Fishing Report

Walleye fishing has slowed dramatically this week as water temperatures are in the low 80's. It is getting to be that time of year when the walleye start moving to deeper waters. Anglers are still catching them, just not as many. More anglers are starting to fish for perch. A few boats caught fish out near the C Buoy, but the fish seem to be scattered and catch rates have been inconsistent.

Walleye fishing in the central basin has been good. Fish have been caught on Ruggles Reef, northwest of the Huron pier lighthouse in 34 to 36 feet of water, six miles north of Edgewater State Park (Cleveland Crib) in 50 to 56 feet of water, three to four miles north of Bratenahl in 51 feet of water, 12 miles north of Geneva in 72 to 74 feet of water, and 10 to 11 miles north of Ashtabula in 70 to 72 feet of water. Fish have been caught on worm harnesses or wonderbread, bloody nose, watermelon, killer bee and copper/back spoons trolled with dipsy divers or trolled with jet divers off planer boards. Some anglers are also drifting worm harnesses. Fish are suspended and anglers are fishing down 30 to 50 feet. The best yellow perch fishing in the central basin has been one to two miles north of Lakewood in 42 to 46 feet of water, four miles north of Edgewater State Park around the Cleveland Crib in 44 feet of water, and four to five miles north of Ashtabula in 62 feet of water. Fish have ranged from seven to 11 inches. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish. Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent on Ruggles Reef between Huron and Vermilion, and along the shoreline from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut in 15 to 25 feet of water. Fish have been caught on goby color tube jigs, goby color drop shot rigs, jigs tipped with minnows or leeches, or by trolling crankbaits. White bass fishing has been very good one-half mile north of Eastlake CEI power plant. Anglers are using agitators with white, yellow and green twister tails. Shore anglers are also reporting good catching of white bass at the Eastlake CEI, Mentor Headlands lighthouse, Wildwood State Park, Rocky River, Avon Lake and Lorain piers, using agitators with white, yellow and green twister tails and small spoons. Lake Erie surface temperatures range from 75 to 78 degrees.

Walleye fishing continues to be excellent with many limits being caught. The best fishing has been from Crane Creek to Michigan in 20 feet of water, southwest of Kelleys Island around American Eagle Shoal, and from Cedar Point east to Huron in 34 to 36 feet of water. Drifters are using mayfly rigs or weight forward spinners, while most trollers are using worm harnesses or spoons with jet or dipsy divers. The best spoon colors have been patterns that include gold and purple or red. The best yellow perch fishing in the western basin has been around the Toledo water intake and northeast of Ballast Island. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Boat anglers are still fishing for lake trout. Yellow perch continue to bite in 20 to 50 feet of water. Fair to good smallmouth bass fishing along the drop offs around the islands. Anglers have done well for rock bass.

Bass are hitting on worms and spinner baits south of Anchor Market. Pumpkin colored baits are working well. Perch are hitting on worms and minnows in 12 to 14 feet of water on the north and south ends of the lake. Walleye were caught in 35 to 45 feet of water using Hot-n-Tots or artificial perch minnows.

Reported excellent chinook salmon fishing. Fish ranging from 8 to 18 pounds have been caught. Boat anglers are trolling spoons about 7 to 8 miles out. Some steelhead were also taken.

Continue to have low fishing pressure, but those going out reported good lake trout catches with several boats taking limit catches in 150 to 200 feet of water when trolling flies and peanuts behind dodgers and cowbells. The fish are averaging 3 to 5 pounds.

Lake trout fishing remains fair for boats heading out of the Upper and Lower Harbors and trolling in waters 140 to 200 feet deep. A few coho and lake trout were taken in shallow waters about 60 feet deep near the Upper Harbor breakwall.

Salmon and brown trout were caught around Green Island off Menominee and up near the Cedar River around the Whaleback Shoal. Better catches took place in the early mornings.

Salmon and brown trout were caught around Green Island off Menominee and up near the Cedar River around the Whaleback Shoal. Better catches took place in the early mornings.

