Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Our First Summer Like Weekend
Last weekend was a washout as it rained all weekend, but this weekend we are supposed to get out first summer like weekend. 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. Heavy winds and storms have kept many anglers off the water. Pier fishing action has been slow. Fishing will improve with better weather conditions. Salmon fishing is good but the fish are deep and meat is the hot ticket right now.
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. A sad note in the Gaylord area Don’s Sport Shop is closing this month and have been in business since the 50’s. How times are changing and your small businesses will no longer be serving the sportsman.
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 - Best reports came from out around buoys 1 through 4, which is at the end of the marked shipping channel in around 24 feet of water. Boats were converging on this area from all the various launch sites around the bay. Crawler harnesses continue to be the most consistent bait, but crank baits were also taking fish. They were also doing well on the Callahan Reef and in the Slot 5 miles north of Quanicassee.
Mullett Lake -Anglers are targeting perch, bass and pike, with a few rainbow trout being taken. Some walleye were caught near the Sunken Islands and neddle point in 50 to 75 feet of water when trolling crawler harnesses.
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. Also the gills have started to bite on waxworms
Higgins Lake -was producing good numbers of perch using perch minnows and wax worms. Those trolling for lake trout were using body baits or rapalas. Some small mouth bass were caught on leeches and crawlers. Night anglers were catching smelt using wax worms.
Houghton Lake - Anglers were still catching walleye, bass and pike along the weed beds in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bluegill action was found near the Middle Grounds.
Lake Charlevoix -Fishing for salmon is still hit and miss. Warm water has most anglers running spoons and dipsy divers down to 100 feet and deeper. An occasional steelhead has also been taken running high lines. Lake trout fishing has been good with many 6 to 8 pound fish. A few nice smallmouth bass have been taken in the Pine River Channel on worms and lures.
Lake Bellaire -Walleye anglers have been trolling near the Fisherman’s Paradise Public Access and in the northwest arm and narrows with crawler harnesses, spoons and stick baits, as well as jigging leaded and floating jig heads with leeches and crawlers in 10 to 80 feet of water. Those targeting bass have been casting with spinners and crank baits in 7 to 20 feet of water in the northwest arm and near the Intermediate River mouth. Effort for northern pike increased with anglers drifting and trolling crawler harnesses and artificial crayfish near the Intermediate River Mouth in 15 to 20 feet of water. A few small perch have been taken.
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 when they can get outwith 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. Some salmon moving though.
Manistee -Anglers are catching salmon in 80 to150 feet of water early in the morning on glow plugs or spinnies and flies in either green or white. Pier action continues to be slow.
Ludington -Boats anglers were taking salmon in 80 to 160 feet of water using meat rigs or spinnies and flies. Pier action continues to be slow.
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-Fair catches of walleye reported in Gladstone off the beach area jigging or drifting crawlers in 18 to 30 feet of water and south of the Escanaba River by the docks trolling crank baits in 30 feet of water. The best catches were south out by the Fingers trolling crawlers or crank baits in 16 to 30 feet of water with some limits reported. Several nice perch catches reported off Butler Island jigging minnows in 19 feet of water, in the Narrows jigging worms in and around 30 feet of water and off the beach area in Gladstone jigging worms or minnows in 18 to 30 feet of water. Bass anglers reported fair catches off Farmers Dock area in 14 to 25 feet of water or off the mouth of the Escanaba River in 16 to 25 feet of water. Most anglers used goby tubes. Salmon catches were down this week with best reports coming from the channel out from Aronson Island.
Big Bay De Noc-Anglers reported good bass catches from Kates Bay south to the mouth of Garden Bay casting tubes in 14 to 30 feet of water. Perch catches were up in Garden Bay just off the public launch site jigging worms in 8 to 12 feet but lots of small fish were reported. Off Fairport, salmon fishing has slowed. Anglers were trolling the Gap in 50 to 110 feet of water fishing 30 to 80 feet down using glow spoons and fishing well into the evening. Several large fish were reported.
Grand Marais - Anglers are catching lake trout and salmon.
Cedarville and Hessel -Anglers still-fishing with minnows off the Hessel pier were doing excellent on pike, while anglers trolling or casting from within the bay were catching perch, smallmouth bass and pike. Anglers fishing Snows Channel were bringing in pike and bass while casting spinner baits. Musky Bay and Middle Entrance are producing pike while casting or trolling along the south shoreline in 6 to 12 feet of water. Salmon fishermen were heading out towards Goose Island fishing in 60 to 90 feet of water fishing 35 to 50 feet down. Catch rates were fair with the majority of the harvest being lake trout. Cedarville Bay has been excellent for pike and fair for perch with anglers fishing in 5 to 8 feet of water casting with minnows. Moscoe Channel was also producing some perch in 4 to 6 feet of water.