Cool weather slowed the walleye bite but improved catch rates for salmon and trout, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Those fishing the inland lakes are targeting waters 10 to 40 feet deep for big bluegills, the DNR said Wednesday in its weekly fishing report.
Elk Lake: Smallmouth fishing continues to be good. Anglers are fishing all the usual hot spots while using tube baits, sinkos, rapalas, Hot-n-Tots, crank baits and spinners. Fish ranged from 10 to 18 inches. Effort for muskie has been low but consistent in waters 25 to 40 feet deep from Whitewater Park to north of the Narrows. For lake trout, anglers are trolling spoons in 85 to 160 feet of water between the Narrows and Rex Point and from Spencer Bay to the Whitewater Park. A few perch were caught in 12 to 24 feet of water and rock bass are in 4 to 7 feet of water.
Skegemog Lake: Catch rates for bass have been good. Anglers are fishing the flats between the mouth of the Torch River and the access site at Baggs Road. Pike action has picked up on the north side of the Narrows and near the mouth of the Torch River when using rattle traps, crank baits or stick baits in 7 to 16 feet of water. Rock bass were in 5 to 20 feet of water and the bluegills in 10 to 12 feet.
Frankfort: North winds have pushed good numbers of salmon into the harbor. Pier and boat anglers have been doing very well with J-plugs.
Lake Cadillac: Perch are hitting on minnows just off the bottom in 15 to 20 feet of water. Crappie fishing has been good on the east side of the lake.
Lake Mitchell: Largemouth bass are hitting on crawlers, leeches or artificial frogs. Try fishing around structure or weedbeds in the morning or evening.
Manistee: Salmon fever is in full swing on Lake Michigan. Recent north winds pushed a lot of chinook into the harbor. Limit catches were taken in 100 feet of water in front of the piers when using pearl or glow plugs. Pier anglers have caught chinook salmon when casting glow spoons.
Hamlin Lake: Fishing has been slow but some fish were caught around the drop-offs in both lakes. Fish were caught in 6 to 20 feet of water between the State Park and Wilson Hill Park. Those jigging with minnows off the dunes did find some crappie and walleye and crawlers produced a few bass and bluegills in the shallows.
Ludington: Boat anglers are catching good numbers of salmon from the piers out to 100 feet of water when using glow plugs. Pier anglers caught salmon in the early morning when casting glow spoons. A few perch were caught off the pier when fishing close to shore.
Pentwater: Salmon fishing has been good and the action has been consistent. The best fishing is down off Silver Lake however anglers will need to use caution because of commercial nets in that area.
Higgins Lake: Limits of lake trout are still being caught. The better fishing comes in the early morning or evening when there is less boat traffic. Look for perch around the Sunken Island. Rock bass are still hitting in good numbers and pike can be found along the drop-off in 35 feet of water. Houghton Lake Walleye fishing slowed with the cooler weather. Some big bluegills have been caught along the weedbeds in 6 to 10 feet of water. Crawlers or leeches are working best. Bass can still be found along the weeds when casting crawlers, spinners or tube baits.
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