The large and smallmouth bass opener on Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River and the Detroit River is this coming Saturday, June 15. High water levels continue to hamper fishing on the Great Lakes, inland lakes as well as the rivers and streams. While visibility may be a factor, those putting in the time have caught fish.

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

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: The walleye bite slowed. Most fish were caught in Brest Bay and near the Dumping Grounds in 20 to 25 feet when trolling crawlers, bandits or spoons. Anglers seem to do better in deeper water. A few white bass, perch and freshwater drum were also caught. The Fermi and Edison hot ponds were producing channel cats for those using crawlers. Near Bolles Harbor, largemouth bass were caught along the rock walls.

Detroit River: A fair to good number of white bass have been caught. Walleye were caught around Sugar Island and the south end of Grosse Ile with a crawler harness or jig and worm. Smallmouth bass were caught along the edge of the Trenton Channel. Bluegills were becoming more active. More pike and catfish have been caught.

Lake St. Clair: Water levels remain high throughout the lake which has made bass fishing more difficult. Smallmouth were caught in front of Selfridge. Anglers heading back into the smaller canals caught a decent number of largemouth bass. Pike and muskie were still close to shore. A good number of pike were taken on spinners, crank baits and even tube baits. Muskie were hit-or-miss. Those working the wall outside Selfridge were trolling in the backwash of the propeller. For walleye, the hot spot was off Fairhaven as catch rates outside the Metro Park tapered off.

St. Clair River: The hot spots for walleye were in the North Channel near Decker’s Landing and Algonac.

Lexington and Port Sanilac: Boat anglers trolling in 40 to 70 feet caught a mix of Chinook, coho, lake trout and pink salmon. Pike and smallmouth bass were caught by shore anglers casting artificial lures. At Port Sanilac, those casting body baits from the breakwall caught walleye or Atlantic salmon.

Harbor Beach: Those trolling south of the harbor caught pink salmon on spoons in 60 to 80 feet. Orange, green and blue were hot colors. A couple steelhead were taken north of the harbor in 60 to 100 feet with bright colored spoons or body baits. Lake trout were caught straight out and north of the harbor on dodgers with spin-glo’s or spoons near the bottom in 80 to 130 feet. Walleye were found close to shore in 20 feet north of the harbor. Those fishing from the breakwall caught a mix of walleye, trout, salmon and bass when still-fishing with minnows or casting body baits.

Grindstone City: Shore anglers continue to catch smallmouth bass on leeches or crawlers. Catch rates were not consistent for those casting lures.

Port Austin: Walleye were caught west of the harbor with body baits in 25 to 35 feet.

Saginaw Bay: Walleye were caught on crawlers near Buoys 1 & 2 at the Spark Plug in 23 feet. Fish were caught one mile east of the Spark Plug and near the Dumping Grounds in 17 feet. Those using crawlers off Finn Road did well. Good walleye fishing from Quanicassee to Sebewaing with limit catches taken. Fish were caught anywhere from 5 feet all the way out to the shipping channel. Depths change every day as the fish were scattered however 12 to 19 feet was the most consistent with a crawler harness or body bait. Good walleye action near Unionville and straight out from Sunset Marina in 15 feet or in the shipping channel in 26 feet with a crawler harness or flicker shad. Pink and purple were good colors. Fishing was slow up near Caseville.

Saginaw River: Was under a flood warning. Shore anglers at Smith Park in Essexville caught channel cats on worms.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: Salmon fishing slowed but fish were still being caught in 110 feet. Pier anglers caught a couple steelhead with alewife. A lot of freshwater drum were caught when casting spoons. Perch fishing was slow, but a few were taken in 45 feet.

South Haven: Boat anglers caught a mixed bag of trout and salmon. Fishing was best in 95 to 105 feet with spoons. Pier anglers were still getting the occasional steelhead. A few perch were found south of the piers in 40 feet.

Grand Haven: Boat anglers caught Chinook, lake trout, and the occasional coho in 65 to 130 feet. The salmon were 25 to 60 feet down and hitting orange and green spoons. Lake trout were on the bottom and hitting yellow spin-glo’s. Pier anglers caught a couple steelhead on shrimp. Freshwater drum were taken on alewife. There is water up into the Harbor Island launch parking lot. The docks were still accessible.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: High water levels continue to make fishing more difficult. A couple walleye were caught off the wall early or late. Catfish were hitting on crawlers. Those bowfishing had a difficult time because of the highwater.

