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Strong north winds caused the waters of Lake Michigan to turn over, bringing much colder water to the Michigan side, which will change up fishing patterns for boat anglers. Pier anglers may find a few more fish in closer to shore. The bite on the inland waters also improved a bit with the cooler weather.   

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Walleye were found in 15 to 30 feet when trolling a harness with crawlers or leeches. Those targeting bass were still fishing with crawlers or casting tube baits. The perch bite slowed, but fish were still caught off Luna Pier and Bolles Harbor. 

Detroit River: Those targeting bass have caught fish around the islands when casting or still fishing. Target the weed beds and areas with structure. 

Lake St. Clair: Walleye are still being caught trolling harnesses out near the shipping channel, though north of the light towards the river channels seemed to be better. Smallmouth bass were caught when casting or trolling. The bigger fish were still out deep and were found in 16 to 20 feet between Metro and the Mile roads or 14 feet in Anchor Bay. Musky were caught just north of the Dump. Very good bluegill action was reported just offshore and in the canals in Bouvier Bay. 

Saginaw Bay: Some perch were caught in 15 to 25 feet near the Saganing Bar. Fish were starting to show up near the Black Hole, in the old shipping channel and near Spoils Island. Average size was 8-10 inches. From Sebewaing to Bay Port, walleye action was slow, with only one to three fish per boat coming from 19 to 20 feet in the Slot when using a crawler harness. Off Geiger Road, yellow perch were caught in 6 feet; however, be ready to put in some time and do lots of sorting.    

Port Austin: Was producing a mix of steelhead, lake trout, coho and pink salmon along with the occasional walleye.

Grindstone City: Lake trout and a few salmon were found by those trolling in 90 to 120 feet northwest of the harbor. 

Port Hope: A couple walleye were caught on a crawler harness in 30 to 40 feet. 

Harbor Beach: Had good perch catches south of the harbor to Wagener Park in 30 feet or so. Steelhead, walleye and a few pink salmon were caught straight out and 35 feet down in 90 feet with plugs.        

Port Sanilac and Lexington: Salmon and trout fishing were consistent from just north of Lexington to Port Sanilac in 80 to 100 feet with planer boards, lead core and downriggers about halfway down. Lake trout, steelhead, coho and pink salmon were caught along with the occasional Chinook and walleye.. 

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: The lake turned over this week, and pier anglers were catching steelhead with shrimp under a bobber or when casting spoons. Perch were caught north of the piers in 40 feet. Boat anglers caught good numbers of lake trout and the occasional salmon in 100 feet or more. 

St. Joseph River: Had good walleye action for those drifting crawlers or trolling crankbaits. 

South Haven: Boat anglers caught good numbers of lake trout in 120 feet. There were a few good reports of salmon caught in much deeper water. Perch fishing was slow. Once the lake turned over, the fish were scattered. Pier anglers casting spoons caught freshwater drum and the occasional steelhead.   

Holland: Had slow fishing except for a few freshwater drum being caught when casting spoons.

Lake Macatawa: The DNR boat launch remains closed due to high water.

Port Sheldon: Boat anglers found a mix of salmon, steelhead and lake trout in 120 to 220 feet. Salmon were caught on glow plugs, green flies and meat rigs. Lake trout were on the bottom and hitting spin-glo’s. 

Grand Haven: Harbor Island boat launch remains closed. 

Grand River near Grand Rapids: Smallmouth bass were caught on minnows, crawlers and leeches. The catfish bite was good in the early morning or late evening when using crawlers or cut bait. Those fishing the bayous found panfish.

Muskegon: Salmon action picked up slightly. Boat anglers reported scattered fish with the better action in 120 to 200 feet. Most were using glow plugs, flies and meat rigs. Pier anglers caught freshwater drum. 

