By The Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Yellow perch fishing remained slow over the past week. Anglers caught many small perch that were thrown back, with roughly a one-to-one ratio of kept fish to released fish. Perch anglers had more success out from Luna Pier in around 15 to 18 feet of water than out from the River Raisin. Jigging with minnows was the most effective method. Walleye fishing on the Michigan side was slow for most part; however, a few boat anglers found fish east of Stony Point along the Michigan-Ohio line using crawler harnesses, though success was very infrequent.
Lower Saginaw Bay: Walleye fishing was slow over the weekend, though a few were caught out in front of Pinconning and by the slot in 18 to 20 feet of water.
Yellow perch anglers caught fish around the sailboat buoys, with buoy B being productive. Anglers averaged about 10 to 12 keeper-sized perch per boat, ranging from 10 to 12 inches, along with a high number of throwbacks.
Eastern Saginaw Bay: Anglers caught some walleye, though fishing was slower overall. Most anglers fished half a day to land six to eight walleye per boat. Walleye were found in the slot off Sebewaing and Fish Point in 15 feet of water, as well as out toward the shipping channel near Buoy 1, where trolling nightcrawler harnesses worked best. Anglers also found a few yellow perch in the slot south of Sebewaing in 13 feet of water, noting that moving often helped locate active fish.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Muskegon: Boat anglers reported salmon 50 to 85 feet down in 100 to 140 feet of water. The best bait continued to be glow spoons and glow plugs during low-light conditions. Anglers targeting salmon were unsuccessful due to warm water, though a few freshwater drum were caught using spoons or swimbaits.
Grand Haven: Salmon were caught 50 to 90 feet down in 85 to 150 feet of water. Blue and green spoons worked well, along with a white flasher-fly combo. Due to increasing water temperatures, no salmon or steelhead were reported from the pier. A few freshwater drum were caught while casting spoons.
South Haven: A fair number of salmon were reported 45 to 90 feet down in 100 to 130 feet of water. Green or blue glow spoons worked well. Pier anglers caught a few freshwater drum while casting spoons.
St. Joseph: Boat anglers found salmon along with a few steelhead 55 to 80 feet down in 90 to 120 feet of water. White flasher-fly combinations and glow spoons produced the most bites. Pier anglers caught freshwater drum and catfish in the channel.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Tawas/Au Gres: Walleye were caught in good numbers in 40 to 60 feet of water near Charity Island and in the Alabaster area. Crawler harnesses and crankbaits both produced fish.
Decent numbers of walleye were caught in 25 to 34 feet of water straight out front in Au Gres and to the south. Crawler harnesses produced the best results. Anglers reported walleye, freshwater drum, white perch, white bass, and an occasional yellow perch.
Alpena: Walleye fishing in the bay was reported as slow. Those targeting walleye had success in 30 to 60 feet of water from North Point to Scarecrow Island. Lake trout were caught in 100 to 130 feet of water in the bottom 30 feet. A few steelhead were also caught while trolling bright-colored spoons in the top 25 feet of the water column.
Thunder Bay River: Walleye fishing was reported slow. A few smallmouth bass were caught while casting spinners. Catfish were plentiful throughout the river while fishing crawlers on bottom.
Rockport: Lake trout fishing remained solid in 100 to 150 feet of water. Flashers with Spin-N-Glos and spoons worked well, with chartreuse, white, and green yielding the best results. A few Chinook salmon and coho salmon were caught east of Middle Island in 120 to 180 feet of water, with spoons, meat rigs, and flasher-fly combos producing the best results. Steelhead were caught near the surface on orange, gold, and watermelon spoons. Walleye were scattered from Stoneport to South 9 Mile Point, 5 to 30 feet down in over 40 to 60 feet of water. Anglers had success running lines through the water column using crankbaits and crawler harnesses.
Cheboygan: Lake trout were caught off the northeastern points of Bois Blanc Island and across all major reefs, including Poe Reef, Raynolds Reef, and Spectacle Reef. Spoons produced the best bite, though lake trout were occasionally caught using flashers and Spin-N-Glos in over 100 feet of water. An occasional Chinook salmon was also caught while trolling spoons.
Low numbers of smallmouth bass and rock bass were reported in the lower Cheboygan River by anglers drifting nightcrawlers. Smallmouth bass were occasionally caught using swimbaits and spinnerbaits.
Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers did well on walleye when trolling spoons in 80 to 150 feet of water, 20 to 50 feet down. Lake trout were also taken on spoons and Spin-N-Glos. A few steelhead were caught throughout the water column. Anglers fishing off the catwalk/pier caught channel catfish and freshwater drum using pyramid weights and nightcrawlers. A few nice smallmouth bass were caught on swimbaits and tubes.
