Southeast:

Algonac angling is much improved after last week’s rain. Water clarity has improved. Lake St. Clair is producing fair catches of perch in deeper waters. Catfish activity is good all over the Lake.

Muskie action is good around the St. Clair Shores area. Some big fish in the 31-32 pound range have been caught using brown and natural colored baits. Yellow belly perch are doing well on Lake St. Clair near the Thames River. Walleye are still active on the Detroit River on both the American and Canadian sides. Anglers are hand lining and jigging. The St. Clair River is also good for walleye action near the Coast Guard Station.

Flat Rock, Huron, and Gibraltar the perch action is good. The two buoys just outside of the Metro Park Marina is a hot location. Walleye are biting throughout the channels and cuts of Humbug Marsh during the evening hours jigging and hand lining.

Off of the Monroe area good action for perch around Stony Pointe, West Sister Island, E-Buoy, near the shipping channels, Pointe Mouille and further south around Toledo Beach in 19-20 feet of water and near the Sputnik Buoy. Limits of perch are being caught between Sterling State Park and Bolles Harbor.

Information providers: Blue Water Bait-Fair Haven; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rockwood; Erie Party Shoppe-Monroe; Lakeside Fishing Shop-St. Clair Shores, and Mackie’s Bait & Tackle-Algonac.

East:

AAA Tip: Sanford Lake west of M-30 in Midland County under US-10. Due to construction on the bridge, boat traffic underneath will be limited to a single channel now through the winter months. The channel will be clearly marked but may vary.

Bay City fishing is much improved over last week. Perch is picking up off of Quanicassee straight out, and just west of the channel, and east of the Spark Plug in 17-feet of water. No fall walleye bite as of yet.

Bay Port angling has improved with walleye becoming active off of Sebewaing. Plenty of walleye activity taking place behind North Island, just a couple miles off of Bay Port. Don’t forget anglers, the Bay Port public access launch is closed.

Harbor Beach area anglers are doing well for perch inside the Harbor with minnows. Salmon are moving towards the shallow waters and jumping like crazy in 35-40 feet. Body baits and spoons are working best. Walleye are biting on night crawlers and crawler harnesses in 55-feet of water. Spoons are working well on steelhead in 65-feet of water.

In the Port Huron area perch fishing is starting to pick up as cooler waters set in. Off of Port Sanilac Kings are hitting in 30-35 feet of water on J-plugs and silver streak. Walleye activity is spotty due to dirty water on the American side fish are biting more on the Canadian side. North of the Black River some nice sized King salmon are hitting on Red Eye spoons.

Information providers: Anderson’s Pro Bait-Port Huron; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; 1st & Main-Bay Port, and Frank’s Place Bait & Tackle-Harbor Beach.

Click here for the entire fishing report:
http://www.autoclubgroup.com/michigan/fishing.asp?zip=48220

The sun is shining and the water is finally clear from all the rain, so it is the perfect time to go fishing.  In Lake St. Clair, perch fishing is fair in the deeper water.  Also, they are still catching catfish everywhere in the lake.  

In Lake Erie, they are catching limits of perch from Sterling State park to Bolles Harbor.

East:

AAA Tip: Sanford Lake west of M-30 in Midland County under US-10. Due to construction on the bridge, boat traffic underneath will be limited to a single channel now through the winter months. The channel will be clearly marked but may vary.

Bay City anglers are just starting to get back out to fish today due to adverse weather conditions and rough water the last few days. Perch are hit or miss at the mouth of the Saginaw River, near the first Spark Plug and around Linwood. Walleye are scattered and hard to get right now.

Bay Port anglers have had there fair share of rain and rough waters causing for slow angling activity. And the Bay Port public access launch is closed as well causing for additional inactivity. Action should start improving by the weekend as the weather pattern changes for the better. Anglers getting out are finding that fish are in deeper water and anglers need to work hard to find them. Linwood area, walleye activity is slow, salmon action is decent out of Lake Huron and some perch are being caught in 19-21 feet of water, however anglers are having to work hard to find the fish.

Information providers: Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; 1st & Main-Bay Port, and Frank’s Great Outdoors-Linwood.

Southeast:

In the Algonac area, anglers are not fishing as of yet, mostly due to the recent weather conditions earlier this week. The rain and wind has stirred up the water so much causing it to be very dirty. Best bet before heading out this weekend call your local bait shop to verify the clarity of the water.

St. Clair Shores anglers are finding minimal angling opportunities this week due to muddy waters from recent storms. Good weather is in the forecast and conditions should be much improved by the weekend.

Downriver anglers had a lull earlier in the week thanks to rain and some windy conditions. Perch action is starting to pick back up around Metro Park Marina, and Sugar Island, as well as up and down the Detroit River.

