The rivers are high and muddy after the heavy rain.  Fewer anglers were out because of the storms and muggy weather however the cooler temperatures should help improve the bite for those heading out for the last holiday weekend of the summer.  

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie:  Storms slowed the perch bite and high winds have kept boats off the water.  When they could get out, fish were found in 22 to 24 feet near the E-Buoy and the Dumping Grounds, 14 to 15 feet in Brest Bay or in 25 to 26 feet between Stony Point and Fermi.  Most were using minnows on perch rigs with green, orange and chartreuse spinners.  The walleye action slowed but a few were found near the Dumping Grounds with bandits, in 21 to 23 feet between Stony Point and Fermi or in 25 feet off the River Raisin with a green, purple, blue or chartreuse crawler harness. The Hot Ponds continue to produce good numbers of catfish when using crawlers or chicken liver.  White bass, white perch and freshwater drum continue to be caught.  Pointe Mouillee had good bass and pike fishing. 

Huron River:  Bass and panfish were caught at Barton Pond and Barton Dam.     

Washtenaw County:  Bass were caught on the Portage Lake Chain with both live or artificial baits.  Whitmore Lake was producing bass and pike, but the fish were small.   

Detroit River:   Yellow perch were caught with some taking near limit catches.   

Lake St. Clair:  The bite slowed but those trolling a crawler harness along the bottom were taking a few fish but were also getting snagged in the fast growing weed beds. 

Lexington to Port Sanilac:  Did not had much activity due to the weather.  The few that were out trolling did not have much luck. 

Harbor Beach:  Storms and windy conditions have kept boats anglers at bay.  Before the storms, lake trout and a few salmon were caught straight out in 160 feet on dodgers and spin-glo’s and clean spoons. A couple Chinook were taken on spoons halfway down in 80 to 120 feet.  Walleye were in 50 to 80 feet and hitting small spoons and body baits north of the harbor.  Bass anglers were casting small body baits and spoons.  Shore anglers caught rock bass when jigging along the rocks.   

Saginaw Bay:  Had a slow week.  If it was not raining the wind was blowing so the bay was churned up and muddy.  When boats could get out, a few walleye were taken on harnesses out near Buoy #1, in the Slot off Sebewaing in 12 to 14 feet or outside the islands.  A few perch were taken off Linwood around Sailboat Buoys A, B and E, the old shipping channel in 15 feet, near the Spark Plug in 25 feet or just north of Spoils Island in 16 feet. 

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph:  Boat anglers targeting salmon were catching lots of lake trout in 120 feet.  The occasional coho was caught even deeper.  Pier fishing was slow.  Some perch were caught in 30 feet before the storms moved in. 

St. Joseph River:  Despite the warm weather, a light number of steelhead were moving through the fish ladders but no salmon yet.  Anglers caught steelhead at the mouth of Townsend Creek into Lake Chapin.  

South Haven:  Pier anglers caught the occasional steelhead.  Boat anglers should be able to catch lake trout just off the bottom in 80 to 100 feet.  Perch fishing was slow. 

Grand Haven:  A few salmon were caught 65 to 120 feet down in 110 to 180 feet.  Lake trout continue to be caught near bottom on yellow or green spin-glo’s.  Pier anglers are catching freshwater drum and channel cats on gizzard shad.

Grand River at Lansing:  Anglers had success with smallmouth bass especially in the stretch south of Portland.  A few walleye were caught below the Webber Dam. 

Shiawassee County:  A few smallmouth bass were caught in the Shiawassee River near the Corunna Dam and Shiatown Dam.  Anglers have caught largemouth bass on Lobdell Lake.

Ionia County:  Jordan Lake was producing some large panfish.  Some anglers were taking limit catches including some bluegills as big as 10.5 inches.  Anglers on Sessions Lake and Woodard Lake had limited to no success. 

Muskegon:  Boats reported slow salmon fishing with only a few caught 55 to 120 feet down in 100 to 180 feet with orange spoons and green meat rigs.  Pier anglers caught large and smallmouth bass.   

Muskegon Lake:  Walleye were caught between the state park and Bear Lake Channel when trolling a crawler harness with a bottom bouncer during the day or a husky jerk at night.  Fish were also caught in the channel leading to the big lake when jigging off the wall.  Boats trolling in the channel caught salmon on J-plugs. 

Muskegon River:  Walleye and bluegill fishing increased in Croton and Hardy Ponds. 

