Fishing report: Salmon run about a week behind

Fri, Oct 2, 2009    to del.icio.us

(AP) — Salmon are moving into the rivers but the run still is about a week behind last year's run, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says.

With many fish still out in deeper waters, cooler temperatures and much-needed rain will help bring in the fish, the DNR said in its weekly fishing report.

SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA:

St. Joe: Pier fishing should be as good when the winds die down.

St. Joe River: Good numbers of fish are moving up into the river now that the area received some rain. Anglers are catching mostly chinook and coho along with a few brown trout or steelhead.

Kalamazoo River: The river has good numbers of chinook, coho, brown trout and even some steelhead. Water levels should be up slightly after the rain so try fishing near the Allegan Dam.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: The river should produce coho up near the Sixth Street Dam. Try spawn, wax worms or small Cleo's. Look for the pike and smallmouth bass action to pick up as the fish start their fall feeding frenzy.

Grand River at Lansing: Coho salmon have been caught at the point where the Grand River meets the Red Cedar as well as the Webber Dam and the Lyons Dam. A few fish were also taken over at Moore's Park. Many walleye have been caught at Portland, Grand Ledge and near the North Lansing Dam. Catfish can be found at Moore's Park and the North Lansing Dam.

Looking Glass River: Pike fishing should be good for the next few weeks. Look for bluegills and crappie in the backwaters.

Muskegon River: Salmon are being caught from the lower river all the way up to Croton Dam.

Whitehall: Pier fishing should pick up this week as more fish move into the river. Boats heading out to 150 feet of water were still picking up salmon and steelhead when trolling three colors of lead with red and orange spoons.

White River: Salmon are in the river and being caught from Pine Point to the dam in Hesperia.

NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA:

Petoskey: Many fish are gathering at the mouth of the marina and holding along the bank in 100 feet of water. One angler reported good success when trolling plugs and flies 60 to 80 feet down. Hot colors were green and pearl. Salmon runs have started in the local river and there are still plenty of fish yet to come in.

Charlevoix: Salmon fishing was hit-or-miss over the last week. Boats trolling shallow waters with body baits were taking a few fish. The salmon are running in Medusa Creek but few fish were caught. Try spawn, rattle traps or Jr. Thundersticks.

Lake Bellaire: Surface temperatures were holding in the mid 60s. Anglers continue to target walleye in waters eight to 30 feet deep. They are trolling crawler harnesses or jigging crawlers in the south and northwest arm and near the access site. Good bass fishing along the drop-offs in 15 to 25 feet of water. Try artificial worms or tube baits. Pike anglers were trolling stick baits in the northwest arm. Perch were still hitting on crawlers in three to 20 feet of water but the fish were small.

Elk River: There are a fair to good number of salmon in the river. Try drifting spawn, wax worms body baits or small spoons.

Boardman River: Salmon are hitting on spawn.

Leland: When boats can get out, they still were taking some chinook salmon when trolling from the northwest side of North Manitou Island and heading straight north.

Glen Arbor: Some nice 3-year-old salmon were caught on the west side of South Manitou Island in 65 to 80 feet on spoons and flies.

Platte Bay: Fishing was good for coho. Boats were trolling in 40 to 60 feet of water early then heading out to waters up to 90 feet deep after sunrise. They were using green spoons and flasher fly combos. Shore anglers caught some big coho at the mouth of the river when casting glow spoons early or spinners after sunrise. Fish were caught just east of the mouth when using spawn.

Platte River: Fair to good numbers of coho salmon are in the river.

Betsie River: Chinook are moving into the river however the peak of the run is not here yet. Water flows are up and temperatures are dropping.

Manistee: Before the strong winds, boats were heading out to waters as deep as 400 feet as the fish were scattered. Some steelhead and salmon were caught in 50 to 150 feet of water. Orange and green spoons did the trick. Pier anglers were taking a few fish when casting glow spoons. Green and blue were good colors.

Manistee River: The rain and cooler weather has again sparked the salmon runs as they move upstream to the gravel beds. Chinook action was good at Tippy Dam.

Ludington: When boats can get out, they found steelhead and salmon in 60 to 120 feet of water. Pier and surf fishing were slow but should pick up soon.

Pere Marquette River: Salmon should be moving upstream and heading toward the spawning grounds. Higher flows and cooler temperatures should produce better catch rates.

Pentwater River: There was fair to good action off Long Bridge and Monroe Road.