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All anglers 17 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Presque Isle: Anglers reported the fishing to still be very good for Chinook, coho, pink salmon, Atlantic salmon, steelhead and trout. The majority of fish were scattered throughout the water column in depths of 70 to 150 feet of water. Spoons in green/silver, oranges, and blue/silvers worked the best for Chinook from 40 to 70 feet down from the lighthouse to Thomson Harbor. Coho, steelhead and Atlantic salmon were found in the top 40 feet of water. The best results came from bright colored spoons in orange, orange/gold, watermelon, and silvers on 2-7 color lead cores. Walleye were starting to show up on random high lines making for a tasty bonus fish. Lake trout were reported in waters 80 to 150 feet in decent numbers. Bright colored spoons, cowbells, and flasher/spin glow combos worked well in the lower half of the water column. Pike and smallmouth bass were found around the harbor as well as rock bass. Tube jigs, spinners and spinnerbaits had the best results.
Cheboygan River/Lake Huron: Fishing in the river was similar to the last few weeks. Rock bass, smallmouth bass and freshwater drum were available in all sizes—typically targeted by anglers with crawlers on the bottom or below a float. Walleye appeared to have increased in number, though several undersized walleye were caught and released for each caught over 15″. Fishing for northern pike on the Cheboygan pier was quite popular this week with several keeper size fish were caught using both lures and large minnows under a float. At the mouth of the river and in Duncan Bay, boat anglers encountered good size and numbers of smallmouth bass.
Rockport: There were decent numbers of silver fish and trout caught from Middle Island all the way to Stoneport. Anglers reported that 2-8 color lead cores were taking the majority of fish. A wide variety of colors were productive with speed being an important factor. Anglers going 2.8 to 3 mph had the best results in depths of 60 to 120 feet of water. Trout were taken near bottom on dodgers and chartreuse spin glows and spoons in chartreuse, orange and greens. Largemouth and smallmouth bass were caught off the dock on plastic swim baits with brown, green, and lime colored baits being most productive.
Alpena: Anglers were mostly targeting walleye. The waters around Sulphur and Scarecrow islands were very productive in 16 to 25 feet of water. Crawler harnesses in gold, green, and rainbow patterns worked well while trolling in the bottom 10 feet of the column. Nighttime anglers had the best results with crankbaits with black/gold, black/silver, with purple working the best. Good numbers of walleye were reported around North Point in 14 to 20 feet. Anglers casting jigs in goby patterns had the best results throughout the day. The waters from the pier head to Grass Island were producing good numbers of pike on bright colored body baits in 10 to 20 feet. Anglers targeting catfish reported success off the pier with fish in the 15-to-20-pound range being taken. Crawlers and leaches were taking the majority of the fish in late evenings and after dark.
Thunder Bay River: Anglers reported a few walleye caught while trolling bottom bouncers with crawlers from the mouth of the river to the Holiday Inn. Smallmouth bass and northern pike were taken in the same waters on crankbaits and spinner baits. Good numbers of bullhead and freshwater drum were taken around the 9th Street Bridge and Lamarr Park while using crawlers, leaches and minnows.
Tawas: Anglers were catching limits of walleye when they were heading towards Charity Island. There were more walleye popping up off Tawas Point, but not in significant numbers. Crawler harnesses were used the most by anglers, but stick baits worked as well.
Oscoda/Au Sable: Steelhead, coho and lake trout were the most prevalent in 90 to 150 feet of water. Anglers were also catching pink salmon, Chinook salmon and Atlantic salmon, but those were few and far between. A few walleye were appearing in around 90 feet of water, but not a lot of anglers were targeting them. Off the end of the pier there were some smallmouth bass.
