10-31-11
Rogers City and
Presque Isle
This is it folks I am done with creel til April
2012. Its been a relatively
quiet week for weather and there have been some
good days to hit the big lake.
A couple of hearty souls have been out at both
ports. They are still getting
some immature salmon along with steelhead and
lakers that have to be thrown back
due to season closure. Best depths have
been 60-85ft and fishing the top half
of the water column. Good colors have been
greens blue and silver orange and
silver black and white.
There are a lot of browns in the marina at
Rogers City. Anglers are fishing for
them but having a tough time getting them to
bite. November should be an
excellent month to fish for them and catch a
few. Try casting spoons body baits
and spawn under a bobber for best results.
Ocqueoc River should really kick
into hight gear in Nov for steelies. I
heard there was a lot of them taking
until the river froze over. Try drifting
spawn and small orange spinners for
best results. The docks are still in at
both Rogers City and Presque Isle at
this time but both marinas are now closed for
the season. Well enjoy the
hunting season and hard water season to come.
Until next year tight lines good
luck hunting and have a great winter.
Julie Shafto
10-23-11
Rogers
City and Presque Isle
It has certainly changed weather wise from what
it was a week ago. Its been
cold rainy and very windy. Not many
chances to fish the lake. This past
weekend was beautiful though and a few anglers
took advantage of it. Despite
all of the wind the ifsh and bait was
still present bait especially. Most of
the activity has been 65-80ft of water and
fishing about half way down and
higher up. Few smaller kings and steelies
were caught and of course lakers
which have to be thrown back. Good colors
have been greens and yellows blue and
silver and orange and silver.
Been seeing many browns around the harbor and
some anglers trying to catch them
but they will not hit. Best way to try for
them is spawn and bobber or casting
with spoons and body baits.
Both marinas are now closed to provide services
like gas or pump out but the
launch ramp docks are still in. Cleaning
stations are closed and winterized due
to cold temps lately.
Until next week tight lines and good luck
fishing.
10-16-11
Rogers City and Presque Isle
The first half of the week was super weather
wise. Fish were still being taken
as well. Both ports were producing
steelies and smaller 3-12lb kings and of
course lakers but the season has been closed on
those fish since Oct 1. Still
hearing from angers the numbers of bait fish
they continue to see on their
graphs. Its been unreel.
Most of the fish seem to be taken from about
55-120ft of water and fishing the
top half of the water column. Good colors
have been greens, blues, whites,
blacks and silver and orange.
The fish cleaning station is now closed in
Rogers City but docks are still in
and will be for a while yet. The dock at
Presque Isle is still in as well but
at the night the light is off at the launch ramp
making it hard to see the dock
when coming in.
Anglers are starting to catch browns on a
regular basis off the breakwall
casting spoons and bodybaits early and late in
the day. The windy nasty days
seem to be better during daylight hours.
For now most anglers have put away the big water
boats and focusing on bow
hunting and many other hunting seasons now
taking place.
10-9-11
Rogers City and Presque Isle
The ungodly amounts bait has been the real story
over the last week. It is
everywhere in shallow and out as deep as 120 ft
of water. The fish are there but
anglers have to try and hit the fish on the bite
otherwise it's tough. The fish
being taken have been stuffed with mostly age
zero smelt and many age zero
alewife. Smaller spoons have been good and any
kind of color that resembles
smelt blues and greens or grays whites and
blacks. Fishing mostly about half way
down the water column in 50-80ft of water.
Steelies have also been taken they
have been taken up high with leadcores and
Downriggers set high. Oranges and
silver or bright pinks have been good.
Mostly immature kings and steelies along
with lakers have been taken but the lake trout
season is closed and they must be
immediately released.
At Rogers City they have taken an occasional
brown and salmon off the wall
casting with spoons and bodybaits. Lots of
minnows in the harbor this past week.
There is still plenty of action to cash in on if
anglers still water to hit the
big water fishing. The fish are very
healthy and in very good shape for the
winter months. Until next time right lines
and good luck fishing.
10-2-11
We
have had a major cold front and lots of wind
since the start of the weekend.
It will change everything from last week. Lake
trout season is now closed until
May 1 2012. Secondly the big cold front pushed a
lot of salmon up to swan weir.
So far this is the best return I have seem in 5
years. Lots of fish and nice
looking fish as well.
Rogers City
There is still chances to fish for adult fish.
