Jul 2009
Great Lakes fishing captains face rough sailing in economic slump
Jul 26, 2009 04:20 PM Filed in: Fishing
BY JOHN SEEWER • ASSOCIATED PRESS • JULY 19,
2009
OAK HARBOR, Ohio — Gulls shrieked overhead as Bob Hall lugged a pair of plastic 5-gallon gas cans down the dock to fill up his fishing boat, then hopped on a golf cart and headed to a gas station for another load.
Hauling the fuel rather than buying it at higher-priced marina pumps will save $20 — a worthwhile effort when bookings are down 30% for his charter fishing business on Lake Erie.
Fishing boat captains all along the Great Lakes are struggling to stay afloat this summer, some losing half of their customers because of the manufacturing and economic slump in the Midwest.
“Fishing is a blue-collar sport,” Hall said. “And a lot those guys are getting laid off.”
Many companies have eliminated annual fishing outings that they would use to reward employees, said Bob Zales II, president of the National Association of Charterboat Operators.
“If you’re laying people off, it’s hard to justify taking the others out to have fun,” he said.
Along the Great Lakes, longtime customers who fish for walleye, salmon, perch, bass, and trout are canceling trips or booking shorter stays. Some charter captains have put their boats up for sale, while others are barely able to cover their costs.
“For the guys that are making $800-a-month boat payments, it’s going to be very tough,” said John Atwell, who runs a charter boat on Lake Huron out of Port Austin, Mich. “They may not be around next year.”
Charter captains on the East and West coasts and along the Gulf of Mexico say it’s been a rough ride, too. But states surrounding the Great Lakes have been hit particularly hard by auto plant closings and extended summer shutdowns. Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois all have unemployment running in double-digit percentages.
Auto workers accounted for one out of every 10 customers a few years ago, Atwell said. Now barely any are booking trips. One customer who had been fishing with him for eight years pulled out last week, Atwell said.
“Let’s face it, fishing is an option,” he said. “It’s not a necessity.”
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OAK HARBOR, Ohio — Gulls shrieked overhead as Bob Hall lugged a pair of plastic 5-gallon gas cans down the dock to fill up his fishing boat, then hopped on a golf cart and headed to a gas station for another load.
Hauling the fuel rather than buying it at higher-priced marina pumps will save $20 — a worthwhile effort when bookings are down 30% for his charter fishing business on Lake Erie.
Fishing boat captains all along the Great Lakes are struggling to stay afloat this summer, some losing half of their customers because of the manufacturing and economic slump in the Midwest.
“Fishing is a blue-collar sport,” Hall said. “And a lot those guys are getting laid off.”
Many companies have eliminated annual fishing outings that they would use to reward employees, said Bob Zales II, president of the National Association of Charterboat Operators.
“If you’re laying people off, it’s hard to justify taking the others out to have fun,” he said.
Along the Great Lakes, longtime customers who fish for walleye, salmon, perch, bass, and trout are canceling trips or booking shorter stays. Some charter captains have put their boats up for sale, while others are barely able to cover their costs.
“For the guys that are making $800-a-month boat payments, it’s going to be very tough,” said John Atwell, who runs a charter boat on Lake Huron out of Port Austin, Mich. “They may not be around next year.”
Charter captains on the East and West coasts and along the Gulf of Mexico say it’s been a rough ride, too. But states surrounding the Great Lakes have been hit particularly hard by auto plant closings and extended summer shutdowns. Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois all have unemployment running in double-digit percentages.
Auto workers accounted for one out of every 10 customers a few years ago, Atwell said. Now barely any are booking trips. One customer who had been fishing with him for eight years pulled out last week, Atwell said.
“Let’s face it, fishing is an option,” he said. “It’s not a necessity.”
Click here for the entire article
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AAA Fishing Report
Southeast:
Around Fair Haven and Algonac the walleye action remains strong on crawler harnesses and Hammer Lures with beads. Perch action is spotty. Bass are everywhere but try around Grass Island, near the cut, or the mouth of the North Channel, spinners are working well.
Great walleye fishing taking place near Harrison in 28-30 feet of water near the Fire Cracker and anglers are obtaining limits using crawler harnesses. Small Mouth bass are all over the lake in 8-14 feet of water and tubes are working well. Musky action is very good generally all over the lake, but one hot spot is near the middle and dumping grounds. Hi-Fin Bucktails are working well and fish are measuring up to 53-inches and some near 35 pounds.
Fishing near the St. Clair Shores area anglers will find perch out in front of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, around the 29 and 30 Cans, near the St. Clair Lighthouse and the Nine Mile Tower. Lake St. Clair has some nice walleye activity in the early morning hours.
Walleye are still present on the Detroit River from the Ambassador Bridge down to the lower Trenton Channel on both sides of the river. Anglers need to move around a lot. Some anglers are jigging, but it seems that hand liners may be doing better in the evening hours and crawler harnesses and Wyandotte worms continue to work. Out on Lake Erie the walleye action is strong using spoons, Dipsy Divers, In-line planer boards and crawler harnesses remain popular. Perch action is good south of Celeron Island in 8-13 feet of water, near the Detroit Light and Rat Island. Stren series bass tournament takes place July 23-25 out of the Elizabeth Park Marina. For details call 734-675-8051 for details.
