09/22/2025
Buc’s Fishing Report — 09-22-2025
WEEKEND REVIEW. Fishing across Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula showed mixed results. Salmon runs remain slowed by the worst drought Michigan has seen in more than a decade, with river levels well below normal. Major rivers like the Grand are running extremely low, and many tributaries are shallow and clear. This has delayed the main salmon push, keeping fish corralled in deeper pools, river mouths, and harbors instead of making their upstream run. Anglers reported only scattered salmon action, with limited spawning activity beginning in places like the Manistee, Pere Marquette, and Pine Rivers. Guides agree that heavier rain is needed to raise water levels and trigger stronger migration. Until then, expect a tough river bite with persistence needed in deep holes and shaded seams.
Perch fishing provided the weekend’s bright spot, with steady action from Kipling to Aronson Island, The Narrows, and across inland lakes. Minnows and crawlers took limits for skilled anglers, and the fall perch trend is expected to strengthen as nights cool. Brown trout and smallmouth bass remain steady options for anglers seeking variety while waiting on the salmon run.
Looking ahead, rain and cooler temperatures this week should help both salmon migration and perch feeding conditions. Until flows rise, anglers should anticipate strong perch action but only scattered river salmon.
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ON-SITE UPDATE. Calm to slight early with southwest winds 5–15 kt and waves less than 1 ft. Piers and harbors set up well for first light casting. Warm weather continues to slow upriver pushes, with most salmon holding in harbors or sliding back into lake marks.
MOON & SOLUNAR BITES. Waning crescent less than 1 percent illumination. Major Bite Window ET 12:40 PM to 02:40 PM. Minor Bite Windows ET 06:10 to 07:10 AM and 07:40 to 08:40 PM.
WEATHER BRIEF. Partly sunny today with light south to southwest winds and calm seas early. A chance of isolated showers or thunder this afternoon.
BAROMETER. Traverse City about 30.11 inHg. Manistee about 30.22 inHg. Ludington about 30.09 inHg.
HOT SEVEN PIERS AND JIGGING FOCUS
FRANKFORT. Heavy staging at dawn, glow spoons and vertical jig hops producing.
MANISTEE. Harbor mouth and pier seams best with vertical jigs at first light.
LUDINGTON. Pier casting spoons early, deeper marks off Big Sable points later.
WHITEHALL. Jigging 40 to 60 feet outside pier heads effective for salmon and steelhead.
GRAND HAVEN. Light pier bite, deeper marks 70 to 140 feet holding salmon.
MUSKEGON PIER. Scattered fish 80 to 120 feet with glow plugs; pier bite at dawn.
BURT LAKE MAPLE BAY. Fair for perch and walleye; minnows on w**d edges and humps.
RIVER FLOWS AND WATER TEMPERATURES
MANISTEE RIVER near Wellston Tippy Dam 1,700 cfs, gage 8.7 ft, water temp 63.5 F.
WHITE RIVER near Whitehall 207 cfs, gage 0.63 ft, temperature not reported.
BOARDMAN RIVER at Beitner Road Traverse City 184 cfs, gage 4.6 ft, temperature not reported.
PERE MARQUETTE at Scottville 371 cfs, gage 0.58 ft, temperature not reported.
MANISTIQUE RIVER near Manistique 781 cfs, gage 3.29 ft, temperature not reported.
SALMON RIVER DETAILED PRIORITY
MANISTEE RIVER near Wellston. Low clear flows with kings holding in tailraces and deep pools; dawn bead and spawn rigs best.
WHITE RIVER below HESPERIA DAM. Salmon staging in deep holes and tailrace slots; float-drift beads and spawn sacks producing.
BETSIE RIVER. Staging salmon remain in lower river; migration waiting on rain.
BOARDMAN RIVER. Fish holding in deeper pools and shaded seams; subtle float and bead rigs effective.
PERE MARQUETTE. Low warm flows with salmon pooled up; persistence needed in deep holes.
MANISTIQUE AREA. Salmon staging in harbor and river mouth; cooler nights spark light movement toward Newberry and Paradise waters.
SALMON TACTICS QUICK
Pier cast glow spoons and plugs with short ripping strips.
Vertical jig slow 6 to 24 inch hops; tip glow jigs with pea-size skein pieces.
River rigs at first light with 18 to 30 inch leaders; drift beads and spawn sacks through seams, or fish small skein under slip-bobbers.
PERCH REPORT FULL MINNOWS FIRST
Perch summary. Bite steady with minnows top bait. Wigglers and Perch Pounder rigs effective when fish are tight to bottom.
WHITE LAKE. Yellow bellies near the marina and white bellies on the west side.
BURT LAKE MAPLE BAY. Good perch bite on minnows along humps and w**d edges.
BLACK LAKE. Fair bite on minnows and wigglers.
MULLETT LAKE. Fair perch off points and w**d edges.
PM LAKE. Perch schools bunched; minnows producing.
PENTWATER LAKE. Fair on minnows along docks and w**dlines.
LAKE CHARLEVOIX. Fair perch near Ironton with minnows.
TORCH LAKE. South end starting to show perch, minnows and drop-shots.
BIG GLEN. First break around 40 feet with wigglers and minnows; sorting required.
NORTHPORT. A few perch in 38 feet on w**dbeds; no large schools yet.
BOWERS HARBOR. Perch near launch and breakwall 6 to 12 feet on minnows.
SKEGEMOG TORCH CHANNEL. Perch on w**d edges 6 to 15 feet, slip-bobber minnows.
OTSEGO LAKE. Perch in shallow bays 8 to 15 feet on minnows.
LAKE LEELANAU south end. Small perch near Cedar River; minnows best.
LONG LAKE TRAVERSE CITY. Perch on small rigs with minnows.
GREEN LAKE TRAVERSE CITY. Perch on minnows, worms, or crawler chunks under slip bobbers.
MUSKEGON LAKE. Perch on minnows, wigglers, or Perch Pounder rigs at Sand Docks, Bear Lake Channel, and Snug Harbor.
HOUGHTON LAKE. North w**d bed producing on minnows and rigs.
DRUMMOND ISLAND / LES CHENEAUX. Perch starting to show, with bites reported in Cedarville Bay and Hessel Bay; minnows on rigs or slip-bobbers working.
TOP 15 INLAND LAKES
LAKE CADILLAC. Smallmouth and largemouth on humps and w**d edges; bluegill on minnows and waxworms.
LAKE MITCHELL. Largemouth and panfish near lily pads and stumps.
LAKE ST HELEN. Pike and largemouth in bays; panfish on jigs.
HIGGINS LAKE. Smallmouth deep structure; lake trout vertical jigging.
FREMONT LAKE. Bass and pike on w**dlines and points; panfish on minnows.
ELK LAKE. Deep smallmouth and lake trout water.
WALLOON LAKE. Smallmouth and largemouth on points and rocks.
LAKE MISSAUKEE. Bluegill and largemouth in shallow w**dy bays.
HOLTON LAKE. Bass and panfish near docks and edges.
CRYSTAL LAKE GREENVILLE. Panfish and largemouth.
WABASIS LAKE. Bass and panfish at public access.
LONG LAKE GREENVILLE. Bass and panfish with drop-shots and slip bobbers.
SUNRISE LAKE LEROY. Bass and panfish with topwater early.
PENASA LAKE LEROY. Panfish and bass on minnows.
TAMARACK LAKE LAKEVIEW. Largemouth and pike on spinnerbaits and minnows.
TOP 10 UP HOTSPOTS
1. LITTLE BAY DE NOC Walleye and perch.
2. MUNISING GRAND ISLAND Lake trout reefs and ledges.
3. MARQUETTE Lake trout on steep drop-offs.
4. KEWEENAW COPPER HARBOR Trout and salmon on rocky points.
5. ESCANABA BIG BAY DE NOC Walleye and smallmouth.
6. ST MARYS RIVER SAULT STE MARIE Salmon and steelhead in seams.
7. PORTAGE ENTRY GRAND MARAIS Lake trout and salmon.
8. TAHQUAMENON BAY RIVER MOUTHS Walleye and panfish on w**dlines.
9. DRUMMOND ISLAND LES CHENEAUX Perch starting to show in Cedarville Bay and Hessel Bay; minnows best.
10. AU TRAIN FORD RIVER AREA Trout, walleye, and perch on points and narrows.
LIVE BAIT PRO TIP. Cast glow spoons into seams at dawn with short ripping retrieves. Vertical jig slow hops tipped with skein. River rigs at first light with beads or spawn sacks under a slip-bobber.
TIGHT LINES BAITMAN OUT
