Looking for some inside scoop on where and when to fish different Michigan regions in 2018? After you read this week's fishing report check out our 2018 Michigan Fishing Forecast, full of content provided by Fisheries Division staff! 

Spring fishing just cannot get started because of the constant weather swings taking us from warm right back to freezing temperatures. At this rate, we may end up going from winter to summer and miss spring fishing altogether. Even though many have put their gear away, some ice fishing continues in the Upper Peninsula. 

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie

Surface water temperatures were 39 to 40 degrees, and walleye fishing was hit-or-miss. The southern half of the lake was producing more fish, including some limits.  Some were trolling in 14 to 16 feet around Luna Pier and Turtle Island. In Brest Bay, fish were hitting stick baits throughout the water column in 15 to 17 feet. Most were fishing 25 to 30 feet back from the board with Bandits, Reef Runners and Husky Jerks. Good colors were purple, pink, gold and black or black and white. Catch rates were better in the stained water. A few white bass, smallmouth bass and even a couple steelhead were caught when trolling. A few boats did well when jigging around Turtle Island with a purple hair jig tipped with a minnow.   

Detroit River

Despite the cold water temperatures and windy conditions, anglers were taking a few walleye on jigs tipped with minnows. 

Lake St. Clair

Perch were caught along the shoreline. Perch, walleye and Atlantic salmon were caught just outside the channels of the St. Clair River when trolling spoons and bottom bouncers. Perch were caught in the marinas and the Clinton River Spillway. 

St. Clair River

Walleye fishing slowed, but those catching fish did so when jigging minnows in Ontario waters. 

Lexington and Port Sanilac

Had decent trout and salmon fishing in the harbors.

Saginaw Bay

Perch fishing was very slow at Eagle Bay Marina and off Palmer Road. When boats could get out of Linwood Beach Marina, they caught walleye when trolling Husky Jerks in 21 feet.  The key was trolling along the edge of the stained water. Walleye were also caught in the Old Shipping Channel and near the Spoils Island when trolling or vertical jigging. Perch fishing slowed, but a few limit catches were taken out near Buoy-22 in the Shipping Channel. The size of the fish caught has declined with most only 8 to 9 inches. Shore fishing for perch at Finn Road, the Quanicassee River, the various cuts near Fish Point and the Sebewaing River was slow. Fishing was slow at Bay Port, Mud Creek and Caseville. Warmer weather is needed to get the fish going.

Saginaw River

The perch action slowed quite a bit; however, some fish were still caught in the lower river between the Patterson Road ramp and the Karn-Weadok Plant.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

Dowagiac River

Steelhead were caught at the Pucker Street Dam in Niles. 

St. Joseph

Had limited fishing opportunities due to the weather. Pier anglers caught some coho on spawn.      

St. Joseph River

Steelhead anglers have caught fish up at the Berrien Springs Dam. 

South Haven

Fishing was limited due to poor weather conditions. When they could get out, boat anglers caught coho in 30 feet and lake trout in 40 to 60 feet. Pier fishing was slow for all species. 

Kalamazoo River

A few limit catches of steelhead were reported by boat anglers fishing up near the Allegan Dam. 

Grand Haven

Pier anglers caught brown trout along with a couple steelhead and Menominee whitefish. Most were using skein or spawn bags. Boat anglers reported slower perch fishing. 

Grand River at Grand Rapids

Those fishing up near the 6th Street Dam have caught steelhead. Look for some fresh fish to move in with the rain and warmer temperatures.  

Grand River at Lansing

Had reports of a steelhead here or there but nothing consistent. Rain the next couple days could bring some more fish up this far.   

Muskegon

Pier anglers have caught steelhead along with a few brown trout on spawn. No boat report this week. 

Muskegon Lake

Perch anglers were still getting some nice fish out from the Sand Docks and off the Bear Lake Channel in 40 to 50 feet. 

Muskegon River

Steelhead fishing was average but should pick up with the rain and warmer temperatures.

Whitehall

Pier anglers caught the occasional steelhead with spawn bags fished near the bottom.

White Lake

Boat anglers caught mainly small perch in 50 feet.

