NORTHWESTERN LP Alanson There was no ice in northwest Michigan last week. A few boat anglers were getting out and catching yellow perch on Burt Lake and in the Black River. Firearms deer season was slow, but some nice bucks were killed. Muzzleloader season was slow, too. The late grouse season has been slow, with hunting pressure light. Young’s Bait and Party Shop, (231) 548-5286. Traverse…
Hamilton Lake (Tioga County) — Yellow perch were reported on nightcrawlers and live minnows in recent weeks. Trout were reported on rainbow-colored paste bait. Hills Creek Lake (Tioga County) — Numbers of perch were reported on nightcrawlers and live minnows through early December. Allegheny River (McKean County) — Walleyes were hitting on a variety of baits, with one angler reporting…
Lake Michigan: Rough water and cold have kept most anglers off the lake, but the few that have gone out in recent weeks are finding there are still browns and steelhead hanging around. Spawn sacks under a float are working well as well as the standard tinsel or white tube jig tipped with wax worms. The steelhead bite is starting to…
AMERY AREA There’s too much ice to get a boat in and not enough to walk on throughout most lakes. Depending on the weather, some of the area’s small lakes and bays could be safe enough for foot travel this weekend, but caution is advised throughout the area. Lucky Baits (715) 268-6231 ASHLAND AREA On the Ashland side of Chequamegon Bay fishing has…
NORTHWESTERN LP Alanson Deer hunting has been slow in Emmet County. The late grouse season should be pretty good. A few people are getting out on Burt Lake and catching light numbers of yellow perch in the deep hole. Young’s Bait and Party Shop, (231) 548-5286. Traverse City Area Firearms deer season has been slow in Grand Traverse County. Late grouse season should be pretty…
Kettle Creek (Potter County) — Water was 45 degrees Nov. 18 and anglers were catching trout on minnows and streamer patterns. West Branch Susquehanna River (Lycoming County) — Walleyes were hitting on a variety of baits, as water temperatures dropped in mid- to late November. Rose Valley Lake (Lycoming County) — Panfish and bass were reported on crawlers and minnows…
Fox Chain O’ Lakes: The channels have been producing good catches of panfish on small tungsten jigs tipped single spikes. There are few reports on walleyes and bass as the launches are all frozen over and the bigger water is not safe for travel yet. Pistakee Bay has been producing good catches of white bass in the 15-foot depths. The crappie bite also has…
ASHLAND AREA For the Ashland side of Chequamegon Bay, fishing has been good, with walleyes, brown trout, and coho salmon being caught in the bay. It has been a memorable autumn with the extended warm weather, especially after last year’s major snowstorm in early November. Water temperatures in Chequamegon Bay are still in the low 50s. And even out in the big lake, the…
NORTHWESTERN LP East Jordan Area Deer hunting has been pretty good in Charlevoix County. Some nice bucks have been taken in the area. Bucks are still chasing does. Fishing pressure has been light on Lake Charlevoix. A few steelhead have been caught along the pier in Charlevoix. Tom’s Bait & Tackle, (231) 536-3521. Traverse City Area Deer hunting has been pretty…
Cowanesque Reservoir (Tioga County) — Don’s Tackle Shack reported a good smallmouth bass bite Nov. 7, with fish weighing 2 to 4 pounds and hitting on jerkbaits in 10 to 15 feet. Water was in the 50s. Hamilton Lake (Tioga County) — Trout were biting on PowerBait, and small spinners or spoons in recent weeks. Perch and crappies were active…
Chain: The fish are starting to put the fall feed on. The bass will begin to feed with the dropping water temps. The fish are relating to any of the green weeds or wood and search baits like spinnerbaits and swim jigs are doing quite well at finding the aggressive fish. The boat docks have been holding some good fish, but bigger fish…
AMERY AREA The only consistent fishing report has come off the Apple River, where large suckers are producing muskies. Duck and deer hunting reports have been favorable, and the bigger bucks really started to move during the past week. Lucky Baits (715) 268-6231 ASHLAND AREA This report is about the Ashland side of Chequamegon Bay. Well, we got that rain we wanted and then…
NORTHWESTERN LP Traverse City Area High wind and rain put a damper on hunting and fishing in Grand Traverse County last week. Before the bad weather moved in anglers were catching cisco in Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay. The best action has come to those jigging spoons in 50 to 100 feet of water. Smallmouth bass fishing has been good in 2 to 6…
Hamilton Lake (Tioga County) —Don’s Tackle Shack reported Oct. 24 that recently stocked trout were hitting but fishing pressure was light. Tioga River, Cowanesque River (Tioga County) — Smallmouth bass up to 3 pounds were reported on shiners and other live bait through late October. Spring Creek (Centre County) —TCO Fly Shop reported low, clear conditions as of Oct. 23….
