By The Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Walleye fishing continued to be excellent this past week. The fish had moved slightly deeper, with anglers having the most success northeast of Bolles Harbor in 20 to 24 feet of water using both bottom bouncers and crankbaits.
Some anglers caught a few yellow perch while targeting walleye with crawlers, although it was still early in the season for them to be fully schooled up. Many catfish were caught out in the DTE hot ponds using natural bait.
The Detroit River also continued to produce walleye, with many anglers catching fish there and bringing them to the Sterling State Park Fish Cleaning Station. Shore fishing in the lagoons at the state park was also very good for panfish, bass, and catfish. Both lures and natural baits were effective there. The best colors for harnesses and lures for walleye were green and orange.
Saginaw River: Anglers fishing for bass in the lower Saginaw River caught both smallmouth and largemouth bass while casting artificial baits around structure and rocky areas. They also caught the occasional northern pike and walleye. Other anglers fishing with nightcrawlers on the bottom caught mostly freshwater drum and channel catfish.
Eastern Saginaw Bay: Fishing around Quanicassee produced walleye in 12 to 14 feet of water and in as shallow as 6 feet. Some anglers also caught walleye around Callahan Reef and the southern end of the slot.
From Sunset Marina to Sebewaing, anglers caught walleye off the bar and along the edges where it dropped off into 20 to 24 feet of water. Some walleye were also caught in deeper water around 26 feet east of the shipping channel. A few large yellow perch were mixed in with the walleye. Body baits and crawler harnesses both produced fish in a variety of colors.
Lower Saginaw Bay: Walleye anglers were successful at Callahan Reef, trolling in 9 to 12 feet of water using crawler harnesses. Anglers also caught fish near Sparkplug while trolling in 23 feet of water with flicker shads, and 3 miles northeast of the area while trolling with flicker shads. Additional success was reported by anglers trolling in front of Linwood in 18 to 22 feet of water using crawler harnesses.
Tittabawassee River: Fishing pressure was light. Anglers fishing in the vicinity of Caldwell Boat Launch caught freshwater drum and channel catfish while fishing with nightcrawlers on the bottom.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
South Haven: Salmon anglers reported another good week of fishing. The salmon fishing got tougher the last couple of days; 75 to 100 feet of water was the most consistent. Standard sized spoons worked best. Pier anglers caught a few steelhead and a decent number of freshwater drum. Most of the fish were caught on shrimp or alewife. Perch fishing pressure was very low.
St. Joseph: Salmon fishing was slow with fish being reported as spread out. Anglers caught fish from 55 feet of water out well beyond 120 feet of water. The most consistent water was around 80 feet. Pier fishing was steady. Steelhead were caught on shrimp as well as live bait and by casting.
St. Joseph River: Good numbers of walleye were caught in the lower St Joseph river by anglers trolling crank baits and drifting crawlers.
Muskegon: Salmon fishing slowed down slightly over the past week but a fair number were still caught. Salmon were scattered in 60 to 220 feet of water with the best action reported in 70 to 140 feet of water. Green and orange spoons worked well with a few caught on white flasher-flies.
Grand Haven: Boat anglers noticed the salmon action slowing down over the past week. They still caught a fair number of salmon in addition to a few steelhead 30 to 100 feet down in 60 to 140 feet of water. Spoons did the best in the colors of orange, yellow, and green. Pier anglers targeting steelhead found the action to be slow. Anglers casting the in the channel for freshwater drum caught a few on silver spoons.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Tawas/Au Gres: Smallmouth bass were caught and released by boat anglers. Those fishing from shore at the Tawas River mouth reported slow fishing overall with only a few freshwater drum and catfish being caught.
In Au Gres, Boat anglers fishing straight out of Au Gres caught some walleye with numbers averaging at two to five fish per boat in around 28 feet of water. Boat anglers heading out from the Pine River seemed to see better numbers trolling the shallower water. Both crawlers and body baits produced catches. Northern pike, channel catfish, freshwater drum and white bass were also caught. Shore anglers targeting panfish reported slow fishing.
