The combined possession limit for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye and flathead catfish which limited the daily possession limit to five fish has been removed effective immediately. Anglers are now be able to possess up to five (5) bass (largemouth and smallmouth combined), up to five (5) walleye, up to five (5) flathead catfish, and up to two (2) northern pike in their daily possession limit. These species will no longer be managed under a combined possession limit and now will be managed under separate possession limits resulting in more fish for anglers to keep in a day's fishing.
Upper Peninsula Fishing Report
Copper Harbor: Splake fishing has been very slow with the occasional sub-legal fish here and there and few keepers. The fall colors were at their peak.
Menominee River: A recent survey of the river did show a few Chinook salmon along with some pink salmon, brown trout, steelhead, walleye and smallmouth bass but catch rates were low.
Little Bay De Noc: Attention Anglers: The zone where only one walleye greater than 23 inches may be retained in the daily possession limit has been expanded south from the Ford River to the Bark River. Therefore effective immediately, no more than one walleye over 23 inches may be possessed in the daily limit north of a line drawn from Peninsula Point Lighthouse to the mouth of the Bark River. Walleye anglers reported few catches even in the southern waters. Some fish were caught around the “Black Bottom” when using stick baits or crawler harnesses in 20 to 30 feet from the “Narrows” to Gladstone Beach in 14 to 28 feet. Perch anglers reported good catches when they could find them. Most were fishing near the Day’s River with minnows in ten to 25 feet. Good pike action at Kipling, the Day’s River, Gladstone Beach, “Black Bottom”, Escanaba ship docks and the Escanaba Yacht Harbor when using spinners, crank baits and spoons in eight to 22 feet. Smallmouth bass anglers reported fair catches off Hunters Point with plastics in ten to 20 feet.
Big Bay De Noc: Has smallmouth bass fishing. Strong winds have kept many from fishing the Garden Bluff area, out by Snake Island and Snail Shell Harbor. Catch rates were good at times but a good number of fish were undersize. Anglers are using minnows or plastics 15 to 35 feet down along the break. A handful of perch anglers reported a few catches off Garden Bluff when using minnows in and around 40 feet.
Manistique River: Has a few Chinook salmon here and there.
Marquette: Many anglers had luck catching coho in the Chocolay River. They were using spinners from the step hole and the platform off M-28. The mouth of the Carp River is also good fishing spot for coho and steelhead. Anglers are using spawn bags or casting spinners out from the rocks. Fishing was slow on the Dead River.
Au Train Lake: Had slow walleye fishing but anglers were still out using crank baits and artificial minnows along the West Bay. There was some good perch fishing along the south end of the West Bay. Anglers were drifting or jigging with live bait. A good number of pike are still being caught on artificial baits along the north end. Construction at the boat launch area will start on October 19 until the first week of November, 2015.
Munising: Had few anglers and few reports. A couple splake and coho were reported by shore anglers casting spoons. Construction on the Anna River dock has been completed.
Grand Marais: Had no report as few boat and shore anglers were out.
Drummond Island: Anglers were finally able to get out and target Maxton Bay and Scott Bay for yellow perch. Those that had the most success used minnows near the weed beds on the southwest side of Rutland Island in 12 to 14 feet and in Maxton Bay when drifting worms or shiners in 12 to 15 feet. Some say the bigger perch 9 to 11 inches were only hitting the bigger minnows. Good pike action on the southeast side of Grape Island. Try just off the weed beds in six to eight feet with hammered four inch red and silver spoons in the early morning. Walleye are still being caught around Peck Island and Scott Island in 12 to 14 feet when trolling bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses.
Cedarville & Hessel: Pike fishing picked up once again off the dock in the Hessel Marina, Viking Channel, Snow Channel and Musky Bay from the Middle Entrance west to Duck Bay. Chubs worked best. Perch fishing was quite good in Snows Channel, Middle Entrance, Viking Channel and out near the #11 Green Can in Cedarville Bay.
Carp River: Had a very slow salmon run which is just about over for this year. Nunn’s Creek was the same way. One might want to try the deeper holes for river run rainbow trout. Anglers should enjoy the new boat launch. A few walleye were caught in the Pine River.
