Curly's Photo and Fishing Blog
Upper Pike and Walleye May 15
The weather is still a big issue as it continues to give us bad weekends of weathers. Cool weather is once again hampering fishing conditions around the state. May 15th marks the opening day for walleye, northern pike and muskellunge fishing on the Upper Peninsula inland waters not otherwise closed to fishing, the waters of the Great Lakes and the St. Mary’s River. Fisherman are gearing up big time at Gladstone getting ready for the walleye opener.
Crappie have slowed on Lake Missaukee this week but with warm weatyher the lagoon will be the hot spot and minnows the hot ticket.
Also a super walleye bite on Lake Bellaire with huge fish being caught for Northern Michigan. Most are running 25 to 28 inches with a few up to 31 inches. The bad thing is they are catching them on stick baits with clown pattern working best and after dark. I wish I could tell you they were biting on crawlers or leeches. Call Jacks Sport @231-258-8892 for the latest report.
On the inland waters, bluegills are beginning to show up in the shallows, but it will probably be another week or so before spawning begins in the Lower Peninsula. Largemouth bass are active in the shallows. Anglers are reminded that all largemouth and smallmouth bass must be released immediately. Bluegill are still on the bite on most lakes and hearing good reports.
Mushrooms are popping in Northern Michigan with blacks being the main fungi.
Higgins Lake - Is real slow with very little pressure, see nobody on the lake.
Houghton Lake - A few bluegill, walleye and crappie were caught but overall fishing has been slow because of weather a little break and they catch fish.
Steelhead fishing is good at the Two Heart River this week with no pressure..
Lake Charlevoix - Perch fishing was slow. Anglers jigging and using shiners did manage to catch a few nice fish but many were small.
Lake Bellaire - Those targeting walleye were trolling crawler harnesses and jigs from the steep drop-offs in the northern section of the lake, west of the Intermediate River and from the Fisherman’s Paradise access site down to the southern section of the lake in 10 to 30 feet of water.
Traverse City - Strong winds have kept anglers off the East Bay. For the West Bay, lake trout have been caught along the east shoreline from the Maritime Dock down to Bowers Harbor when trolling or jigging near the drop-off. White jigging spoons caught fish. A few perch were caught on wigglers near Suttons Bay.
Saginaw Bay - Walleye are hitting on crawler harnesses in 14 to 22 feet of water at the Spark Plug (Buoys 11 & 12), in 4 feet of water off Finn Road, off the beach at Linwood and the mouth of the Saginaw River. Excellent walleye action was noted straight off the mouth of the Quanicassee River in 10 to 14 feet of water. A few pike were also caught. Good channel cat action off the mouth of the Sebewaing River while walleye were taken in the Slot. Those fishing Sunset Bay Marina and Fish Point caught walleye in 11 feet of water. Up at Bay Port, walleye fishing was very good off the tip of Sand Point and out in the Slot. Some are jigging around the weed beds while others are trolling planer boards with crawler harnesses.
Saginaw River - Walleye are back in with good reports the last two days and the river is down.
Tittabawassee River - Still has good walleye fishing especially in the lower river near the Center Street Launch in Saginaw Township. Walleye can be found from the mouth up to the Dow Dam. The white bass runs are just getting started and smallmouth bass are being caught and released.
Portage Lake -Perch fishing was slow but those trolling for walleye and pike were taking fair numbers of fish. Those trolling or casting were catching pike and those trolling at night found walleye. A few bass were caught on the west side.
Manistee - Boat anglers are catching brown trout and the occasional steelhead on body baits. Green and orange were good colors. Perch were caught off the pier however anglers will need to sort out the small ones.
Ludington - The docks have been pulled at the Loomis Street boat launch due to dredging. Anglers are catching brown trout while trolling along the shoreline. Most fish were caught between the Lincoln River and the Point.
Lake Cadillac - Panfish were caught near the M-115 causeway and the City Dock.