Grand River at Lansing: Few anglers have been out as most areas were unfishable due to the highwater levels.

Muskegon: Catch rates were fair. Chinook and lake trout were taken 30 to 80 feet down in 75 to 140 feet with orange and green spoons or a white flasher/fly combo. Pier anglers caught freshwater drum when casting silver spoons.

Muskegon Lake: Bluegills are slowly moving onto the beds and were caught in the shallows on the north end. The bass action was picking up. A fair to good number of pike were caught along the east side when trolling spoons, spinners or crank baits.

Muskegon River: Water levels remain high. With the fly hatches, anglers are finding trout in the gravel areas. Bass anglers were taking fish near the underbrush.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan River: Boat anglers drifting a crawler harness caught walleye and suckers. Shore anglers targeting walleye and smallmouth bass caught a few fish on crawlers and crank baits or when jigging minnow imitations. No report on steelhead or Atlantic salmon.

Rogers City: Anglers were taking limits most days however some days it was a little more difficult to find them. Mornings were best. Most were fishing inside 60 feet with spoons as well as dodgers or cowbells with spin-glo’s. The salmon were coming higher in the water column, try the top 35 feet. Good colors were green, orange and gold, orange and silver, chartreuse or other bright colors.

Presque Isle: Was producing limits of lake trout. Chinook and some Atlantic salmon were also caught. The lake trout were coming throughout the water column on dodgers and other attractors with spin-glo’s. The salmon were in the top 40 feet and hitting on spoons. Hot colors were green, orange, silver and chartreuse. Atlantic salmon were found in the top 20 feet or so.

Alpena: Chinook, coho lake trout and the odd steelhead were caught when trolling spoons in 50 to 80 feet between Thunder Bay Island and Rockport. Lake trout were taken on spin-glo’s and attractors in the lower half of the water column while the salmon were up higher and hitting on copper and lead core. Steelhead and coho were found near the bug slicks. Walleye fishing was slow but those trolling early or late found fish inside 20 feet with body baits. A good number of smallmouth bass were taken on spinners and soft plastics in Squaw Bay. Smallmouth bass and pike were caught on crank baits in the harbor. Surface water inside the bay was in the mid 50’s.

Thunder Bay River: A couple good catches of walleye were taken on crawlers and leeches. Walleye were caught in the evening by those casting body baits. Smallmouth bass, rock bass, bullhead and freshwater drum were caught.

Oscoda: Those trolling caught good numbers of lake trout and the odd steelhead on spoons and spin-glo’s in 60 to 80 feet. Lake trout were in the lower half of the water column and taken with downriggers and dipsey divers. Pier anglers caught walleye, catfish and freshwater drum on crawlers and leeches or the odd steelhead on spoons.

Au Sable River: Water temperatures were in the mid 60’s below Mio, Alcona, and Foote Dam. Walleye, suckers and rock bass were caught below Foote Dam when drifting or floating crawlers in the holes. Largemouth bass and yellow perch were found in the weedy cuts with crawlers or crank baits. A couple drop-back steelhead were caught in the holes when casting spoons. In the upper river between Alcona and Grayling, march browns, sulphur and blue winged olives should be effective fly patterns. Brown trout, steelhead and a couple brook trout were caught on small spinners between Mio and Alcona.

Higgins Lake: Boat anglers found lake trout on the bottom in 80 to 90 feet when trolling downriggers tipped with rapalas and spoons or when jigging sand kickers in the early morning. Good smallmouth bass action along the drop-offs in 10 to 20 feet with crawlers, leeches or lures. Rock bass are everywhere. Small perch were caught.

Houghton Lake: The fish were more active with warmer weather. Walleye were taken by those trolling right above the weeds in 10 to 12 feet or when jigging leeches. Bass were found under structure and lots of pike were caught. Crappie were hitting on minnows in eight to nine feet. Some good size bluegills and sunfish were hitting on a jig and leaf worm or small leeches in the shallows or as deep as six to 10 feet. Hot colors were purple, chartreuse and pearl.

