Fishing stayed very good this week in Traverse City, with fish beginning to transition into deeper water as the week went on. Most of our action came in 40 to 80 feet of water, with fish holding anywhere from 30 feet down to the bottom.

Hammerhead cowbells fished near the bottom were one of our better setups for lake trout, and the 5- to 10-color lead core program stayed productive throughout the week. High and low divers also took fish consistently when targeting the 30-foot range down to the bottom.

We’ve caught multiple species this week in West Grand Traverse Bay, including lake trout, salmon, and steelhead. A few salmon and steelhead showed up in the mix, and all species were caught on the short lead core program.

The north winds warmed up the water this week and helped push fish into a deeper pattern toward the end of the week. As we move into the upcoming week, fish are continuing to slide deeper, but the bite has remained strong and we expect very good fishing to continue in Traverse City.

If you’re looking to get on the water, now is a great time to book a Traverse City fishing charter while the summer bite continues to build.

Traverse City Fishing Report – Consistent Action Around West Grand Traverse Bay

Fishing remained strong this past week around West Grand Traverse Bay, with customers aboard the Storm Hawk finding success in 30–70 feet of water along both peninsulas as well as around the island. Lake trout continued to provide the most consistent action, with a slow but steady trickle of steelhead and salmon mixed into the catch throughout the week. Hammerhead cowbells targeting the bottom 10 feet of the water column were the star producers for lake trout. Our short lead core program also remained productive, with 2, 3, 5, and 7 color setups consistently taking fish. Hot-colored spoon patterns continued to be the top performers, especially during periods of bright sunshine. Water temperatures settled into the low to mid-50s and seemed to stabilize by the middle of the week after several windy days. The more stable conditions helped keep fish active and provided consistent opportunities for our customers throughout both morning and afternoon charters. Overall, it was another great week on Lake Michigan. Steady lake trout action, a few bonus steelhead and salmon, and beautiful days on the water made for plenty of memorable trips for our guests visiting the Traverse City area. Our Traverse City fishing charters continue to provide great opportunities for families, first-time anglers, and experienced fishermen looking to experience Lake Michigan.

Traverse City Fishing Report – Steady Action Around West Grand Traverse Bay

Fishing this past week provided steady action for our customers aboard the Storm Hawk. We found success throughout West Grand Traverse Bay, with lake trout making up the majority of the catch. The trout bite remained consistent all week, and our customers enjoyed catching fish of all sizes throughout our morning and afternoon charters. While lake trout were the main attraction, steelhead and salmon occasionally mixed into the catch and added some extra excitement to the day. The variety of fish has helped keep trips fun for both first-time anglers and experienced fishermen alike. Hammerhead cowbells fished tight to bottom continued to produce the majority of our lake trout, while our short lead core program was the ticket to keeping things interesting higher in the water column. Bright “hot” colored spoons were most productive when the sun was out, while more natural presentations tended to perform better during low-light conditions. One of the keys this week was paying attention to water temperatures. Areas holding slightly warmer water consistently produced the best action and continue to be worth keeping an eye on as conditions change. Both morning and afternoon charters have been producing fish and plenty of family fun on the water. With steady lake trout action, beautiful conditions, and the opportunity to catch a mix of species, it has been a great week to be fishing around Traverse City. The summer fun is just heating up here in Traverse City, our calendar is starting to fill in call today to book the highlight of your summer fun!

Fishing this past week on Lake Michigan near Traverse City provided steady action for anglers, with lake trout making up the majority of the catch along with a mix of steelhead and salmon. The most consistent fishing came in 40–60 feet of water, where lake trout were holding tight to bottom and actively feeding. Our downrigger program pulling Hammerhead cowbells accounted for most of the trout action, while shallow lead core setups continued to produce fish higher in the water column. The 2, 3, and 5 color lead cores picked up lake trout, steelhead, pink salmon, and smaller king salmon. Bright UV spoons and Yeck Fireball patterns were among the more productive presentations during the week.   One of the biggest keys was locating warmer water. Areas with slightly warmer surface temperatures consistently produced more bait and better fishing activity. Anglers who found warmer water were rewarded with a better mix of species and more consistent action. Overall, it was a productive week on the water with good conditions and steady fishing. Lake trout continue to provide reliable action, while steelhead and salmon are offering some bonus opportunities for anglers covering water and staying around the warmest temperatures available.