Near Monroe limited fishing taking place this week due to rain and windy conditions causing for rough and murky waters. A few boats ventured out yesterday but it will take a day or two for the fishing activity to pick back up.

In the Belleville area, the recent weather snap has cooled the water temperature causing walleye activity to slow down on Ford Lake. Belleville Lake continues to give up decent crappie and small mouth bass. Wax worms, minnows and jumbo pan fish worms are working ok.

Information providers: Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Flat Rock; Erie Party Shoppe-Monroe; Lakeside-St. Clair Shores; Mackie’s Bait & Tackle-Algonac and South Street Tackle-Belleville.

Click here for the entire fishing report:
http://www.autoclubgroup.com/michigan/fishing.asp?zip=48220

Mark Modrak of China Township took the individual lead and Michigan was tops in the six-state team event after the first day of competition in the Bass Federation's Northern Divisional Championship on Lake St. Clair.

Modrak caught five fish totaling 22 pounds, 4 ounces, while Nicholas Smyers of Franksville, Wis., was second at 21 pounds, 11 ounces.

Michigan's 12-man contingent totaled 170 pounds, 3 ounces for a huge lead over Indiana, which was second with 125 pounds, 12 ounces.

The tournament runs through Friday from the Selfridge DNR Ramp (Clinton River Access) in Clinton Township. The public is invited to watch the takeoffs (6 a.m.) or weigh-ins (2:30 p.m.). Admission is free.

Anglers are competing both individually and as state teams in an effort to qualify for the Bass Federation National Championship. The top three state teams will be awarded trophies and cash prizes. The top-finishing angler from each team will advance as a boater to the 2009 TBF National Championship. The No. 2 competitor from each state team will advance as a co-angler.

Click here for the entire article:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080911/SPORTS10/809110365/1058

Click here for an interesting story on Urban Fishing.

Store:
http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/travel/escapes/12Fish.html?ex=1378958400&en=be8b1df6b71f3e70&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Photos:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/09/10/travel/escapes/0912-FISH_index.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Southeast:

Algonac anglers are finding a few walleye at the end of the Middle Channel, around buoy 19 and near the Cutoff. Perch can be found near the Firecracker and South Channel lighthouses. Anchor Bay is still spotty for perch. Pike, walleye, catfish and bass are being caught in the channels. The North Channel is giving up a few sturgeon and if you are fishing more towards the south, Lake Erie is hopping with perch biting on Emerald Shiners.

Off of the Fair Haven area, some bass are decent around Grass Island and a few perch are biting off of Harsens Island on minnows.

Off of the St. Clair Shores area, perch are sporadic, best bet is off the Nine Mile tower and the South Channel around buoys 29 and 30. Anglers jigging on the Detroit River will find plenty of action for bass, sheep head and white perch, along with a few walleye.

Wyandotte to Flat Rock and south towards the Ohio border perch are hot on the Detroit River, Lake Erie and the Huron River. Sugar Island is a great hot spot with best action is 24-25 feet of water on minnows. Walleye are still biting on the Trenton Channel and around the Detroit Light.

Off of the Monroe area perch are really hot around Stony Point, the two stacks near the Raisin River, out in front of the Fermi Plant, near the dumping grounds, and further out near Ohio waters off of the Sputnik buoy, Turnaround buoy, and near the Camp Perry Range near the E-Can. Walleye activity is spotty but a few are being pulled out around West Sister Island in 26-30 feet of water and near the water intake. Shiners are the hot bait.

Fishing in Belleville is very good. Anglers are doing well on both Ford and Belleville lakes for crappie, blue gill, walleye and bass. No specific location fish are being caught all over the lakes, with night crawlers, leeches and wax worms working well.

Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fair Haven; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Flat Rock; Erie Party Shoppe-Monroe; Lakeside-St. Clair Shores; Mackie’s Bait & Tackle-Algonac and South Street Tackle-Belleville.

East:

Near Bay City perch are active around Callahan Reef the Black Hole and Buoys 18 and 19. Walleye action remains great north of Buoys 1 and 2 in deeper water and also in 6-7 feet of water around Callahan Reef.

Around the Bay Port area crawler harnesses and Hot-N-Tots seem to be working on fair catches of walleye. The fish are in deeper water and are scattered. As a note, the Bay Port public access launch is closed and will be open by duck hunting season.

Harbor Beach anglers are finding a few salmon near the shore by small boat, and near the break walls. Some good walleye and perch fishing is taking place in 45-50 feet of water. Shiners are the bait of choice.

Near the St. Clair area, fishing activity is picking up and many anglers are chugging for walleye.

