Hook & Hunting: November 15 Weekly Fishing Report - Northern Michigan's News Leader

NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

Alpena: As is the case when firearm deer season is starting, the whitefish are also beginning to hit in earnest. There are lots of whitefish on the reefs in Thunder Bay. The better spots to fish may be the Grass Island Reef and Partridge Point. Pier anglers are also catching fish.

Thunder Bay River: Has lots of whitefish being caught at dawn and dusk up near the 9th Street Dam. Fish were also caught down near the mouth.

Oscoda: Pier anglers are targeting steelhead and whitefish. Chinook salmon were still trickling in and are in good shape. Try small spoons, body baits and spinners off the pier. Walleye were also caught on crawlers or body baits.

Au Sable River: Schools of whitefish are moving up into the river. The best catches were off the breakwalls and at the mouth however they can also be found several miles upstream. Steelhead are also in with good numbers of fish caught from Oscoda to the Foote Dam. Early morning and late afternoon were best however fish were caught throughout the day. Most of them are chrome colored but you might get the occasional dark fish. All seem healthy and good size. Chinook salmon can still be found. They were hitting on spawn or wax worms. Walleye are starting to make their way into the river. 

Tawas: The whitefish catch from the breakwall will peak this week and next.

Tawas River: Has a fair to good number of steelhead being caught between the mouth and the park. Most are floating spawn or wax worms.

Au Gres River: Continues to produce chrome colored steelhead closer to the mouth. Fish were still being caught in the lower end of Whitney Drain and near the Singing Bridge. Try floating or casting spawn, small spoons or plugs.

NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

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

Boardman River: Has steelhead all the way up to the Sabin Dam however the better catch rates were downstream because of the low water levels. Rain is needed to bring more fish in.

Betsie River: Is producing steelhead. Those fishing up near the Homestead Dam caught fish on spawn, spinners or small spoons. Some were fly fishing.

Manistee: Pier and surf anglers are catching steelhead.

Manistee River: Anglers are catching some steelhead however the lack of rain has led to low water levels which makes fishing more difficult. Find the deeper holes.

Ludington: Steelhead were caught in the surf and off the piers in the early morning or late evening.

Pere Marquette River: Low water levels continue to challenge steelhead anglers. Fish are being caught in the deeper holes. Most are drifting spawn or flies.

UPPER PENINSULA

Marquette: Anglers are picking up whitefish and trout off the breakwall in the Lower Harbor. Most are using eggs.

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

Little Bay De Noc: Perch fishing was fair. Off Kipling, anglers fished crawlers in 8 to 25 feet of water but most of the fish were small. Those fishing Gladstone Beach, the mouth of the Escanaba River and the Escanaba Yacht Harbor had the same results. Walleye catches were down except for those night fishing. They did well when trolling stick baits in 10 to 28 feet of water along the reefs near Kipling or 12 to 25 feet near the Black Bottom. Some nice walleye were caught near the Escanaba Lighthouse when jigging minnows in 20 to 35 feet of water. Northern pike have been very active and were caught by those trolling for walleye.