Looking to learn more about fishing? Hook, Line and Sinker classes are offered at many state parks in Michigan, teaching fishing basics such as knot tying, bait selection and casting. Find out if there are any classes offered at a state park near you.
All anglers 17 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Alpena: Walleye anglers reported fish scattered throughout the bay. Near Scarecrow Island, anglers had success trolling crankbaits in 18 to 30 feet of water. North Point was also productive, with crankbaits and spoons producing fish in 20 to 30 feet of water. Anglers had mixed results while trolling crawlers in 17 to 22 feet of water near Sulphur Island and Squaw Bay. Pier anglers reported that walleye fishing was slow. Good numbers of freshwater drum and smallmouth bass were caught while using leeches.
Thunder Bay River: Decent numbers of catfish were caught near the Armory and behind the Holiday Inn while using crawlers. Freshwater drum, bullhead and smallmouth bass were also caught throughout the river. Anglers trolling for walleye had success using crawlers as well as deep-diving crankbaits. Near the 9th Street Bridge and Lamar Park, leeches and crawlers produced walleye, smallmouth bass and the occasional catfish.
Rockport: Lake trout fishing remained good, with anglers targeting fish in 50 to 100 feet of water. Dodgers with spin-n-glos worked well near the bottom, while spoons produced fish throughout the water column. Steelhead, Atlantic salmon and a few Chinook salmon were also caught between Stoneport and Middle Island. Orange, chartreuse and gold spoons produced the best results for steelhead and Atlantic salmon in the top 20 feet of the water column.
Cheboygan: Boat anglers filled their coolers with lake trout at Reynolds Reef while trolling spoons in 25 to 45 feet of water. Downstream of the Cheboygan Dam, anglers caught walleye, bass, northern pike, rock bass and freshwater drum. Walleye anglers caught up to three walleye per trip and released several freshwater drum. Boat anglers targeting walleye had success drifting hook-and-worm rigs in the morning and trolling nightcrawler harnesses at night between the pedestrian walkway bridge and the State Street drawbridge. Shore anglers primarily used drifting jig-and-worm presentations. A mixed bag of smallmouth bass and northern pike was reported at the Cheboygan Dam, river mouth and Duncan Bay. Tube baits, stick baits, body baits and spinner baits all produced fish. Rock bass and freshwater drum were caught while drifting jig-and-worm rigs or nightcrawler harnesses on both sides of the river near the Cheboygan DNR field station.
Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers fishing off the catwalk and pierhead found good numbers of freshwater drum and catfish while using cut bait or crawlers on the bottom. A few smallmouth bass were also caught off the pier. Anglers trolling flicker shads or drifting crawlers picked up a few walleye. Boat anglers trolling in 75 to 100 feet of water caught some steelhead and coho salmon, along with the occasional Atlantic salmon or walleye. High copper lines and two to five colors of lead core with green and orange spoons accounted for some fish. Divers and downriggers set 40 to 50 feet down in 75 to 100 feet of water also caught fish.
Harrisville: Anglers trolling in 70 to 90 feet of water off the harbor reported catching steelhead and Atlantic salmon, along with a few Chinook salmon. Green and orange spoons produced the best results. Anglers targeting lake trout fished in deeper water, around 120 to 150 feet, and found lake trout.
Rogers City: Lake trout fishing continued to be good, with anglers reporting limit catches when weather conditions allowed. Anglers fished straight out at the hump, south toward Adams Point or north toward 40 Mile Point. The best depths were 60 to 120 feet of water, with lines being run throughout the water column to locate fish. Spoons remained the primary bait, though anglers also found success using cowbells with spin-n-glos, as well as flashers with spin-n-glos. Productive colors included green, yellow, blue, chartreuse and UV patterns. Larger lake trout were generally caught in deeper water. Many smaller lake trout just above or below the 15-inch minimum size were also being caught, with some anglers releasing up to eight fish per trip. Some steelhead began showing up, with fish being caught in the top 20 feet of the water column. Orange-colored, standard-sized spoons produced the best results. Anglers found success trolling faster speeds, with the best speeds reported between 2.8 and 3.5 mph.
Presque Isle: Lake trout fishing continued to be excellent, with anglers reporting limit catches. However, many smaller fish were caught, resulting in a high number of released fish. The larger lake trout moved into deeper water but were suspended. Productive areas included straight out and south toward Stoneport, as well as off North Bay. The best depths were 60 to 120 feet of water, with anglers running lines throughout the water column for the best results. Spoons remained the most effective presentation, though anglers also found success using cowbells with spin-n-glos, as well as attractors paired with spin-n-glos. Productive colors included green, orange, blue, yellow, chartreuse and UV patterns. The occasional silver spoon also produced while targeting lake trout. Steelhead began to show up, with anglers catching them in the top 20 feet of the water column. Orange-colored regular or smaller-sized spoons were effective. Anglers reported the best results while trolling faster speeds, reaching up to 3.5 mph, with faster speeds producing better results.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Manistee: Anglers trolling the shelf for Chinook salmon reported catching fish straight out from the harbor and south in 70 to 120 feet of water while fishing 45 to 70 feet down, as well as in 130 to 180-plus feet of water while fishing 45 to 90 feet down. Spoons, flasher/fly combinations and meat rigs all produced fish. A few steelhead and lake trout were also caught. Boat anglers trolling outside the harbor caught freshwater drum and a brown trout. A couple of smallmouth bass were reported from the pier, though fishing was slow. The best action occurred during the early morning hours.
Ludington: Fishing was generally slow, but a few Chinook salmon were caught off Big Sable Point in 100 to 180 feet of water while anglers trolled spoons and flasher flies 60 to 80 feet down. Additional Chinook salmon were also caught in 60 to 80 feet of water. Anglers fishing off Pentwater and to the south caught Chinook salmon in 80 to 100 feet of water, while others found fish straight out from the pierheads in 60 to 120 feet of water. A few steelhead and one coho salmon were also caught. Those fishing from the piers saw little action, with only one or two freshwater drum caught while casting spoons.
Charlevoix: Boat anglers trolling spoons, flasher flies and meat rigs found some success targeting lake trout down in deep water, as well as the occasional steelhead and Chinook salmon higher in the water column. Finding the temperature break, which was roughly 60 to 80 feet down over the past week, gave anglers the best results. Pier anglers in the Pine River Channel reported slow bass fishing while using natural bait on the bottom. The Charlevoix fish cleaning station is currently closed due to maintenance.
Little Traverse Bay: Boat anglers targeting lake trout reported a slower bite while fishing west of Harbor Springs toward “the humps.” Those who found fish reported catching lake trout in 60 to 80 feet of water, though the bite was tough. The occasional steelhead was also reported by anglers trolling shallow-running orange spoons approximately 15 to 35 feet down.
Frankfort/Lake Michigan: The outer edge of the Herring Hole produced large Chinook salmon, with several anglers reporting increased sizes, including a confirmed report of a fish weighing over 25 pounds. Water temperatures were setting up around 50 to 60 feet down, with anglers trolling just below the temperature break. Spoons remained the most effective presentation, with only a few fish reported on flasher/fly combinations and meat rigs. Lake trout catches around Platte Bay and Six Mile Hole produced good numbers and sizes, with one lake trout weighing over 16 pounds being observed.
Onekama/Lake Michigan: Anglers reported moderate numbers of Chinook salmon while trolling in 140 to 180 feet of water and setting lines 50 to 70 feet down. Green and blue spoons produced the best results. The Barrel produced lake trout along the northern slope, with anglers catching fish while bouncing the bottom with cowbells.
Upper Peninsula
Little Bay de Noc: Anglers targeting walleye reported a tough bite, with lower harvest numbers. Some anglers traveled to the outer regions of Little Bay de Noc. Minneapolis Shoal and Portage Point were mentioned by some anglers, who reported marking fish and catching a few larger walleye. Yellow perch anglers reported slow fishing with an inconsistent bite and difficulty locating schools of perch. The head of the bay continued to produce some fish, as did areas near the Escanaba River, though fishing remained notably slow. Worms were the preferred live bait.
Munising: Boat anglers caught a few lake trout trolling and jigging around Grand Island and Wood Island, with a few splake mixed in. Anglers reported a slow bite on Chinook salmon and coho salmon. There was low fishing pressure at the Anna River mouth.
Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers reported fair numbers of coho salmon being caught while trolling spoons and flasher/fly combinations in the top 60 to 80 feet of the water column. Anglers also caught Chinook salmon, though in smaller quantities and sizes compared to previous weeks. Those targeting lake trout were successful, reporting a fair bite while jigging natural and artificial presentations in around 180 feet of water.
Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers trolling near structure in 60 to 100 feet of water reported good numbers of lake trout and a few smaller Chinook salmon while using spoons and flasher/fly combinations. Anglers jigging for lake trout reported a poor to fair bite using natural and artificial baits, with most fish being caught between 140 to 180 feet.
Ontonagon River: Over the past week, the river saw a good amount of angling effort. Angler reports suggested that walleye were caught in good numbers. Boat anglers had success both trolling and jigging. Shore anglers reported catching walleye, rock bass, and the occasional yellow perch in low to fair numbers. The fish cleaning station located at the Ontonagon Marina remained closed.
Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Throughout the past week and holiday weekend, angling effort from the Silver City and Union Bay access sites remained low. Effort from Ontonagon continued to be more prominent, with many fishing parties reporting successful trips. These reports included catches of lake trout in fair numbers, along with less frequent catches of coho salmon. Trolling continued to produce the best results for boat anglers. The fish cleaning station located at the Ontonagon Marina remained closed.
Black River Harbor: Over the past week and throughout the holiday weekend, the harbor experienced a slight increase in fishing effort. Angler reports consisted of catches of lake trout and coho salmon in fair numbers. Trolling continued to be the most effective method for catching these fish. On occasion, anglers reported having to shift their efforts to deeper water to locate fish.
St. Ignace: At the Pine River, fishing success varied from day to day. Some anglers only caught undersized fish, while others successfully caught up to three walleye. Daily catches also included yellow perch, northern pike and bullheads. Shore anglers near the M-134 overpass bridge and DNR boat launch had success drifting jigs and leeches. Boat anglers found success trolling nightcrawler harnesses. Northern pike were caught exclusively on nightcrawler harnesses. The most productive colors were orange and green, as well as red and gold.
Grand Marais: The lake trout bite was good for boat anglers trolling and jigging, with a few reports of coho salmon caught trolling as well. Fishing pressure off the breakwall was low.
Manistique: Fishing for Chinook salmon remained good. Anglers caught good numbers of fish using spoons and flies, typically while fishing in 100 feet of water or deeper. The spoons used were primarily larger, magnum-sized presentations, while flies were typically green or blue. Lake trout and steelhead were also caught mixed in with Chinook salmon catches.
Marquette: Anglers targeting lake trout had to fish deeper to find fish. Most anglers trolled north of White Rocks toward the area north of Granite Rock in 160 to 220 feet of water. Those who caught fish reported finding them deeper in the water column, rather than closer to the surface. No reports of coho salmon, brown trout or steelhead were received.
Au Train: The anglers interviewed were out in deeper waters north to northwest of Au Train Island in anywhere from 120 to 220 feet of water. Anglers only reported a few lake trout caught toward the bottom this week, as opposed to suspended like last week, while feeding on bugs.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Walleye fishing slowed significantly due to warm water temperatures, wind and walleye moving primarily into deeper water beyond the Michigan state line. A few walleye were still caught southeast of Bolles Harbor in 18 feet of water while using crawlers on bottom bouncers. Shore anglers fishing at Hoffman across from Bolles Harbor had success catching freshwater drum and largemouth bass using artificial lures.
Sebewaing: Walleye were caught straight out west over the bar in 12 feet of water trolling flicker minnows.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Muskegon: Over the past week, Chinook salmon numbers increased, with larger fish being caught. The best action occurred 50 to 100 feet down in 80 to 140 feet of water. Glow spoons, along with white flasher and green fly combinations, produced the best results. Pier anglers caught a few freshwater drum while casting spoons or paddle tails.
Grand Haven: Boats began seeing increased catches of Chinook salmon, along with a few coho salmon and steelhead. Most Chinook salmon were caught 55 to 120 feet down in 80 to 150 feet of water. White flashers with green flies and glow spoons produced good numbers of fish. A few salmon were also caught on green or white meat rigs. Pier anglers caught a few freshwater drum while casting spoons in the channel.