Near Monroe walleye activity remains good around Stoney Point and Brest Bay and out in front of the Fermi Stacks in 19-20 feet of water. Hot-n-Tots, Wiggle Warts, minnows and worms are working well. Luna Pier is giving up nice walleye numbers in 14-feet of water.
Further out on Lake Erie, anglers are doing very well around all of the Islands and near Buoys 1 and 2. Heading towards Leamington plenty of walleye are being caught in 30-feet of water. Further south, Pelee Island has great walleye action and all of the charter services are limiting out. Perch action is good near the Sputnik and McDonalds buoys, near the S and W-cans but watch for lots of nets.
In the Belleville area some great crappie and walleye fishing is taking place near Sandy’s Marina and near the Rawsonvillle Road Bridge in the early morning hours. Belleville Lake is producing nice crappie catches near the bridge and walleye near the Dam. The blue gill bite is good and the Small Mouth bass are starting to bite better as well. The Huron River near Geddes Road or Argo Park in Ann Arbor is a good spot for some nice bass fishing with artificial frogs. Ford Lake has limited angling due to the heavy algae at this time. Popular baits overall include baby crawlers, minnows, wax worms, leeches and night crawlers.
Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fairhaven; Pro-Fishing & Archery-Harrison Township; Lakeside Fishing Shop-St. Clair Shores; South Street Tackle-Belleville; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rock Wood; Erie Party Shop-Monroe and Andy’s Tackle Box-Melvindale
East:
Standish anglers continue to find good catches of walleye in 35-feet of water. Green, yellow, pink and purple spoons in a variety of combinations are working as well as crawler harnesses. No perch action at this time. Linwood anglers are heading straight out to the edge of the shipping channels in 20-25 feet of water for some nice perch action. Fish are averaging nine inches. Straight out from Bay City three to four miles, near Finn Road and the Spark Plug the walleye fishing is good. Perch activity is decent near the last buoy bout 13 miles out. Catfish are hitting around Quanicassee and a few bass can be had near the Lafayette Bridge on the Saginaw River. Sand Point is a good location when the winds are calm for some good walleye fishing in deeper water with crawlers and harnesses. Anglers fishing early were limiting out by 11 a.m. Overall the entire Saginaw Bay is doing well on walleye on crawler harnesses.
Anglers fishing right in the harbor at Harbor Beach are getting walleye biting on crawler harnesses, pink is a hot color. No perch at this time.
Information providers: 1st & Main-Bay Port; Frank’s Great Outdoors-Linwood; Frank’s Place Bait & Tackle-Harbor Beach; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; Eagle Bay Marina-Standish and Gander Mountain-Saginaw.
Around Fair Haven and Algonac the walleye action remains strong on crawler harnesses and Hammer Lures with beads. Perch action is spotty. Bass are everywhere but try around Grass Island, near the cut, or the mouth of the North Channel, spinners are working well.
Great walleye fishing taking place near Harrison in 28-30 feet of water near the Fire Cracker and anglers are obtaining limits using crawler harnesses. Small Mouth bass are all over the lake in 8-14 feet of water and tubes are working well. Musky action is very good generally all over the lake, but one hot spot is near the middle and dumping grounds. Hi-Fin Bucktails are working well and fish are measuring up to 53-inches and some near 35 pounds.
Fishing near the St. Clair Shores area anglers will find perch out in front of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, around the 29 and 30 Cans, near the St. Clair Lighthouse and the Nine Mile Tower. Lake St. Clair has some nice walleye activity in the early morning hours.
Walleye are still present on the Detroit River from the Ambassador Bridge down to the lower Trenton Channel on both sides of the river. Anglers need to move around a lot. Some anglers are jigging, but it seems that hand liners may be doing better in the evening hours and crawler harnesses and Wyandotte worms continue to work. Out on Lake Erie the walleye action is strong using spoons, Dipsy Divers, In-line planer boards and crawler harnesses remain popular. Perch action is good south of Celeron Island in 8-13 feet of water, near the Detroit Light and Rat Island. Stren series bass tournament takes place July 23-25 out of the Elizabeth Park Marina. For details call 734-675-8051 for details.
Near Monroe walleye activity remains good around Stoney Point and Brest Bay and out in front of the Fermi Stacks in 19-20 feet of water. Hot-n-Tots, Wiggle Warts, minnows and worms are working well. Luna Pier is giving up nice walleye numbers in 14-feet of water.
Further out on Lake Erie, anglers are doing very well around all of the Islands and near Buoys 1 and 2. Heading towards Leamington plenty of walleye are being caught in 30-feet of water. Further south, Pelee Island has great walleye action and all of the charter services are limiting out. Perch action is good near the Sputnik and McDonalds buoys, near the S and W-cans but watch for lots of nets.
In the Belleville area some great crappie and walleye fishing is taking place near Sandy’s Marina and near the Rawsonvillle Road Bridge in the early morning hours. Belleville Lake is producing nice crappie catches near the bridge and walleye near the Dam. The blue gill bite is good and the Small Mouth bass are starting to bite better as well. The Huron River near Geddes Road or Argo Park in Ann Arbor is a good spot for some nice bass fishing with artificial frogs. Ford Lake has limited angling due to the heavy algae at this time. Popular baits overall include baby crawlers, minnows, wax worms, leeches and night crawlers.
Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fairhaven; Pro-Fishing & Archery-Harrison Township; Lakeside Fishing Shop-St. Clair Shores; South Street Tackle-Belleville; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rock Wood; Erie Party Shop-Monroe and Andy’s Tackle Box-Melvindale
East:
Standish anglers continue to find good catches of walleye in 35-feet of water. Green, yellow, pink and purple spoons in a variety of combinations are working as well as crawler harnesses. No perch action at this time. Linwood anglers are heading straight out to the edge of the shipping channels in 20-25 feet of water for some nice perch action. Fish are averaging nine inches. Straight out from Bay City three to four miles, near Finn Road and the Spark Plug the walleye fishing is good. Perch activity is decent near the last buoy bout 13 miles out. Catfish are hitting around Quanicassee and a few bass can be had near the Lafayette Bridge on the Saginaw River. Sand Point is a good location when the winds are calm for some good walleye fishing in deeper water with crawlers and harnesses. Anglers fishing early were limiting out by 11 a.m. Overall the entire Saginaw Bay is doing well on walleye on crawler harnesses.
Anglers fishing right in the harbor at Harbor Beach are getting walleye biting on crawler harnesses, pink is a hot color. No perch at this time.
Information providers: 1st & Main-Bay Port; Frank’s Great Outdoors-Linwood; Frank’s Place Bait & Tackle-Harbor Beach; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; Eagle Bay Marina-Standish and Gander Mountain-Saginaw.
AAA Fishing Report
SOUTHEAST
Good walleye action for Fair Haven anglers fishing in the north shipping channels, near Grass Island and near Decker’s. Crawler harnesses are the bait of choice for walleye. Perch action is good near Buoy 27 and the shipping channels on minnows.
Lots of anglers are out just off of Harrison where the musky and walleye fishing is hot on crawler harnesses in 19 feet of water. Musky are measuring in 40-51 inches. Perch are also active in 14-19 feet of water. Small mouth bass are biting around Nine Mile on brownish colored tubes.
St. Clair Shores anglers are having good luck fishing for walleye on the Detroit River near the sand piles, near the Ambassador Bridge towards the Canadian side, in front of Windsor Casino and off of Joe Louis arena. The evening hours seem to be best. Lake St. Clair the bass are biting all over.
The Detroit River is alive with walleye once again and anglers are just killing them around Belanger Park near River Rouge on Wyandotte worms and lead head. Actually all up and down the Detroit River the walleye fishing is good on both the Canadian and U.S. sides and hand liners are doing very well near the salt mines and all the way down to the Trenton Channel, around Celeron and Horse Islands. The evening hours seem to be better. Rapalas, Stubbies or fat pencil plugs, Vampire and Bleeding Copper Flash are working well. Walleye are averaging 15-inches. Bass action is good around Celeron Island using tubes, center and gulp baits. Carp Tournament July 18th and Huroc Park in Flat Rock, call 313-388-3474 for details.
In Rock Wood the Lake Erie Metro Park Boat Launch near the south end has some good fishing taking place. The Huron River is loaded with catfish. Perch, large and small mouth bass are active near the mouth of Lake Erie and around sandy spots.
Off of the Monroe area, the walleye are hitting in 19-20 feet of water near the Fermi Stacks on spoons. Popular colors are purple and chartreuse, purple and gold, pink, Hot Lobster and Blueberry Muffin. Walleye are hitting pretty much all over Lake Erie, but especially near the E-Buoy, Dumping Grounds and Luna Pier on Hot-n-Tots and Wiggle Warts. Walleye are moving in closer towards Stoney Point, near the Toledo Light and around all of the Islands. Perch action is good near the C-Can, Luna Pier, Sputnik Buoy, Turn-Around Buoy and the edge of the shipping channel. Pointe Mouille, anglers are catching a bit of everything including bass and catfish.
Belleville Lake has some good fishing for crappie and walleye during the evening hours and in deeper water. Pike and blue gill activity is also good, but the bass seems to be off. All types of baits seem to be working well with baby crawlers and a variety of green colored crawlers quite popular.
Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fairhaven; Pro-Fishing & Archery-Harrison Township; Lakeside Fishing Shop-St. Clair Shores; South Street Tackle-Belleville; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rock Wood; Erie Party Shop-Monroe; Andy’s Tackle Box-Melvindale and Gander Mountain-Taylor.
EAST
Off of Standish walleye are biting on crawler harnesses and spoons. Preferred colors include bright yellow and purple, chartreuse and pink combinations. Bay City anglers are pulling in some perch near Buoy’s 1 and 2 off the channel on crawler harnesses and worms. In the same location walleye are hitting on bottom bouncers, popular colors include chartreuse, pink or purple and south of the Spark Plug anglers are obtaining limits. Saginaw Bay is giving up limits of walleye on the west side of Callahan Reef in 9-12 feet of water. Crawler harnesses 10-20 feet back with quarter ounce in-lines running 1.3-1.5 seems to be working well with purple, pink, red and chartreuse bead combo’s with various #6 Colorado blades, gold or copper backed. Bay Port anglers are finding good fishing despite windy conditions and rough water. Walleye are in deeper waters past North Island and taking a little longer to get limits. Perch are hitting on minnows and closer in. The Sebewaing area is on fire for walleye.
