Does a young person in your life love to go fishing but hates waiting to see if you or another adult wants to go? You could always encourage them to plan the next outing themselves! Nudge them to coordinate the next trip by finding the necessary gear, locating a place to fish, and asking an adult to go with them!

Or encourage them to plan to head out on Saturday, August 5 for the first-ever Take an Adult Fishing Day in Michigan! On that day we’ll ask anybody who takes an adult fishing to share their picture with us using the hashtag #TakeAnAdultFishing. We’ll randomly select a few winners to receive a fishing gear prize!  

While mayfly hatches have slowed fishing in some areas, anglers were doing better as water temperatures continue to warm. Walleye fishing in Saginaw Bay and southeast Michigan has been very good with limit catches reported.  

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie:  Weather caused fishing to be slow, but large numbers of sheepshead and small walleye were reported. Keepers were caught along the Michigan-Ohio line and out in front of Fermie using crawler harnesses and body baits. 

Wamplers Lake: Largemouth bass were caught while casting plastics in seven to eight feet and panfish were caught under bobbers with worms or crickets in six feet by the beach and on the west end. Crappie were caught along the drop-offs in the middle of the lake on wax worms. Water temps reached 75 degrees there. 

Sand Lake:  Largemouth bass were caught while casting crankbaits in seven to 10 feet. 

Lake St. Clair:  Boat anglers have caught smallmouth bass in the channel straight out from 9-Mile Road in 14 feet. Some have run across perch in the marina mouths south of 9-Mile Road when still-fishing with crawlers. There are areas with large amounts of mayfly larvae and that has reduced the number of fish caught but we should be nearing the end of the hatch.

St. Clair River:  The walleye bite is on! Trolling in both the Middle and the South Channel has yielded multiple limit catches. Fish are on the small side and were just over the 13-inch minimum size limit. Crawler harnesses were the ticket.   

Lexington to Port Austin:  Blue-water trollers from Lexington to Port Sanilac caught the occasional steelhead or lake trout but the fish were scattered. Windy weather over the past week appears to have affected the lake’s temperature profile, which has temporarily scattered the fish. Most anglers between Harbor Beach and Port Austin have stopped trout and salmon fishing because the walleye fishing was so good. Launch ramps at all three ports have been packed. Limit catches were very common, and the fish are running bigger than the ones in the bay. Crawler harnesses were the ticket, although some boats were doing well with crank baits or small spoons. 

Saginaw Bay:  Walleye fishing has been very good. Early mornings are best if you want to avoid the wind. Most fish were taken on a crawler harness but a few were also taken on spoons and crank baits. Hot spots were two to three miles east of the Spark Plug, two miles north of Spoils Island, Callahan Reef, the old Dumping Ground, the Slot from Oakhurst to the tip of Sand Point in 15 to 18 feet and on either side of the Bar. Most are using side planers, bottom bouncers and crawler harnesses with orange, pink, purple or chartreuse spinners and trolling about 1.3 mph. At Caseville, some of the walleye boats were fishing in 25 to 30 feet off Oak Point while others were going to 50 feet of water northeast of Big Charity Island. Rivers in the Great Lakes Bay Region remain somewhat high and murky but conditions are improving. If we don’t get more rain this week, they should be in pretty good shape by next weekend. 

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph:  Salmon fishing was spotty with only a few fish taken in 70 to 120 feet or deeper. Most were caught on blue or green magnum spoons. A few perch were caught in 50 feet or so but rough water has made it difficult for anglers to get out. Pier fishing slowed as water temperatures warmed up.  

St. Joseph River:  Large numbers of steelhead continue to move through the Berrien Springs fish ladder.    

South Haven:  Salmon fishing was inconsistent. A few fish were caught on spoons in 120 feet. Spoons with some yellow on them seemed to work best. A few perch were caught in 30 feet. Pier fishing was slow. The odd steelhead was caught but water temperatures are warming up.  

