Fishing Report

Anglers have started to catch better numbers of chinook salmon in the harbor and out to waters 50 feet deep using chrome or pearl J-plugs. Boats anchoring in the harbor have caught chinook when casting spoons. Weather permitting, boat anglers have been catching lake trout in 80 to 120 feet of water.

Boat anglers managed to catch a couple salmon when trolling cut bait behind the old Fletcher Paper Mill. Those trolling the harbor have caught light numbers of fish on J-plugs. The river is also producing some big bass when casting tube jigs, spinners, or live bait. Remember the bridge is out until sometime in November.

Again the weather has been the reason few anglers have been fishing this port. Walleye anglers have been out, but only a couple chinook salmon were taken up around North Point. The salmon seem to be in a feeding frenzy and eating just about anything to get the necessary energy before they start making their run.

Anglers are doing fairly well and catching some nice chinook salmon. While some of these fish have already started to turn dark, many still remain silver as good numbers of fresh fish can still be found. Boats are fishing in shallow waters along the drop-off between the shoreline and Middle Island.

Reported slow fishing as strong currents have been changing water temperatures on a daily basis. The fish are just starting to stage out in front of Swan Bay. In the shallow waters, fish planer boards with J-Plugs and bombers at least 100 to 120 feet off the board. Out deep, fish the entire water column with J-Plugs, spoons, bombers, Hootchie Mama's, and dodgers.

Cool windy weather over the last week has basically shut fishing down. Walleye fishing has slowed just as it always does this time of year. Those going out are still trolling crawler harnesses. Perch fishing was productive at several locations and should only get better. Channel cats were caught near the Hot Ponds.

Boat anglers able to ride out the waves have managed to catch chinook, lake trout, walleye, brown trout and steelhead in 80 to 100 feet of water. Pier anglers have caught smallmouth bass, rock bass and small perch as the salmon have not shown up yet.

Better walleye fishing was reported as the cool nights have the fish feeding more frequently. Boat and shore anglers continue to fish up near Port Huron as well as in both the North Channel and the Middle Channel. Drifting crawler harnesses or jigging in 20 to 30 feet of water produced fair to good catches. Those seeking bass continue to fish along the weed beds.

A few limit catches of walleye are still being taken at the mouth of the river. Boats are slow trolling or drifting crawler harnesses around Celeron Island and over near the Canadian border waters. Some are jigging with brown and black rubber worms, leeches or minnows. Some nice perch have been caught on jigs with minnows or worms around the islands along the southern end of the river.

Has fair lake trout fishing in 170 to 200 feet of water. Coho fishing has picked up slightly with most boats getting at least one per trip. Several salmon anglers reported catching lake trout in waters less than 80 feet deep.

Anglers trolling for salmon reported little success and jigging produced fair success. In Traverse Bay, those trolling reported better catch rates than those jigging. Most are trolling spoons in 100 to 140 feet of water southeast of the harbor and out from Big Louie's Point. Try trolling about a foot off the bottom or suspended fishing about 60 to 120 feet down. Those jigging for lake trout caught fair numbers in 130 to 230 feet of water. White glow-in-the-dark jigs with cut bait worked best.

Is producing fair walleye catches from Stephenson Island upstream to the First Dam. Smallmouth bass, rock bass, freshwater drum and sturgeon have also been caught. Perch are hitting inside the marina.

Good catches of lake trout were reported out in deep waters. The shallow waters have also been producing coho along with the occasional chinook and lake trout. Boats have been trolling in waters 40 to 70 feet deep near the mouth of the Chocolay River and near the breakwall in the Upper Harbor. The coho are running 3 to 5 pounds while the chinook are averaging about 12 pounds.

Poor weather and rough lake conditions during the past week limited fishing activity.

