Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Where the Hell is Summer
Weather has been cold and rainy with thunder storms and wind. , the weekend does not sound much better, but the fish are biting and few jet ski’s on the lake so not all lost. Houghton Lake has been hot for walleye with leeches working best. Also Saginaw Bay has been hot also for walleye. The Michigan motor carrier division are trying to close down the bait dealers and will raise prices on bait with their harrasment. When you see one thank them for raising the minnow prices.
Sturgeon Joe at Otsego Lake is saying the bass fishing has been fair on Otsego Lake with some perch being caught. The pan fish action is decent on Bradford and Big lakes jigging with worms.
Dave at Four Season Party Store in Houghton Lake says off of Long Point the walleye bite is still super with leeches and crawlers working best with a bobber. He has four special crawlers harness that he ties that are working great.There is a landing across the street( 16 foot fishing boats or smaller as the lake has dropped a foot)from him but no parking, but if you buy your supplies from him he will let you park in his vacent lot across from the landing and put you on the fish.
Call him at 989-422-5230 his address is 9613 E Houghton Lake Dr, Houghton Lake, MI 48629.
Saginaw Bay -Catch rate were spotty but anglers are catching fish out near the Black Hole, the Shipping Channel, Callahan Reef, the Slot and the sailing buoys. Average catches were 2 to 3 fish per boat. On the windy days, those that stayed close to shore caught walleye in the lower Saginaw River from the mouth to the Coast Guard station. Crawler harnesses fished off bottom bouncers seem to catch more fish because they were staying on the bottom and not feeding actively. The Hot Ponds are producing lots of catfish.
Mullett Lake -Anglers have been targeting walleye, rainbow trout, muskie, northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and panfish. Catch rates were slow but those trolling for walleye did catch fish on deep diving rapalas.
Burt Lake - Burt Lake in Alanson has anglers trolling during the evening hours with great success, mostly using crawlers. Inland lakes are giving up plenty of blue gill.
Lake Margrethe has fair angling action and the pressure is light. Anglers are fishing in 18-feet of water for walleye with leeches and Lindy Rigs and drifting .5 mph. Small Mouth bass are being caught in 15-feet of water and pike in 50-feet between Big Bear and Little Bear.
Higgins Lake -When boats can get out, perch are still being caught along the north end of Treasure Island in 20 to 40 feet of water. Those jigging for lake trout and whitefish are using Swedish Pimples. Those trolling for lake trout are using body baits or rapalas.
Houghton Lake - Anglers are catching walleye, bluegill, bass, and pike in East Bay, North Bay and Long Point on crawlers and leeches. Fishing is great when the wind lays down.
Lake Charlevoix - Lake Charlevoix - Smallmouth bass have been caught in 20 feet of water along the rocks and drop-offs. Perch were deeper and caught in 15 to 30 feet of water. Boyne City has some good angling action on Walloon Lake and Lake Charlevoix for walleye, bass and pike using mostly live baits, leeches, Golden Shiners, suckers, crawler harnesses and body baits. The Boyne River and surrounding streams are doing well for Brook and Brown trout. Salmon activity on Grand Traverse Bay is decent in 126 feet of water and fishing about 112 feet down.
Lake Bellaire - Walleye anglers are out in full force. Early morning and late evening were best when trolling near the Fisherman’s Paradise Public Access, the South Bay and along the narrows in the Northwest Arm. Most are trolling crawler harnesses, spoons and rapalas while others are jigging spoons or a jig with leeches or crawlers. Bass anglers are casting spinners or crank baits in 4 to 20 feet of water. Fish ranging from 10 to 20 inches were caught. For pike, try casting crank baits in 3 to 5 feet of water near the mouth of the Intermediate River. Small perch were caught when still-fishing in the Northwest Arm or near the Intermediate River.
Lake Skegemog near Kalkaska is producing bass and pan fish on wax worms, night crawlers, sucker and perch minnows. Elk Rapids Dam has some nice blue gill fishing available. Guernsey Lake has decent trout activity.
Elk River - The action has slowed with only a few smallmouth bass caught.
Boardman River - Had slow fishing except for some rock bass, carp and smallmouth bass found just below the Union Street Dam.
Lake Leelanau - Walleye fishing has been good this week with leeches and crawlers working best.
Long Lake by Traverse City has slow a little for walleye this week but still good numbers with leeches working best.
Lake Missaukee - Pan fishing improved and lots of pike have been caught with bass and walleye biting on leeches.
Portage Lake -Bluegill fishing picked up but now the Mayfly hatch has started. Some bluegills were in the shallows on the north end of the lake but most were in 17 to 22 feet of water in the middle. Lots of largemouth bass have been caught but many were sub-legal. Walleye and pike anglers are struggling with only a few pike caught by those casting on the east end of the lake up near the docks.
Manistee -Fishing has been a challenge as the fish are scattered. Most are trolling deeper in the water column along the Shelf. Try the spin/fly combinations or green and blue spoons. A few lake trout were also caught on orange or red spoons trolled in the top 40 feet of water.
Ludington -Boats were picking up a few trout and salmon in waters up to 160 feet deep between the Bathhouse and Sable Point. Green and blue spoons or green spin/fly combinations were taking fish.
Brevort Lake near Allenville and north of St. Ignace is producing walleye and anglers are doing well when they can get out. Wind, rain and chilly temperatures limited angling activity this week but the weekend is looking up.
Manistique anglers are dealing with chilly temperatures and rain this week, but when anglers can get out the fishing is good on Indian Lake for decent counts of walleye. Good fishing off of the Manistique area on Lake Michigan where the salmon and trout are active. Spoons are working in just about every color. Good luck to all anglers fishing in the 24th Annual Manistique Area Salmon and Trout Derby this weekend. Call 1-800-342-4282 or 906-341-5241 for information.
Little Bay De Noc- Has been quiet overall due to the alewife and Mayflies. The better walleye fishing was near the mouth of the Escanaba River, but many were sub-legal. Most were trolling or drifting crank baits or crawlers in 12 to 25 feet of water along the weeds. Perch were caught along the southeast side of Butler Island in 20 feet of water. Good smallmouth action off the mouth of the Day’s River, Escanaba River, Ford River and around Butler Island. Try 8 to 20 feet of water with crank baits or tube baits. A few salmon were caught out by the Ford River Buoy when fishing 60 feet down in 80 feet of water.
Big Bay De Noc-Fair walleye catches off Ogontz when trolling crawlers in 14 to 18 feet of water. Smallmouth bass were hitting crank baits or tube baits in 10 to 14 feet of water but many were small. Good numbers of freshwater drum were caught off the mouth of the Sturgeon River. Salmon fishing has really heated up off Fairport. Limit catches were taken 60 to 80 feet down in waters 80 to 100 feet deep. Try red and silver or green and white spoons. Artificial cut bait also worked well.
Grand Marais - It seems the whitefish season has come to an end however catch rates for lake trout were still good. Try waters 70 to 290 feet deep for limit catches of lake trout along with the occasional salmon or steelhead.
Cedarville and Hessel -Had very good lake herring fishing with limits taken in McKay Bay and the east end of the Moscoe Channel when using red teardrops with wax worms. Perch have been caught in 8 to 10 feet of water. In Cedarville Bay and Musky Bay, catch rates for perch were improving in 10 to 15 feet of water. Pike were caught by those casting off the Hessel Pier. Those targeting salmon were catching lake trout. Bass are hitting on spinner baits in Snows Channel.