Weekly Michigan DNR Fishing Report: Muskegon River: Anglers are still catching the occasional salmon. Steelhead are in the river and eating the abundance of salmon eggs. Try drifting fresh spawn, fish egg patterns or a jig and wax worm. St. Joseph: Salmon are still being caught out in 120 feet. Pier anglers have caught a fair number of steelhead. St. Joseph River: A few salmon are moving through the ladder but the fish are dark. The steelhead run has been slow. It could take a cold rain to get the fish moving because they prefer water temperatures between the upper 40s or low 50s. South Haven: Boat anglers are still taking salmon in waters 100 feet deep. Pier fishing was slow but they are getting the occasional steelhead. Kalamazoo River: The salmon action is pretty much done but anglers are catching steelhead and brown trout up near the Allegan Dam. Holland: Boat anglers caught steelhead in 80 to 140 feet. Downriggers were set 70 to 120 feet down. Fish were hitting on magnum spoons with a silver back. Grand Haven: Fishing was slow. No boats were out but pier anglers managed to take a couple steelhead when fishing spawn before daylight. Grand River at Grand Rapids: Anglers should find steelhead and the occasional brown trout up near the Sixth Street Dam. Try spawn bags, a jig and wax worm or small spoons such as Cleos. Whitehall: Pier anglers are catching steelhead on spawn but they are putting in some time to get a few fish. Au Sable River: Most of the salmon seem to be up at the dam but a few stragglers are still coming in. Many are turning dark and are spawned out. The good news is fresh steelhead are now moving into the river and those floating spawn or flies are catching fish. Boardman River: Anglers caught a couple steelhead on spawn, jigs or trout beads. Lake trout are hitting on spawn bags. The salmon are in bad shape. Platte Bay: Those surfcasting with spawn have caught steelhead near the mouth. Frankfort: Steelhead anglers were landing some very nice fish. They were using fresh spawn or gold and orange wobblers. Pier anglers caught some nice fish including a 13 pound coho. Manistee: Pier anglers and those surfcasting have caught salmon and steelhead. Most are using spawn. Manistee River: Is producing steelhead all the way up to Tippy Dam. Chinook can still be found up near the dam however the fish are in bad shape. Cold rain did push some coho up into the river. Anglers are floating fresh spawn, fly fishing with egg patterns or floating a jig and wax worm. Ludington: No boats have been out. Pier anglers and those surfcasting are catching some steelhead. Fresh spawn worked best. Pere Marquette River: While the salmon run is winding down, anglers are still catching the occasional coho. Steelhead are moving in on a daily basis. Some nice brown trout were caught. Pentwater: Pier anglers are catching coho when still-fishing with spawn. Steelhead should also be in but none were caught yet. Little Bay De Noc: Has lots of perch anglers. Catch rates ranged from fair to excellent. Most were fishing north of the Narrows or between the Kipling Flats and the Days River with minnows or crawlers in 10 to 24 feet. Catch rates were better in shallower waters. Some caught the incidental northern pike. Big Bay De Noc: Has plenty of smallmouth bass anglers. They are fishing minnows 15 to 30 feet down out near Snake Island or 14 to 24 feet off Ansells Point. Some were also looking for perch but very few were caught. St. Marys River: Anglers fishing the east side of Lime Island caught walleye when trolling crank baits in 12 to 18 feet. In Munuscong Bay, those jigging dark green or brown tube jigs in 4 to 8 feet caught smallmouth bass over the rock piles near Moon Island. Drummond Island: Those able to get out did catch a few perch in 8 to 11 feet in Scotts Bay and in 12 to 14 feet on the south end of Ashman Island or the west side of Rutland Island. Try crank baits off the bottom with spreaders and shiners. A couple walleye were caught on the northwest side of Peck Island by those trolling medium size crank baits in chrome or fire-tiger. Rattle traps also caught fish. Lake Erie: Perch seem to be holding in waters 24 to 26 feet deep southeast of Stoney Point. A few walleye were caught between the beach at Sterling State Park and the mouth of the River Raisin. Crank baits worked best. Water temperatures are dropping so catch rates should continue to improve. Detroit River: Is producing smallmouth bass, a few walleye, and the occasional muskie. For perch, try the Cross-Dike, the south end of Grosse Ile or around Celeron Island with minnows or crawlers. Lake St. Clair: Smallmouth bass fishing has slowed as anglers struggle to find them. Cooling water temperatures should bring the fish back into shallower waters. Muskie anglers have done well which is typical for fall fishing. Yellow perch fishing was spotty but fish were caught near the Dumping Grounds, Grosse Point Yacht Club and the shipping channel. St. Clair River: Walleye fishing has been very good at Port Huron. Anglers are jigging or wire line trolling. Walleye fishing was good in the lower river and the channels near Algonac. Saginaw Bay: When they can get out, boat anglers reported decent catches of perch in 20 feet off Gambils Marina which is up near Pinconning, near Buoy 22 along the shipping channel, or northeast of Spoils Island which is the large island straight off the mouth of the Saginaw River. The bite is best from dawn until about 10:30AM. At Quanicassee, a few were caught but most boats had to stay in the river. At Sebewaing, a few guys fishing from the docks in the marina caught bluegills and a few crappie. The boats are gone so the docks at Bay Shore Marina, near Bay Port and the docks in the Caseville City Harbor are now open to shore anglers. Dredging continues in the channel at Caseville.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 10:22:24 +0000