The return of colder air and even some snow this week will no doubt slow catch rates once again. Areas in the Upper Peninsula still had ice and snow. Suckers are running in most warm-water rivers in the Lower Peninsula right now.

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Walleye fishing slowed a bit off Fermi and the State Park. Some decent size channel cats were caught in the DTE Hot Ponds near the River Raisin. Most were using shrimp for bait.

Detroit River: Anglers were taking a few limit catches of walleye in the early morning near Altar Road, the MacArthur Bridge, the Renaissance Center and the Ambassador Bridge. Panfish were caught in the cuts and canals.

Lake St. Clair: Water clarity was below average. Smallmouth bass are starting to come into the area around the Mile Roads however it is still early.

St. Clair River: Fishing was still slow but should pick up soon. A few coho were caught in the North Channel and in the southern end of the river.

Lexington: Had the most fishing activity in the area. Boat anglers trolling in shallow waters 10 to 20 feet deep caught coho, a couple Chinook salmon, steelhead and walleye. Most were using body baits. Pier fishing was slow with only the occasional steelhead or lake trout taken by those casting Cleo’s or still-fishing with wax worms.

Port Sanilac: Also had boat anglers trolling in shallow waters for trout and salmon. Pier anglers reported slow fishing with only the occasional steelhead or lake trout taken.

Port Austin: Has open water. Pier anglers fishing off the gas dock caught the odd sucker, pike or smallmouth bass. There was no fishing activity at Harbor Beach or Grindstone City.

Saginaw Bay: A few perch were caught in the cut at the end of Palmer Road, but the action was far from red-hot. Boats were launching from the Pine River access site to fish for walleye. Trolling for walleye was productive off Linwood in 18 to 20 feet with Husky-Jerks. The other good walleye spots were northeast of Spoils Island in 20 to 23 feet, and when jigging around Buoy 24. Boat anglers were getting some perch on minnows around Spoils Island. Perch catches were 15 to 20 per boat with fish 10 to 12 inches long. At Finn Road, shore anglers caught mainly small perch. On the east side, boat anglers fishing near the end of the channel in 10 feet off Quanicassee caught a couple very nice perch. Shore anglers on the Quanicassee River did not catch much. Anglers reported poor catch rates at the Thomas Cut, the Sebewaing River, Mud Creek and the Pigeon River. Boats heading out for walleye were crossing the bay and fishing off Linwood. White suckers are running in all the local rivers including the Rifle, Flint, Cass, Shiawassee and Tittabawassee.

Saginaw River: Perch and crappie were caught in the lower river and as far upstream as the Bay Aggregate Cut and Smith Park in Essexville.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

New Buffalo: Those out trolling caught coho salmon.

St. Joseph: Boat anglers targeting salmon did very well before the bite slowed once again. Most were using small spoons or flies. Pier fishing also slowed with only a few fish taken on spawn.

St. Joseph River: Steelhead fishing was pretty good up near the Berrien Springs Dam. Anglers were leaving the piers to go fish near the dam. Spawn worked best.

South Haven: Those out trolling caught a few coho mainly south of the pier. Small spoons and crank baits were the ticket. Pier fishing for coho was slow.

Kalamazoo River: Had a good number of anglers targeting steelhead below the Allegan Dam.

Rabbit River: Had steelhead anglers in Hamilton.

Grand Haven: Pier angler are catching lake trout and a few brown trout on spawn and minnows. Boats trolling the shoreline with bright colored spoons and body baits have also caught a few brown trout and lake trout. The perch action was slow.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Steelhead fishing continues up near the 6th Street Dam. The cold front will slow the bite but will also prolong the run and keep fish in the river a little longer. Anglers are using a little bit of everything including spawn, flies, crawlers, spinners or a jig and wax worm. A good number of suckers were caught.

Grand River near Lansing: A fair number of smallmouth bass were hitting on minnows near the North Lansing Dam. Crappie were caught in Eaton Rapids. No word on steelhead here however fish have been caught near Ionia in Prairie Creek. Sucker fishing has been good.

Muskegon: Pier anglers reported slow catch rates for steelhead and brown trout however those trolling caught a few brown trout on green and blue body baits. The key is to find the warmer water.

Muskegon Lake: Boat anglers did well for perch along the west half of the lake. A few limit catches were taken near the channel with spikes, minnows or cut bait in 50 feet or so, but were sorting through the small ones. Some bigger fish were found off the Bear Lake Channel. Crappie were caught near the Henry Street Bridge.

