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

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lower Saginaw Bay: High winds kept most anglers off the water. Shore anglers were able to catch a few freshwater drum, channel catfish, and smallmouth bass at Smith Park in Essexville.

Eastern Saginaw Bay: Windy weather over the weekend kept most anglers off the east side of the bay. What few anglers were able to make it out walleye fishing struggled to find numbers and only reported a few per boat. Anglers were trying their luck near Oak Point, the Charity Islands off Caseville, and the slot from Sebewaing. Walleye were scattered throughout the bay and anglers had trouble finding large pods of active fish.  

Port Austin: Boat anglers who were fishing out by the lighthouse in 20 to 40 feet of water and casting plastic swim baits reported decent catches of smallmouth bass.

Harbor Beach: Smallmouth bass anglers were staying inside the harbor and by the south rock wall. When casting artificial baits, anglers caught a lot of small fish.

Lake Erie: Fishing was reported to have been slow for both yellow perch and walleye. Many of the walleye were reported to have moved out of Michigan waters, however, some were found south of Bolles Harbor in the dumping grounds in 23 feet of water. Anglers were using crawler harnesses to catch them. Yellow perch anglers had the best luck straight out from the Sterling State Park boat launch in around 18 feet of water when using minnows. 

Lake St. Clair: Musky anglers were beginning to catch fish near the spillway. Smallmouth bass fishing was beginning to pick up on Anchor Bay and near the 400 Club. Pike and musky action was reported as fair near the north channel and Strawberry Island. Walleye were caught in the Sni in 15 to 20 feet of water. 

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

Grand Haven: Boat anglers reported finding good numbers of Chinook and coho salmon 40 to 100 down in 90 to 230 feet of water. Glow plugs, glow spoons and white flashers with green or white flies all worked well. Pier anglers caught a few freshwater drum while casting spoons. Bluegill were caught in the channel 6 to 8 feet down using worms.

Muskegon: Anglers continued to find good success on coho and Chinook salmon in 80 to 180 feet of water. A mix of green or blue glow spoons, green meat rigs, glow plugs, and white flasher/flies all worked well. Most of the salmon were caught 35 to 80 feet down. A few freshwater drum were caught from the break walls when casting spoons.

South Haven: Due to poor weather conditions, very few anglers were able to make it out on the water. Salmon fishing was reported as slow for the couple of boat anglers that made it out. Pier fishing was also slow for all species.

St. Joseph: High waves and winds kept most anglers off the water. Prior to the poor weather, fishing was very good. Salmon anglers caught good numbers of fish in 85 to 100 feet of water, with most being caught on spoons. Perch anglers had fair fishing. The most productive depth was reported to have been around 30 feet of water. Pier anglers had very slow fishing for steelhead but continued to catch good numbers of freshwater drum on live bait. 

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: The fish were reported to have been scattered due to the flux in weather patterns. Anglers were having a difficult time finding Chinook salmon and lake trout. Running lines throughout the water column and using a variety of baits seemed to yield the best results. Some anglers were trolling flashers with Spin-n-Glos, spoons, squids, and cut bait rigs. Anglers were also sticking around the southside of Bois Blanc Island and the shipping channel. 

In the Cheboygan River, not much walleye activity was reported. Anglers found that using leeches and night crawlers on slip bobbers seemed to yield the best results. Drifting night crawlers was reported to have worked best for bass anglers.

Thunder Bay: High winds and rain resulted in light fishing pressure. Anglers fishing nearshore caught a few walleye and catfish near the cement plant and off the pier head in 16 to 18 feet of water. Crawler harnesses in copper, purple, and chartreuse were most productive. A few anglers tried trolling the shipping lane for early Chinook salmon with no success. Anglers inside of the break wall caught a few northern pike and smallmouth bass when casting spinnerbaits and small crank baits.

Thunder Bay River: Fishing was reported as slow by anglers. Walleye anglers reported only a few fish being caught on leeches and night crawlers. A good number of catfish were caught near Lamar Park and below the Second Avenue Bridge. While fish were caught during the day, much better fishing was had after dark using night crawlers and cut bait.

Rockport: Very little fishing pressure was seen at this port. A few anglers found walleye more scattered in depths of 25 to 100 feet of water. Targeting the top 15 to 25 feet saw the best results on crankbaits and small spoons. Purple, pink, orange, and natural colors were all productive. No offshore activity was seen due to the adverse weather conditions.

Rogers City: Anglers reported catching decent sized Chinook salmon, but in low numbers. Those targeting the entire water column were also catching a few lake trout and walleye along with the occasional pink salmon. Anglers were using downriggers, dipsies, lead cores, and coppers to fish the entire water column. Anglers also reported using spoons, flasher and fly/squid combinations, meat rigs, and j plugs. Good colors to use were red and white, greens, blues, black and white, purples, and glow stuff early and late.

Hammond Bay: Very low angler pressure was reported out of this port.  Those that made it out were fishing straight out of the harbor, near the trench, Nine Mile Point, or south towards the biological station. The best depths were reported to have been in 60 to 120 feet of water and deploying lines throughout the water column seemed to work best. Spoons were reported to have worked well.  Good colors to use were greens, blues, yellow, orange, black and white, red and white, and glow stuff early and late.  

Oscoda/Au Sable River: Salmon fishing was reported as slow this past week with only a few Atlantic salmon and steelhead being caught. Blue/silver and orange spoons seemed to be the hot colors. Anglers were marking a lot of fish in 60 to 90 feet of water but getting them to bite was a challenge. A good number of walleye were caught in 80 to 115 feet of water 20 to 40 feet down by anglers looking for salmon pulling spoons. Anglers fishing off the pier caught good numbers of channel catfish with a few flatheads mixed in using crawlers and cut bait. The bite seemed to really pick up at dusk and the first few hours after dark.

