Fishing Report

Fishing slowed but anglers are still catching some fish. A few limits of walleye were taken in the Trenton Channel. Perch were caught in the southern end of the channel between Elizabeth Park and Horse Island when drifting perch rigs with small minnows. Smallmouth bass and catfish have also been caught.

Fishing was poor for the most part for perch and terrible for walleye. We need a week or so of calm dry weather to clear up lake conditions. Not many perch were taken off Stony Point, Fermi Power Plant or the E Buoy. Those anglers that did catch fish were actually fishing in deeper waters 25 to 28 feet deep. Fish were taken out near the Sputnik and the River Raisin Channel.

Walleye fishing in the central basin has been very good. A few walleye have been taken at the N end of the sand bar between Vermilion and Lorain. Fish have been caught 8-10 miles NW of Fairport in 60-70‘of water, 9-10 miles NW of Conneaut in 60 to 70 ’ of water. Fish have been caught on worm harnesses or spoons colored in scarlet and gray, purple and black, or white and red with copper backs, trolled with dipsy divers or jet divers off planer boards. Some anglers are also drifting worm harnesses. Fish are suspended and anglers are fishing down 35 to 50'.

Yellow perch fishing is excellent in the central basin from 1-3 miles N of Huron to Lorain, 2-3 miles N of Bratenahl in 40-43 feet of water, 2-3 miles N of E. 55th Street Pier in 42 - 46' of water, 2 to 3 miles N of Fairport in 51’ of water, and 2 -3 miles N of Ashtabula 48 to 52’ of water. Fish have ranged from 7 to 11 inches. Perch rigs with shiners fished near the bottom have produced the most fish.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent along the shoreline from Fairport Harbor to Conneaut in 15 to 20 ’ of water. Fish have been caught on goby color tube jigs, goby color drop-shot rigs, jigs tipped with minnows or leeches, or by trolling crankbaits.

The best white bass fishing has been 1/2 mile N of Eastlake CEI power plant. Anglers are using agitators with white, yellow and green twister tails. Shore anglers are catching white bass at the Eastlake CEI, Mentor Headlands lighthouse, Wildwood State Park, Rocky River, Avon Lake and Lorain piers using agitators with white, yellow and green twister tails or small spoons.

Lake Erie surface temperatures range from 67 to 70 degrees.

Fishing effort directed towards walleye has greatly decreased as western basin anglers are switching to perch fishing. As the lake recovers from dirty waters, walleye fishing should improve. Some success has been reported N of B and C cans and N of Rattlesnake Island. Drifters are using mayfly rigs or weight forward spinners, while most trollers are using worm harnesses or spoons with jet or dipsy divers.

Yellow perch fishing is improving in the Western Basin and should improve as we head into fall. Over the past week the Toledo water intake, B and C cans, Niagra Reef, Green Island, Rattlesnake Island, the Bass Islands, and Kelley's Island have all produced some limit catches. High winds and turbid waters could affect catches. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish. Yellow perch are averaging 8" long.

Smallmouth bass should start moving shallower as water temperatures drop heading into fall. Fish rocky drop-offs and reefs around the Bass Islands and Kelleys Island, along with nearshore areas from Catawba Island to Sandusky Bay, to find active fish. Tube jigs and drop shot rigs with goby imitations are the most popular set-ups for smallmouth.

Is producing good numbers of salmon and steelhead.

Also has good fishing when trolling in waters 30 to 60 feet deep. They are catching chinook along with the occasional steelhead. Those fishing off the breakwall caught chinook and steelhead in the early morning or late evening when casting spoons or using alewife.

Fishing has been good. Boat anglers are trolling in and around the harbor in 30 to 60 feet of water or heading out to the Shelf and fishing in 90 to 120 feet of water. They are catching mostly chinook and a few coho on spoons and flies. Pier anglers caught fish when casting spoons or using alewife.

Good catches of chinook, steelhead and coho have been caught in 80 to 140 feet of water near Arcadia and in the Saddle. Meat rigs, flies, spoons and j-plugs caught fish. Hot colors have been green, white, blue, red or anything that glows. Pier fishing was slow this week with only a few rock bass and largemouth bass taken.

Anglers fishing near the Homestead Dam are catching chinook salmon but the action up there is still slow for now.

