Inland lakes fishing remains effective

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Anglers are excited with upcoming prospects. (Star file photo)

BIG RAPIDS -- The DNR reports big water anglers are beginning to pull their boats, but as the waters cool, the inland lakes were effective for bass, walleye, pike and panfish. The DNR reminds anglers the fishing season on all Type 1 and Type 2 streams as well as all Type A and Type D inland trout lakes will close after Sept. 30.

In Osceola County, "it is getting pretty slow," Brad Cox, of Buck Country Bait & Tackle in LeRoy said.

"We have a few guys still going after pan fish. Most guys are headed to the river for salmon. Most guys are getting ready for bow season (Oct. 1 start)

In Mecosta County," the bluegills are biting pretty good at Evans and other area lakes," Greg Clark of Shafer's Bait and Tackle in Weidman. "Otherwise, they're getting ready for hunting."

Those trolling at Frankfort caught a couple fresh Chinook salmon, the DNR said, adding coho numbers were holding steady in Platte Bay. Pier anglers were getting Chinook, coho and steelhead in the evening, the DNR said.

"They're still catching a few salmon in the Betsie," Dan Osborn of Osborn's Sport Shop in Bear Lake, said. "There's salmon fishing going at the Betsie River."

Perch anglers at Portage Lake reported moderate catches off the point and in front of the bible camp with worms. The DNR said those trolling for coho near the channel caught pike.

"There's tons of salmon in the river," Chelsea Pete of Dloop Oufitters in Wellston said. "We should see some steelhead show up in a week or two."

Surface temperature readings at Manistee inched up to about 67 degrees, so fishing remains slow. Warm water top to bottom, the DNR said, made things tough for pier anglers. Anglers found good numbers of coho and steelhead in deeper water.

"We finally got some rain and we're working at cooling the water back off," Rob Eckerson of Pappy's Bait Shop in Wellston said. "The peak will be in a week at Tippy. The Betsie and Pere Marquette have a fair number of fish. They're getting perch out of Lake Arcadia."

While the warm-up may have slowed catch rates at the Manistee River, salmon were still moving up into the river and will continue to do so especially with any rain and cooler temperatures. The peak of the run, the DNR said, typically occurs in the first week of October.

"There's good numbers of salmon in the river and now in Pine Creek and Bear Creek," Bud Fitzgerald of Tangled Tackle Fish Co. in Mamistee said. "A few steelhead are starting to make a push. I haven't heard anything about coho yet in the river."

Bluegill fishing at Hamlin Lake was steady in the upper lake with boats getting 10-to-25 fish per trip. Most were using worms in 7 to 10 feet in front of Indian Pete's Bayou. The DNR said pike fishing was decent though most were on the small side. Walleye fishing was slow.

Ludington, the DNR said, still had warmer water. Coho and steelhead were hitting spoons 50 to 90 feet down in 200 to 400 feet where the cooler water was found. Pier anglers caught small coho on spawn.

At the Pere Marquette River, salmon were still running and could be found in the South Branch in Oceana County, the DNR said

Fishing Tip: Is your outdoor first-aid kit ready to go?

Courtesy of the Michigan DNR

Do you carry a first-aid kit with you while you're out fishing? You never know what can happen, so it never hurts to be prepared.

If you're interested in putting together a kit be sure to include the following:

Rubber gloves

Scissors

Tweezers

Thermometer