Statewide Fishing Reports Thursday, May 31, 2007 - Printable Version +- Fishing Forum (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum) +-- Forum: Michigan Fishing Forum (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=364) +--- Forum: Michigan Fishing General (https://bigfishtackle.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=36) +--- Thread: Statewide Fishing Reports Thursday, May 31, 2007 (/showthread.php?tid=339744)

Statewide Fishing Reports Thursday, May 31, 2007 - lonehunter - 06-01-2007 [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Thursday, May 31, 2007 [/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"]Recreational Fishing Report[/font] [font "Arial, Helvetica"][/font] [url "http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/"][font "Arial, Helvetica"][#000000]Great Lakes temperature map[/#000000][/font][/url] With the strange weather this year the fish are a bit . Nesting started, then was delayed, but is now on again. Bass started nesting on some lakes about 2 weeks ago, but were just recently spotted on other lakes. Of the pumpkinseed, bluegill and redear sunfish, the pumpkinseed is the first sunfish to spawn in the spring. Rubber spiders on the surface, wax worms suspended from bobbers or worms on the bottom are all good bets for any of these species. Southeast Lower Peninsula Lake Erie - Boats fishing from Brest Bay and the Fermi Power Plant were catching walleyes when drifting bottom bouncers or trolling crankbaits and spoons. The action has been good with many catching at least 2 fish per person. Limits were taken in 16 to 20 feet of water. Fishing near Bolles Harbor was a bit slower. Detroit River - Good walleye fishing continues with limit catches reported. Most are jigging or handlining. Good numbers of white bass can be found along the river, and catch rates have been excellent. Some perch were also caught. Lake St. Clair - Good to excellent walleye fishing continues. Jigging, handlining or trolling with crankbaits worked best. St. Clair River - Walleye fishing remains good to excellent. Some of the better fishing has been after dark, but those fishing with bottom bouncers and crawlers have also done well near the City of St. Clair and Marine City. Lexington - Boat anglers are taking chinook, lake trout and steelhead in 60 to 80 feet of water. One lucky angler caught some nice perch south of the port, but it may have been a one-time thing. Port Austin - Did not have a lot of fishing pressure, but those going out have caught chinook, steelhead, lake trout and even some pink salmon. Saginaw Bay - Walleye fishing was excellent when anglers could get out. Limit catches were the rule rather than the exception at most ports from Au Gres all the way down to Sebewaing. Depths varied somewhat by port, but ranged from 25 to 30 feet off Au Gres to 5 to 7 feet off Finn Road. Crawler harnesses were the lure of choice at all ports, but some fish were also taken on Hot-n-Tots. Quanicassee reported incredible walleye fishing from boats. At Sebewaing, the best walleye action has been straight off the end of the channel or south towards Fish Point in 10 to 13 feet of water. Bay Port has excellent bass fishing around the islands. Walleye are in the Slot off the tip of Sand Point. Bass have been caught off the pier at Caseville. Quanicassee River - Channel catfish and bass have been caught. Tittabawassee River - Walleye fishing is slowing down as it is most likely about done. A few guys are still getting some fish up near the access site at Center Street. Smallmouth bass and white bass have been caught. Southwest Lower Peninsula St. Joseph - Boat anglers are taking chinook and lake trout when fishing about 55 to 75 feet down in waters 200 to 250 feet deep. Kalamazoo River - Walleye are still being caught on crawlers. Grand Haven - Fishing has been great, but is starting to slow. Fish have been caught in 160 to 280 feet of water with downriggers set 40 to 100 feet down. Try 6 to 10 color lead core with gold and orange spoons. Perch were caught on alewife or perch flies. Grand River at Grand Rapids - Those wading have caught walleye between Fulton Street and the Sixth Street Dam when using crawlers. Flathead catfish have been taken off the bridges when using large sucker minnows. Boat anglers are taking channel catfish near the log jams when using stink baits, chicken liver, soft shell crabs and suckers. Smallmouth bass are hitting on jerkbaits, crawlers, leeches, and fathead minnows. Bluegills have been caught off the east wall. Grand River at Lansing - The better walleye fishing has been at Moore's Park. Drastic temperature changes have the fish . Those looking to fish should target a specific species such as walleye, smallmouth bass, carp or channel cats. Looking Glass River - Look for northern pike and carp in the shallow backwaters. Those fishing off Babcock's Landing should try for bluegills, bass and crappie. Maple River - Try fishing for catfish, carp or bowfin. All three put up a good