Lake Michigan Fishing Report from Captain Ron Westrate Saugatuck Michigan

Last week produced some very good fishing with catches of 12 to 24 fish per boat. The best depth was 110 to 140 foot of water and some days out to 180 foot of water. Most of the catch consisted of 2 and 3 year old salmon up to 12 pounds with some steel head and lake trout mixed in.

The best method was 200, 300 and 400 foot of copper

Captain Ed Stowe from Stowaway Charters Ludington reports:

This past week we took as many steelhead as we did salmon. With the warm calm days of the past week the steelhead are on the temp breaks from the 5100s up to the 0700s and from the 3100s out to the 3800s. Three cores, 5 Cores, and 7 cores are all taking fish on the breaks, as are the high divers turned to 3 1/2, from 70′ out to 150′. We are using Dreamweavers in the Greasy Chicken, Double Orange Crush, and Mixed Veggis in Super Slims patterns. Yecks “Pats” bait and Fireballs are on my three cores and five cores every trip. Still not many fish at the pierheads or in the Little Lake and Pere Marquette river, although some fish are showing up at the Sauble at the state park. There are some fish in the PM river and they are catching them at the Twin Bridges and at Scotville, Custer and Indian Bridge using stick baits and spawn. Good Fishin……..Capt Ed

Captain Ron Westrate reports on Lake Michigan from Saugatuck, Michigan

During this past week you had a choice: four year old salmon in 20 foot in front the piers or 2 and 3 year old salmon, lake trout and an occasional 4 year old in 100 to 140 foot of water. We took 8 to 12 fish per trip when we fished in front the piers and 12 to 20 fish per trip
out in deep water. There were some boats that fished out in 250 to 300 foot of water for steelhead and 2 year old salmon. After limit catches of perch last weekend, we had a hard time finding perch outside of the rocks where you caught 10 golbies to every perch.

Captain Ed Stowe of Stowaway Charters in Ludington reports:

We are taking fish in the skinny water early, from the brinewell up to the o6oo#s and then going out after the early bite is over. The bait of choice is J-Plug type baits, spoons, and Moonshines. With the warm calm days of the past week the steelhead are on the temp breaks from the 5100s up to the 0700s and from the 3100s out to the 3800s. Three cores, 5 Cores, and 7 cores are all taking fish on the breaks, as are the high divers turned to 3 1/2, from 70′ out to 150′. We are using Dreamweavers in the Greasy Chicken, Double Orange Crush, and Mac n Cheese in Super Slims patterns. Yecks “Pats” bait and Fireballs

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

Captain Gary from Troutscout Charters – Manistee, Michigan reports:

The fishing still remains good, we are catching adult kings in the 15# class range and young kings up to 10# class and some nice sized steelhead.

The Manistee river fishing has been good for kings and it should be a great for steelhead this fall.