Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie
Walleye fishing had picked back up in Brest Bay, off the River Raisin and up near Stony Point in 24 to 26 feet. Some managed to get limit catches when trolling a copper, purple, chartreuse or lime crawler harness with a bottom bouncer 50 to 65 feet back. Those targeting walleye have also caught white bass, white perch, some large channel cats and freshwater drum. A few perch anglers caught 20-30 fish when jigging minnows in 22 to 25 feet off Buoys 1 and 2. Those fishing the Hot Ponds were getting 15-20 channel cats in just a few hours with crawlers or minnows.
Lake St. Clair
Anglers caught walleye at the mouth of the South Channel in 20 feet. A 4-ounce weight seems to work better and a 2-ounce weight. The fish have been hitting right as the bait comes off the bottom and the bite was light. Anglers have also caught some perch. Other walleye anglers did fair in front of the Brandenburg launch in 14 feet before the sun comes up. Hot colors were bronze, green or copper. Legal size musky were caught off the Dumping Grounds in 19 feet when casting artificial baits. Smallmouth bass fishing has been great everywhere.
Lexington and Port Sanilac
Lexington had no fishing report, as most of the boating activity was pleasure boats. At Port Sanilac, some perch were caught along the weed beds in 22 feet, north of the water tower in 41 feet and off the trailer court in 40 feet. Lake trout were caught with spoons on the bottom in 70 to 90 feet.
Harbor Beach
Lake trout were caught straight out and north of the harbor in 80 to 130 feet with dodgers and spin-glo’s near the bottom or spoons 40 to 80 feet down. Hot colors were orange, pink and black. Salmon and steelhead were caught on bright colored spoons. Try 5, 7, and 10 colored lead lines working from the top to 80 feet down. A few walleye were taken in 50 to 80 feet north of the harbor. Try spoons, Hot-n-Tot’s, worm burners or a crawler harness. Bass were still hitting spoons and body baits close to shore.
Grindstone City
The walleye action was spotty as some caught 2-4 per boat while others managed 8-9 per boat. Most were caught in 28 to 40 feet.
Saginaw Bay
Some walleye were caught in 12 to 14 feet at the Pinconning Bar, in 22 feet near Buoys 1 and 2, near the old Dumping Grounds with a crawler harness, in 16 feet a half mile north of Spoils Island with crank baits or a crawler harness, a half mile east of the island with a crank bait or flicker shad, and in 15 feet along the Callahan Reef with a crank bait or spoon. Off Quanicassee, the fish were scattered. Off Sebewaing, a few were caught on both edges of the Coryeon Reef and along the Slot in 16 to 18 feet. Walleye were taken in 10 feet in Wildfowl Bay. At Port Austin, a couple fish were taken in 17 to 38 feet but the better action was near Oak Point in 35 to 40 feet.
Saginaw River
Catfish and smallmouth bass were caught near Smith Park.
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Southwest Lower Peninsula
Smallmouth bass fishing
picked up in the rivers as water levels have dropped and cleared up. The Grand, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph Rivers
should all be good. Try white rooster
tail spinners, small crank baits, twister tail jigs, or nymph flies in the deep
runs and riffles.
St.
Joseph
Good
numbers of coho were caught well past 100 feet of water. Lake trout and the occasional salmon were
caught in and around 110 feet. Those
trolling near the piers caught steelhead. Try orange or green spoons. Perch
fishing was getting better until the lake rolled over. Some fish were still being caught but anglers
had to search for warmer water. Pier
fishing was steady with steelhead caught on alewife under a bobber.
St.
Joseph River
Walleye
fishing has improved with some nice fish caught.
South
Haven
Salmon
fishing slowed. A few lake trout were caught in and around 80 feet. Perch fishing was good with a decent number
caught in 20 to 30 feet north and south of the piers. Pier fishing was spotty but a couple
steelhead were caught on alewife. Freshwater drum were caught on crawlers and small jigs.
Grand
Haven
Boat
anglers caught lake trout and a couple salmon when trolling 30 to 70 feet down
in 90 to 150 feet. Lake trout were
caught on yellow spin-glo’s and the salmon were hitting on orange and green
spoons. Pier action for steelhead was
slow.
Grand
River at Grand Rapids
Water levels are down but anglers are still getting
some fish. Bass are being caught on a
variety of live and artificial baits including crayfish patterns. Those targeting catfish continue to do well
with live or cut bait.
Grand
River at Lansing
Continues to produce smallmouth bass. Anglers did well near the Portland Dam with a
crayfish imitation or live and artificial leeches. Some are getting channel cats but catch rates
were sporadic. The pike are scattered
throughout. Those targeting carp seemed
to catch more fish on worms and leeches.
Muskegon
The salmon and trout action
was slow but a few fish were taken 30 to 80 feet down in 80 to 160 feet with
yellow spin-glo’s and orange spoons. Pier anglers casting body baits caught a couple freshwater drum.
Muskegon
Lake
The
walleye bite was slow. Pike were hitting
on the east end and those targeting bass in the channel did well on the bottom
in 27 feet. Bluegills were caught in 4
to 8 feet in the bays and coves. Perch
have been caught however most were very small. Anglers have caught lots of freshwater drum.
Muskegon
River
Water
levels are low and clear, but anglers report good bass fishing.
Mona
Lake
Those
targeting bass here have actually done better along the sand bar out in Lake
Michigan when using crawlers and leeches.
Whitehall
Salmon and steelhead fishing was slow, but those
trolling spoons 40 to 80 feet down in 80 to 150 feet did catch the occasional
Chinook or steelhead. Good numbers of
lake trout were taken on spoons or spin-glo’s near the bottom. Pier anglers caught large and smallmouth bass
while casting body baits or soft plastic swimbaits.
White Lake:
Panfish
anglers caught bluegills and sunfish in 8 to 18 feet when floating red worms or
using dropper rigs tipped with wax worms.
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