Sorry for the delay in sending out this week's report. Though the weather was cooler for the openers, anglers did catch trout, walleye and pike. Rain this week will raise water levels and hamper fishing once again.

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Walleye fishing was decent with quite a few boats bringing in limit catches. Artificial baits worked best, and green was the hot color. Anglers were fishing in front of Sterling State Park, Bolles Harbor and near the Dumping Grounds in 15 to 19 feet.

Detroit River: Had excellent walleye fishing with limit catches reported every day.

Lake St. Clair: Water levels were very high after the rain. Water clarity is highly variable across the lake. Water temperatures are still in the mid 40’s which is cool for this time of year. A lot of walleye are moving through the lake right now and should be looking to feed as they finish spawning. Target the areas where the rivers and creeks enter the lake. The smallmouth action slowed but was better north of Harley Ensign than off the Mile Roads. Crappie were in the canals just south of the ramp at Selfridge.

St. Clair River: Walleye fishing was beginning to pick up. A few fish were caught in the North Channel however heavy rains have made for less than ideal conditions. Water levels are very high and turbid so angler will need to move around as water clarity levels will be highly variable due to currents and wind direction. Once the weather stabilizes, the fishing should really take off.

Lexington: Had some of the best blue-water fishing. Those trolling planer boards with body baits have caught a good number of Chinook salmon along with coho and the occasional steelhead or lake trout in 15 to 25 feet. Pier fishing was slow.

Port Sanilac: Also had some good salmon and trout fishing in shallow waters 15 to 25 feet deep. Most were using planer boards with body baits. Bright colors work well.

Harbor Beach: Did not have much activity. A lake trout was caught in 25 feet.

Saginaw Bay: When they could get out, those trolling for walleye did well off Gambil’s Marina with a crawler harness or body bait in eight feet. Those launching from Pinconning Park were likewise fishing south toward Gambil’s. One boat got into some crappies in five feet off Gambil’s. From Linwood, walleye were found in 20 feet. Walleye anglers did fair in 10 to 12 feet from Quanicassee to the Callahan Reef and as far as Spoils Island and the shipping channel. Most got two to four fish per boat. Further north windy conditions made fishing much more difficult. Bass anglers did well in the Pinnebog River and Bird Creek. Shore anglers fishing the cuts and marina basins caught bass and pike.

Saginaw River: Windy weather had many boats fishing in the lower river where some limit catches were taken near the Coast Guard Station. Some were fishing around the U.S.S. Edson. The ramp at Finn Road is currently closed due to drain work being done.

Tittabawassee River: The walleye opener was good. The fishing was best very early in the morning with lots of fish caught including a good number of limits between Freeland and the mouth with jigs and minnows. Fishing up near the Dow Dam was not as good. The large females have left the river so most of the fish caught were smaller males. Near the confluence of the Shiawassee River, anglers caught a lot of white bass along with walleye. The walleye fishing should be good for another couple weeks.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: Boat anglers trolling just past the piers and along the shoreline caught a few coho and lake trout along with some very nice Chinook salmon. Most were taken south of the port in 45 to 65 feet with spoons. Pier fishing was slow except for channel cats which were hitting spawn and stink baits. No perch to report.

South Haven: Boat anglers caught a decent number of lake trout in 50 to 65 feet. The occasional Chinook salmon was also caught. Pier fishing was slow for all species and no perch were caught.

Grand Haven: Anglers trolling the shoreline are catching a few brown trout, lake trout, and coho salmon. Orange and green were good colors. Boats targeting yellow perch have done well on minnows and wigglers. Pier anglers had slow brown trout action.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Continues to produce a couple steelhead. No word on success during the walleye opener.

Grand River at Lansing: Smallmouth bass and walleye were caught up near the North Lansing Dam before all the rain. Now the water is high and muddy with a fast current. The odd steelhead was caught near Moore’s Park however there are no big numbers of fish in the area.

Muskegon: Boat anglers reported slow catch rates for brown trout. Pier anglers trying for brown trout and steelhead were not having much luck. Pier anglers caught a couple walleye at night.

Muskegon Lake: Is producing fish. Anglers were taking a mixed bag of perch, white bass, catfish and pike. Walleye are moving out of the river and into the lake.

Muskegon River: Water levels were up a bit with a strong current. Anglers will still find a good number of steelhead in the river. Target the deeper holes.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan River: Those targeting walleye had a hard time with the high water and strong current. A few were caught when bottom bouncing a crawler harness. Shore anglers drifting worms or casting crank baits caught a few fish. One Atlantic salmon was caught near the walkover bridge. Anglers had a hard time drifting spawn bags so many tried bottom bouncing instead. Suckers are starting to move into the river.

