Weekly Fishing Report: May 28, 2015
Michigan Department of Natural Resources sent this bulletin at 05/28/2015 08:00 AM EDT|
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Weekly Fishing Report
May 28, 2015
Weekly Fishing Tip: Hook, Line & Sinker - learn to fish with the DNR!
Have you ever wanted to learn to fish? Join the DNR for "Hook, Line and Sinker", a weekly fishing program conducted by staff at more than 30 state parks and fish hatcheries in Michigan.
The DNR will teach you casting and fishing basics and can provide a rod and reel to use if you don't have your own equipment. Hook, Line and Sinker programs begin in mid-June and continue throughout the summer.
Participants under the age of 17 do not need a fishing license. Programs are FREE; however, a Recreation Passport is required for park entry.
Experienced, friendly instructors will introduce you to fishing in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. With step-by-step direction, you'll learn fishing basics like knot-tying, setting up your pole, casting, selecting and using bait, and removing fish from the hook. After the 20- to 30-minute lesson, you'll be ready to hit the water and exercise your new skills.
To find out where Hook, Line & Sinker is offered, visit michigan.gov/hooklineandsinker.
Click on the links below to jump to the report section that interests you most:
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Upper Peninsula
While fishing was off to a slow start it appears we are finally nearing summer mode. Water temperatures are warming and the bite is starting to improve so we are ahead of last year’s conditions.
Lake Erie: Walleye fishing picked up as anglers reported limit catches by those out trolling crawler harnesses in 20 to 22 feet around Bolles Harbor, the River Raisin Buoys and near the Edison Plant. It is still a bit early for perch but anglers will find lots of white bass and freshwater drum. With water temperatures about 60 degrees and warming, the walleye will be moving to deeper water in the coming weeks.
Lenawee County: On Devils Lake, the bluegills are starting to bed along the shoreline. Crickets and crawlers have worked best. Bass anglers have done well when casting soft plastics and spinners along the weed beds in the shallows. On Lake Hudson, those targeting bluegills have done well along the shoreline and the canals. Bass anglers have done well throughout the lake. No musky to report.
Detroit River: Better walleye catches were from the northern half of the Canadian side in the early morning or at sunset. Those fishing the southern half on the Michigan side had difficulty getting their bait to the bottom because of all the white bass. Water clarity was good on the Michigan side and more anglers are bottom bouncing with crawler harnesses. A few limit catches were reported on the Canadian side near the casino, the salt mines and the Ambassador Bridge. Fish were also caught on the Michigan side near Grosse Ile, Great Lakes Steel, Mud Island and Fighting Island. Average size was two to three pounds but some were in the six pound range. White bass fishing has been very good throughout the entire river. Anglers have also caught smallmouth bass, musky, suckers and freshwater drum.
Water temperatures were 58 degrees.
Lake St. Clair: Bass fishing has been good. The fish seem to be moving into deeper waters where some good reports were coming from eight to 10 feet off the Mile Roads. White bass were hitting off 9 Mile Road.
St. Clair River: Water temperatures were 48 to 50 degrees. Night fishing for walleye has been better than daytime fishing although a few fish were still caught by those using jigs and crawler harnesses.
Lexington: Trout and salmon fishing was good at all depths. Boat anglers trolling 60 to 80 feet did well for lake trout, steelhead and the occasional Chinook. They are fishing the bottom for lake trout and 20 to 30 feet down for steelhead and salmon. Orange spoons worked best. Smallmouth bass fishing was slow but should pick up as the waters warm.
Port Sanilac: Boat anglers are getting trout and salmon. Fish the bottom for lake trout or 20 to 30 feet down for steelhead and salmon. Orange spoons worked best. Inside the harbor, smallmouth fishing was still slow. A couple coho were caught by those casting spoons.
Harbor Beach: Walleye are being caught off the breakwall at night. Salmon and steelhead are hitting straight out and north of the harbor. Try spoons 30 to 60 feet down in 50 to 95 feet. Hot colors were black and orange, yellow and white, green or blue. Try spoons on 3, 5, and 10 color lines with offshore boards. Some caught limits of lake trout 65 to 110 feet down in 70 to 110 feet of water. Use dodgers with spin-glows or clean spoons.
Saginaw Bay: Walleye were caught in 12 feet off the Pinconning Bar and Gambil’s Marina, 17 to 20 feet off Linwood and 21 to 24 feet near the Spark Plug. At Finn Road, walleye were caught shallow in four to six feet in the early morning but they move out deeper as the sun comes up. Crawler harnesses are working best at all locations. The hot spinner colors were chartreuse, purple, brass and pink. A few walleye along with a lot of white bass and freshwater drum were caught at the Hot Pond by those casting crank baits. At Quanicassee, some boats were skunked while others had limit catches along the Slot between Sunset Bay and the tip of Fish Point. At Bay Port, a decent number of walleye were caught in Wildfowl Bay. A few bass were caught in the marina basins and around the islands. Bass anglers were out but it appears that the late spring and cold water has delayed the spawn because the fish have not moved closer to shore in large numbers yet.
