Perch fishing is heating up as fall weather approaches

SOUTHEASTERN LP

Lake St. Clair

Fishing is picking up on Lake St. Clair. Muskie fishing remains
good on the Canadian side of the lake, and smallmouth bass are
hitting all over. Perch fishing is improving with good action being
reported by anglers fishing off the mile roads in 16 to 18 feet of
water.

Lakeside Fishing Shops (586) 777-7003, (586) 468-9913.

Trenton Area

A fair number of walleyes are being caught by hand-liners and
drifters in the lower Detroit River. Anglers also are catching
perch around Sugar Island near the Canadian border and on the south
end of Celeron Island. Perch rigs and minnows have produced good
results.

Bottom Line Bait & Tackle (734) 379-9762.

Trenton Lighthouse (734) 675-7080.

Horse Island Tackle (734) 692-9839.

Luna Pier Area

Perch fishing is picking up on lake Erie. Anglers are fishing
with perch rigs in Brest Bay between the first and second buoys. A
few perch also are being picked up south of Stony Point in 22 to 26
feet of water. Walleyes are hitting crawler harnesses trolled
between the Fermi Power Plant and Stony Point in 19 to 20 feet of
water. A few steelhead have been caught in the Huron River.

Luna Pier Harbour Club (734) 848-8777.

SOUTHWESTERN LP

St. Joseph Area

Bass anglers report a good bite in the St. Joe River. Anglers
drifting crawlers are doing best. Steelhead fishing has been fair,
but walleye action has been slow. Panfish are hitting on inland
lakes. Anglers are catching bluegills on Paw Paw Lake on wax worms
fished in 12 to 15 feet of water.

B.J. Sports (269) 429-8271.

Holland Area

Salmon fishing has been good on Lake Michigan. Anglers are
trolling Dodgers and flies, J-plugs, and spoons in 40 to 120 feet
of water. Fish are being found shallow in the mornings and are
moving out to deeper water. Perch fishing also has been good with
anglers targeting fish in 15 to 35 feet of water. In Lake Macatawa,
good numbers of bluegills are hitting wax worms fished near the
docks.

American Tackle Outfitters (616) 392-6688.

CENTRAL LP

Saginaw Bay Area

Perch fishing has been good on Saginaw Bay. Anglers are fishing
minnows near the Spark Plug and “H” buoy. Perch are hitting minnows
at the Black Hole near Linwood in 20 to 22 feet of water. Perch
action is expected to pick up as fall approaches. Walleye fishing
has been slow.

Franks Great Outdoors (989) 697-5341.

Hoyles Marina (989) 697-4415.

Grand Rapids Area

On the Grand River in Grand Rapids, anglers are catching a few
salmon and steelhead near the Sixth Street Dam. Action has been
fair so far, but should improve with falling temperatures. Try
fishing either early morning or late evening with spinners and
spoons. Flathead and channel catfish have are hitting crawlers and
stinkbaits in some of the deeper holes. Anglers bottom-bouncing
jigs and shiners are picking up a few walleyes, but the bite has
been slow. Rainbow trout and brown trout are hitting dry flies on
the Rogue River. The best areas have been from the dam past West
River Drive, and from 10 Mile Road to Packer Drive.

Grandville Live Bait (616) 534-8178.

Muskegon Area

Salmon are moving into Muskegon Lake, and anglers slow-trolling
J-plugs report good success. Shore anglers are catching good
numbers of fish by casting spoons just inside the channel. Good
numbers of bluegills have been caught by anglers fishing wax worms
along the weedbeds. Catfish anglers report a good bite.

Angler Archer (231) 744-5992.

Dawn to Dusk (231) 767-9706.

Ludington Area

Salmon fishing has been good on Lake Michigan. Boat anglers are
having success trolling spoons and J-plugs in waters 100 feet deep.
The best areas have been near the Ludington State Park and Big
Sable Point. Salmon have moved into the Pere Marquette River and
anglers report good action. The best bites have been from Indian
Bridge downstream. Spinners and spawn have both been taking fish.
Fishing has been slow on area inland lakes. Fair numbers of
bluegills have been caught on wax worms on Upper Hamlin Lake.

Pere Marquette Sport Center (231) 843-8676

THE THUMB

Sebewaing Area

Perch fishing is heating up on Lake Huron. Anglers report
catching a fair number of fish on minnows near the commercial nets.
Caution should be used to avoid the nets. Perch also are hitting
north of Caseville off Oak Point. Anglers are taking fish in 30 to
35 feet of water.

Sebewaing Harbor Marina (989) 883-9558.

Harbor Beach Area

Lake trout are keeping anglers busy in Lake Huron. Anglers
fishing north of the harbor in 70 feet of water report good
success. A few kings are starting to trickle into the harbor.
Walleyes are hitting crankbaits in the harbor with the best action
taking place in the evening.

