Traverse City Record-Eagle

Outdoors

October 6, 2011

Mild weather slows trout, salmon catch

FROM WIRE REPORTS ----

LANSING — Water levels came up in quite a few rivers, but mild temperatures will once again slow trout and salmon fishing, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Inland lakes this time of year usually produce pike, bass, crappie and bluegills, the DNR said Wednesday in its weekly fishing report.

Petoskey: Salmon action has slowed as most of the fish are in the Bear River. Won't be long and the steelhead will start showing up inside the piers.

Charlevoix: Salmon fishing is starting to slow down with only a few fish taken in the St. Mary's boat slip.

Traverse City: In the East Bay, boat anglers were taking a few whitefish when jigging. Yellow perch are starting to show up for those still-fishing with live bait. Few boats were fishing in West Bay.

Although the lake trout season has ended in the bay, shore anglers can harvest lake trout in both the Boardman River and the Elk River below the power dam.

Elk River: Shore anglers continue to catch salmon below the dam when using spawn bags or skein.

Boardman River: Salmon are hitting on spawn bags, skein, small spoons, spinners or rapalas.

Crystal River: In Leelanau County had a good run of salmon from Fisher Dam downstream to Lake Michigan.

Manistee: Boat anglers are taking limit catches of trout and salmon 40 to 80 feet down in 200 to 400 feet of water with small spoons. Orange and green were the hot colors. Those using cut bait caught bigger fish. Pier fishing was slow.

Manistee River: Is still producing very good salmon action below Tippy Dam. The last rain did push some fresh steelhead up into the river.

Au Sable River: Is still slow with very few salmon caught in the river. The normal holes that hold fish this time of year are empty. Only a couple fish have been caught off the pier and behind the bank by those using spoons, spawn, or stick baits.

Higgins Lake: Fishing activity slowed but those fishing deep caught lake trout.

Pere Marquette River: The upper half of the river is the most productive section especially between the M-37 Bridge and the launch at Bowman's Bridge. Try natural spawn or an orange or pink fly in the flies only section.

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