Little Bay De Noc - Had lots of anglers out looking for perch however catch rates were slow. Those fishing the Narrows did best catching jumbo perch when jigging minnows or crawlers in 25 to 33 feet of water. Smaller fish were caught in and around Butler Island. The walleye opener this Friday looks good. Hot spots should be the “Narrows”, the Second and Third Reefs, and the mouth of the Escanaba River as anglers have marked good numbers of fish in these areas. All the boat launches are open but the buoys have not been installed in the Escanaba River. Water temperatures vary from the low 40’s to near 50.
Drummond Island - Yellow perch are still being caught however catch rates have slowed at the Bayside Dock. Most are using minnow spreaders. If it is windy, try attaching a quarter ounce or heavier sinker to help keep your minnows in the strike zone. Even though water levels are up anglers are reminded to be very careful of the rocks and reefs around the islands and in Raber Bay.
De Tour - A few boats are beginning to head out from the city launch. They were marking fish but catch rates were slow. A couple steelhead can still be found in Albany Creek.
Cedarville and Hessel - Anglers fishing from the Hessel Marina pier are casting minnows, smelt, stick baits and Cleo’s for splake. The pike and walleye opener on May 15th looks to be good.
Big Bay De Noc - A couple perch anglers were catching smallmouth bass off Garden Bluff however the catch and immediate release season does not open until May 15th. The walleye opener looks good especially at the head of the Bay. Work the shallows 6 to 10 feet deep between the launch at Fish Dam and Kates Bay. At Fairport, the salmon fishery generally starts in June and peaks mid-summer.
White Lake - Perch fishing was slow but the bluegill action was excellent. Some crappie were caught in front of Armstrong’s.
Upper Peninsula:
Marquette anglers are geared up and ready for the walleye opener on Friday buying equal amounts of night crawlers, minnows and leeches. Anglers tell AAA that the water is the coldest it has been in years for a walleye season start.
Bergland anglers are anxious and ready for May 15th. The weather has been in the sixties, all of the boat launches are open and plenty of anglers are expected to hit the waters for walleye.
In the Escanaba area, Little Bay De Noc and Ford River will be the hot spots on Friday for anglers geared up for walleye fishing. The water temperature is in the fifties and crawlers, leeches, crawler harnesses, and crank baits have been flying off the shelves of bait shops. South of Gladstone some nice perch are being caught.
Around Manistique the perch fishing has died off and pretty much anglers are anxious to get walleye fishing on Friday. Crawler harnesses and stick baits seem to be the popular purchase. Saturday and Sunday the ??Manistique Walleye Derby? will take place. Call 906-341-5241 for details.
Near the Sault Ste. Marie area perch are being caught on the upper portion of the St. Mary??s River. But overall activity has been slow with anglers just waiting for walleye season.
Around Drummond Island some perch activity is still taking place. Walleye and pike season opens Friday and plenty of activity is expected throughout the area.
Near St. Ignace, Brevort Lake will be the hot spot for walleye anglers on the 15th. Spawn sacks are still working well in most of the rivers for steelhead activity.
Northwest:
Despite the cold weather around Alanson good walleye fishing is taking place on Crooked River using minnows and crawlers.
Boyne City anglers are doing well for walleye on Walloon Lake and Lake Charlevoix using crawler harnesses, Rapalas, bombers, jigs with crawlers or golden shiners. Good numbers are found on the south arm with fish ranging 18-24 inches. Large walleye are in the channels of Lake Charlevoix at night particularly 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. The rivers are full of suckers and the trout is pretty good as well. White Culprit spinner baits and one ounce glow and white jig heads seem to be working well. Since the current is so strong try using something other than monofilament line. Many anglers are catching and releasing bass on Deer, Susan and Thumb lakes. Crappie activity is picking up. The Boyne and Jordan rivers are giving up nice numbers of trout and the river is full of suckers.
