The County Press

Fishing season comes to a close; anglers anticipate ice fishing



Fall fishing season has come to a close. Anglers anticipate ice fishing.

Fall fishing season has come to a close. Anglers anticipate ice fishing.

LAPEER COUNTY — It is that time of year again when not only the days grow shorter but so does the fishing report. Most of the DNR’s creel clerks are done for the season and with fewer anglers out it becomes nearly impossible to get updates on conditions around the state. The steelhead runs continue and anglers should find fish from now until freeze up. This is the time of year to target pike, muskie, walleye and perch as the bite increases as the water temperatures drop.

SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Lake Erie: Boat anglers were getting
some walleye in Brest Bay when they
can get out. Fish were caught in
shallower waters when jigging with
minnows or plastics. A few shore
anglers were targeting fish off the
Metro Park. Yellow perch are moving
up into the river.
Detroit River: Walleye anglers were
jigging minnows and plastics around
the islands. Yellow perch are just
starting to move into the cuts and
canals.
Lake St. Clair: The ramps are starting
to come out however there was still at
least one dock in at all the launches
at this time. Water temperatures were
in the upper 40’s. Muskie fishing will
only get better as the water cools
down. Target the areas where the
rivers are flowing into the lake and
where the gizzard shad concentrate.
Anglers were trying to get out for
yellow perch on the south end of the
lake however rain and strong winds
have made for tough conditions.
Bluegill, pumpkinseed and crappie
fishing in the canals and marinas was
very good.
St. Clair River: Shore anglers casting off
the wall in Port Huron caught walleye
after dark. A few salmon were caught
in the early morning or evening.
Saginaw Bay: Had no boat anglers due
to the wind and rough conditions. No
word on yellow perch in the cuts yet
however anglers should start fishing

for them as they will be in anytime
now.
Saginaw River: Is starting to see quite a
bit of walleye activity on the lower river
from the Veterans’ Bridge downstream
to the mouth. A good number of boats
were out along with a fair number
of shore anglers. DNR staff have
reported a fair number of tag returns
which suggests the walleyes are there.

SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
Overall: Steelhead are still moving into
the rivers however the waters were
running high and turbid because of
the recent rains. Inland lakes are

producing bluegills and perch.
St. Joseph River: Look for steelhead
at the Berrien Springs Dam. Water
temperature was near 48 degrees.
Fish have been reported all the way
up to Niles and Buchanan as well
however upstream movement of fish
will drop as the water cools.
Kalamazoo River: Had reports of
steelhead up near the Allegan Dam.
Black River: Shore anglers drifting or
using spawn on the bottom caught
steelhead.
Grand Haven: Had no boat or pier
anglers due to the windy and rough
conditions.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: The
water level was up but still fishable.
Steelhead are being caught up near
the dam. Anglers are using a variety
including spawn, plugs, thunder sticks,
spinners, small spoons or a jig and
wax worm.
Murray Lake: In Kent County was
producing bluegills in 20 to 24 feet.
Anglers were using perch rigs with
wigglers, red worms and wax worms.
Muskegon River: Is producing some
nice steelhead especially in the lower
river. Catch rates were still spotty but
a few more fish were caught after the
last rain. Anglers are casting flies,
spoons, beads and crank baits. Look
for walleye and perch on both Croton
and Hardy Ponds.

NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Cheboygan River: Continues to produce
steelhead on real or artificial spawn
bags. Some were also casting small
spoons or crank baits.
Alpena: Pier anglers casting body
baits caught a couple walleye. A few
whitefish were speared in the bay.
Thunder Bay River: Those targeting
trout and salmon up near the 9th
Street Dam had increasing catches of
Atlantic salmon along with a couple
Chinook. Coho, steelhead and lake-run
brown trout. The Atlantic salmon are
currently spawning. Fish were taken
on spoons and crank baits as well as
by those stripping streamers, bottom
bouncing or floating spawn bags and
flies. A couple walleye were taken
by those casting crank baits. A few
yellow perch were caught by those
still-fishing with minnows and wax
worms.
Oscoda: Pier anglers caught walleye
when casting body baits and jigs.
Au Sable River: Good numbers of
Atlantic salmon are being observed
and the bite picked up a bit for those
using streamer flies, egg patterns,
casting spoons or spinners, and
bottom bouncing or floating spawn
bags and beads. Most of the Atlantics

are actively spawning. These fish
have been picky and change day to
day, so anglers should be willing to
change their rig or move to find fish
willing to bite. A couple steelhead
were taken on spawn bags and beads.
Most were small, but a few larger fish
were caught. Those casting spoons or
spinners caught a couple pike or the
odd Chinook that was extremely dark
and decaying. Walleye were caught
down near the mouth when casting
jigs.
Tawas River: Those fishing the lower
river caught walleye.

NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
Traverse City: Those fishing in the West
Bay were still getting some perch
however catch rates were still hit-ormiss. Those lucky enough to find a
school of fish caught some up to 14
inches or more with emerald shiners
or wigglers.
Platte River: Anglers were still getting a
few Coho when casting small spoons,
spinners or crank baits.
Frankfort: Pier and shore anglers were
getting some steelhead and the odd
Coho with spawn on the bottom or
when casting small spoons.
Manistee: When they can get out,
pier anglers caught steelhead and
whitefish.
Manistee River: Boat anglers drifting
along the lower river caught a few fish
in the deeper holes. Those fishing up
near Tippy Dam have caught steelhead

on spawn, flies and beads.
Ludington: Pier and shore anglers
continue to catch some steelhead
along with the occasional Coho on
real and artificial spawn bags. Those
surf-casting used spawn bags on the
bottom or were casing small spoons
and crank baits.

UPPER PENINSULA
Ontonagon River: Salmon and brown
trout are present in the Middle
Branch. Fish were seen north of M-28.
Falls River: Near L’Anse also had salmon
and brown trout for those targeting
them.
Little Bay De Noc: Walleye anglers
reported fair action with the better
catches for night anglers. Day anglers
reported spotty catches throughout
the Kipling reefs and south to the
Escanaba in 18 to 38 feet with stick
baits. Many reported large schools
of bait fish throughout the area.
Perch anglers reported very little as
the waters are starting to turn over
and were getting cloudy. Not a lot of
smallmouth bass were caught but
those found were some very large fish.
Most were fishing from Hunters Point
south to the Farmers Dock area with
plastics or small crank baits in 12
to 20 feet. Water temperatures were
hovering around the mid 40’s.
Two Hearted River: Water levels dropped
to a more manageable level for
steelhead fishing. A few anglers had
some luck near the mouth. Some were
surf-casting however north winds made
it much more difficult.