The large and smallmouth bass opener on Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River and the Detroit River is this coming Saturday, June 16.  The catch-and-immediate release season has been good so anglers should do well on the opener.    

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie:  Walleye fishing continues throughout.  A good number of fish have been caught out of Bolles Harbor, Brest Bay, around the Dumping Grounds, off the Banana Dike and off the Metro Park.  Those looking for shore fishing opportunities are encouraged to head down to Pt. Mouillee.

Huron River:  Usually has good bass and catfish action this time of year.  

Detroit River:  Is still producing some walleye even though a good number of fish have moved down into Lake Erie.  Most fish were caught down near the mouth.  The white bass action has slowed but anglers were still getting a few.    

Lexington and Port Sanilac:  When boats can get out, they caught Atlantic salmon, lake trout and walleye in 44 to 53 feet.  Atlantic salmon and coho were caught in the harbor at Lexington and some nice Atlantics were caught from the wall at Port Sanilac when using live minnows.    

Harbor Beach:  A few salmon and steelhead were caught straight out and north in 50 to 70 feet when trolling seven to 10 colors of lead lines with spoons off downriggers.  Green, pink, and orange were the hot colors.  Lake trout were also caught in 80 to 100 feet with dodgers and spin-glo’s or spoons near the bottom.   Work top to bottom for best results.  Hot colors were green, white, yellow, orange and pink.  Bass and a few walleye were taken close to shore when casting small body baits or spoons.

Grindstone City:  Shore anglers and those wading caught smallmouth bass in the harbor when using tube jigs.

Saginaw Bay:  Had excellent walleye fishing when the wind stops blowing and boats can get out.  Good catches were reported off Gambil’s Marina near Pinconning in 23 feet, and around the Old Dumping Grounds.  Excellent fishing was reported in the Slot from Quanicassee to Sebewaing and near the weed beds in Wildfowl Bay.  Most have switched over to crawler harnesses, but a few are doing well on spoons, Flicker-Shad, and other assorted crankbaits.  At Caseville, walleye anglers were exploring the waters around the Charity Islands and along the reefs between Caseville and Port Austin.  

Saginaw River:  Those trolling in the lower river caught walleye as far upstream as the Coast Guard Station.  This is the place to go if it’s too windy to fish out on the bay.   

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph:  Boat anglers targeting salmon reported slower fishing but some decent size Chinook were caught in 120 feet or more.  The more consistent fishing was found in around 100 feet.  Coho and lake trout were also caught.  Pier anglers caught steelhead on shrimp but the action was slow.  Catfish are hitting on stink baits and freshwater drum were caught on spoons. 

South Haven:  Anglers caught a mix of Chinook and lake trout in 100 to 120 feet with spoons and meat rigs.  Pier anglers caught steelhead when floating shrimp under a bobber.  Freshwater drum were caught on small tube jigs.  

Grand Haven:  Salmon were caught 30 to 80 feet down in 80 to 180 feet with orange and blue spoons.  Pier anglers caught steelhead on shrimp.

Grand River at Grand Rapids:  Anglers are still getting the occasional walleye near the bridges and creek mouths.  Fair to good smallmouth action was reported.  Catfish were caught on live bait.    

Looking Glass River:  Those drifting or shore fishing have caught bowfin and carp.  

Morrison Lake:  Bluegill anglers were taking a good number of fish on crickets.  The fish should be heading to deeper water soon.     

Muskegon:  Had good salmon action 25 to 90 feet down in 70 to 180 feet with orange, blue and green spoons.  Pier anglers caught freshwater drum.    

Muskegon Lake:  A few walleye were caught on a crawler harness in 15 feet just west of the Bear Lake channel.  Bass were hitting on crawlers, leeches and blade baits.  Bluegills were in the shallows up near the North State Park.  Channel cats were caught throughout the lake including near the mouth of the Muskegon River.  Smallmouth bass and freshwater drum have been caught in the channel.  

Muskegon River:  Is producing some nice smallmouth bass.  Look for walleye and bass in both Croton Pond and Hardy Dam Pond.  

Whitehall:  Boats trolling in the top 70 of 100 to 180 feet caught Chinook, coho, steelhead and the occasional lake trout on green or blue spoons and purple or green meat rigs.  Pier anglers caught the occasional steelhead on alewife near the bottom.

White Lake:  Was producing a good number of bluegills.  Try red worms or wax worms.   

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan River:  Anglers caught walleye, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, catfish, rock bass, and freshwater drum when drifting worms at the dam and DNR station.  Many walleye were undersize but those harvested were 15 to 20 inches.  One chute on the dam was open. 