Great catches of chinook salmon are still being caught from the Herring Hole up to Point Betsie. Some are also having good luck in West Platte Bay when trolling the top 30 to 40 feet in waters 30 to 120 feet deep. A few coho and steelhead were also caught. Pier fishing has started to pick up with chinook and lake trout taken off both piers using spoons, spawn or alewife.

Has excellent chinook salmon fishing. Good numbers of coho were caught and once the fish were located the action was fast and furious. The "Holy Grounds" on the western side of South Manitou Island have been off the charts with great catches. Try Sleeping Bear Bay in the early morning when trolling spoons and cut bait. A few chinook were taken in front of the Crystal River.

Has terrific fishing with limit catches of chinook salmon. Most of the boat anglers are hitting the First Bank with great success in the early morning. Good fishing remains around North Manitou Island.

Reports good salmon fishing. In the East Bay, productive locations include the South Bank, along the Old Mission Peninsula from Willow Point to the Walls, near Yuba and Elk Rapids. Fish are hitting on Hootchie Mama's or Spin-doctors with flies in green, white or silver. Blue, green and orange spoons have also worked well when trolling 60 to 80 feet down in waters 110 to 140 feet deep. A good number of lake trout have also been caught. In the West Bay, try fishing near the Hole, Red Buoy 8, off the Gravel Pit and in Suttons Bay.

Salmon are being caught when trolling spoons, Hootchie Mama's and J-Plugs 30 to 60 feet down in waters 30 to 80 feet deep. Hot spots are still near Whiting Point, Young State Park, Boyne City and the old Power Plant. In the South Arm, anglers are fishing in 15 to 22 feet of water from Dutchman's Bay to East Jordan. The fish are running 13 to 15 pounds. Smallmouth bass fishing picked up, but was still slow. Horton Bay, Oyster Bay, Boyne City and all of the South Arm are usually good for bass. Perch anglers are doing well using shrimp, minnows and crawlers in 10 to 25 feet of water.

Boat anglers are starting to catch a few chinook salmon when trolling in 30 to 40 feet of water off the Conservation Club which is located on the northeast end of the lake. A few walleye were caught near the entrance of the Muskegon Channel and in 10 to 15 feet of water around Strawberry Island.

Boat anglers trolling just outside the piers have caught both trout and salmon. Most are trolling with spoons or J-plugs in 40 to 80 feet of water. Pier fishing has picked up a bit as it seems the fish are coming in and feeding in good numbers in the very early morning or late evenings. Try casting spoons or drifting spawn, flies and crawlers. Live bait such as alewife also worked good.

Good numbers of chinook and coho in the 10 to 15 pound range have been caught right at the Sixth Street Dam. They are hitting on a variety of baits including spawn sacks, Cleo's, rapalas, and stickbaits. While steelhead have been caught, brown trout should be moving into the river in the in the next couple of weeks. The walleye are going strong up near the dam with fish measuring 20+ inches. Good northern pike and bass fishing near Millennium Park.

Chinook and coho have been caught right in front of the pierheads. Fish have been hitting on J-plugs in green, silver and red or white and black. Fish were caught in 90 to 120 feet of water south off Rosy Mound. Pier anglers have caught chinook and coho using spoons or alewife. Many of the coho that have been caught off the pier and in the Grand River have their adipose fin clipped, which means they have a coded wire tag implanted in their head. Perch have also showed up at the piers and have been caught on small alewife.

Boat anglers are catching chinook and steelhead when trolling in waters 50 to 80 feet deep. Perch fishing remains very good in waters about 40 to 60 feet deep.

There are salmon and steelhead in the river but anglers are having a difficult time trying to catch them. Target the mouth of the creeks and try fishing the main river very early or late in the day. Boat anglers targeting the lower river are catching more fish than those fishing close to the Berrien Springs Dam. Walleye fishing was slow.

Chinook and steelhead have been caught off the piers and by boat anglers fishing between the piers and in the mud lines of the river. Perch fishing remains good in 40 to 60 feet of water.

A few salmon are starting to show up but they will come in stronger as September progresses.

Boat anglers continue to do well for perch when fishing out near the Shipping Channel and in front of the hotel in 30 to 40 feet of water. Walleye fishing was slow, but a few fish were still caught when slow trolling or drifting crawler harnesses just south of Point Au Gres.

Salmon are just starting to show up in light numbers. The run will only get stronger as we move further into September.

Boat anglers are catching a few chinook salmon right in front of the piers when trolling J-plugs in the early morning. Pier anglers reported hit-or-miss action when casting glow spoons in the early morning or late evening.