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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lower Saginaw Bay: Anglers reported catching walleye northeast of buoys 1 and 2, as well as past the Charity Islands in 40 to 50 feet of water when trolling with worms and crankbaits. Anglers reported catching yellow perch near sailboat buoy F and in front of Gambils in 15 feet of water.

Sebewaing/Quanicassee: Walleye fishing on the inner bay from Quanicassee to Sebewaing was slow, with most boats reporting five or fewer walleye. More consistent fishing was reported out over the bar in 22 to 24 feet of water, as well as northeast of the shipping channel in 28 to 30 feet of water. 

Eastern Saginaw Bay/Caseville: Nearshore areas along the east side of the bay produced largemouth bass with a variety of artificial baits, and anglers offshore around rocky areas caught some smallmouth bass. Anglers reported fishing off Oak Point in waters 30 feet and deeper, and out around Charity Islands. Fish were caught using both crawler harnesses and body baits, along with spoons. 

 Lake St. Clair: The water was warm and fishing was slow. Anglers caught walleye in 15 to 20 feet of water in the Sni, near the St. Clair Light, and upstream from Grass Island while trolling with crawler harnesses. Hammered copper worked well for walleye. Musky anglers had the best luck in the north channel. Smallmouth bass anglers were also successful near the north channel mouth, and green lures worked well. No perch action was reported.

Port Austin: Smallmouth bass were caught around the lighthouse in about 40 feet of water, with a variety of different artificial lures. Anglers also reported smallmouth bass out of Grindstone in about 40 feet of water, as well as straight out from the harbor, slightly to the north.

Harbor Beach: A mix of lake trout, coho salmon, walleye and the occasional steelhead have caught in 90 feet to 120 feet of water trolling with lead core with downriggers. A few smallmouth bass were taken inside the harbor casting lures.

Port Sanilac: Salmon and trout were taken in 120 to 140 feet of water using downriggers with lead core and silver streaks. A few walleye were reported caught in the evening in 60 to 70 feet of water, mostly using artificial baits, though some anglers used crawler harnesses.

Lake Erie: Yellow perch were biting on the north side of the dumping grounds, near the Michigan-Ohio line, and south of Bolles harbor, at around 21 feet of water. Perch rigs with minnows were most effective with yellow perch. Walleye were caught straight out from the Sterling State Park launch near the line, on planar boards with crawler harnesses.

Monroe: Perch catches were reported west of the River Raisin in 18 feet of water.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

Grand Haven: Boat anglers reported good salmon fishing 35 to 90 feet down in 70 to 230 feet of water. Anglers targeting 70 to 120 feet of water found mature Chinook salmon along with some coho salmon. Boats going farther offshore into 160 to 230 feet of water found more coho salmon along with a few smaller Chinook salmon. Spoons in green and orange worked well, along with white flashers with green or white flies. Pier anglers reported a few freshwater drum while casting crankbaits or silver spoons.

Muskegon: Boat anglers found good numbers of Chinook and coho salmon along with a few steelhead 35 to 90 feet down in 70 to 220 feet of water. Glow spoons worked well in green and orange. A few salmon were caught using green meat rigs and glow plugs. Pier anglers reported catching a few freshwater drum while casting spoons. Early morning and late evening were best reported times for near shore fishing.

South Haven: Boat anglers targeting salmon had another decent week of fishing. Plenty of coho and Chinook were caught, with the best location being 90 feet of water. Spoons were reportedly the most productive lure. Perch fishing was very slow. Pier fishing was slow for all species.  

St Joseph: Though slower than the previous last week, salmon fishing continued to be very good at around 100 feet of water and as well as significantly past. Spoons were the most productive method, but bigger fish also hit on flies and meat rigs. Perch fishing is a little inconsistent; some good catches were reported, but anglers had to work hard and cover lots of water. Anglers caught fish both north and south of the piers, though pier fishing was very slow for steelhead. Freshwater drum and some catfish were reported caught on live bait.  

Calhoun County: Good smallmouth bass fishing reported on the Kalamazoo River.

Clinton County: Largemouth bass and panfish reported around the county. Anglers reported success with catfish on Lake Ovid.

Eaton County: The panfish bite has picked up. A state record river redhorse was found bowfishing.

Ingham County: Anglers on the Grand River west of Lansing report success with smallmouth bass and northern pike.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: Anglers hit limits on lake trout, as well as the occasional steelhead, walleye, and pink salmon. Anglers targeting Chinook salmon and lake trout reported them off Lafayette Point on Bois Blanc Island in about 65 feet of water. Anglers had success with flies with flashers, spoons, and j-plugs; good colors were blues, purples, reds, whites, and chartreuse.

Cheboygan River anglers caught rock bass, smallmouth bass and the occasional walleye. The most successful anglers used nightcrawlers on a slip bobber.

Thunder Bay River: Anglers reported few walleye caught while trolling orange and purple crawler harnesses below the 2nd Avenue bridge. Those fishing near the 9th Avenue bridge caught a few walleye, catfish, freshwater drum and smallmouth bass while drifting leeches. Nighttime anglers reported catching catfish while using crawlers throughout the river.