Rogers City: Anglers were fishing straight out of the harbor up the lake towards 40 Mile Point and south towards Adams Point. Fishing was good with a great mixed bag. Anglers were catching lake trout, Atlantic salmon, steelhead, Chinook, coho, pink salmon and walleye. Steelhead, Atlantic salmon and coho were caught fairly high in the water column with regular to smaller sized spoons. Good colors were silvers, orange and silver, orange, green and silver or bright colors. Anglers were deploying planer boards with 2, 3, 5, 7 segments of lead core for best results. Anglers were using sliders off downriggers too. Chinook salmon were caught on a regular basis as well. Spoons as well as flasher fly combos and some meat rigs were also working. Good colors were greens, blues, white, black and white. The Chinook salmon fishing was better very early before sunrise or after sunset. Some anglers staying out late have done descent. The best water depths were in 70 to 120 feet of water. Anglers should run lines all through the water column. The fish seemed to be everywhere right now. Sometimes they were above the thermocline and sometimes they were in the cold water below the thermocline. A lot of the Chinook salmon were feeding heavily on smelt so blue and silver might be a great color.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Manistee: Salmon fishing started to pick up over the weekend. Anglers found Chinook salmon straight out and south along the bank in 80 to 200 feet of water when fishing 35 to 60 feet down; Chinook salmon were also caught at Big Sauble Point and just north of it. Spoons and meat rigs worked the best, but flasher fly combos also produced fish. In the mix came decent catches of steelhead. The early morning Chinook bites were the best.
Ludington: Salmon fishing was hit or miss but started to pick up over the weekend. Anglers that found Chinook salmon caught them at Big Sauble Point and northwest of the harbor in 100 to 180 feet of water when fishing 30 to 60 feet down with spoons, meat rigs and flasher fly combos. Pier anglers caught some perch, smallmouth and rock bass. The late night and early morning bites were good.
West Grand Traverse Bay: Fishing was somewhat slow. The anglers that braved the Fourth of July crowds on the water were rewarded with some decent lake trout. Both trolling and jigging was a good method in about 70 to 90 feet of water while using greens and silvers. Anglers heading out of Suttons Bay were going towards Old Mission. Anglers going out to catch and release noticed many smallmouth bass while fishing shallow beds with artificial baits.
Leland: Anglers were catching limits of lake trout 3 to 3.5 miles out while trolling. Many anglers were coming back to the launch with mature trout, anywhere from 20 to 26 pounds with a 30-pound trout reported. Anglers targeting Chinook salmon had better luck this past week as fishing was starting to pick up. Anglers reported that trolling in 150 to 200 feet of water, fishing anywhere from 50 to 80 feet down has been the trick. For bait being used, spin n glows, cowbells, greens and silvers and specifically RV happee meal was the general consensus. Anglers looking to pier fish, the docks in Leland were a good place to catch smallmouth bass and the occasional carp.
Charlevoix: Fishing pressure in the area over the past week was low due to heavy non-fishing boat activities. Anglers that were targeting lake trout had success primarily fishing south of Charlevoix, while trolling in 50 to 100 feet. Boat anglers traveling to the north side of the Leelanau Peninsula reported a few Chinook salmon and lake trout. Anglers fishing from the piers were targeting smallmouth bass with minimal success. Sitting wigglers or minnows off the bottom of the channel produced the best results, however, most bass caught were under legal keeping size.
Petoskey/Harbor Springs: Anglers targeting lake trout found most of their success northwest of Harbor Springs fishing in 75 to 150 feet of water. Green and silver spoons produced the best results while trolling at various depths. In Little Traverse Bay, anglers had some success targeting salmon while fishing in shallower waters, roughly 30 to 50 feet; few smaller Chinook salmon were reported. Anglers fishing near the mouth of the Bear River had a variety of success catching rock bass, smallmouth, bullhead, freshwater drum and a few pike.
Frankfort: Anglers were reporting good numbers of alewife in the area as Chinook salmon were hitting good throughout. The scum line had yet to set up so anglers were guessing on depths. From the Herring Hole to Platte Bay good numbers of Chinook salmon, lake trout and steelhead from 30 to 70 feet down with spoons, flies and meat riggs were all landing good sizes. The early morning bite was still getting better numbers, but the evening bite was picking up.