Port Sanilac is crazy with catfish especially during the evening hours. Night crawlers are working on the bottom and egg sinkers on a three foot lead. Perch action is spotty in Port Sanilac and Lexington. Hot walleye activity in Port Huron where anglers are drifting with blades and crawlers. Popular colors seem to be a variety of greens and chartreuse. Shore anglers are doing very well all up and down the Boardwalk, near Thomas Edison and Pine Grove Park. The mouth of the Black River is mass producing Silver bass and the fish are huge and anglers can expect to find large quantities of Silver bass around Marine City as well. Minnows are running and the walleye are following. Twisters, Rapalas and spinner baits are working well during the evening hours. All up and down the Black River anglers are reeling in good numbers of bass, pike and catfish.
Information providers: 1st & Main-Bay Port; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; Eagle Bay Marina-Standish; Anderson’s Pro Bait-Port Huron; WalleyeKid.com and Lance Valentine’s Walleye 101.
Good walleye action for Fair Haven anglers fishing in the north shipping channels, near Grass Island and near Decker’s. Crawler harnesses are the bait of choice for walleye. Perch action is good near Buoy 27 and the shipping channels on minnows.
Lots of anglers are out just off of Harrison where the musky and walleye fishing is hot on crawler harnesses in 19 feet of water. Musky are measuring in 40-51 inches. Perch are also active in 14-19 feet of water. Small mouth bass are biting around Nine Mile on brownish colored tubes.
St. Clair Shores anglers are having good luck fishing for walleye on the Detroit River near the sand piles, near the Ambassador Bridge towards the Canadian side, in front of Windsor Casino and off of Joe Louis arena. The evening hours seem to be best. Lake St. Clair the bass are biting all over.
The Detroit River is alive with walleye once again and anglers are just killing them around Belanger Park near River Rouge on Wyandotte worms and lead head. Actually all up and down the Detroit River the walleye fishing is good on both the Canadian and U.S. sides and hand liners are doing very well near the salt mines and all the way down to the Trenton Channel, around Celeron and Horse Islands. The evening hours seem to be better. Rapalas, Stubbies or fat pencil plugs, Vampire and Bleeding Copper Flash are working well. Walleye are averaging 15-inches. Bass action is good around Celeron Island using tubes, center and gulp baits. Carp Tournament July 18th and Huroc Park in Flat Rock, call 313-388-3474 for details.
In Rock Wood the Lake Erie Metro Park Boat Launch near the south end has some good fishing taking place. The Huron River is loaded with catfish. Perch, large and small mouth bass are active near the mouth of Lake Erie and around sandy spots.
Off of the Monroe area, the walleye are hitting in 19-20 feet of water near the Fermi Stacks on spoons. Popular colors are purple and chartreuse, purple and gold, pink, Hot Lobster and Blueberry Muffin. Walleye are hitting pretty much all over Lake Erie, but especially near the E-Buoy, Dumping Grounds and Luna Pier on Hot-n-Tots and Wiggle Warts. Walleye are moving in closer towards Stoney Point, near the Toledo Light and around all of the Islands. Perch action is good near the C-Can, Luna Pier, Sputnik Buoy, Turn-Around Buoy and the edge of the shipping channel. Pointe Mouille, anglers are catching a bit of everything including bass and catfish.
Belleville Lake has some good fishing for crappie and walleye during the evening hours and in deeper water. Pike and blue gill activity is also good, but the bass seems to be off. All types of baits seem to be working well with baby crawlers and a variety of green colored crawlers quite popular.
Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fairhaven; Pro-Fishing & Archery-Harrison Township; Lakeside Fishing Shop-St. Clair Shores; South Street Tackle-Belleville; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rock Wood; Erie Party Shop-Monroe; Andy’s Tackle Box-Melvindale and Gander Mountain-Taylor.
EAST
Off of Standish walleye are biting on crawler harnesses and spoons. Preferred colors include bright yellow and purple, chartreuse and pink combinations. Bay City anglers are pulling in some perch near Buoy’s 1 and 2 off the channel on crawler harnesses and worms. In the same location walleye are hitting on bottom bouncers, popular colors include chartreuse, pink or purple and south of the Spark Plug anglers are obtaining limits. Saginaw Bay is giving up limits of walleye on the west side of Callahan Reef in 9-12 feet of water. Crawler harnesses 10-20 feet back with quarter ounce in-lines running 1.3-1.5 seems to be working well with purple, pink, red and chartreuse bead combo’s with various #6 Colorado blades, gold or copper backed. Bay Port anglers are finding good fishing despite windy conditions and rough water. Walleye are in deeper waters past North Island and taking a little longer to get limits. Perch are hitting on minnows and closer in. The Sebewaing area is on fire for walleye.
Port Sanilac is crazy with catfish especially during the evening hours. Night crawlers are working on the bottom and egg sinkers on a three foot lead. Perch action is spotty in Port Sanilac and Lexington. Hot walleye activity in Port Huron where anglers are drifting with blades and crawlers. Popular colors seem to be a variety of greens and chartreuse. Shore anglers are doing very well all up and down the Boardwalk, near Thomas Edison and Pine Grove Park. The mouth of the Black River is mass producing Silver bass and the fish are huge and anglers can expect to find large quantities of Silver bass around Marine City as well. Minnows are running and the walleye are following. Twisters, Rapalas and spinner baits are working well during the evening hours. All up and down the Black River anglers are reeling in good numbers of bass, pike and catfish.
Information providers: 1st & Main-Bay Port; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; Eagle Bay Marina-Standish; Anderson’s Pro Bait-Port Huron; WalleyeKid.com and Lance Valentine’s Walleye 101.