Tawas: Chinook and lake trout were found in 50 to 70 feet out past Tawas Point when trolling spoons. One large Chinook weighed over 11 pounds. Walleye anglers heading south towards Au Gres caught fish in 30 to 45 fish with a crawler harness. Lots of carp and smallmouth bass were caught by those fly fishing with crayfish imitations in three to four feet near Tawas Point.

Tawas River: Those casting tube baits and jigs off the dock and shore at Gateway Park caught smallmouth bass and pike.

Au Gres: Limits of walleye were taken with bottom bouncers in 30 to 45 feet from north of Point Lookout to Point Au Gres. At times, the fish were suspended up higher in the water column. A couple lake trout, steelhead, channel cat or perch were also taken.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Overall: Chinook salmon and fly fishing are probably the two big topics right now. Chinook fishing has been good off most ports. Lake trout are still being caught as well. Stream trout fishing was good after the warm-up which started some fly hatches. The bass are on the beds however the panfish have not started spawning yet.

Wilderness State Park: Some were still getting limits of smallmouth bass from Goose Bay with tube baits, crawlers, leeches, flies or a leech imitation. The fish range 12-19 inches. A few pike were caught on spinners.

Carp Lake River: Anglers were drifting worms or casting crank baits for smallmouth bass but had no luck.

Harbor Springs: Those going out for lake trout were fishing Harbor Point and north. Boat anglers targeting smallmouth bass have started to catch fish. Most were casting along the shoreline as well as near the piers and docks.

Petoskey: Had no boat reports as angler pressure was low. On the Bear River, there were no anglers fishing up near the dam however a good number were fishing the mouth where catch rates were very good on the right day for smallmouth bass, rock bass, big carp, suckers, bullhead, pike and freshwater drum. A couple walleye and bluegill were even caught. Most were using a worm, but some did well on tube jigs or crank baits. Those fishing the breakwall had no luck.

Charlevoix: Anglers did well for lake trout with lots of big fish taken both north and south of the port. A few salmon were also caught. Catch rates for cisco increased but anglers were putting in some time to catch them. Most were casting or jigging anything flashy in the harbor. A couple lake trout were also caught. Smallmouth bass, carp and suckers were cruising the channel.

Traverse City: Those targeting cisco in the East Bay did well in 50 to 90 feet off the marina in Elk Rapids, 55 to 80 feet around Deepwater Point, and along the West Bank near the M-37 launch. Bass anglers had hit-or-miss action in the shallows between the M-37 launch and the State Park as well as the launch near Acme. On the Elk River, fishing was slowly starting to pick up. A few nice bass were caught near the dam. Try crawlers, leeches or soft plastics. Along the West Bay, a couple boats were out but no fish were reported. A few anglers were fly fishing for smallmouth bass and carp in the shallows.

Frankfort: Those trolling straight out with spoons and flies 30 to 60 feet down in 120 to 150 feet caught limits of Chinook salmon in the early morning. Lake trout were hitting spin-glo’s near the bottom in Platte Bay.

Onekama: Good size Chinook salmon were caught out in front of the “Barrel”. Anglers were trolling blue and green spoons in the top 50 of waters 100 to 140 feet deep.

Portage Lake: Bass anglers reported the fish moving to deeper water. Perch anglers reported light catches. Panfish were in the shallows.

Manistee: Surface temperatures were near 52 degrees. A good number of Chinook were caught on spoons and flies in 90 to 200 feet. Steelhead and lake trout were also caught. Pier anglers using alewife in the harbor caught Chinook and steelhead.

Hamlin Lake: The bluegill and sunfish action finally picked up as good numbers of fish were taken when drifting or still-fishing with a worm and bobber in front of Barnhart’s Restaurant. Bluegills are on the beds now and have not yet spawned. Bass anglers are still doing very well with good size largemouth and the occasional smallmouth taken. A couple walleye were caught in the lower lake by those drifting or trolling. Crappie fishing slowed down but a few were caught by those targeting bluegills.

Ludington: Surface waters warmed to 55 degrees. A good number of Chinook were still coming in 100 to 300 feet when trolling spoons and flies. Steelhead and lake trout were also found at those depths. Steelhead up high and lake trout near the bottom. Baitfish are in the harbor however pier fishing was slow.

