SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULALake Erie: Yellow perch size and quantities were increasing with the colder weather upon us. The Grand remains quite wadeable throughout the mile of rapids below Sixth Street unless we have a major thaw or other runoff event. Anglers who reported catching coho and chinook salmon were trolling spoons higher in the water column in . 1 , West World: Titans win twin D1 ski titles, Cherry Republic keeps TC store; eyes 'whole new concept' in Arcade building, East Jordan leaving Lake Michigan for Ski Valley, Proposed wellness resort met with concern, Awards honor detectives, deputies, corrections, Restaurant Week returns with new eatery, price point, Life as I know it: That telltale tang is worse in winter, New enrollment numbers reveal three schools with notable gains. 1 BR (Q), 1 bath. Other migratory fish that pass through the river include diminishing runs of Chinook and Coho salmon, and strong runs of pink salmon. Anyone interested in fishing Chocolay River or waters within the wider area around Marquette should consult with local resources before heading out to fish. Americas Best Value Inn Marquette. Key features include muzzle velocities of 2,215-2,400 fps. Anglers were using emerald shiners on perch spreaders. Anglers were casting spoons or body baits or drifting with fresh spawn for best success. The most productive spots tend to be the pools between rapids and holes underneath dead falls. Area Hydrographs. But one possibility is the Chocolay River just east of Marquette. Starting at the US 41 and Michigan #28 intersection, go south on US 41 for about nine miles to Beckham Road and follow it one and a half miles to the Chocolay River bridge crossing. Not only is it stocked with Great Lakes-strain steelhead by both Michigan and Indiana, but the Hoosier State also plants big numbers of summer steelhead in the St. Joe. Try running high lines using rainbow/gold spoons for salmon. Photograph: Mason Trinca/The Guardian. You can also launch small boats on the east side just below the dam. But you should keep these streams in mind as we get into March. The Chocolay sees reliable hatches of Hendricksons, March Browns, Cahills, blue-winged olives, and a variety of caddis. The river is good for fly casting or spin casting with either lures or live bait. Chocolay River Brewery. Ang kasarangang giiniton 4 C. Steep banks, deep holes and sunken trees make wading treacherous in some locations. A tapered 9-foot leader, with tippet size 3X to 5X to match the flies you are throwing, is pretty standard. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Upper Chocolay Falls on East Branch Chocolay River. Two other Lake Huron tributaries often receive good runs of steelhead in the late fall, but the rivers are frequently too frozen to fish. We also have a full. They can usually be coaxed out from branches of submerged deadfalls with small spinners, but dry flies fished alongside the stream bank past overhanging vegetation works well too. The weather will dictate how far you can fish below Berrien Springs before there is too much ice. Kid friendly Fishing Paddle sports Bird . Number. Chocolay River RV & Campgrounds Casino. The lake is located near the Marquette County Fairgrounds, and is only a few acres in size. There is barely a mile of river between Lake Huron and the Ninth Street Dam. 4 0 obj At Gateway Park on the Tawas River, there were still a few chinook salmon caught while still fishing with spawn and casting body baits. After he graduates, he would like to become an outdoor writer and fly fishing guide. The best time of day to visit the stream will vary based on species, but many people find that late afternoon and late-night hours are the best time to get fish to bite. Features quick-change barrel system. Between 21% and 25% of wood pieces were associated with storing sediment, and between 20% and 29% of pieces were involved in channel bank stability in all study streams. Nathan Simmons of Browning and Game & Fish's John Taranto take a closer look at both cartridges at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. (February 2007). Partly cloudy skies this morning will give way to cloudy skies with a mixture of rain and snow developing during the afternoon. Nearly all of the river is wide enough for fly casting, save a few points where willows hang across the entire width. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Cohos will also run around the same time and mix in with lake-run brown trout. Access for the area is at the bridge on County Road 553. One can paddle this beautiful dammed up river surrounded by forest and lots of bluffs and little islands as long/short as one wants - maybe trailing some fishing lines - or one can continue up river going into a narrow, winding wilderness area up to the waterfalls. The contribution of wood pieces to pool formation was 75% and 85% in stream sizes II and III, respectively, which was significantly higher than those in stream size I (50%) and size IV (25%). A well placed cast and a slow retrieve with a Vibrax Spinner can entice these curious fish. Anglers reported catching lake trout using spinners in 20 to 60 feet of water in/near the flats. The reproduction of salmon and steelhead is excellent in the river and its waters can be fished in any season. Michigan has many fine steelhead streams, and about this time of year, it seems like spring will never arrive. A 9-foot 5-wt fly rod and matching fly reel with floating line is perfect for fishing for trout on the Chocolay River. The storied Pere Marquette River near Baldwin hosts a very strong run of wild steelhead, and many of them migrate in the late fall, thus they provide an excellent winter fishery. Evening time produces some good action, however, as the fish come up shallow to feed heavily. endobj The nearest weather station for both precipitation and temperature measurements is MARQUE which is approximately 4 miles away and has an elevation of 665 feet (68 feet higher than Chocolay River). Tippy Dam near Wellston blocks the run, and there is good access for wading anglers on both sides of the river here. An aerial view of the Chocolay River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Build a camp to . Make your fishing dreams come true today and tomorrow. 