Rogers City: Cold and windy conditions have kept boat anglers off the lake. The water needs to warm a few more degrees. Head south towards Swan Bay, Adams Point or Calcite Harbor in waters 60 feet or less with small body baits that resemble smelt. Stay in the top 15 feet with boards 60 to 100 feet back. For Atlantic salmon, try bright colored spoons, Cleo’s, or body baits.

Presque Isle: Had no anglers. When it clears up, lake trout should here and Atlantics should be near the wall around Stoneport. Run your line in the top 15 to 20 feet for best results. Use spoons and body baits in bright colors.

Sturgeon River: Steelhead and brown trout were caught when drifting spawn bags or worms. Most were fishing at Wolverine City Park and some holes downstream. A couple steelhead were caught off the Rondo access site. The steelhead were up to 22 inches while the brown trout were about 15 inches.

Alpena: Lake trout anglers had good success trolling spoons and spin-glo’s off North Point and Thunder Bay Island in 40 to 70 feet. A few walleye were taken when trolling body baits in front of the harbor and near the river mouth. Shore and pier anglers caught a couple walleye. Smallmouth bass and pike were caught on jigs or when casting crank baits in Squaw Bay.

Thunder Bay River: Steelhead were caught at the 9th Street Dam however white suckers dominated the catch. Most were drifting or floating beads, spawn, and flies. There has been one gate open at the dam. Most walleye were done spawning and dropping back to the river mouth and the bay. Anglers were jigging soft plastics or minnows and most of the fish caught were smaller males. Pike and smallmouth bass were also caught.

Oscoda: Good catches of lake trout were taken in 40 to 60 feet when trolling spoons and spin-glo’s. Pier anglers experienced a good walleye bite when casting body baits in the evening. Atlantic salmon as well as steelhead and a few lake trout were caught by pier anglers casting body baits or still-fishing with spawn. A few carp and freshwater drum were beginning to show up.

Au Sable River: The steelhead run appears to be peaking as good numbers of fish were present in the river. Fish were caught when drifting or floating beads, spawn, and flies. Atlantic salmon were caught near the mouth when still-fishing with spawn or inflated crawlers. Walleye were caught when casting jigs or crank baits. A good number of suckers are in the river.

Higgins Lake: The ice is gone! Some docks are in at the launches however few anglers have been out.

Houghton Lake: The walleye opener was off to a slow start as the cold front dropped water temperatures once again. Crappie fishing in the canals shut down and the bluegills moved back out to deeper water.

Tawas: Boats going south towards Au Gres and fishing off Alabaster, Whitestone Point and Point Lookout did well for walleye in 15 to 25 feet. Pier anglers could see large salmon or trout cruising around the piers but they would not bite.

Tawas River: Shore anglers in the lower river caught some walleye. Both large and smallmouth bass were caught and released immediately. Several anglers got a real workout when they hooked into some large carp that were moving up into the river.

Au Gres: Those trolling around Whitestone Point, Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres did very well for walleye especially when they could get out of the wind. Boats launching out of the Pine River access site and Eagle Bay Marina did well for walleye in eight to 10 feet. A few smelt were dipped around the shoreline of Point Lookout.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs: Had no boat anglers and very few have been fishing from the docks or piers. There was no dock in at the boat launch.

Petoskey: The docks are in at the boat launch however no boats had been out. The Bear River had a good push of steelhead as fish were reported between the dam and the mouth. There was quite a bit of fishing pressure at the dam. Water levels at the dam were still high. Most were using spawn, beads or flies. A good number of suckers are in the river for spawning.

Charlevoix: There was no dock in at the small township launch near the Medusa Weir. No anglers had been out as it has been too cold and windy.

Lake Charlevoix: Though most of the docks are in the water now at the Ferry Beach launch, the fish cleaning station was still closed.

Traverse City: Cold windy weather has limited angler access on the East Bay. Water temperatures are still cold. Fishing was slow on the Elk River with only a couple steelhead caught at the dam. A couple nice steelhead were caught at the kid’s pond. On the West Bay, perch fishing was very good in Northport as good numbers of some nice size fish have been caught on minnows. A few walleye were also caught. Those targeting perch in Suttons Bay, south of Elmwood Marina and in Bowers Harbor near Power Island had no luck. The Boardman River steelhead bite started to slow but a few were caught at the dam.

Frankfort: Those trolling around the pierheads and in Betsie Bay caught several lake trout and a few brown trout on body baits. Pier anglers reported slow catch rates with water temperatures still in the high 30's to low 40's.

Onekama: Those trolling the shoreline in 15 to 25 feet caught a good number of lake trout along with a few young Chinook on rapalas, jointed body baits and small spoons.

Portage Lake: Is cold. Only a couple perch and bluegill were caught.

Manistee: Surface temperature readings were near 42 degrees. Perch fishing slowed but some were still being caught off the pier with minnows and wigglers. Boat anglers caught a few walleye in the channel when jigging with artificial baits. Those trolling in six to 12 feet outside the piers caught lake trout and a few brown trout on body baits.

