Hook & Hunting: November 8 Weekly Fishing Report - Northern Michigan's News Leader

NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

Cheboygan River: Leftover salmon were still being caught up near the dam. The better fishing for steelhead was early morning or late evening with spawn, yarn, small spinners or small spoons. Good colors are blue and silver, orange and silver, pink and chartreuse.

Rogers City: Pier anglers should find brown trout when casting cleo's, bombers or small spoons.

Thunder Bay River: More steelhead were moving in as temperatures dropped. Most are floating spawn or casting rapalas and small spoons up near the dam. Good colors were orange, chartreuse, pink or silver.

Oscoda: Pier anglers targeting steelhead will want to try spoons or body baits.

Au Sable River: Steelhead coming in from the lake can be found all the up to Foote Dam. The numbers are increasing and the fish are good size. Spawn or small spoons have caught fish in all areas of the river.

Higgins Lake: This can be a good time of year to find perch. Try 25 to 40 feet of water around the Sunken Island or just off Big Creek.

Houghton Lake: Look for large and smallmouth bass in the canals. Those looking for walleye could try floating minnows or drifting crawler harnesses.

Tawas River: Still has a few leftover salmon. More steelhead were moving up into the river. Try spawn or wax worms. 

Au Gres River: Should still have some good action for steelhead, brown trout and Atlantic salmon. The better action has been in the lower end of Whitney Drain and for those surfcasting near the Singing Bridge. Try spawn, spoons or plugs.

NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Petoskey: Pier anglers are out and trying for coho, Chinook or pink salmon with spawn, small spinners or small spoons. Try orange, pink or chartreuse.

Bear River: Anglers are now catching more steelhead. Try spawn, skein or yarn. Some are fly fishing.

Elk River: Is producing coho and steelhead. Try floating spawn and skein or casting small spoons and spinners.

Boardman River: Is producing coho and steelhead even with the lower water levels. Fish the deeper holes for now.

Frankfort: Steelhead have been caught in the surf and off the piers.

Betsie River: Is producing steelhead. Those fishing up near the Homestead Dam caught fish on spawn.

Manistee: Is producing some steelhead for those surfcasting as well as those fishing off the piers. Try early morning, late evening or during the day when the weather is nasty.

Manistee River: Water levels are low and clear again which makes steelhead fishing somewhat difficult. Conditions like this require light leaders and small stealthy presentations to get them to bite.

Ludington: Steelhead were caught in the surf and off the piers. Fish early, late or when the weather is nasty.

Pere Marquette River: Water levels were low and clear and could stay that way for a while. The low and clear water conditions require light leaders especially if fish are on the gravel. For now, try fishing the deeper holes.

UPPER PENINSULA

Keweenaw Bay: Salmon and lake trout are still out there for those that have not put their boats away.

Fall's River: Is producing coho and steelhead for those casting spoons and spinners or drifting crawlers and spawn bags.

Menominee River: Is a good spot to target walleye, steelhead or brown trout. Try drifting fresh spawn, small spoons or rapalas.

Little Bay De Noc: Walleye catches are getting better every week as water temperatures drop below 50 degrees. The fish are in so there is no better time than now. Fish were caught during the day but the better reports are still coming by those fishing at night. During the day, the best catches were taken between the Second and Third Reefs by those trolling stick baits in 25 to 30 feet of water. Night anglers reported good catches between the Center Reef and the Black Bottom. Most were trolling crank baits or stick baits in 10 to 28 feet of water. The fish were averaging 21 to 23 inches. Perch action was fair for those using minnows or crawlers in 10 to 25 feet of water off Kipling.

St. Mary's River: This is a good time of year to target smallmouth bass. Try fishing around the points and the islands.