Traverse City Fishing Report – Fall Fishing Is Underway

These happy customers enjoyed a great fall day on the water with us last October, bringing 8 cisco and 4 third-year king salmon back to the dock. This is a great example of the kind of mixed bag that can be available during our October trips.

Fall fishing is underway around Traverse City, and the focus is beginning to shift as we move into October. With lake trout season now closed until the first of the year, we’re turning our attention toward cisco, remaining king salmon, and some great fall days on Lake Michigan.

Cisco action should continue to improve as October moves forward. We’ve already started finding a few, and areas holding baitfish are an important part of locating schools. Small trolling spoons paired behind a 00 dodger or small Spin Doctor have been excellent choices when targeting cisco.

There are also still some immature king salmon around, along with a few staging salmon holding near the mouth of the Boardman River. The river itself is already holding plenty of salmon, making this a fun time of year for both boat and river fishermen.

For our customers, October is a great time to get outside and enjoy a quieter side of Traverse City. The cooler temperatures, fall colors, and beautiful sunrises over Lake Michigan make for a memorable day on the water, whether you’re an experienced fisherman or bringing the family out for a fall adventure.

With trout season closed, we’re making sure to keep our presentations off the bottom and respecting the seasonal regulations while targeting other species. If you accidentally hook a lake trout, please refrain from netting the fish. Instead, use your pliers to carefully remove the hook while the fish is still in the water and release it immediately. Keeping the fish in the water minimizes the stress and handling involved and greatly increases its chance of survival.

We only have a couple more weeks aboard the Storm Hawk before we pull the boat around  mid-October. After that, our focus will shift toward our fall perch fishing charters aboard the Alumacraft.

If you’re looking for a fun fall adventure, there’s still plenty of fishing to enjoy around Traverse City. Come enjoy a fall day on the water and see what October has to offer!