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Where the fish are biting this week, October 31 report – News 9&10

Where the fish are biting this week, October 31 report – News 9&10

Here’s what the fishing looks like this week in the northwest Lower Peninsula, northeast Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula, according to the latest report from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

North-eastern Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: Fishermen sometimes caught salmon at the spillway of the Cheboygan Dam. Cast iron salmon was the main catch, but coho or steelhead were sometimes added. Those who used beads had the best results. Spawns, glow spoons or minnows were other good options.

Rogers City: Very little fishing activity was reported outside of Rogers City. The few anglers who were able to get out reported slow fishing.

Alpena: Fishing pressure is reported to be low. Boat anglers who were able to get out reported that steelhead were not successful. Pier anglers have occasionally caught coho or Atlantic salmon when casting small spoons, with orange/silver, blue/silver and green being the most productive. Anglers looking for bass reported no success.

Thunder Bay River: The kettle salmon catch was reported to be collapsing; however, anglers reported seeing quite a few coho and Atlantic salmon in the river. Anglers drifting beads and caviar and casting small spinners and spoons have had success. Steelhead and trout were occasionally caught near the 9th Street Dam. No pikeperch was reported.

Oscoda/Au Sable River: Anglers with floating caviar and beads in the lower part of the river caught a few steelhead. Atlantic salmon have been caught throughout the river, most caught on white streamers or orange spinners. Those fishing the pier have been catching Atlantic salmon and steelhead, along with the occasional coho, when casting orange-gold or blue-silver spoons. A few lake trout were also reported to have been caught near the pier.

Harrisville: Harrisville harbor still had coho, steelhead and several species of walleye. Fishing was reported to be slower this week; however, a few coho and steelhead have been caught trolling spawn and casting spoons or spinners from the gas dock. Around the harbor there were many perches where fishermen could catch mines well.

Black River: Anglers occasionally caught coho or steelhead by casting a pink or red spinner. Steelhead were also caught during the floating spawn. The most fish seemed to be in the morning.

Au Gres: Windy conditions prevented most boat anglers from staying on the water. Yellow perch have started to be caught in the Au Grae and Pine rivers, but not in great numbers.

Tawas: Windy conditions reduced fishing to a minimum. The few boat anglers that managed to get out caught a few walleye heading south from Gateway Park. Walleye were also caught by anglers fishing from Tawas Pier. Several steelhead were caught by anglers on the Singing Bridge.

Northwest of the Lower Peninsula

Charlevoix: Anglers fishing the piers reported the occasional smallmouth bass.

Little Traverse Bay: Anglers fishing the Bear River reported low numbers of sockeye salmon and some coho throughout the week. Bouncing balls, spawn and flies have produced some results.

Manistee: Steelhead were caught by anglers from piers and surf using fresh caviar. Anglers casting from piers also reported catching a few. Boat anglers trolling have caught a few steelhead along the shelf to the south, fishing high in the water column for jigging.

Ludington: Steelhead and a couple of coho have been caught on the piers while using fresh roe.

Leland: Several anglers on the pier were catching caster and coho and had no luck using artificial lures.

Platte and Betsy Rivers: Salmon runs were reported to continue; however, due to the heat, there were not so many fish in the rivers.

Pere Marquette River: Fish are reported to be flowing into the river, but not in large numbers yet.

Great Manistee River: It is reported that there was a large number of fish in the river.

Upper Peninsula

Saint Ignatius: Fishing pressure has eased over the past week as the salmon catch is almost complete. Anglers on the Carp River caught steelhead using beads or caviar.

Little Bay de Nock: Yellow perch anglers have reported mixed results, with success varying from day to day. Anglers fished in front of Kipling’s boat, in the narrow channels, around Aronson Island and near the Escanaba River. Most anglers used minnows for bass rigging. Walleye anglers reported fair fishing. Boat anglers used jig or trolling. Anglers have also reported good success trolling after dark. Daytime anglers fished deeper, while nighttime anglers targeted the shallows, on top of the sediments.

Manistique: The water level in the river was low, which allowed fishing in many places. Most of the anglers on the river were catching what was left of the chinook salmon or steelhead. Anglers have reported an increase in steelhead in the river this week and have been catching them drifting on natural bait such as flounder or artificial beads. Shore anglers have had success near the logging site and near the “chutes”. Fishermen from boats targeted a paper factory.

Ontonagon River: Fishing on the river has been extremely low this past week. Anglers reported an extremely slow bite with very few fish being caught. The fish cleaning station at the Ontonagon Pier is closed for the season.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Fishing has been somewhat low in these ports over the past week. Weather conditions somewhat limited access to the lake on some days. Anglers reported significant catches of lake trout. This fish was caught at different depths. The fish cleaning station at the Ontonagon Pier is closed for the season.

Black River Harbor: The harbor has seen remarkably little fishing this past week. Fishermen’s reports indicate that the usual catch recently has consisted of small numbers of lake trout. These fish were caught at different depths.

Marquette: Boat anglers fishing the upper harbor for lake trout have done very well. Several anglers have been going down to the mouth of the Chokolei River to try for coho, with mixed results. Codfish continued to be caught from the mouth of the Chokoley River up to the fishing pier M-28. It is also reported that the bud was permanent. Cast iron salmon and steelhead have been reported in the Chocolay and Carp Rivers, but anglers have had a hard time getting them to bite. Those who managed to land steelhead reported some decent sized fish.

Hessel: Anglers reported catching smallmouth bass and yellow perch from Hessel.

Fishing Tip: Fall is an important time to think about gear care

As the colder months approach, many anglers may be preparing to store their gear for the season. Below are some care tips to follow to keep your gear looking good and ready for next season.

1. Make sure your gear is clean and completely dry before storing it. Start by cleaning everything (rod, reel, and line) in fresh water with soap or the manufacturer’s recommended solution to remove any materials that may have stuck or built up.

2. Inspect your gear for any damage and make any repairs or prepare for replacement.

3. Do not store your equipment in direct sunlight or store it where heat or moisture may accumulate.

4. Ventilate your ropes thoroughly and remember to hang them upside down during the months when they are not in use.