Alpena: Walleye anglers reported success in Thunder Bay while trolling crankbaits during low-light conditions. Crawler harnesses had hit-or-miss success during the day in 12 to 20 feet of water. With high winds, fish were scattered throughout the bay.
Anglers fishing 40 to 80 feet of water had success with lake trout using spoons and Spin-N-Glos fished lower in the water column. Atlantic salmon and a few coho salmon were taken on spoons fished higher in the water column, with orange, watermelon, and chartreuse proving productive.
Smallmouth bass were found in 5 to 10 feet of water, with white, black, and silver jigs working well.
Thunder Bay River: Decent numbers of walleye were caught throughout the river on jigs, crawlers, and body baits. Natural colors worked best throughout the day. Atlantic salmon were caught while casting smaller body baits and spinners in blue/silver, green/silver, and gold. Good numbers of catfish were taken by anglers fishing with crawlers on the bottom during the evenings and after dark.
Rockport: Atlantic salmon were caught from shore on minnows as well as small spoons. Boat anglers reported success on lake trout in 25 to 80 feet of water. Fish remained well scattered, with water temperatures in the mid-40s. Spoons in chartreuse, white, and watermelon were productive, as well as dodgers and Spin-N-Glos. A few steelhead were taken while fishing bright-colored spoons high in the water column. Bass anglers reported decent smallmouth fishing near Bell Bay in 5 to 10 feet of water while using plastic swimbaits.
Cheboygan: The Cheboygan Lock and Dam Complex remains closed to the public. Lake trout were plentiful this past week. Anglers were very successful at Poe Reef, Reynolds Reef, and Cordwood Point in 40 to 60 feet of water. They primarily hit spoons, with occasional catches on Spin-N-Glos and flashers. Productive colors included green, yellow, and orange.
In the Cheboygan River, walleye and steelhead were reported. Walleye reports increased as the week progressed. Shore anglers drifted various combinations of jigs and live bait, while boat anglers drifted nightcrawlers exclusively. Some anglers came close to their bag limits for walleye, although most caught one fish per trip.
Steelhead anglers were successful while drifting beads. Both walleye and steelhead were caught between the State Street drawbridge and the Cheboygan pedestrian walkway bridge.
Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers casting bandits and deep husky jerks off the pierhead found some walleye. Anglers trolling scatter raps in the lower river and around the pierhead picked up walleye. A handful of Atlantic salmon were taken by anglers drifting minnows under a bobber in the lower river. Lake trout fishing was reported great with limits being taken in 50 to 70 feet of water on spoons and dodgers/Spin-N-Glos. A handful of coho salmon, steelhead and pink salmon were also caught by anglers trolling spoons.
Harrisville: Anglers casting in the harbor caught pike and smallmouth. Anglers targeting lake trout in 50 to 65 feet of water did well this week on spoons and Spin-N-Glos. A few coho salmon, Atlantic salmon and steelhead were also caught in 50 to 65 feet of water.
Rogers City: Lake trout were plentiful, and many anglers limited out. The best depths were 30 to 70 feet of water. Running lines throughout the water column produced the best results. Attractors with Spin-N-Glos worked well in the bottom 10 feet. Spoons were also productive, particularly in green, blue, orange, and yellow colors. Lead cores, downriggers, and dipsy divers were all effective.
Some Atlantic salmon were also caught in the top 30 feet of the water column. Anglers had success using brightly colored, smaller spoons.
Presque Isle: Lake trout fishing was very good, and most anglers limited out. The best depths were 40 to 90 feet of water. Anglers ran lines throughout the water column for the best results. Spoons, as well as attractors with Spin-N-Glos or Spin-N-Glo flies, were productive. Effective colors included green, blue, white, yellow, orange, gold, and copper.