White River

Had fair to good steelhead fishing. 

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan River

Anglers caught steelhead at the dam with spawn, beads, spinners, worms and minnows. Conditions were a bit difficult because of high currents from overflow. 

Ocqueoc River

Fishing pressure was slow at times, but anglers have caught steelhead averaging 15 inches. Try spawn and spinners.

Rogers City

Had a good 13 inches of snow.  Nothing is open yet, and no docks were in because of ice.   

Alpena

No boats were out, but the launch next to the Alpena Fish Station is open and has a dock in. The city ramp was still iced up. 

Thunder Bay River

Fishing was slow, but anglers were getting a couple steelhead and Atlantic salmon when drifting flies or spawn bags with bobbers. The water is low, clear and very cold. 

Oscoda

Pier anglers caught a couple walleye and the occasional Atlantic salmon, steelhead or lake trout when still-fishing with minnows and spawn bags or when casting deep diving or sinking crank baits. 

Au Sable River

Steelhead were caught by anglers drifting or floating wax worms, flies and spawn bags through the holes. River temperatures were hovering around 39 degrees, and the water is very clear, so winter tactics continue to produce best. Some fresh fish entered the river, and a fair amount of black stone flies were emerging. 

Black River

Despite on and off skim ice, anglers found a couple steelhead at the mouth of the river when floating spawn bags.

Harrisvillle

Had no angling activity. Skim ice continues to form overnight in the harbor, disappearing in the afternoon. The skid piers were not in the water yet.

Higgins Lake

Those fishing in the shallows near Big Creek and the Conference Center were still getting some rainbow trout.   

Tawas

Pier fishing was slow, with only one Atlantic and a couple lake trout or walleye caught.    

Au Gres

Only a couple boats ventured out, and they caught a fairly good number of post-spawn northern pike and a couple walleye out from the river mouth. They also took some walleye and lake trout between Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres. Perch fishing was slow at the mouth of the Pine River. 

Au Gres River

Down at Singing Bridge (Whitney Drain), steelhead anglers were doing well in both the lower river and in the surf. They were either drifting spawn or wax worms down the river or still-fishing with floating spawn sacks in the surf. A few anglers dragging small boats across the beach and launching to fish just off the river mouth were getting some steelhead, lake trout and coho close to shore. 

Rifle River

Sucker fishing is ongoing at Omer, but the run slowed with the colder weather. Warmer weather later this week might get something going.  

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs

A few anglers were trying to ice fish for perch; however, with the rain and warmer temperatures, it is not recommended that anglers go out. The ice past Harbor Point and near the marina and boat launch does not look safe. 

Petoskey

Anglers were fishing for steelhead inside the breakwall, but thin ice, especially in the morning, made it impossible to fish.   

Bear River

Catch rates were a bit slow, but some nice chrome fish were caught with spawn bags up near the dam and downstream between the bridges. A couple steelhead were also caught on wax worms or spawn bags at the mouth.    

Glen Arbor

Had little to no fishing activity. The ramp and the dock were not in at the boat launch on Lake Michigan. 

Traverse City

The weather has not been cooperating on either bay. Icy conditions at the boat launches and skim ice near shore were making it difficult for boat anglers. In the East Bay, a few lake herring were caught south of the M-37 launch. On the Elk River in Elk Rapids, a couple steelhead were caught below the dam in the early morning. In the West Bay, Bowers Harbor was still frozen at the boat launch. On the Boardman River, steelhead were caught below the dam with spawn or wax worms. There were quite a few planter rainbow trout near the dam, so beads and soft plastics would be a good option if you are losing bait quickly. 

Arcadia

Had little to no fishing activity. On Arcadia Lake, the dock is in at the ramp.

Manistee

Surface temperature readings were holding around 36 degrees. Not many anglers had been out. Pier anglers caught a couple brown trout on spawn bags. The south pier is closed because of a large hole.    

Big Manistee River

Steelhead were caught up as far as Tippy Dam by those using beads and spawn bags. The rain should help bring more fish in.     

Ludington

Surface temperature readings were up to 38 degrees. Few anglers were out, but a couple did manage to catch some brown trout when trolling spoons and plugs.  