Rogers City:  The Atlantic salmon fishing was very good with many boats catching multiple fish especially in the morning on calm days.  Anglers are using short lengths of copper 75 to 125 feet with lead core and 1-3 colors off planer boards.  Many were also using sliders off the boards.  Try regular size spoons, mini spoons, slim spoons or slammers in bright colors in 50 to 90 feet.  These fish love structure especially off points, walls, and around marinas.  Lake trout fishing has been excellent with limit catches.  Most were caught in the bottom 15 to 20 feet with spoons or dodgers and cowbells with spin-glo’s.  Chinook salmon were also caught 50 to 60 feet down in 60 to 90 feet with blue, green, chartreuse or glow spoons.  There has been a lot of baitfish in the area.    

Alpena:  Had very good Atlantic salmon fishing in the top 30 feet.  Lake trout were caught near the bottom but some were suspended and hitting on large attractors with spin-glo’s and spoons.  Chinook were about halfway down in 50 to 120 feet and were hitting on green, orange, blue and bright colored spoons.  Walleye were hitting at night.  Try off the city beach, North Point and near Grass, Sulphur and Scarecrow Islands when trolling body baits in eight to 25 feet.    

Thunder Bay River:  A couple walleye were caught in the early morning or at night when trolling or jigging crawlers and leeches in the turn basin.  Up at the dam, anglers caught the occasional rock bass, smallmouth bass or bowfin on worms or when casting body baits. 

Black River:  A couple small walleye and pike were caught when casting crank baits at the mouth.  Those trolling body baits in 15 to 25 feet caught a few walleye. 

Harrisville:  Those trolling spoons between Harrisville and Sturgeon Point caught lake trout in 60 to 75 feet.  Most fish were hugging the bottom but a few were suspended up higher.  Chartreuse, chrome and blue were good colors.  Those trolling body baits or a crawler harness and bottom bouncer in 20 to 30 feet caught a couple walleye between Harrisville and the Black River.  

Oscoda:  Lake trout were caught in the bottom 15 feet of waters 70 to 90 feet deep.  A couple Atlantics were caught on spoons higher in the water column.  Pier anglers had good catches of channel catfish when still-fishing with crawlers.  Walleye were caught from the pier and the river mouth when still-fishing or drifting crawlers as well as casting body baits and jigs.  Largemouth and smallmouth bass along with freshwater drum were caught by those casting jigs with twister tails or drifting crawlers.  

Au Sable River:  Those still-fishing crawlers from shore or drifting crawlers from boats caught walleye, channel cats, freshwater drum, and carp between River Road and the mouth.  Smallmouth anglers took fish when casting jigs or crank baits.  Try targeting the holes and near woody debris for smallmouth bass and walleye.  The deeper holes near Foote Dam can also provide some good size smallmouth bass this time of year.   

Higgins Lake:  Lake trout are still being caught in 80 to 100 feet or more when trolling or jigging cast masters and Swedish pimples just off the bottom.  Smallmouth bass were hitting both artificial and live bait in 10 to 20 feet.  A fair number of perch were caught off the northeast point of Treasure Island in 40 feet but most were small.    

Houghton Lake:  Some nice walleye 20 inches plus have been caught when drifting a harness with crawlers and leeches or crank baits along the edge of the weed beds in nine to 14 feet.  Pink and purple were the hot colors.  Good bass fishing especially for those using a purple artificial worm.   Bluegills were shallow in three to four feet but some were also caught about 6 feet down in 9 feet.  Try 10 to 12 feet for crappie.  Lots of pike have been caught but many were small.    

Tawas:  Walleye were caught off Jerry’s Marina and out near Buoy #2 in 60 feet however success in Tawas Bay was spotty.  

Tawas River:  Shore anglers caught an assortment of bass, freshwater drum, catfish and some pike.  

Au Gres:  Had excellent walleye fishing with lots of limit catches taken.  Many were fishing straight off the river mouth in 25 to 30 feet, off Eagle Bay Marina and south towards Pinconning in eight to 22 feet.  Big yellow perch and pike were also caught.  

Au Gres River:  Shore anglers caught crappie, pumpkinseed, bullhead, freshwater drum, catfish and pike.   

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs:  Smallmouth bass anglers were doing well in the shallows between the State Park and Harbor Point.  The fish were not on the beds yet and the bigger fish were out in deeper water.  Lake trout were caught from Harbor Point to the north.  Lake herring were caught around Harbor Point and out into the bay.   

Petoskey:  Boats are catching lake trout when trolling from the breakwall to Bay Harbor.  The fish were scattered as water temperature in the bay keeps changing because of the winds.  On the Bear River, a couple small steelhead were reported up near the dam.  Those fishing the mouth caught smallmouth bass, rock bass, freshwater drum, pike, walleye and bluegills on worms and stick baits.  

