If you’re headed out fishing, please do your part to keep yourself and others safe by following COVID-19 public health and safety guidelines. Go fishing only if you're feeling well. Practice proper social distancing (at least 6 feet away from people who don’t live in your household) and keep a face covering handy for when social distancing cannot be maintained. Frequently wash your hands with soap and warm water, or use hand sanitizer.

Fall fishing can be exceptional, but the weather can change quickly, especially on the Great Lakes. Rain and windy conditions this week have slowed fishing and limited angler participation. 

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

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Perch fishing did improve before the weather changed. Some boats managed to get 15-30 fish, which were nice size, but no limits. Fish were found near the E Buoy, off Brest Bay, Stony Point, Fermi and out near the Ohio line in 20 to 25 feet.  Several white bass, white perch and freshwater drum were also caught.     

Huron River: The odd steelhead was caught at the mouth and up near Flat Rock.    

Detroit River: Perch fishing picked up a bit around the islands. The occasional walleye was caught in the lower river between Gibraltar and Celeron Island and off the south end of Grosse Ile. 

Lexington and Port Sanilac: Windy conditions have kept many off the lake at Lexington. Port Sanilac did not have many boats out. Pier anglers were starting to catch a few coho in the morning when casting spoons and plugs. 

Harbor Beach: A few lake trout and steelhead were caught trolling straight out in 60 to 75 feet with baits near the top. No big numbers, but two to three per boat. 

Saginaw Bay: Yellow perch were caught straight out from Linwood in 16 feet, the Pinconning Bar in 14 feet, the old shipping channel in 14 to 16 feet and just east of Spoils Island in 16 feet. Average was 10-12 per boat with few limit catches. Perch fishing at Quanicassee was hit or miss. Most were lucky to get four to eight fish after sorting out the small ones. Slow fishing was reported by shore anglers on the Quanicassee River. Off Geiger Road, those who fished long enough could get a few keepers. Largemouth bass were caught in Wildfowl Bay. The smallmouth action was slow. Walleye anglers caught no fish. 

Saginaw River: Yellow perch are being caught in the lower river. The walleye action is just starting to pick up in the lower river for those jigging with live minnows.   

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: Boat anglers reported slow fishing, but a few lake trout were found in 100 feet when they could get out. Perch anglers were still getting a few in 35 to 70 feet, but the fish remain scattered. Pier fishing was slow. 

St. Joseph River: Catches were spotty, but those trolling were getting a few salmon, including those up near the Berrien Springs Dam. 

South Haven: When they can get out, boat anglers were taking a good number of lake trout when trolling in 80 feet or so. Perch fishing was very slow, and pier fishing was slow for all species.   

Black River: Fishing slowed, and angler activity was low.      

Holland: Boat anglers found a couple lake trout on the bottom in 100 to 160 feet with yellow or blue spin-glo’s. Pier anglers casting for salmon had no luck. 

Lake Macatawa: The DNR boat launch is back open.

Port Sheldon: Boats have had a difficult time getting out due to windy conditions. The few that did make it out caught no salmon. 

Grand Haven: The Harbor Island boat launch remains closed. Rough water has limited pier fishing. 

Grand River near Grand Rapids: Coho, steelhead and a few Chinook were caught up at the 6^th Street Dam. Anglers are starting to target walleye as the waters cool. 

Rogue River: Also has coho and steelhead. 

Grand River near Lansing: While most anglers are targeting salmon, only a few scattered coho have been caught. This is a good time to try using minnows for pike. Anglers should also be able to find some catfish. 

Muskegon: Had a few boats trolling the channel for salmon, but no fish were caught.  Pier anglers casting spoons had no luck. 

Muskegon River: Is producing some nice brown trout along the gravel and weed beds.  Many are fly-fishing; however, some are casting or drifting. 

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan River: Anglers caught Chinook and pink salmon when drifting skein and spawn bags or casting spoons, spinners and crankbaits. Most of the pink salmon were up to 3 pounds, and the Chinook were 5-17 pounds. 

Rogers City: The season is quickly winding down and this will be the last report, as most anglers have pulled their boats out. Lake trout season closes Sept. 30. Chinook salmon were caught in and around Swan Bay when trolling J-plugs and bombers off planer boards. The fish are starting to turn dark. Those trolling in 40 to 80 feet caught steelhead and the occasional young salmon. Baitfish were found in 40 to 60 feet. Regular-size spoons or smaller were taking fish.   