Frank’s Place Bait & Tackle (989) 864-5634.

Port Sanilac Area

At Port Sanilac, perch fishing has been good on Lake Huron.
Anglers drifting minnows in 30 to 32 feet of water report good
success. Pier anglers at Lexington and Port Sanilac are catching
rock bass, bluegills, and a few small perch.

Falls Boat & Bait (810) 622-9945.

Port Huron

Walleye fishing remains pretty good in the St. Clair River.
Anglers are picking up a fair number of fish by drifting
nightcrawlers or trolling crawler harnesses just south of the Black
River. A few salmon and steelhead also have been caught. In the
Black River, anglers are catching good numbers of catfish on
crawlers or stinkbait. White perch also are biting.

Anderson’s Pro Bait (810) 984-3232

NORTHWESTERN LP

Indian River

Walleye fishing has been slow at Black Lake as the water has
been rough. Most catches have been taken while trolling with
crawler harnesses in 15 to 30 feet of water early in the morning or
just before dark. Perch and panfish are keeping anglers busy during
the day. At Burt Lake, perch and walleye fishing have been good.
Anglers are drifting nightcrawlers with good success.

Northland Sports Co. (231) 238-9382

Traverse City Area

Salmon fishing picked up in both East and West Grand Traverse
bays as chinook are starting to move in. Anglers trolling green or
white spoons in 50 to 90 feet of water report good success. Try
fishing from Elk Rapids down to the South Bank area and out from
the M-37 boat launch. In West Bay, the best catches have been taken
from the mouth of the Boardman River out to the red buoy off
Grelickville. Anglers also are catching fair numbers of salmon off
Peshawbestown in Suttons Bay.

Wilderness Guiding Services (231) 276-9874.

Manistee Area

Anglers are catching good numbers of salmon and a few steelhead
on Lake Michigan. The best catches have been taken on Hoochie Mamas
and flies fished in 30 to 100 feet of water. Anglers report good
action anywhere from Pentwater up to Frankfort. Anglers have caught
salmon in the open areas of the Little Manistee River and Manistee
Lake as well. Spawn has produced the best action.

Insta-Launch Marina (231) 723-7718.

Beulah Area

Salmon fishing remains good on Lake Michigan. Both boat anglers
and pier anglers are catching fish. Pier anglers are casting spoons
and drifting spawn and alewives. The best action has been in the
early morning hours. Boat anglers have had good catches of chinook,
cohos, and a few steelhead and brown trout while trolling in the
bay straight out from the piers or to the north near Pt. Betsie.
Most fish are being caught in waters 20 to 150 feet deep on green,
blue, purple, yellow, or orange flies.

Bud’s in Honor (231) 325-3891.

Grayling Area

Anglers fishing the Au Sable River near Grayling are using dry
flies to catch fair numbers of brook and brown trout. Good numbers
of catfish are being caught below the dams.

Skip’s Sport Shop (989) 348-7111.

NORTHEASTERN LP

Higgins Lake Area

Fishing has been slow and fishing pressure has been light on
Higgins Lake. Anglers who have ventured out report catching
good-sized smallmouth bass on spinnerbaits, tube baits, and
minnows. Perch are starting to bite, with a few fish being caught
on shiners fished on perch rigs near the sunken island.

Higgins Lake Sport & Tackle (989) 821-9517.

Phoenix Party and Bait Store (989) 821-7220.

Harrisville Area

Lake trout fishing has been good on Lake Huron at Harrisville.
Anglers report catching fair numbers of fish on flies, spoons, and
plugs fished in 70 to 120 feet of water. Anglers are fishing north
near Sturgeon Point and as far south as Greenbush. A few walleyes
have been caught outside the rock wall in 16 to 50 feet of
water.

Keerl’s Korner (989) 724-6426

Alpena Area

Salmon fishing has been fair on Lake Huron. Anglers trolling
J-plugs and spoons in 50 to 65 feet of water near the 9-Mile have
reported the best action. Salmon also are being caught in the
Thunder Bay River near the Ninth Street Bridge. Off Rockport, boat
anglers report good salmon fishing near Middle Island. Spoons and
plugs trolled in 60 to 75 feet of water, 30 to 35 feet down, have
reported the best success.

Clem’s Live Bait & Tackle (989) 354-2070.

Oscoda Area

Lake trout fishing has been good on Lake Huron near Oscoda. Boat
anglers have reported good catches straight out from the piers in
100 feet of water using spoons and flies. Shore anglers have caught
a few salmon at the mouth of the Au Sable River and off the pier
heads. The best action has been on spawn.

Wellman’s Sport Center (989) 739-2869.

