By The Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Walleye fishing pressure was strong, but catch success per boat fell slightly compared to the previous week. Those with the most success continued to go east from the Sterling State Park launch and troll with artificial crankbaits in 18 feet of water. However, those jigging in the dumping grounds out from Luna Pier also did well with soft plastics. Catfish were caught in the boat launch channel at Sterling State Park from shore on nightcrawlers.
Saginaw River: Overall, fishing was slower with only a few walleye caught near the vicinity of Cass Avenue and Clemens Airport on jig head and twister tail combinations
Eastern Saginaw Bay: Rain and winds kept the east side of the bay muddy. Very few anglers got out onto the bay, those that did reported muddy water and very slow fishing from Quanicassee to Sebewaing. Shore fishing throughout the area was also slow this week with very little caught.
Lower Saginaw Bay: Weather was not the greatest, but some boat anglers managed to catch a few walleye over at the crib while trolling crankbaits in 14 feet of water. Spoils Island was also productive, with anglers jigging along the rocks on the east side.
Lake Huron: There was more fishing pressure this past week. Harbor Beach, Port Sanilac, and Lexington had fishing boats trolling between 25 and 45 feet of water from south of Lexington along the shore to the north in many different areas up to Harbor Beach. Planer boards with crankbaits and spoons were used. Anglers reported mostly coho salmon, along with lake trout, steelhead, some Chinook salmon, and a few walleye and Atlantic salmon. Pier and shore fishing was slow.
Tittabawassee River: Overall, there was a lower turnout for opening weekend than in years past. Fishing was slow and limits were few, the average angler reported was one to three walleye per boat. Trolling with various body baits seemed to be the best technique, with green, fire-tiger, and purple being the most productive colors. The most productive stretch was from Busch Tool Supply in Freeland down past the Tittabawassee Road Bridge to the vicinity of Imerman Park.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
South Haven: Boat anglers targeting salmon reported slower fishing. Fish seemed to be spread out from 40 feet of water to well past 150 feet of water. The most consistent water was around 100 feet. Pier anglers had reported fishing for all species.
St. Joseph: Boats anglers targeting salmon reported decent fishing. The fish were very scattered, with the most consistent depth of about 80 feet. Pier anglers had slow fishing. There were still a few brown trout and whitefish caught on spawn.
St. Joseph River: Anglers fishing the Berrien Springs dam caught steelhead. Fishing slowed down but a few fish were still caught.
Muskegon: Over the past week, anglers caught Chinook salmon 20 to 50 feet down in 35 to 70 feet of water. Orange and green spoons worked well. Anglers trolling the shoreline found the action to be slow for brown trout. Brown trout and coho were also slow for pier anglers.
Grand Haven: Boat anglers caught a few Chinook salmon 20 to 60 feet down in 40 to 70 feet of water. Bright-colored spoons were productive since the water was stained. Yellow perch action was slow for boat anglers venturing out. Anglers targeting brown trout and coho salmon reported slow fishing. A few channel catfish were caught on spawn.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Tawas/Au Gres: A few walleye were caught by those fishing the pier in the evenings on both minnows and jigs. Walleye were also caught at the Tawas River mouth by shore anglers in the early morning and late evenings. Smallmouth bass were also caught there during the day. Anglers heading out in boats did well fishing in the Tawas area, trolling body baits in about 20 feet of water. Others went south and did well both trolling and casting for walleye. Boat anglers picked up a few walleye while trolling in both the stained and muddy water around Pt. Au Gres. Anglers reported marking more fish in the muddy water. An occasional brown trout, coho salmon, and lake whitefish were also caught. In the Standish area, there was not a tremendous amount of fishing activity, but those who went out were able to bring in a couple of walleye, along with northern pike and largemouth bass, while trolling in the shallower water.