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Upper Peninsula

Copper Harbor: Those trolling caught splake, brown trout and the occasional steelhead. A few fish were caught off the piers. Eagle Harbor was slow.

Keweenaw Bay: Anglers caught Chinook, lake trout and brown trout when trolling. A few boats made it out of Traverse Bay as the launch is currently being dredged.

Marquette: Fishing was steady with those targeting salmon taking 3-6 fish per trip. Most were getting a mix of coho, steelhead, lake trout or brown trout. Few Chinook salmon were caught. Most were heading east towards Shot Point and staying in shallow waters 50 feet or less. The lake trout action picked up with most caught by salmon anglers in shallow waters. Those targeting lake trout have done well in 150 to 200 feet around Shot Point, Granite Island and the White Rocks.

Little Bay De Noc: Walleye are still coming out of the rivers and good catches were reported near the mouth of the Whitefish River. The better catches were between Garth Point and the Vagabond Resort with crawlers or stick baits in 16 to 32 feet. Fair catches off Breezy Point in 16 to 22 feet and in the Escanaba River up near the dam and the fast water with a jig and crawler. Smallmouth bass anglers had good catches throughout the Bay with the better action near the mouth of the Ford River or upstream near the Clay Banks, off Garth Point, Squaw Point and Gladstone when casting plastics, spinners or crawlers in 4 to 12 feet. Most perch catches were incidental by walleye anglers in the “Narrows” in 30 feet and the Center Reef in 25 feet. Large northern pike were caught off the mouth of the Ford River when casting plastics or spinners. Shore anglers in Rapid River had good catches of bullhead with crawlers in the evening. For those looking to bow fish, carp are all over the shallows.

Manistique River: With the lower river being so low because of the gates closed, fewer anglers were out. A couple walleye and bass anglers fished the river between the fast water and the mouth. Most of the walleye have moved out but some were still caught with a jig and crawler or scented baits near the fast water. Smallmouth bass catches were fair with spinners or plastics.

Munising: Most boat anglers were targeting Chinook salmon however catch rates slowed with only one or two fish per boat. Catch rates for coho were also spotty and the splake were undersize. The lake trout action remained good near Wood Island Reef and the White Rocks. Shore fishing was slow with only a few small splake reported.

Grand Marais: Boat anglers continue to do well for lake trout with limit catches taken near Au Sable Point and Five Mile Reef. Pier anglers targeting whitefish reported a slow bite however a northwest wind should bring in the schools of whitefish.

Detour: Limits of Atlantic salmon and a couple Chinook were caught at the Detour Reef and lighthouse. The fish were caught 18 to 25 feet down in 80 to 90 feet with a 4-inch spoon. Orange and chartreuse were the hot colors. The best fishing has been on the Drummond Island side, of the river between the red buoy and the lighthouse.

Drummond Island: A couple walleye were caught off Paw Pointe which is just north of Scotts Bay when trolling planer boards with orange and chartreuse crank baits in four to six feet. Fish were also caught from Maxton Bay when trolling pencil plugs in the late evening or a crawler harness in the early morning. Look for the areas where the clear water meets the stained water.

Cedarville and Hessel: Attention Boaters: the Cedarville launch and parking lot is still under renovation. Boats can be launched at the Hessel Marina, located three miles west of Cedarville. There were no reports of yellow perch caught from Cedarville or the Les Cheneaux Islands. A few pike were caught in Snows Channel and Musky Bay. Try creek chubs in six to 10 feet or a spoon with a red eye along the weeds in four to six feet. For Hessel, no perch were caught at the marina and the splake have moved away from the fishing pier. Smallmouth bass fishing was fair in Mackinac Bay which is one mile west of the Hessel Marina. Try dark green, orange and brown tube jigs in two to four feet. A couple largemouth bass were caught near Echo Island and Lone Susan Island within Mackinac Bay when using a spinner.

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Fishing Tip: What did you do for Free Fishing Weekend?

Did you enjoy the Summer Free Fishing Weekend this past Saturday and Sunday? Did you take someone out who had never fished before or hadn’t been out in a while? Keep it up!

Many people say a barrier to going fishing is knowing where to go and the skills needed. Help a novice angler gain the confidence to keep fishing by showing them how it’s done!

To plan your next 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