Whitehall:  Changing water temperatures made for inconsistent salmon fishing.  Boats trolling 35 to 80 feet down in 50 to 130 feet caught Chinook, lake trout, and the occasional steelhead on flashers and green flies, green plugs, and green or purple spoons.  Boats trolling glow-spoons and plugs well before sunrise in 50 to 90 feet caught better numbers of mature salmon.  Pier anglers using casting jigs or spoons in the early morning or late evening caught the occasional Chinook. 

White Lake:  Bluegill fishing was inconsistent however some boats managed to catch a good number of fish when drifting red worms or wax worms in 15 to 20 feet. 

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan:  Smallmouth anglers casting soft plastics or spinners in Duncan Bay or near the mouth of the Cheboygan River had little to no luck. 

Cheboygan River:  All the gates at the dam were closed.  Water temperatures were about 78 degrees.  Anglers using leeches and worms had better luck downriver from the paper mill.  Walleye between 15-18 inches were caught on a crawler harness and smallmouth bass between 8-12 inches were caught when drifting worms. 

Mullett Lake:  Had decent perch fishing.   

Rogers City:  Fishing picked up as anglers caught a mixed bag of Chinook, lake trout, walleye, and Atlantics, along with an occasional steelhead or coho on downriggers, dipseys, lead core, and copper spread throughout the water column.  Anglers are using spoons, J-plugs, flashers with flies, squid or cut bait. In 45 to 100 feet.  Good colors were black and white, green, blue, silver, bloody nose, or glow early and late.  The salmon are light sensitive so fish extremely early or late.  The walleyes were incidental but a nice bonus. 

Long Lake:  Was producing some walleye.   

Alpena:  Windy conditions hampered fishing, but lake trout were still being caught along the bottom in deeper water off the “Humps”, Nordmere Wreck or the Nine Mile Can.  No word on walleye but those fishing Rockport and Presque Isle were getting a few fish. 

Thunder Bay River:  Catch rates were still slow because of the warm water temperatures.   Most were using live bait for walleye but caught freshwater drum, rock bass and smallmouth bass instead.  There were rumors of Chinook caught by those trolling the river mouth.  

Black River:  Walleye were caught by those trolling planer boards and stick baits in 20 to 30 feet in the early morning or late evening.  Some were suspended out to 100 feet. 

Hubbard Lake:  Was producing walleye and bass.  Bluegills were in the weed beds.   

Harrisville:  A couple lake trout were caught when trolling spoons near the bottom in 80 to 100 feet.  Strong winds have slowed the effort and scattered the fish.

Oscoda:  Lake trout were caught in 85 to 140 feet when trolling spoons, meat rigs, and dodgers with spin-glo’s.  Lake trout were found near the bottom while steelhead and walleye were 40 to 80 feet down.  Strong winds have made it difficult to get out and find fish.  Pier anglers caught channel cats and freshwater drum on crawlers and stick baits. 

Au Sable River:  Was slow.  A few channel cats, bowfin, smallmouth bass, rock bass, and freshwater drum were taken by those still-fishing with crawlers.  

Tawas:  Walleye were caught with harnesses and bottom bouncers around Buoys 4 & 6.  Fish were also caught in 40 to 55 feet down near the Bell Buoy off Whitestone Point, and in 70 feet outside Tawas Bay when trolling spoons. 

Au Gres:  Walleye were taken straight out in 30 to 35 feet and near the Bell Buoy when trolling a crawler harness.  Fish were found in 40 feet out near the NOAA weather buoy. 
Some perch were taken in 13 to 17 feet off the mouth of the Pine River. 

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs:  Most trout and salmon anglers were fishing from Harbor Point east into the bay.  Lake trout were 80 to 90 feet down in 120 to 130 feet.  A couple Chinook salmon were caught on the Harbor Springs side. 

Petoskey:  Boat anglers had varying success for Chinook salmon.  The few caught were taken 50 to 100 feet down in 100 to 130 feet between the breakwall and the waste treatment plant when trolling spoons, flies, plugs and meat rigs.  Lake trout were caught anywhere from 70 to 130 feet down.  A few coho and cisco were also caught.  Pier anglers caught a couple salmon.  Water levels in the Bear River increased with the rain and a couple salmon were caught on spawn, flies or yarn.   