AAA Fishing Reports
Jul 09, 2009 05:08 PM Filed in: Fishing
Report |
Lake St.
Clair
Southeast:
Fair Haven anglers are doing well fishing near Grass Island for perch using minnows and the walleye action is good from Marysville to Port Huron. Bass are all over Anchor Bay and spinner baits and large Golden Shiners are working well. Musky action is also picking up on Anchor Bay.
Walleye action is good off of the Harrison area in 10-14 feet of water. Anglers drifting at 1.5 mph with night crawlers are getting good results. Lake St. Clair is giving up good amounts of small mouth bass and musky. Trolling around 4.5 mph and using body baits and Buck Tail Spinners in the wash seems to work well.
Off of the St. Clair Shores area, perch action is decent around Cans 23, 24, 29 and 30. Huge amounts of bass can be found all over Lake St. Clair and a variety of baits are working well that include crawler harnesses, Hot-n-Tots, wiggle warts, bombers, live baits and using planer boards. The St. Clair River is also producing good fishing on a variety of species and anglers are using Pencil Plugs and Rapalas and hand lining at night with good success.
Anglers fishing the Detroit River anywhere between Melvindale and Gibraltar are finding that the walleye fishing has picked back up. Jigging, trolling and hand lining all seem to be working. Jointed Rapalas and crawler harnesses are very popular and flatfish tipped with one inch crawlers, worms or spoons seem to be working. When trolling try wiggle warts and purple, copper or pink spoons. Walleye activity is also good at the Hole-in-the wall. Around Celeron Island and Rat Island the perch fishing is good in 8-13 feet of water using Shiner minnows on perch rigs.
In Rock Wood, anglers shore fishing from Lake Erie Metro Park are doing well for small and large mouth bass using Kelly rubber worms or crayfish as well as catfish on shrimp and green crawlers. The Huron River in Rock Wood is giving up nice numbers of pike and bass on spinner baits.
Monroe anglers shore fishing from Pointe Mouille are pulling in plenty of catfish along with small and large mouth bass. Crayfish, Kelly rubber worms and spinner baits seem to work well on bass while shrimp and crawlers are attracting catfish. River Raisin, Estral Beach, Brest Bay, Stoney Point, Bolles Harbor and the Banana Dyke are all producing nice numbers of walleye in 15-24-feet of water or shallower with anglers getting good results using bottom bouncers, crawler harnesses and worms. Anglers do best when trolling 1.3-1.5 mph. One ounce in-line weights 25-35 feet behind the planer boards produced the most fish. Perch are biting near the E-Buoy and McDonalds Buoy on worms and minnows. Luna Pier is giving up a few fish.
Lake Erie continues to produce good numbers of walleye. Anglers are heading out about a half mile and fishing waters 17-20 feet deep with good success. Otherwise anglers are fishing 25-feet or deeper around the shipping channels, Sputnik and E-Buoys. The hot spot continues to be West Sister Island on either the west side or 3-5 miles northwest of the Island. Purple and mixed Veggie Spoons on Jet or Dipsey Divers seem to be working well. Fish have been close to the bottom in 27-31 feet of water.
Near the Belleville area the Huron River, Ford Lake and Four-Mile Lake are producing good numbers of small mouth bass, white bass and catfish. Belleville Lake has great fishing opportunities for good numbers of crappie, walleye and blue gill. The popular baits include leeches, wax worms and night crawlers.
Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fairhaven; WalleyeKid.com; Lance Valentine’s Walleye 101; Pro-Fishing & Archery-Harrison Township; Lakeside Fishing Shop-St. Clair Shores; South Street Tackle-Belleville; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rock Wood; Erie Party Shop-Monroe; Andy’s Tackle Box-Melvindale and Gander Mountain-Taylor.
East:
Saginaw Bay anglers have been dealing with windy conditions for several days now limiting angling activity. Near Standish anglers getting out are locating walleye in 25-30 feet of water and using crawler harnesses and spoons while off of Bay City 12-feet of water seems to be the hot depth for walleye. Again this week, Callahan Reef is producing fish in 8-10 feet of water, most anglers are trolling quarter to half ounce in-line weights and crawler harnesses 10-20 feet behind planer boards.Gold blades with Chartreuse beads are still working well. Southeast of the Sparkplug is a hot area. Anglers are trolling 1.0 to 1.2 mph using crawler harnesses with gold #6 Warrior spinner blades on two ounce in-lines about 20-40 feet back. Grindstone City and Harbor Beach are good for walleye fishing in 10-20 feet of water with Bombers, Hot-n-Tots and crawler harnesses. Sanford Lake and Wixom Lake both have good crappie fishing using minnows. Saginaw River is producing catfish.
Off of Port Huron and Lexington, Lake Huron anglers are reeling in jumbo perch catches in 15-20 feet of water. Boaters are doing very well off of Port Huron where awesome walleye fishing is taking place, anglers are pulling in abundant numbers of fish, though small in size. Gold, Chartreuse and Silver Blades are working well with crawler harnesses. Hand liners are finding that small spoons are working well during the day. Boardwalk fishing is good in the evening hours for a variety of species jigging. Small mouth bass are hitting in big numbers all along the Boardwalk and near the sewage plant. Best time is in the early morning hours, using small minnows or crappie rigs on the bottom.
