05-08-2004, 03:24 AM
Seasons
Turkey: Through May 31, but dates vary by management unit.
Trout: Through Sept. 30 for most streams and lakes.
Walleye, northern pike: Open in Lower Peninsula inland waters, Lake St. Clair, Detroit and St. Clair rivers and in Lower Peninsula Great Lakes, although walleye season is closed through May 31 on Lake Erie. Closed in Upper Peninsula until May 15.
Muskellunge: Open in Lower Peninsula inland waters and in Lower Peninsula waters of lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie. Closed in Upper Peninsula, Lake St. Clair, and Detroit and St. Clair rivers.
Bass: Catch-and-release open through May 28 on Pontiac, Cass and Kent lakes in Oakland County, Holloway Reservoir in Genesee County, Muskegon Lake in Muskegon County and Hardy Pond in Newaygo County.
Lake trout: Through Sept. 30 on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Events
Natural Resources Commission meetings: Today, 3 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m., McGuires Conference Center, Cadillac. 517-373-2352.
Blue Water Spring Salmon Classic: May 15-16, lower Lake Huron and St. Clair River, from Port Huron, Lexington and Sanilac. Registration May 14. Shotgun start at 6 a.m. daily; weigh-ins until 5 p.m. Entry fees: $325 per team up to four people, including captain; $100 additional person if more than four. Prizes worth $35,000, including $10,000 for first place. Headquarters at 2336 Acheson Seaway Terminal, Military Street, Port Huron. 800-255-0508.
USCATS Pro Trail catfish tournament: May 22, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Lake Erie Metropark, Brownstown Township. One- to two-person teams. Entry fee: $200 per team: $225 after May 12. About $44,000 in cash and prizes. 313-478-2894.
FISHING REPORT
It has been an unusually cold and windy spring in Michigan. But the sunfish should move onto their spawning beds all over the state in the next couple of weeks, offering some of the most active and enjoyable fishing of the year.
Southeastern Lower
Detroit River: Walleye were biting in Trenton Channel and in Canadian waters near Ambas
or Bridge.
Lake St. Clair: Crappie and panfish were biting in canals north of Selfridge air base and at Metro Beach.
Tittabawassee River: Good for walleye.
Southwestern Lower
New Buffalo: Salmon and steelhead were biting at 40 feet.
St. Joseph: Salmon were biting at 40-60 feet.
South Haven: Steelhead and salmon were biting.
Grand Haven: Salmon were biting at 40 feet in waters 80-100 feet deep.
Kalamazoo River: Steelhead were biting below dam.
Rogue River: Steelhead were biting.
Muskegon River: Walleye were biting.
Northeastern Lower
Oscoda: Walleye were biting before daybreak.
Black Lake: Walleye were biting in evening.
Alpena: Good for steelhead at Ninth Street Dam.
Rockport: Lake trout were biting at 60 feet east of Middle Island.
houghton lake Walleyes in 8-12 feet of water. try East bay, the South shore weed bed, the flats around the mouth of the Cut river and the deeper water off of Houghton Lake Heights. #11 & #13 original Rapalas, #7 & #9 Rapala Tail Dancers, and #5 & #7 Shad Raps.Keep your speeds in the 1.2- 1.5 mph range. I would opt for crankbaits in Perch colors as well as other natural baitfish colors and fluorescent orange and chartreuse in the lowlight periods. I would drift leeches and crawlers across the 8-10 foot flats or anchor up and fish slip bobbers and leeches over the emerging weed growth.Pitching jigs tipped with leeches and minnows to the weed edges and into the weed pockets can also produce some eyes
Northwestern Lower
Manistee: Salmon, lake trout and brown trout were biting close to piers.
Portage Lake: Walleye, bluegill and northern pike were biting.
Hamlin Lake: Good for bluegill and crappie.
Lakes Cadillac, Mitchell: Good for northern pike in shallow water.
Lake Charlevoix: Good for small perch at 55 feet near Pine Point.
Petoskey: Steelhead were biting in Bear River.
Upper Peninsula
Hessel: Good for splake off pier.
Day's, Ford, Sturgeon, Big and Little Fish Dam rivers: Suckers were running.
Escanaba River: Brown trout and splake were biting.
