The last week or so we’ve spent more time on White Lake than Lake Michigan, and honestly, it’s been hard to leave the bluegill bite.
With surface temperatures reaching about 75 degrees, the fish are fully locked into their spawning pattern now.
What’s Working
- Using side imaging to scan shorelines and locate active bluegill beds.
- Once we find beds, we’re switching over to our Lowrance ActiveTarget 2 in Scout Mode to pinpoint fish and make accurate presentations.
- Slip bobbers have been the go-to setup.
- Small teardrop jigs tipped with spikes or wax worms have been producing best.
- Most fish are holding about 2 feet off bottom in 7-10 feet of water.
One thing we’ve noticed is the teardrop jigs seem to hook fish cleaner than some other presentations. We get fewer fish swallowing hooks deep, which makes releasing fish much easier.
White Lake Bluegill Update
The bluegill spawn is in full swing right now.
We’re finding beds along many of the shoreline areas, and once a bed is located, it’s usually possible to catch a few nice fish before moving on to the next group. We’ve been trying not to sit on any one bed too long and instead keep moving to stay on fresh fish.
If you’re looking for a fun family fishing opportunity, now is a great time to get out on White Lake.
What About The Salmon?
A lot of anglers have been asking why the salmon fishing has slowed down compared to a few weeks ago.
This happens most years around this time.
Here’s the simple version:
- Many baitfish move into harbors, rivers, and inland waters to spawn.
- That leaves fewer concentrated schools of bait offshore.
- Salmon spread out looking for food instead of stacking up in predictable areas.
- Once young baitfish begin moving back out into Lake Michigan, the salmon bite typically becomes more consistent again.
There’s still fish being caught, but the bite can get a little tougher during this transition period.
Looking Ahead
We’ll be back on Lake Michigan next Thursday and will have another update on the salmon fishery after spending some time offshore.
For now, White Lake is offering some excellent action for bluegill anglers, and the spawn is about as good as it gets.