Charlevoix:  Storms with heavy rain and strong winds have limited boat anglers.  One boat did manage to get one Chinook and one lake trout 60 to 80 feet down in 100 feet. 
In the channel, smallmouth bass fishing was good but many were undersize.  Those using artificial worms and leeches caught a few rock bass as well. 

Traverse City:  Lake trout were caught north and south of the M-37 launch in the East Bay.  Fish were also caught around Deepwater Point when trolling or jigging and straight out from Elk Rapids.  Evenings were good for salmon fishing on the west side and along the south bank when trolling spoons and flies.  Chinook up to 27 pounds were caught.   A few nice bass were caught anywhere from 12 to 35 feet down. A couple cisco and lake trout were caught jigging north of Old Mission and a few small perch were taken in Old Mission Bay near the launch.  The Elk River was slow with only a few smallmouth bass caught at the dam and off the first dock.  In the West Bay, salmon fishing was hit-or-miss however a few big ones were caught on spoons and flies in the early morning.  Fish were taken north of Elmwood and south of the M-22 launch.  Lake trout were caught when trolling south of the M-22 launch.  Perch fishing was slow.  On the Boardman River, a few salmon were spotted at the dam and reportedly caught at the mouth.  Smallmouth bass and rock bass were caught in good numbers at the mouth. 

Frankfort:  Strong winds and heavy rain pushed the Chinook salmon into Betsie Bay with some moving up into the river.  Those trolling or jigging between the pier head reported good numbers and good size fish taken.  Coho were reported in Platte Bay but the bite was hit-or-miss when trolling spoons.  The launch at Platte is accessible for smaller boats.  

Manistee:  Dredging continues, so boat anglers are asked to watch for the buoy and not make a wake. Good number of Chinook salmon moved into the harbor and just outside the pier heads.  Anglers had success trolling spoons and J-plugs.  Pier anglers caught a few when casting spoons and thunder-sticks.  One angler managed to catch a 32-pound Chinook off the north pier. 

Manistee River:  There was some movement or fish last week and anglers were catching them.  Now the river is high and muddy so it is difficult to say what conditions are like, but the rain should have pushed more fish up into the river. 

Ludington:  Chinook salmon were pushed into the harbor and around the pier heads when the water rolled over.  Those using spoons and J-plugs did best.  

Pere Marquette Lake:  Those jigging and trolling caught salmon however those jigging did best.  Pier anglers caught a few when casting spoons. 

Pere Marquette River:  The heavy rain should have pushed more salmon up into the river however fishing conditions may be a little more difficult with high muddy water.

Pentwater:  Inconsistent water temperatures have the salmon scattered from the dunes down to Little Sable Point. While catches were inconsistent, boats trolling from Juniper Beach down to Little Sable Point caught chinook and coho along with steelhead 35 to 70 feet down in 70 to 150 feet.  Glow spoons fished early in the morning caught the most chinook salmon while green spoons and meat rigs fished well later in the day. Lake trout were caught on spin-glo’s near the bottom.  Pier anglers caught smallmouth bass in the early morning when jigging soft-plastic minnow imitations or when drifting minnows and crawlers in the channel.

Pentwater Lake:  Anglers drifting minnows, leeches, and crawlers through the channel caught good numbers of smallmouth bass and the occasional freshwater drum.  At Longbridge Road, good numbers of perch and sunfish were caught on red worms.   

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Upper Peninsula

Lac Vieux Desert:  Muskie anglers caught a few legal fish but not without putting in some effort.  Those putting in the long hours have been rewarded with some decent pike ranging 24-30 inches.  Walleye anglers had limited success in finding legal size fish.  Panfish have been caught in the submerged vegetation with both natural and artificial baits however be prepared to sort through all the small ones.  Bass anglers had good catches using top-water baits along the shoreline.  A few smaller muskie were caught by bass anglers. 

Little Bay De Noc:  Had another good week for walleye anglers though windy conditions have limited access.  Strong south winds made for good catches off the mouth of the Whitefish River where limits were taken when trolling a crawler harness or using stick baits in 14 to 22 feet and near Breezy Point in 12 to 14 feet.  Fair to good catches were reported along the “Black Bottom” in 20 feet and Gladstone Bay straight out from the Terrace Inn in 35 feet.  Fair to good perch fishing off the mouth of the Escanaba River in 28 feet, off Kipling in 23 to 30 feet and south of the “Narrows” in 30 feet.  Good smallmouth action near Round Island with plastics in eight to 14 feet.  Pike were active throughout but the best areas were the Escanaba Yacht Harbor and just north of the Escanaba River. 

