Late fall and early winter are prime time for hungry walleye, pike and bass and the whitefish should be spawning, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday in its weekly fishing report.
Traverse City: Boat anglers are catching a few whitefish in both bays but the better action was in the East Bay. Try fishing just off the bottom in 60 to 100 feet of water with jigs or sand kickers.
Long Lake: Anglers are taking a few perch and walleye.
Lake Leelanau: The lake is producing some perch and walleye.
Big Glen Lake: Perch were biting but many were small.
Frankfort: Steelhead and some menominee whitefish are being caught off the pier.
Betsie River: Steelhead fishing is in full swing.
Manistee: A few boaters are catching salmon along with some steelhead in waters 50 to 200 feet deep. Pier anglers and those surfcasting have caught fish. Whitefish were taken off the pier when using a single egg.
Manistee River: The fall steelhead run is in full swing with anglers fishing all the way to Tippy Dam. The fish should be active and ready to put up a good fight.
Ludington: Steelhead and whitefish are being caught off the pier.
Pere Marquette River: There was fair to good steelhead action.
Pentwater Lake: The lake offers some good smallmouth bass fishing. Anglers also will find a few perch and those trolling have a good chance of catching a steelhead or big pike.
Pentwater River: Steelhead were hitting on spawn.
Alpena: Whitefish action continues to build. Seek out shallow waters along the reefs where the fish are spawning.
Thunder Bay River: Anglers are catching steelhead along with some whitefish when floating spawn under a bobber. Those fishing around the marina have caught some perch but the fish were small.
Au Sable River: Steelhead are hitting on spawn all the way to Foote Dam. Whitefish can be found in the lower river and catch rates should continue to improve. Try a small jig with a single egg.
Houghton Lake: No boats have been out but those fishing off shore have managed to catch a few walleye.
Tawas: Pier anglers are still catching some walleye and steelhead.