Harrisville: Anglers trolling spoons and Spin-N-Glos in 90 to 130 feet of water caught lake trout in the bottom 20 feet of water. Walleye were also caught on spoons 20 to 50 feet down. Anglers casting in the harbor caught a few northern pike on spinnerbaits.
Rogers City: Salmon fishing remained abnormally slow and failed to show any improvement. The best bite occurred very early or very late in the day. Anglers headed south toward Swan Bay and Adams Point for the best results, with optimal depths ranging anywhere from 40 to 90 feet of water. Anglers used an assortment of spoons, J-plugs, meat rigs, and flashers with plastic squids or flies. Effective colors included green, blue, yellow, white UV, and glow patterns for early-morning and late-evening fishing.
Walleye continued to be an incidental catch for anglers targeting salmon and lake trout. Lake trout were found deep in over 100 feet of water, seeking cold water and becoming more structure-oriented along with the cold water trends.
Presque Isle: Warm water was present throughout the area up until150 feet of water. Salmon were difficult to find, but lake trout fishing was reported good out deep off the hump, where they were caught near the bottom in cold water. Salmon were caught high in the water column, along with incidental catches of walleye, requiring lines spread throughout the water column. Anglers used spoons, flashers with flies or squids, meat rigs, and J-Plugs. Effective colors included white UV, green, blue, and glow patterns for early-morning and late-evening fishing.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Manistee: Anglers targeting Chinook salmon found them in 80 to 140 feet of water, straight out and south of the port, while trolling plugs, spoons, and flasher-fly combos 50 to 60 feet down. Chinook salmon were also caught in 170 to 220 feet of water while fishing 50 to 80 feet down, with a few coho salmon and steelhead in the mix. Anglers fishing the piers caught largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, and a couple of Chinook salmon while casting spoons and lures. Early mornings and late evenings produced the best bite, with glow, green, and blue colors working best.
Ludington: Chinook salmon were caught out from the projects in 80 to 110 feet of water while trolling 40 to 60 feet down, as well as at Big Sable Point in 70 to 180 feet of water while fishing the top 60 feet with plugs, spoons, flasher-fly combos, and meat rigs. Warm water slowed action on the pier and in Pere Marquette Lake. Green and glow colors worked well.
Charlevoix: Boat anglers targeting salmon found slow but steady success trolling in 90 to 140 feet of water. Running lines at the temperature break, roughly 65 to 85 feet down, produced the best results. Anglers used blue, green, and silver spoons, flasher-flies, and the occasional meat rig. Smallmouth bass fishing on the pier produced several small, undersized fish.
Little Traverse Bay: Anglers targeting salmon found most catches on the Petoskey side of the bay. Targeting fish at the temperature break, roughly 65 to 85 feet down, produced slow but steady results. Occasional lake trout were also caught.
East Grand Traverse Bay: Anglers fishing out of Elk Rapids caught lake trout while trolling roughly 80 feet down in 100 to 120 feet of water. A few Chinook salmon were also reported, though the salmon bite remained inconsistent. White and green flasher-fly combinations worked well. Anglers trolling around Old Mission also caught lake trout in 70 to 130 feet of water. Anglers heading south of the Center Road launch caught good numbers of lake trout when trolling in 80 to 140 feet of water. Water temperatures throughout the bay hovered between 70 and 73 degrees. Smallmouth bass were caught in the Elk River.
West Grand Traverse Bay: Lake trout were caught by anglers trolling in 100 to 140 feet of water along the west bank just north of Elmwood Marina, with a few Chinook salmon also in the mix. A combination of spoons and flasher-fly setups worked well. Smallmouth bass fishing slowed, but those fishing along the breaks in 20 to 40 feet of water landed some quality-sized fish. Water temperatures hovered between 69 and 73 degrees.
Leland: Boat anglers trolling for salmon reported excellent numbers of fish caught at North Manitou Island. Anglers reported the best water being 130 to 300 feet of water 60 to 90 feet down. Boat anglers who reached the island reported starting a north troll on the southeast side and following the banks. Anglers reported marking tons of bait fish while catching steelhead 40 to 60 feet down. Anglers fishing both the first and second banks reported harvesting a few Chinook salmon while trolling. Effective bait included green and blue spoons, as well as natural and artificial meat rigs. Water temperatures were in the mid-60s down to 70 feet, where temperatures then dropped to 45 degrees. The best times for fishing were before sunrise and right before sunset.
Frankfort/Lake Michigan: The Chinook salmon bite was in full swing, with several anglers reporting limits during the early morning bite before sunup and very good catches during the evening. Anglers set lines in 120 to 200 feet of water and worked the temperature break 50 to 70 feet down. “Bloody nose” colored spoons and plugs produced very good numbers of fish. Coho salmon moved into the area, resulting in more knockoffs. Steelhead hit well in the top 30 feet of water on orange spoons. Anglers jigging reported low catch numbers, though Chinook salmon were reported in the Betsie River.