Best bet is to anchor and cast in
swan bay. Remember there is no fishing from
shore or up along the river. Private
property. Before all of the wind it
was descent for immature salmon and
steelhead. Try depths anywhere from 40-120ft and
fish about half way down. Best
bet is to find the bait fish and the fish should
be close by. Good colors to try
are greens, blues, oranges, yellows and
combinations of green blue and silver or
orange and silver.
Browns have been caught off the marina wall in
good numbers as of late. Try
casting with cleos and body baits. Fishing with
spawn and bobber has also been
successful. A few salmon have also been taken.
Presque Isle
Great fishing for immature salmon and steelies
before the big storm. Hopefully
it didn't scatter the fish and bait too much.
Try waters 55-85ft deep and fish
the top half of the water column. Try green
blues oranges and silvers.
Keys to look for is bait and structure.
Until next week tight lines and good
luck fishing.
9-18-11
It's been a wild week of weather and almost went
from summer to fall and no it
seems like it's going back to summer, ugg.
We recently this past week have been
delt some very heavy north to northwest winds
and has made it very difficult to
fish until this past weekend. There seems to be
a lot of fish hanging in and
around swan bay with lots of jumpers according
to anglers out in boats fishing
that area.
Rogers City
Tough in getting out but when anglers can swan
bay is the place to be. Anglers
are fishing anywhere from 8 ft of water out to
70ft for best results. Anglers
fishing shallow are pretty much using planer
boards and high lining bombers and j
plugs pearl in color. Anglers fishing deeper
have done better fishing about half
way down the water column Using spoons j plugs
attractors with squids or flies.
Good colors have been greens blues oranges pinks
yellows and silvers. Anglers
headed north up towards 40 mile pt have been
rewarded with some nice silver
immature fish.
Presque Isle
Silvers should be around and yes a few have been
taken along with the occasional
laker and steelhead. Best has been north of the
big lighthouse off black point.
Try fishing waters 45-70ft and just above the
temp break.
The big thing right now is to look for the bait
as the immature fish are
hungrary and preparing for winter. Temp right
now is not as important but the
food is.
9-11
Another great week of fishing
especially at Rogers City. Many nice kings have
been caught plus a real good mixed bag fishery
is back. Quite a number of
different species like lake trout steelies
browns coho and walleye have all been
taken this past week.
Rogers City
Salmon along with a great mixed bag fishery has
really been great. Anglers are
mostly fishing south towards swan bay Adams pt
and calcite. Anglers are using a
number of ways to take fish Downriggers leadcore
dipseys. They are deploying
them about half way down in water column fishing
depths any where from 35-80ft.
Colors have mostly been greens blues silvers
oranges and black and white.
Anglers are using mostly spoons plugs and
attractors with either squids cutbait
or flies. Don't rule out heading north
towards 40 mile pt as there are silver
salmon available.
Presque Isle
Slower fishing but anglers can still catch kings
lakers along with the
occasional walleye steelhead etc. Best has been
north between the two
lighthouses. Try depths like 50-90ft and fish
half way down or where the temp
break is. Also find the baitfish as the fish
here are getting ready for the
winter.
Fishing has been much better in the evening
hours at Rogers. It seems to be
early before sun up and just before it gets
dark. Find the bait fish and hit the
structure. Until next week tight lines and food
luck fishing.
8-28-11
It's been
another wild week of weather. A lot of wind and
winds from the
northwest and west which has piled a ton of warm
water into the area sending the
salmon fishery down hill. They are catching them
and some very nice ones. With
the warm water etc look to get them very early
before sun up and the last hour
or so of day.
Rogers City
Look for the salmon to be staging off deeper
waters of swan bay like 50-90ft.
Try fishing higher early and late in the day
fish deeper in the water column
near the thermocline or towards bottom during
light hours of the day. Try to
find structure and bait fish as those have been
magnets for the salmon. Up
towards 40 mile pt and straight out of the
harbor has also been productive at
times. A mixed bag of chinooks lakers browns
steelhead along with walleye have
all been taken this past week. A few salmon have
been taken on plugs and
flashers or attractors with flies and squids.
Good colors have been white,
black, greens,blues,bloody nose,and things that
glow early and late.
Presque Isle
Anglers are having to work hard for fish. They
are getting a mixed bag of mostly
chinooks lakers occasional steelhead. They are
targeting walleyes with success
using crawler harnesses close to the bottom.
