Anglers finding perch and panfish
BIG RAPIDS – The campaign in mid-August has so far been favorable for the region’s fishermen.
In Osceola County, “we have people outside,” said Brad Cox of Buck’s Country Bait Store in LeRoy. “The water seems to be cooling off a little and making the fish a little more active. They got quite a lot of panfish at Rose Lake, Sunrise Lake, and Nichols and Wells lakes, pretty much everywhere.”
In Mecosta County, “They found some bass in the morning. It’s slow going,” said Tanner Havens of Frank’s Sporting Goods in Morley. “They manage to find a few. Where they get the perch they seem to find a few bluegills and specs as well. Pike is fine everywhere. It looks like they mostly pick them up on nerd minnows.
“We’re still waiting for the salmon to get going in the north. It’s still in the early stages.”
In Frankfurt, Chinook catches caught just off shore in 160 to 200 feet of water and dragged down 60 to 80, the DNR said. The best action takes place at first light and dusk on green spoons and flies, the DNR said.
Platte Bay anglers have reported good numbers of lake trout from trolling and jigging close to the seabed.
In Onekama, the DNR said anglers trolling the barrel and golf course find Chinook in 130 to 150 feet of water and work the top 100 feet.
The DNR said anglers reported the fish were deeper as water temperatures rose. Lake trout have also been reported by anglers hopping to the bottom.
The DNR added at Portage Lake that water temps were on the warm side so bass anglers were working with drops. Panfish and bass anglers will find what they are looking for in 18 to 22 foot water depths on the west end of the lake.
“Some kings are pushing out of Manistee Lake,” said Chelsea Pete of Manistee River Lodge in Wellston. “There are also kings in other rivers in our area. Fly fishing is beginning to develop. You can use funnels and small streamers. Water temperatures are cooling down for fishing and getting better every week.”
At Manistee, Chinook and some lake trout have been caught right off the shelf in 120 to 175 feet of water when fishing at 80 to 100 feet. The DNR said spoons and flies worked with some flesh borers. The fishing at the pier did not go so well.
“Salmon is doing really well,” said Dewey Buchner of Don’s Sporting Goods in Manistee. “They use a lot of spoons and flies. Pike and perch are doing well on Manistee Lake and some people are catching a lot of bluegills in about 18 feet of water. There are some king salmon in the big river right now. They’re catching up with Tippy.”
Salmon at Ludiington have been caught just outside and south of the projects in 170 to 220 feet of water when fishing at 60 to 90 feet and 140 to 150 at 70 to 90 feet, the DNR said.
Spoons, flies and wobblers were effective.
Fishing Tip: Glow baits can be popular with Great Lakes salmon
Courtesy of the Michigan DNR
One tactic that can be particularly useful when targeting Chinook is glow baiting. This species can often be caught near the surface in low light conditions and glow baits make this opportunity even more attractive.
Glow bait, in particular, works well in the early morning hours before the sun comes up, or at night. Many believe this type of lure attracts salmon because they can be seen from a greater distance in the dark, encouraging them to attack.