Thunder Bay: Water temperatures hit the high 70s and anglers reported walleye fishing as hit or miss. Crawler harnesses and crank baits fished in 25 to 40 feet of water were productive. Nighttime anglers had moderate success trolling 15 to 20 feet of water near Sulfur Island and South Point. A few fish were also taken from Whitefish Point to North Point. Purple, gold, orange, and chartreuse were all productive colors. Pier anglers reported decent catches of catfish and smallmouth bass while using crawlers and casting deep diving crankbaits.

Rockport: Those targeting walleye had moderate success while trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses in depths of 20 to 40 feet of water. Fish were scattered from Stone Port to Potter Point. Purple, pink and gold were all productive. Those fishing offshore reported good catches of lake trout, coho salmon, and pink salmon, with occasional Chinook salmon and steelhead, in 100 to 140 feet of water. Baits 40 to 80 feet down were most productive for salmon, while dodgers and Spin-n-Glos fished near bottom worked well for trout. The most productive colors were green/silver, blue/silver, watermelon and orange.

Rogers City: Anglers reported catching few, but good-sized Chinook salmon when conditions were favorable. Anglers targeting the entire water column also caught lake trout and walleye, along with an occasional pink salmon. Downriggers, dispels, lead cores and coppers were used to fish the entire water column.  Anglers also reported using spoons, flasher and fly/squid combinations, meat rigs and j-plugs in red and white, green, blue, black and white, and purple, along with glowing lures early and late in the day.  

Hammond Bay: Angler pressure was low last week. Anglers reported fishing straight out of the harbor, the trench, Nine Mile Point or south towards the biological station. The best locations have been 60 to 120 feet of water, deploying lines throughout the water column.  Success has been reported with spoons and colors green, blue, yellow, orange, black and white, and red and white, as well as glowing lures.  

Oscoda/Au Sable River: Lake trout were reported caught off the humps out of Oscoda using spoons and Spin-n-Glos. Anglers fishing the upper water column for salmon caught Atlantic and pink salmon, along with steelhead. These anglers reported success using lead core in 100 to 140 feet of water, pulling spoons and flasher flies. A few Chinook salmon were reported caught in 90 to 120 feet of water, running spoons 20 feet off the bottom. Anglers marked a lot of fish offshore, but getting bites was a challenge. Walleye were reported as bycatch by anglers fishing for salmon and trout in 90 to 140 feet of water. Channel catfish were caught just past dusk and into the night on the lower Au Sable River using crawlers and cut bait on the bottom.

Harrisville/Black River: Anglers fishing for walleye had some success trolling deep thunder sticks and reef runners in 20 to 30 feet of water. Lake trout were caught in good numbers using green and orange Spin-n-Glos in 110 to 150 feet of water, as well as limit catches in 140 to 160 feet of water. Atlantic salmon, coho salmon and steelhead were reported using orange spoons 20 to 40 feet down in 90 to 115 feet of water. The mouth of Black River was recently dredged, allowing anglers to reach the big lake. Walleye, Atlantic salmon, and lake trout were taken offshore pulling spoons.

Tawas: Limits of walleye were reported caught in 63 feet of water in the early morning. Crawlers were the go-to, but artificial baits caught fish as well. Anglers also reported catching some walleye within Tawas Bay along with some catfish, using crawlers. 

Au Gres: Walleye were hit or miss from Au Gres. Anglers reported catching fish near Charity Islands, out front in 30 to 45 feet of water, using crawlers and flicker minnows. Freshwater drum, white bass, and yellow perch were also caught. Shore anglers caught flathead catfish off the pier, as well as yellow perch. A few walleye were reported caught going out from the Pine River. 

Clare County: Anglers reported catching crappie on Long Lake using minnows for bait. Good panfish and bass fishing was reported on Crooked Lake

 Alcona County: Anglers reported good walleye catch rates on Hubbard Lake in 90 feet of water, suspended down approximately 25 feet using body baits while trolling.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Manistee: Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and lake trout were caught along the shelf both north and south of town in 90 to 180 feet of water, while fishing 35 to 80 feet down. Anglers caught fish from Big Sable Point up to town, straight out and north. Spoons and plugs were most successful, but flasher/fly combos and meat rigs also worked. Green colors worked best. A few smallmouth and largemouth bass were caught from the pier while casting artificial lures. 

Ludington: Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and a few pink salmon were reported from south of the projects to Big Sable Point in various depths. They were caught straight out in 40 to 90 feet of water and south off the projects and at the Point in 70 to 150 feet of water when fishing 40 to 90 feet down. Spoons and plugs worked well, along with flasher/fly combos and meat rigs. No action reported on the piers. 

Frankfort: Anglers reported good fishing, with good weather for both morning and evening angling. Several large Chinook were caught using spoons and meat rigs. Pink salmon, steelhead, and brown trout were also reported in the area, in 70 to 120 feet of water and trolling in the top 50 feet of water.

Onekama: Anglers reported good size and number of fish straight out front and trolling north to the “barrel” or to the golf course in 80 to 120 feet of water. Those targeting Chinook salmon had greater success when lines were set by 5:30 a.m. Trout were reported caught mid-morning off the bottom.