There were occasional catches of steelhead, coho salmon, and Chinook salmon. The Atlantic salmon were found in the top 20 feet of the water column, while the other silver species were caught by running lines throughout the water column.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Manistee: Boat anglers caught Chinook salmon and lake trout along the shelf in 120 to 230 feet of water while trolling spoons and flasher-fly combos 50 to 70 feet down. Pier anglers caught chinook salmon while casting spoons in the mornings. The south pier is currently closed due to construction.
Ludington: Chinook salmon were caught at and around Big Sable point in 50 to 200 feet of water while fishing 25 to 90 feet down, Northwest of town in 50 to 60 feet of water, 30 feet down, and south in 40 to 60 feet of water. Spoons worked best but flasher-fly combos also caught fish. In the mix came a few suspended lake trout, coho salmon and steelhead. Fish were mostly scattered and fishing was slightly slower this week. A few Chinook salmon were caught off the piers while casting spoons in the early mornings. There were plenty of alewife in the harbor, but those fishing bait had little luck.
Charlevoix: Anglers targeting cisco reported decent numbers early in the morning and throughout the day. Casting and jigging small spoons produced the best results. Those fishing from boats also reported decent numbers of cisco, as well as a few scattered lake trout.
Little Traverse Bay: Anglers fishing the Bear River reported low numbers of dark steelhead. Beads and flies produced the occasional bite. Those targeting lake trout reported low numbers of fish west of Harbor Springs.
West Grand Traverse Bay: Anglers targeting smallmouth bass had success while casting along the breaks in 5 to 15 feet of water. Lake trout were caught by those jigging around Power Island in 50 to 100 feet of water. Water temperatures varied from low 40s in the north to mid 50s in the southern areas of the bay.
East Grand Traverse Bay: Smallmouth bass were caught in 5 to 10 feet of water. Anglers using swimbaits and tubes had success as the bass moved into shallower water to spawn. The water temperature averaged 50 degrees throughout the bay. A few lake trout were caught around Deepwater Point by anglers jigging in 15 to 50 feet of water. Both lake trout and smallmouth bass were caught in the Elk River. As water temperatures increased, more smallmouth bass entered the river.
Leland: Boat anglers had the most success targeting lake trout while trolling second bank in 100 to 150 feet of water, bait depth seemed to vary from 90 to 110 feet down with greens and orange being the best colors. Anglers reported large patches of bait fish while trolling. Pier anglers targeted smallmouth bass, with little success.
Frankfort/Lake Michigan: Anglers reported good numbers of Chinook salmon from the herring hole to Platte Bay as alewife were plentiful throughout the area. Trolling from 40 to 100 feet down with spoons were successful, but some larger Chinook salmon were caught on meat rigs. Pier anglers reported catches on both casting and live bait.
Lake trout anglers jigging in Platte Bay reported good numbers of fish in 40 to 70 feet of water off the bottom.
Onekama/Lake Michigan: Anglers went straight out from the pier heads to 80 to 100 feet of water trolling the top 60 feet reporting a few Chinook salmon in the early mornings.
Northport/Suttons Bay: Boat anglers in Suttons Bay and around Stony Point caught lake trout while jigging white tubes and spoons. Smallmouth bass anglers reported some success while fishing in Onema Bay and Suttons Bay.
Upper Peninsula
Little Bay de Noc: Smallmouth bass anglers reported good fishing this week. While most fish had moved off their beds, anglers were still able to have success fishing relatively shallow water. Some bass anglers found vegetation at the bottom of drop-offs, as well as rocky areas, where the bass were feeding on goby.
Walleye anglers reported fair to good fishing. Some anglers fished the head of the bay with some success; however, the action slowed somewhat this week. Elsewhere, anglers reported good fishing farther south, including around Escanaba and points south. Successful trips were also reported from areas near Fox Park. Anglers trolled crawler harnesses and crankbaits, while others had success casting toward drop-offs and flats.