Presque Isle: Had very good fishing for steelhead and the odd salmon in that 40 to 80 feet between the two lighthouses and south toward Stoneport. Anglers were using smaller spoons.    

Alpena: A couple steelhead and walleye were caught in 30 to 120 feet inside the bay and off Thunder Bay Island and the Nordmeer wreck. Most were using body baits or smaller walleye spoons. The fish were gorging on smelt.   

Thunder Bay River: Chinook, coho and a few Atlantic salmon and brown trout were caught when casting or trolling spoons and plugs or floating spawn and skein. A few walleye, smallmouth bass and rock bass were also caught when casting crankbaits. Yellow perch were caught on minnows and crawlers in the harbor, but anglers had to spend a lot of time and do a lot of sorting to get a few keepers. 

Oscoda: Those trolling did manage to catch a couple lake trout, steelhead and walleye, but the fish were scattered. Most were trolling spoons in 40 to 120 feet. Pier anglers caught the occasional walleye, Chinook or steelhead when casting spoons and body baits. Smallmouth bass fishing picked up, and a few nice fish were taken on minnows. 

Au Sable River: Anglers will find a few Chinook and steelhead. The occasional Atlantic salmon was caught, but the numbers are low, and the bite was slow. Those using minnows or casting crankbaits caught smallmouth bass and pike at the mouth. Channel cats and freshwater drum were caught on crawlers.   

Houghton Lake: Had fewer anglers, but those heading out did catch crappie and bluegills 2 to 3 feet down along the weed beds. Though the bite was soft, crappie were hitting minnows and bluegills were hitting small leeches, leaf worms and wax worms. A few bigger pike were caught. No word on walleye, but this is the time of year when the fish come in closer to shore to feed and can be caught early or late. 

Tawas: Those trolling caught a couple walleye near the weed beds around buoys 4 and 6 with crawlers in 15 to 20 feet. Fish were also found out near the point and south toward Alabaster in 20 to 50 feet with spoons and body baits. 

Tawas River: Chinook were seen at Gateway Park, but only a few were caught when casting various lures. A couple walleye were caught when casting plastic jigs.

Au Gres: Still had slow walleye fishing, and not many anglers were out. There were some good catches of perch and even a few limit catches taken straight out from the river in 18 to 22 feet and near the shipping channel in 40 to 45 feet. Fish were found near the Rifle Bar, Pinconning Bar, Saganing Bar and in front of Eagle Bay Marina with minnows in 10 to 20 feet. Largemouth bass were caught in the weed beds just off the river when casting spinners and body baits. 

Au Gres River: Chinook salmon were reported in the East Branch at the Singing Bridge access. Several fish were caught upstream when drifting spawn.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs: Boat anglers trolling in 130 to 140 feet were marking some fish but could not get them to bite. A cisco was caught in 80 feet. 

Petoskey: Had very few boats except for a couple trolling for salmon near the break wall. A few fish were taken near the river mouth or when casting spoons off the beach. Pier anglers fishing before sunrise and after sunset also caught a few fish when casting spoons and stick baits off the clock dock. 

Bear River: The last push of fish produced Chinook, coho and the odd lake trout up near the dam.    

Charlevoix: Boat effort has been low. A couple out trolling for salmon caught cisco instead, as it seems the salmon are scattered. Catch rates were spotty at best for those casting or floating spawn in the freighter slip. Wading and casting for salmon near the freighter slip continues to be tough because of high water levels. There are plenty of chinook near the Medusa Cement Plant, but getting them to bite was tough. Smallmouth bass fishing in the channel continues, but the effort is slowing. A few keepers were taken on worms and minnows. Those casting spoons in the channel after dark have caught a couple salmon. 

Frankfort: A few coho were caught in Platte Bay when trolling or jigging. Chinook numbers have dropped, as most have made their way into the river. 

Portage Lake: Anglers are starting to see a few more perch in some areas, but many were still on the small side. 

Manistee: Fishing was slow for those trolling the harbor and outside the piers. Those fishing off the pier had little luck. Those not targeting salmon did catch smallmouth bass and panfish. 

Manistee River: Is producing a fair number of Chinook salmon all the way up to Tippy Dam. Though some fish have turned dark, anglers should find fresh fish with the rain and cooler temperatures. 

