Late fall prime time to catch pike, walleye

Sat, Nov 14, 2009    to del.icio.us

(AP) — Late fall and early winter are prime time for hungry walleye, pike and bass and the whitefish should be spawning, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said in its weekly fishing report.

SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Grand Haven: When the weather permits, pier anglers still are finding steelhead and whitefish. Try drifting or floating spawn under a bobber.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Steelhead still are being caught near the dam. Anglers are floating choker bags, drifting flies, back bouncing with spawn or casting plugs off the bridges. Walleye were caught near the bridges when trolling bucktail jigs or drifting crawler harnesses with small blades. Off the east wall, try minnows or artificial worms.

Muskegon: Steelhead have been caught off the piers. Boat anglers took fish when trolling body baits or rapalas resembling rainbow trout. A few whitefish were caught off the pier but catch rates should improve in the next week or two.

Muskegon Lake: Resident perch were caught along the edge of the weeds. Pockets of bluegills were reported in eight to 12 feet of water in the marinas. Walleye were caught along the drop-offs near the channels when using Husky Jerks at night.

Muskegon River: The river should hold some steelhead.

White River: The river should have fair to good numbers of steelhead.

NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Manistee: A few boaters are catching salmon along with some steelhead in waters 50 to 200 feet deep. Pier anglers and those surfcasting have caught fish. Whitefish were taken off the pier when using a single egg.

Manistee River: The fall steelhead run is in full swing with anglers fishing all the way to Tippy Dam. The fish should be active and ready to put up a good fight.

Ludington: Steelhead and whitefish are being caught off the pier.

Pere Marquette River: There was fair to good steelhead action.

Pentwater Lake: The lake offers some good smallmouth bass fishing. Anglers also will find a few perch and those trolling have a good chance of catching a steelhead or big pike.