Muskegon River: Some nice steelhead were caught in the deeper holes. Good perch fishing was noted in Hardy Dam Pond though water levels were down which made it difficult to launch a boat.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan River: Those drifting spawn bags near the dam and walk bridge caught a couple steelhead up to 24 inches.

Sturgeon River: A couple anglers fishing spawn bags and worms at the park in town caught steelhead and brown trout. Anglers were also found off the Rondo Road Bridge and White Road.

Indian River: Those drifting spawn bags caught some steelhead behind McDonalds.

Rogers City: The ice is gone near the boat launch however the marina slips still had ice. The boat launch has a dock in. A few boats were starting to head out. Anglers troll body baits that resemble smelt close to shore and near the river mouths.

Presque Isle: The launch ramp still had thick ice and no docks were in. We need rain and warmer weather or a strong northwest wind to push the ice away from the launch.

Alpena: Boat anglers targeting salmon caught lake trout when trolling spoons and spin-glo’s around Thunder Bay Island and North Point in 50 to 80 feet. Walleye were slow but a few were found by those trolling or casting crank baits from the rocks early or late. A couple brown trout were also caught. The harbor launch was still iced in, but the city launch on the river is open.

Thunder Bay River: Those targeting steelhead at the dam had variable success, but the bite was good when conditions were right. A gate on the dam has been open and fresh fish have entered. Drifting and floating beads, flies, wax worms or spawn were all effective. A few brown trout were caught. A good number of Atlantic salmon were caught in the deeper, slower water when casting spoons.

Oscoda: Pier anglers caught steelhead and a couple Atlantic salmon. Anglers were still-fishing, drifting spawn or casting spoons and crank baits. A couple walleye were taken on crank baits. White and longnose suckers were beginning to enter the river and were caught by pier anglers using spawn. All the docks are in at the mouth.

Au Sable River: The steelhead action picked up with fresh fish caught throughout the river. Anglers did well when drifting or floating spawn, wax worms, beads and flies such as small streamers and nymphs. Atlantic salmon were caught in the lower half by those drifting spawn and beads.

Higgins Lake: Still had ice however it is turning dark which means it is no longer safe and ice fishing is done. Most were heading east or west for suckers.

Houghton Lake: Has large areas of open water and the ice is starting to break up. Ice fishing here is done, and most are now getting ready for open water fishing. The canals have opened-up however there are no minnows yet and no crappie following them. It still needs to warm up.

Tawas: Those trolling body baits around the artificial reef caught a few lake trout and brown trout. Pier anglers were getting a few walleye at night, but nothing during the day.

Tawas River: Shore anglers fishing at the mouth caught a couple of steelhead and brown trout. Night anglers caught a few walleye.

Au Gres: Boat anglers caught a mix of lake trout, brown trout, Atlantic salmon and walleye. Shore anglers fishing at the end of the breakwall caught a few lake trout, pike and some suckers. Night anglers caught a couple walleye.

Au Gres River: Surf anglers down at Whitney Drain caught a couple steelhead and one odd brown trout when floating spawn bags off the mouth. Steelhead were caught further up in the river as well.

Rifle River: The sucker run is underway, and the hook and line anglers did well however the dip-netters said there were not enough fish in yet. A warm rain is needed to get the fish moving. Steelhead were also caught.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Petoskey: Little Traverse Bay is still iced in. There was no fishing in Harbor Springs. The breakwall has been slow with only the occasional steelhead caught. Most are using spawn bags or wax worms from the D Pier at the mouth of the river.

Bear River: Those targeting steelhead reported very slow catch rates with only a few small fish taken. There was low angler activity at the dam.

Charlevoix: The ice comes in and blows out depending on wind direction. There is still some ice around the shoreline. On Lake Charlevoix, the ice is starting to break up at the ferry launch. No docks were in.

Traverse City: Most of the East Bay was frozen however there is no safe ice. One boat attempted to go out jigging near Elk Rapids, but they could not break through the thin ice. The shoreline is starting to open-up. On the West Bay, the northern section including Northport, was open. With a west wind, Lee Point should be open soon. Both the Boardman and the Elk River remain slow for steelhead fishing.

Frankfort: A large sheet of ice around the pier was making access difficult. The Elberta Pier was ice free. Water temperatures were still cool at 36 degrees. Steelhead were hitting on spawn. Those trolling in shallow waters caught brown trout on rapalas.

Onekama: The north pier is accessible however the south pier is under construction.

