Capt. Ron Westrate of First Call 2 Charters reports from Saugatuck:

A very nice week of fishing with some catches from 10 to 15 fish per
trip. With the warm water in front of the piers, we have moved out to
90 to 200 foot of water and found 2, 3 and some 4 year old chinook
salmon, 10 to 14 pound coho, and some steelhead and lake trout. With
the strong east and south east winds the best direction was a 240 or a
300 degree troll from 100 to 190 foot of water with the best depth being
135 to 160 foot.

Almost all of the fish came on flashers and flies although we did take a
couple of coho on Stingray spoons (blue mixed veggie with white back).
Both silver Stinger Echip flashers (mixed veggie, silver UV, silver
mountain dew) or white bladed Echip flashers (blue wiggle, and white
double glow) with the Rapture green dude, wild fern, speed weed and the
blue bubble fies. Yesterday the blue wiggle flasher and blue bubble fly
was hit at least 6 times at 95 foot down. We ran 300 and 450 foot of
copper and the dipsies were run at 100 and 180 foot out, downriggers at
80, 90 and down to125 foot.

Although our season is winding down, the fishing should continue to be
good in the deeper water. If we get another shot of cold water, we
should see some more 4 year old salmon stage in front the piers. For
more fishing information or for charter reservations, email me at
captron@chartermichigan.com.

Capt. Ken Deaton of J-Lyn Charters reports from Harbor Beach:

Lake Trout fishing is slow to fair. It will take a few days for them to start feeding with all of the rough water we are still having. Try straight out, and North of the harbor using the dodgers with spin and glows or flys close to the bottom or 120 feet down in the deeper areas. Try clean spoons off the downriggers. Fishing 50 feet down to 120 feet for best results.

Steelhead fishing has slowed with the fronts and rough water. When it calms down try straight out or North of the harbor, fish the color lines for best results. Be there early for a good bite. Put out some long lines on the boards, bright colors of spoons, small, and regular sizes for best results. Start in 70 feet of water and work out to as far as 160 to 200 feet of water as the sun comes up. Fish from 20 to 60 feet down.

A few Salmon are still being taken but it is on the slow side. Try straight out, South and North of the harbor fishing the 70 to 190 foot of water areas. Working deeper as the sun comes up, using clean spoons off the lead lines, dipseys, and downriggers, fish the top 50 to 80 feet of water using bright colors for best results. You might even try inside the harbor along the channel using J-Plugs, body baits and spoons.

Walleye fishing is still very slow, try North of the harbor and North of Port Hope working in the 40 to 90 feet of water areas. They will be scattered so keep looking. Clean small spoons, hot n tots, and crawler harnesses will be your best chance.

Try for perch inside the harbor along the channel or South by the cemetery using minnows.

Keep those lines tight!
Captains Ken & Janice Deaton

Capt. Dave Myers of Cyndie Sue Charters reports from Holland:

After several days of strong northeast winds last week, the lake rolled over. By Friday, surface temperatures were in the upper 40s close to shore, gradually warming to the upper 50s out to 180 feet. Most of the big kings were making their runs up the river. Good fishing was found in the channel and right out front. However, fishing for 2 & 3 year old kings, coho, steelhead, and lake trout in 180 to 240 feet produced even better catches over the weekend. The fish weren’t as big, but more action and less stress away from the combat fishing in the fog. Every trip produced 15 or more fish. The fish were somewhat scattered in the deeper water, but still good consistent action any time of day. Best baits near shore were small green, white, & mountain dew/white glow Spin Doctors or Pro-Troll paddles with a green glow fly. Stinger Stingray (NBK, any green color) & regular size Silver Streak (green chilly willy) spoons did well any time of the day in all waters. A variety of Moonshine spoons did well in the morning. All setups were productive as all rods produced fish on most days. Downriggers set at 30’, 60’, 80’ & 100’ and divers set at 1 ½, back 80’-140’ worked best in low light. Spoons on full copper & lead core were more productive later in the day. Outriggers with small divers set at 3 ½, back 60’ produced most of the steelhead. A lot of the smaller salmon were caught on free sliders.

