This coming Saturday, April 27 is the walleye and pike opener for the Lower Peninsula inland waters. The statewide trout opener on all Type 1 and Type 2 streams as well as all Type A and Type D Designated Trout Lakes is also this coming Saturday.

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

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Fishing picked up and the water is slowly clearing up. Anglers did best in about 19 feet in Brest Bay. Chrome, white, orange, and green lures worked well. Those jigging with live bait also did well.

Lexington: The fish were scattered but those trolling in 15 to 50 feet caught a few coho, lake trout, steelhead and pink salmon. Most came back with empty coolers.

Port Sanilac: Had no fishing activity until Sunday. Those trolling did manage to catch a couple trout and salmon though most did not catch anything.

Saginaw Bay: Fishing was generally slow around the inner bay as windy conditions kept the water stirred up. Some post-spawn walleye were taken off the mouth of the Saginaw River, but that was about it. Up the east side, a few smallmouth bass were caught and released in Wildfowl Bay. A couple walleye were caught outside the islands. All area rivers and cuts were running high and muddy after the rains last week.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: Boat anglers were trolling just past the piers and along the shoreline for steelhead and coho salmon. Catch rates were slow as the fish were scattered. Those targeting salmon had mixed results. A few Chinook were found in 30 to 40 feet and the coho were scattered in 15 to 50 feet. Small spoons, dodgers and flies worked best. Pier anglers caught a few coho on spawn.

South Haven: Pier fishing slowed for coho with only a few fish taken on spawn. Very few boats have made it out because of the weather. There should be decent lake trout fishing in 50 to 60 feet. There were no perch reports. 

Grand Haven: Boat anglers targeting yellow perch did well with minnows and wigglers. Those trolling the shoreline caught a few coho on bright colored spoons. Pier anglers caught a couple coho and brown trout with spawn. A few round whitefish were caught on skein and a single egg. A few perch were caught just south in 40 to 60 feet.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Is still producing some steelhead though the run is slowing.

Rogue River: Steelhead were spawning.

Grand River at Lansing: Crappie were hitting in the Eaton Rapids area. Smallmouth bass were caught and released up near the North Lansing Dam.

Muskegon: Pier anglers reported slow catch rates for steelhead and brown trout. Those trolling for brown trout also reported slow catch rates.

Muskegon Lake: Is producing a few perch near the channel. A few walleye were caught in the channel on the Lake Michigan end. The bluegills were not in the shallows yet. Those looking for bluegills and crappie may want to try Bear Lake which is shallow and will warm up much faster.

Muskegon River: Has high water levels but was still fishable. A good number of steelhead are in the river including fresh fish. Anglers have found fish up near Croton Dam. Those fly fishing are using nymph patterns.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Sturgeon River: Water levels are extremely high, and the current is fast. A couple steelhead were caught when drifting worms or spawn in the holes near Wolverine but those bottom bouncing worms near Wolverine Park caught no fish.

Cheboygan: A few boat anglers targeting walleye off Cordwood had no success when trolling spoons or body baits in 20 to 30 feet.

Cheboygan River: Water levels were very high and fast which makes steelhead fishing very difficult. A few fish were caught on spawn, spoons or wax worms. Spawn bags worked best. A few walleye and one pike were caught and released by those targeting steelhead.

Ocqueoc River: Should have plenty of steelhead.

Rogers City: A few anglers tried casting from the breakwall but had no luck. Hopefully the Atlantic salmon will begin showing up soon. Try casting spoons, Cleo’s, or body baits in orange and gold, green and white or silver and orange. Try brighter colors when the water is stained. Those that can get out will have the best luck trolling south towards Swan Bay, Adams Point or in Calcite Harbor in waters less than 60 feet deep with body baits that look like smelt. Run boards at least 60 to 100 feet back and stay in the top 15 feet.

Presque Isle: The ice is gone and the dock is in at the launch ramp. Lake trout should be in the area. For Atlantic salmon, try trolling close to the wall around Stoneport. Keep the lines high in the top 15 to 20 feet with orange, green, blue and silver, yellow or chartreuse spoons and body baits.

