The last week has started to wake up the fish again. Nights are starting to come a little earlier and the mornings are arriving a little later. This is helping to cool things back off to a more comfortable temperature.

We’ve seen quite a few Big Bluegills lately, even a couple of Master Anglers. Just the basic techniques of a worm on a bobber are putting them in the bucket.

Crappie fishing has been good when you can locate them. They’re always on the prowl so don’t just stay in one place. Most are being caught with minnows or small jigs under a slip bobber, however there is some success to be had trolling for them in the open water with smaller crankbaits and spinners as well.

Walleye fishing has been kind of hit or miss. Still the most productive way to catch them is trolling or drifting crawler harnesses on the outside edges of weedbeds.

We’re starting to hear of a few Salmon being caught up at Tippy Dam on the Manistee river. Like everything else this year they’re a coulple weeks behind when we’ve been catching them in previous years. They’re still slaying them out on Lake Michigan and lots of BIG fish are being reported so this looks to be a great season once the rest of the fish start to push up the rivers.

There’s only 3 weeks left in the Pilgrim Village 2019 Free Summer Fishing Contest. We ususally have a few monsters entered during the last stretch so you still have time to get on the board.

2019 8th Annual Free Summer Fishing Contest

8/18/19

Largemouth Bass- Sara Nelson 21 7/8″, 5.31lb

Smallmouth Bass- Francis Majszak 20 5/8″, 6.10lb

Northern Pike- Terry Sikkema 34 1/2″, 7.84lb

Walleye- Rex Pratt 28 1/4″, 5.84lb

Bluegill- Michael Everest 11 1/8″, 1.01lb

Sunfish- Dennis Silva 9 1/8″, 0.72lb

Perch- Joan Schmidt 11 3/4″, 0.66lb

Crappie- Dave Malore 14″, 1.63lb

Bullhead- Randy Cornell 15 1/8″, 2.11lb

Dogfish- Ryan Onoins 31 1/4″, 10.95lb