The Family Friendly Fishing Waters map shows family-friendly fishing locations across the state that are easy to access and have a high likelihood of catching fish. You can filter the locations by what type of fish you want to catch, what kind of fishing you are looking for (boat, pier, shore), which amenities you would like (swimming, restrooms, etc.) and entrance fee.
All anglers 17 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Oscoda: Pier anglers caught good numbers of Atlantic salmon, lake trout and brown trout while fishing minnows on bobbers and close to the bottom. Spoons and spinners of various colors were all productive throughout the day. Steelhead action slowed, but a few fish were still caught on fresh spawn. A few walleye were caught while casting crankbaits in low light conditions. Weather permitting, those in boats did well on lake trout, Atlantic salmon and walleye. Medium diving crankbaits and standard-size spoons in oranges, gold/green and chartreuse worked well in waters 15 to 40 feet deep.
Au Sable River: The AuSable River still had good numbers of steelhead being caught by anglers. Fresh spawn and plugs caught the majority of the fish near the Foote Dam. A few fresh Atlantic salmon were caught in the lower river on bright-colored spoons, spinners and plugs.
The sighting of the first blue-winged olives is a promising sign, and anglers can expect trout to become more active as they begin to feed on emerging insects. With water temperatures slightly warmer than usual, the first Hendrickson hatch could occur at any time now. These hatches are typically in the afternoon, but do note that they can also occur in the morning under the right conditions. Check in with the local fly shops for the latest information on hatch timing and insect activity.
Cheboygan: A few chrome steelhead were reported to be running up the river. Anglers who had the best luck reported using steelhead spawn bags, wax worms and beads, and were drifting in about 6 feet of water. Fish were cooperating the most on days that were cloudy, but still on the warmer side. Just off the river’s mouth in Lake Huron, there were reports of some coho salmon and walleye activity.
Rogers City: Fishing pressure was low due to cold and windy conditions on Lake Huron. Stained water was reported to be out in front of the marina. Anglers fishing from the wall with spoons and body baits found some success. Using bright colors like yellows and oranges in 60 feet of water or less was reported to work well.
Ocqueoc River: Anglers who fished for steelhead had limited success. Fish were reported to be trickling in, with anglers getting prespawn fish as well as fish already spawned out. Anglers were drifting spawn bags under bobbers in the deeper holes for the best results.
Harrisville: A good number of Atlantic salmon and steelhead were found around the harbor. Shore anglers had success using spinners, spoons and minnows. Boat anglers caught a good number of coho salmon, Atlantic salmon, steelhead and lake trout. Short lead cores and long lines worked well in 20 to 60 feet of water. While orange, watermelon and gold/green spoons worked well for silver fish, chartreuse, orange/white and golds worked better for lake trout.
Alpena: Good numbers of steelhead were still being caught from below 9th Street up to the dam. Drifting fresh spawn and beads was the most productive early and late in the day. Pier anglers reported catching a few Atlantic salmon and brown trout while casting spoons and crankbaits. A few walleye were caught in low light conditions when casting a variety of crankbaits. Boat anglers caught a few walleye while jigging swim baits near the mouth of the river. Those trolling the bay found scattered Atlantic salmon, brown trout and lake trout. Fish were reported to be in depths of 20 to 50 feet of water throughout the shipping lanes.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Frankfort: Anglers fishing the piers with fresh eggs reported moderate numbers of steelhead off the north pier from both the inside and outside. Anglers who trolled the pierheads caught a few brown trout, coho salmon and northern pike. Anglers who ventured out a bit deeper reported catching lake trout in 35 to 45 feet of water. The early morning bite was reported to be a little bit better than the afternoon.
Onekama: Anglers who launched in Onekama and trolled south to Bar Lake reported some activity, with steelhead and brown trout in 15 to 30 feet of water.
Manistee: Pier fishing was reported to be slower. A few lake trout, steelhead and a couple brown trout were caught while using spawn and spoons. Those trolling outside the harbor picked up very few brown trout and a couple lake trout; fishing was slow.
Charlevoix: Anglers fished in the channel as well as on the ends of the piers with little to no luck. Anglers were reported to still be waiting for the first cisco bite of the season.
Petoskey: Anglers fishing the Bear River reported low numbers of small steelhead making their way up the river. Anglers fishing flies had some luck while bottom bouncing, while those floating spawn reported very low numbers, primarily in the morning. The very occasional brown trout, northern pike and lake trout were reported to be caught.
Upper Peninsula
Little Bay de Noc: Perch fishing was reported to have been good, with limit catches in 42 to 48 feet of water off of Vagabond. Most of the females were still tight, with only a very small number with loose eggs. They should be moving toward shallow water to begin spawning as soon as temperatures are around 40 degrees. Minnows were outperforming crawlers. There were lots of small walleye around, so anglers should expect to move around a bit to find areas where there aren’t so many. The perch were reported to be in good numbers, so finding spots without small walleye isn’t a problem.