fight and will most likely hit stinkbaits, crawlers, dough balls, minnows and corn. Muskegon - Boats are trolling downriggers 60 to 110 feet down in waters 170 to 250 feet deep for salmon and lake trout. Orange spoons have been hot right along with the blue, green and carmel dolphins. Pier anglers are taking bluegills along the channel wall when using spikes and wax worms. Muskegon River - Some nice brown trout have been caught when fly fishing as the drake fly hatch has started. Muskegon Lake - Both large and smallmouth bass have been caught in shallow waters around the lake. Good fishing was noted on the north end of the lake near the State Park when using live bait. Some perch have also been caught when using spikes, minnows and wigglers. Northern pike were hitting on large shiner minnows under a bobber on the east side of the lake. Northeast Lower Peninsula Rogers City - Fishing this week has picked up with limit catches of lake trout taken. The better fishing has been from Calcite all the way down to Adams Point and beyond when fishing as shallow as 20 feet and as deep as 80 feet. They have been eating gobies which like to live in and around the rocks so try fishing the areas with a rocky bottom. Surface water temperatures are now in the upper 40's. Presque Isle - Fishing has improved, and the good spots have been between the lighthouses and off North Bay. Those fishing the shallow waters have taken atlantic salmon when using planer boards with green bodybaits or spoons. Thunder Bay River - A few walleye were taken up near the Ninth Street Dam. Anglers are trolling and fishing from shore or the bridge. Freshwater drum and rock bass have also been caught. Harrisville - Lake trout are hitting in 50 to 70 feet of water. Anglers are trolling out about five to seven miles and using artificial baits. Van Etten Lake - Walleye have been caught between Loud Island and Pierce Point when drifting crawler harnesses or trolling with crankbaits. Some are trolling around Loud Island for northern pike. A few perch have also been caught. Oscoda - Boat anglers are starting to catch lake trout just outside the pierheads in 100 feet of water. Pier anglers are catching walleye when drifting crawlers. Tawas - Walleye have been caught when vertical jigging near the Yacht Club. Pier fishing was slow, but the bass fishing has been excellent. Au Gres - In addition to phenomenal walleye fishing from boats, shore anglers have taken fish when casting near the mouth of the river. Houghton Lake - Walleye fishing has been good with fish taken in the early morning or late evening. Both large and smallmouth bass have been caught on crawlers. Crappie fishing was fair and bluegills were slow. Most of the fish caught have been taken in 6 to 8 feet of water. Northwest Lower Peninsula Bear River - At Petoskey, pier and shore anglers caught some smallmouth bass when using crawlers near the mouth. The fish were 2 to 3 pounds each. Fishing should get better as the water temperatures rise. Thumb Lake (Lake Louise) - Few anglers are targeting splake. Large and smallmouth bass have been caught when casting tubes, jigs, crankbaits or crawlers in about 12 feet of water along the west side of the lake. Bluegill fishing has been good. Try using crawlers or casting with spinners in the backwater areas around the island and the northwest corner of the lake while staying in waters up to about 6 feet deep. Yellow perch and rock bass have also been caught. Traverse City - On the East Bay, good lake trout fishing was reported off the Bluffs and on the Humps off Dock Road. Whitefish action has been slow as the fish are still in waters 240 feet deep or more. Perch were caught off Old Mission and the carp can be found on the flats on the east shore. Fishing has been very good for lake trout on the West Bay. Whitefish are being taken at the Red Buoy #8 when jigging with Swedish Pimples. Chinook have been taken at the Gravel Pit on the east shore. Boardman River - Suckers are abundant in the river below the Union Street Dam. Smallmouth bass have been caught casting hardware or using crawlers. Long Lake - Walleye anglers are still taking some keepers when trolling a red and chartreuse crawler harness in 12 to 35 feet of water on the north end of the lake. They are using drift socks to slow them down. Some are dragging a crawler harness with one hook and a leech on the southern end of the lake while others are trolling with Wiggle Warts or Hot-n-Tots in natural bait colors. Perch are still being caught in 30 to 50 feet of water on both the north and the south ends of the lake. Crystal Lake - Good size whitefish are being caught in 40 to 50 feet of water on the east side and on the south end of the lake. Frankfort - Due to warm water, more alewife can be found around the piers. Boats trolling near the piers are catching brown trout, and pier anglers are catching brown trout and whitefish. Chinook and lake trout were caught in 50 to 120 feet of water. Onekama - Chinook, steelhead and lake trout