Walleye fishing in the central basin has been very good. Fish have been caught 5-6 miles N of Cleveland Crib in 58-62‘of water, 10 miles N of Wildwood State Park (Euclid) to Eastlake in 68-70’ of water, 10 to 12 miles NE of Ashtabula and 10 to 12 miles NW of Conneaut in 68 to 74’ 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 very good in the central basin 5 miles N of Bratenahl in 42-50 feet of water, 4-6 miles N of Wildwood State Park (Euclid) in 42 to 51’ of water, 2 to 4 miles N of Fairport in 39 to 52’ of water, and 2 miles or less N of Ashtabula and Conneaut in 45 to 55’ 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 29’ 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 71 degrees.

Fishing effort directed towards walleye has greatly decreased as western basin anglers are switching to perch fishing. As the lake recovers from the past week’s blow walleye fishing should improve with “C†can of the Camp Perry range and the Kelleys Island area being good areas to try. 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 continue to improve as we head into fall. With the E and NE winds over the past week Green Island and Rattlesnake Island continued to produce perch for the boats that were able to make it out. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

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.

The rain and cooler temperatures have pushed a good number of fresh fish into the river. Those fishing between the Indian Bridge and Gleason's Landing have caught fish on flies or spawn.

Has good fishing as well. Chinook and coho have been caught in waters 40 to 120 feet deep. Pier anglers have caught fish when casting spoons in the early morning or late evening.

Recent rains have pushed more fish into the river. The tubes at Stronach continue to hold good numbers of fish. Those fishing further inland are dong well when fly fishing.

Boat anglers are starting to catch salmon.

Has very good fishing to report. Those trolling in and around the harbor caught chinook and coho in waters 30 to 100 feet deep using spoons and flies. The fish have been holding in the top 30 feet of water. Pier anglers are casting spoons.

Good numbers of chinook salmon have been caught when trolling from the pierheads north towards Arcadia in 80 to 165 feet of water. Good baits this week have been meat rigs or any spoon or fly combination. Hot colors have been green, white, yellow, pink or blue. Pier anglers reported slow fishing.

Fish are starting to show up in the river. Anglers casting spawn near the M-22 Bridge and as far up as the Homestead Dam are starting to catch chinook and some steelhead. Recent rains have turned the water dark and water levels are a couple inches higher than normal.

Reports great salmon fishing. Chinook and coho are being caught just offshore when trolling in 45 to 165 feet of water from the Herring Hole all the way up to Point Betsie. A few lake trout, steelhead and brown trout were caught in deeper waters. Spoons and plugs in a variety of colors including orange crush and mongoose have caught fish. Pier fishing has started to pick up as the chinook have started to move into Betsie Bay. Early morning or just at sunset have been the best times to fish using green or glow spoons and spawn.

Salmon fishing has been good on both Grand Traverse Bays. On the East Bay, stay along Old Mission Peninsula and fish between the launch site at Center Road and the Walls. Other areas to fish are near Elk Rapids and Yuba. The fish are 60 to 80 feet down in waters 110 to 130 feet deep. A few whitefish were taken off Deepwater Point and the Walls when jigging Swedish Pimples or still-fishing with spawn in 60 feet of water. In the West Bay, anglers have caught fish at the mouth of the Boardman River and by the Red Buoy off Grelickville.

Salmon in the 15 to 17 pound range have been caught when trolling spoons, J-plugs and Hootchie Mama's 30 to 40 feet down in waters 70 feet deep. Most boats are trolling the area between Whiting Point, Young State Park and the Power Plant. Walleye fishing was slow and the fish are running small. Boat anglers are trolling and drifting crawler harnesses, rapalas and Hot-n-Tots in 15 to 30 feet of water. Smallmouth bass fishing was slow and the fish were only running 8 to 14 inches. Try casting tube jigs, leeches, crawlers, spinners and body baits. Anglers targeting perch continue to do well. Favorite locations include the Belvedere Club and Horton Bay. Best baits have been shrimp, minnows or crawlers in 10 to 25 feet of water.