Pere Marquette Lake

Was producing a few perch. 

Pere Marquette River

Has a mix of winter run steelhead and a few fresh fish.  

Pentwater

Gusty winds have limited pier fishing, but anglers did catch steelhead and the occasional brown trout with spawn bags in the channel.

Pentwater Lake

Boat anglers caught yellow perch in 30 feet using perch rigs tipped with minnows or wax worms. Those fishing Longbridge Road caught the occasional steelhead on spawn bags near the bottom.

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Upper Peninsula

Little Bay De Noc

Still had ice; however, the edges were getting soft in some spots. The area around Butler Island had opened up, so use caution. Only a few anglers were targeting perch in 30 to 40 feet off Kipling. Catch rates were fair when using minnows or wigglers right on the bottom. Portage Point and south had open water. The Ford River was showing signs of breaking up, but was still not fishable. The Day’s River had open water in a few areas. This week could open up some areas for shore anglers. 

Big Bay De Noc

Was entirely ice-covered, but no anglers had been seen, most likely due to the significant snowfall. Fairport is open water, but the marina was blocked because of snow. 

Indian Lake

Was producing bluegills and perch. 

Marquette

The bubblers were ice-free, but fishing was slow, with most anglers only getting 1-3 coho per trip. Only a handful of steelhead and brown trout were caught in both the Carp and Chocolay Rivers. Rain and runoff is needed to bring the water levels back up. 

Munising

Still had ice fishing, but fewer anglers were out because of bad weather. The weather is to remain cold at night, with a low in the teens and only getting to the upper 30’s during the day. Those targeting coho only caught a few as the schools of fish had been moving in and out. Night anglers caught a couple burbot. 

Grand Marais

The harbor was frozen solid; however, the ice outside the harbor was moving in and out depending on wind direction, and some massive ice floes were present. Only a handful of local anglers had been ice fishing in the harbor. Most were targeting Menominee, but a few coho were also caught. There was no activity along the Sucker River, as ice floes along with a wall of ice about 15 feet high were reported on the pier. Heavy snowfall in the area has also been a problem.  

Two Hearted River

Had difficult fishing conditions due to deep snow in the area.   

Manistique Lake

Anglers were getting some panfish.   

Cedarville and Hessel

Because of open water and thin ice, there has been no fishing effort in Cedarville Bay, Musky Bay, Government Bay, McKay Bay or Prentiss Bay. The boat launches were snowed in, and no docks were in yet. Hessel still had ice. Those targeting splake did well 25 to 150 yards southwest of the marina breakwall when bouncing a 2-inch orange and chrome spoon off the bottom. The yellow perch action was slow, and most fish were 6 to 7 inches with the occasional larger fish mixed in. Anglers were on the north side of Marquette Island and just east of Cube Point in 12 to 15 feet with a very small orange tear-drop lure and minnow. 

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Fishing Tip: Where to find smallmouth bass this spring

Since anglers can practice catch-and-immediate-release fishing on bass on all year in Michigan, many are having fun targeting this species. 

There are plenty of locations throughout the state that offer exceptional smallmouth bass fishing, but check out the list below if you’re interested in finding trophy-sized fish.

1. Lake St. Clair: cover lots of ground if you visit this water body and cast to the edges of weed patches.
2. Lake Erie: the shallow areas of this lake are good places to start, after the water warms up head to deeper water.
3. Saginaw Bay: target around the Charity Islands which separate Lake Huron’s deep water from Saginaw Bay’s shallow depths.
4. Grand Traverse Bays: Look for structure such as drop-offs, sand points, rocks or weed beds at this spot.

Don’t forget! The catch-and-keep season on all waters, including the Great Lakes, doesn’t open until May 26 while the catch-and-keep season on Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River doesn’t open until June 16.  

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Note:

This report is intended to give you an idea of what is going on around the state. Updates come from Fisheries staff and Conservation Officers. With more than 11,000 inland lakes, the Great Lakes and thousands of miles of rivers and streams, not all locations can be listed. However, it is safe to say if a species is being caught in some waters in the area, they are likely being caught in all waters in that section of the state that have that species.