will be up the 23,24,25 looking for eyes and perch for the first time. if anyone would like to work together or has any useful tips feel free to message me. i will post a report when we are up there.

Anybody have a water temperature?

Boy was it tough fishing. Got up to camp Wednesday evening just ahead of the cold front that was moving in. Worked around camp in the morning and waited for it to warm up a little. Went to big bay in the afternoon fished for about 5 hours and never lifted a fish. It was quiet on the water just couldn’t seem to find any action. Friday we worked all day at camp. Saturday we went to a inland lake. The wind had picked up and we thought it would be better to be on a piece of smaller water. Did better there with 5 smallmouth. 6 pike and a 23” walleye that sure tastes good. Had to leave camp earlier than anticipated due to issues at home. Still had a adventure and enjoyed some fall colors. Seems like they changed a lot while we were there. The fishing should be getting better as the water cools. Water temp was still in the low 60’s. Have some hunting plans for this fall. This may have been my last trip to the bays this year. Time will tell. Tight lines. Jimmy 

Not sure if everyone from outside the area heard....but there was a fish kill-off on the Escanaba river in early August.  Not going to conclude this is the source of the recent slow fishing....but over the past 10 years this may be the most prominent.  

The area needs a huge settlement with the paper company to restock fish for the next 5-10 years.  

https://www.mlive.com/news/2020/08/dnr-investigating-fish-kill-affecting-a-dozen-species-in-escanaba-river-near-paper-plant.html

Hey Jimmy, Not a single fish around the docs, not great sign,  we always did well from the point to the weed line beyond the coal pile and also trolling the break to 27‘ and always along bay shore road towards kipling and nothing. Thinking about headed up again in a week or two. A few pros got a limit on the reefs.

Hope to get on both bays later this week. Haven’t been up in a while. Strange summer with all that’s been going on. Spring and fall seem to be the best fishing on the bays. At least for me it is. Finding fish gets harder in mid summer with brighter days and warmer water. The bays have definitely changed over time. Clearer and higher water changes a lot of things. Weed growth and places of structure change with the different water heights. Just like a forest it continues to evolve and regenerate. That makes it a challenge. Our motto:  not always successful. Always an adventure! I’ll give a report after the weekend. Tight lines. 

Last year my son and I went to Little Bay on July 14 to 17th. We did ok at best on walleye. In 14 yrs we only boated a 15" walleye and a 26" northern for keepers. We caught 14 walleye altogether  so that is 1 per hour. We would have done better on Winnegabo.  This year we went  on the end of August. We caught 1 19" eye and a 25" northern and about 5 keeper perch. We did not fish that much though, maybe 6 hrs. due to wind and rain.  I would not go in mid July again. A few locals told me we did pretty good for mid July and said you could not get a bite here the last 2 weeks. There were Mayflies so thick you could scoop them up  however. 

I just read this here "Beautiful area, beautiful water, and good fishing.  I love it and dream of my 1 trip a year there.   " 

I agree beautiful area and water almost makes me think I'm in Canada but the fishing made me wish I was at home. Up the 15th of July and the fishing as terrible. Did great in the 80's but I think the water levels have messed up the migration patterns. When I called the place I stayed at and asked how the fishing was got the old story "yea guys got limits this morning" When I got up there the guy says "yea I don't even fish here anymore, I go to the Ford River" Seems the Ice fishing is good and I may have gone up wrong time of the year, curious to hear what others think. 

Beautiful area, beautiful water, and good fishing.  I love it and dream of my 1 trip a year there.  

But if you want great fishing.....then target Lake Erie, the Saginaw Bay, or Green Bay.  I do not dream of my trips to any of these places though.  

I am planning on coming to the area in early September.  Until yesterday, I never even heard of Bay de Noc.  After doing a little research, it appears to be a great fishery,  

I will be there right after Labor Day, how is the Walleye at that time of year?  Smally's would be good too.

Any advice would be appreciated !

Thanks