Fishing Report

August is usually a slow month for catching fish. The lake usually has large algae blooms and water temperatures on the warm side. A few walleye have been caught, but certainly no limits. Yellow perch have been caught in 20 to 24 feet of water off Stony Point, the Fermi Power Plant, the E Buoy and the Sputnik. Smallmouth bass are hitting on tube baits in 15 feet of water.

Walleye fishing in the central basin has been very good. Fish have been caught on the S end of the sandbar between Vermilion and Lorain, 8-10 miles out N of the Cleveland Crib in 60‘ of water, 12 miles N Eastlake in 68-70’ of water, 10 to 12 miles NW of Geneva in 70 to 72’ of water, and 10 to 12 miles N of Ashtabula in 70 to 72’ of water. Fish have been caught on worm harnesses or spoons colored in white/red, purple/black, copper, 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 improving in the central basin with good catches reported 1/2 to 2 miles off Vermilion, Lorain and Avon Pt., 4 miles N of Bratenahl in 39 feet of water, 4 miles N of Eastlake in 42’ of water, less than 2 miles NW of Fairport in 40 to 50’ of water, and less than 2 miles N of Ashtabula and Conneaut in 35 to 55’ of water. Fish have ranged from 7 to 11 inches. Perch rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent on Ruggles Reef between Huron and Vermilion, and 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.

Walleye fishing has slowed down the last few days. The best areas were N of “B†and “C†cans of the Camp Perry range, NE of West Sister Island, and W of Middle Island. Drifters are using mayfly rigs or weight forward spinners, while most trollers are using worm harnesses or spoons with jet or dipsy divers. The best spoon colors have been patterns that include gold and purple or red.

Yellow perch fishing is improving in the western basin and should continue to improve as we head into fall. The best areas have been Little Cedar Pt., "B" and "C" cans off Camp Perry, SW of Kelleys Island, S of Rattlesnake Island, NW of Green Island, and NE of Ballast Island. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

White bass fishing has been excellent off of the Cedar Point breakwall and foghorn.

Anglers are doing well for bass on the weed edges. Pan fish are being caught in waters as deep as 30 feet. Try crawler harnesses or wax worms for bluegill and crappie.

Fishing has picked up a little with anglers catching pan fish in 10 to 15 feet of water on the east shore using pieces of worm. Those targeting bass are finding them in 10 to 20 feet of water on the south end of the lake.

Anglers are catching crappie from the city dock on the east end of the lake on minnows at dusk and dawn. Pan fish are being caught in 5 to 10 feet of water at the northeast corner of the lake near the city launch, and the southeast corner near the Four Winns test facility.

The catch has been almost exclusively chinook salmon. The best fishing seems to be at about 40 to 60 feet down in 110 foot of water. Anglers are catching fish throughout the day but the majority of them are coming between 5:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.

Anglers reported good fishing when trolling in 80 to 120 feet of water. They are catching mostly chinook mixed with the occasional steelhead mixed in. The fish have been coming in the top 50 feet of water. The fish are moving in closer to the pier and should be staging soon. Pier anglers caught a few fish off the north pier while casting spoons.

Continues to have good fishing. Boat anglers are trolling 35 to 60 feet down in 80 to 120 feet of water both north and south of the harbor. The fish are moving up into the river and some anglers are catching them up at the tubes near Stronach. The Little Manistee weir was installed on Tuesday, August 15th. The river, from 300 feet below the weir, will remain open until September 1st. The river, from 300 feet above the weir, will remain open through December 31st. Pier anglers have had luck catching chinook off from the north and south pier while casting spoons.

Fishing for chinook, coho and lake trout has been great while trolling in 140 to 190 feet of water to the north of the piers. Anglers are trolling as far north as the golf course and getting good catches of fish on white flies, meat rigs, and yellow, blue, and green spoons with a lure set 65 to 90 feet down. Pier fishing for trout and salmon has been slow. On the Portage Lake end of the piers, good numbers of smallmouth, largemouth and rock bass have been caught.