The salmon and trout have been
coming between the 2 light houses fishing the
structure in that area. The fish
are very scattered with the winds and
unpredictable weather as of late. Best
depths have been 45-90ft fishing about half way
down.
If we can get some stable weather or consistent
weather again look for fishing
to really improve again before the salmon run
the river. Look for structure find
the bait fish and be sure to get out bright and
early or stay out past sun down
in the evening. Evenings have been a little
better as of late. Tight lines and
good luck fishing.
8-21-11
It's been
a great week for fishing even though anglers
continue to dodge
weather. If it's not wind it's storms. Hasn't
deterred anglers though as many
very nice kings have been taken. Many mid teens
and many 15-20lbs as well.
Beautiful fish and been hearing lots of fish
stories about the big one getting
away. Early before sun up has been
good as well as the last couple hours of
day light and even an hour or so past dark has
been good as well.
Rogers City
Adult kings are finally starting to show up all
over the coast line. Find the
structure baitfish and thermocline and the fish
will be there. Best depths have
been 50-90 and fishing about half way down or
where temp is. If no cold water
around anglers are pulling them off the bottom.
Good colors have been bloody
nose blue dolphin ghost blue and silver black
and white and glow stuff early and
late. Many of the fish have been
full of alewives this past week so use colors
that imitate them. A few steelies
walleye and lakers continued to be mixed in
as well. Swan Bay out deeper is
starting to see a few kings. It's been a
heavily targeted spot. There seems to be fish
pretty much scattered all over.
Presque Isle
A mixed bag of salmon with some lakers are
showing up. Walleyes have been
targeted pretty heavy with some results. Crawler
harnesses and cranks off boards
have been working. The salmon and trout are
coming anywheres from 60-110 ft of
water and fishing where the thermocline is.
Blues greens white black and glows
have all been good colors. Straight out from the
red can at the harbor and
between the 2 lighthouses north of the marina
has been good places to fish.
Again find the structure baitfish and temp and
fish should be around.
Until next week tight lines and good luck
fishing.
8-14-11
It's been
another wild week of weather. Calm seas then
winds storms and
everything else. Needless to say fishing has
been alot like the weather up and
down. The good news is that there are some nice
kings and quite a mixed box
fishery with salmon steelhead lake trout browns
and the occasional walleye.
Rogers City
Nice kings but not many for numbers. Many of
them have been 12-18 lbs. Also
steelies few lakers with the occasional brown
and walleye have filled the boxes.
Good depths to try are 45-95ft and fishing
towards the bottom when the water is
warm of when it's cool about half way down.
Anglers are using Downriggers
leadcores copper and dipseys to achieve these
depths. Looking for the
thermocline along with structure and baitfish
has been very important. If you
pick up a fish go back over that spot
repeatedly. Good places to try have been
north towards the pumphouse state park and 40
mile pt and south towards swan
bay. Good colors have been blue,
green, white, black and purple. Glow stuff
early and late. Some flashers with flies squids
and cutbait has also taken a few
Presque Isle
Pretty much the same with the exceptions of the
getting fish south towards
stoneport or north between the two light houses.
Until next week tight lines and good luck
fishing and get out and go fishing.
8-7-11
Fishing
this week still continues to be hit or miss or
spotty for the most part.
The good news is that the water is cold so that
should help matters much. More
bait fish has also been present.
Rogers City
A mixed bag of salmon lakers and steelies have
been taken along with occasional
walleye. Good depths have been from 45-90 ft of
water and fishing the temp break
where ever that may be. Anglers are achieving
this using leadcores dowriggers
copper and dipsey divers. Good colors have been
blue and silver white and black
greens and some cutbait with flashers are also
producing. Good places have been
straight out from the harbor north towards the
state park and 40 mile pt and
south towards swan bay and Adams point.
Presque Isle
A mixed bag of salmon lakers and steelies have
been taken along with occasional
walleye. Good depths have been from 45-90 ft of
water and fishing the temp break
where ever that may be. Anglers are achieving
this using leadcores dowriggers
copper and dipsey divers. Good colors have been
blue and silver white and black
greens and some cutbait with flashers are also
producing. Good places have been
straight out of the harbor or red can south
towards stone port and north towards
the big light house.
