. The salmon action is also good near the Ludington lighthouse pier when using spoons.
Around Pentwater area, kings, Coho, and lakers are plentiful out of Lake Michigan just off of the Silver Lake area. Anglers are using fluorescent spoons in 60-100 feet of water, mostly finding the best luck in the top 60 feet.
In the Muskegon area Lake Michigan is providing good catches of perch and salmon. Perch are biting on minnows and cut baits in waters 35-45 feet, and salmon are hitting on flashers, dipsy divers, and J-plugs, yellow and green are working best. Walleye activity has slowed this week.
Around the Baldwin area, anglers are waiting for the salmon to run, but the blue gill fishing is great and the fish are biting on crickets and leaf worms on all lakes.
Information providers: East Bay General Store-Chippewa Lake; King Sports-Baldwin; P.M. Sports-Ludington; Charlieâ??s Marina-Pentwater, and Shoreline Bait & Tackle-Muskegon.
Southwest:
Holland anglers will find very good perch fishing off of the south side of the pier in 20-25 feet of water on Lake Michigan. Also some good activity for blue gill on wax worms on Lake Macatawa near the red cement tower.
In the Benton Harbor area, very good salmon and perch opportunities for anglers on Lake Michigan. Spoons, dodgers and flies are working well on salmon in 60-90 feet of water and fishing the bottom half. Perch are hitting on minnows in 25-40 feet of water.
Around New Buffalo, perch action has slowed on Lake Michigan, but good activity taking place for kings, lake trout and salmon. Anglers are getting good results in 100 feet of water and fishing the bottom half.
In the Kalamazoo area, walleye activity ranges from fair to good on the Kalamazoo River, and particularly near the dams. Gull Lake has excellent fishing opportunities for crappie on wax worms, and very good angling action on Maple, Burton and Allegan lakes for bass on spinner bats. The St. Joseph River is spotty this week for catfish; however anglers are reeling in a few on pieces of liver.
Good angling throughout the Three Rivers area for perch, blue gill, and crappie with red wigglers, wax worms, and minnows working well.
Information providers: American Tackle-Holland; Captain Cookâ??s-New Buffalo; D.& R. Sports-Kalamazoo, Fishermanâ??s Luck-Three Rivers and Tackle Haven-Benton Harbor.
Northeast:
Alpena anglers are finding good results out on Thunder Bay for lake trout and steelhead. Steelhead activity is best in waters 100-150 feet and fishing down around 30-feet. Salmon action is slow this week and the walleye action ranges between fair and good with the best results taking place in 25-feet of water and fishing during the day and evening hours. Thunder Bay River is giving up decent catches of walleye, small mouth bass and catfish on worms.
Around the Oscoda area, bass action is good on Foote Dam Pond on spinners, while Foote Dam Pond is giving up good catches of catfish and walleye on crawler harnesses. Van Etten Lake is good for perch on minnows and crawlers. Lake Huron is giving up plenty of salmon and lake trout in 100-feet of water, and just off the bottom with silver and yellow spoons.
In the Grayling area, walleye, bass and blue gill action has slowed a bit on Lake Margrethe. Anglers getting out are using minnows with best results anytime of the day. On the smaller lakes the morning and evening hours are best to catch a few blue gill on crawlers and leeches.
Houghton Lake has very good fishing taking place in 8-10 feet of water for bass, bluegill, pike and perch. Walleye are active before dusk near the south shore, perch are biting on live bait and found mostly near the weed beds while pike and bass are active near McDonaldâ??s. Blue gill are hitting on leaf worms in front of the Elkâ??s.
Higgins Lake is offering up fair to good angling activity this week. Lakers are biting on spoons and Rapalas, rock and small mouth bass are hitting on leeches and night crawlers.
Around Au Gres, walleye activity is good on Point AuGres when anglers troll using Hot-N-Tots or crawler harnesses. Perch are decent hitting on minnows, and good quantities of catfish are being pulled from the AuGres River on crawlers and leeches.
Information providers: Lymanâ??s-Houghton Lake; Rivers Edge Bait Shop-AuGres; Sports Barn-Higgins Lake, and The Dam Store-Oscoda; Clems-Alpena; Skipâ??s-Grayling.
East:
In the Linwood area, walleye fishing is good in the deeper waters on Saginaw River and Bay. Crawlers and Hot-N-Tots are working well. In the channel and around the Black Hole, the perch action is good when using minnows.
Bay City anglers are finding good fishing activity four miles out from Quanicassee and around Thomas Reef using crawlers and Hot-N-Tots. Perch action is good on Saginaw Bay around buoy 18 and 19 when using minnows.