Northwest Lower Peninsula
Harbor Springs: Lake trout were caught around Harbor Point and north up to Good Hart. Anglers are targeting smallmouth bass along the shoreline in Harbor Springs when casting soft plastics. Bass were reported both on and off the beds, with some found along the drop-offs.
Petoskey: Catch rates were low for boats fishing on the Petoskey side. A couple lake trout were caught between Bay Harbor and 9-Mile (toward Charlevoix) in 75 to 100 feet. The Bear River had higher water levels. One angler did hook a couple of small rainbow trout at the dam. Those fishing the mouth of the river caught smallmouth bass, rock bass, suckers, catfish, bullhead and a couple small perch or bluegills on worms, minnows and crankbaits.
Charlevoix: Lake trout were caught both trolling and jigging near the bottom around North Point in 75 to 120 feet and when jigging near the cement plant in 100 feet or so. Cisco were still in the channel, but in lower numbers. A few were caught in the early morning by those using Swedish pimples, kastmasters and spoons. Large freshwater drum, a few smallmouth bass and the odd walleye also were caught in the morning using artificial lures, crawlers and leeches. A good number of alewives moved into the channel over the weekend and were caught on spoons.
Lake Charlevoix: Had good smallmouth bass action, with some good-size fish taken.
Traverse City: Cisco and a few bass were caught in the East Bay and Pine River. Bass and a couple walleye were caught in the Elk River. A couple lake trout were caught in the West Bay.
Lake Leelanau: Was producing some walleye south of the narrows.
Frankfort: Those fishing straight out and to the north caught good numbers of lake trout 60 to 90 feet down in 100 to 160 feet. A temperature break was reported 65 to 75 feet down. Chinook were caught on meat rigs in the early morning and at dusk.
Onekama: Boats heading out to the “Barrel” and off the golf course caught lake trout in 70 to 90 feet, but the Chinook numbers were low.
Portage Lake: A mayfly hatch means slower catch rates. The warm weather has pushed the bass, perch and other panfish into deeper water.
Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell: The bite will slow with the hot weather. Topwater bass fishing should be decent.
Manistee: A few Chinook and a couple steelhead were caught straight out on the “Shelf” and slightly north in 100 feet with spoons. Lake trout were caught along the bottom in 100 to 200 feet with spoons and spin-glo’s.
Manistee River: The hex hatch should be going full bore on the upper river. Water levels were very fishable.
Hamlin Lake: Had fair to good pike fishing. Panfish were in deeper water.
Ludington: Lake trout were caught 60 to 80 feet down in 70 to 150 feet off Big Sable Point. A couple Chinook were caught between the harbor and Big Sable Point in 100 to 200 feet. Steelhead were found in 140 to 300 feet. Most were using spoons and spin-glo’s or a flasher/fly combo. Meat rigs were hit or miss.
Big Star Lake: In Lake County reported good bass fishing.
Lake Mecosta: Bass fishing was fair, but the bluegill and perch fishing slowed.
Chippewa Lake: Had decent bass fishing in the early morning.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Cheboygan: Limits of lake trout were caught at Poe Reef or Spectacle Reef trolling spoons in 20 to 65 feet. Coho were caught when trolling spoons between 45 and 65 feet off Lafayette Point on Bois Blanc Island. Smallmouth bass were caught near the shoreline of Duncan Bay and near the river.
Cheboygan River: Anglers have caught smallmouth bass, catfish, freshwater drum, rock bass, carp and walleye when bottom-bouncing worms. The catfish action picked up with many between 8-12 pounds. Anglers have also been catching 20- to 30-inch pike casting spinners along the shoreline at the mouth.
Burt Lake: Was producing some large smallmouth bass.
Rogers City: Water temperatures warmed into the 50s, and the fish were scattered. Smaller lake trout were caught in good numbers. The larger fish were suspended a bit deeper or moving out to cold water in 60 to 120 feet. Run lines near the bottom or suspend dodgers and cowbells with spin-glo’s and spoons. Steelhead were caught in the top 20 feet with smaller orange and green or orange and silver spoons. Atlantic salmon may also be caught. Some are starting to get the occasional Chinook, coho or pink salmon throughout the water column in 90 to 150 feet with green, blue, black and white, or glow spoons at first or last light.
Presque Isle: Had good lake trout fishing, but anglers are having to move out deeper to get bigger fish. They also caught the occasional Atlantic, coho, pink or Chinook salmon throughout the water columns in 65 to 150 feet. Lead core up high with regular or smaller spoons was good for Atlantics and steelhead. Hot colors were green, blue, orange and green, orange and silver, black and white, or glow.
Alpena: Lake trout, steelhead, pink salmon and the occasional coho were caught trolling spoons and spin-glo’s in 70 to 120 feet off Thunder Bay Island and the Nordmeer Wreck. Steelhead and pink salmon were found in the top 35 feet of water while feeding on insects. Hot colors were orange, copper, blue and yellow. A few walleyes were found in 15 to 30 feet when trolling a harness or crankbait in the morning or evening in front of the harbor, off the north shore and North Point. Freshwater drum and pike were also caught.
Thunder Bay River: Fishing was slow, but anglers caught a few smallmouth bass and walleye when trolling or casting crankbaits in the morning and evening. Freshwater drum, rock bass and channel cats were caught when drifting or jigging crawlers.
Fletcher’s Pond: Was producing bass and panfish.
Oscoda: Lake trout, steelhead, coho, Atlantic and pink salmon were caught when trolling spoons in 70 to 100 feet or out at the “Humps” in 150 to 180 feet. Hot colors were green, orange, copper, red and purple. Lake trout were taken on dodgers with spin-glo’s. Pier anglers caught channel cats, smallmouth bass and freshwater drum on crawlers and minnows.
Au Sable River: Fishing was slow; however, a couple walleye were caught when drifting crawlers or trolling crankbaits early morning and late evening. Smallmouth bass, freshwater drum, channel cats and rock bass were caught when drifting crawlers.
Higgins Lake: Lake trout anglers are getting fish when trolling with downriggers or jigging in 100 to 110 feet. Perch have been caught in 40 feet around the islands, but anglers are sorting out the small ones. Pike were caught when trolling. The rock bass and smallmouth bass action was good.
Houghton Lake: Fishing has been slow, but a few walleyes were taken along the drop-offs in 14 feet with a crawler harness and leeches. Bluegills were found deeper along the edge of the weed beds in 8 feet. Bass also have been caught.
Tawas: Had good walleye, steelhead and Atlantic salmon fishing between Tawas Point and Alabaster in 50 to 70 feet with crawlers, body baits and spoons.
Tawas River: Not much was going on at Gateway Park other than a few smallmouth bass taken on various lures or crawlers.
Au Gres: Walleye fishing was spotty; however, a few limit catches were taken in 35 to 45 feet out near the Gravelly Shoals and south toward the Saganing Bar when using crawlers. The access road to the Pine River was flooded with some serious damage to the road, including deep holes.
Rifle River: Brown trout and rainbow trout were caught in the early morning.
Info provided by MI Dept. of Natural Resources.
###
and Up North Voice are Northern Michigan’s source for community news.
We are also a full-service commercial design and printing house. Our specialty is custom commercial printing, as well as the creation of clothing, cups and other marketing products.
.
Up North Voice is a division of AuSable Media Group, LLC, based at 709 Lake Street in Roscommon.