The water is still very cold around Traverse City but anglers are getting some lake trout in the Bays and a few steelhead. Long Lake is doing well for walleye in the shallow waters and in the evening hours. Lead head Lures, worms, leeches, Rapalas and jerk baits all seem to do the job.
Around Frankfort the Betsie and some small creeks are producing fair quantities of Brown, Rainbow and Brook trout on flies and Panther Martin Spinners. A few steelhead remain in the river systems. Big Platte is producing some blue gill, pan fish and hit-or-miss walleye. Crawler harnesses, Rapalas, body baits and Cotton Cordell Wally Divers seem to work well.
Fishing is good in the Gaylord area on most of the surrounding rivers for trout. The best fishing is taking place on the Manistee and Au Sable due to warm water and several fly hatches. Otsego Lake continues to give up nice numbers of walleye. Elk River is giving some steelhead on spawn and a few trout.
In the Cadillac area plenty of anglers are getting out on Cadillac Lake and Mitchell Lake and fishing for blue gill, crappie and pike. Rapalas, spinner baits and wax worms are popular. A little incentive for pike anglers, a 41-inch pike was caught last weekend.
West:
Blue gill rule in Baldwin on just about every inland lake in the area and anglers are catching most of them in shallow waters using leaf worms.
Off of Muskegon salmon action is heating up on Lake Michigan. Anglers are doing well fishing in waters 80 to 100 feet and down 30-60. A variety of spoons are working well including Lemon Ice, Carmel and Blue Dolphins. Blue gill action is good in the shallow waters near the state park. Catfish are in the channels and Countdown Rapalas, Husky Jerks and crawlers are working well. Heritage Landing is a good spot for pike fishing using Rapalas, Husky Jerks in gold and black and Fire Tiger. Muskegon Lake and White Lake near Montague are both giving up nice numbers of walleye trolling and casting Rapalas.
On Chippewa Lake the cold and wind earlier in the week created choppy conditions for anglers, but weather is improving and anglers are getting out and catching some walleye, blue gill, a few specks and a few catch and release bass. Minnows and crawlers seem to be working. Mark your calendars, starting May 28th and every Thursday through August a fishing tournament will take place. For complete details call 231-867-5619.
Grand Haven anglers are pulling in abundant amounts of perch on Lake Michigan using minnows. The Grand River in Grand Rapids is full of carp and the fish are biting on just about everything. Most inland lakes throughout the Grand Rapids area are good for crappie and blue gill with minnows and wax worms working well. Jordan Lake is great for pan fish.
Northeast:
Anglers fishing the Au Sable River in the Oscoda area are coming up with plenty of action for steelhead on wax worms and spawn, while walleye are biting on Rapalas and suckers are hitting on just about anything. Cooke Dam Pond is giving up blue gill and crappie on leaf and wax worms. Foote Dam Pond is producing big size pike on pike minnows and perch on wax worms and perch minnows.
Grayling anglers are finding good results vertical jigging with a live leech in 15 to 20 feet of water for walleye. Angling activity is slow to fair on the Manistee, Au Sable and North Branch Rivers due to cold water, the temperatures are dipping each night. Smaller inland lakes are decent for blue gill in the shallows, but the fish are not bedding yet.
Good fishing for anglers on Houghton Lake. Blue gill action is good overall on crawler harnesses. Walleye are biting on Rapalas and Hot-n-Tots in four to six feet of water when trolling. Pike fishing is decent and fish are average size. Crappie action is rated fair to good out on the lake.
Higgins Lake has had a lot of rain lately causing for slower angling activity this week. Perch action is fair on minnows and some anglers are catching and releasing small mouth bass. Branch and Manistee Rivers are running high right now.
Au Gres anglers are doing well out on Saginaw Bay trolling for walleye in 25-30 feet of water. Deep Down Husky Jerks and stick baits are working well. River fishing has been minimal.
Next entry: Memorial Holiday Fishing Report
Previous entry: Happy Mother's Day