Thunder Bay River: A few walleye were caught while casting shallow-diving crankbaits below the 9th St. Bridge. A few smallmouth bass were also caught throughout the river. Steelhead anglers found success while drifting beads and spawn. Green and silver spinners were also productive. The sucker run was in full swing and found throughout the river.
Rogers City: Launch docks were in. The ice had cleared everywhere. As the water began to warm, nearshore shallow-water trolling was most successful. Stained or river water was a good place to start. Lake trout were reported, as were Atlantic salmon. Spoons and body baits were trolled high in the water column for the best results. Good colors were brighter oranges and yellows in stained water, while greens and blues were better in cleaner water. A mix of spoons and body baits were anglers’ choices.
Presque Isle: The ice melted at the marina and launch ramp dock. However, the launch ramp dock was still not in the water yet.
Ocqouec River: The high waters receded finally. Anglers targeting steelhead drifted spawn bags and beads below bobbers. Anglers also cast small spinners.
Alpena: Anglers targeting the bay found lake trout in 30 to 50 feet of water. Green, orange, and chartreuse were productive colors on standard-size spoons. Walleye anglers reported that fishing was hit or miss. A few fish were caught while jigging the river, as well as trolling crankbaits. Black/white, black/gold, and silver were productive colors. Those trolling along the pier also had success using natural-colored body baits early and late in the day. Anglers reported fair fishing for smallmouth bass near Partridge Point, casting swimbaits in brighter colors.
Rockport: With water temperatures in the mid-30s, fishing was reported as slow. A few lake trout were found in 40 to 70 feet of water close to the bottom. Flashers with Spin-N-Glos produced the best results, as did medium-sized spoons in chartreuse, white, and orange. Anglers reported that slower speeds worked best.
Cheboygan: The Cheboygan lock and dam were closed to the public. Boat launches and the cleaning station were also closed. Those shore fishing between the pedestrian walkway bridge and the drawbridge occasionally caught steelhead and walleye. Those targeting walleye used soft plastics and crankbaits, which were successful. Popular colors were chartreuse, green, and white. Steelhead anglers were successful while drifting beads.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Little Traverse Bay: Almost all of the ice in the bay had dispersed, allowing for boating activity. Anglers fishing the Bear River and the Petoskey break wall reported steady numbers of steelhead in the early morning and late evening. Fishing with spawn, jigs/waxworms, and beads produced results. Anglers also reported a few coho salmon, walleye, pike, and suckers near the Bear River.
West Grand Traverse Bay: Steelhead were caught on the Boardman River by those drifting jigs with wax worms or bright-colored beads. Occasionally, brown trout were also caught. Those targeting cisco and lake trout along the east shore found some success while jigging spoons in roughly 120 feet of water. The water temperature throughout the bay hovered between 36 and 38 degrees.
East Grand Traverse Bay: Smallmouth bass were caught in the southern areas of the bay in 15 to 30 feet of water. The cold water made the bite tough, but those casting swimbaits or tube jigs found success. Water temperatures varied between 36 and 42 degrees. Steelhead continued to be caught in the Elk River by those drifting spawn bags or jigs with wax worms. Early morning and after sunset were the best times to try. Lake trout were also caught as the water continued to warm.
Leland: Water levels and clarity were favorable for anglers. Anglers caught steelhead early in the morning while floating and fishing spawn bags. Suckers and a few walleye were also reported in the harbor. Boat anglers reported water temperatures heading north out of the pier heads at 49 degrees, and south water temperatures were reported at 45 degrees.
Frankfort/Lake Michigan: The water cleared up, so anglers trolled around the pier heads with body baits and picked up a few brown trout and the occasional steelhead. Anglers who fished in 70 to 90 feet of water and bounced the bottom reported a few lake trout on spinners and flies. Pier anglers found slow activity, as most steelhead had moved into the Betsie River. The cleaning station at the boat launch was not open yet.
Onekama/ Lake Michigan: Anglers fished 50 to 70 feet of water straight out and north to pick up a few lake trout.
