Northeast Lower Peninsula
Houghton Lake: Anglers were reporting catches of bluegill on waxworms and leeches.
Tawas: There were a few Chinook salmon, steelhead and walleye caught out past buoy #2 and to the east while trolling spoons in 60 to 90 feet of water. There were some walleye and perch caught while trolling crawlers in 10 to 15 feet near buoys 4 & 6. Some pike and walleye were also taken by divers spearfishing. Fishing was slow off the pier at the State Harbor with a few perch caught off minnows. At Gateway Park on the Tawas River, fishing was slow with a few largemouth bass and bluegill caught while casting plastics and spinners or still fishing with crawlers.
Cheboygan River: Salmon will be within casting range of the pier soon, but no catches from shore have been reported yet. Boat anglers were returning with some salmon and plenty of lake trout. Smallmouth bass were still available to shore anglers for the entire length of the river. Pike were caught off the pier. Casting spoons off the pier was a good way to target salmon and pike at the same time.
Oscoda: Anglers were catching rock bass and smallmouth bass in the river while using crawlers. In the late evening hours, catfish were also caught on crawlers.
Au Gres: The Au Gres River Boat Access was closed for construction. Some anglers were using the ramp at Northport Marina. Walleye fishing was good straight out from Northport, between Lookout Point and Au Gres Point in 25 to 30 feet, near the Bell buoy in 15 to 20 feet and north of the big Charity Island in 15 to 20 feet. Both flicker shad and crawlers were being used.
Pine River: There were some walleye caught out near the Rifle bar and south towards the Saganing and Pinconning bars, while trolling flicker shad or crawlers in 10 to 20 feet. There were some reports of perch being caught in the same areas.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Frankfort: Anglers were reporting good activity from the Herring Hole to Platte Bay while trolling in 100 to 150 feet and working the top 60 to 90 feet. Very good-sized Chinook and some younger ones were reported. Anglers who were jigging reported good action around the car ferry landing and the mouth. Coho were showing up in lower numbers, but the sizes were above average with several 12 to 15 pound fish being weighed in.
Onekama: The early morning bite in 120 feet of water on flies and spoons was producing respectable numbers and impressive size Chinook off the golf course and through the barrel.
Portage Lake: Bass anglers were reporting moderate numbers off the drops. Water temperatures were warm and perch catches slowed down.
Manistee: Chinook and some coho were caught straight out along the shelf in 120 to 175 feet of water when fishing 40 to 60 feet down. After the wind and rain, a few Chinook were caught in the harbor and just outside the pier heads out to 40 feet of water. Green spoons and plugs worked the best. A salmon or two were reported from the piers.
Ludington: Salmon were caught straight out at the point and south off the projects, but depths varied. Anglers fished anywhere from 40 to 70 feet down. After the wind and rain during the week, some were caught close to the pierheads and in the harbor. Green spoons and plugs worked well. A salmon or two were reported from the piers. Pere Marquette Lake produced some nice Chinook for those jigging.
Upper Peninsula
St. Ignace: Some small Chinook salmon were reported along with lake trout caught by anglers looking for salmon. Saint Martin Bay around the mouths of the Carp River and Nunns Creek will likely attract salmon in the coming weeks. Salmon can be more active during low-light periods or even at night. Glow spoons can really shine at these times.
Little Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers had mixed success. Anglers used jigging and trolling methods for walleye near Kipling around weed beds. Anglers were also targeting “Black Bottom” and Minneapolis Shoals. Perch anglers reported a slight slowdown in action, with most fishing near Butlers Island.
Manistique: Anglers reported good Chinook salmon fishing. While some adults were still being caught, the average size had declined. Anglers were trolling around the “red can” and Pointe Aux Barques. Walleye and smallmouth were caught in the river.
Marquette: Fishing activity was up the last week in the Marquette area. Lake trout were the main fish reported, but some coho and Chinook salmon were also caught. White Rocks and Granite Island were the most popular locations for lake trout and have also yielded the best results for catching lake trout. Lake trout, coho, and Chinook salmon were reported being caught between the Chocolay River and Shot Point. For lake trout near White Rocks or Granite Island, try trolling orange or bright color spoons in around 150 to 200 feet of water. For fishing between the Chocolay River and Shot Point, lake trout were caught using orange spoons and body baits in around 40 to 80 feet of water. Salmon were reported near Shot Point while running high lines with spoons.
Munising: Boat anglers reported slow fishing with most anglers trying for splake/coho with no results. A few were doing well with limits near Wood Island Reef and White Rocks along with Big Reef. Jigging or trolling produced catches. Lake Trout were surfacing on recent bug hatches.
Grand Marais: Lake trout anglers were doing well with limits reported. Most fish were on down riggers however a few were caught on high lines as lake trout were surfacing for the past week or more due to bug hatches in the area. Best areas producing were west towards the Hurricane and AuSable Point to the shipping lanes near Five Mile Point. Most fish were averaging around four to five pounds with a few over 10 pounds.
Keweenaw Bay/ Huron Bay: Anglers were catching their fair share of lake trout with most activity coming while trolling in waters roughly 150 feet deep. Anglers who had success say trolling with spoons at a mid-height in the water column netted them the best results. Some brown trout were caught in Keweenaw Bay while trolling in shallower water than the lake trout. Anglers found their best luck trolling in the mornings and the evenings with many less fish being caught during the middle of the day.
