U. P. in October

[jacondie]

If you could spend a week fishing in the U.P. in October, where would you go and what would you fish for??????

[2PawsRiver]

Personally I would be deer hunting, but if I was going to be fishing......Pike in the Greewood Res., Small Mouth in the Dead River Basin, Salmon in the bay by Marquette, Brook Trout in the Silver Lead Creek, Petes Lake in the Hiawatha (Spelling ?) National Park for a mixture, the Chocolate River for Trout, Little Lake for Walleye, Bass Lake for Musky, and there is a stream between Marquette and Gwinn near the Ski Resort that is good for steelhead.

The only thing bad about going to the UP is.....coming back from the UP.

[Mike]

Little Bay de Noc - walleye. Sometimes you get a bonus steelhead too, they start stacking up around the river mouths...

Mike

[reeldeal3]

I would hit the rivers and salmon fish, if there fishing for salmon was not good, i would most likey hit the Bay de Noc, i have not fished there myself but i have heard they fishing is usually good up there.

[catchem79]

I'm with Mike, Little Bay De Noc would be my place to go. As a matter of fact I am going up there the first week of Oct and may go again the last week. Have been there several times and have always done well. I have talked to other guys that didn't though. The last time I was up there was in early June for 4 days caught a limit every day except the day I went home. I think I could have done it that day to but had to go home, only fished a couple hours. Good spots are north of Gladstone Harbor both sides of bay. And around any river mouth. Also the guy at the bait shop next to the dnr launch in Kipling is very helpful. Some nice perch in that bay too. I hooked and lost one of the biggest perch I have ever seen jigging for eyes. The lady at the hotel we stay at say's the big ones are caught in Oct/Nov. She had two mounted in the lobby that had to be15lbs each. She said they were caught the same week in Oct. one year apart. This will be my first fall trip. Can hardly wait. I don't know were your going from but I is a long drive takes 8 1/2 hours one way from my place. I wouldn't drive it every weekend but is for sure werth it once in a while. Were ever you go have a good time and let us know how you do.

[Shoes]

With such a variety of fishing possibilities, Little Bay De Noc has to be my #1 choice. Been there many times. Some very good (and big) walleye in the fall. Lots of big smallmouth bass, pike and perch, not to mention the possibility of a salmon or steelhead in the fall. I think the motels are filled with as many walleye fishermen as hunters in November. Whatever you decide, the UP is a great place to go. Good Luck!

[tkpolasek]

Little Bay DeNoc is where I would be. There is a lot of good fishing there in the fall.

Good Luck and Good Fishing
Tim

[mondrella]

I see everyone likes little bay Denoc. Now I know where all the boats have came from. I have been fishing there for better than 20 years and I remember a time in the fall when you could be the only boat at a launch. Now there seems to be a steady stream of boats but the fishing just continues to get better. The slot limit of 1 fish over 23" in the upper bay has been great for it. Last year we had a hard time getting a limit of fish. Not because we couldn't catch them everything just to big.:) What a great problem to have! Don't overlook big bay denoc or some of the inland water in that area. Really the big Eyes seem to come the first part of November but I wont complain about a 10lb October fish.

[jacondie]

Thanks for all the input everyone!

The trip is planned for October 5 - 13. Can't wait.

Walleye and smallmouth fishing is on the TO DO list. We would also like to fish for big muskie and pike. Any additional ideas???

Will post success stories (thinking positive) when we return.

[tkpolasek]

I don't know about muskie, but there are some huge northern pike in the bay. We fished for them over along the Escanaba shoreline one year in the fall and caught a lot of pike.

Good Luck and Good Fishing
Tim

[ESOX]

For truly MONSTER Pike, L Superiors' Huron Bay is my first choice. Munuscong Bay on the St. Marys River or the Tahquamenon River for Muskie action.

[Duke]

For walleye, smallmouth, BIG muskies and pike there is no doubt for my money that I would be on Munuscong and the St. Mary's.

[Woodzwalker]

I will be up at St. Mary's next weekend in Raber Bay / Lime Island area. In hope of catching walleye and have heard perch action is good too.