Onekama/Lake Michigan: The early morning bite in front of the golf course and working the Barrel after sunrise worked well for anglers targeting Chinook salmon. For evening fishing, anglers headed straight out to 180 to 220 feet of water, trolling north as they set lines working the top 100 feet of water.
Northport/Suttons Bay: Anglers reported targeting lake trout by jigging and trolling near Stony Point, Omena Bay, and the areas surrounding Northport. Jigging with small white and gold spoons worked the best. Pier anglers caught small rock bass.
Upper Peninsula
Little Bay de Noc: Anglers targeting walleye trolled with planer boards and crawler harnesses. Some anglers reported success using crankbaits, with the best results coming at low speeds. Anglers who traveled south into Green Bay had fair success, while others who used reaction baits fished near the bottom. Yellow perch anglers reported inconsistent fishing, though some caught fish near Escanaba Harbor and the Escanaba River.
Munising: Boat anglers trolling and jigging for lake trout around Wood and Grand Island had good success. Boat anglers trolling the bay caught a few splake. Anglers targeting splake reported a slow bite off the Anna River mouth.
Ontonagon River: Over the past week, the river continued to see a fair-to-low amount of angling effort. Reports from anglers included catches of walleye in low numbers. Anglers reported having better luck catching fish when jigging, as opposed to trolling. Occasional catches of lake sturgeon were reported by those fishing with natural baits. Shore anglers reported catches of walleye, rock bass, and lake sturgeon in low numbers. Reports suggested that morning hours were the most productive time of day for catching these fish.
Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Angling effort from Ontonagon was somewhat low over the past week. Effort from the Silver City and Union Bay access sites increased from previous weeks but remained lower than in Ontonagon. Reports from anglers included catches composed primarily of lake trout in fair-to-low numbers. Occasional catches of brown trout were reported at a much lower frequency. Anglers reported trolling across depths varying anywhere from 80 to 180 feet of water.
Black River Harbor: The harbor continued to see low angling effort over the past week. Anglers reported catches of lake trout in low numbers. Reports found that anglers trolled in depths of 80 to 180 feet of water to find these fish. Shore anglers within the harbor boundaries had very little success.
St. Ignace: Anglers who trolled spoons off St. Martin’s islands and the coast guard pier had limited success catching Chinook salmon.
Anglers drifting leeches for walleye at the Carp and Pine rivers had mixed results.
Grand Marais: Boat anglers continued doing well trolling and jigging for lake trout, with a few reports of coho salmon caught while trolling. Anglers fishing off the break wall had little success.
Manistique: Anglers targeted Chinook salmon south of Manistique and near the Garden Peninsula in depths of 90 feet of water and deeper. Spoons produced fish, although anglers also reported success with flasher-flies and meat rigs. Salmon were still present. Steelhead were also caught, typically on lures fished higher in the water column.
Marquette: Most anglers continued to troll north of White Rocks out toward Granite Rock and the Clay Banks in 120 to 160 feet of water for lake trout. They reported catching fish throughout the water column, though the larger lake trout were found in slightly deeper water near Granite Rock. A few anglers reported catching small numbers of salmon and brown trout near Little Presque Isle and the Clay Banks in roughly 60 to 100 feet of water. Few anglers ventured out to Sand River and Shot Point, as lake trout and brown trout catches declined compared to the previous week.
Au Train: Angling effort was low in Au Train this week due to the weather, with only two anglers interviewed. They reported fishing in 120 to 160 feet of water. Lake trout were caught near the bottom, northwest of Au Train Island or by Wood Island Reef.
Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers reported fair fishing over the past week, with most of the catch composed of lake trout. Anglers also reported catching a few smaller Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and rainbow trout. Trolling spoons and flasher-fly combinations produced the most results. Anglers jigging for lake trout reported a fair bite, landing fish on natural and artificial presentations across varying depths throughout the week.
Lake Independence/Big Bay: Fishing activity was more consistent with most anglers targeting walleye and yellow perch. Anglers did best jigging in 15 to 20 feet of water using natural bait.
Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers trolling spoons and flasher-fly combinations near structure in 60 to 100 feet of water reported fair to good numbers of lake trout. Anglers jigging for lake trout reported a fair bite when using natural and artificial bait. Most fish were caught between 100 and 140 feet of water with some anglers reporting success in waters deeper than 200 feet.
Les Cheneaux/DeTour: Anglers in Hessel caught salmon as well as lake trout out of the west entrance. Anglers reported a few perch from the marina docks. There were reports of good numbers of smaller northern pike around the marina as well as in wilderness bay. In DeTour, anglers caught lake trout by trolling the flats. Chinook salmon and Atlantic salmon were reported caught by anglers trolling around the lighthouse in the early mornings and late afternoons.