Charlevoix: Boat anglers reported salmon between Fisherman's Island up to North Point early morning and late evening. The best results were before 7 a.m., fishing primarily green, silver and blue spoons. A temperature break was reported at roughly 70 to 90 feet down. Those targeting lake trout also found success fishing near North Point and near the eastern edge of the refuge. Bass anglers in the channel reported steady numbers of undersized smallmouth.

Little Traverse Bay: Boat anglers reported salmon on both sides of the bay, fishing in 90 to 150 feet of water at the temperature break, roughly 70 to 90 feet down. Anglers reported good numbers of bait fish, primarily on the north side of the bay, west of Harbor Springs. Fishing silver, green and blue spoons and flasher flies has produced the best results. Those targeting smallmouth bass near Harbor Springs reported slow numbers casting shallowly.

Leland: Consistent amount of large Chinook salmon reported caught by the islands and both first and second banks of the Crib.

East Grand Traverse Bay: Chinook salmon and lake trout reported consistently from Yuba south to the shallows on the southeast side.

West Grand Traverse Bay: Anglers report catching Chinook salmon in the “hole” in the south end of he bay, as well as along the “White Wall.”

Lake Leelanau: Slow fishing reported, but some anglers had success with walleye.

Oceana County: Chinook and coho salmon were caught in 80 to 120 feet of water from the north end of the dunes past Little Point Sable Lighthouse in Lake Michigan.

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Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers reported successful jigging and trolling trips. Anglers who chose to jig found lake trout and lake whitefish, and had the greatest success in the morning, using natural baits. Anglers who were trolling found salmon and lake trout all through last week. Earlier, anglers found more fish near the lower portion of the water column, but as the week continued and a south wind was present, more fish were caught in the top 50 feet of the water column.

Traverse Bay/South Portage Entry Canal: Anglers were jigging and trolling with some success. Trolling anglers found Chinook salmon, coho salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout and lake trout. Successful fishing trips occurred during all times of the day but were most heavily concentrated in the mornings. Anglers who were jigging found fish on the edges of drop offs and were most successful using cut bait.

St. Ignace: Anglers targeting Chinook salmon caught them off the southeast corner of Mackinac Island and off the northside of Big St. Martin Island. Salmon anglers had the best luck using spoons. Lake trout anglers stuck to the northeast side of Mackinac Island using spoons between 60 and 90 feet of water. Good colors were blues, purples, reds, yellows, and chartreuse.

Walleye anglers used nightcrawler harnesses just outside of the mouth of the Carp River in Saint Martin's Bay; good colors were chartreuse and orange. Anglers at the Pine River reported catching small walleye using nightcrawlers on slip bobbers near the mouth of the river and under the overpass bridge in the southwest corner.

Little Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers reported success both trolling and casting, with crawler harnesses being productive trolling. Casting anglers used jigs with live bait or jigged rap-style baits, using electronics to help locate active fish or to determine viability of certain areas, including south of the Ford River, “black bottom,” Minneapolis shoals and near the Escanaba River mouth. Smallmouth bass anglers report fair fishing with some top water action in the early morning and dusk hours. Perch were also reported in the head of the bay.

Manistique: Salmon anglers reported catching small Chinook salmon, as well as large adults, due to favorable wave conditions. Steelhead trout have also been caught using lines set higher in the water column. Anglers report best success with spoons and flasher flies combos.

Marquette: Lake trout were caught jigging or trolling around White Rocks and out towards Granite Island, with the most successful boats catching fish near the clay banks west of Granite Rock. Both Chinook and coho salmon were also reported. Anglers trolling north of White Rocks reported catching steelhead. Watermelon, green and orange Spin-n-Glo spoons and green/silver flasher flies have been successful. White plugs or chartreuse and silver jigs have worked well near the northeast side of White Rocks, especially with cut bait.

Au Train: Lake trout fishing was good, with most boats catching near their limit in only a few hours. Anglers reported success trolling or jigging in approximately 160 feet of water north to northeast of Au Train Island, especially when using cut bait. Larger lake trout were caught while trolling in deeper waters around 160 to 180 feet north to northwest of the Au Train Island in the flats before the 400-foot shipping lane or out toward the Laughing White Fish Clay Banks.

Ontonagon River: Fishing was good on the river last week. Anglers reported successful trips throughout the day with a preference for early mornings. Walleye were also reported. Anglers had more success jigging than trolling.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Lake trout were caught in good numbers, with occasional coho salmon also being reported. Anglers had the best luck in finding fish when trolling deeper waters.

Black River Harbor: Angling efforts were low in the harbor last week, contrasting high recreational boating. Average reported catches were of lake trout in fair numbers, primarily found by anglers while trolling deeper waters.

Alger County: Anglers reported catching lake trout west of Grand Island. The Forest Lake Basin was reported to have high numbers of bass. Some lake trout reported near Munising.

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Fishing tip: Eyes in the field

What’s this oily sheen in the water? If it shatters when you poke it with a stick, it’s likely due to natural bacterial processes. If it clings together, take a picture, note your location and report it to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS).

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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.