Published: May 15, 2008 09:58 am         

Weather is making fishing a challenge

Cooler weather continues to make fishing conditions a challenge, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says.

Thursday marks the opening day of walleye, northern pike and muskie season on the Upper Peninsula inland waters not otherwise closed to fishing, the DNR said in its weekly recreational fishing report.

Bear River: Steelhead are still being caught on spawn.

Charlevoix: A few boat anglers have been out catching lake trout. A real nice fish was taken about 40 feet down in 60 feet of water.

Lake Charlevoix: Had good perch fishing on the northwest side of the lake when you can find a school of fish and stay with it. The fish are getting ready to disperse and spawn, but some nice catches are still coming in on minnows or wigglers.

Skegemog Lake: Smallmouth bass are being targeted throughout the lake with the majority of effort taking place along the south end of the lake near the Desmond Creek Marsh. Use jerk baits, tubes or spinners in 4 to 20 feet of water. No word on walleye this week, but some are targeting muskie when trolling large rapalas in 14 to 20 feet of water.

Traverse City: Whitefish are being caught throughout the East Bay when jigging. Lake trout fishing has been excellent with limit catches reported. The brown trout and steelhead action has slowed. Lake trout fishing has been good in the West Bay, but few anglers have been out.

Elk River: Steelhead were caught at the dam when drifting spawn under a bobber.

Glen Lake: Leelanau County has a good number of yellow perch along the shallows, but many are small. Those trolling have caught a few rainbow trout.

Frankfort: Light numbers of chinook, brown trout and steelhead were caught when trolling around the piers and inside the harbor. Shore anglers have also caught steelhead and brown trout. Cold water outside the piers has slowed the catch rates.

Betsie River: Steelhead have been caught in the upper sections.

Onekama: Those trolling to the north around the Herring Hole have caught brown trout, steelhead and lake trout on blue and silver lures in 60 to 80 feet of water.

Portage Lake: Walleye were caught in the evening when trolling along the shore and out in the channel. A good number of rock bass have been caught, and the bigger bluegills are starting to show up in 25 to 30 feet of water. Try crawlers or wigglers. Perch were caught on minnows.

Manistee: Brown trout have been caught when trolling in 5 to 15 feet of water with body baits. A few boats fishing in 100 to 150 feet of water were catching a few chinook salmon and lake trout. Pier anglers were catching perch, but many were small. Try minnows and wigglers.

Hamlin Lake: Good numbers of crappie have been caught in the East Arm just off Layman's Landing in 8 to 12 feet of water or straight across the lake to the north in 10 to 20 feet of water. Limit catches of walleye were taken after dark in front of Pete's Bayou and around the narrows.