Traverse Bays/ South Portage Entry Canal: Anglers in and around the south entry canal found most of their luck while trolling for lake trout out along reefs that reside in the semi near shore waters. In deeper waters, a few anglers had luck jigging for lake trout however most fish were caught while trolling. Off the docks and piers, a few anglers were able to catch northern pike, walleye and rock bass. Reports from around Eagle Harbor and waters just north of Big Traverse Bay indicated that the coho salmon may be moving south soon and the anticipation is high for those fish. During overcast days or after rain try using worms for coho.
Au Train: Anglers reported catches of lake trout. Anglers fishing near Au Train Island had the best success catching lake trout and the number of fish caught had increased. Lake trout were reported being caught in the flats around the island and in deep water. Anglers should try trolling bright orange/blue spoons in 40 to 60 feet of water in the flats. Using the same combination in deeper water (150+ feet) yielded similar results to anglers fishing in the flats. Anglers jigging cut-bait were successful catching lake trout in about 170 feet of water around the island. Some anglers reported catching lake trout while trolling spoons through pockets of water near the Au Train River that were between 50 to 70 feet deep.
Upper St. Mary’s/Whitefish Bay: With very calm winds, warm temperatures, and cloudless days, fishing pressure was very minimal. Water temperatures were between 68 and 74 degrees, keeping the bite slow. Consistent mayfly population provided fish more food sources and slowed artificial lure use down. Lucky anglers caught very limited numbers of rainbow trout near the Soo Locks and the occasional salmon angler in Whitefish Bay reported very slow catches of Chinook and coho. Calm, hot days kept more boats off the water during the day and pushed more anglers to fish towards the evening and into the night.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Anglers were steadily increasing their yellow perch harvests. Larger perch were schooling near the Michigan/Ohio state line outside of Sterling State Park, Bolles Harbor, and near the River Raisin. Anglers had the most success in 24 to 26 feet of water with minnows and nightcrawlers. Walleye were caught in the same locations using crawler harnesses or bandits, but with fewer fish being caught. Largemouth bass anglers did well while casting artificial crank baits near the rock walls of Stony Point, and near the tree lines at the mouth of Bolles Harbor.
Saginaw Bay: Walleye were caught while tolling with crawlers three miles northeast of Spoils Island in 18 to 20 feet of water. Yellow perch were caught in 16 feet of water in the Old Shipping Channel while using worms and minnows and on the east side of Spoils Island in 8 to 10 feet of water. Buoy A and F in 12 to 14 feet of water was a good location to catch yellow perch with the average size being 8-10 inches. Fishing on the east side was limited over the past week with winds on the bay. Those that did get out had to work hard and cover water to find a few walleye. Around the Quanicassee area, walleye were caught around weed beds in 10 to 14 feet of water. Anglers also found a few walleye over the bar in 20 to 24 feet of water, and also east of the shipping channel in 25 to 30 feet. A few walleye were caught between Caseville and Oak Point in 30+ feet of water and out around Charity Island. Crawler harnesses and body baits caught walleye this week.
Geiger Road: A few perch were caught while fishing minnows in 5 feet of water.
Sebewaing: The occasional limit of walleye were caught while trolling night crawler harnesses across the bar in 14 to 16 feet of water.
Finn and Feather: Some largemouth bass and northern pike were caught while casting various artificial baits in the shallows near the shoreline.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Muskegon: Boat anglers were finding the salmon to be scattered. Salmon were caught 35 to 100 feet down in 50 to 250 feet of water. A mix of J-Plugs, meat rigs, flies and spoons all worked well. Pier anglers were catching a few largemouth bass on plastics.
Grand Haven: The salmon action was fair, but they were scattered. Boat anglers were finding the salmon along with a few lake trout 40 to 120 feet down in 50 to 230 feet of water. Green or blue were good colors for flies and spoons. Pier anglers were catching a few coho salmon and steelhead on shrimp or while casting glow spoons.
St. Joseph: Pier anglers continued to catch steelhead. There were a few Chinook caught but it was mostly all steelhead. The steelhead were caught on shrimp fished under bobbers. The few salmon that were caught were are all on spoons and spinners. Perch fishing continued to be pretty good. There were some decent numbers of fish caught in 42 feet of water. The fish seemed to be very closely packed together. There were a few fish caught by anglers trolling inside of 60 feet of water and around the pier heads. There were still some good numbers of fish in very deep water.
South Haven: Pier anglers were catching a few steelhead on shrimp fished under bobbers. Perch fishing was spotty. There were a few perch caught in 42 feet of water. The fish were very scattered. Salmon anglers were catching a few Chinook and steelhead. The lake conditions made getting out deep difficult. Most boat anglers were fishing inside of 120 feet of water. There were still some good numbers of fish very deep. The best water seemed to be 110 feet of water. Fishing was a little slow but there were some nice fish being caught on spoons.
This report is intended to give you an idea of what is going on around the state. Updates come from Fisheries staff and conservation officers. With more than 11,000 inland lakes, the Great Lakes and thousands of miles of rivers and streams, not all locations can be listed. However, it is safe to say if a species is being caught in some waters in the area, they are likely being caught in all waters in that section of the state that have that species.
