By The Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Walleye fishing was consistently good. Anglers trolled bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses around 30 feet behind the boat in Brest Bay, in around 20 feet of water, and had good success. Anglers using spoons also reported good catches. Water temperatures warmed up, so more freshwater drum and other bycatch species were biting as well. Shore fishing at the Sterling State Park lagoons continued to provide excitement, with anglers catching largemouth bass, catfish, and other species on both lures and live bait.
Saginaw River: Anglers found a few walleye at the Rust Avenue Boat Launch in Saginaw while fishing various holes and vertical jigging. Shore anglers at Veterans Park in Bay City reported a few walleye.
Eastern Saginaw Bay: Fishing along the east side of the bay picked up when weather allowed anglers to get out on the water. Around Quanicassee, walleye were caught in the shallows in around six feet of water, off the edge of Callahan Reef, straight out in 10 to 14 feet, and in the south end of the slot. Further up the shoreline, walleye were caught in the slot from Sunset Marina to Sebewaing, along the edge of the bar in 10 to 14 feet, and farther out in 20 to 26 feet of water. Crawler harnesses and body baits were both successful.
Lower Saginaw Bay: Walleye anglers caught walleye west of the Sparkplug while trolling in 20 feet of water with flicker minnows. Buoy #1 was also reported as productive. The Saginaw River continued producing walleye, with anglers trolling and jigging from the mouth of the river all the way into Smith Park in Essexville.
Tittabawassee River: Anglers caught a mixed bag of a few walleye, white bass, and smallmouth bass while casting jigs and body baits, hitting various holes from Caldwell Boat Launch upstream to Dow Dam. Downstream of Caldwell, fishing pressure was light.
Harbor Beach: Some smallmouth bass were caught and released from boats inside the harbor while anglers cast a variety of lures. Good numbers of lake trout were reported by anglers trolling with dipsy divers and downriggers in 35 to 45 feet of water using spoons, dodgers with Spin-N-Glos, dodgers with flies, and spoons.
Port Sanilac/Lexington: Salmon and trout were caught in about 50 feet of water while trolling with spoons, as well as dodgers with Spin-N-Glos and flies. Most reported catches consisted of lake trout, though a couple of walleye, steelhead, and coho salmon were mixed in. Some smallmouth bass were caught from the docks while anglers cast spinners and tubes.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
South Haven: Boat anglers experienced decent salmon fishing despite the rough conditions. Anglers caught some smaller lake trout and a few Chinook salmon. The fish were very spread out, with the most consistent action occurring in very deep water, well beyond 120 feet. Pier fishing was very slow for steelhead and salmon, though anglers did catch freshwater drum.
St. Joseph: Salmon fishing was reported as good. Some Chinook salmon and coho salmon were caught. Pier anglers reported a few steelhead and Chinook salmon, along with a few coho salmon. Casting spoons and spinners accounted for most of these catches.
St. Joseph River: Anglers fishing the lower St. Joseph River reported good catches of walleye. Anglers caught fish when trolling and drifting crawlers.
Muskegon: Boat anglers found good numbers of Chinook salmon, along with a few steelhead, lake trout, and coho salmon. The best depths were 30 to 90 feet down in 90 to 180 feet of water. The most effective baits were a mix of green and orange spoons, green meat rigs, and white flasher-fly combinations. Pier fishing was slow for anglers casting spoons targeting freshwater drum.
Grand Haven: Boat anglers caught a mix of Chinook salmon, lake trout, steelhead, and coho salmon. Most catches were 30 to 90 feet down in 90 to 160 feet of water. Green and orange spoons worked well, along with white flasher-fly combinations. A few Chinook salmon were caught on meat rigs fished deeper in the water column. Pier anglers targeting salmon reported a tough bite.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Tawas/Au Gres: Boat anglers caught a few walleye, northern pike and smallmouth bass while trolling the bay. In Au Gres, fishing was slower than previous weeks, but anglers were still able to catch a few walleye. Other anglers headed south or went out of the Pine River and caught a few walleye, along with white bass, white perch, freshwater drum, and channel catfish, trolling both body baits and crawlers in 9 to 12 feet of water.
Thunder Bay River: Anglers fishing near Lamar Park and the walking bridge reported fair catches of walleye while using crankbaits. Northern pike and smallmouth bass were seen throughout the river. A recent push of steelhead was found in the river by anglers drifting beads and hair jigs. Several Atlantic salmon were also reported.
Alpena: Weather permitting, boat anglers had success in water depths of 40 to 70 feet. Reported catches included Chinook salmon, Atlantic salmon, lake trout, and walleye. With water temperatures in the mid-40s, fish were well scattered throughout the water column. Spoons in green, blue, orange, and watermelon patterns were successful throughout the day. Walleye anglers reported that fishing had been hit or miss while trolling crankbaits in depths of 12 to 20 feet. Natural colors produced the best results early and late in the day. Pier anglers reported success catching pike, smallmouth bass, and the occasional walleye while casting a variety of crankbaits and using jigs with plastics.