have been caught south of the harbor. Fishing has been hit-or-miss in waters 45 to 150 feet deep when using green, orange or yellow spoons and flies. Portage Lake - The bass opener provided some great catches of both large and smallmouth bass when using crankbaits and spinners. The bass and panfish are starting to move up into the shallows. Good numbers of smallmouth, crappie, and rock bass were caught along the drop off while pike and walleye were caught on the south side of the lake. Manistee - Anglers have caught a few brown trout and steelhead off the South Pier. They are using alewife for bait. Boat anglers are catching brown trout down by Gurney Creek and along the lakeshore. Those trolling flies and spoons in waters 50 to 140 feet deep have caught chinook and lake trout. Ludington - Pier anglers have had no luck. The baitfish are just starting to show up in the harbor, so the fish should start moving in soon. Boat anglers are catching chinook and lake trout. Most are going up to the Point, but a few are trolling south of the harbor down to the Project. Brown trout are still being caught on spoons and flies along the beach. Upper Peninsula Torch Lake - In Houghton County has good smallmouth bass fishing. Working the flats with stickbaits and crankbaits has been productive as well as minnows along the drop off. Walleye have been caught when trolling crawler harnesses in the cuts. Northern pike action has dropped off a bit. West Portage Lake - Walleye were caught in 10 to 15 feet of water in Pike Bay when fishing the shoreline across from the marina. Those drifting crawler harnesses or a jig with half a crawler have also caught walleye on the Humps between the mouth of the Sturgeon River and boat launch. Some are drifting crawler harnesses across the reef near Grosse Point. Anglers are picking up both legal and sub-legal pike fishing the drop off on both sides of the Sturgeon River Mouth. Some nice perch were taken in 10 to 25 feet of water. Black crappie can be found around the docks in the marina. Smallmouth bass were caught on crankbaits along the US-41 shoreline. Marquette - Coho fishing is slow, lake trout fishing was fair, and chinook fishing has been slow to fair. The chinook are hitting on spoons and stickbaits in 40 to 60 feet of water. The lake trout have been caught in 120 to 160 feet of water. Little Bay De Noc - Has fair to good walleye fishing in the early morning and late evening. The head of the bay is still best with most trolling or drifting crawlers in 16 to 28 feet of water. Some are jigging out by the Escanaba lighthouse while others are drifting crawlers near Breezy Point and south. Bass anglers are doing well with the best reports off Hunters Point, north of the Terrace Inn, and near the mouth of the Ford River. Most were casting spinners, crawlers or tube baits in 4 to 8 feet of water. Escanaba River - Good walleye fishing was reported at the mouth when drifting crawlers in 10 to 20 feet of water. Big Bay De Noc - Walleye fishing slowed, however; several nice catches were reported at the head of the bay when trolling crawlers in 8 to 10 feet of water. The bass opener was a good one with catches reported in South River Bay. Fish were also taken in the head of the bay and near Ogantz when working the weed beds while jigging or casting crankbaits, spinners or plastics. Au Train River - Has seen few anglers and only a couple brown trout were caught. Au Train Lake - Walleye fishing was spotty. Quite a few pike have been caught when trolling or casting worms, but the fish are running small. Pike anglers have also caught several lsmallmouth bass. Munising - Anglers are targeting chinook salmon in the bay, but catch rates have been slow. Some boats have been able to catch a couple fish in the early morning. A few coho and splake have also been caught. Those fishing deep have caught lake trout when trolling spoons. Munuscong - Walleye fishing has been great. Anglers are fishing out from Dan's Resort using pink and purple crawler harnesses. De Tour - Boat anglers are trolling spoons from the #3 Green Can to the lighthouse for chinook and atlantic salmon. A few lake trout were also caught. Spoons in a variety of colors are taking fish. Drummond Island - Walleye fishing is good with limits taken in Scotts Bay and Maxton Bay when using crawler harnesses in 6 feet of water. Mid-morning and one hour before dark have been best. Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent. A few perch were caught on minnows. Cedarville and Hessel - Northern pike are being caught in excellent numbers. Anglers are casting with minnows or trolling the shallow waters. Just about any lure or bait seems to be working. Smallmouth bass are hitting in fair numbers while casting spinner baits in Musky Bay and Hessel Bay. The catch rate should pick up as spawning comes to a close; within the next week or two. Yellow perch are scattered in Hessel Bay and off the pier. Only a few anglers are targeting salmon which have been caught around Goose Island. St. Ignace - A few boats have started to venture out and are catching chinook and lake trout in front of the Coast Guard and the city launch. Green has been the hot color. No action to report at the mouth of the Pine River or the Carp River. Upper Peninsula:[/url] Lake Superior and Lake Fanny Hooe near Copper Harbor are producing fair splake fishing. Anglers are finding some good bass fishing on Lake Gogebic. The walleye fishing ranges from fair to good. Good numbers of fish are being caught, but many are undersized and have to be released. The perch fishing on the lake is slow. Out of the Marquette area, the lake trout and salmon fishing is good on the Upper Marquette and Lower Marquette harbors. Anglers on Lake Independence are reeling in good numbers of walleye. On Little Bay de Noc near Escanaba, the walleye fishing is good. The bass fishing along the Escanaba River is fair. Around Sault Ste. Marie, the salmon fishing is good on the St. Marys River. The best fishing is found behind the “powerhouse.” Munuscong Bay is producing some very good walleye fishing. The perch and pike fishing on the bay is fair. By Drummond Island, the walleye fishing is very good on Scott Bay. Anglers are drifting and trolling, using crawler harnesses. The pike fishing is fair on Maxton, Scott and Whitney bays. Anglers are reeling in a few smallmouth bass on Scott and Maxton bays. The salmon fishing is fair along the St. Marys River. At St. Ignace, the walleye fishing ranges from fair to good on Brevort Lake. Northwest:[/url] Crooked and Burt lakes near Alanson are giving up walleye, rainbow and brown trout when anglers use crawler harness or troll with body baits. Lake Charlevoix in the Boyne City area is producing good numbers of pike, walleye, crappie and perch. Good results can be found using worms, crawlers, and minnows. Trout fishing this week is slow. Traverse City anglers are experiencing fair fishing for lake trout and salmon out of the east and west arms of Grand Traverse Bay. The mornings seem to be the best time to be out. Bluegill and perch action is fair on the inland lakes. Excellent fishing conditions for anglers in the Manistee area. Manistee Lake is producing great catches of bluegill during the morning hours on waxworms. Lake Michigan is giving up plenty of salmon in the evening hours on spoons. Fishing in shallow water is producing the best results. Kalkaska is a hot spot for some excellent fishing conditions on Elk Lake and Lake Skegemog. Bountiful catches of smallmouth bass can be expected between the 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.. Waxworms are doing the trick in 10-12 feet of water. On the inland lakes, anglers will find good fishing for bluegill when using jigs in shallow waters. Again this week In the Gaylord area, the brown and rainbow trout fishing is good to excellent on all major rivers. Anglers are getting good results with drakes, and brown and grey caddis. Otsego Lake is producing plenty of bass and walleye in the morning hours. In the Cadillac area, the crappie fishing is excellent, and pike and bass fishing is good in the early morning or late afternoon hours. Fish are hitting on minnows in the shallow waters of lakes Mitchell and Cadillac. West:[/url] In the Ludington area, good fishing is taking place for bluegill on the upper end of Hamlin Lake. Anglers are finding good results using leaf and waxworms in shallow waters. Lake Michigan is producing good quantities of salmon during the morning hours. Anglers are using an assortment of baits and fishing in waters 100 to150 feet deep. Good conditions exist for anglers on Lake Michigan around the Pentwater area. Steelhead, trout, and king salmon are abundant in the early morning and late evening hours in 70 to120 feet of water, with spoons the bait of choice. In the Muskegon area, king salmon and lake trout are active in the late morning and midday on Lake Michigan. Anglers are finding that orange baits are working well in 60 to120 feet of water. Steelhead fishing is good with most catches near the surface. Muskegon Lake is producing good quantities of largemouth bass using worms. Chippewa Lake is producing good bass, pike and bluegill fishing. Waxworms and crawlers are working best in the mid-morning and evening hours. Fair to good activity is taking place in the Baldwin area for bluegill fishing on Idlewild and Big Star lakes. The Pere Marquette River is giving up decent numbers of trout. Southwest:[/url] By Holland, the king salmon fishing is good on Lake Michigan in water up to 200 feet deep. The fish are found 60 to 70 feet below the surface and are hitting on blue and green colored spoons. Anglers on the Lake Michigan pier in Holland are reeling in a few walleye at night. In the Benton Harbor area, the coho, king salmon and steelhead fishing is reported as being good on Lake Michigan. Mornings are the best time to be out, try using a stinger or silver streak in water 80 to 100 feet deep. Out of the New Buffalo area, the perch and salmon