Tittabawassee River: Lots of white bass have been taken from the lower river near the Center Street launch in Saginaw Township. Some large pike and a few walleye were also caught. Fishing was slow up near Gordonville Road.
Sanford Lake: In Midland County had a good bass opener. A good number of pike were also caught. Crappie anglers did well in the cuts and canals.
SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
St. Joseph: Salmon fishing was a bit slow for boat anglers but a few fish were taken in 60 to 100 feet. Pier anglers continue to do well for freshwater drum and catfish when using live bait on the bottom. A few reports of perch came in but not many anglers are targeting them.
St. Joseph River: Had good smallmouth action for those using tube baits and crawlers. Catfish are hitting on crawlers, bluegills and cut bait.
South Haven: Salmon are being caught in 80 to 100 feet. Fishing is a little on the slow side but most anglers are catching a few. Some are targeting perch but catch rates were not good. Pier fishing for all species was slow.
Grand Haven: Catch rates have been on the slow side as the water is still cold and if the fish are there, they are scattered. Boat anglers are fishing 30 to 50 feet down in 100 to 200 feet. The further out the more kings were caught but many were 12 to 14 inches. Try spoons and meat rigs. Pier fishing was slow and no perch were caught.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Several steelhead and walleye have been caught over the past week by those drifting yarn, flies, and spawn at the 6th Street Dam. Smallmouth bass and redhorse suckers continue to dominate the catch. Those fishing of the wall took catfish on crawlers, small bluegills and liver. Pike were caught at Riverside Park.
Grand River at Lansing: Catfish are being caught below any of the major dams. Try crawlers on the bottom, bluegills, cut bait or liver.
Sessions Lake: Is producing crappie and bluegills. Anglers are working to find them but when they do, some good size fish were caught.
Muskegon: Catch rates were slow. A few bigger fish were caught close to shore but most were taken in waters 200 feet and deeper. Spoons and meat rigs are the ticket.
Muskegon River: Is producing some steelhead. Fly hatches have started and those fly fishing are taking fish on the gravel.
Whitehall: Had no pier action. The only boat anglers that appeared to be successful were running lines in the top 60 feet of waters 250 feet deep. They caught a fair number of two year old salmon.
White Lake: Anglers caught good numbers of panfish in 12 to 15 feet.
NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Rogers City: Lake trout fishing is picking up between Calcite and Adams Point. Fish were caught in 60 to 70 feet. Fish were also caught off Forty Mile Point and the State Park. Pier anglers are still getting the occasional walleye when casting body baits.
East & West Twin Lakes: In Montmorency County had slow walleye fishing in both lakes. East Twin had fish averaging 17 to 24 inches and West Twin had fish ranging 15 to 18 inches. Bass fishing was really good on West Twin. Anglers caught smallmouth bass and rock bass.
Alpena: Lake trout were caught 10 feet off the bottom in 30 to 80 feet straight out and towards Thunder Bay Island with dodgers or cowbells with spin-glows in blue or green. A few walleye were caught by those trolling body baits around North Point and by those casting off the wall at night.
Thunder Bay River: Should still have some steelhead as we near the peak of the run. Try drifting spawn bags on the bottom or under a bobber near the 9th Street Dam. Artificial egg or fly patterns also caught fish. Anglers report good smallmouth action for those using body baits and tube baits.
Harrisville: Fishing has picked up. Trout, salmon and walleye were caught but the fish are scattered from the Sturgeon Point Light to Greenbush. Lake trout, salmon and steelhead are being caught in 80 to 120 feet with spoons, flies, and cut bait off downriggers, lead core and planer boards. Walleye are in shallow in the early morning and evening but move to deeper water throughout the day.
Oscoda: Had very good fishing. Boat and shore anglers have come in with limit catches. Good numbers of salmon, steelhead, lake trout and walleye are in the area. Most were caught in 80 to 100 feet. The fish seem to be from the top to the bottom so spread your bait throughout the water column. Spoons, body baits, cut baits and flies are all taking fish. Pier anglers have done well for walleye in the early morning or late evening when drifting crawlers and leeches under a slip bobber or casting small spoons, body baits and stick baits.
Au Sable River: Steelhead are still being caught. Those fly fishing have done well but fish were also caught on crawlers, wax worms, and small spoons.