Information providers: Angler’s Rod & Sport-St. Clair; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; 1st & Main-Bay Port and Frank’s Place Bait & Tackle-Harbor Beach.

Click here for the entire fishing report:
http://www.autoclubgroup.com/michigan/fishing.asp?zip=48220

APHIS has published the VHS Interim Rule in the Federal Register, and updated the documents defining species and areas affected by the Interim Rule.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/aquaculture/

We have also placed a Q&A document on the VHS Interim Rule under "In the News" on the APHIS web site:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/

There is a 60 day comment period on the rule; however the rule will go into effect on November 10, 2008 as currently written.  We will take comments into consideration when we finalize the rule at a future date.

Thank you,

Gary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
P. Gary Egrie, VMD
Senior Staff Veterinary Medical Officer, Aquaculture Program
United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
4700 River Road, Unit 46
Riverdale, MD 20737
(301) 734-0695 (Office)
(301) 734-4982 (Fax)
(240) 460-5986 (Cell)

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• A few walleyes are being caught in the Middle and South Channels.
• Bass fishing is still good all over the lake.
• Perch fishing is spotty. Most are being caught in the deep water in the lake.
• Muskie fishing is still good.
• They are still catching cat fish in the South and Middle channel.
• In Lake Erie the perch fishing is really hot. Most people are catching the perch with Emerald Shiners. The following bait stores in Lake Erie currently are selling Emerald Shiners: State Park Party Store, Erie Park Party Store, and Riverfront Fishing Cleaning

Michigan's First Case of Chronic Wasting Disease Detected at Kent County Deer Breeding Facility

Contact: Bridget Patrick (MDA) or Mary Dettloff (DNR) 517-241-2669 or 517-335-3014
Agency: Natural Resources
August 25, 2008
LANSING - The Michigan departments of Agriculture (MDA) and Natural Resources (DNR) today confirmed the state's first case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a three-year old white-tailed deer from a privately owned cervid (POC) facility in Kent County.

The state has quarantined all POC facilities, prohibiting the movement of all - dead or alive - privately-owned deer, elk or moose. Officials do not yet know how the deer may have contracted the disease. To date, there is no evidence that CWD presents a risk to humans.

DNR and MDA staff are currently reviewing records from the Kent County facility and five others to trace deer that have been purchased, sold or moved by the owners in the last five years for deer and the last seven years for elk. Any deer that may have come in contact with the CWD-positive herd have been traced to their current location and those facilities have been quarantined.

"Michigan's veterinarians and wildlife experts have been working throughout the weekend to complete their investigation," said Don Koivisto, MDA director. "We take this disease very seriously, and are using every resource available to us to implement response measures and stop the spread of this disease."

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk and moose. Most cases of the disease have been in western states, but in the past several years, it has spread to some midwestern and eastern states. Infected animals display abnormal behaviors, progressive weight loss and physical debilitation.

Current evidence suggests that the disease is transmitted through infectious, self-multiplying proteins (prions) contained in saliva and other fluids of infected animals. Susceptible animals can acquire CWD by direct exposure to these fluids or also from contaminated environments. Once contaminated, research suggests that soil can remain a source of infection for long periods of time, making CWD a particularly difficult disease to eradicate.

Michigan's First Case of Chronic Wasting Disease Detected at Kent County Deer Breeding Facility: "Currently, one of our top concerns is to confirm that the disease is not in free-ranging deer," said DNR Director Rebecca Humphries. "We are asking hunters this fall to assist us by visiting check stations to allow us to take biological samples from the deer they harvest, so we can perform adequate surveillance of the free-ranging white-tailed deer herd in the area."

Deer hunters this fall who take deer from Tyrone, Solon, Nelson, Sparta, Algoma, Courtland, Alpine, Plainfield, and Cannon townships will be required to bring their deer to a DNR check station. Deer taken in these townships are subject to mandatory deer check.

The DNR is also asking hunters who are participating in the private land five-day antlerless hunt in September in other parts of Kent County to visit DNR check stations in Kent County so further biological samples can be taken from free-ranging deer for testing. The DNR is in the process of finding additional locations for check stations in Kent County to make it more convenient for hunters.

The deer that tested positive at the Kent County facility was a doe that had been recently culled by the owner of the facility. Michigan law requires sick deer or culled deer on a POC facility be tested for disease. The samples from the Kent County deer tested "suspect positive" last week at Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, and were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa last Thursday for confirmatory testing. The positive results of those tests were communicated to the state of Michigan today.

Audits of the facility by the DNR in 2004 and 2007 showed no escapes of animals from the Kent County facility were reported by the owner. Also, there were no violations of regulations recorded during the audits.