Upper Peninsula
Little Bay de Noc: Smallmouth bass anglers reported good-sized fish and fair fishing. Anglers reported that the sun’s high position in the sky during the late morning into afternoon hours was favorable for smallmouth. Yellow perch anglers reported mixed results, with the majority having trouble getting enough satisfactory bites. However, anglers reported catching a few and seeing some schools on sonar units.
Munising: The boat launch was open and boat anglers were successful targeting coho salmon trolling the bay. Boat anglers have also reported a few nice sized rainbow trout and splake. Anglers fishing off the Anna River mouth have been picking up a few coho salmon and rainbow trout with spawn and casting spoons working the best.
Keweenaw Bay: Anglers reported fair numbers of coho salmon with an occasional steelhead being caught when trolling stickbaits and spoons in the upper portion of the water column. Whitefish anglers and those jigging for lake trout reported a slow bite.
Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers reported fair fishing when trolling spoons and body baits for both lake trout and brown trout nearshore. Anglers also reported the occasional coho salmon being caught. Shore anglers reported slow fishing.
Ontonagon River: Docks are now in the water at the Ontonagon Marina boat launch. Over the past week the river saw very low fishing efforts. River conditions continued to improve slightly.
Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Docks remained out of the water at the Silver City launch. The launches in Ontonagon and Union Bay were both open, with docks in the water. The fish cleaning station located at the Ontonagon Marina had yet to be opened for the season. Fishing efforts from these ports increased greatly, especially near Union Bay. Angler reports showed catches of coho salmon, brown trout, and steelhead. These fish were primarily caught by those trolling in shallow waters. Shore anglers fishing Union Bay also had some luck catching a mix of the same species.
Black River Harbor: Amenities at the harbor remained closed from the winter offseason. Fishing efforts increased greatly over the past week. Anglers fishing from boats reported catches consisting primarily of coho salmon and brown trout. Coho salmon and brown trout were also caught in low numbers from the harbor breakwalls.
St. Ignace: Over the weekend, smelt dippers obtained their limits at the Carp River mouth. The river’s temperature began to exceed 44 degrees. There was very limited steelhead fishing pressure. The Carp River was very high and moving quickly. There was still snow on the roads heading toward the power lines and McDonald’s Rapids. The Carp River campground was accessible for fishing.
The Pine River was accessible for shore fishing at the M-134 overpass bridge, but the DNR boat launch had not been installed. There was one boat launch in at the City of St. Ignace launch area, but the cleaning station was closed.
Grand Marais: The coho salmon bite was excellent for boat anglers trolling West and East of the break wall with the occasional rainbow trout caught as well. Anglers fishing off the breakwall did well targeting coho salmon with a few lake whitefish in the mix.
Les Cheneaux Islands/DeTour: The ice finally left Hessel Bay and Cedarville fishing pressure was low.
Marquette: Steelhead finally started moving back up the rivers. There were a few more coho salmon caught out on the break wall and near the Shiras power plant. A few brown trout and steelhead were also caught on the breakwall this week.
The Carp River produced a few more steelhead. If fishing around the mouth was not productive, anglers moved further up the river; a few fish were reported past the prison and near the Marquette Mountain area. The Chocolay River was reported by anglers as slow.
In the bay, the coho bite heated up significantly this week, with the average per boat increasing from three last week to six. There was also an increase in fish size, with several 20-inch coho salmon caught while trolling shallow water. There were many brown trout caught while trolling around the Chocolay River mouth to Whetstone Creek.
Au Train: The Brownstone boat launch was accessible. Coho salmon and steelhead started going up the rivers again, and coho salmon fishing was very good this past week. Many coho salmon were caught by surf anglers and by those fishing from shore and near the river mouth at the launch.
Manistique: Steelhead anglers that batted the high water had limited success. One or two bites per trip was common. Anglers used beads or spawn.
