Traverse City Record-Eagle

Outdoors

November 17, 2011

Fishing for steelhead is good

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LANSING — There is good steelhead action in Michigan's main river systems, the state Department of Natural Resources reported Wednesday. Brown trout and the occasional walleye were also being caught. Pier and shore anglers can catch steelhead and whitefish. Those fishing the cuts, canals, and backwaters will find pike, bass, perch, crappie and bluegill.

Boardman River: Has good steelhead action all the way up to Sabin Dam. A few brown trout were also caught.

Betsie River: Catch rates last week were on the slow side as sometimes higher water levels cause the fish to not want to bite. There are a few coho in the river still even though the salmon run is pretty much done.

Manistee River: Fresh steelhead did move into the river after the recent rain. The number of fish in the river did come up but fishing techniques tend to change with the higher water as fish are on the move and not wanting to bite. Try bigger and brighter spoons or flies during high water. Those fishing up near Tippy Dam did manage to catch a few leftover coho.

Pere Marquette River: Also had a good push of steelhead after the rain. Try bright colored flies and spoons, as well as yarn or fresh spawn.

Alpena: Whitefish are flocking to the reefs of Thunder Bay as opening day of the firearm deer season usually marks the peak of spawning season for whitefish. Action over the next two to three weeks will be excellent between dusk and dawn.

Thunder Bay River: Has good steelhead fishing below 9th Street Dam. The occasional brown trout and whitefish have also been caught.

Au Sable River: Has good numbers of steelhead in it and some of these fish are part of a new study to evaluate how well fish do if acclimated in streamside raceways before being released. The fish are missing their adipose fins and have coded-wire tags in their snouts. Please turn in the head of these fish even if they are small but still meet the minimum size limit. The division will get back with cooperating anglers to let them know the stocking history of the fish they turn in. A few brown trout have also been caught. The whitefish run in the lower river is in the early stages and will improve over the next two weeks.

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