Grand Haven:  Salmon and trout action picked up. Lake trout were caught while targeting the bottom 15 feet in 110 to 180 feet below water. Yellow, green or blue spin-glo’s worked best. Chinook were caught 60 to 150 feet down in 110 to 200 feet. Meat rigs in yellow or green worked well, along with blue or white flies. Pier action was slow for steelhead but should improve with increase in water temperature. Freshwater drum were caught while casting silver spoons. 

Muskegon:  Action picked up for boaters with salmon being caught 60 to 120 feet down in 120 to 220 feet of water. Yellow or green meat figs were working, as well as green, blue or yellow spoons. Lake trout were caught when fishing the bottom 20 feet in 120 to 200 feet. Spin-glo’s in yellow, green or blue worked best. Pier anglers were catching freshwater drum off spoons.   

Muskegon River:  Was still a bit high. Boat anglers have caught trout and smallmouth bass.  

Whitehall:  Warm water throughout the water column has made it hard to consistently find salmon. Boats trolling 90 to 140 feet down in 200 feet did catch coho, steelhead and the occasional Chinook on blue and green spoons. Lake trout were caught near the bottom in 80 to 150 feet with spoons or paddles and flies. Pier fishing for largemouth bass and freshwater drum was good. Try jigging soft plastics or slowly retrieving a crawler near the bottom.  

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan:  When they can get out, boat anglers had fair catches of lake trout off the south end of Bois Blanc Island. A few small Chinook in the four-pound ranges along with a couple steelhead were also caught. 

Cheboygan River:  Had anglers scattered between the dam and the DNR Field Office. They caught freshwater drum, rock bass and undersize smallmouth bass. Boat anglers caught a few walleye when drifting crawlers or leeches both early and late. Night anglers were targeting channel catfish.   

Rogers City:  Rain and windy conditions have changed fishing as there was no thermocline and anglers had to go deeper to find fish. Lake trout were caught but the fish moved to deeper water and were found about halfway down or just off the bottom in 60 to 90 feet. Try spoons, cowbells and dodgers with spin-glo’s. Steelhead, coho and Atlantic salmon were caught up high along the scum lines. Orange spoons worked well.  Chinook were caught but unstable weather slowed the bite. Try 45 to 75 feet down in 70 to 120 feet in the early morning or late night with green, blue or glow spoons.  

Rockport:  Those fishing just off the bottom in 70 to 120 feet around Middle Island did well for lake trout. Run some lines higher in the water column for Chinook, coho, Atlantics or steelhead. Spoons worked best. Lake trout were caught with attractors.  Stoneport and the Nordmeer Wreck were good spots to try when running lines throughout the water column.  

Alpena:  Lake trout were caught when trolling spoons and spin-glo’s with dodgers or flashers in the bottom 50 feet near the first set of “humps” in 60 to 120 feet. A couple steelhead were caught near the surface while feeding on mayfly hatches and other insects. Walleye were caught trolling a crawler harness or stick bait in 15 to 30 feet off the north shore of Thunder Bay, out near Thunder Bay Island, and Bay View Park.   

Thunder Bay River:  River discharge has been high over the last week. Anglers caught a few walleye when trolling and drifting crawler harnesses and crank baits s near the mouth or still-fishing and drifting crawlers from shore near Lamarre Park and the 9th Street Bridge. A few decent smallmouth bass were caught up by the 9th Street Dam. A couple pike were taken by those trolling or casting crank baits. Freshwater drum and channel catfish were caught on crawlers.

Oscoda:  Lake trout were found near the bottom in 80 to 130 feet. Steelhead were taken in the top 30 feet. Try spin-glo’s or spoons. Pier anglers caught large channel catfish, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum and carp with crawlers on the bottom. A few walleye were caught from the pier early morning or late evening when drifting crawlers or leeches under a slip bobber.  

Au Sable River:  Anglers drifting and still-fishing crawlers in the holes between Oscoda and the Whirlpool Access found a few walleye in the morning and evening. Good catches of decent sized smallmouth bass were reported from areas just below the Foote Dam. Channel catfish, carp and freshwater drum were caught on crawlers at Au Sable River Park.  

