During the 3rd week of July, I'd be bringing my salmon gear if I were you!

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A few yrs back we had the big lake temp roll over and it was quite cool on shore in late August. The salmon boats were up close doing harbor patrol - but believe it or not a buddy told me a few days later he was on the north pier here in Muskegon and also was actually wading out just offshore fishing with bobbers and getting perch inbetween the sand bars - no lie!!

You may get lucky and be up in Frankfort when the water is cooled off from offshore winds, but if I were you I'd be prepared for kings with some spoons.

If you can manage a small boat there are perch in Crystal Lake - not sure how they will be doing that time of year but they are there.

 

If it's perch you want I'll 2nd Crystal Lake as well. Since Crystal gets deep fast you don't need much of a boat to fish for them. Just have to sort through the dinks and rock bass.

Not sure but I believe you might be able to find boat rentals available in Beulah.

If you have a boat send me a PM. I'll tell you where we used to get 'em on the big lake a few years ago before we started salmon fishing.

Again, bring your salmon gear and watch the water temps.

 

Crystal lake is good


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Another possibility for you would be to try the L Manistee River for early run kings up by the weir - a buddy of mine always would go up the last week in July as the first run was usually in at that time.

That or Tippy Dam Big Manistee River for summer run skamania steelhead if they are still in at that time.

 

I was wondering if there are any perch that can be caught of the pier at that time of year. I would like to put some in the freezer.

No is the short answer. Bring some stiffer gear, and hope for a push of cold water in close to shore (55 degrees or less). That will bring the salmon and trout in nice and close to the piers.

Otherwise, maybe chase some trout in one of the rivers near by.

 

Wow! Thanks for all the input.

I will be bringing my salmon gear and my lucky KO's and Cleo's.

If we have the taste for perch we will go to one of the local restaurants .

Thanks again.

 

Here is the place in Beulah on Crystal Lake that rents boats: http://www.crystallakemarina.com/boat-rentals.php

I had a place on Crystal a few years back but never had too much luck catching perch in the summer.

A quick story I was fishing the Frankfort pier about 20 years ago and saw one of the biggest perch caught on the inside of the pier by a guy using an alewife for bait. This was early in the summer.

BOB