7-24-11
Fishing
was as good as it could possibly get with some
nice kings steelies,
atlantics, browns, lakers with the occasional
walleye and then the lake turns
over late in the week and by the weekend it was
as poor as it could get with
water temperatures in the 70's all the way down
to 80 ft in 100ft of water ouch.
Both ports produced and both ports had some
acceptional kings taken with many in
the mid teen range and close to 20lbs.
Steelies were all over the place as well
and several atlantic salmon were also taken.
A few limits of trout and salmon
were also taken. Since about Thursday
things have slowed with the very warm
water but the good news it that we had a hard
east wind Sunday so that will
change things for the better.
Rogers City
Before all of the warm water piled in here
fishing was great. They were getting
kings and bunches of steelies. The
steelies were high leadcores of 3 or 5
colors was fantastic with spoons of orange pink
and green glow or any type of
brightly colored spoon that had orange pink or
red fished the top 30ft or so.
Kings were taken very early in the morning and
some really nice ones as well,
many in the 15-20lb class range. Good
colors were spoons with any kind of green
on them and of course early and late in the day
spoons that have the extended
glow worked very well early and late in the day.
The best depths seem to be
anywhere from about 55-115ft of water and
finding the temp break where ever that
may be. No real one spot north or south
has been better than the other both
ways have been productive it seems. The
best results for the bigger kings has
been very early in the morning about an hour or
so before the sun rises.
Mornings over all have been much better any way.
A fair amount of atlantics
along with a few lakers with the occasional
brown and walleye were also showing
up in angler catches.
Presque Isle
Before all of the warm water piled in here
fishing was great. They were getting
kings and bunches of steelies. The best
was straight out of the harbor from the
red can and north between the 2 light houses in
the hole and off the big light
house point. Stone port also produced some
fish as well. They were pretty much
getting kings, steelies, atlantics, lakers along
with the occasional brown and
walleye. The best depths have been
anywhere from 55-120ft of water and fishing
where the thermocline is or shallow very early
in the morning and moving out
deeper as sun rises. Good colors have been
anything with green and silver,
green and yellow, and green with blue. The
oranges, pinks reds and silvers
fished up high caught steelies. Spoons
that had the extended glow have been
good for fishing early and late in the day for
best results. Mornings have been
much better than evenings for catching fish.
Fished Wed and had a ball. Ended up with 8
steelies couple of kings lost some
and threw some back and lost or missed at least
another dozen or so. It was a
blast.
A couple of keys find the thermocline is a must
this year, the fish are riding
right in it, secondly find bait fish. They
have been hard to come by but if you
can find them the fish are there. Thirdly
you land one go right back to that
area and work it over. Lastly find and
fish structure there always seem to be
some fish hanging around
7-18-11
Things are looking up after a dismal last week
where the fish were so scattered
and few and far between. Anglers took a real
variety over the weekend main kings
steelies lakers with an occasional brown
atlantic and walleye. Fish are still
scattered but there seems to be a few more
around especially kings and steelies.
Pretty good weekend for those species.
Rogers City
More and more kings are showing up plus steelies
lakers already around. The fish
seem to be scattered all over no one spot seems
to be the best right now. Best
depths have been 60-120 ft of water.
Fishing way deep at 130ft plus has been
productive at times. The fish are high set
riggers 45 and up leadcore of 3,4,7
colors and dipseys or slide diver set to fish
the top 30 ft of water have all
been very productive. Good colors have been
green and green glows, pink and
orange, green and copper, chartreuse, blue, and
black and white. Glows have been
good early and late in the day. Finding the
structure and bait fish in
particular has been very important and finding
the bait so far has been very
difficult in many cases.
Presque Isle
What the locals call the farm has been very
productive. Fish up high and cover
the top 45 ft or so of the water column.
fish riggers top 45 ft and try
leadcores of 3,5,7 colors and dipsey or slide
divers set in the top 30ft.
If this stable weather pattern continues to
develop. I expect fishing to really
improve. We have an excellent thermocline
developing. Been do better myself but
been loosing a number of steelies with their
acrobatics. Been a lot of fun and
they really have been air born.
7-10-11
Fishing this past week has been real hit or
miss, one day the fish are here and
they next day they have moved on or a different
area. Both ports of Rogers City
and Presque Isle have been this way. When
the fish are around its been a wide
variety of species of salmon and trout mainly
chinooks lake trout steelhead
atlantics pinks with the occasional coho and
walleye. The good news is that
steelies have arrived and there seems to be many
to catch. A few chinooks have
been taken as well with a number of them in the
teens or 5-8lbs. Its been best
to hit the sturctured areas for both ports.
