Southeast Lower Peninsula
Saginaw Bay: Windy weather kept boat anglers off the east side of the bay. Only a few anglers tried perch or panfish fishing from shore and reported very slow fishing from Quanicassee to Caseville.
Lower Saginaw Bay: Anglers reported catching walleye around Spoils Island, with both the early morning and late evening producing the best results. Casting lead head jigs with dark-colored soft plastics seemed to yield the best results.
Saginaw River: Fishing was reported to have been very slow on the Saginaw River. Shore anglers caught an occasional walleye when casting jigs at Veterans Memorial Park in Bay City, with the evenings being the best time. Elsewhere, anglers caught a couple of walleye at the mouth of the Saginaw River across from the DNR boat launch when jigging on the far side. At Zilwaukee and Lee Street, anglers reported catching drum, channel catfish and white bass on jigs and live bait.
Lake Erie: Walleye anglers reported slowed fishing; however, walleye were still being caught in Brest Bay on artificial dive bait lures in around 17 feet of water. Some anglers going south to the dumping grounds out from Luna Pier had success jigging with minnows and artificial jigs. On warmer days, some anglers attempted trolling with crawler harnesses and found success. Anglers reported that chartreuse was a successful lure color.
Lake St. Clair: Smallmouth bass fishing was reported to have dramatically picked up. Anglers had the best luck when casting into very shallow water, in around 6 feet of water to the shore. Chrome baits and perch-style baits worked well. These anglers also caught some sizable walleye, musky and northern pike. Walleye anglers who were out trolling had no luck. Most action was on the mile roads and near Memorial Park, but there was some smallmouth bass activity reported near Brandenburg Park as well. Anglers have also been catching bluegill and crappie in the canals near Selfridge.
Lexington: Good catches of coho salmon with a mix of lake trout, walleye and steelhead were caught when trolling with planer boards and body baits in 15 to 30 feet of water. Some boats also used downriggers with spoons. Fishing from the docks and shore inside the harbor with nightcrawlers and casting small lures worked well for coho salmon and steelhead. Fishing from the break wall casting into the lake was also reported to be successful.
Harbor Beach: A decent number of coho salmon, a few lake trout, and an occasional Atlantic salmon, walleye and steelhead were all reported to be caught by anglers. Most boat anglers trolled with planer boards and body baits. Some anglers were also using downriggers with small spoons. Anglers focused their efforts in 15 to 30 feet of water, with some boats either a little shallower or deeper.
Port Sanilac: A few coho salmon and steelhead were caught from the break walls when casting artificial lures and still fishing with nightcrawlers and minnows. Anglers who trolled with planer boards and body baits in 12 to 25 feet of water reported catching coho salmon, a few lake trout, and an occasional walleye, steelhead and Atlantic salmon.
Back to top
Southwest Lower Peninsula
Muskegon: Poor weather conditions prevented boat anglers from getting out on the water. Pier anglers caught a few brown trout while casting silver spoons.
Grand Haven: When the weather allowed, boat anglers caught a mix of brown trout, coho salmon and the occasional Chinook salmon. The best water was reported to be between 25 to 50 feet deep. Orange, blue and chartreuse were all good colors for spoons. Pier anglers caught a few coho salmon and brown trout when casting body baits or spoons. Anglers reported that casting spoons or body baits seemed to be more productive than using spawn.
South Haven: Poor weather limited fishing efforts. When the piers were open, a few steelhead and coho salmon were caught using spawn. Very few boat anglers made it out due to the waves; however, lake trout were reported to be in around 50 feet of water, and coho salmon were reported to still be around the shallow water.
St. Joseph: Weather conditions limited fishing efforts. Pier fishing was on the slow side for all species, but anglers did catch a few coho salmon and steelhead. The fish were caught on spawn and by casting spoons and spinners. Anglers also reported catching a few sheepshead and catfish. Boat anglers were catching coho salmon, but the weather limited fishing greatly. The fish caught this week were in shallow water, as most boats were fishing in only 30 feet of water.
Back to top
|