Strong winds have once again hampered fishing conditions on both the Great Lakes and the inland lakes. Fishing should improve once the weather stabilizes. With the cooler weather, salmon are moving into the rivers especially to the north.

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: High wind and waves along with the algae blooms limited fishing. The walleye bite was extremely slow. A few yellow perch were caught near the River Raisin Buoys 1 & 2. Good channel cat action in the Hot Ponds. A good number of smallmouth bass were caught in Brest Bay when casting a tube bait. A few largemouth and some pike were taken at Stony Point when casting and in the backwaters of the Sterling State Park near the boat launch. White bass and freshwater drum were also caught by the perch and walleye anglers.

Detroit River: A good number of smallmouth bass and a few perch were caught along the weed lines around Celeron Island and Sugar Island. The occasional walleye is still being caught but anglers are working hard to get them. A good number of catfish were being caught on shrimp, crayfish or crawlers.

Lake St. Clair: Floating vegetation continued to hamper fishing efforts. Many were fishing the channels for walleye and bass. Walleye anglers were jigging near the mouth or up inside the channels but catch rates were limited. Those drifting perch rigs in the shipping channel caught a few perch, along with smallmouth bass and pike. Bass anglers fishing along the mile roads caught a few, along with some perch and freshwater drum. Reports are starting to come in about muskie being caught in front of the Clinton River. Most were casting lures instead of trolling.

Port Sanilac: Lake trout and the occasional steelhead or walleye were caught in 100 to 120 feet when trolling spoons.

Grindstone City: Lake trout were caught north of the harbor in 100 to 150 feet with spoons. A few walleye were taken out towards the lighthouse with body baits. Some smallmouth bass were caught by shore anglers casting tube baits.

Harbor Beach: Lake trout, steelhead and an occasional Chinook were caught in 100 to 130 feet when trolling lead core and copper line with spoons.

Port Austin: Lake trout were caught straight out with spoons 100 to 115 feet down in 130 feet. Walleye were caught off the lighthouse in 70 feet when trolling body baits. Smallmouth bass were caught from inside the harbor when casting artificial lures.

Saginaw Bay: Water temperatures cooled between 68 to 72 degrees. A few perch were caught in 15 to 25 feet between the Saganing Bar and Pinconning Bar with minnows on perch rigs. Activity was slow from Quanicassee to Fish Point. Those that did make it out reported slow catch rates as the fish were scattered. Try starting in 12 to 14 feet and work out from there covering a lot water. There was little perch fishing and those out trying released most because they were too small. There were more goose and teal hunters than anglers. Sebewaing to Caseville had no boat anglers out.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: Those able to get out did find a few lake trout in 100 feet. Pier anglers caught a couple coho when casting spoons. Yellow perch were in 35 to 40 feet.

South Haven: The lake temperatures are changing from cold to warm and back to cold. Only a few salmon were caught as overall fishing was slow. Boat anglers caught mostly lake trout near the bottom in 90 to 110 feet. Perch have been caught when anglers can get out. Pier fishing for salmon was slow but those using shrimp under a bobber did manage to get a few.

Holland: Was producing some yellow perch.

Grand Haven: Boats were catching coho, along with a few Chinook salmon 45 to 90 feet down in 50 to 100 feet with pearl and chrome J-plugs. Pier anglers caught freshwater drum on gizzard shad or while casting spoons.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Some coho were starting to show up and were moving through the fish ladder. Fair to good smallmouth fishing continues.

Grand River at Lansing: The Grand Ledge, Portland and Webber dams have been opened for the fall.

Muskegon: Salmon fishing continued to be slow as the fish were scattered. A few were found 40 to 100 feet down in 50 to 200 feet. A mix of spoons, meat rigs, flies and glow plugs have taken fish. Pier anglers casting spoons caught freshwater drum.

Muskegon Lake: Anglers were starting to get a few salmon when trolling spoons and J-plugs in the channel and lake. For walleye, use crank baits or a crawler harness along the weed beds. Bass were being caught however crappie were hard to find. Bluegill were hitting on wax worms.

Muskegon River: Was starting to see some salmon. Attention Anglers: the Muskegon River will be treated for sea lamprey on September 9. Anglers should avoid the river until September 11.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: Anglers caught Chinook salmon from the mouth of the river out to the cans when trolling spoons, meat rigs and J-plugs but spoons worked best.

Cheboygan River: Had one chute open at the dam. Anglers started salmon fishing with spoons and crank baits but no harvest to report. Those drifting worms and leeches caught walleye ranging 12-19 inches, smallmouth bass, rock bass and a few perch, though most of the smallmouth bass were undersize.

Rogers City: The lake turned over and surface water temperatures were in the mid 40’s, however strong winds had the water stirred up and the Chinook were missing in action. Anglers did find some lake trout, walleye and a couple steelhead. Chinook salmon were staging off Swan Bay however they moved out. Try 20 to 120 feet and run lines throughout the water column. Spoons, J-plugs, attractors with flies, squid or cut bait would be a good choice. Focus on finding the baitfish and look for structure.