Fishing slowed over the last week. A few coho and lake trout were caught when trolling 30 to 75 feet down in waters 50 to 80 feet deep between Sand Point and Carla's Café. The better fishing was between 5am and 10am. Those jigging for lake trout have taken fish in waters up to 260 feet deep off Pequaming.

Boat anglers have caught chinook and steelhead straight out from the harbor or just to the south when trolling the top 60 feet in waters 80 to 150 feet deep. High lines and dipseys seem to have more success than downriggers. Hot colors continue to be green, blue and glow.

Fishing continues to improve when boats can get out. Most are trolling in 80 to 150 feet of water. The trick is to find the temperature break. Spoons that glow continue to catch fish in the early morning or late evening. Blue and green work better late morning and afternoon.

Boats are trolling for tout and salmon straight out from the piers and out near the Barrel. Chinook and steelhead have been caught 65 to 90 feet down in waters 120 to 150 feet deep. The steelhead are hitting on Orange Crush while the chinook were hitting on a combination of blue, green and gold.

Fishing has been great over the last week. The best catches have come when trolling between the piers and Point Betsie. Try fishing 45 to 70 feet down in waters up to 200 feet deep with spoons and flies in blue, green or glow-in-the-dark.

Salmon are being caught in 80 to 150 feet of water when trolling from Pyramid Point to the Crib which is located just off the southern end of North Manitou Island. The west side of South Manitou Island continues to be another hot spot. Try using a bloody nose spoon or Hootchie Mama and fly. While it has been difficult to find the temperature breaks, the fish are actually being caught out of the normal temperature range.

Reports great salmon fishing. Anglers reported great success on the north side of Manitou Island. Steelhead and lake trout have also been caught.

In the East Bay, the areas producing the best salmon action have been near Yuba and Elk Rapids when trolling 70 to 80 feet down in waters 95 to 145 feet deep. Productive baits have been Hootchie Mama's and Spin-doctors with white or silver flies. For lake trout, try fishing off Willow Point, South Bank, Yuba and Elk Rapids. Boats are trolling about halfway down in waters 110 to 140 feet deep with spoons in green and white, green and silver, and green and blue. The West Bay also has fair to good fishing for salmon and lake trout. Try fishing off the White Walls, the Gravel Pit and the Red Buoy 8.

Boat anglers continue to catch good numbers of chinook, steelhead and lake trout when trolling straight out and north of the port. The fish have been about halfway down in waters 90 to 140 feet deep. Downriggers or planer boards with large spoons such as the blue and green dolphin continue to catch fish. Boat anglers have caught some perch in 30 to 40 feet of water.

Walleye are starting to bite on the west end of the lake in Big Bay. Locate the rocky bottom and try drifting crawler harnesses with minnows or crawlers in 30 to 35 feet of water. Largemouth bass are hitting close to shore in the early morning or evening. Northern pike can be found along the edge of the weed beds.

Boats are trolling in the same depths as St. Joe, about 60 to 70 feet down in waters 75 to 140 feet deep. Good yellow perch fishing was reported in waters 15 to 40 feet deep.

Fishing for all species has slowed. Water levels are dropping, but the clarity is very poor. A handful of anglers were taking decent catches of panfish using red worms up by the Berrien Springs Dam. Steelhead can still be found when fishing near the mouth of the creeks. Try fishing flies or crawlers on the bottom. Smallmouth bass and walleye are running small.

The waters of Lake Michigan have just turned over, and pier anglers are catching summer run steelhead. Boat anglers are catching chinook salmon 60 to 70 feet down in waters 75 to 140 feet deep. Yellow perch have been caught in waters 15 to 40 feet deep.

Walleye have been caught in 40 to 70 feet of water around Buoy 2, where a lot of fish have been marked. Those trolling off Au Sable Point have caught chinook and lake trout. Pier anglers have caught 8 to 10 inch perch, northern pike, rock bass and smallmouth bass.

Anglers have caught lake trout in waters 80 to 130 feet deep. Chinook along with some steelhead have been caught in the upper water column on orange spoons. Walleye and catfish have been caught on crawlers and leeches.