Alpena: Lake trout were caught by those trolling spoons and spin-glo’s in 40 to 70 feet out near Thunder Bay Island. Those trolling, jigging or casting crank baits from the pier and breakwalls caught brown trout and walleye in close to shore and near the river mouth. Both of the city launches are open.

Thunder Bay River: Those drifting and floating beads and spawn have taken steelhead, suckers, and the occasional brown trout. The flow was high with one or two of the gates open which is bringing more fish into the river daily.

Oscoda: Anglers trolling spoons and spin-glo’s inside 60 feet caught a few lake trout both up high and down low in the water column. A few chinook salmon were caught when trolling near the river mouth. Pier anglers still-fishing or drifting spawn caught steelhead, Atlantic salmon, suckers and the odd coho and brown trout. Those casting spoons and body baits caught walleye, lake trout, chinook, brown trout or Atlantic salmon.

Au Sable River: Water levels were high, and the lower portions were somewhat dirty. Steelhead and the occasional Atlantic salmon have been caught by those drifting and floating beads, spawn, flies or stripping and swinging streamers. The bite was hit-or-miss but a good number of fish were present. A couple chrome Atlantic’s were caught at the mouth and in town with minnows, spawn or body baits. A nice brown trout was caught near Foote Dam. Suckers were increasing in number.

Houghton Lake: The ice is gone and the docks are in. The minnows are in the canals and that is where you will find the crappie and bluegills. Fish can also be found off the launches or any inlets. The action is just getting started as anglers are catching crappie on minnows and bluegills on leaf worms. The morning bite was better.

Tawas: Boat anglers trolling and jigging in 15 to 25 feet around the artificial reef caught a few walleye and the odd lake trout. A fair number of boats heading south to fish off Whitestone Point and Alabaster caught a decent number of walleye and lake trout including one lake trout that weighed just over 20 pounds.

Au Gres: Those trolling were heading to Whitestone Point, Point Lookout or off Pointe Au Gres. They did very well on post-spawn walleye including some large fish. Several limit catches were taken in 15 to 25 feet. Those fishing off the Pine River mouth also did well for walleye.

Au Gres River: Steelhead anglers are finding fish well upstream in the East Branch. At the Singing Bridge, those surf casting for walleye at night have done well.

Rifle River: Those fishing upstream have caught steelhead.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs: This side of Little Traverse Bay was mainly clear of ice. There was no dock at the boat launch and no anglers had been out.

Petoskey: No boats had been out but those fishing the breakwall have caught some steelhead. On the Bear River, water levels were high at the dam, but a couple steelhead were caught on spawn, beads or flies.

Charlevoix: Lake Michigan was mainly clear of ice. There was no dock in at the small township launch near the Medusa Weir.

Lake Charlevoix: Was clear of ice around the Ferry Beach boat launch. There is one small dock in at the launch. The fish cleaning station was still locked.

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 the West Bay has been changed from two fish to one fish. In the East Bay, a few lake herring were caught when jigging around Deepwater Point. A couple lake trout were caught when trolling on the east side of the bay. Water temperatures are still very cold, but fishing is starting to pick up. In the Elk River, steelhead fishing remains slow. In the West Bay, those looking for perch did not find any in Bowers Harbor or around Power Island however the fishing was very good in Northport. On the Boardman River, only a couple steelhead were taken when drifting spawn and beads.

Manistee: The fish cleaning station is now open and all but one dock is in. Surface water temperatures were about 38 degrees. Those trolling caught brown trout and lake trout with spoons and body baits in six to 12 feet. Small numbers of brown trout and lake trout were caught by pier anglers using spawn. A few perch were also caught off the pier. Smelt anglers found a few fish off the piers and near the creek mouths.

Manistee River: Steelhead fishing was a little more difficult due to high water levels, but a few fish were caught. Anglers are hoping the levels will be down somewhat by the trout opener this weekend.

Ludington: The fish cleaning station remains closed and there is still only one dock in. Windy conditions have made fishing difficult. Brown trout and lake trout were hitting spoons and body baits. The lake trout were caught south of the port in 45 to 50 feet. Pier fishing was slow but a few brown trout were caught on spawn.