Higgins Lake: A few lake trout have been caught but not many anglers are going out and targeting them yet. A few perch were taken on minnows and wax worms around the Sunken Island and the Main Island. Rock bass should also be hitting.
Houghton Lake: Anglers caught walleye along the weed line in eight to nine feet. Most are jigging a leech over the side of the boat. Bluegills were caught in six feet and crappie were hitting in eight to 12 feet.
Tawas: Boat anglers are taking some lake trout, steelhead and a couple walleye in 50 feet. A few walleye were caught from the weed beds off Jerry’s Marina.
Tawas River: Bass and pike were caught in the lower river.
Au Gres: Walleye fishing picked up straight out in 25 to 30 feet but the better fishing was to the south near the Pine River and Catfish Hole in 15 to 20 feet and out near Buoys 1 & 2.
NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
The bass have started bedding but the bluegills had not quite gotten there yet. Pier and boat anglers on Lake Michigan are catching a mixed bag of Chinook, lake trout, and brown trout.
Harbor Springs: The docks are in at the boat launch. Anglers should find some lake trout around Harbor Point. The water may still be a bit cold for smallmouth.
Petoskey: Boat pressure was light but some did catch lake trout near the bottom in 80 to 100 feet around Bay Harbor. Try spoons and spin-glows. Surface water temperatures were 43 degrees and climbing. Smallmouth bass, pike and carp were reported between the mouth of the river and the breakwall. A couple brown trout were still being caught off the breakwall in the morning.
Bear River: Was low and slow. A couple steelhead were taken on spawn bags.
Charlevoix: Had very good lake trout fishing with limit catches reported. Most anglers are focusing around North Point in 25 to 50 feet with spoons, spin-glows, and flasher/fly combos. Fish were also caught off the end of the piers in the early morning and evening. Try spoons and jigs with soft plastics. Walleye are still being caught in the channel after dark. Try jigs with soft plastics and crank baits. There is a large midge hatch going on right now.
Lake Charlevoix: Catch rates for smallmouth bass varied. Some reported fish on the bottom in 18 to 20 feet while others did well fishing in four to five feet. The South Arm seemed to have the warmest surface temperature at 57 degrees.
Elk River: A couple steelhead and brown trout were caught on spawn bags below the power dam. Smallmouth bass fishing was fair.
Traverse City: Lake trout were caught by those trolling in 90 to 115 feet in the East Bay. Cisco were caught by those jigging in 40 to 60 feet. Smallmouth fishing was slow for most but there was some pre-spawn activity in the shallows especially near mouth of the creeks. In the West Bay, lake trout were caught at a variety of depths. Try the breaks in 10 to 40 feet or all the way out to waters 90 to 110 feet. Cisco were caught by those jigging in 60 to 80 feet. A few perch were taken along the southwest end of the bay. Walleye were spotted in the harbor in Northport.
Boardman River: Still has some fallback steelhead. A decent number of carp and smallmouth bass are showing up near the Union Street Dam. Those fishing the upper stretches near Two Forks have caught brook trout and brown trout on spinners.
Frankfort: Brown trout were hitting black and silver jointed body baits between the piers after 9 a.m. Chinook salmon were also caught. Lake trout are hitting on cowbells in Platte Bay and around the Herring Hole. The alewife moved in and anglers are taking advantage of it.
Onekama: Those trolling 70 to 90 feet down in 100 to 125 feet caught a few Chinook salmon in the early morning.
Portage Lake: Bass are moving onto the beds but anglers have to work hard to hook them. Water temperatures are still on the cool side for panfish.
Lakes Cadillac & Mitchell: Anglers are still catching crappie, northern pike and a few walleye.
Manistee: Boat anglers caught a few trout and salmon in 80 to 160 feet with orange or green spoons. Pier anglers caught a few brown trout while casting spoons or still-fishing with alewife.
Ludington: Salmon fishing has been slow. A few were caught in 50 to 100 feet by those using orange, green and chartreuse spoons. Pier fishing is slow.
Pentwater: The salmon are still scattered and water temperatures vary dramatically by location. Some anglers reported surface waters at 39 degrees. Lake trout were reported in 40 feet while salmon were 40 feet down in 100 feet. When boats got out to 160 feet they stopped marking fish.
Pentwater Lake: Action was slow. A few anglers caught small perch, large rock bass, large and smallmouth bass.
UPPER PENINSULA
Keweenaw Bay: The salmon bite has been up and down over the last week. Those trolling caught a mix of Chinook, coho, rainbow trout, brown trout and splake 15 to 40 feet down in 30 to 60 feet. Most were going from the head of the bay to Sand Point but a few ventured further north of Old Mission Road. Trolling speeds were 1.9 to 2.4 mph with spoons in a variety of colors. Those jigging for lake trout caught a few in 180 to 240 feet off the Whirl-I-Gig and Jentoff’s Dock. At the South Portage Entry, those trolling did well for lake trout in 100 to 150 feet along the Mud Banks, Farmers Reef and Newton’s Reef. The green dolphin was a very good lure.