Muskegon River: Continues to produce some nice bass throughout. Panfish, bass and the occasional walleye were caught in Hardy Dam Pond. The Reedsburg Dam was also producing smallmouth bass.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: Lake trout, steelhead, walleye and Atlantic salmon were caught. Most were trolling spoons, meat rigs and spin-glo’s near Reynolds Reef and Poe Reef or out from Lighthouse Point and Lafayette Point off Bois Blanc Island. Smallmouth bass, walleye and some perch were caught around Bois Blanc Island. 

Cheboygan River: Anglers have caught smallmouth bass, walleye, rock bass, freshwater drum and some perch near the dam, the walk-over bridge and the DNR station when drifting and bottom bouncing worms. 

Rogers City: Anglers did well for lake trout, steelhead, salmon, walleye and the occasional Atlantic salmon. The key is to find the thermocline, where the colder water is and fish just above it and just below it. Last known depths were 45 to 120 feet or 130 to 180 feet. Most are using spoons, but some are starting to target Chinook with cut bait rigs or dodgers and flashers with flies and squid. Good colors were green, orange, white, purple, black and white, or glow early and late. Chinook were found very early or after the sun goes down. 

Presque Isle: Fish were caught in 70 to 150 feet with spoons throughout the water column. Lake trout were hitting dodgers and flashers with flies and squid. While many are finding the thermocline, fish have also been taken elsewhere. 

Alpena: Anglers caught lake trout, pink salmon, walleye, steelhead and the occasional coho 25 to 70 feet down in 85 to 140 feet off Thunder Bay Island and the Nordmeer wreck. Lake trout were also found near the bottom. Spoons were the most effective for all species, but dodgers and spin-glo’s have taken lake trout as well. Some found walleye and freshwater drum when trolling harnesses and crank baits in the bay off the north shore and down near Sulphur Island. Those casting crankbaits found a few pike and smallmouth bass in Squaw Bay. 

Thunder Bay River: Anglers caught a few rock bass, smallmouth bass and channel cats when drifting or still fishing with crawlers.

Oscoda: Is also producing lake trout, pink salmon, steelhead, walleye and the odd Chinook, coho or Atlantic salmon when trolling spoons and spin-glo’s 25 to 75 feet down in 100 to 140 feet. Orange, blue, black, white, purple and chartreuse were good colors.  The odd walleye was caught when trolling crankbaits in 35 feet off the river mouth at night. Pier anglers caught rock bass, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum and the occasional channel cat.   

Au Sable River: Fishing was slow, with only a few smallmouth bass, rock bass and channel cats caught when still fishing or drifting crawlers. A couple small northern pike were caught when casting crankbaits.

Higgins Lake: Those jigging in 80 to 100 feet continue to find lake trout on small spoons, kastmasters and sand kickers. The perch action was hit or miss in 20 to 40 feet with minnows and wax worms. Be ready to sort through the small ones.    

Houghton Lake: Walleye were caught when trolling in 10 to 14 feet with a harness tipped with crawlers and leeches. While fish were found in the East Bay and near the Cut River, anglers have found fish in other areas of the lake since the cooldown. A few pike were also caught. Bluegills were found in the North Bay and along the south and east side. Most were caught a foot or two off the bottom along the weed beds. 

Tawas: Walleye were caught along the weed beds out near buoys 4 and 6 on lindy rigs with crawlers or body baits in 15 to 20 feet. A few fish were found out past the point, north to Au Sable Point and south past Alabaster with crawlers, spoons and body baits in 30 to 70 feet. Coho, steelhead, lake trout and pink salmon were caught off Au Sable Point in 70 to 90 feet and deeper with spoons and body baits. 

Tawas River: A few catfish, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum and small perch were caught at Gateway Park when using crawlers. 

Au Gres: Walleye were caught straight out from the river, north toward the Charity Islands and south to Eagle Bay Marina in 15 to 30 plus when using crawlers and body baits. A few small perch were caught on minnows near the mouth of the river in 20 to 30 feet. Large and smallmouth bass were caught near shore, on the south side of the breakwall and inside Eagle Bay Marina with crawlers and lures.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs: Lake trout and cisco were caught up around Harbor Point. Five Mile and Seven Mile Point have been popular fishing spots all summer. Lake trout were caught 80 to 130 feet down. A couple salmon were caught around Seven Mile Point.  Smallmouth bass were caught along the drop-off near Harbor Point.

