Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Fishing is Still Good
Weather has been better after the weekend, and fish have been biting with salmon fishing picking up. Were suppose to get hotter weather this weekend and we are looking forward to it. Trout and salmon fishing has picked up now that boats are able to get out on the Great Lakes. River fishing is good with the low water levels. Look for panfish activity to improve now that we have some warmer temperatures.
Sturgeon Joe at Otsego Lake is saying fishing is good on Otsego Lake with some perch being caught. Also surronding lakes have a good bite. 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 good with leeches and crawlers working best with a bobber. More little walleye are being caught this week so not the limit catches like a couple of weeks ago but still a good bite. The bass are still biting great. 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 - Walleye were caught off Linwood in 15 to 20 feet of water and a couple miles northeast of the Callahan Reef when using crawler harnesses. Quanicassee had limit catches in 5 to 8 feet of water straight out from the mouth of the river. Good fishing was noted in 14 feet of water in the Slot. Sebewaing was good between Fish Point and The Slot in 16 feet of water. Shore anglers managed to catch some bluegills and a few pike in the marina. Bay Port had good walleye action around North Island. At Caseville, a few walleye were caught near Oak Point.
Mullett Lake -Anglers are still catching perch, bass and pike. A few walleye were caught on the north end when trolling a crawler harness or spoons.
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 a decent number of walleye are being taken in about 18 feet of water using leeches or crawlers on a jig head. Anglers are also catching a few pike as well.
Higgins Lake -Boat anglers caught lake trout just off the bottom in 100 to 120 feet of water. Most are jigging Swedish Pimples or Cast Masters with or without bait. Try wax worms, or pieces of minnow. Perch were caught in 40 to 60 feet of water when using minnows, crawlers or wax worms.
Houghton Lake - Walleye, pike and bass are hitting along the weed beds in 6 to 10 feet of water. Anglers are trolling or drifting worms, leeches and crawlers. Bluegills are there however the fish were scattered.
Lake Charlevoix -Perch were hitting on minnows in 20 feet of water. Walleye and smallmouth bass are deeper now so look for them along the drop-offs during the day. Shore anglers are catching fish in the Pine River Channel.
Lake Bellaire -Anglers are still catching walleye 14 to 22 inches. Troll early or late near Fisherman’s Paradise, the south bay or the northwest arm. Try spoons, rapalas, crawler harnesses, or jigs with leeches and crawlers. Small perch were caught near the Intermediate River in 3 to 15 feet of water. Anglers are still-fishing with crawlers.
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 -Trolling for walleye at night was slow but is picking up. Bluegill fishing was fair in waters up to 25 feet deep. Bass fishing is good along the weed beds when casting deep diving crank baits or artificial worms.
Manistee -Salmon are being caught in waters 120 to 180 feet deep. Try 80 to 120 feet down with spinnies and flies. Best colors continue to be green or blue. Pier anglers are catching freshwater drum when casting spoons.
Ludington -Salmon were caught 80 to 130 feet down in waters 100 to 180 feet deep. White spinnies with green or mirage flies have produced the most 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- Walleye anglers are trolling or drifting crawlers in 16 to 25 feet of water between the Escanaba River and the Black Bottom. More fish were caught by those trolling stick baits between Garth Point and the Day’s River however most were small. Smallmouth bass were caught off the Ford and the Escanaba Rivers when casting tube baits, crank baits or jigs in 8 to 16 feet of water. Pike were hitting on spoons or crank baits near the yacht club at Escanaba.
Big Bay De Noc-Had no walleye reports. Good smallmouth action near Ogontz, Nahma and Garden Bay. Try casting jigs or tube baits in 10 to 15 feet of water. Lots of small perch were caught in Garden Bay and those fishing up near Nahma have caught some very large rock bass off the mouth of the Sturgeon River. Off Fairport, salmon anglers were trolling artificial cut bait or spoons 40 to 80 feet down in waters 80 to 110 feet deep around the Gap. The fish are much larger this year. Red and orange were best but red, blue and black glow were also taking fish.
Grand Marais - Anglers are catching salmon and lake trout.
Cedarville and Hessel -Pier anglers at Hessel are catching pike and smallmouth bass. Perch were hitting on minnows in 10 to 14 feet of water. Snows Channel was good for pike and bass while Musky Bay and Middle Entrance were excellent for pike when casting or trolling along the south shoreline in 6 to 12 feet of water. Salmon anglers are heading out towards Goose Island and fishing halfway down in waters 60 to 90 feet deep. Cedarville Bay has been excellent for pike and fair for perch and the Moscoe Channel is also producing some perch in 4 to 6 feet of water. Catch rates for lake herring were very good in McKay Bay, Prentice Bay and the Moscoe Channel.