Onekama: Anglers were finding good numbers of lake trout in the Barrel with some respectable sizes as well. Most were picked up off the bottom in 90 to 130 feet of water.
Portage Lake: Water temperatures were on the rise, so anglers were picking up perch, bass and panfish while working the drops in 16 to 20 feet of water.
Upper Peninsula
Little Bay de Noc: Anglers fishing the drop off, south of Gladstone, were catching a few perch and walleye. Perch anglers reported fair fishing, although the bite slowed down. Anglers fishing the Escanaba River mouth and Kipling had some success when using minnows. Walleye anglers reported slow fishing.
Big Bay de Noc: The smallmouth bass anglers reported catching some quality fish. Anglers were casting over areas with rock. Some anglers reported catching fish near the weeds, but most were fishing structure away from the shoreline.
Fairport: Salmon anglers reported mixed results. Many anglers were experiencing short strikes and were losing fish upon taking the bait. Anglers were successful using a variety of trolling methods, using spoons and rotator and fly combinations.
Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers were fishing for lake trout and whitefish during the days and salmon and trout during the mornings and evenings. Some large trout and salmon were caught while trolling this recent week. Most fish were caught during the mornings and lake trout and coho salmon made up most of the catch. Anglers found fish throughout the water column in waters as deep as 170 feet and shallower.
Big Traverse Bay/South Portage Canal: Anglers were mostly catching lake trout and coho. Some anglers were having luck jigging for lake trout with cut bait in deeper waters while other anglers were lucky trolling with artificial lures (spoons and flies). Anglers were catching fish anywhere from 60 to 200 feet. During warm days the fish were found deeper in colder water and after rain the fish were found throughout the water column.
Les Cheneaux/Detour: Anglers in Hessel were picking up a few perch at the marina, mostly using red worms. They were also picking up an occasional pike off the outside wall early in the morning on perch, gobies and chubs. There were also a few splake caught by anglers trolling Wilderness Bay. The Detour area was pretty steady with herring anglers the last few days. Anglers were picking up nice catches of herring around the islands towards Drummond. Anglers were catching them on wax worms and teardrops. The best way to find herring was to follow the fly hatch. There were a few lake trout caught out in the flats, however the majority of the anglers were going north for herring. There were reports of anglers catching walleye to the north, while trolling with crawler harnesses after sunset.
Ontonagon River: Despite recent inclement weather, anglers were catching walleye in respectable numbers along with the occasional rock bass. Jigging was reported to be the most effective fishing method for walleye over the past week. However, some anglers that prefer trolling were able to find fish. Fish were caught at all times of the day, but early mornings seem to yield the most successful trips.
Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Fishing out of these ports seemed to pick up over the past week. Despite some days of strong winds and rain, anglers were able to find some lake trout, coho salmon, and the occasional brown trout. Successful trips were the result of long days on the lake spent trolling artificial lures. Fish were reported to be caught randomly in a variety of shallow and deeper waters.
Black River Harbor: The few anglers who were on the lake reported a random dispersion of fish in various depths of water. Lake trout were caught in low numbers by those willing to spend long days trolling artificial lures.
Grand Marais: Lake trout anglers continued to do well on limits. The best areas were Five Mile Reef and towards AuSable from 300 to 250 feet. Both trolling and jigging were effective. Pier fishing pressure was low with only a few small whitefish caught.
Munising Bay: Boat anglers continued to report action for coho with a few Chinook salmon. Although general fishing pressure was very low and catch rates have slowed considerably, there continues to be some fish caught. Lake trout anglers caught a few and reported good action near White Rocks and Wood Island in depths of 150 to 200 feet.