Early in the day or very late
evening has been better with mornings being the
best.
Rogers City and Presque Isle
Quite a variety pack when the fish are around
and active. Best depths have been
65-120ft of water and fishing anywhere in the
water column. Downriggers
leadcore of 2, 3, 5, and 7 colors have all been
good. Use the brighter spoons
like the pinks oranges and silvers up high for
steelies. Other colors that have
been good are blue, monkey puke, mixed veggies
purple white on white bloody nose
and charturse. Finding structure and bait
fish has been very important. There
seems to be smelt towards the bottom in deeper
water as many anglers have
commented on the baitfish out deeper.
7-3-11
It's been
a variety pack for fish species as well as
weather conditions. Both
ports have been seeing a variety of fish species
but no numbers of anyone
species. They have been catching chinooks
steelhead pink salmon lake trout
Atlantic salmon coho and a few browns mixed in
as well. Be a good bet to look on
structure points and to look for bait fish and
scum lines that hold bugs and
bait fish.
Rogers City
The best seems to be between the marina and up
towards 40 mile pt lighthouse.
Best depths have been 50-120ft of water and
fishing the top half of the water
column. Good colors have been greens, silver,
blues, pearl or white, oranges,
and glows early and late.
Presque Isle
Best fishing has been between the red can and
big lighthouse point. Good depths
have been 55-120 ft of water and fishing the top
half of the water column. Look
for bug slicks for some top water action for
steelies coho and pinks. Good
colors have been greens purples silver oranges
pearl or white black and combos
with silver in them.
6-26-11
If it werent for Sundays beautiful weather that
saved the week for fishing no
anglers would have been out at all.
Good day for fishing as well as catching.
Mostly lakers but they seem to be willing just
about any time of the day. This
past week we have been bombarded with east winds
and rain for the entire week.
Other than Sunday anglers snuck out very little
or got chased off quickly.
Rogers City
Good laker fishing pretty much from the harbor
on up the lake to 40 mile pt
light. Best depths have been 40-75 fishing just
about anywhere in the water
column. Cowbells with the peanuts or spin glos
have been very good along with
them hitting spoons on occasion. Just trickles
of salmon and steelies coming in
right now. A few mayflies are beginning to show
up. Once they do expect the
steelies to be right with them.
Presque Isle
Every shift there this week there has been no
angling activity due to bad
weather. Lakers along with the occasional salmon
should be around. Try depths
45-90 ft fishing through the entire water
column.
For both ports start fishing the structure more.
Hope for some more summer like
weather and stability in the weather patterns.
Until next week go get outdoors
and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer.
6-18
Fishing this past week has been a bit on
the slow side especially the ladder part
of the week for both parts. I am
thinking that we have entered the
transitional zone where the lakers are
moving out to deeper water and waiting
for the rest of the fish to show up.
There are trickles of other species
coming in but no numbers. Kings, lakers,
steelhead, coho, pinks, atlantics and
browns have been showing up in small
numbers. We continued to get hampered
with east winds and it looks like this
whole next week will be east winds
again.
Presque Isle
Lakers have still been caught in the
25-40ft of water but many of them have
been too small to keep. The larger fish
are now deeper. I did see an angler
that fished way out in 200 ft of water
and he had a beautiful box og mixed fish
including a 16lb king. It looks like as
though hitting that deep water may be
the ticket. Everything he caught was
high but the water depth was 200ft.
Other anglers have been fishing closer
to shore mostly between the 2 big light
houses in 45-120ft of water and fishing
the top 55ft. Colors have mostly been
greens, blues, purples, whites, black
and white, oranges and silvers mixed in
with those colors.
Rogers City
Lakers have been taken on a pretty
regular basis but anglers have had to go
north of the harbor 8-10miles to catch
them. They have been mostly north of 40
mi pt on those hills. Fishing close to
the bottom and suspended has been
working. A few salmon have also been
taken in the area as well. Anglers
have been fishing pretty much all up and
down the coast in the area. The fish
are very scattered. Best spots to try
and fish around is the structure areas.
Trickles of steelies pinks coho Chinooks
have also been taken. They have been
higher up in the water column. Colors
have mostly been greens, blues, purples,
whites, black and white, oranges and
silvers mixed in with those colors.