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Upper Peninsula

Overall: Many lakes in Luce and Alger County still had ice. Access roads will likely have snow pack. Rain in the forecast will certainly help open things up, but not quite there yet. Water levels will be high in the central and eastern sections of the Upper Peninsula.

Keweenaw Bay: Still had some ice hanging on however it should be completely gone this week. The South Entry is open, but the dock was not in yet. Once anglers found them, the lake trout bite was good in 115 to 195 feet. Coho, brown trout and splake were found in 10 to 40 feet. Steelhead fishing was on the rise but with the rain and the snow melt rivers are very high.

Marquette: Fishing in the harbor is definitely starting to pick up! Most boats were trolling in front of the Carp and Chocolay Rivers, but a few were staying close to the breakwall in the Lower Harbor. Most caught coho with a few brown trout, splake or steelhead mixed in. A few limit catches were reported but most were getting one to three fish per trip. Unfortunately, the rivers are still very slow for this time of year.

Chocolay River: Had slow fishing as water temperatures were below 40 degrees. A few brown trout have been caught but there were no reports on any steelhead taken.

Little Bay De Noc: We are in between seasons here with the Bay still partially ice covered. The Kipling area was the only area with ice and that should be gone this week. The docks are in at Rapid River, Gladstone and the Ford River launch. The rivers are at flood stage and the current is strong making conditions difficult for steelhead anglers.

Manistique: A few boats targeting steelhead and brown trout were going out about three miles from the river mouth. Most reported mixed results. West of Manistique, smelt were running in Southtown Creek. Some limit catches were taken.

Manistique River: Steelhead anglers reported good catches up near the dam when casting spawn. Several nice brown trout were also reported. There were two gates open at the dam which raised the water levels by three feet, so the water was very high and fast.

Munising: The Coast Guard Ice Breaker came through breaking up the ice in the bay. There is still a lot of ice to melt however the remaining ice is not safe. Strong winds have pushed the ice in the bay and along the shoreline. It could be another week or so before the ice is gone. For now, fishing is not possible for boat or shore anglers.

Grand Marais: The ice had moved out of the harbor area and beyond the breakwall. The breakwall was fishable up to where the rocks start before the last section of the pier however cleats are advised if you are going to try walking out on the pier as there was still some ice. Some were trying for whitefish off the breakwall and the mouth of the Sucker River, but no fish were caught. Those trolling had a hard time dodging the chunks of ice still in the area. A few coho, brown trout and steelhead were caught from the breakwall to Lonesome Point and beyond. Water levels in the rivers were extremely high which makes fishing much more difficult.

Two Hearted River: Is difficult to fish due to high water levels. Fish are likely in the river, but conditions will limit success greatly.

Tahquamenon River: Had a small smelt run recently but the other Whitefish Bay tributaries are slow. Water temperatures were in the low 40’s, but high-water levels will limit access.

Detour: Because of all the ice coming down the St. Marys River, there are no docks in at Detour Village. As soon as the smelt runs begin, which should be any day, the Atlantic salmon should start hitting.

Cedarville and Hessel: Currently 75% of the ice is gone in Cedarville Bay. Open water is plentiful one mile south of the boat launch on Meridian Road. The dock is in however there was still ice packed in around the launch. At Hessel, ice is moving out of the finger docks at the Hessel Marina. Open water extends 30 feet out from the east end of the fishing pier. Outside the marina, ice has pulled away from the steel breakwall approximately five feet, allowing anglers to fish or jig for splake and yellow perch. There was still five inches of ice at the marina boat launch.  

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Fishing Tip: Want to find fish? Use sonar!

Avid anglers are constantly looking for tips and tricks to have more successful fishing trips. Many turn to sonar technology to achieve this goal.

Although a bit of an investment (units start at $100 and go up), sonar products offer a variety of benefits on the water. Most units can provide anglers with readings on temperature, vegetation and structure in the water, type of bottom below you, fish in the area, depth, current speed of the vessel, GPS navigation, and waypoints for future trips. Some even allow you the opportunity to purchase nautical charts.

Need help, besides using sonar, in planning your next fishing trip? Visit 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