Marquette: Salmon were biting.
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Turkey: Through May 31, but dates vary by management unit.
Trout: Through Sept. 30 for most streams and lakes.
Walleye, northern pike: Open in Lower Peninsula inland waters, Lake St. Clair, Detroit and St. Clair rivers and in Lower Peninsula Great Lakes, although walleye season is closed through May 31 on Lake Erie. Closed in Upper Peninsula until May 15.
Muskellunge: Open in Lower Peninsula inland waters and in Lower Peninsula waters of lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie. Closed in Upper Peninsula, Lake St. Clair, and Detroit and St. Clair rivers.
Bass: Catch-and-release open through May 28 on Pontiac, Cass and Kent lakes in Oakland County, Holloway Reservoir in Genesee County, Muskegon Lake in Muskegon County and Hardy Pond in Newaygo County.
Lake trout: Through Sept. 30 on Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Events
Natural Resources Commission meetings: Today, 3 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m., McGuires Conference Center, Cadillac. 517-373-2352.
Blue Water Spring Salmon Classic: May 15-16, lower Lake Huron and St. Clair River, from Port Huron, Lexington and Sanilac. Registration May 14. Shotgun start at 6 a.m. daily; weigh-ins until 5 p.m. Entry fees: $325 per team up to four people, including captain; $100 additional person if more than four. Prizes worth $35,000, including $10,000 for first place. Headquarters at 2336 Acheson Seaway Terminal, Military Street, Port Huron. 800-255-0508.
USCATS Pro Trail catfish tournament: May 22, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Lake Erie Metropark, Brownstown Township. One- to two-person teams. Entry fee: $200 per team: $225 after May 12. About $44,000 in cash and prizes. 313-478-2894.
FISHING REPORT
It has been an unusually cold and windy spring in Michigan. But the sunfish should move onto their spawning beds all over the state in the next couple of weeks, offering some of the most active and enjoyable fishing of the year.
Southeastern Lower
Detroit River: Walleye were biting in Trenton Channel and in Canadian waters near Ambas
or Bridge. Lake St. Clair: Crappie and panfish were biting in canals north of Selfridge air base and at Metro Beach.
Tittabawassee River: Good for walleye.
Southwestern Lower
New Buffalo: Salmon and steelhead were biting at 40 feet.
St. Joseph: Salmon were biting at 40-60 feet.
South Haven: Steelhead and salmon were biting.
Grand Haven: Salmon were biting at 40 feet in waters 80-100 feet deep.
Kalamazoo River: Steelhead were biting below dam.
Rogue River: Steelhead were biting.
Muskegon River: Walleye were biting.
Northeastern Lower
Oscoda: Walleye were biting before daybreak.
Black Lake: Walleye were biting in evening.
Alpena: Good for steelhead at Ninth Street Dam.
Rockport: Lake trout were biting at 60 feet east of Middle Island.
houghton lake Walleyes in 8-12 feet of water. try East bay, the South shore weed bed, the flats around the mouth of the Cut river and the deeper water off of Houghton Lake Heights. #11 & #13 original Rapalas, #7 & #9 Rapala Tail Dancers, and #5 & #7 Shad Raps.Keep your speeds in the 1.2- 1.5 mph range. I would opt for crankbaits in Perch colors as well as other natural baitfish colors and fluorescent orange and chartreuse in the lowlight periods. I would drift leeches and crawlers across the 8-10 foot flats or anchor up and fish slip bobbers and leeches over the emerging weed growth.Pitching jigs tipped with leeches and minnows to the weed edges and into the weed pockets can also produce some eyes
Northwestern Lower
Manistee: Salmon, lake trout and brown trout were biting close to piers.
Portage Lake: Walleye, bluegill and northern pike were biting.
Hamlin Lake: Good for bluegill and crappie.
Lakes Cadillac, Mitchell: Good for northern pike in shallow water.
Lake Charlevoix: Good for small perch at 55 feet near Pine Point.
Petoskey: Steelhead were biting in Bear River.
Upper Peninsula
Hessel: Good for splake off pier.
Day's, Ford, Sturgeon, Big and Little Fish Dam rivers: Suckers were running.
Escanaba River: Brown trout and splake were biting.
Marquette: Salmon were biting.
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