Perch anglers reported mixed results. Many anglers experienced limited success, while others reported that although the schools were somewhat spread out and difficult to locate, they were still able to have productive trips. Slip bobbers and perch rigs baited with minnows and worms were the most common presentations.
Munising: Boat anglers trolling the bay and around Grand Island did very well on Chinook salmon, with a few coho salmon mixed in. Anglers targeting lake trout also had success while trolling and jigging around Grand Island. A few splake were reported caught off the Anna River Mouth.
Keweenaw Bay: Anglers reported fair to good numbers of coho salmon and lake trout being caught while trolling stickbaits, spoons, and flasher-fly combinations in the upper 30 feet of the water column. Anglers also caught king salmon and rainbow trout while trolling, although in smaller numbers. Anglers jigging for lake trout reported a fair bite, with most fish being caught on natural bait.
Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers trolling near structure reported good numbers of lake trout and a few coho salmon while using stickbaits and spoons. Anglers also reported occasional catches of brown trout. Anglers targeting lake trout reported a good bite while jigging both natural and artificial baits in more than 100 feet of water, with the greatest success occurring around 150 feet.
Ontonagon River: The river saw healthy fishing efforts over the past week. Reports show that walleye were caught in fair numbers. Trolling was the most successful fishing method for anglers. Shore anglers reported less frequent catches of walleye as well as occasional rock bass.
Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Fishing efforts were fair out of Silver city and Union Bay. Ontonagon experienced very high efforts due to the Ontonagon Lake Trout Classic fishing tournament held over this past weekend. Reports from anglers included catches of coho salmon, Chinook salmon, brown trout, and lake trout in good numbers. Trolling in shallow waters resulted in the best yields for boat anglers. Shore anglers fishing from these ports reported catches of coho salmon and brown trout in low numbers.
Black River Harbor: The harbor saw a fair amount of angling efforts over the past week. Recent reports suggest that fishing was hit or miss. Some anglers caught limits followed by low action on the next day with similar conditions. Boat anglers reported mixed catches of coho salmon, brown trout, Chinook salmon, and lake trout in varying numbers. Anglers fishing within the harbor and from the break walls reported catches of coho salmon in low numbers.
Grand Marais: Anglers fishing off the breakwall found some lake whitefish and round whitefish toward evening, with spawn and worms working best as bait. Boating anglers reported good success on lake trout while trolling and jigging.
Les Cheneaux Islands/DeTour: Anglers in Hessel caught a few small perch in the club cut. Smallmouth bass began moving onto beds, and anglers had success catching them in the shallows around the islands and in the shallow bays throughout Hessel and Cedarville. Pike were also caught off the wall in Hessel, mostly on chubs. Perch were hard to come by off the docks in Hessel.
Hill Island also produced a few bass and pike. Atlantic salmon were still present around the marina in Hessel, but anglers had a difficult time getting them to commit.
In DeTour Village, fishing pressure had just begun to pick up. Fishing was still relatively slow, with only a few anglers having success catching Atlantic salmon. Those who were successful reported that the fish were holding high in the water column.
Manistique: Slow to fair fishing for walleye anglers. Anglers used worms and cast into river holes, with some trolling with crank baits. There were many reports of smallmouth and northern pike catches throughout the river. Anglers targeting lake trout and salmon reported slow fishing.
Marquette: Brown trout continued to be consistent with both boater anglers and river anglers in the Chocolay River. In the lower harbor, the coho salmon bite remained hit or miss this week depending on the water temperatures, but there have been a good number of Chinook salmon caught all over Marquette and out towards Shot Point in around 30 to 40 feet of water.
Au Train: Coho salmon, Chinook salmon, and brown trout fishing was reported as good. In Au Train Bay, there were several Chinook salmon caught by Scott Falls and up towards the tip of 5 Mile Point this week in around 40 feet of water. The lake trout were targeted by anglers jigging and trolling this week North of Au Train Island.
