Weekly Fishing Report - March 29, 2012

Weekly Fishing Report
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

March 29, 2012
 

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Weekly Fishing Tip: Fishing the Detroit River
Many anglers have their go-to spots for springtime fishing, but how many of you have checked out the Detroit River?

According to many fishing forums and publications, in late March and early April the lower Detroit River is a great location to catch walleyes in decent quantities. As April moves on fish move further upriver, but the opportunities are still bountiful.

As many are aware, several of Michigan’s Great Lakes waters have become world famous for walleye. The Lake Erie-Detroit River-Lake St. Clair-St. Clair River system is outstanding, drawing anglers from across the country in spring and early summer – will you be joining them?

For more information for fishing for walleye or any other species, visit our Michigan Fish and How to Catch Them website.

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Great Lakes Temperature Map

Click on the links below to jump to the report section that interests you most:
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Upper Peninsula


On Sunday April 1, all anglers 17 years of age and older will be required to have a 2012 Michigan fishing license. Be sure to pick up a copy of the 2012 Fishing Guide when you purchase your license. Warm weather had several species at the peak of their spawning runs two weeks earlier than normal in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula. Walleyes, suckers and yellow perch are just about done spawning.

 

SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

 Lake Erie: Is producing some walleye around Turtle Island. Those shore fishing at the Metro Park and Pt. Mouillee caught bullhead, catfish and a few panfish.  

Huron River: Is producing carp, suckers and some panfish.  

Detroit River: Walleye fishing started early with some limit catches coming from locations on the upper, middle and lower stretches. Anglers are jigging a big minnow or handlining medium size rapalas in seven to 15 feet of water. Stinger hooks are must. A few pike were caught by those floating a minnow under a bobber and perch were caught near Sugar Island.  

Lake St. Clair: Perch fishing was good near Selfridge and the spillway.

St. Clair River: Walleye fishing was slow with only a few fish caught near Algonac.

Cass Lake: In Oakland County, crappies were caught on small jigs with wax worms in the canals. Their spawning season appears to be in full swing and should continue for a couple weeks. Bluegills were caught on floating spiders or minnows under a bobber. Bluegill catches will most likely be hit-or-miss during the cold spell but check out the clear canals on a sunny day and you should find some fish.

Lexington: Catch rates were slow as the water was crystal clear all the way out to 40 feet of water. Salmon action may pick up as windy conditions stir things up a bit.

Harbor Beach: Boats out trolling caught coho just inside the harbor. Catch rates in the channel were slow as the Edison Plant was not discharging warm water.

Saginaw Bay: Perch fishing off the mouth of the Saginaw River just past Spoils Island and between Buoys 18 and 22 was excellent with eight to 12 inch perch caught however catch rates have tapered off. Shore anglers fishing in the boat basin and channel at Finn Road and the drain at Garner Road caught seven to eight inch perch. Bay Port and Caseville were slow. At Port Austin, some anglers were perch fishing in Bird Creek but catch rates were not good.

Quanicassee River: Perch fishing was slow but lots of anglers have been out trying.

Sebewaing River: Perch fishing seems to be pretty much done here but boat anglers going out to the end of the channel caught fish.

Pinnebog River: Some suckers were caught as the run was well upstream.


SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Bluegill and crappie fishing was good in shallow water on the inland lakes. Steelhead runs have peaked however fish are still being caught off the piers and in the rivers.

St. Joseph:  Boat anglers are catching a few salmon and steelhead.      

St. Joseph River:  Is still producing some steelhead especially up near the dam.  

Kalamazoo River:  Steelhead can still be found up near the Allegan Dam. It has been reported that some sections of the river near Marshall may open back up by the end of April. Anglers can view the Enbridge web site or the DNR website to find out the exact date of the re-opening.

Grand River at Grand Rapids:  The steelhead run has peaked but fish are still being caught. Try spawn or yarn on the bottom or spawn under a float. For crappie, check out the brush piles along the shoreline while drifting small jigs with minnows or wax worms. Riverside Park and Millennium Park are producing crappie and bluegills.

Grand River at Lansing:  Steelhead are being caught at Moore’s Park, the Point where the Grand meets the Red Cedar and near Grand Ledge. Anglers are using spawn or flies such as nymphs, egg sucking leech, and wooly buggers.

Morrison Lake: Was producing some crappie.    

Reeds Lake:  Some perch were caught in 10 to 30 feet of water. Some bluegills were caught and crappie were in the shallows.    

Muskegon River: Has steelhead. Anglers are casting and drifting flies and spawn.


NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

Cheboygan River: Steelhead and suckers are just starting to move in.  

Ocqueoc River: Also has steelhead and suckers starting to trickle in.    