Menominee River: Musky anglers had some impressive catches with fish over 50 inches caught around the Interstate Bridge down past the Turn Basin. Walleye anglers had success trolling and jigging from Stephenson Island to the mouth. They are using jigs with minnows or crawlers along the breaks or trolling purple and fire-tiger stick baits in the evening. Smallmouth bass are being caught in good numbers.
Little Bay De Noc: Walleye catches were down as high winds have kept angler participation down. Most were fishing the northern bay between Garth Point and the Second Reef. The better catches were in 18 feet when using crawlers with harnesses. Those fishing down near the Ford River caught walleye when trolling stick baits and crawler harnesses in 10 to 16 feet. Fair to good smallmouth action was reported near the mouth of the river when using crank baits, spinners and plastics or between Strawberry Island and Garth Point when casting crank baits and plastics in three to eight feet. It appears the fish are just starting to spawn.
Big Bay De Noc: The best walleye catches were still just south of the Ogontz River when using reef runners in eight feet. The bass opener was fair to good near Ogontz, Fish Dam River, Porcupine Point, Kates Bay, Garden Bay and in Puffy Bay. Ogontz and Puffy Bay reported the best action when using spinners or crank baits in three to eight feet. Northern pike were active in Ogontz and the area of South River however most of the catches were incidental by bass anglers.
Marquette: Surface water temperatures have started to rise and were about 40 degrees near shore. Warmer water and better catches can be found near the mouth of the Carp River and the Chocolay River and east to Shot Point. Anglers caught Chinook and coho. Some caught lake trout using dipseys and downriggers with spoons in assorted colors. More anglers are heading out for lake trout which were caught east towards the “Sand-Hole”, north of the white rocks or towards Shot Point in 200 feet. Some are using spoons and flies with cut bait.
Au Train Lake: Anglers caught several undersize pike and walleye. Many were drifting a jig with a crawler or leech but a few were using small spinners and crank baits. Smallmouth bass fishing was slow. No anglers were specifically targeting perch. Fly hatches were observed.
Munising: Catch rates were slow with only a few Chinook and coho caught by those trolling in 20 to 60 feet near Sand Point and Trout Bay. Fresh spawn was the bait of choice for splake and whitefish off the dock of the Anna River for those trolling or still-fishing. The warmest water in the area was 41 degrees.
Grand Marais: Many are still fishing off the end of the pier or trolling around West Bay. Catch rates for whitefish have slowed with only a few fish caught on a single egg. A couple coho were caught on worms. Those trolling were in 15 to 40 feet near the Sucker River. Most were using small spoons or rapalas. Surface water temperatures were in the high 30’s.
South Manistique Lake: Walleye fishing has been hit-or-miss. Most fish were caught in shallow water in the bays. Pike have been plentiful and were hitting on both artificial and natural baits. Large and smallmouth bass were reported in shallow waters in Wolf Bay.
Two Hearted River: Has steelhead but the bite has been slow.
Newberry: Anglers have well on some of the walleye lakes in the area. Most are using leeches.
DeTour: Is producing some Atlantic salmon. Anglers are trolling orange and chrome colored spoons 12 to 25 feet down in 50 feet from the DeTour Lighthouse northwest to the green buoy. Two miles straight south of the lighthouse has been successful for lake trout. Anglers are trolling shiny chrome spoons over the shelf in 80 feet.
Drummond Island: Those targeting walleye in Scott Bay were fishing from Paw Point to Peck Island in four to six feet. They are long lining crawler harnesses with orange blades 20 feet behind the boat. For deeper walleye, black and chrome crank baits caught a few fish in 12 feet over the rocky ledges around Ashman Island and Peck Island. The smallmouth action was good for those casting and jigging chartreuse colored tube baits in two to four feet off Bruce Point in the north end of Scott Bay. When it’s too windy, try the south end of James Island for smallmouth bass.
Cedarville and Hessel: Pike fishing has slowed some. Those fishing off the pier in Hessel reported fair to good catch rates for pike. The Hessel Marina still has perch and splake.
The Weekly Fishing Report is intended to give anglers an ”idea” of what is going on around the state. Updates for the report come from our DNR Fisheries Creel Clerks (seasonal staff) and field staff as well as DNR Conservation Officers working in in the field. General information when available can be found in the first paragraph for each section of the report. For those looking for specific information on a certain body of water or port, it is safe to say if a certain species is being caught in some waters in the area, more than likely they are being caught in all waters in that section of the state that have that species.
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