Northwest Lower Peninsula
Yellow perch fishing is getting underway on the large inland lakes in Benzie, Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. The action is not full speed yet, but anglers are finding fish on their fall feeding grounds.
Harbor Springs: Anglers continue to fish around Harbor Point and east, where lake trout, Chinook and coho were caught. Lake trout and cisco were caught near the bottom north of Harbor Point in 100 to 110 feet.
Petoskey: Though salmon fishing was very slow, boats were still trolling from the breakwall to Bay Harbor. The few fish taken were found deep at 100 feet down. A few salmon were seen jumping inside the breakwall. Pier anglers targeting salmon reported low catch rates. Those fishing along the beach caught a couple fish when floating spawn or casting crankbaits.
Charlevoix: Boats targeting salmon reported slow action, with only a couple caught 100 feet down in 120 feet. Salmon were seen inside the breakwall and near the slip at the cement plant, and a couple were hooked in shallower water when trolling or casting. A few lake trout were caught near the Red Can at South Point in 120 feet and out near Nine Mile Point in 170 feet. Some are starting to shore fish near the cement plant freighter slip, but the water level is so high this year that it is very difficult to get to areas where anglers normally would fish in waders. Smallmouth fishing in the channel was a bit tough, but the bigger fish typically stay in the channel area through October. Try crawlers or leeches on the bottom.
Boyne River: Salmon are moving in and are being found at the dam and at the mouth. Multiple kings were checked at the mouth of the river along with a few coho.
Boardman River: Had reports of coho and chinook being caught.
Frankfort: The weather has restricted access, but those trolling the pier heads and jigging in the bay have caught fish. Coho were reported in Platte Bay.
Betsie River: Chinook salmon are moving into the river at a steady pace.
Portage Lake: Had no angler activity due to the weather.
Manistee: Fishing was slow. Anglers marked fish in close and around the piers. The action shifted to jigging in Manistee Lake. Those trolling the channel had little luck but marked some salmon.
Manistee River: Salmon fishing was decent, with fresh fish moving up into the river.
Ludington: Chinook salmon were caught near the pier heads and at Big Sable Point by those using spoons and J-plugs. A couple coho and steelhead were caught in 180 to 280 feet when boats could get out.
Pere Marquette Lake: Boat anglers trolling and jigging caught a few Chinook salmon.
Pere Marquette River: Also had decent salmon fishing, especially in the lower stretches. A couple nice steelhead have also been caught.