Charlevoix:  Boat anglers were catching lake trout and lake herring from Fisherman’s Island to North Point.  Salmon were caught mainly to the south.  Lake herring were caught in the channel in the early morning with anything flashy like spoons, jigs, blade baits and spinners.  

Traverse City:  Bass fishing in the East Bay was good with fish caught in shallow waters south of Deepwater Point and the M-37 launch, towards Yuba and in Elk Harbor.  Lake trout fishing was very good straight out from the Elk Rapids Marina when trolling or jigging.  Lake trout and lake herring were also caught on the north side of Deepwater Point and off the M-37 launch.  The Elk River had plenty of nice bass caught between the dam and the mouth when using crawlers, leeches or tube baits.  In the West Bay, bass were caught south of Bowers Harbor and around Power Island.  Lake trout were caught north of Bryant Park.  Lake herring and lake trout were found in shallow water in Suttons Bay.  Lake trout were caught when jigging at Northport and north of Old Mission Peninsula.  In the Boardman River, a few bass were caught at the dam and plenty of rock bass were caught at the mouth.   

Frankfort:  East winds pushed the warmer water out deep and anglers were getting good catches of Chinook salmon and lake trout in 550 to 650 feet and working the top 80 feet with green flies 150 to 200 feet out with copper and green or blue spoons.   

Arcadia Lake:  Pike and smallmouth bass are still being caught though the bite did slow.  A few anglers were targeting perch and other panfish.  

Onekama:  Chinook catches are picking up in and around the “Barrel” and in front of the golf course when trolling green spoons and flies in the top 25 to 65 feet of waters 250 to 300 feet deep.  Lake trout and steelhead were also caught.    

Portage Lake:  Still no mayfly hatch to report so anglers were taking good catches of bass and panfish.  Perch were found in 18 to 25 feet off Eagle Point.  Bluegills were caught in the weed beds along the east end and bass were caught in all areas.   

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell:  A few walleye were caught by those trolling a crawler harness.  The panfish were in shallow and were hitting on spiders, small flies and artificial baits.  Crappies were caught with a slip bobber in eight to 12 feet.  

Manistee:  Surface temperature readings were about 56 degrees. Anglers are reminded the south pier remains closed.  Off shore, fishing slowed way down as the fish were scattered.  A small number of Chinook and lake trout were caught on spoons in 120 to 300 feet.  Baitfish are still in the harbor and anglers fishing off the north pier caught Chinook and steelhead.  Those trolling in the channel caught a few fish. Ludington:  Had surface water temperatures near 54 degrees.  Fishing slowed here also with only a few Chinook along with a couple steelhead and lake trout taken on spoons in 85 to 250 feet.  Pier anglers were few.  Baitfish are in the harbor and those trolling caught Chinook, brown trout, steelhead and the occasional lake trout.  

Pentwater:  Chinook, steelhead and lake trout were caught 20 to 60 feet down in 80 to 160 feet.  Green flies, blue or green spoons, and blue or purple meat rigs all caught fish. 

Pentwater Lake:  Those casting body baits in five to 15 feet caught smallmouth bass and pike.  Sunfish and perch were caught from Longbridge Road when floating a worm under a bobber.  

Fremont Lake:  Some walleye were caught along the south shore.   

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Upper Peninsula

Ontonagon:  Fishing was good with Chinook showing up near the mouth of the river.  Lake trout and brown trout were caught along the shoreline in 20 to 60 feet.  Fish up high for the salmon and brown trout and lower for lake trout.  

Keweenaw Bay:  Fishing was good as those trolling off Sand Point and the head of the bay have caught Chinook, coho, lake trout, brown trout and splake.  Hot baits were chartreuse stick baits and green, black or blue spoons in the top 1/3 of waters 40 to 80 feet deep.  In Huron Bay, Chinook and lake trout were caught in 30 to 60 feet but the fish were scattered.  Good fishing in the South Entry with Chinook, coho and lake trout caught around the lighthouse and south along the shoreline.  

Lac Vieux Desert:  Anglers were getting limits of bluegill and pumpkinseed on worms, minnows and soft plastics in shallow waters.  Perch and crappie were caught in five to 12 feet but many were small.  Largemouth bass are becoming more active and were hitting on crank baits and soft plastics up in the shallows.  Walleye fishing slowed for legal size fish but lots of small ones were caught.  Pike were hitting on spoons, spinners and crank baits along the weed beds.  A couple anglers found musky in deep waters.    