Petoskey: Boats were heading toward Nine Mile Point or north of Harbor Springs as they did not have much luck near Petoskey. Salmon should begin moving closer to the area near the breakwall as they prepare to move into the river. Water levels in the Bear River were near normal, and angler effort picked up. The Bobber Hole at the mouth of the river continues to be slow, with only a couple rock bass or freshwater drum caught when casting crankbaits or worms with or without a bobber. 

Charlevoix: Boat effort picked up as catch rates seem to improve a bit. Most were fishing off North Point and Nine Mile Point or from the cement plant to Fisherman’s Island. Lake trout were hitting spoons, spin-glo’s and meat rigs 100 to 120 feet down. A few small Chinook were caught 60 to 90 feet down in 180 to 200 feet. Smallmouth bass are being targeted in the channel as the bite was improving, and more keeper-size fish were caught. Freshwater drum and rock bass were also caught by those using live or artificial crawlers and leeches on the bottom. 

Frankfort: A small number of Chinook salmon are starting to show up in Betsie Bay. Those jigging Jonah jigs reported some good-size fish near the old car ferry landing. Those trolling in 150 to 180 feet caught a few Chinook and lake trout in the top 80 feet. 

Arcadia: Was producing some nice Chinook, including fish up to 30 pounds or more. 

Onekama: Anglers trolling in front of the golf course and along the “barrel” reported a few Chinook, but mostly lake trout were caught on spoons 40 to 70 feet down.

Portage Lake: Had no good reports, as warm water temperatures and the abundance of wigglers and mayflies made fishing difficult. 

Manistee: Fishing was slow, and the fish were scattered. A few Chinook salmon were caught 45 to 80 feet down in 100 to 250 feet along the “Shelf” with spoons and meat rigs. In deeper waters, a few salmon, lake trout, steelhead and a nice brown trout were found 60 to 70 feet down.   

Manistee River: Anglers caught the occasional steelhead, brown trout, bass and even a few pike. 

Ludington: Salmon and steelhead were caught to the south in 250 to 400 feet, out from the projects in 150 feet and out from the pier heads in 50 to 85 feet. Slightly north and up to Big Sable Point, salmon were 40 to 60 feet down in 80 to 210 feet and hitting on spoons and a few meat rigs. 

Pere Marquette Lake: Catch rates were hit or miss, but a few salmon continue to be caught by those trolling.

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Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay: Those able to get out on the nice days were rewarded as both Keweenaw and Traverse Bay provided ample lake trout for those primarily jigging. The few trolling also caught a few fish.    

Marquette: A few more lake trout, along with the occasional coho, were caught. Although catch rates were still slow, some boats were getting four to six fish per trip mostly near Granite Loma Farms, Little Presque Isle, the “Sand Hole” and Granite Island. Fishing near Shot Point was poor; however, anglers were marking more fish.  While some fish were too small, a few over 20 pounds were also caught. Fish were also caught at Stannard Rock, where water temperatures were in the low to mid 60s. 

Little Bay de Noc: Walleye and perch catches were up across the bay. Walleye were caught near the mouth of the Whitefish River, Kipling Reefs, “Black Bottom” and Breezy Point when trolling stick baits or a crawler harness. The reefs were best at night or daybreak in 10 to 30 feet. Anglers reported lots of undersize fish along with a few keepers in the northern waters. Perch anglers reported fair to good catches, mainly in the Kipling area with crawlers in 8 to 25 feet. Northern pike were active on the northeast side of Saunders Point when trolling or casting crankbaits, spoons and spinners. Good smallmouth bass catches off the mouth of the Ford River and a bit south when casting plastics along the weed beds and rocks in 4 to 12 feet. 