Rockport: Good numbers of lake trout were found in depths of 20 to 60 feet. Bright-colored spoons on lead cores worked well, along with smaller flashers and Spin-N-Glos. Anglers reported Atlantic salmon feeding on the surface in waters as shallow as 15 feet. With water temperatures around 40 degrees, fish had been well scattered from top to bottom. Several northern pike were also seen near the boat ramp, along with Atlantic salmon.
Cheboygan: The Cheboygan Lock and Dam complex remained closed to the public. Anglers caught their lake trout limits at Poe Reef and Cordwood Point. Spoons, Spin-N-Glos, and flasher-fly combinations all were successful. In the Cheboygan River, anglers occasionally caught walleye, steelhead, Atlantic salmon, pike, smallmouth bass, and suckers. Fishing pressure and angler success slowed for all of these species. Steelhead anglers had success when drifting beads. Walleye anglers using jigs and minnows or jigs and nightcrawlers produced results. Atlantic salmon had been caught when drifting nightcrawlers or casting spoons and spinners.
Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers trolled spoons and Spin-N-Glos in 50 to 70 feet of water and reported doing well. A few anglers reported coho salmon and a couple of chinook salmon in 20 to 30 feet of water north of the river mouth while trolling body baits.
Anglers fishing off the pier and catwalk reported catching a few walleye on bandits or jigheads with split-tail plastics. A few Atlantic salmon were caught off the catwalk by anglers drifting minnows 4 to 6 feet under the surface or casting spoons in gold, orange, or blue-silver. Steelhead were caught in the river below Foote Dam and at High Banks. 8 mm beads in white, yellow, and natural orange worked well. Flies and spawns also produced fish.
Harrisville: Anglers fishing in the harbor reported catching pike while casting spinnerbaits, along with a few walleye. Anglers fishing offshore did well targeting lake trout while trolling in 45 to 65 feet of water. Spoons and Spin-N-Glos fished close to the bottom were effective.
Rogers City: Anglers reported catching lake trout, with the best depths being 40 to 70 feet of water. Anglers ran a combination of spoons and cowbells with Spin-N-Glos or dodgers and Spin-N-Glos. The flasher setups were fished near the bottom, while spoons were scattered throughout the water column for best results. Anglers had been deploying 2-, 4-, and 5-color lead cores. Good colors included green, yellow, orange, and blue.
Occasional Atlantic salmon were caught as well. Atlantic salmon preferred the upper portion of the water column, so anglers fished high for them. Brightly colored spoons, as well as regular or smaller-sized spoons, produced the best results. Successful colors included orange, orange and green, gold with orange, green, and/or yellow. Spoons were run off planer boards high in the water column, in the top 20 feet. They were found early in the season around breakwalls and structure. The calcite wall was a good place to try. There were Atlantic salmon around the marina, and anglers cast small spoons, body baits, or live minnows.
Presque Isle: Anglers reported catching lake trout, with the best depths being 60 to 80 feet of water. Lines were run throughout the water column, with flashers and Spin-N-Glos fished in the bottom 10 feet. Spoons fished throughout the water column worked well. Anglers deployed downriggers and lead cores for best results. Good colors included green, blue, orange, and orange and green combinations.
The Stoneport dock was good when targeting Atlantic salmon. They preferred the top 20 feet of the water column, so anglers fished high. Good colors included orange, silver, green, and gold. Smaller spoons, including regular-sized or slim profiles, were most effective. Atlantic salmon preferred very calm water to feed on midges, which began to hatch in increasing numbers.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Manistee: Boat anglers had caught Chinook salmon and lake trout along the shelf and south toward Big Sable Point in 70 to 150 feet of water while trolling green spoons 40 to 80 feet down. Pier anglers caught rock bass, largemouth bass, bowfin, and pike using nightcrawlers and stick baits.
Ludington: Chinook salmon were caught at Big Sable Point in 100 to 200 feet of water while fishing 40 to 90 feet down. A few lake trout were caught in the mix. Orange and green spoons worked well. A couple of salmon were reported from outside the pier heads, but it had mostly been slow. There was no action to report from the piers.
Charlevoix: Anglers targeting cisco in the Pine River Channel reported no luck. Dredging concluded in the channel. Ferry Beach boat launch has all slips in, and the cleaning station was opened.
Little Traverse Bay: Anglers fishing the Bear River reported low numbers of steelhead. Those who had success used beads and flies bottom bouncing. The occasional walleye and pike were reported. Boat angling was held to minimum due to cold water temperatures.