Big Bay De Noc:  Had fair to good smallmouth catches throughout the bays and coves.  Ogontz anglers moved into waters near St. Vitals Island and reported very good catches in eight to 14 feet with plastics, dropshots and leeches.  Off Nahma, anglers fished off Butlers Point in 10 to 12 feet or Ansell’s Point, Puffy Bay and Garden Bluff in six to 18 feet.  Off Fairport, strong winds have kept many off the lake.  Catch rates were spotty when trolling 60 to 80 feet down in 105 to 130 feet.  Salmon fishing was not as good but some very large fish have been reported. 

Marquette:   Had very good lake trout fishing with the majority caught 40 to 70 feet down in 100 to 150 feet.  The fish ranged anywhere from 2-10 pounds however there was one fish caught that weighed in at 28 pounds.   Stannard Rock continues to produce lots of smaller lake trout.  Very few salmon were caught. 

Au Train:  Had only a few boats heading out.  Decent numbers of lake trout were caught east and north of Au Train Island in 130 feet.  The bite was hit-or-miss but look for a pod of fish and stay on them.  Wood Island Reef continues to produce lake trout. 

Munising:  Had very low fishing pressure.  The rain and north winds should bring cooler water to the bay.  No salmon to report.  A few lake trout anglers did well in the west channel and towards Wood Island Reef.

Grand Marais:  Lake trout anglers reported excellent fishing from Au Sable Point to Big Reef and Five Mile Reef.  Most anglers were getting limit catches of smaller fish.  A few were trying for salmon but had no luck.  Water temperatures should cool with a northerly wind and slightly cooler evenings. 

Fox River:  Trout anglers had success when using worms or spinners.  Two Hearted River:  Trout anglers had moderate success. 

Manistique Lake:  Perch and panfish are being caught on both lakes.    

Manistique River:  Was producing some walleye. 

Brevoort Lake:  Was producing some good size walleye but anglers had to put their time in because fishing was slow. 

St. Marys River:  Walleye were caught in the shipping channel when trolling a crawler harness.   

Detour:  Had good walleye action to the north off Swedes Pointe with bottom bouncers and a crawler harness with yellow and red blades trolled in eight to 12 feet off the rocky points and underwater humps.  Those jigging dark orange or green tube baits at Pipe Island caught smallmouth bass.  Target the rocky points and rock piles.  The waters of Lake Huron and the mouth of the St. Marys River turned over which bought the thermocline upward.  A mix of Chinook, Atlantics, lake trout and a few pink salmon were caught around Fry Pan Island, just below the ferry boat lane to Drummond Island and near the green buoy northwest of the lighthouse.  The Atlantics were hitting black, purple and white spoons 55 feet down in 80 to 100 feet. 

Cedarville and Hessel:  Anglers are still reporting a few nice catches of yellow perch one mile south of the Cedarville launch off Meridian Road.  Try drifting minnows and worms in the 12-foot channel between Connors Point and La Salle Island.  Rock bass were caught between Connors Point and Urie Bay in four to six feet.  Pike fishing was good between the Middle Entrance and the Yacht Entrance at Government Island with creek chubs in eight to 14 feet.  Dollar Island in Musky Bay was producing pike for those trolling bucktail spinners or shallow running crank baits in six to eight feet.  At Hessel, there were no perch reports from the finger docks at the Hessel Marina.  Salmon and lake trout were slow at Goose Island and St. Martins Point.  The panfish bite was good in Mackinaw Bay.  Young angler’s bobber fishing caught rock bass at Lone Susan Island and Echo Island in five to six feet.   

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Fishing Tip: Catching big pike in the summer

Most anglers consider winter the best time to catch a trophy-sized pike, but following a few key pointers can make summer pike fishing worthwhile. 

When it’s very warm out think about where pike will hide – places with cooler water. These spots include along the thermocline, where coldwater streams/rivers flow into lakes, or around springs. 

Look for water bodies that aren’t densely populated with pike so those present may have a chance to grow fairly large. Also consider locations that have special regulations (size limits).

Lastly, focus on water bodies that have a good pike forage base – particularly other species that prefer cooler water. 

Want to learn even more about fishing for northern pike? Check out their page on the DNR’s website. 

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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.