11.5. The prime spot for winter steelhead is the area below Sixth Street Dam in Grand Rapids. The National Wild Turkey Federation's mission to conserve wild turkey and preserve hunting heritage is still going strong after a half-century. A ladder allows steelhead upstream as far as Belleville Lake, and there is plenty of public park land for access along this part of the river. Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Winds light and variable. The Rifle River flows into northern Saginaw Bay, and the best reach for winter fishing is between M-55 and Greenwood Road. The East Branch of the Au Gres is much smaller than the Rifle and slightly less prone to freezing. From there, you can head into Harvey or Marquette for lodging, restaurants, and other items you need for fishing. --- Predefined displays ---. The Chocolay Bayou Nature Preserve protects 13 acres of wetland that acts as a stopover for migrating birds. At the Spark Plug and on the east side of Spoils Island yellow perch were caught in 16 feet of water. Drive 20 min to town/Lake Huron for the beach experience. The river joins with Big Creek several miles from Lake Superior, and the downstream portion is open year-round. A few walleye and steelhead were also caught in the river while casting body baits. U.P., and the Two Hearted on the eastern side. The new Frontier, available in 8x42 and 10x42, has all the range-finding capabilities a hunter needs. Some walleye and steelhead were also caught out near Tawas Point while trolling spoons and body baits in 20 to 30 feet. Alpena: There were some nice catches of steelhead, Atlantic salmon and coho salmon come in from Thunder Bay. Fill in as many fields as you like to filter the data. Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. Fishing spots, fishing reports and regulations in. The graph below shows the stream flow (discharge) for the past 7-days. * Served with a side of Marinara Sauce. Be sure to check the stream conditions before heading out to fish the Chocolay River. Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller gets more info from Hawke's Paige Shipe at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. 5% ABV . Fishing pressure had been low in the Dead River with no reports of any fish. A few steelhead and a lake trout were reported while using spawn bags. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Most walleye anglers were returning with three or less fish. LaRue's Ethan Alexander talks about the Siete's features with Game & Fish's Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Bear Creek gets a good run of wild fish, but its fall run is not dependable, so it is better to hit this tributary in the spring. Corpus ID: 126849994; Salmonid Habitat Restoration on the Chocolay River, Michigan @inproceedings{Crawford2014SalmonidHR, title={Salmonid Habitat Restoration on the Chocolay River, Michigan}, author={Ross J. Crawford}, year={2014} } There are 3 indicator stocks of coho salmon that are used to determine the status of the assemblage; these indicator stocks are Coho salmon - Auke Creek, Coho salmon - Berners River, and Coho salmon - Hugh Smith Lake. Marlin is back in the game with the re-introduction of the classic 336 and 1894 lever-action hunting rifles. Increasing temperatures and spring showers prompt spring steelhead migrations. by Trevor Pellerite | Oct 8, 2009 | Angling Reports, Environment, Trips & Guides. The fishing pier and parking lot near the M-28 bridge will be under water. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Here is list of general fly pattern recommendations for the Chocolay River: Ventures Fly Co. offers a great selection of dry flies, nymphs and streamers that will catch fish just about anywhere. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. Most successful fishing was done in the depth range from 40 to 110 feet and fish were biting slowly throughout those depths. Putin Location GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 46.40733 Longitude: -87.24486 Takeout Location GPS Coordinates: Frigid winters and a relative paucity of groundwater feeding the rivers severely limit winter steelhead opportunities in the Upper Peninsula. Like the Huron, park lands along with road crossings provide good access to the river. Today's Precipitation (graphical) Past 7 days of precipitation (versus normal) Past 30 days of precipitation (versus normal) Past 60 days of precipitation (versus normal) Great Lakes water levels (weekly update) Inundation Mapping Locations. Tawas: There were some walleye and perch caught inside the bay near Jerrys Marina and buoys 4 & 6 while trolling crawlers in 10 to 14 feet. The Chocolay River also signifies the treaty boundary from the 1842 "Copper Treaty" of La Pointe - the human-powered movement of the river channel opens many yet-unanswered questions. There is a boat ramp at Johnson Park about seven miles below the dam. There were some reports of a few steelhead being caught as well as brown trout. Wheat Beer - American Pale Wheat. There are likely higher concentrations of steelhead closer to the mouth, but the river is almost never fishable there in the winter. Spot and range targets without wasting valuable seconds switching between gear with Luepold's new rangefinder binocular, the BX-4 Range HD. Anglers were casting large soft plastics and spinners for best results. There were increasing reports of anglers catching some coho salmon in the Chocolay River using spinners and floating spawn bags. This, combined with the gravel in the river, offers a perfect habitat for brook trout to flourish. Anglers were drifting beads or casting reaction baits. Ou. Perch fishing was slow in Au Gres as well as in the Pine River area. He is a senior English major at Northern Michigan University. The rainbow trout action produced some incidental catches with most rainbow trout, brown trout and a few kings running around 3 to 6 pounds with some up to 5 pounds. 845 were here. In the video above, Leopold's Shawn Skipper highlights the features of the exciting new optics with Game & Fish Editorial Director Adam Heggenstaller at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. Some pools and runs can get rather cramped, however, so a short spinning rod might be a good idea to bring along. Marquette: Anglers reported catching coho salmon out of the mouth of the Carp River. Anglers in the Tahquamenon River have increased their efforts targeting fall muskies, with some follow action near the mouth. Additional information on both rivers can be obtained from the DNR at (989) 684-9141. 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