Have fished summer months in depths ranging from 3' in June, to 12' - 18' in July - August.

Question is - where are walleye most likely to be found this time of year? Do they typically move back into shallower water?

Should I try in the areas where we fish in the middle of summer
(ie 12' - 18' depths), or go into the shallow bays?

Have heard perch are being caught in 4' - 5' depths - seems awfully shallow.

Always nice to catch a bonus pike or two!

Any advise would be helpful.

[idylmoments]

Anyone try the Two-Hearted for salmon? I'm going to give it a shot in two weeks when bear hunting.

[jacondie]

We leave for the Lower Tahquamenon tomorrow. We'll be targeting muskie initially. If the bite is not on, the next stop is probably Little Bay De Noc for walleye, or whatever site looks good on the atlas.

We're a little curious to see if any DNR officers will want to discuss/review our selection of muskie tackle. All of the stuff we own, including top-water baits, appears to be illegal to fish with on MI rivers at the current time. Note to DNR: We will be on the Lower Tahquamenon River (near the river mouth) starting Saturday morning :p. (Hopefully Fred Trost will agree to be my legal representative if I get arrested :rolleyes:.)

Any/all last minute ideas or suggestions would be welcomed. Will post results when (if) I return.

Tight-Lines

[Lost_Peninsula]

Woodzwalker, Curious how you did at Raber Bay. I have fished that area for years. My brothers recently purchased property up there. They love the area and the fishing. I think its a great place to visit but as I age I'm sure my retirement lies in a warmer climate. I am going to purchase some land in Polk county in Tennessee. Worked in Cleveland Tennesee for four years and fell in love with the area. Still will visit Goetzville one week a year. May even do 2 weeks if the ice fishing is good. I always stay at Karen's rustic cabins when doing Raber Bay. Karen also owns Jack's landing and due to water depth we usally stay on Jacks side. Let me know how things went for you and if you have ever ice fished that area, Thanks.

[TheFlyfisher]

2PawsRiver: You just brought some good memories from when I was stationed there at K.I.Sawyer. All the places you mentioned I fished many moons ago. Use to fish the Chocolate River all the time and Bass Lake and Little Lake. Dead River Basin was my favorite for Tiger Musky. Also Teal Lake is a good one also.
Was up there 2 years ago but fished Lake Gogebic, Portage Lake, @ Torch Lake all good by the way.
Mike

[2PawsRiver]

They were good times in the UP. I have been an apple knocker for the past 13 years. I still go up every spring and fish. As of the past summer the Dead River Basin is no more. A dam broke and it is gone. Was a really great spot for small mouth. I think next year I am going to start going up for at least part of bow season. Used to fish the Chocolate for Browns and Steelhead.

Have you been back to KI since it has been converted to civilian use.

Jacondie, where is that fishing report.

[outdoorzman1]

hey twopaws,

I used to go to Northern Michigan University in Marquette and fished most of those spots. But never the dead river basin. Or what was the dead river basin. How good was that did it have muskies in it. Or what all did it have in it we always thought about getting a canoe and trying it but never did.

[jacondie]

Here is an update from 2002 and 2003...

2002

Spent a couple days at Lower Taq Falls. Primarily trolled and casted for muskie. Caught a small muskie and couple nice pike. (If I remember correctly.)

Move on to Lake Michigamme for a couple days. Trolled and casted for muskie mostly. Also tried casting and jigging for walleye and smallmouth. Caught a few miscellaneous fish; including a nice walleye while trolling for muskie. No muskie.

Moved on to Black Lake (in the Lower Pen.). Caught dinner the night we got there (casting jigs for walleye). Casted and trolled for muskie; caught multiple northern pike casting and a few nice bass - no muskie. Saw one or two muskie in the Black River.

2003

Went to Lower Taq. Falls. Trolled and casted for muskie; and also casted jigs for walleye. Caught one muskie and several walleye. Walleye were caught at the rivermouth. Weather and camping was awesome. Actually was wearing shorts during the day while fishing. (This was in early October.)

Sorry about not following up on the post(s) in a more timely manner. Tight-lines!!!