Little Bay De Noc:  Had good catches of walleye at the mouth of the Whitefish River when trolling a crawler harness or stick bait and when jigging a crawler near the weed beds.  Fish were also caught on the Escanaba River when jigging crawlers.  Some limit catches were reported.  Fish were also caught along the “Black Bottom” when trolling crawlers or stick baits in 18 to 30 feet and off Breezy Point in 15 to 20 feet.  Perch anglers reported fair catches off Gladstone Beach with crawlers or minnows in 15 to 25 feet and at the head of the bay near the green buoy off the Day’s River in 24 feet.  Garth Point, Gladstone Bay and the Ford River all reported fair catches of smallmouth bass when casting or trolling crank baits, spinners or plastics in eight to 16 feet. Lots of pike action at the mouth of the rivers, the ship docks in Escanaba and along the weeds south of the Ford River.  Most were trolling or casting crank baits, spoons or spinners in five to 15 feet.    

Big Bay De Noc:  Fewer walleye were caught here as the fish are starting to move south.  The “Boot” out from the Fish Dam Rivers and Indian Point was best when trolling a crawler harness in 15 to 28 feet.  Fair to good smallmouth action out from the Little Fish Dam River and off Porcupine Point with plastics or crank baits in 10 to 14 feet.    Ogontz was good with smaller fish hitting on plastics or spinners along the weeds.  Pike were abundant throughout the bay.  Most were still quite shallow in five to 15 feet.  Lots of fish were marked near Martins Bay but many were sub-legal.  At Fairport, a few boats were starting to show up but no reports had come in yet.  

Munising:  Boat anglers did well taking a few Chinook, coho, steelhead and brown trout.  Those fishing have seen a number of Chinook in all sizes from 17 to 36 inches including fish just over 16 pounds.  Most were fishing in the bay and both the east and west channel.  Lake trout anglers were few but those heading out might want to try the Wood Island Reef.  Pier fishing was slow as access is currently limited due to road construction in the area.  

Grand Marais:  Boat anglers did well for lake trout along the “Banks” and out to Au Sable Point when fishing near the bottom.  Salmon and steelhead anglers reported fair action outside the harbor and when trolling east past the Sucker River. Surface water temperatures were in the low to mid 40’s.  Pier anglers reported slow whitefish action.

Detour:  Had good salmon and trout fishing at the Detour Reef and lighthouse.  Anglers took a mix of Chinook, Atlantics and lake trout 25 to 35 feet down in 60 to 80 feet.  Most were fishing on the Drummond Island side from the red buoy back to the lighthouse or when trolling from the lighthouse to the green buoy.  Atlantic salmon fishing was excellent with anglers taking fish eight to 14 pounds 25 feet down in 140 feet with four-inch spoons.  Hot colors were cracked orange or a gold and orange combo.  The best fishing was from the red buoy on the Drummond Island side of the river and trolling east to the very next buoy then turn around and head back to the red buoy.  When the fly hatches are occurring, Atlantic salmon can be caught when long-lining, off points and along the shoreline in eight to 12 feet.  This is an easy way for anglers that do not have large boats with downriggers to catch them.    

Cedarville and Hessel:  There have been no reports of yellow perch being caught in Cedarville Bay.  A couple seven to nine inch fish were caught off Connors Point in 12 feet with a worm or minnow.  Pike were slow throughout the Les Cheneaux Islands but a few were caught when still-fishing with frozen smelt or chubs along the south end of Little LaSalle Island in Sand Bay.  If the bite is slow, try moving to deeper water and slow your presentation.  At the Hessel Marina, pike were caught in the early morning.  The best area was in six feet around Echo Island with a worm and slip bobber.  Rock bass were caught around the docks and weed beds.  Smallmouth bass were taken when casting or jigging off Cube Point and Haven Island.   

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Fishing Tip: Taking great catch-and-release photos:

Are you an avid catch-and-release angler? Do you like to take photos of the fish you catch, prior to returning them to the water? Do you know the safest way to take these photos so you ensure the fish can live to be caught another day?

Check out the following steps: 

1. Wet your hands before you handle the fish, that way you won’t remove any of the protective mucus (aka slime) the fish has coating their body. 
2. Remember a fish can not breathe out of water, so they will become uncomfortable rather quickly. Keep the fish in the water until your camera is ready to take the shot. 
3. Take the photo with the fish fairly close to the water, that way if it squirms out of your hands it will land in the water not on a hard surface. 
4. While holding the fish do not pinch or squeeze it and do not stick your fingers in its gills. 
5. Be mindful of the different kinds of fish that have teeth and/or spines that could stick you. 

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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.