Pine River: Some walleye were caught in the Pine River but it was very slow.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Anglers were catching walleye in deeper water, around 26 feet while using bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses. Anglers were trolling at 1.3 mph, with 50-foot leads, out from the Raisin River. Algae was forming out from the Nuclear Power Plant rendering fishing in that site less effective. Yellow perch seemed to have come in a bit early this season with some boat anglers getting 50 to 60 a trip. Although only two to five of them were larger sized out of the bunches. Yellow perch were caught on perch rigs using minnows, with night crawlers also being effective. Largemouth and smallmouth bass were caught out from the rock wall near the beach area of Sterling State Park on chop baits.
Lake St. Clair: Smallmouth bass fishing slowed down with warmer temperatures. The best action seemed to be near the dumping grounds and along the shipping channel north of there in 15 to 17 feet of water. Anglers brought in limit catches of crappie from Fords Cove. They were fishing in 8 feet of water with swim jigs. Anglers caught perch near the dumping grounds and were running north near the shipping channel in 15 feet of water on minnows and crawlers three feet from bottom. Perch fishing was good north of the St. Clair light. The walleye action was slow, but a few were caught from the mouth of the south channel and by anglers fishing for perch near the dumping grounds. Anglers were having some luck for walleye in the north and middle channels as well.
Saginaw Bay: After the recent rain and wind, fishing for walleye in the slot improved. Anglers were catching fish in 12 to 16 feet of water from the bottom of the slot and up to Sebewaing. Fishing out over the bar in deeper water of 22 to 26 feet was inconsistent last week. Crawler harnesses were the most consistent producer while body baits still caught walleye. Walleye were caught while trolling in 6 feet of water at Finn Road and 3 miles northeast of the Sparkplug in 23 feet of water. In the lower part of the Saginaw River, walleye were caught in 16 feet of water while trolling. Anglers trolling out in front of the KawKawlin River in 7 to 9 feet of water were catching walleye. Largemouth and smallmouth bass were caught along the shoreline in Linwood.
Harbor Beach: Lake trout, a few salmon and steelhead were caught in 100 to 130 feet. Anglers were using downriggers with spoons and lead core. An accidental walleye was caught while trolling for salmon and trout.
Port Sanilac: Good perch fishing was happening south of the harbor in various weed beds in 18 to 22 feet of water while drifting and anchoring using minnows. A mix of salmon and trout were taken in 100 to 130 feet of water using downriggers with spoons. Anglers reported catches of steelhead, coho salmon, lake trout and an occasional pink salmon and Atlantic salmon.
Port Austin: Walleye fishing was improving. Anglers were trolling around the lighthouse and towards the west using crankbaits and crawler harnesses, with crawlers working the best. Anglers were fishing from 25 to 40 feet depending on where they were fishing.
Lexington: Some perch were caught north of the harbor in a couple nice weed beds in 18 to 25 feet of water about one to two miles north.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
South Haven: Boat anglers targeting trout and salmon had fair fishing. The catch was a mixed bag of lake trout and steelhead with a few Chinook salmon. The best water was in 110 feet and deeper. Perch fishing was slow. Pier fishing was slow for everything except for freshwater drum.
St. Joseph: Salmon anglers were catching decent numbers of fish this week. The best water was around 120 feet of water. Anglers were catching coho salmon, a few Chinook salmon and lake trout. Spoons were working best. Pier fishing was slow for all species. Perch fishing was slow. There were a few fish caught in 45 feet of water but overall fishing was slow.
Muskegon: Boat anglers were starting to catch a mix bag of salmon and trout. The best action was 45 to 90 down in 80 to 140 feet of water. Pier anglers were catching a few freshwater drum while casting spoons. The best baits continued to be meat rigs, glow spoons and green flies.
Grand Haven: Boat anglers were doing fair on Chinook salmon along with a few steelhead and lake trout. The best action was 50 to100 feet down in 100 to 180 feet of water. The pier action was slow for steelhead. A few freshwater drum were caught while casting spoons. Salmon anglers had their best luck on green or blue meat rigs along with glow spoons. The best bite was early in the morning and late in the evenings.