Tawas:  Those targeting salmon and lake trout were going out around Tawas Point and north towards Oscoda and getting fish in 70 to 75 feet. Walleye anglers were fishing in 15 to 35 feet near the Charity Islands. Pier fishing was slow.  

Tawas River:  Shore anglers caught a few bass and pike right along with freshwater drum, catfish and carp in the lower river.  

Au Gres:  Walleye fishing was very good and the hot spots were 15 to 30 feet near the Charity Islands, out near the shipping channel and off the Saganing and Pinconning Bars. Limit catches were common.  

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs:  Boat anglers were still taking a few smallmouth bass near the shoreline but the action was slowing down. Lake herring were caught by boat anglers targeting trout and salmon. The Little Traverse Bay weather buoy reported surface water temperatures at 64 degrees.  

Petoskey:  Windy conditions have made it difficult for boat anglers trying to locate lake trout. The “Bobber Hole” at the mouth of the Bear River is a good area for bass, pike, catfish and big bullhead. The Bear River was still a bit high but a couple anglers did manage to find a steelhead or brown trout when using spawn.  

Charlevoix:  Boat anglers had a tough time finding lake trout. Some were fishing 300 feet deep while others caught fish as shallow as 60 feet. A couple fish were caught 85 feet down in 130 feet off North Point. Still waiting for a good thermocline to set up and trout fishing will be easier. A couple steelhead were caught along the scum line when running high lines. Those fishing the channel caught a couple keeper size smallmouth bass on crawlers, leeches, spoons and crank baits. Rock bass, small perch and freshwater drum were also caught. Lake Charlevoix still had some mayflies in the area.  

Traverse City:  Bass fishing was spotty in at the sound end of the East Bay, but some nice fish were caught in both shallow and deep water. Those targeting lake trout did best in Elk Rapids while trolling or jigging. In the West Bay lake trout fishing has slowed and most smallmouth bass caught were good sized. At the Boardman River a few brown trout were caught on flies. 

Leland:   Had good lake trout catches but most boats experienced tough fishing. The water warmed up with the southwest winds and most trout were caught in 140 to 200 feet of water. Strong currents added to the difficult fishing. Spin-glo’s behind dodgers or cowbells were the most effective. Only a couple Chinook salmon were caught around the Manitou islands. Good numbers of smallmouth bass are still being caught in the river and harbor. 

Frankfort:  The early morning Chinook bite was good 120 to 160 feet down in 220 to 300 feet. In many locations, anglers were reporting warmer temperatures deeper than normal and there were high numbers of sea flee. Spoons, flies and meat rigs seemed to work best.  

Onekama:  Had a good early morning Chinook bite near the bottom in and around the “Barrel”. Pier anglers caught a few smallmouth bass when casting.  

Portage Lake:   Continues to produce bluegills and perch. Walleye fishing off the south breakwall slowed but occasional hits were still being reported.   

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell:   Were producing a few more pike for those castings spinners in the weed beds. Bass fishing was good for those using spinners, crank baits, soft plastics or the occasional crawler. Walleye anglers were drifting or trolling a crawler harness. Panfish activity has been good but the fish were in deeper water. Try eight to 12 feet with worms and leeches.  

Manistee:  Windy days have made fishing tough. Lake trout were being caught in 180 to 300 feet of water. A few nice Chinook and steelhead were also caught at those depths. Pier fishing has slowed with just a few steelhead caught off the north pier. Water temperatures were at about 65 degrees.   

Ludington:  Wind has also been problematic here. Lake trout were caught in 150 to 350 feet of water, as were a few Chinook and steelhead. Pier fishing has been slow. 

Pentwater:  Despite the consistently warm water, anglers caught coho, steelhead and the occasional Chinook 70 to 150 feet down in 160 to 220 feet with blue and green spoons. Pier fishing has been slow, but anglers using minnows or crawlers caught smallmouth bass and freshwater drum.

Pentwater Lake:  Anglers casting crankbaits or jigging soft plastics caught smallmouth bass in 10 to 15 feet. Those fishing Longbridge Road caught bluegills, sunfish, and perch on red worms under a bobber or perch rigs tipped with wax worms. 