Black River is producing great fishing for pike, bass, small and large mouth bass. Anglers are locating the fish near rock piles and log jams. Musky action is also good near the mouth of the River and averaging 20 pounds.
Information providers: 1st & Main-Bay Port; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; Gander Mountain-Saginaw; Eagle Bay Marina-Standish; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City and Anderson’s Pro Bait-Port Huron.
Fair Haven anglers are doing well fishing near Grass Island for perch using minnows and the walleye action is good from Marysville to Port Huron. Bass are all over Anchor Bay and spinner baits and large Golden Shiners are working well. Musky action is also picking up on Anchor Bay.
Walleye action is good off of the Harrison area in 10-14 feet of water. Anglers drifting at 1.5 mph with night crawlers are getting good results. Lake St. Clair is giving up good amounts of small mouth bass and musky. Trolling around 4.5 mph and using body baits and Buck Tail Spinners in the wash seems to work well.
Off of the St. Clair Shores area, perch action is decent around Cans 23, 24, 29 and 30. Huge amounts of bass can be found all over Lake St. Clair and a variety of baits are working well that include crawler harnesses, Hot-n-Tots, wiggle warts, bombers, live baits and using planer boards. The St. Clair River is also producing good fishing on a variety of species and anglers are using Pencil Plugs and Rapalas and hand lining at night with good success.
Anglers fishing the Detroit River anywhere between Melvindale and Gibraltar are finding that the walleye fishing has picked back up. Jigging, trolling and hand lining all seem to be working. Jointed Rapalas and crawler harnesses are very popular and flatfish tipped with one inch crawlers, worms or spoons seem to be working. When trolling try wiggle warts and purple, copper or pink spoons. Walleye activity is also good at the Hole-in-the wall. Around Celeron Island and Rat Island the perch fishing is good in 8-13 feet of water using Shiner minnows on perch rigs.
In Rock Wood, anglers shore fishing from Lake Erie Metro Park are doing well for small and large mouth bass using Kelly rubber worms or crayfish as well as catfish on shrimp and green crawlers. The Huron River in Rock Wood is giving up nice numbers of pike and bass on spinner baits.
Monroe anglers shore fishing from Pointe Mouille are pulling in plenty of catfish along with small and large mouth bass. Crayfish, Kelly rubber worms and spinner baits seem to work well on bass while shrimp and crawlers are attracting catfish. River Raisin, Estral Beach, Brest Bay, Stoney Point, Bolles Harbor and the Banana Dyke are all producing nice numbers of walleye in 15-24-feet of water or shallower with anglers getting good results using bottom bouncers, crawler harnesses and worms. Anglers do best when trolling 1.3-1.5 mph. One ounce in-line weights 25-35 feet behind the planer boards produced the most fish. Perch are biting near the E-Buoy and McDonalds Buoy on worms and minnows. Luna Pier is giving up a few fish.
Lake Erie continues to produce good numbers of walleye. Anglers are heading out about a half mile and fishing waters 17-20 feet deep with good success. Otherwise anglers are fishing 25-feet or deeper around the shipping channels, Sputnik and E-Buoys. The hot spot continues to be West Sister Island on either the west side or 3-5 miles northwest of the Island. Purple and mixed Veggie Spoons on Jet or Dipsey Divers seem to be working well. Fish have been close to the bottom in 27-31 feet of water.
Near the Belleville area the Huron River, Ford Lake and Four-Mile Lake are producing good numbers of small mouth bass, white bass and catfish. Belleville Lake has great fishing opportunities for good numbers of crappie, walleye and blue gill. The popular baits include leeches, wax worms and night crawlers.
Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fairhaven; WalleyeKid.com; Lance Valentine’s Walleye 101; Pro-Fishing & Archery-Harrison Township; Lakeside Fishing Shop-St. Clair Shores; South Street Tackle-Belleville; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rock Wood; Erie Party Shop-Monroe; Andy’s Tackle Box-Melvindale and Gander Mountain-Taylor.
East:
Saginaw Bay anglers have been dealing with windy conditions for several days now limiting angling activity. Near Standish anglers getting out are locating walleye in 25-30 feet of water and using crawler harnesses and spoons while off of Bay City 12-feet of water seems to be the hot depth for walleye. Again this week, Callahan Reef is producing fish in 8-10 feet of water, most anglers are trolling quarter to half ounce in-line weights and crawler harnesses 10-20 feet behind planer boards.Gold blades with Chartreuse beads are still working well. Southeast of the Sparkplug is a hot area. Anglers are trolling 1.0 to 1.2 mph using crawler harnesses with gold #6 Warrior spinner blades on two ounce in-lines about 20-40 feet back. Grindstone City and Harbor Beach are good for walleye fishing in 10-20 feet of water with Bombers, Hot-n-Tots and crawler harnesses. Sanford Lake and Wixom Lake both have good crappie fishing using minnows. Saginaw River is producing catfish.
Off of Port Huron and Lexington, Lake Huron anglers are reeling in jumbo perch catches in 15-20 feet of water. Boaters are doing very well off of Port Huron where awesome walleye fishing is taking place, anglers are pulling in abundant numbers of fish, though small in size. Gold, Chartreuse and Silver Blades are working well with crawler harnesses. Hand liners are finding that small spoons are working well during the day. Boardwalk fishing is good in the evening hours for a variety of species jigging. Small mouth bass are hitting in big numbers all along the Boardwalk and near the sewage plant. Best time is in the early morning hours, using small minnows or crappie rigs on the bottom.
