The Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Fall fishing is in full swing, but that also means the weather can play a factor in your fishing trip. High winds have prevented some Big Lake anglers from getting out this past week.

SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Grand Haven:  Pier anglers were taking limited catches of chinook, coho and steelhead when casting spoons.  Orange and yellow were the hot colors.

Muskegon:  Wind and wave conditions have made salmon fishing on Lake Michigan almost impossible.  No boats were out.

Muskegon River:  Water levels are very low so fish the deeper holes.

Whitehall:  Had no boat anglers, just too windy.  Pier anglers are catching a few but the action was spotty.  Blue and silver spoons worked best.

White Lake:  Anglers are catching salmon on green and yellow jointed rapalas.  The fish are stacked up just inside the lake toward the Narrows in 16 feet of water.


NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Manistee:  Windy conditions are making it hard for boat anglers to get out.  Those trolling J-plugs around the harbor and the channel have caught a couple salmon.  Glow and chrome with a red head worked best.

Manistee River:  Few fish were up at Tippy Dam but a good number are further downstream including some in Manistee Lake.

Ludington:  Boat anglers were fishing around the harbor.  Those trolling caught salmon on chrome or glow J-plugs.  Pier anglers caught fish in the early morning or late evening when casting glow or white spoons.  Surfcasting was slow.

Pentwater:  No boat anglers to speak of, just too windy.  Pier anglers were few and far between even though a couple salmon were caught on glow spoons either late at night or in the early morning.