Hubbard Lake Area

Walleye fishing has been decent on Hubbard Lake. Anglers
trolling crankbaits along the weedbeds report a fair bite. Northern
pike and bass fishing remain slow on Fletchers Floodwaters. Anglers
report catching a few perch on worms.

Side Door Bait & Tackle (989) 736-6418.

Tawas Area

At Tawas, good perch fishing has been reported by anglers
fishing in Lake Huron. Good reports have come from anglers fishing
anywhere from Oscoda to Au Gres. Good lake trout fishing has been
reported as well. Nice catches of bluegills and smallmouth bass
have been taken by anglers fishing in Tawas Lake.

All Season Sporting Goods (989) 362-4512.

EASTERN UP

Pickford Area

Salmon fishing has been good on Lake Huron. Anglers report good
action near the No. 3 Green Can, the lighthouse and near Drummond
Island. White flashers with a blue or white fly or silver J-plug
seem to be working well. Salmon catches have been fair in
Cedarville and Hessel. Try fishing with J-plugs and stickbaits in
30 feet of water in the Dolomite Shipping Channel and right in
front of the Dolomite docks. Perch fishing is heating up around
Little Joe Island, Moscow Channel, and in Muskie Bay. Northern pike
and smallmouth bass have been biting on shiner minnows fished in
shallow waters. Good catches have come from anglers fishing in
Government Bay.

Wilderness Treasures (906) 647-4002.

Drummond Island Area

At Drummond Island, perch fishing has been good. Limit catches
have been taken at Black Rock Point on minnows and spreaders fished
in 14 feet of water. Another good area has been off the piers and
docks at Yacht Haven in 8 to 10 feet of water.

Johnson’s Sport Shop (906) 493-6300.

Sault Ste. Marie Area

Walleye fishing has improved on the St. Marys River. Good
reports have come from anglers fishing in the channel at Gogamain
Point. Try using a 3-ounce bottom bouncer with a 32-inch leader and
crawler harness.

Hank’s Sport Shop (906) 632-8741.

St. Ignace Area

Salmon fishing has been pretty good in the Straits of Mackinac.
Boat anglers are having good success fishing around Mackinac Island
and the Coast Guard Station. Salmon are starting to arrive at the
mouth of the Carp River.

Brevoort Lake Camp Store (906) 292-5410

Ace Hardware (906) 643-7721,

Grand Marais Area

Lake trout fishing remains good on Lake Superior. The fish seem
to be suspended on the bottom in 150 to 300 feet of water. Perch
fishing on the Tahquamenon River has been slow. The best action has
been coming to anglers fishing between McFees Landing and the mouth
of the Sage River.

Rainbow Lodge (906) 658-3357.

CENTRAL UP

Garden Area

In Big Bay de Noc, salmon catches have been high near Fairport.
Anglers are trolling 110 feet down in 90 to 120 feet of water out
by Summer Island. Walleye fishing has been slow with the best
action coming southwest of Round Island. Anglers are picking up a
few fish there by trolling in 20 to 30 feet of water. Perch anglers
are having luck in Garden Bay. The best catches have been in the
morning hours.

The Garden Sport Shop (906) 644-2908

Foxy’s Den (906) 644-2817.

Munising Area

Fishing success has been good, but pressure has been light on
Lake Superior. Good lake trout fishing continues near the bays and
out at Big Reef in 150 feet of water. Anglers are still waiting for
the salmon to start showing up.

Curly’s Hilltop Grocery (906) 387-3056.

Escanaba Area

In Lake Michigan’s Little Bay de Noc, walleye fishing has been
spotty. The hot spots seemed to be out by the red buoy in Kipling
and on the Stonington side. Anglers fared the best in the evening
hours drifting crawlers in 20 to 25 feet of water. Perch fishing
has been good off Gladstone Beach. Minnows have produced good
results when fished in 10 to 25 feet of water. Shore anglers on the
Ford River report some nice catches of smallmouth bass while
casting spinners and crankbaits. There have been no reports of
salmon entering the river yet.

Bay View Bait & Tackle (906) 786-1488.

BayShore Resort Bait & Tackle (906) 428-2950.

WESTERN UP

L’Anse Area

Lake trout fishing remains steady in Lake Superior’s Keweenaw
Bay. Anglers are trolling in 150 to 185 feet of water or jigging in
200 to 240 feet of water. Anglers trolling for lake trout in
Traverse Bay also are having good success in 90 to 150 feet of
water. A few coho have been caught in shallow water.

Indian Country Sports (906) 524-6518.

Bergland Area

Walleye fishing is heating up on Lake Gogebic. The water level
is down and water temperatures are high for this time of year.
Crawlers, leeches, and minnows have all been working well when
fished along the weeds.

Maple Ridge Bait & Tackle (906) 575-3218.