WEEKLY FISHING REPORT OCTOBER 30TH 2023

During the fall, fishing can be tough, especially with the last 2 week’s weather bipolarity. Fish tend to scatter when they’re transitioning into the fall pattern. Stay mobile, find the baitfish, and you will find gamefish near by. The key to fall fishing is to stay mobile and let the fish tell you what they want.

EAST SIDE PIERS

Anglers are catching Coho, Atlantics, Kings, Steelhead, and walleye off piers in Lake Huron. Fish with salmon eggs or emerald shiners on a live bait rig, or throw spoons, jerkbaits and spinners off the piers.

Water temperatures are in low 50’s and might drop to the upper 40’s after this weeks lower temperatures.

ST. CLAIR

BLUEGILL: Anglers are targeting bluegills in canals on small jigs tipped with waxworms. Fishing on sunny and warmer days seems to produce more fish.

PERCH: Captain Eric Long with Long Line Charters has been slaying the Perch from 9 Mile road down to Detroit, and the Belle River Hump in Canadian waters. Anglers are catching perch on Perch Rigs (spreader rigs) tipped with Emerald Shiners.

Water Temperature has been around 55 degrees but should drop as the week progresses due to the cold nighttime temperatures.

SAGINAW RIVER

WALLEYE: Anglers are catching good numbers of walleye throughout the river using 3/8 oz. to ¾ oz. jigs depending on depth and current speed. Tip jigs with minnow style plastics, an Emerald Shiner, and a stinger hook.

Water Temperature is in the mid 50’s to upper 50’s after the warm daytime temperatures last week. Expect water temperatures to decrease to the low 50’s and high 40’s after the air temperature drops and rains this week.

Anglers are catching fish in the 18-22 inch range on average.

DETROIT RIVER & ST. CLAIR RIVER

WALLEYE: Anglers are catching good numbers of walleye using 1 oz. jigs tipped with minnow style plastics, Emerald Shiners, and stinger hooks.

Anglers are concentrating their efforts at the river mouths and between the Ambassador Bridge and the new Gordie Howe Bridge in Detroit. Many anglers are finding fish consistently around 30-45 feet but is always subject to change.

Water temperature after last week’s warm days is around the mid 50’s. With colder temperatures this week, expect the water temperature to drop to the low 50’s and maybe upper 40’s by the end of the week. A cold rain will cool the water faster.

WEST SIDE SALMON AND STEELHEAD RIVERS

SALMON: Anglers are still catching salmon on most large rivers, consistent rains have drawn more Salmon into the Pere Marquette, Manistee, Grand, and Betsie rivers. Upper sections of these rivers with gravel will hold most fish and expect to find them up on the gravel bars and out of the holes.

Anglers are catching salmon on hardbaits (Thundersticks, rapalas, maglips, etc.), Spinners, Skein, Bottom bouncing rigs (flossing), Spawn bags, and beads.

STEELHEAD: On some rivers, Steelhead fishing slowed. Many anglers reported slow bites on the Pere Marquette, Manistee, and Muskegon rivers, However the Grand River Steelhead bite has been phenomenal.

Anglers are catching steelhead on beads, skein, spawn bags, hardbaits, and spinners.

Water Temperature on most west side rivers started the week in the low 50’s but increased to the mid 50’s by the end of the week. Looking ahead, expect cooler day and night temperatures to bring the river back down to low 50’s and maybe high 40’s.

INLAND LAKES

BASS: Bass are transitioning into fall patterns, they are grouping up into schools and scattering throughout the lakes. Fish can be caught shallow or deep on the edges of weedbeds, under shoreline cover, or on main lake points. Anglers are using fast moving baits like spinnerbaits, crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, and jerkbaits to find fish, then slowing down with dropshots, tubes, ned rigs, and senkos to scrape together more bites.

PIKE: Pike are scattering as well. With the cooler lake temps, anglers are catching Pike in the shallows, or on the edges of weedbeds. Anglers are trolling with spoons and swimbaits, and casting live bait such as Suckers or Shiners.

CRAPPIE: Crappie are scattering this time of year between shallow and deep water, with some isolating on hard structure or cover, and others suspending in schools in about 10-16 feet of water. Anglers are fishing with slip bobber rigs tipped with fathead minnows or emerald shiners, Spreader rigs with minnows, or jigs and plastics.

Water temperature is hovering around the mid to upper 50’s depending on the size of the lake.

QUICK NOTE: During this time of year, inland lake fish stay very close to their food sources and tend to scatter due to the disruption of the thermocline, so stay mobile and target different depth ranges and cover types.

THE BAIT SHOP in WATERFORD is an awesome place to gear up for an inland lake adventure, whether it be with lures, minnows, or worms!

BIG WATER TROLLING

WALLEYE: Anglers are catching Walleyes running Bandits, flicker minnows, and Smithwicks. Anglers tend to notice more fish coming out of the 10-15 foot of water range. On sunny days stick with chromes and bright colors, on cloudy days fish glow, dark, and natural colors.

Main lake water temperatures are a consistent 50 degrees and below.

WEATHER & LUNAR FORCAST

LUNAR: Full moon on Oct. 28^th led to some decent night fishing. As the moonlight fades later on in the week, night fishing might not be as effective.

WEATHER: Expect a cool off this week to mid 40’s during the day and mid 30’s during the night. Little rain is expected this week. Expect water temperatures to decrease into the low 50’s and high 40’s.

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