Manistee River: The trout opener was slow because of cold water temperatures and higher water levels. A few fish were caught in the deeper holes. Fishing on the Little Manistee was also slow.

Hamlin Lake: Had very few anglers. Those that did make it out caught a few bass and the occasional pike. Bluegills along with a few perch and crappie were caught at the far south end near Tamarac Village. Those looking for perch on the north end had no luck. Water levels were still a few inches below the normal summer levels and the water was still cold at 48 degrees.

Ludington: The fish cleaning station remains closed. Those trolling caught lake trout in 10 to 30 feet and brown trout in six to 12 feet with spoons and body baits.

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Upper Peninsula

Copper Harbor: Both Copper and Eagle Harbor were open water.

Keweenaw Bay: The ice is gone, and fishing was good. Those trolling stick baits in five to 40 feet did good for coho, brown trout and splake. The whitefish action was slow. In Huron Bay, the fishing pressure was low. Only a few splake were caught and released. A few lake trout were caught off the South Portage Entry. Finding them was hard but once you do, they are hungry. Smelt are schooled up but not in the rivers yet.

Marquette: Boat anglers are picking up coho from the Lower Harbor to the Chocolay River when trolling spoons and stick baits in 20 to 50 feet. Brown trout and the odd Chinook salmon have also been caught. Coho and the odd splake were caught off the breakwall. Fishing on the Dead and Carp Rivers was limited due to high water.

Chocolay River: Anglers managed to pick up a couple steelhead and brown trout. Suckers moving into the river to spawn were also caught. Most are using spawn and worms, but some were trying spinners and small spoons.

Little Bay De Noc: The ice is finally gone, and the docks are in. The rivers are still running fast throughout the area. Fair perch catches were reported between the Day’s River and the Vagabond Resort with minnows, wigglers and crawlers in 10 to 30 feet or between the Second and Third Reefs in 30 feet. Smallmouth bass are starting to show up at the mouth of the Ford River for catch and release fishing. Steelhead anglers have struggled with the fast water. A few catches were reported on the Day’s River near the golf course.

Manistique River: With four gates open and water flowing very fast, angler participation has dropped. Water levels were probably three feet higher than normal and most of the river was unfishable. There are good numbers of steelhead in the river and a few were caught however landing them in the fast water is difficult.

Munising: Strong winds blew most of the ice out however there was still some floating ice within the bay. Ice had pushed up on shore near the Anna River and from the east shoreline up to Sand Point and through the east channel. The docks are in at Brown's Public Launch. A few boats did get out and did well for coho with limit catches reported. Anglers caught coho along with the occasional brown trout or splake out near Five Mile Point. A few smelt were running in area streams.

Grand Marais: Still had some floating ice which should be gone by the end of the week. Boat and pier anglers were doing well for coho and were taking limits of whitefish. Anglers were trolling spoons and shallow running stick baits from the harbor to Carpenter Creek and from the Sucker River to Lonesome Point and beyond. A few brown trout and steelhead were also caught. Pier anglers did well for coho, steelhead and brown trout with spawn. Limits of whitefish were also caught with a single egg. The ice cap at the end of the pier was pretty much gone. Shore anglers at the mouth of the Sucker River caught a couple steelhead however the boat and pier fishing were much better. Those targeting Menominee at the mouth of the river had no luck. Smelt anglers were taking a few fish in area streams.

Two Hearted River: Has steelhead but water levels are high. Access in this area is good now. For shore anglers looking for brook trout, area streams are still high.

Detour: The ice and snow are completely gone from the launches! The Coast Guard has reported that all ice is gone from the locks in Sault Ste. Marie downstream as far as the Detour Lighthouse. There were no docks in the water at any of the launches.

Cedarville and Hessel: The snow and ice is gone from the public launch on Meridian Road in Cedarville. There is a dock in at the launch. At Hessel, fishing effort increased at the Hessel Marina where good catches of splake were taken by boat and shore anglers. Splake were caught in Hessel Bay when trolling northwest of Haven Island with blue and chrome or blue and white slender crank baits with a red head eight feet down in 14 to 20 feet. There were reports of perch being caught one mile east of the Hessel Marina in eight feet.

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Fishing Tip: Trout season has arrived!

Trout season officially opened this past weekend on Michigan’s inland waters and early season fishing can be quite good. Many anglers successfully swear by dead drifting worms this time of year due to the cold spring waters temperatures, but those heading out should not overlook spinners or small shallow diving crank baits either.

Worms are deadly in the early season, but lure fishing can also be very effective at bringing up big fish from their hiding spots under logs or under cut banks.

To learn more about fishing for trout in Michigan, check out these links highlighting the specific species.

Brook Trout

Brown Trout

Rainbow Trout

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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