7/04/2018 Northwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs:  Anglers were targeting smallmouth bass as the fish were still up in the shallows.  Anglers were fishing from the east end of Little Traverse Bay to Harbor Point and just north.  

Petoskey:  A couple boats found some very small salmon 20 inches or less.  A nice steelhead was caught along the scum line.  Lake trout were caught but the fish seemed to be scattered.  Most boats were trolling from the breakwall to Bay Harbor.  On the Bear River, fishing at the mouth was decent with anglers taking a mix of smallmouth bass, catfish, carp and panfish on worms or stick baits.  

Charlevoix:  Those jigging in 55 to 60 feet near the cement plant were still taking some cisco.  Lake trout were caught off North Point when trolling along the bottom 20 feet of waters of waters 85 feet deep.  The lake trout were scattered south of the channel.  Those targeting smallmouth bass in the channel had limited success with real or artificial worms and leeches.  Some were still full of eggs.   With a hex hatch on the Boyne River, brown trout fishing was good especially at night.    

• For a more accurate report on Lake Charlevoix I suggest reaching out to the people at Tom's Bait & Tackle. Phone: (231-536-3521)

Traverse City:  Lake trout fishing in the East Bay was hit-or-miss with the best action in the early morning when trolling the shallows or jigging around Deepwater Point.  Good bass fishing at the south end of the bay in eight to 12 feet.  Elk Rapids was hit-or-miss.  The Elk River continues to produce a good number of smallmouth bass for those using leeches and plastics.  In the West Bay, lake trout were caught by those jigging around Power Island.  Bass were caught south of Bowers Harbor.  The Boardman River was very slow with only a few panfish caught near the mouth or dam.  

• For a list of bait and tackle shops in the Traverse City area: Click Here!

Frankfort:  The baitfish moved offshore so anglers were trolling in 450 to 600 feet looking for them.  Once found, trolling above and below them was producing some Chinook salmon in the early morning.  Lake trout were caught in Platte Bay by those bouncing spin-glo’s off the bottom.  

• For a list of bait and tackle shops in the Frankfort area: Click Here!

Onekama:  Those trolling in and around the “Barrel” reported a moderate number of Chinook and lake trout.  Most Chinook were in 300 to 400 feet.   

Portage Lake:  Bass and perch numbers were picking up with some good size fish reported.  Perch were hitting in 15 to 20 feet and bass anglers were working the drops.  

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell:  Walleye were caught in 12 to 15 feet along the weed beds with crawlers and leeches.  The bass and pike action was steady.  For panfish, target the deeper waters six to 14 feet.     

Manistee:  Surface water temperatures were about 65 degrees.  Pier fishing was slow but a few anglers caught steelhead off the north pier with alewife and spawn.  Boat anglers reported slower fishing.  Lake trout and a few Chinook were caught on spoons. 

Manistee River:  Had good brown trout fishing especially at night with the ongoing hex hatch.  The fly hatch along the upper river should be over soon.     

Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops:

Don's Sporting Goods: (231) 723-5028

Tangled Tackle Co.: (231) 887-4242

Pappy's Bait & Tackle: (231) 848-4142

Andy's Tackle Box: (231) 477-5737

Ludington:  Surface temperature readings were up near 66 degrees. Pier fishing is slow.  Off shore fishing was slow but some had success for Chinook, lake trout and steelhead in 120 to 200 feet when trolling spoons.     

Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops:

Don's Sporting Goods: (231) 723-5028

Tangled Tackle Co.: (231) 887-4242

Pappy's Bait & Tackle: (231) 848-4142

Andy's Tackle Box: (231) 477-5737

Pere Marquette River:  Had a hex hatch that is starting to wind down.  

Pentwater:  Anglers trolling between the dunes and Little Sable Point caught steelhead, Chinook salmon, and lake trout 40 to 70 feet down in 100 to 180 feet.  Pier anglers caught smallmouth bass while drifting minnows between the pier heads. 

Pentwater Lake:  Anglers fishing from Longbridge Road caught brown bullhead, pumpkinseed sunfish, bluegill, and smallmouth bass when drifting red worms under a bobber of still-fishing near the bottom.