Lake Erie/Ohio: Captain Mike McCroskey could hardly contain himself when he was delivering a live fishing report from the big lake this week. Big Mike fishes the “Hawg Hanger,” a 27-foot Sportcraft Fisherman running out of Wild Wings Marina, and he reports full-boat walleye limits are commonplace for his clients, often by 9 a.m. McCroskey moved to drift fishing a couple of weeks ago, targeting post-spawn fish that are staging on “The Flats.” Walleye are putting on the feed bag, McCroskey said, and he’s picking up fish on the bottom, using gold weapons and bottom bouncers. He said the fish are gorging themselves on wigglers — the larvae of the mayfly. Contact McCroskey at 419-460-7815 for the specifics.
Lake Erie/Michigan: The MDNR reports walleye anglers are taking regular limits trolling orange and white crawler harnesses on the bottom in 22 feet of water around the “Dumping Grounds,” while trollers also had success with green Hot ‘N Tots fished 15 feet down in 20 feet of water. From Stony Point to the Raisin River, walleye anglers are finding fish in 20 to 24 feet of water using copper and green crawler harnesses. In Brest Bay, walleye are holding in 20 to 30 feet of water and being caught on crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers and on spoons.
Maumee River: It is a little early for the summer doldrums to set in, but once the walleye and white bass runs are over, there is usually a lull before the river is officially in its regular June-July-August pattern. Official river watcher Joe Roecklein reports that working live baits on the bottom has produced catfish, sheepshead, and some decent-sized white perch. Live minnows fished under a bobber or tipped on chartreuse twister tails might pick up some of the remnant white bass that missed the call to return to the lake.
Sandusky River: The river has settled back to a near normal level, but is still a bit muddy as it completes its recovery from a prolonged round of heavy rains in the watershed. Bernie Whitt from Angler’s Supplies in downtown Fremont reports that the river’s catfish have been the most active in recent days, with worms, shrimp, or cut baits tight-lined and fished just off the bottom producing fish. Whitt said he believes that the bulk of the white bass has completed the spawning run and returned to Lake Erie.
Detroit River: The MDNR reports that good numbers of white bass are being taken in the waterway, from the Wyandotte boat launch south to Pointe Mouillee. Anglers are using spinner rigs or jigs with twister tails, tipped with minnows. The most productive colors have been white and chartreuse.
Lake St. Clair: Guide Spencer Berman was out on the water for the muskie opener last Saturday, and despite 30-mph winds out of the north and a cold snap, his clients boated three muskies, including a 45-incher. Berman said the opening period of the season is usually much better, but a cold spring and some lethargic, recently spawned fish made things tough on the anglers. The Sylvania native and muskie specialist expects the fishing will be a bit of a grind until the water temperature catches up with the calendar.
Irish Hills: The clear waters of the lakes in this southeast Michigan vacation haven have been serving up bluegills and a few redear sunfish for anglers patient enough to move around the traditional spawning complexes and locate the fish. Most of the bluegills were staging in deeper water near the beds. Worms and live crickets fished about four feet under floats were productive, with a few rock bass and an occasional largemouth bass joining the fun.
Free fishing days: Michigan’s “Free Fishing Weekend” takes place Saturday and Sunday. All fishing license, ORV license, trail permit, and Recreation Passport fees are waived both days, but all other regulations still apply.
First Published June 7, 2018, 7:16 p.m.
