7/19/2018 Northwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Overall: The rivers are low and very clear with warm water temperatures.  Bow fishing has been good in these conditions, as well as catfish and bullhead numbers.  Bass fishing has been good.  

Harbor Springs:  A couple lake trout, steelhead and even one cisco were caught 50 to 60 feet down in deeper water north of the Harbor Point.  

Petoskey:  Those out trolling did manage to get a few lake trout.  There were a lot of anglers fishing the mouth of the Bear River for smallmouth bass, rock bass, walleye, catfish, bluegill and carp.  Try worms and leeches.  

Charlevoix:  Those trolling are starting to pick up a few Chinook, some lake trout and cisco.  Smallmouth bass fishing in the channel is starting to pick up for those fishing the bottom with real or artificial worms and leeches.  Lots of freshwater drum were also caught.  

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

Kalkaska County:  A few walleye were caught in front of the DNR boat launch on Manistee Lake.  Some nice panfish were caught on Fife Lake in the early morning and afternoon.  

Traverse City:  Lake trout were caught in the East Bay when trolling along the western bank, north and south of the M-37 launch and north of Old Mission when jigging. Elk Rapids was also good when jigging or trolling straight out from the marina.  Bass were caught north of the State Park and north of Deepwater Point in 15 to 25 feet.  In the Elk River, lots of small bass and freshwater drum were caught at the dam and on the rocks at the end of the sidewalk.  Most were using crawlers.  In the West Bay, lake trout were caught when trolling off Northport, south of the M-22 launch and south of Power Island or when jigging and trolling south of Bowers Harbor. Bass were caught in 10 to 20 feet around Power Island.  A couple small salmon were caught at the south end of the bay.  Perch were found around Lee Point and Bowers Harbor but the fish were small.  The Boardman River was still slow but a couple steelhead were caught.  Panfish and small bass were caught at the dam and near the mouth.  

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

Glen Arbor:  Those heading out are taking limit catches of lake trout.  Salmon are starting to show up including one 33 pound fish that was caught recently.  

Frankfort:  Some nice Chinook salmon have been caught including several fish in the mid to upper 20 pound range.  Most are trolling 60 to 90 feet down in 120 to 350 feet with spoons, flies and meat rigs.  

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

Arcadia:  A mix of Chinook and lake trout were caught out from the piers in 100 to 150 feet.  A cisco was also caught.  

Onekama:  Anglers were trolling north in 100 to 160 feet and working the top 70 feet with blue spoons and flies.  Good numbers of lake trout were reported in the “Barrel” by those bouncing cowbells along the bottom.   

Portage Lake:  Bass and panfish were found in deeper water because of the warm temperatures.  The number of fish caught was low but those taken were good size.  

Manistee:  Surface water temperatures were still up near 70 degrees.  Fishing had picked up a little as anglers were coming in with a mixed bag of Chinook, lake trout and steelhead.  The fish were hitting on spoons and a flasher fly combo 60 to 100 feet down in 130 to 200 feet.  Pier fishing was spotty but a couple steelhead where taken on shrimp or spawn in the early morning.  

Manistee River:  Brook trout were caught on flies and spinners on the North Branch.     

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

 

Hamlin Lake:  Catch rates for panfish, pike, and walleye were average.  

Ludington:  Had slower fishing but a few lake trout, Chinook or steelhead were taken in 120 to 200 feet with spoons and a flasher fly combo.  

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:  Those trolling spoons have caught Chinook.  

Pentwater:  Boats trolling from the dunes down to Little Sable Point caught good numbers of Chinook salmon and steelhead 50 to 70 down in 100 to 130 feet.  Blue or green spoons and flies took the most fish while cut-bait fishing was slow. Lake trout fishing in the same depths was excellent in the bottom half of the water column with spoons, flashers and flies. Pier anglers caught smallmouth bass when still-fishing or drifting minnows and leeches in the channel. 

Pentwater Lake:  Anglers fishing from Longbridge Road caught rock bass, sunfish, and smallmouth bass when floating red worms or crawlers under a bobber. Boat anglers caught good numbers of smallmouth bass working jigs tipped with soft-plastics along the drop-offs.