We did not do any perch fishing last week. However, some boats were getting a few in front of the piers, and a little to the south on the edge of the stained water.

Even though fishing for the big 4 year old kings is now pretty much over, excellent fishing for the smaller fish should continue right through October. I can be contacted at cyndiesuecharters@comcast.net or 616 450-4921 for more information or to inquire about reserving a fishing trip.

Capt. Dan Tebo of D’Ann Marie Charters reports from Grand Haven:

Fishing continued to be excellent this past week and into the weekend. Of course, this weekend, we had to deal with the fog and that makes it a little more intense as we try to land fish and keep an eye on the radar, as well. Thank goodness we have our mates to help out.

We are fishing from 110 ft. of water out to 210 ft. We are fishing the top 50 ft. of water.

We are using a large variety of spoons, some of which are: Blue Dolphin, Green Dolphin, Mixed Veggie, and Icicle.

We also are using some spinnie/fly combos, but mainly spoons.We are catching a mixed bag of 1, 2, & 3 year old Salmon and some Steelhead added in.

With rough waters today and the colder temps. in the forcast for the next few days, we will undoubtedly be fishing differently. We hope the weather settles down for our Slammin’ Salmon Derby this coming Saturday.

Captain John Giszczak of Stray Cat Charters reports from Luna Pier:

Perch fishing has been off the hook the last couple of weeks. There has not been a place on the lake we have not caught perch.
Along the Raisin River buoys, Stoney Point in 20 feet of water, Sputnik and the Platform have produced coolers full. Don’t be afraid to stop short in shallow water in front of where you launch. I caught a cooler full at W buoy in front of Toledo Beach in 13 feet of water. Start shallow and work your way out. If your not getting them right away move, sometimes only 500 yards will do the trick. Emerald shiners seem to be the preferred live bait.
The ODNR has been checking every boat they come across. Make sure you have a valid Ohio license if you venture over the boarder and don’t be tempted to take more than you limit. The fines can be up to $250.00 and $20.00 per perch over your limit of 30.

Quit Wish-In Go Fish-In
Captain John
Stray Cat Charter Fishing LLC
734-787-0030
http://www.walleyefishingmichigan.com

Capt. Ron Westrate of First Call 2 Charters reports from Saugatuck:

The water temperature dropped into the mid 40’s this week and the salmon
moved into the shallow water at the piers and fishing was excellent. Big
chinook salmon and large coho produced some limit and near limit catches
with some lake trout and steelhead mixed in. By Saturday the word had
gotten out and combat fishing took place in front the Saugatuck piers.
By noon on Saturday the fog moved in and we noticed a increase in the
water temperature from 46 degrees to 50 degrees and by Sunday morning
the water temperature was 67 degrees and the fishing slowed. There were
still some salmon in front the piers, however they were not as active in
the warmer water and we moved out to 200 foot and caught some 2 and 3
year old salmon and steelhead.

The most productive lures were the Ace Hi plugs in pearl/black dot and
silver/red head pulled on downriggers, dipsy divers and 2 and 3 color
lead core. We also ran some Hot n Tots on flat lines (gold and white
black dot), however the Ace Hi plugs out performed any other lure.
Sunday we found the cold water in 200 foot of water and used small
stingers (blue green dolphin, green dolphin and orange crush) on 50 foot
of copper and 5 color lead core. On the dipsy divers the best lure was
the blue mixed veggie Stingray which was hit multiple times. A couple of
hits on the downriggers at 40 and 50 foot down with small stingers
(orange corey and mixed veggie) on the add-a-lines.

With a south wind and current for the next few days, I think that the
shallow water will continue to warm and other than early morning and
late evening, the most productive fishing will be off shore. For charter
information or for fishing information, email me at
captron@chartermichigan.com.