Manistique: Anglers reported catching steelhead in the river. Drifting beads seemed to yield the best results.
Marquette: Recent fishing for coho salmon on the break wall seemed to slow. Boat anglers who made it out on Lake Superior had some luck fishing for coho salmon and reported catching a good number of brown trout by the mouth of the Carp River. Anglers who were floating down the Chocolay River did well catching steelhead and brown trout. The Carp River picked back up again for steelhead. Spawn bags and wax worms seemed to work well for steelhead in both the Carp and Chocolay rivers, along with orange beads and some spinner action. Trolling blue and silver spoons as well as tiger-stripe-patterned Rapalas seem to be popular for catching coho salmon in the lower harbor. Buckeye jigs on the break wall were also reported to work well.
Au Train: The boat launch is now up and running with the dock in, and the launch has been dredged. Boat anglers on Lake Superior caught a couple coho salmon and steelhead. Anglers were also catching steelhead and coho salmon at the mouth of the rivers. Blue and silver spoons were reported to work well for coho salmon. Tiger-striped or bright orange and gold double-jointed Rapalas worked well for brown trout and steelhead out by the northwest side of the island and close to shore by the river mouths.
Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers reported catching some trout and salmon on boats and from shore. Most fish caught were lake trout, and they were typically caught during jigging and trolling trips in water deeper than 70 feet. Some splake, brown trout and rainbow trout continued to be caught from shore while casting spoons and leaving natural bait on the bottom. In the coming weeks, begin looking for smelt moving close to shore along with trout and salmon that will be feeding on them!
South Portage Entry Canal/ Big Traverse Bay: Anglers were trolling and jigging for lake trout, coho salmon and brown trout with varied success. Anglers found these fish when trolling near shore in waters shallower than 100 feet and while using spoons, stick baits and plugs. Most successful fishing trips were during the early morning hours.
St. Ignace: The Carp River was reported to see some fishing activity; however, there were still no smelt reports. Keep an ear out for talk about the smelt running up the Carp River; it may be happening soon with warmer weather.
Les Cheneaux/Detour: Anglers caught a few splake at the marina in Hessel, mostly on smelt. Good fishing days were reported to have been very hit or miss. There were also a few anglers who trolled in Wilderness and Hessel bays and were able to catch a few splake on stick baits. There was no fishing activity reported in Detour. The smelt being used by anglers mostly came from Lake Superior. There was yet to be a run in the Carp River or at Nunns Creek; however, anglers were keeping a close eye on both areas.
Ontonagon River: Fishing on the river was reported to be slow and difficult as a result of high turbidity and low visibility in the water. Very few anglers were on the river due in part to water conditions, weather and accessibility. Reports from those who made it out indicated that few fish were caught.
Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Access was limited at these ports due to weather conditions. High winds, flurries and cold temperatures limited fishing efforts greatly.
Black River Harbor: Fishing efforts out of the harbor were strong when weather permitted. Coho salmon and brown trout were reported to be caught by shore anglers, while boat anglers reported catches of coho salmon, brown trout and lake trout when trolling.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Saginaw Bay: Anglers who fished along the east side of Saginaw Bay reported slow fishing for yellow perch and panfish, and the fish that were caught were small. Walleye anglers who were able to get out on the bay around Quanicassee and Sebewaing found fishing to be slow, with low numbers caught.
Lower Saginaw Bay: Boat anglers who trolled around the Cigar reported catching a few walleye when using Bandits. Walleye were also caught when trolling the west side of the shipping channel across from Spoils Island. Jigging live minnows around Spoils Island was reported to work well.
Saginaw River: A few walleye were caught by anglers jigging with twister tails near First Street in Saginaw. Shore anglers caught a few walleye in the evenings at Veteran’s Park in Bay City when casting jig and twister tail combinations.
Lake Erie: Anglers had great success fishing for walleye when leaving the Sterling State Park boat launch and heading north toward the mouth of the Detroit River around the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area. They fished in 12 to 15 feet of water and trolled with artificial lures at speeds of around 1.3 mph. Good lure colors were perch colors, purple and chrome with black stripes, and white with a black head with blue and pink polka dots. Anglers reported that these walleye have been large.
Lexington: A small number of coho salmon and steelhead were reported to be caught in the early morning and evening hours. Casting small lures and fishing with bobbers and wax worms or with crawlers and minnows from the docks and beach area inside the harbor all were reported to have worked well. Rough conditions kept boat anglers off the water.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Muskegon: Anglers trolling the shoreline found the coho salmon and brown trout action to be hit or miss. Orange body baits were reported to have worked well. Pier anglers using spawn found the action to be slow for brown trout.
Grand Haven: Pier anglers caught a few brown trout and coho salmon on spawn. Anglers trolling from the shoreline out to 50 feet of water found a mix of Chinook salmon, coho salmon and brown trout. Orange, blue and yellow spoons have been successful. Boat anglers found the yellow perch action to be hit or miss. Wigglers and minnows were reported to have worked well.