Manistique: Salmon anglers had to cover a lot of water to find fish. Lake trout were found deep at 80 to 110 feet down in 120 to 150 feet with flies or spoons. A few Chinook salmon were caught 70 to 90 feet down in 110 feet southeast of the buoy. 

Manistique River: A few Chinook have entered the river, and although it is early, it is not uncommon for this area. Walleye anglers reported excellent catches up near the dam spill-over when casting jigs and crawlers. Many limits were reported. Good smallmouth action near the breakwall when casting crawlers or plastics. The cooler evenings seem to improve the bite. 

Munising: Those targeting lake trout were fishing the West Channel, near the White Rocks and Wood Island Reef when trolling in 120 to 150 feet, but few fish were caught. Pier anglers also reported slow catches.

Grand Marais: Lake trout fishing was good, with limit catches reported. Most were fishing Five Mile Reef, the shipping lanes and near Au Sable Point. 

Raber: Anglers reported steady catches of walleye from the north side of Lime Island in 12 to 14 feet when using a jig tipped with a chartreuse twister tail. Also try between Round Island and Lime Island. For musky and pike, try trolling or casting your favorite spoons along the north side of Raber Bay. Target 6 to 8 feet just off the weed beds. 

Detour: Was producing a mix of trout and salmon, including some nice steelhead ranging from 24-27 inches. Salmon were holding at 60 feet in 100 to 120 feet. A few coho and pink salmon were caught 50 to 58 feet down in over 80 feet. Chinook and Atlantics were caught near the Detour Reef and lighthouse. Best colors were orange and white, or gold and orange with a black ladder back.

Drummond Island: Anglers are still reporting a few catches of cisco. Mild fly hatches are still occurring around Cass, Little Trout, Big Trout and Macomb islands. Try 18 to 25 feet with dark red or brown teardrop jigs tipped with wax worms. Walleye were caught in Scott Bay and near Peck Island in 20 feet. Also try Ashman Island when trolling bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses in 12 to 14 feet.    

Cedarville and Hessel: A few yellow perch were caught in Cedarville Bay near Connors Pointe in 8 to 10 feet with shiners or worms. Good largemouth action off the new public boat docks on Meridian Road across from the new Information Center. Try casting artificial frogs and spinners just off the weed beds in 6 feet in the morning or late afternoon. For Hessel, yellow perch were still being caught at the finger docks at the marina with shiners or worms. For walleye, try off the west end of Les Cheneaux Club Pointe with a twister tail jig or using slip bobbers in 12 to 14 feet. No reports of trout or salmon caught out of the Hesse. Goose Island also had no reports of trout or salmon. 

St. Ignace:  Those fishing the Pine River caught a couple walleye, but the action had slowed. Boat anglers were trolling a crawler harness or crankbait. On the Carp River, walleye and perch were still being caught when drifting worms and leeches at the seawall.

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Fishing Tip: Fishing for bass at night

With summer in full swing, fish can become quite lethargic. No need to fret! For certain species, such as bass, you just might want to tweak the time of day you set out to target them. 

Some of the best bass fishing this time of year occurs during the first hour or so after dark. You still can find fish at dusk and dawn, but that first hour or two after dark can be exceptional.  

After dark, bass tend to move shallow in search of an easy meal. Target them near the same areas you would during other times of the day while also casting and targeting the shallows.

You’ll want to change your technique, though. Since after dark you can't see the weed line or other underwater structures, fishing subsurface lures is not recommended. It is time for surface presentations. After the cast, work them aggressively with a jerking motion, making sure they pop and gurgle across the surface of the water during your retrieve. Pay close attention during the retrieve, watching and listening for the strike, which can be explosive.  

If you’re feeling adventurous, get on the water at 10 p.m. and fish the shallows for bass until midnight or 1 a.m. The results can be spectacular!

More information on fishing for bass in Michigan.

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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.