Chain: The walleye action is hot with the cooler weather. Reports show good catches in the river channels and mouths of the creeks throughout the day. Live bait is proving to be best. The flats are also holding fish as well. Jerkbaits in the low light are producing aggressive strikes. Shad color or chartreuse are doing the best. The bass bite is slowing…
ASHLAND AREA Fishing was tough last week due to strong winds. Trollers are sporadically picking up a salmon or a trout off the Sioux and Onion rivers and at the head of Chequamegon Bay. Stream fishing is difficult with the low and clear water. Though water temperatures are still in the 50s, smallmouth bass have started to move to and school in their usual…
NORTHWESTERN LP East Jordan Area Grouse and woodcock hunting has been very good, and leaves are falling fast. The early archery deer season is off to a slow start. Waterfowl hunters report fair gunning. Flight birds are starting to arrive. Bass fishing has been good on Lake Charlevoix, and the fish are starting to move back into the shallows. Panfish action has been very…
Foster Joseph Sayers Lake (Centre County) — Anglers were catching channel catfish on gold-color jigheads and crawlers. Yellow perch were reported on crawlers. Spring Creek (Centre County) — As of Oct. 10, TCO Fly Shop reported water in the high 60s and with some color. Most hatches were over for the year, although sporadic tricos (20-24) were still spotted in…
Chain: With the cooler days, the bite has moved to a midday time frame. There have been some reports of stained water in most of the lower lakes. Water clarity is poor, and this is affecting the fishing. The bass will begin to feed with the dropping water temps. The fish are relating to the green weeds, and search baits…
AMERY AREA Muskies are hitting suckers on the weedlines of Bone Lake, Deer Lake, Blake Lake, Cedar Lake, Lake Wapogasset, and the Apple River. Look for sunfish, bass, and pike in 7 to 10 feet at Balsam Lake, Bear Trap Lake, Big Round Lake, and Pike Lake. Minnows are working for walleyes on the 7- to 14-foot weedlines of Half…
NORTHWESTERN LP East Jordan Area Fishing has been slow. Salmon runs have been very slow on the Jordan and other streams in the area. Walleye fishing has been pretty good on Lake Charlevoix. Bass fishing has been good, too. Crappie fishing has been good on Six Mile Lake. Grouse and woodcock hunters report good flush rates. Leaves are just starting to fall. Archery deer season…
Chain: Walleyes are good in current areas such as bottlenecks of the bridges, most being caught on fatheads or nightcrawlers. White bass good at Marie and Bluff on small spinners. Muskies are consistent on bucktails or jerkbaits around main lake points. Crappies are good in channel areas on small jigs tipped with small fatheads or spikes. Bluegills good around weed areas on small ice jigs tipped with waxies or spikes. Shabbona: Water clarity…
AMERY AREA Minnows are producing a few walleyes on Balsam Lake in 14 to 16 feet, and muskies continue to hit large sucker minnows and topwater baits in 12 to 15 feet on Deer Lake, the Apple River, and Lake Wapogasset. Crappies and sunfish continue to hit in 7 to 10 feet on Balsam, Wapogasset, and Bear Trap Lake. Lucky Baits (715) 268-6231 ASHLAND AREA Brown trout…
NORTHWESTERN LP Indian River Fishing has been slow on Burt and Mullet lakes, but fishing pressure has been light. A few walleyes and smallmouth bass have been caught. Grouse hunters report fair flush rates so far. Pat & Gary’s Party Store, (231) 238-6776. Traverse City Area Walleyes are hitting on Fife Lake in 8 to 12 feet of water. Jigs tipped…
Cowanesque Lake (Tioga County) — Don’s Tackle Shack reported Sept. 10 that largemouth bass up to 5 pounds and a few smallmouth bass were hitting crankbaits and various soft plastics in green pumpkin. Water was low and clear. Hamilton Lake (Tioga County) — Panfish and pickerel were biting, with the bluegills, sunfish and perch hitting chunks of crawlers and other…
Chain: The panfish bite is very consistent. Fish small jigs tipped with spikes or waxies under a slip float. Fish the weedbeds and set your depth to just above the weeds. The largemouths have moved into the channels and the heavy mats of weeds. Fishing a scum frog or other weedless bait has been producing some good bass as well as northern pike. The muskie fishing has been hit or miss with some…