Portage Lake: Was 70% ice covered and had large sheets of moving ice. Lots of ice on the east end so the city launch was not accessible. The DNR launch on the northwest end off M-22 is open but the docks were not in.

Manistee: Surface water temperature was about 38 degrees. There is one dock in however the fish cleaning station is still closed. There is still a lot of ice on the piers but enough has receded to get around. Pier anglers caught steelhead and brown trout with spawn. Those trolling spoons and body baits caught a couple steelhead, brown trout and small coho in six to 12 feet.

Manistee River: The steelhead bite slowed with the colder weather. Try slow drifting over the deeper holes in the lower river.

Ludington: The ramp has one dock in, but the fish cleaning station is still closed. Ice on the pier has limited access and anglers need to use caution. Brown trout were caught on spawn. Those trolling the shoreline with spoons and body baits caught brown trout in six to 12 feet.

Pere Marquette Lake: Had good yellow perch fishing. Most were using minnows or wax worms.

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Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay: Anglers should stay off the ice. The shoreline ice is very weak and getting worse every day. The South Entry and Traverse Bay still have ice at the boat launch. When Traverse Bay does open-up, anglers will still have problems getting out due to stamp sand blowing and closing the river.

Marquette: Pack ice had blown into the Upper Harbor which prevented anglers from launching boats. The rivers seem to be picking up slightly but were still slow overall. A couple anglers were fishing near the mouth of the Dead River. A few Menominee, splake and steelhead were caught at the mouth of the Carp River, but most anglers were leaving with no fish.

Chocolay River: Fishing was slow with only a couple steelhead or brown trout caught near the M-28 Bridge and down near the mouth. Most were floating spawn bags. Quite a few anglers were out however only a few caught fish.

Little Bay De Noc: This will most likely be the last week of ice fishing. The shoreline ice in the northern bay is getting worse making it difficult to get out. Perch anglers had fair to good reports from the Day’s River to the Second Reef with minnows and wigglers in 18 to 30 feet. The Whitefish, Tacoosh, Rapid, Day’s and parts of the Ford River are all open water.

Au Train: Anglers were targeting coho near shore only as ice conditions were not good and will only get worse. Anglers were out from the boat launch, Au Train River and the roadside park at Scott Falls.

Munising: Still had ice in the bay but it is starting to break up. Murray Bay had a lot of slush and water. Holes were opening-up near the west channel and Powell Point. The Anna River mouth is somewhat open. There are some open areas where anglers can fish from the pier.

Grand Marais: Had no anglers. Pack ice is present within the harbor and beyond the breakwall the lake ice is breaking up. Ice fishing is no longer possible. Pier fishing is limited to the beginning of the pier because of ice on the walkway. The Sucker River is open upstream but limited down near the mouth because of ice.

Manistique River: Steelhead fishing is just getting started. Anglers reported steelhead and brown trout from the dam south to Dewey’s Bass Hole and over to the high dam spill over. Most were casting spawn bags or Berkley honey worms. The boat launch is open however you do have to watch for floating ice.

Detour: The boat launch at the marina was still covered with snow. There was no place to launch a boat in Detour Village.

Cedarville and Hessel: The boat launch at Cedarville was closed due to snow and ice. Perch were slowly starting to show signs of moving into the shallows to start spawning. Try small minnows or wax worms just off the cattails and weed beds in Cedarville Bay. The Hessel boat launch was still covered in ice and snow. Ice anglers are beginning to target splake in Hessel Bay but catch rates were slow. A couple fish were taken just off the bottom in 12 feet east of the marina. The yellow perch bite was fair to good in the early morning with both live and artificial wax worms. Bigger fish were caught one mile east of the marina in Berkley Bay when slow jigging with wax worms in eight feet. Be sure to use caution. The ice is now pulling away from Cube Pointe and there is open water straight south of the Hessel pier.

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Fishing Tip: Spring is a great time for targeting steelhead

The month of April is often a perfect time to fish for steelhead in Michigan’s rivers. Did you know our state is thought to offer some of the best steelhead fishing in the country?

A variety of techniques can be used to fish for this aggressive species; including live bait, artificial lures and flies. Rivers across Michigan provide access for steelhead fishing. Some better-known rivers include the Betsie, Grand, Little Manistee, Manistee, Manistique, Pere Marquette and St. Joseph rivers in the Lake Michigan watershed; the Au Sable River in the Lake Huron watershed; the Huron River in the Lake Erie watershed; and the Huron and Two Hearted rivers in the Lake Superior watershed.

Want more information on steelhead fishing in Michigan? Visit their page on the DNR’s website.

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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