Since 2002, the DNR has tested 248 wild deer in Kent County for CWD. In summer 2005, a number of those deer had displayed neurological symptoms similar to CWD; however, after testing it was determined the deer had contracted Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

More information on CWD is available on Michigan's Emerging Diseases Web site at
www.michigan.gov/chronicwastingdisease.

At discussion about this matter can be found at

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=248252.

Southeast:

Anglers fishing in the downriver area are finding great perch action off of Flat Rock, Trenton, Gibraltar and Grosse Ile. Just off Sugar Island and the mouth of Lake Erie is a great location as well as the Detroit River around Celeron Island in 25-feet of water. Rat Island continues to be a hot spot for perch on Lake Erie. Minnows are the bait of choice.

Between Estral and Detroit Beach, Stony Point is offering up good perch action on Lake Erie. To the south perch are biting on minnows near the Turnaround Buoy in Ohio waters. Walleye action is good out from the Raisin River in 25-feet and south near the water intake near Toledo. Fish are active in deep water on crawler harnesses.

Fair Haven angling is good for bass, fair to good for walleye and fair on perch. Crawler harnesses are doing the job on walleye when fishing off of Grass Island while minnows are the choice for perch.

Good action around St.Clair Shores where walleye are active throughout the day on Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River off of Peach Island, and jigs seems to be working well. Perch minnows are doing the trick on musky in 12-20 feet of water near the St. Clair Light.

In the Belleville area, Ford and Belleville lakes are giving up very good catches of crappie and blue gill on night crawlers, and bass on leeches.

Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fair Haven; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Flat Rock; Erie Party Shoppe-Monroe; Lakeside-St. Clair Shores and South Street Tackle-Belleville

East:

In the Linwood area the perch fishing is good on Saginaw Bay in 19-21 feet of water. Walleye activity is slow and salmon action is rated fair.

Off of Bay City, anglers are pulling in some really nice perch around the Black Hole and Buoys 18 and 19 on minnows in 17-feet of water. Hot-n-Tots are working well for some good catches of walleye just north of Buoys 1 and 2 in deep water.

Angling action around Bay Port ranges between fair to good for walleye and perch. Best location for walleye is between Sand Point and North Island in Wild Fowl Bay. Anglers are finding good results using crawlers and chartreuse Hot-n-Tots and fishing in 20-feet of water. Perch are hitting on minnows off of the Sebewaing area.

Port Huron anglers are reeling in good numbers of catfish on crawlers near Lighthouse Beach. Fair activity for perch is taking place in deep waters around Port Sanilac in 30-40 feet of water just north of the harbor, off of Lexington state Park, and Buoy #5 off of Port Huron. The Belle River is fair for King salmon on spoons and Rebel Rousers.

Information providers: Frank’s Great Outdoors-Linwood; Michigan Sportsman-Essexville; 1st & Main-Bay Port, and Great Lake Outfitters-Port Huron.

Click here for the entire fishing report:
http://www.autoclubgroup.com/michigan/fishing.asp?zip=48220

The perch are biting in Lake Erie on Emerald Shiners. 

The following bait stores in Lake Erie currently are selling Emerald Shiners:

State Park Party Store
Erie Park Party Store
Riverfront Fishing Cleaning

BY ERIC SHARP • FREE PRESS OUTDOORS WRITER • AUGUST 29, 2008

About 20 dead deer found by kayakers and canoeists along a six-mile stretch of the Clinton River centered on Bloomer Park in Rochester were not infected with chronic wasting disease or any other wildlife disease they have been able to identify, Department of Natural Resources officials said Thursday.

Tim Payne, a biologist for the DNR wildlife division in Southfield, said the deer apparently started dying about three weeks ago but that no freshly dead deer had been found in the past week.

"We sent three of the (carcasses) to our lab in Lansing, but only one of them was really fresh enough for a definitive necropsy," Payne said. "Two people saw deer die in front of them. Something obviously has affected them, but we don't know what it is yet."

The deaths preceded by a few days an announcement that chronic wasting disease -- a fatal deer ailment previously unknown in Michigan -- had been found in a deer on a private breeding ranch in Kent County.

Injured deer commonly develop fevers and stay near water after they have been hit by a car or a bullet. But Tom Cooley, the DNR's epidemiological veterinarian, said there was no evidence of those kinds of trauma in the deer he necropsied.

He said tests completed so far also have ruled out ailments like CWD, eastern equine encephalitis, West Nile virus, several hemorrhagic diseases and poisoning.

Cooley said the cause of death for one buck was clear -- a fractured skull...

Click here for entire article:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/SPORTS10/808290321/1058