Presque Isle: The best depths were 70 to 150 feet and run lines throughout the water column. Anglers caught lake trout and walleye, along with the occasional Chinook or Atlantic salmon. Fish were found between the two lighthouses or south towards Stoneport and were hitting spoons, J-plugs, attractors with flies, squid or cut bait.

Alpena: Salmon and trout were scattered but anglers found lake trout and steelhead inside the bay in as shallow as 35 feet and off Thunder Bay Island as deep as 140 feet. Use spoons throughout the water column. Walleye were somewhat slow, but fish were found in the channel, off North Point and south near Sulphur Island in 20 to 50 feet.

Thunder Bay River: Had a few reports of Chinook salmon caught near the 9th Street Dam and Lamarre Park when casting spoons. Those still fishing or drifting crawlers caught smallmouth bass, rock bass and freshwater drum.

Harrisville: Walleye were caught by those trolling plugs and body baits in 25 to 40 feet straight out from the harbor and near Sturgeon Point.

Van Etten Lake: Anglers caught a couple walleye on minnows or when trolling a crawler harness.

Oscoda: Those targeting salmon and trout caught a few lake trout and walleye when trolling spoons in 85 to 150 feet. A couple Chinook salmon were taken while staging and entering the river by those trolling spoons and J-plugs or casting glow spoons from the pier. Early morning was best. Pier anglers caught a few channel cats, rock bass, freshwater drum and smallmouth bass with crawlers. The odd walleye and lake trout were taken on rapalas.

Au Sable River: Those casting crank baits caught a few decent size smallmouth bass and pike below Foote Dam. Those drifting crawlers caught a couple smallmouth bass, rock bass, channel cats or freshwater drum.

Higgins Lake: When the winds allowed, boat anglers continued to take lake trout just off the bottom in 80 to 110 feet. Most were using kastmasters. Hot colors were gold or a green, yellow and orange combo. Cisco could still be found near the bottom in 40 to 50 feet with Swedish pimples or small kastmasters. The perch bite was about the same as last week and anglers are sorting to get a few keepers.

Houghton Lake: Lots of smaller walleye were caught but a few keepers, including the occasional limit catch, were taken in the East Bay and just outside the bay with crawlers 10 to 12 feet down. The pike have turned on and were hitting leeches. Bluegill were caught in the weeds or just outside the weed beds when jigging a whole worm. Lots of largemouth bass were caught. The smallmouth were found in the middle of the North Bay, in the East Bay and the canals.

Tawas: Walleye and a couple pike were caught near the artificial reef and out near Buoys 4 & 6 in 15 to 25 feet with crawlers and body baits. A large school of small perch were also reported. Lake trout, steelhead and some walleye were caught out past Buoy #2 and south towards Alabaster in 50 to 70 feet with crawlers, spoons and body baits. Pier fishing was slow. A few salmon were seen inside and outside the harbor in the early morning.

Tawas River: Was slow except for a few small perch and catfish taken on crawlers.

Au Gres: Walleye were still being caught in 25 to 30 feet with crawlers and body baits.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs: A few lake trout were found 140 feet down however calmer weather may bring the fish up higher in the water column. Anglers were marking fish, but they did not want to bite.

Petoskey: Some lake trout were caught 140 to 150 feet down and one salmon was found 100 feet down although the salmon are shallower as the fish were staging out in front of the marina in 30 to 50 feet. Anglers were starting to get a couple salmon when casting from the breakwall and the docks around the marina in the early morning and at night with spoons and crank baits or when floating spawn.

Bear River: Water levels were up a bit and there was a push of salmon up to the dam. Both Chinook and coho were caught with spawn, artificial eggs and flies.

Charlevoix: Pier and shore activity was very slow in the channel and over near the cement plant for those casting after dark. A couple undersize smallmouth bass were caught by pier anglers using crawlers or leeches on the bottom.

Traverse City: A few salmon were caught in the East Bay when trolling south of the M-37 launch and along the south bank however the action was hit-or-miss. A couple cisco were also caught. There was no sign of salmon in the Elk River but hopefully they will show up soon. In the West Bay, salmon fishing was slow with only a few caught when trolling in the hole at the south end of the bay. Whitefish and cisco were caught while jigging around Lee Point and the along the west side of the island. A few perch were found in Northport off the point and south of Bowers Harbor. A good push of salmon, mostly coho, moved into the Boardman River and were caught on skein and small jigs up near the dam. A few small rainbow and brown trout were also caught.

Frankfort: Boats trolling spoons and J-plugs between the pier heads had some luck. Most of the fish landed were taken by those jigging in the bay and those fishing from the wall. Coho were staging in Platte Bay. Anglers reported good catches in 75 to 90 feet with green and orange paddles and spinners near the bottom.

Betsie River: Chinook salmon are starting to run as anglers are reporting good numbers of large fish throughout the river.