Black River is producing great fishing for pike, bass, small and large mouth bass. Anglers are locating the fish near rock piles and log jams. Musky action is also good near the mouth of the River and averaging 20 pounds.
Information providers: 1st & Main-Bay Port; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; Gander Mountain-Saginaw; Eagle Bay Marina-Standish; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City and Anderson’s Pro Bait-Port Huron.
AAA Fishing Report
Southeast:
Off of the Fair Haven area the bass are just about everywhere and anglers are finding good results using golden shiners and spinners. Walleye activity is good around Decker’s Landing and around Marine City. Grass Island is producing nice numbers of perch near the Baltimore cut. Walleye action is good off of Algonac in the Middle and South Channels and a lot of bass are being caught in Lake St. Clair.
Anglers fishing around the Harrison and Metro Beach area are doing well for perch out at the St. Clair Light and near Buoy 27. Walleye are in the same line. Crappie action is good behind Metro beach and walleye great behind Gino’s. Small mouth bass are hitting in Lake St. Clair. Musky action is good using trolling baits, jointed body baits or Buck Tail Spinners.
Windy weather slowed up fishing in the past few days, but conditions are improving off of the Ecorse, River Rouge and Melvindale areas where walleye fishing is decent on the Detroit River. Shore fishing is good off Delray and Belanger parks. Bottom bouncers and harnesses are working well. Hand lining is working but drifting seems to be better.
In the downriver area, thunderstorm threats and high winds kept many anglers off the waters the last few days in the Trenton, Riverview, Wyandotte and Grosse Ile areas. Anglers getting out are getting some fish in various locations. Try the Livingston Channel starting near Turtle Bay and work your way up the shoreline towards the Hole-in-the-wall and lots of fish can be had, including walleye in 25-30 feet. Night crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers are working well. Perch fishing is good all over and perch rigs, minnows and Emerald Shiners are doing the job. South of Celeron has good perch fishing as well as near the shipping channels and Rat Island. Small mouth bass are biting on tubes drifting bobbers and leeches. The Silver bass are gone in the Detroit River but now anglers are dealing with plenty of weeds that have moved in. Walleye activity is decent hand lining from the lower Trenton Channel to the mouth of Lake Erie but the white perch fishing is actually better at this point. The Amherstburg Channel is also good for jigging walleye. The Huron River near Rock Wood is giving up lots of small and large mouth bass catches.
Off of the Monroe area just north of the Fermi Plant plenty of fish are active in 20-22 feet of water particularly near the Bell Buoy. Weeds, murky waters and plenty of Mayflies are making trolling difficult. Off of the River Raisin fish are active just outside of the muddy water in 18-23 feet. Crawler harnesses are working well and trolling less than 1.5 mph. Anglers are getting results using one ounce in-line weights about 25-35 feet behind planer boards. Purple is a popular color. Stoney Point and Brest Bay producing an abundance of fish on crank baits and spoons in 18-20 feet of water. Anglers are getting results fishing half way down the water column. Walleye activity is also good off the Banana Dyke in 15-feet of water. The average size fish is ranging from 16 to 22 inches long, many undersized. Luna Pier is giving up nice numbers of perch. Worms and minnows are working well on perch and trolling is working better than drifting.
Out on Lake Erie walleye fishing is good in the shipping channels, near the Detroit Light, Sputnik and E-Buoys. Perch action is good off the E-Buoy, C-Can, Toledo Beach, in 21-feet of water around Holiday Beach, near Colchester and off all of the Islands. Ohio waters continue to produce fish three to five miles northwest of West sister Island and just east of Buoy 1 in the Toledo Shipping channel. Spoons and crawler harnesses are both working well.
Again this week anglers are doing very well on both Belleville and Ford lakes for good numbers of walleye using Fathead minnows, wax worms and night crawlers. Blue gill action is also good on both lakes and the Huron River particularly near Le Forge Road and Huron River Drive where the old Crown Vantage Paper Mill use to stand in Ypsilanti.
Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fairhaven; WalleyeKid.com; Lance Valentine’s Walleye 101; Mackie’s Bait & Tackle-Algonac; Pro-Fishing & Archery-Harrison Township; South Street Tackle-Belleville; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rock Wood; Erie Party Shop-Monroe; Andy’s Tackle Box-Melvindale; Gander Mountain-Taylor and The Bait & Tackle Box-Trenton.
East:
Saginaw Bay near the Standish area continues to be a good location for walleye. Anglers fishing in 15-16 feet and deeper in 25-27 feet are doing well with crawlers, harnesses with spoons. Purple, Chartreuse and bright colors seem to be best. Plenty of rain and windy conditions for anglers around Bay City but the weather is improving and the walleye continue to bite around Finn Road. Linwood to Quanicassee is producing fish in 8-10 feet of water. Most anglers trolling are running quarter to half ounce in-line weights on crawler harnesses trolled 10-20 feet behind planer boards. Gold blades with Chartreuse beads continue to work well. A few anglers are starting to pick up fish casting crank baits around the weeds. Pan fish are good all over.
Bay Port anglers continue to do well for walleye around North Island with crawlers. Bass activity is very good and the fish are good size as well several five pound fish have been caught right off the docks. Pike action is decent.