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Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay:  Jigging or bobbing for lake trout was fair with most fish in the two-pound range. Coho and brown trout fishing was good when trolling orange spoons in the top 20 feet of waters 50 feet or deeper. At the South Entry, coho and brown trout were caught around the city breakwall and along the shoreline. In Traverse Bay, coho were in the top 20 of waters 100 to 150 feet deep. Good fishing in Eagle Harbor where anglers caught lake trout, steelhead, coho and a couple Chinook in the top 15 feet.  

Menominee River:  Still had high water levels and was very dirty. 

Munising:  Boat anglers were trolling for Chinook and coho had slow catch rates with only a couple coho taken. Those targeting lake trout near Wood Island Reef caught a few fish. Those fishing Big Reef managed to take some limit catches of lake trout when trolling or jigging. Pier anglers fishing at the Anna River had poor results with only a couple splake taken. Try light line with spawn.   

Grand Marais:  Lake trout anglers were doing well and most were getting limit catches five to seven miles straight out to the “Humps” in 200 feet and towards Au Sable Point. Some were jigging off Big Reef and did well when the winds were favorable. Whitefish season for pier anglers is slowly winding down but some were still taking limit catches with a single egg and light line. Trout and salmon anglers may want to try casting off the end of the pier. Water temperatures were 46 to 50 degrees which is still cold.   

Tahquamenon River:  Boat anglers caught pike when casting or trolling crank baits.  The occasional muskie followed baits to the side of the boat but few fish were netted.   The Dollarville Dam was slow with only a few rock bass taken on worms.  

St. Marys River:  At Sault St. Marie, Cadis fly hatches brought whitefish and Atlantics out so anglers targeted them with fly hooks six to eight feet below the surface in over 16 feet of water. Best colors were dark brown or copper. Downstream at Thirteen Mile Road and the Charlotte River, anglers were catching good numbers of rock bass and a few yellow perch. Best baits were worms and minnows. At Sugar Island perch were taken on the west side of Bay Dewausi in four to six feet while pike were caught on twister tails or red and white spoons on the north end at Brasser Pointe. 

Detour:  Atlantic salmon were caught in 30 to 70 feet west of the lighthouse when trolling spoons.  Lake trout were hitting spoons and spin-glo’s near the bottom by the flats.  

Drummond Island:  Walleye fishing was slow, those trolling with stick baits and crawler harnesses in deeper water brought in few fish. Cisco were starting to appear in Potagannissing Bay, as well as the islands of Rogg, Fire, Maple and Macomb. 

Cedarville and Hessel:  Perch fishing at Cedarville was fair as some did better than others when trolling a crawler harness in Snows Channel in five feet or fishing the west side of Cedarville Bay in five to eight feet. Pike were caught on worms. The lake herring bite is very good with limit catches taken in McKay Bay and Prentiss Bay when using a tear drop with a wax worm. Hot colors were green, white and orange. Shore anglers fishing the finger docks at Hessel caught some perch but many were small. Boat anglers caught pike near Haven Island and off Burley Point but most were too short at 22 inches.    

St. Ignace:  Anglers targeting pike in St. Martins Bay had success when casting near the mouth of the Carp River. Walleye anglers on the Carp River had success off the concrete footing when casting body baits and bright colored jig heads with a twister tail or when still-fishing and drifting natural baits. Leeches were favored. Catch rates are highly variable with anglers are reporting between no fish to limit catches depending on the day, time and recent weather. The fish were 15 to 18 inches.  Those targeting walleye in the Pine River reported poor catch rates. The river has been extremely high and dirty with lots of floating debris.   

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Fishing Tip: July 6, 2017

Fishing with family and friends is a great way to spend time together, but taking your catch home and making a meal out of it – that makes it special! Check out our How to Clean & Care for Your Catch video to learn the simple steps to properly clean and care for your catch.

For more information on cleaning and caring for your catch, check out our Cleaning & Caring for Your Catch handout.  

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