If
the wind ever stops blowing from the
east or just stops fishing should really
improve, stability is the key. Until
next week tight lines and good luck
fishing.
6-12
Fishing
in the area was a tough go this past week. In
between all the storms
were some opportunities while the weekend was
rough and windy with the cold
front that moved in
Rogers City
A mix of lakers, chinooks, Atlantics with the
occasional steelhead and brown can
be caught. Everything has been caught in less
than 100 ft of water and fishing
the top half of the water column even a few
lakers are being caught suspended.
For the most part lakers are being taken close
to the bottom with a mix of
cowbells dodgers with spin glos along with
spoons. Good colors have been silver
and green blue and silver orange and silver and
colors that look a lot like
smelt. Fish have been full of them.
Good spots to fish have been south towards
Adams pt and past it straight out from the
harbor or north towards the state
park and 40 mi pt and past it.
Browns were taken off the wall this past week
using green and bronze gold rattle traps.
Presque Isle
Good for lakers along with an occasional
Atlantic and chinook. Lakers are being
caught off the big light house pt in waters
25-35 ft and very close to the
bottom. They also have been caught deeper close
to the bottom and suspended.
Dodgers with spin glos or cowbells with spin
glos have been the ticket. In the
shallow water highlining with some weight has
been deadly.
Water temps are still cold for this time of year
in the low 50's on the surface
and mid 40's below. Earlier in the week with the
heat june bugs were on the
surface. Pretty soon another week or two I
expect steelies to be here.
Was out this week targeting lakers well caught a
couple plus a bonus king. Very
nice healthy fish. Also saw bugs on the water
with a bug and pollen slick.
Fished it picking up a laker and the king close
by. Until next week tight lines
and good luck fishing.
5-30
A
surprise weekend for fishing considering most of
last week was a real bust.
Once again the wind from the east has been non
stop. Its been making it rough
and difficult for boat anglers to get out.
Mornings have been better as far as
getting out but afternoon and evening fishing
has been better for catching.
Lake breezes pick up around noon or so and the
lake gets rough. The weekend
shows up and surprise surprise the weather and
wind was very quiet and allowed
anglers to get out. Results were quite
surprising to say the least. Quite a
mixed bag of lake trout, chinooks and atlantic
salmon with an occasional brown
were taken from both ports.
Rogers City
Lake trout fishing continues to pick up.
The problem remains most of the lakers
caught are way too big to keep. The max
size limit is 24in or one can be 32 in
and up. The limit is 3 fish per angler or
license. The real surprise over the
weekend was the number of atlantics and chinook
salmon taken. Most of the
anglers were targeting whatever bites basically
anymore. The best was trolling
depths 35-60ft and then 80-100ft of water and
fishing the top half of the water
column. Greens, blues, with silver were
good colors. Orange and silver was
also good. Body baits that look like smelt
and or gobies were also a good
choice. The fish have been chuck full of
gobies mostly in lakers and the rest
have had smelt and stickle backs in them.
The fish seem to be scattered for the
most part no real one spot is better than the
other right now. The water temps
are still very cold surface is barely 45degrees
but closer to the shore its been
a little warmer. As the weather begins to
settle out along with quieter winds
hopefully things will get better. Weather
stability is key to improve the
fishing. The fish seem to be there despite
all of the crazy weather. The
marina is full of minnows and there seems to be
a fair number of atlantics and
browns swimming around. Try casting small
spoons in orange, gold and silver or
body baits. The other choice is to try big
blues from a bobber.
Presque Isle
Lake trout fishing continues to pick up.
The problem remains most of the lakers
caught are way too big to keep. The real
surprise over the weekend was the
number of atlantics and chinook salmon taken.
Most of the anglers were
targeting whatever bites basically anymore.
The best was trolling depths
35-60ft and then 80-100ft of water and fishing
the top half of the water column.
Greens, blues, with silver were good colors.
Orange and silver was also good.
Body baits that look like smelt and or gobies
were also a good choice. The fish
have been chuck full of gobies mostly in lakers
and the rest have had smelt and
stickle backs in them. Lakers have
been caught off the big light house point
and most of the kings and atlantics have been
taken between the 2 light houses
and Stone Port.
Until next week tight lines and good luck
fishing. I fished from the wall in
Rogers over the weekend. Had a hold of
some atlantics but was never able to get
them in.