Onekama: Those trolling spoons 75 to 90 feet down in 150 to 170 feet caught Chinook.

Portage Lake: As the temperatures began to drop, perch anglers were reporting some very nice catches including fish measuring 12 inches taken on wigglers or red worms.

Manistee: Offshore fishing was tough due to strong winds. When they could get out, the better fishing was 80 to 100 feet down in 200 to 500 feet for Chinook, coho and steelhead when trolling spoons and meat rigs. Pier fishing was a bit slow, but a few were taken by those casting spoons early or late.

Manistee Lake: Had a lot of anglers. Some reported success when trolling or jigging with artificial baits.

Manistee River: Salmon fishing has begun as fish were caught in the lower river. Water temperatures were favorable with the cooler weather.

Ludington: Fishing was tough when the lake rolled over and the water was warm from top to bottom. Most were heading deep and targeting the top 80 to 100 feet in 200 to 400 feet where they caught Chinook, coho and steelhead on spoons and meat rigs. Pier fishing was slow.

Pere Marquette Lake: Those trolling or jigging for salmon continue to catch fish on spoons or J-plugs.

Pere Marquette River: Was starting to see more some salmon moving up into the river as water temperatures were favorable with the cooler weather. The better fishing was in the lower reaches.

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Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay: Lake trout have been caught in both Keweenaw and Huron Bay when trolling or jigging in deeper water.

Little Bay De Noc: Walleye catches were spotty especially with the north winds. The better action came in the evening when trolling stick baits or crawlers along the reefs in 10 to 20 feet or when trolling stick baits near the “Black Bottom” in 14 to 25 feet. A few yellow perch were caught just south of Nelsons Bay with crawlers in 10 feet. Good smallmouth action from Garth Point south to Squaw Point with tube baits in 4 to 8 feet. Most of the pike were undersize, however several large fish were caught by walleye anglers trolling the river mouths with stick baits.

Manistique River: Almost all Chinook anglers were trolling the river. Catch rates were spotty and the numbers were still low but should get better. Most were trolling rapalas up near the High Dam spill over. Shore anglers were casting rapalas or spawn bags between the “Bass Hole” and the spill over. Walleye anglers reported fair catches from the mouth to the US-2 Bridge. Most smallmouth bass were undersize.

Grand Marais: Had low angler pressure. Those out lake trout fishing had fair to good results out near the shipping lanes and Five Mile Reef in 180 to 220 feet. Those trying for coho had no luck.

Drummond Island: The walleye bite slowed though a few catches were reported in Scott Bay in and around Peck Island in 20 feet with a crawler harness and bottom bouncer or smiley face spinners. No yellow perch to report.

Detour: Pink salmon were caught near the Detour Reef and lighthouse as well as west to the first green buoy when trolling smaller spoons. Hot colors were orange and gold or pink and white. Atlantic and Chinook salmon were caught upstream from the lighthouse about halfway down in 90 to 100 feet with flashers and squid. In most areas, the thermocline was still at 45 to 55 feet. Atlantic and Chinook salmon were caught near Fry Pan Island and lake trout were caught two miles straight south of the lighthouse along the 90-foot flat with spin-glo’s behind flashers.

Cedarville and Hessel: Successful anglers reported good catches of yellow perch at the Middle Entrance to the Les Cheneaux Islands. Fish 8 to 11 inches were caught when drift fishing southeast of Peck Bay with worms or shiners on a spreader with orange beads. Try drift fishing on both sides of the Middle Entrance, from Peck Bay east to Sand Bay. Good pike action with creek chubs in the Middle Entrance in 14 to 20 feet at the first hour of daylight or in the evening. Good smallmouth action in Duck Bay when jigging orange and brown tube jigs early morning or evening. Cast up current and let tube jigs drift down and across the rock piles in 5 to 7 feet. Those fishing off the docks on Lake Side Road caught sunfish, rock bass and smallmouth bass. The Cedarville public launch on Meridian Road is open for launching boats with minimal parking and the dock is in the water. For Hessel, pike were caught in Mismer Bay and Mackinaw Bay on both natural and artificial baits, including black bucktail spinners or a chrome spoon with a red eye in the early morning or late evening. Look for pike and smallmouth bass in 4 to 6 feet near Echo Island and St. Ledger Island. No perch were reported at the finger docks.

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Fishing Tip: Avoid these mistakes to experience great fishing

Did you know simple mistakes can make-or-break your fishing adventures? Check out these basic things to avoid if you want to have better success on the water:

• Make sure your reel is filled with line – don’t wait until it gets to half-empty and risk losing a great catch due to an inadequate amount of line.
• Check your knots – monitor their strength and durability after each fish. If the strength gets compromised, cut the line down a few feet and start again.
• Set the hook – don’t forget to do this each time you even think you’ve got a bite. Why waste a great catch just because you forgot to set the hook?

Want even more tips for fishing in Michigan? 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