Ludington: Had slow catch rates. Those fishing at Ludington State Park had little luck.  Pier anglers did manage to catch a couple coho. Pere Marquette Lake was also slow. 

Pere Marquette River: Anglers are catching salmon as more fish move into the river.

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Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay: Fishing has been difficult over the past week. A little bit of everything is being caught, but no significant numbers. Anglers are marking lots of fish but had few hits. Those caught were full of small baitfish, which seems to be hindering the bite. 

Marquette: Had slow fishing, with very few caught. Rain has caused higher water levels and poor water clarity with small debris. Boats trolling from the Lower Harbor to the mouth of the Chocolay River had poor catch rates, with only a couple coho taken. Fishing pressure on the Carp and Chocolay rivers dropped due to poor catch rates. A few pink salmon were reported in the Dead River, but anglers had no luck.    

Little Bay de Noc: Walleye catches were up for those fishing the reefs off Kipling. Best catches were in 16 to 30 feet with a crawler harness or stick baits. A few fish were caught down near the Ford River in 14 to 20 feet. Good perch fishing in Kipling and north to Strawberry Island with crawlers in 8 to 14 feet. A couple anglers were targeting salmon up near the dam on the Escanaba River.   

Manistique River: Seems to have a good number of Chinook. Boat anglers did best up near the high dam overflow and rapids. Many are anchored and casting crankbaits or spawn. Shore anglers did best between the 94-Bridge and the dam when casting spawn or J-plugs. 

Munising: Has major road construction at both the east and west ends of town. Traffic has been backed up with only one lane open. Those targeting coho in the bay did not have much luck. Water levels are up due to heavy rain. Shore anglers on the Anna River dock had very little action, with only a few small splake or odd coho caught. 

Detour: Steelhead were caught 2 miles south of the Detour Reef and lighthouse when trolling red and white spin-glo’s behind flashers over the 90-foot flat. The thermocline was between 35 and 45 feet. Lake trout season is closed, and there were no reports of Chinook salmon caught. 

Drummond Island: Yellow perch fishing remains steady in Scott Bay and Maxton Bay, with fish 8 to 11 inches caught at James Island and Ashman Island with shiners and worms in 8 to 12 feet. Good perch fishing at Harbor Island early morning and mid-day inside the mouth of the harbor with the same off the weed beds in 8 feet. Good smallmouth action on the north side of Burnt Island when jigging orange or dark green tube jigs in 6 to 10 feet and in Scott Bay when jigging along the rocky points in 4 to 6 feet. Walleye fishing was slow along the entire St. Marys River. 

Cedarville and Hessel: Good pike action in Snows Channel and around Dollar Island when trolling a split body crankbait. Good colors were fire-tiger and chartreuse. Fish were also caught at the Middle Entrance to the Les Cheneaux Islands with live chubs two cranks off the bottom in 14 to 18 feet. Good walleye action off Les Cheneaux Club Pointe on the north side of Marquette Island when jigging an orange twister tail. Try between the red and green buoys in 8 to 10 feet. Slip bobber rigs tipped with emerald shiners caught walleye in 12 feet early morning and late evening. A few catches of yellow perch were reported off the boat launch on Park Avenue. Also try at the red buoy at the east end of Snows Channel in 10 to 12 feet. Good catches of panfish around Echo Island with chartreuse and white twister tail jigs.      

Carp River: Had a few anglers fishing at the seawall, but no reports came in.   

Nunn’s Creek: Anglers caught limits of smaller Chinook salmon on occasion when casting spoons and crankbaits or when drifting spawn, skein and flies. 

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Fishing Tip: Go "hunting" for fish this fall

Autumn can be one of the best times of year to seek out your favorite fish species for a day of fun angling. Several species to target this October and November include walleye, perch and trout.

Walleye are thought to be in their best condition in the fall and often can be found in the river mouth areas of larger, inland lakes. They’re gathering there to take advantage of baitfish that like to hang out as the weather cools off. Set your sights on 10-12 feet deep to find these guys.

Perch also populate around these same river mouths, but these fish likely will be much closer to the river than walleye. Check out depths as shallow as 4 feet to find them.

Trout, available in some of these larger lakes during this time as well, can be found in the same areas as walleye and perch.

Try your luck at some great fishing this fall. For more information on the numerous autumn opportunities, 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.