5-23 -11
Inundated
by fog for the better part of the week. It
hasn't slowed some anglers
down as they have been very anxious to fish
being dockside with all of the bad
weather we have been having lately. Lots
and lots of east wind cold and rainy
weather just hasn't been favorable to fish.
Anglers fishing this week the ones
able to get out have had some luck but still
slow. Water temps at both ports
are way behind from what they were this time
last year at least by three weeks.
If it continues to warm up like it has this past
week fishing should be very
good in two weeks for Lakers and some atlantics
thrown in there as well. The
fish being taken are very healthy and fat and
full of smelt and gobies. Both
Presque Isle harbor and Rogers City marina are
now open for the season with all
of the docks in and fish cleaning station now
open.
Rogers City
A few Lakers, Atlantic and Chinook was taken
over the weekend from what I saw.
Most of the Lakers had to be thrown back due to
size limits of 24in for this
port. Still very slow because of cold
water. Temps are still hovering in the
low 40's but should change with the warmer
weather and warmer rains we have been
getting. Every thing has been shallow
inside 50ft of water. Most anglers are
trolling cowbells with spin glos right near the
bottom. Others are fishing
spoons a bit higher in hopes of atlantics browns
kings or whatever may hit.
Greens, blue and silver, and orange and silver
have been the colors of choice
lately. Body baits looking like smelt
gobies or planted fish have also been
good choices. Nothing has been caught off
the break wall this past week. Good
amounts of minnows now in the marina so maybe
some walleye atlantics and browns
will show up. Another note is that there
is a HUGE hatch of these midges going
on right now. It is just so unreal.
Just a couple of minutes in the parking
lot and the car is full of them. This
should be a draw for atlantics as well.
I have put in a number of hours off the wall
this past week with no success. I
guess it time to go chase them in the boat.
Presque Isle
Lakers have started but still surface temps are
hovering around 40 degrees and
still very cold for the best action yet.
When surface reaches the upper 40's
expect things to get fairly good. Some
lakers have been taken around 30ft of
water right off the big lighthouse point that
goes into North bay. They have
been using dodgers with spin glos and cowbells
with spin glos. One lucky angler
caught a Laker 20lbs this past week. It
was a beautiful fish indeed.
Until next week tight lines and good luck
fishing. Remember it should only get
better from here on out.
5-15-11
It's been another lousy week for any type of
angling activity. Lots of east wind
which makes it rough for small boat angling
which is mainly what takes place
right now. Hoping for a better week and more
angling pressure. A reminder for
anglers fishing Rogers City is that there are
new lake trout regulations in
place. Anglers can jeep 3 fish but they have to
be 24 in and below and 1 can be
32 in and up. At Presque Isle the
min size limit is 22in and up. Anglers can
keep 3 dish here as well.
Rogers City
I have encountered just 2 boat anglers this
week. Both of them came home empty
handed. One of them did catch 3 lakers but all
of them were too big too keep. He
was fishing north of the marina out from Trout
river in about 10-15 ft of water.
He was targeting the stained river water. The
other angler is a regular and he
hasn't been doing much at all this season yet.
Water temps have just been too
cold along with a lot of east winds. Anglers
fishing off the breakwall however
have had some good success over the weekend
taking a few browns casting with an
assortment of spoons and body baits. Try colors
that look like gobies and smelt.
Other good colors have been chartreuse and
silver orange gold and red along with
the basics of blue and silver or green and
silver or shades of those colors.
Presque Isle
The weather has been rough windy and cold every
time I have been to this port
this week. Lakers should start showing up in the
shallows off the big light
house point and north bay. Try trolling in less
than 30 ft with cowbells dodgers
and spin glos just off the bottom. Anglers have
been using small ants of weight
right on the line to get them down.
The rain should help with both ports re
establishing stained river water along
the shore line. Look for the best activity on or
near it. This rain hopefully
will warm the water some. The surface temps this
year are about 10 degrees
colder than they were at this time last year.
I had a great night Saturday evening casting off
the breakwall. Had 9 fish on
but didn't land a one. I suspect they were
all browns. I did see some follows
as well and they were definitely browns.
They were just nipping at the lure and
not aggressively hitting. Looking forward to my
next trip. Until next week tight
lines and good luck fishing.
5-8-11
Fishing has been very slow. Everything is at least 3-4 weeks late in comparison
from last year. The surface temps are barely reaching 40 degrees right now. Very
close to the shoreline or in bays and or next to river mouths and streams is
where the warmest water is right now.
Rogers City
Anglers are very frustrated right now. They are vetting lake trout but just
about everyone of them are illegal fish right now. There are new regulations
where anglers can keep 3 fish but they have to be 24 in or less or one of the 3
can be 32 in and up. Many of the fish are around 26-28 inches right now. They
are hitting many of them in shallow water less than 50 ft. Mostly getting them
with cowbells dodgers and spin gloss and fishing just off the bottom. Very
little angling activity off the break wall but things should improve. Try casting
small spoons or body baits that look like smelt. Other good colors are orange an
silver or chartreuse and silver or blue and silver.
Presage Isle
Things are running behind here as well. Anglers are out but no fish taken at all
this week. Fish the shallower waters less than 50 ft and just off the bottom.
Let's hope for some more spring like and warmer night temps. Until next week
tight lines and good luck fishing.
Julie Shafto
MDNR
Great Lakes Creel Clerk Rogers City/Presque Isle
5-1-11
Fishing, what
fishing? It seems as though all it did
this week was rain, if not
rain, it blew. The rivers and streams in
the area are very high and muddy along
with the shoreline being the same. It
looks like it will be warming up finally
this week. Lake trout season opens for
both Rogers City and Presque Isle on
Sunday. Look for any kind of fishing to be
had in the warmest water possible at
either port.
Rogers City
Slow is the word. Not much to report other
than lots of rain and wind. The
water is still cold. Hoping with the
warmer weather over the next week or so
things will start to happen. I have heard
some rumors of smelt being taken in
the Ocqueoc and Nagles creek and trout river
about a week ago but haven't heard much
since then.
Lake Trout season opens Sunday. NEW RULES
FOR ROGERS CITY REGAURDING LAKE TROUT
REGULATIONS. MINIMUM SIZE LIMIT IS 10IN
AND MAXIMUM SIZE LIMIT IS 24INCHES.
YOU CAN KEEP 3 THREE FISH BUT ONE OF THOSE 3
FISH CAN BE 32INCHES OR BIGGER.
Look for lakers to be right in the shallows.
Troll with body baits or cowbells
with spin glows. Look for the rocky
bottoms and structure.
Ocqueoc River
Look for peak steelhead runs over the next
couple of weeks as the water recedes.
Anglers are getting a fish here and there.
Best has been drifting spawn under a
bobber.
Presque Isle
Lake trout season opens here on Sunday May 1.
The size limit is 22in or bigger
and 3 fish per angler. Look for the fish
suspended over 30-70ft of water. Try
using cowbells with spin glos or spoons
suspended.
Until next week tight lines and good luck
fishing.
4-24-11
Winter spring summer who knows what season it
really is here right now. We had snow
spring with rains, its been a real mixed bag for
weather. The fishing has indicated that as
well. Not much happening at all. The
rivers are definitely up in the area and it
should help to kick off the fishing close to
shore in and along the rivers and break walls.
Lets hope we can get some sustained warmer
weather. If that happens look for fishing
to kick into high gear.
Rogers City
Slow has been the word along with windy rough
and cold conditions. A few anglers have
been trying their luck from the break wall but
little to no success. Fish the stained
water for best results as that will be a degree
or two warmer. Cast small spoons or body
baits that look like gobies and smelt.
Also try some brighter stuff in the stained
water, good colors will be chartreuse and silver
or orange. No anglers have been out in
boats been too windy and rough. Next
weekend on Sunday with be lake trout opener for
this area. In Rogers City new regulations
have been put into place. The maximum size
is 24in and you can keep 3, of those 3 one can
be 32in and larger.
Ocqueoc River
The water has come up big time just in the last
few days. Its high and quite stained.
A few anglers have been fishing but not anything
to be excited about. I have seen just 3
steelies all week. Most are drifting spawn
either under a bobber or with a little bit of
weight. Some are using artificial plugs
and spinners as well. Should really pick
up once the river recedes and clears up a bit.
Anglers are reporting a lot of junk floating,
snags and leaves on their lines.
Presque Isle
Lake trout season will open next week Sunday.
The fish should be shallow. A reminder the
size limit here is 22in and up with a 3 fish
person limit.
If spring ever arrives here fishing should pick
up not to far from that. This next week
looks much warmer and better chances for
fishing. Until then tight lines and good
luck fishing.