fishing is pretty good on Lake Michigan. The salmon are found in water 85 to 100 feet deep, the perch are found in water about 40 feet deep. At Three Rivers, the bass, bluegill, perch and crappie fishing is very good on Corey, Bair and Long lakes. Northeast:[/url] Out of the Alpena area, the walleye fishing is good on Lake Huron. Evenings are the best time to be out, in water less than 30 feet deep. By Grayling, the bass and walleye fishing is fair on Lake Margrethe. Try using a jig tipped with a leech as bait. The bluegill fishing on most of the lakes is fair. Around Oscoda, the walleye fishing is very good on the Au Sable River. The steelhead action on the river is fair. Anglers on Foote Dam Pond are reeling in a few perch, pike and smallmouth bass. Cooke Dam Pond is producing fair bluegill and walleye fishing. Anglers on Higgins Lake are catching good numbers of perch. Mornings are the best time to be out, with minnows being the preferred bait. Houghton Lake is producing some excellent walleye fishing. Leeches and crawlers are both being used as bait. Mornings are the best time to be out. The crappie fishing on the lake is fair. At Au Gres, the walleye fishing is very good on Saginaw Bay between Point Au Gres and Point Lookout, in water 30 to 35 feet deep. Anglers along the Au Gres River are reeling in a few catfish. East:[/url] Anglers are finding some excellent walleye fishing on Saginaw Bay near Linwood. Try targeting water that is 14 to 22 feet deep. By Bay City, the walleye fishing is very good on Saginaw Bay. The best spots to drop a line in the water are near the “H” buoy and out from Thomas Road. Anglers along the Saginaw River are catching a few catfish and pike. In the Zilwaukee area, the largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing is good on the Saginaw and Tittabawassee rivers. Late evenings are the best time to be out fishing. During the early morning hours, the white bass fishing is pretty good on the rivers. Around Bay Port, the walleye fishing is good on Saginaw Bay, especially by Sand Point. The bass fishing is good on the bay, while the perch fishing is spotty. Out on Lake Huron between Port Austin and White Rock, the smallmouth bass fishing is excellent along the shoreline. On Lake Huron between Port Sanilac and Lexington, the salmon fishing is fair. The perch fishing is fair near Port Sanilac, in water 20 to 30 feet deep. Anglers targeting perch out from Lakeport are reeling in a few fish, with the best spots to cast a line in the water being by the weed beds. The walleye fishing on the St. Clair River in Port Huron ranges from good to very good. The silver bass fishing on the river is good. Anglers at the mouth of the Black River are catching a few perch. And between St. Clair and Marine City, the walleye fishing is excellent on the St. Clair River. The perch fishing is fair along the river. Central:[/url] Around Mount Pleasant, the crappie fishing is good on Coldwater, Isabella and Deerfield lakes. Early evenings are the best time to be out, with minnows being the preferred bait. By Lansing, the crappie fishing is reported as being good on Lake Ovid in the Sleepy Hollow State Park. Anglers along the Grand River are reeling in fair numbers of walleye and catfish. The walleye are hitting on minnows, the catfish on crawlers. At Jackson, the bass and bluegill fishing is very good. The gills are on their spawning beds in most of the local lakes. Both crickets and waxworms are being used as bait. The best time for bass fishing is late in the evening. Southeast:[/url] The walleye fishing is very good on the St. Clair River between Marine City and Algonac. Early mornings are the best time to be out fishing. On Lake St. Clair, the walleye fishing is good between Metropolitan Parkway and 10 Mile Road. Try dragging a crawler harness, in water four to 12 feet deep. Along the south end of the Detroit River, the silver bass fishing is excellent. Anglers able to get a hook below the bass are catching a few walleye. Out on Lake Erie, the walleye fishing is good near Turtle Island and Stony Point. Try targeting water about 22 feet deep. The perch fishing is fair on the lake south of the “E” buoy and near Luna Pier. At Belleville, the bluegill and crappie fishing is very good on Belleville Lake. The gills are hitting on waxworms and leaf worms, the crappie prefer minnows as bait. The smallmouth bass and walleye fishing on the lake is reported as being good. Re: [lonehunter] Statewide Fishing Reports Thursday, May 31, 2007 - davetclown - 06-02-2007 got these nine and a half to ten inch gills today in south east michigan. [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/7186/cat/500/ppuser/89"][/url][/center] [center][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/photos/showgallery.php/cat/566"][/url][/center] [center]Now I have new fish smell on my new boat seats.[/center] [center][][/center] [center] [/center] [center]and yep, I entered the big one in the 16 species contest. [/center] [signature]