09/18/2009 Upper Peninsula Fishing Report

The Michigan DNR reports on the UPPER PENINSULA Waters of  Lake Michigan and Superior

Keweenaw Bay - The salmon bite picked up for those trolling between Sand Point and the red rocks for a mix of chinook, coho, and lake trout 50 to 75 feet down in waters 60 to 80 feet deep. Those jigging caught some lake trout in 170 to 220 feet of water. A couple coho were taken off the L’Anse Marina on gold and orange Cleo’s. Chinook and pink salmon should start making their way into the Falls River soon. Near the South Portage Entry, lake trout along with a few chinook and coho were caught in 60 to 130 feet of water near the Farmers Reef and the Mud Bank. Traverse Bay is good for lake trout just off the bottom in 130 to 150 feet of water. Those trolling spoons between Gay Point, Big Louie’s and Hermits Cove were catching a few fish.
Lac La Belle - Smallmouth bass seem to be the only species being caught right now on live bait in 6 to 10 feet of water. Most have been sub-legal.
Marquette - Still has good lake trout fishing and the chinook and coho action is starting to pick up. There were reports of more anglers catching steelhead and brown trout as well. Most are trolling near the harbor, along the “Bubblers” and near the Carp and Chocolay Rivers.

Menominee - The walleye seem to be south of the port and out deep. Some were caught north or south of the river when trolling crawler harnesses at 25 to 40 feet. Salmon action was slow. Up near the Cedar River, a few walleye were caught 90 feet down in 110 to 120 feet of water near the Whaleback Shoal.

Menominee River - Anglers wading near Stephenson and Boom Islands have caught small walleye on crawlers. Shore anglers caught smallmouth bass, rock bass, sunfish and catfish. A few sturgeon were caught and released up near the Hattie Street Dam.

Cedar River - Lots of smallmouth bass are being caught from the mouth to the first rapids when jigging crawlers or casting plugs.

Little Bay De Noc - Finally has some of the best walleye fishing reported this season. Fair to good catches in the southern bay when trolling crank baits or crawlers in 16 to 30 feet of water between the “Fingers” and the Minneapolis Shoals. The best fishing was in the Black Bottom area when drifting or trolling crawlers in 20 to 25 feet of water. A few perch were taken in the Narrows off Saunders Point. Smallmouth bass were caught throughout the bay although the better fishing was in 10 to 20 feet of water off Hunters Point. A few salmon have started to show up at the mouth of the Ford River.

Big Bay De Noc - Has good walleye fishing all the way out to Round Island. Most are trolling stick baits in 20 to 30 feet of water. Good smallmouth action off Ansell’s Point and south to Garden Bluff when casting tube baits or crank baits along the weeds in 20 feet of water. Nahma has fair to good perch action for those jigging minnows in 10 to 18 feet just off the mouth of the Sturgeon River. At Fairport, anglers are still salmon fishing 80 to 125 feet down in deeper waters.

Au Train - Has good lake trout action with fish averaging 3 to 5 pounds. Anglers are trolling spoons or floating jigs tipped with sucker minnows. Hot spots were around the islands or the flats.

St. Mary’s River - Walleye were caught in 35 to 40 feet of water in the shipping channel and south of Twin Island when trolling bottom bouncers with gold blades and crawler harnesses with gold beads.

De Tour - Anglers are trolling the shipping channel to the lighthouse for chinook, lake trout and even a few coho. Most are fishing 30 to 80 feet down in waters 100 feet deep with orange and black or copper spoons.

Drummond Island - Perch fishing slowed however a few smallmouth bass were caught on the north side of Peck Island when using crawlers.

Cedarville and Hessel - A few small pike were caught in the Hessel Marina. Musky Bay and the Middle Entrance are producing pike, perch and smallmouth. Try 10 to 12 feet of water while casting or drifting minnows. In Cedarville Bay and Government Bay, a few perch were caught on minnows in 12 to 15 feet of water.

St. Ignace - Anglers are marking fish but only a limited number were caught. Anglers are fishing the flats to the Coast Guard area for chinook and lake trout. They are using silver flashers with purple and white or green fly’s or red and black spoons.