Pigeon River: Steelhead are running and suckers are in the lower stretches.

Sturgeon River: Is starting to produce steelhead and suckers.  

Thunder Bay River: Is still producing some steelhead up near the dam.

Tawas Bay: Pier anglers were catching steelhead and brown trout inside the harbor. Perch were also caught but many were small. Those trolling caught lake trout on body baits in 20 to 25 feet of water.

Tawas River: Perch anglers were doing well from shore in the lower river which is unusual. Suckers have also been caught along the river.

Au Gres: Boat anglers fishing for perch off the mouth of the river did catch some nice fish after sorting through all the small ones. Perch fishing off the mouth of the Pine River near Standish appears to be about done for this spring.

Au Gres River: Steelhead anglers were doing well in Whitney Drain, mostly upstream of the Singing Bridge. Those surfcasting caught some steelhead.


NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA

Frankfort: Boat anglers are catching brown trout when trolling body baits. Pier anglers are also catching fish on spawn.  

Betsie River: Steelhead fishing continues and fish are on the gravel.

Lake Cadillac: Bullhead and crappie were caught even though inland lake fishing has not taken off yet.

Manistee: Has fair to good brown trout action. Boats are trolling body baits while pier anglers are casting spawn or spoons.    

Manistee River: Steelhead fishing is probably near the peak of the run which is about two weeks early this year. Fish are on the gravel.

Hamlin Lake: Fishing is still on the slow side except for bullhead and crappie.

Ludington: Boat and pier anglers are catching brown trout.

Pere Marquette River: Steelhead are on the gravel which is early this year. The run will not last much longer.


UPPER PENINSULA

Keweenaw Bay: A slow bite comes with the cooler weather. A few hardy anglers have picked up a mix of chinook, coho, lake trout, brown trout and steelhead when trolling a mix of spoons and body baits in mixed colors. The best trolling speeds are between 1.8 and 2.4 mph. Those jigging for lake trout had good success in 240 to 260 feet of water out from Whirl-I-Gig Road. Coho and steelhead were caught off the mouth of Linden Creek in L’Anse when using spawn bags before the cold front.

Marquette: Fishing has been slow with only a few smaller coho caught when trolling from the Lower Harbor breakwall to the Carp River and the Chocolay River in 20 to 30 feet of water. No steelhead or brown trout were reported. Shore fishing was slow for those targeting splake, menominee and lake whitefish.  

Menominee: Boat anglers were trolling in Michigan and Wisconsin waters for both walleye and brown trout. A couple brown trout were caught by those trolling spoons about a mile out from the mouth.

Menominee River: Had good boat traffic for walleye between the mouth and the Hattie Street Dam. Those jigging with a minnow were doing the best, but those trolling rapalas were also picking up a few. The number of shore anglers and those wading has increased from Stephenson Island upstream to the Hattie Street Dam, on both the Michigan and Wisconsin side. Try casting rapalas and stick baits or jigging with a minnow or plastic worm. Fish were also caught using a zip lure and a minnow. Only a few brown trout were caught by shore anglers when drifting yarn or casting spinner baits. Suckers are also starting to show up.

Cedar River: A few boats are heading out from the Cedar River and targeting trout while trolling spoons or stick baits north and south along the shoreline.

Au Train: Fishing has picked up with steelhead caught at the Rock River by those using spawn. Those trolling have caught the occasional coho and steelhead. The cold front dropped water temperatures and no bug hatches have been reported. The dock was not in at the Au Train boat launch.

Munising: All area launches are accessible though Sand Point and the Anna River are suited for small craft only. The city launch is open and the docks are in. Boat anglers are targeting coho between the east side of the bay and the Miners River, Trout Bay and Murray Bay. Most boats were returning with three to five fish. Coho were the most abundant followed by steelhead, splake and brown trout. Small boat anglers jigging for whitefish caught steelhead, coho and splake instead. Some eight to 10 inch perch were also caught. Shore anglers caught steelhead and coho when still-fishing with spawn. Pier anglers caught splake on eggs and soft body baits.

Munuscong: A few boats were trying their luck around Dan’s Resort.

Cedarville and Hessel: Boats are starting to head out. Anglers fishing off the pier in Hessel Bay are targeting Atlantic salmon and brown trout. It will still be a few weeks before the perch come in to spawn.

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Just a reminder, you can purchase hunting and fishing licenses online 24-hours a day or make a campground reservation at Michigan's 99 state park and recreation areas at www.michigan.gov/campgroundreservations.

Where can $10 take you? The Recreation Passport is your $10 ticket to Michigan's state parks and outdoor adventures! Check "YES" when you renew your license plate. www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport