Detroit River

For the walleye, muskellunge, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, white bass and the occasional sturgeon that swim the Detroit River, either seasonally or as permanent residents, there is an international boundary out there somewhere, but it matters not to them. The fish are here to feed, or spawn, or both, and the fishermen follow, bouncing from one nation’s jurisdiction to the other, often several times in the same outing.Detroit River runs much deeper and colder than the Maumee River, the walleye run here has a longer duration. The Detroit River is also not subject to the wild springtime fluctuations that the Maumee experiences, when storms can fill the river with debris, spread it out across its banks, and jack up the flow to the point where it is nearly impossible to wade. The walleye fishing here is all done from boats, and while the Thames River drains a large, primarily agricultural watershed, it supplies just a tiny portion of the water that funnels down to the Detroit River.

Greenleaf

: May 19. Elevation above normal, water 68 and murky. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass good on flukes, plastics and spinnerbaits around brush structure, shallows, standing timber and weed beds. Blue and flathead catfish good on live bait, stinkbait and worms around flats, riprap, shallows and shorelines. Crappie fair on minnows and tube jigs around brush structure and docks.

Black Hawk Lake

Water temperatures are in the mid 60’s. Bluegill - Fair: Use crawlers fished under a bobber. Most action has been in Town Bay off the stone piers, the floating dock, and the fish house. Yellow Perch - Fair: Anglers are picking up perch from shore along Ice House Point and the fish house in Town Bay using minnows fished under a bobber. Some have had luck fishing from the inlet bridge. Walleye - Good: Use a slip bobber with a minnow or leech on a lead head jig along the Ice House Point shore, the east end near the outlet north shore, and around the marina. Anglers have also had luck casting black and white twisters. Black Crappie - Fair: Anglers are picking up crappie from shore and the fish house in Town Bay using live minnows fished under a bobber. Target areas with wood or rock cover along shore.

Traverse City

Traverse City: Lake herring were caught in the East Bay between Acme and Deepwater Point in 45 to 50 feet. Those targeting them along the peninsula had no luck. Smallmouth bass were caught at the south end of the bay. Perch anglers had no luck. In the Elk River, steelhead were found at the dam by those using spawn or drifting beads. There are a few bass and plenty of suckers in the river. In the West Bay, those targeting perch in Northport, Suttons Bay, south of Elmwood or in Bowers Harbor could not find them. Lake herring were caught near Bryant Park. Walleye were observed under the docks in Northport. The Boardman River has a light number of steelhead and plenty of suckers.

Little Bay De Noc

Little Bay De Noc: Perch anglers reported fair catches in the “Narrows” in 30 to 38 feet and around the Third Reef in 32 feet with crawlers or wigglers. Good smallmouth bass catches were reported off the mouth of the Ford River with plastics around the rocks and along the shoreline. The walleye opener should be good and much the same as last year. The mouth of the Whitefish River could have some of the better trolling options with crawlers in about 18 feet. The Escanaba River was good last year and probably will be again this year. Bass anglers reported good numbers of walleye around the mouth of the Ford River so this area should also be good.

Chautauqua Lake

 

Crappie action has been a little spotty this week. On Saturday, Capt. Mike Sperry of Chautauqua Reel Outdoors managed to get some nice fish on 1/32-ounce jigs with a rubber tail in deeper water. There was nothing in shallow. On Tuesday, crappie fishing was tougher. The water temp has dropped back to 54 degrees. Minnows under a slip bobber and small rubber jigs will work when the conditions are right. Walleye have been landed by fisherman slow trolling worm harnesses in 10-feet of water during the day. The best bite is still after dark casting F9 and F11 Rapalas and Shadow Raps from shore (wading). The Chautauqua Lake Bassmasters will hold its annual Team Crappie Tournament this Sunday.

Allegheny River

(Venango, Clarion counties) Good walleye and smallmouth fishing was reported from Emlenton to Lock No. 9. Northern pike and muskellunge were caught near the mouths of Redbank Creek and the Clarion River. Soft plastics were effective near the mouth of French Creek.

Storm Lake

Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
 Water temperatures are in the mid 50’s. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers have picked up crappie in the marina using crawlers and minnows fished under a bobber. White Bass – Fair: Use crawlers and twisters. Walleye – Fair: Some are having luck from shore in the marina and along the north and east shores with twisters, leeches and minnows.