WEEKLY FISHING REPORT OCTOBER 16TH 2023

Most see October as a time to hang up the rods and break out the bows, but for those who can brave the cold temperatures and high winds, they can experience the best days of the year for fishing. The temperature drops off from the start of the month has keyed fish into their fall patterns, and here is how and where to catch them:

ST. CLAIR:

On St. Clair, SMALLMOUTH BASS roam various depth ranges in schools, search them with moving baits like jerkbaits, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits. When you find a school of fish, slowing down with drop shots, tubes, and Ned rigs can be effective.

Captain Eric Long with Long Line Charters - (248-343-8863) says cooler nights have brought water temps of high 50’s and they are currently finding good schools around the Belle River and along the mile roads in 14-16 feet of water. Spreader rigs with red or green beads tipped with minnows off the bottom has been most effective. Fish are starting to settle into their fall patterns.

ST. CLAIR AND DETROIT RIVER

The FALL WALLEYE JIGGING bite is picking up on the Detroit and St. Clair rivers. Anglers use mostly 1 OZ. JIGS tipped with a soft plastic bait of your choice, or an Emerald Shiner. Make sure to use a stinger hook to catch fish that strike short. Follow the boats or fish big landmarks such as the bridges. The fall jigging bite will get better as the water cools.

OAKLAND COUNTY INLAND LAKES

The CRAPPIE bite is picking up on bigger inland lakes like PONTIAC, CASS, AND UNION LAKES. Fish for them with perch/crappie rigs on the bottom, as well as small jigs tipped with a small soft plastics or minnows, slip bobber setups with minnows can also be effective. BASS AND PIKE can be caught in the remaining living weed beds as the water continues to cool. Fish fast with jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, spoons, or inline spinners. The BLUEGILL bite will slow as the water temperature dies off, for better bluegill bites fish on the warmer/sunnier days.

WEST SIDE SALMON AND STEELHEAD RIVERS

Across the west side of the state, the major tributaries such as the Manistee, Betsie, Pere Marquette, and Grand rivers still have salmon that can be caught flossing with yarn, ThunderSticks, spinners, Beads, and spawn bags. As the water continues to cool, STEELHEAD can be caught in the lower sections of the river flossing with yarn, thundersticks, spinners, beads, spawn bags, and soft plastic worms. Watch for a fresh push of Steelhead and remaining Salmon after the weeks cool temps and rain from the weekend.

WEATHER & LUNAR FORCAST

NEW MOON: OCTOBER 14^TH

WEATHER: Temperatures will continue to stay in mid to low 60’s during the day and fall to mid to low 40’s during the night. This will lower water temperatures and key fish into their fall patterns. The potential for rain near the end of the week could also further lower water temperatures.

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