Very few anglers have been out because of the weather. Until spring is here to stay, those heading out especially the boat anglers are reminded that water temperatures are very cold, and hypothermia will set in fast. Be safe and wear a life jacket.

All anglers 17 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license.

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Both Sterling and Bolles Harbor are flooded due to east winds and rain. The water had been extremely turbid and there were very few fish coming in.

Detroit River: Perch anglers were still taking some fish on the east side of Grosse Ile and into Canadian waters. Walleye have been caught in the Trenton Channel and up near the Renaissance Center. Most were using jigs with minnows or rubber worms.

Saginaw Bay: Had little fishing activity. Walleye fishing off the mouth of the Saginaw River was good before the last snow storm. Those trolling around Whitestone Point, Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres also did well for walleye with body baits in 10 to 20 feet. It appears the perch are just about done spawning. The few fish caught in the cuts last week were either ripe or already spawned out. Fewer perch were found in the cuts and river mouths this spring, but with the return of weed beds after the mussels cleared up the water, perch don’t have to run into the cuts to spawn.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph River: Steelhead are still on the move and anglers have done well below Berrien Springs. The run is most likely winding down but there are reports of smaller runs pushing upstream during the warm ups. There have been reports of spent fish being caught while moving back downstream. White suckers have also been caught.

Kalamazoo River: Anglers continue to catch steelhead below the Allegan Dam. Smaller fish were moving up into the river as well. Those targeting suckers have done well.

Muskegon: Pier anglers were getting a few brown trout and steelhead. Boat anglers caught a couple walleye straight out from the Coast Guard Station.

Muskegon Lake: Boat anglers did well for perch before the snow storm. With the warm up, try the west half of the lake and near the Bear Lake Channel.

Muskegon River: Continues to produce some very nice steelhead. The action should pick up with the rain and warmer temperatures. Suckers have been caught.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan River: Anglers caught steelhead at the dam when drifting or bottom bouncing spawn bags. Atlantic salmon were caught when drifting spawn bags at the dam or casting spoons at the DNR Office. Walleye were caught accidental. The water levels are high and current is fast at the dam. All the gates have been open this week.

Rogers City: Cold, windy and wet weather has kept anglers off the lake.

Presque Isle: The launch ramp is ice free however no docks are in yet.

Alpena: Lake trout have been caught by anglers trolling spoons and spin-glo’s.

Thunder Bay River: Steelhead were caught when floating or drifting spawn, beads, and flies. Atlantic salmon were taken by those casting spoons.

Oscoda: Lake trout were taken by anglers trolling spoons and spin-glo’s in 50 feet or deeper. A few Atlantic salmon were caught closer to shore. Pier anglers caught steelhead when drifting or still-fishing with spawn.

Au Sable River: Is producing steelhead and a few Atlantic salmon when drifting or floating spawn, wax worms, flies and beads. Fly anglers were swinging streamers. A few suckers were caught. Water temperatures were near 40 degrees.

Au Gres River: Surf anglers down at Whitney Drain caught steelhead as well as those fishing further upstream.

Rifle River: Steelhead are being caught in both the lower river and upstream. Suckers fishing continues as well.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Traverse City: Attention Anglers: As of April 12, 2019, the daily possession limit for lake trout in Lake Trout Management Unit MM-4 which includes both the entire East Bay and West Bay has been changed from two fish to one fish. This regulation will remain in effect until the season closes September 30, 2019. Windy conditions made it difficult for boat anglers that were just starting to head out. Steelhead fishing was slow in both the Elk River and the Boardman River.

Manistee River: A warm rain should help the steelhead bite. Fish have been caught at Tippy Dam.

Hamlin Lake: Ludington State Park has started raising water levels on the lake. It will take a few weeks to get the levels back up but rain this week should help speed up the process. Only a couple boats had been out, and they caught bass. Most anglers don’t start fishing here until the water levels are up.

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Upper Peninsula

Marquette: More boats were starting to head out now that the ice is gone. Most were trolling between the breakwall in the Lower Harbor to the Chocolay River. Coho, brown trout and a few splake were starting to show up and were caught off the breakwall. Water temperatures were about 34 degrees in the lake and near 38 degrees in the rivers. Catch rates have been slow in the Dead River and Carp River. Water levels have been fluctuating daily with most area rivers on the high side. Expect levels to rise even more as the temperature warms up.

Chocolay River: Had slow fishing. Anglers are trying but few fish have been caught. Those lucky enough to catch fish were getting some fresh steelhead. The boat launch at the marina is ice free however no docks are in yet.

Little Bay De Noc: Most of the Bay was still iced over however the ice is dangerous and no one should be going out on it. Several have started fishing the piers at the Escanaba North Shore launch and hoping for steelhead or brown trout, but no catches were reported. The transition to open water fishing could take some time with the cold temperatures at night. Boats could be launched at the Ford River and the North Shore launches but no docks are in yet and floating ice could be a hazard. Steelhead anglers have started fishing the Day’s River and the Ford River but not much to report yet. All area rivers are open and flowing fast.

Manistique River: Steelhead anglers reported good numbers of fish before the snowstorm. Water levels are high and fast making it much harder to wade or see fish. Catch rates dropped but there are still a lot of fish to be caught. Most were casting spawn bags near downed trees or gravel areas. The boat launch is open and the docks are in for those early birds. The cleaning and disposal station are not open yet.

Detour: Snow and ice are still occupying the boat launches in Detour Village. Gusty winds caused a lot of the snow to melt in Detour and the eastern Upper Peninsula however no docks were in yet.

Drummond Island: Ice is still holding at the mouth of the Potagannissing River and Maxton Bay. We need warmer temperatures with an east wind to blow the ice from Maxton Bay before boats can get out. There are still a few yellow perch being caught on the west side of Peck Island in 18 to 20 feet with wigglers, wax worms, and shiners. Anglers are reminded to check ice conditions before traveling out on any ice. Wind direction and warmer night time temperatures can change ice conditions dramatically!

Cedarville and Hessel: There has been no fishing effort in Cedarville Bay. The launch on Meridian Road is full of ice, and there is no dock in. Musky Bay has open water and the shoreline ice is pulling away. Snows Channel has ice breaking up this week and conditions are becoming dangerous. Hessel had reports of a few yellow perch caught at the far east end of Hessel Bay, about one mile from the Hessel Marina with minnows, wigglers and wax worms in eight to 15 feet. Early morning was the most productive. Splake fishing was slow. Warning: Straight south of the Hessel Fishing Pier at Haven Island and Cube Point, the ice is pulling away from shore. Open water is appearing throughout the west side of Marquette Island and Wilderness Bay.

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Fishing Tip: Catch-and-release bass season is always here

Don’t forget that in Michigan you can catch-and-immediate-release bass all year long – and spring can be a great time to do so.

Bass can be caught with a wide range of artificial lures, as well as live bait.

There are numerous locations across the state that provide prime smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing. Get ready to head out this spring for some excellent bass fishing.

As a reminder, the possession seasons for bass don’t open for a bit (May 25 on all waters, including the Great Lakes and June 15 on Lake St. Clair, St. Clair and Detroit rivers).

Additional information on angling for this species can be found on their page at Michigan.gov/Fishing.

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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