September 19, 2004
At Sheboygan, Wisconsin the salmon are just outside the harbor and are
being caught in good numbers. Off Milwaukee and Whitefish Bay salmon
action has been good and some fish have been taken in the harbor.
In the Bay de Noc area some nice sized northern pike have been taken as
well as smallmouth and walleye. Larger size walleye are down the bay
while smaller ones are nearer the head of the bay. Smallmouth are coming
from the area around Snake Island in Big Bay de Noc.
Salmon are in the rivers in increasing numbers and are staging in
the lakes out from the rivers. The spawning runs should be going strong
over the next two or three weeks. By mid October they should be over.
Steelhead often follow the salmon into the rivers to feed on spawn. The
charter season is winding down and for most will be over by the end of
October if not before. A few charter services operate later or even
year-round mainly with trailerable boats and in the rivers.
August 29, 2004
At Sheboygan and in the area of Two Rivers / Manitowoc, Wisconsin, salmon fishing is
very good close to the harbors when wind and wave conditions allow.
At Bay DeNoc fishing has been slow due to weather conditions
Salmon and trout fishing is good along most of the lower peninsula Michigan shoreline in
waters 70 to 125 ft deep except at Holland and Manistee where fishing
has slowed. Some salmon are beginning to show up in the
rivers but the main runs are still a few weeks away. Perch are also
being taken in several areas mainly in 40 to 60 FOW. There are
commercial nets in several areas and they can be difficult to see, so
use caution and keep a sharp lookout.
July 28, 2004
Near Gladstone fishing is slow for walleye and perch. Off Manistique the
salmon are hitting several miles out.
Off Kewaunee and Algoma the salmon and lake trout are scattered but some
good catches have been reported mostly in the early morning and late
evening. Crappie are biting in the harbor at Waukegan.
Good catches of perch have been reported from the areas of Holland, St.
Joseph and South Haven.
Salmon and steelhead activity has been good at Port Sheldon, Muskegon,
Holland, Grand Haven and St. Joseph. At Manistee the fish are reportedly
right at the harbor entrance and also up in the river.
July 25, 2004
Reports from the area of Sheboygan, Wisconsin indicate anglers are experiencing very
good salmon activity with lots of limit catches coming from various
depths of water on a variety of presentations.
July 2, 2004
In the southern lake some coho, lake trout and steelhead have been
reported with an occasional chinook mixed in. A few perch have come from
the St. Joseph and South Haven areas. New Buffalo reports catfish, drum
and brown trout off the pier. From Saugatuk to Manistee chinook and lake
trout are being caught with a few steelhead added in. Fishing is slow in
the Ludington area. North of Manstee fishing is mainly for lake trout
with only an occasional salmon. In east Traverse Bay whitefish are
biting and smallmouth can be taken in both east and west Traverse Bays.
Saugatuk reports catfish being caught from the pier. Grand Haven reports
pier fishermen taking perch and steelhead. In little Bay DeNoc fishing
is slow. Some walleye and northern pike have come from the Gladstone
area. A few salmon, walleye and smalmouth are coming from the area near
Fairport.
June 24, 2004
Fishing has been slow along the Michigan shore for salmon and trout. The
fish are scattered. If you can locate schools of baitfish, you will
probably find larger fish close by. In the southern part of the lake
some nice catches of perch have been coming from the areas around New
Buffalo, St. Joseph, and South Haven. Walleye are being taken by
trollers near Escanaba.
June 8, 2004
Chinook, coho, steelhead and lake trout can be found in pockets all
along the Michigan shoreline from the Indiana line north to Manistee.
North of Manistee to the Petoskey area the action is mainly with lake
trout with very few salmon being reported. Whitefish catches have been
reported from Traverse Bay. Good catches of perch are coming from the
areas around New Buffalo and South Haven.
Smallmouth activity is picking up near Sturgeon Bay and Oconto,
Wisconsin with northern also being taken near Oconto.
Salmon and trout are coming from the waters off Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
May 16, 2004
A few brown trout are being taken in the Frankfort and Manistee areas.
Salmon and trout fishing is good near New Buffalo, St. Joseph, South
Haven and off Holland and Grand Haven. Perch are biting near Grand
Haven. Walleye have been caught by trollers in Green Bay. Brown tout and
splake are being taken in Little Bay de Noc.
May 11, 2004
On Grand Traverse Bay lake trout are being
caught on the east side and some whitefish have been taken on the west
side. Brown trout are still being taken from the more shallow waters
along the Lake Michigan shoreline, especially in the north. From
Muskegon south salmon fishing has been picking up with good catches
reported near Holland and further south near Benton Harbor and New
Buffalo. Salmon fishing is also reported to be good off the Illinois and
southern Wisconsin shores of Lake Michigan. Walleye and perch are
reportedly being taken off many piers and breakwaters.
May 1, 2004
Chinook, coho, steelhead and browns are being taken in the southern end
of the lakein thirty-five to fifty feet of water. Further north some
browns are being taken by trollers in shallow water and some walleye are
hitting near river mouths. Browns and splake are being taken in Green
Bay and along the Michigan U. P. shore. Perch are hitting in Little Bay
de Noc and in Grand Traverse Bay. Perch are also reported to be hitting
about a mile south of Grand Haven in 60 feet of water. Smallmouth Bass
are often caught in the southern lake waters along breakwaters and close
to rip-rap.
April 16, 2004
Perch and whitefish are being taken in Little Bay De Noc. In Green Bay
walleye fishermen are concentrating their efforts near the mouth of the
Menominee River. Along the Michigan shore of Lake Michigan fishing for
salmon and trout is concentrated in shallower near shore waters. Some
whitefish catches from the piers have been reported at Grand Haven.
April 2, 2004
Steelhead are in the tributary streams and rivers and some are being
taken in the lake near the mouths of the rivers. Brown trout are being
taken by trollers in the shallows near shore. Some whitefish are being
taken by fishermen off piers. Perch are biting along the south shore of
the upper peninsula and in Bay De Noc. Smelt and suckers will soon be
making their spawning runs.
Marinas are opening, boats are being launched, and the charter boats
will soon be cruising the lake in large numbers.
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