Perch are in the harbor and are overall small in size at Harbor Beach. There is a few bigger fish in the mix and the best bait is worms.
Information providers: Frank’s Place-Harbor Beach; 1st & Main-Bay Port; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; Gander Mountain-Saginaw and Eagle Bay Marina-Standish.
Off of the Fair Haven area the bass are just about everywhere and anglers are finding good results using golden shiners and spinners. Walleye activity is good around Decker’s Landing and around Marine City. Grass Island is producing nice numbers of perch near the Baltimore cut. Walleye action is good off of Algonac in the Middle and South Channels and a lot of bass are being caught in Lake St. Clair.
Anglers fishing around the Harrison and Metro Beach area are doing well for perch out at the St. Clair Light and near Buoy 27. Walleye are in the same line. Crappie action is good behind Metro beach and walleye great behind Gino’s. Small mouth bass are hitting in Lake St. Clair. Musky action is good using trolling baits, jointed body baits or Buck Tail Spinners.
Windy weather slowed up fishing in the past few days, but conditions are improving off of the Ecorse, River Rouge and Melvindale areas where walleye fishing is decent on the Detroit River. Shore fishing is good off Delray and Belanger parks. Bottom bouncers and harnesses are working well. Hand lining is working but drifting seems to be better.
In the downriver area, thunderstorm threats and high winds kept many anglers off the waters the last few days in the Trenton, Riverview, Wyandotte and Grosse Ile areas. Anglers getting out are getting some fish in various locations. Try the Livingston Channel starting near Turtle Bay and work your way up the shoreline towards the Hole-in-the-wall and lots of fish can be had, including walleye in 25-30 feet. Night crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers are working well. Perch fishing is good all over and perch rigs, minnows and Emerald Shiners are doing the job. South of Celeron has good perch fishing as well as near the shipping channels and Rat Island. Small mouth bass are biting on tubes drifting bobbers and leeches. The Silver bass are gone in the Detroit River but now anglers are dealing with plenty of weeds that have moved in. Walleye activity is decent hand lining from the lower Trenton Channel to the mouth of Lake Erie but the white perch fishing is actually better at this point. The Amherstburg Channel is also good for jigging walleye. The Huron River near Rock Wood is giving up lots of small and large mouth bass catches.
Off of the Monroe area just north of the Fermi Plant plenty of fish are active in 20-22 feet of water particularly near the Bell Buoy. Weeds, murky waters and plenty of Mayflies are making trolling difficult. Off of the River Raisin fish are active just outside of the muddy water in 18-23 feet. Crawler harnesses are working well and trolling less than 1.5 mph. Anglers are getting results using one ounce in-line weights about 25-35 feet behind planer boards. Purple is a popular color. Stoney Point and Brest Bay producing an abundance of fish on crank baits and spoons in 18-20 feet of water. Anglers are getting results fishing half way down the water column. Walleye activity is also good off the Banana Dyke in 15-feet of water. The average size fish is ranging from 16 to 22 inches long, many undersized. Luna Pier is giving up nice numbers of perch. Worms and minnows are working well on perch and trolling is working better than drifting.
Out on Lake Erie walleye fishing is good in the shipping channels, near the Detroit Light, Sputnik and E-Buoys. Perch action is good off the E-Buoy, C-Can, Toledo Beach, in 21-feet of water around Holiday Beach, near Colchester and off all of the Islands. Ohio waters continue to produce fish three to five miles northwest of West sister Island and just east of Buoy 1 in the Toledo Shipping channel. Spoons and crawler harnesses are both working well.
Again this week anglers are doing very well on both Belleville and Ford lakes for good numbers of walleye using Fathead minnows, wax worms and night crawlers. Blue gill action is also good on both lakes and the Huron River particularly near Le Forge Road and Huron River Drive where the old Crown Vantage Paper Mill use to stand in Ypsilanti.
Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fairhaven; WalleyeKid.com; Lance Valentine’s Walleye 101; Mackie’s Bait & Tackle-Algonac; Pro-Fishing & Archery-Harrison Township; South Street Tackle-Belleville; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rock Wood; Erie Party Shop-Monroe; Andy’s Tackle Box-Melvindale; Gander Mountain-Taylor and The Bait & Tackle Box-Trenton.
East:
Saginaw Bay near the Standish area continues to be a good location for walleye. Anglers fishing in 15-16 feet and deeper in 25-27 feet are doing well with crawlers, harnesses with spoons. Purple, Chartreuse and bright colors seem to be best. Plenty of rain and windy conditions for anglers around Bay City but the weather is improving and the walleye continue to bite around Finn Road. Linwood to Quanicassee is producing fish in 8-10 feet of water. Most anglers trolling are running quarter to half ounce in-line weights on crawler harnesses trolled 10-20 feet behind planer boards. Gold blades with Chartreuse beads continue to work well. A few anglers are starting to pick up fish casting crank baits around the weeds. Pan fish are good all over.
Bay Port anglers continue to do well for walleye around North Island with crawlers. Bass activity is very good and the fish are good size as well several five pound fish have been caught right off the docks. Pike action is decent.
Perch are in the harbor and are overall small in size at Harbor Beach. There is a few bigger fish in the mix and the best bait is worms.
Information providers: Frank’s Place-Harbor Beach; 1st & Main-Bay Port; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; Gander Mountain-Saginaw and Eagle Bay Marina-Standish.