East Grand Traverse Bay: Anglers targeting cisco had some success jigging gold or white spoons in 60 to 100 feet of water along the east shore off Deepwater Point. A few lake trout were caught, although the bite was spotty due to the cold-water temperatures, which hovered around 38 degrees. A few smallmouth bass were caught in the southern areas of the bay by those fishing slowly along the breaks in 15 to 30 feet of water. Olive tubes and dark-colored swimbaits had been yielding the best results. Lake trout, along with an occasional steelhead were caught on the Elk River by those drifting fresh spawn bags or jigs with wax worms.
Leland: The steelhead bite started to decrease. Though a few anglers fishing the pier early morning floated spawn bags and had some success.
Frankfort/Lake Michigan: Anglers reported Chinook salmon out front in 80 to 120 feet of water, trolling the top 60 feet, with green spoons and flies working best. Lake trout hit in the same areas. Pier anglers reported alewives around the pier heads, and chinook salmon were reported off the north pier.
Onekama/ Lake Michigan: Anglers headed out to 80 to 120 feet of water and trolled the top 70 feet with spoons to catch Chinook salmon and lake trout.
Upper Peninsula
Little Bay de Noc: Walleye fishing was reported as fair. Anglers trolled crankbaits or crawler harnesses, while some reported catching walleye on jigs with live bait or soft plastics. Smallmouth bass anglers reported good fishing. Anglers observed fish on beds but also reported catching fish around shallow vegetation and areas of sandy rock.
Munising: Boat anglers trolling reported a fair coho salmon bite outside the bay and around Grand Island, with a few good-sized Chinook salmon. Boat anglers targeting lake trout did well while trolling or jigging. Anglers fishing off the Anna River mouth did well targeting splake, with spawn or casting spoons working the best.
Keweenaw Bay: Anglers reported fair numbers of coho salmon, with an occasional brown trout caught while trolling stickbaits, spoons, and flasher-flies in the upper portion of the water column. Anglers jigging for lake trout seen some success, along with whitefish anglers who had reported a fair bite. Shore anglers reported catching a few coho salmon and splake.
Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers trolling nearshore reported fair numbers of lake trout, coho salmon and steelhead when using stick baits and spoons. Anglers also reported the occasional brown trout and steelhead being caught. Anglers targeting lake trout had some success when jigging artificial lures and natural baits.
Ontonagon River: Fishing efforts on the river increased greatly as anglers hit the water in search of walleye. Reports suggested a good start to the season, as walleye were caught in fair numbers. Following the first few days of fishing, rain showers had muddied the river water and slightly deterred angling efforts. Anglers fishing from boats seemingly had the most success when trolling. Shore anglers also had luck fishing with live bait.
Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Angling efforts from these ports were low. Weather made it difficult for anglers. Reports consisted of coho salmon, chinook salmon, brown trout, and occasional lake trout. Trolling in shallow waters resulted in the best yields for boat anglers. Reports from shore anglers fishing these ports consisted of coho salmon and brown trout.
Black River Harbor: Angling efforts from the harbor were low over the past week as weather made it difficult. Reports from boat anglers consisted of catches of coho salmon, brown trout, chinook salmon, and lake trout in low numbers. Anglers within the harbor and fishing from the breakwalls reported catches of coho salmon and brown trout in low numbers.
St. Ignace: Those targeting walleye from shore had been floating jigs and leeches, while boat anglers had been trolling nightcrawler harnesses.
Grand Marais: Boat anglers trolling east of the break wall reported a good coho salmon bite, with a few rainbow trout mixed in. Anglers fishing off the break wall did fairly well on coho salmon and lake whitefish, with some round whitefish also caught. Spawn and worms were the most popular baits.
Les Cheneaux Islands/DeTour: Perch fishing at the marina slowed down, but there were still good numbers of smaller perch being caught using crawlers, minnows, and wigglers. Pike anglers had a slower opener than usual, but there were still a few nice pike caught. Smallmouth fishing was reported to be very good all week. Surface temperatures averaged around 53 degrees. Atlantic salmon were reported at the Hessel marina.
Manistique: Steelhead anglers reported good fishing in the river. Most anglers drifted beads under a float. Some anglers elected to use a fly rod in very shallow areas of the river. Orange, pink, and chartreuse were popular bead colors.
Marquette: Steelhead fishing was reported slow in both the rivers and the harbor. Brown trout continued to be caught by both boat and river anglers in the Chocolay River. In the lower harbor, the coho salmon bite remained consistent, with a few Chinook salmon caught as well.
Au Train: Coho salmon and brown trout were caught by boat anglers. Good size chinook salmon were caught in Au Train in around 40 feet of water. Anglers targeted Lake Trout with good success.