Great catches of chinook, coho, lake trout, and steelhead have been caught in 70 to 175 feet of water from the Herring Hole north to Point Betsie. Most anglers have been trolling off the bank with meat rigs, white and green flies, and spoons. Hot baits have been the Brew Ha, Angry Gnome, Hot Lobster, Mongoose, glow Spin Doctor, and blue Chilly Willies. Pier fishing is still slow due to the high water temperatures but a few fish were caught on the Elberta side.

Fishing has slowed due to the weather. When anglers can get out they are catching chinook, brown trout and steelhead on the west side of South Manitou Island and off Pyramid Point. Green frogs and blue dolphins are producing chinook and brown trout, while double Orange Crush are producing chinook and steelhead.

Fishing continues to be great. Excellent catches of chinook salmon can be found on the first bank and on the north side of North Manitou Island. The thermo cline continues to be deep with reports at 100 to 120 feet. Lake trout are being caught on the first and second bank on spoons such as the Flounder Pounder or Mongolian Beef.

On the East Bay, anglers caught a fair amount of chinook while trolling the South Bank, Old Mission Peninsula, and from Yuba to Elk Rapids. Most were caught on Hootchie Mama's with green or silver flies. Spoons of a variety of colors such as Orange Crush, green with silver, or green with blue have worked as well. Anglers had the best success while trolling lures 65 to 70 feet down in 140 to 200 feet of water. A few whitefish were caught off of Elk Rapids in 80 to 90 feet of water while jigging Swedish pimples. On the West Bay, anglers continue to pick up a fair amount of chinook while trolling around the Hole in the early morning and late evening hours. Hootchie Mama's with green or silver flies caught the most fish with spoons working as well.

Salmon are being caught off North Point and South Point in the early morning hours at depths of 130 feet while fishing 50 to 65 feet down. During the daytime the fish are being taken slightly deeper, from 85 to 110 feet down. Most anglers are having luck using spoons and dodger and flies. Several chinook with clipped adipose fins have been caught and anglers are asked to turn the heads in. There is a freezer in the Charlevoix fish cleaning station for this purpose as well as forms and plastic bags.

Lake trout and salmon have been caught while trolling near the point 85 feet down in water 135 feet deep. Try using spoons in greens or blues.

Fishing has been great. Chinook salmon are being caught 40 to 60 feet down in water 110 feet deep. Anglers are catching them throughout the day but the majority of the fish are being caught in the early morning hours between 5:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.

Fishing has been slow due to high winds. Those venturing out have caught salmon while trolling spoons 30 to 45 feet down in 40 to 80 feet of water. Other anglers are having success using J-Plugs such as the chrome Red Head or Wonder Bread.

The perch are biting both to the north and south of the harbor. Minnows or alewives have worked the best.

Walleye fishing has been good in front of the Van Andel docks. Chinook salmon are being caught in 60 to 100 feet of water on a variety of spoons. Boat anglers are catching perch in waters 8 to 15 feet deep. Pier fishing has been slow with only a few perch being caught.

Plenty of perch are being caught in waters 15 to 50 feet deep, just off the bottom. Chinook are being caught while trolling in waters 90 to 150 feet deep.

Pier fishing is great with plenty of perch being taken off the north pier while fishing on the river side with minnows or cut bait. Steelhead are being taken while still-fishing with shrimp or casting body baits or spoons. Chinook are starting to show up around the piers as well.

Not much has changed from last week. Anglers continue to catch chinook salmon and lake trout from the Shipping Channel to the #3 Green Can and around the lighthouse. The salmon are averaging 4 to 12 pounds with a few up near 18 pounds. Most are using lime flies, lime squid, spoons or silver J-Plugs. Maud Bay and Sweets Point are producing some nice walleye on pink or copper blades.

Strong winds have kept a lot of anglers off the water this past week. Anglers that did venture out reported good success with lake trout being caught in waters 150 to 200 feet deep on flies, peanuts, and spoons behind cowbells and dodgers. There have been no reports of coho as of yet.

Boat anglers heading out for trout or salmon have had some strong winds to contend to. Those trolling for lake trout have had fair success north or east of the Upper Harbor break wall. An occasional coho has been taken but anglers trolling near the harbors for salmon have not had much luck.