Harrisville/Black River: The salmon fishing was somewhat slow with only a few coho salmon and steelhead being caught in 70 to 120 feet of water. A few lake trout were caught off trolling spoons near the bottom in 70 to 130 feet and near the humps out of Harrisville. Anglers targeting walleye also had success trolling reef runners and deep bandits in 20 to 35 feet of water. Walleye were caught off the islands north of the Black River launch. 

Tawas: High winds made fishing difficult for anglers. Walleye anglers who made it out reported catching fish on both crawlers and spoons in Tawas Bay in around 20 feet of water. Some anglers also reported success walleye fishing when trolling south of the point in 65 feet of water.

Pine River: Anglers were able to catch a few walleye on crawlers, with the average being around 5 fish per boat. Anglers were really having to try for them. Panfish, mostly bluegill, were caught by shore anglers at Eagle Bay Marina.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Frankfort: Anglers reported finding nice catches of Chinook salmon in 120 to 200 feet of water when trolling the top 50 feet. Pearl plugs and glow spoons seemed to land the most fish. Several coho salmon as well as a few pink salmon were also reported in the same areas. Anglers jigging the mouth reported some activity for the evening bite.

NOTE: The Betsie River is open to anglers for fishing.

Onekama: Anglers heading straight out to 120 to 180 feet of water had great success working the top 60 feet with spoons and plugs. Several large Chinook salmon were reported. Anglers were heading both north and south for trolling.

Little Traverse Bay: Salmon anglers found decent success on Chinook salmon throughout the week. Slow and consistent numbers of coho salmon also started to show up. Due to high west winds, water temperatures fluctuated, making it difficult to accurately find the break. Those having the most success reported fish anywhere from 40 to 80 feet down in 120 feet of water. Trolling spoons and flasher flies produced the best results.

Leland: Anglers continued to find success when fishing for Chinook salmon. Many were fishing around the North and South Manitou Islands as well as the first bank. Those fishing around the first bank focused their efforts in 150 to 200 feet of water with baits set around 30 to 80 feet down. Anglers reported fishing with various baits, using mainly blue and green color variations. A few anglers headed to Good Harbor and found some success catching lake trout with cowbells. The best time to fish was reported to be an hour and half before sunrise and sunset.

West Grand Traverse Bay: Anglers reported marking and catching Chinook salmon throughout the lower half of West Bay. They also found luck when jigging for Chinook salmon around Power Island and white walls. Trolling the bowl in front of the Boardman River as well as white walls was successful for anglers as well. Anglers fishing for lake trout around Power Island reported success. Anglers were using a variety of baits for Chinook salmon including flies, spoons, jigs, and flat fish. The best time to fish was reported to have been an hour and half before sunset. 

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Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers had success during both jigging and trolling trips. Anglers who chose to jig found mostly lake trout. Successful jigging trips were during the mornings and anglers were using natural baits. Anglers who were trolling found salmon and lake trout all throughout the week. Anglers found fish all throughout 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 in the last week. Trolling anglers were most successful and were able to catch Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and lots of lake trout. Successful fishing trips were most heavily concentrated during the mornings; however, fish were caught throughout the day.

Little Bay de Noc: Anglers targeting walleye reported an overall increase in success. Anglers were either jigging or trolling. Those who were able to utilize their electronics to locate and stay on active fish reported the most success. Anglers fished the shoals whenever weather permitted. Some limited success was reported at First Reef and “Black Bottom”.

Manistique: Anglers reported a few Chinook salmon in the river. Walleye anglers reported fair to good fishing when trolling or casting jigs. Northern pike anglers had success when trolling crank baits.

Marquette: Good numbers of lake trout were caught by anglers when jigging or trolling around White Rocks and out towards Granite Island. Lake Trout were also caught consistently out towards the Clay Banks west of Granite Rock. Watermelon color worked well, along with green and orange Spin-n-Glos or green/silver flasher fly presentations for lake trout. Chartreuse and silver jigs were hot around the northeast side of White Rocks especially with a little cut bait. Trolling between White Rocks towards Granite Rock or Clay Banks at lower speeds 2.0 to 2.2 mph in around 160 to 180 feet of water was a popular combination for success. Steelhead were caught on a Dancing Anchovy Moonshine UV and Bloody Nose.

Au Train: Boat anglers did well when focusing their efforts on lake trout fishing. Good sizes and numbers were caught when jigging in 160 feet of water north to northeast of Au Train Island, especially with cut bait. Big lake trout were also caught while trolling in around 160 to 180 feet of water north to northwest of the Au Train Island in the flats or out towards the Laughing White Fish Clay Banks. Wonder Bread, multicolored glow spoons or green/silver flasher flies were good color combinations. A little bit of cut bait jigging or trolling with orange or chartreuse cowbells did very well at deeper depths.

Ontonagon River: Fishing on the river was reported as somewhat slow over the past week. Anglers reported that low numbers of walleye were being caught. Fish were caught throughout the day, with most successful trips taking place in the early mornings. Occasional catches of rock bass were also reported. Recently, anglers had more luck in finding fish when jigging rather than trolling.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Strong winds and rains occurring over the past week slightly limited fishing efforts from these ports. Recent angler reports show that the occasional coho salmon was caught, while lake trout were caught in fair numbers. Anglers had the best luck in finding these fish when trolling deeper waters.

Black River Harbor: Angling efforts from the harbor were low over the past week. A few recent storms hindered reasonable access to the lake for most. Reports suggest that recent catches consisted of lake trout in low numbers. Anglers reported that they had the most success while trolling in deeper waters.

Les Cheneaux Islands: The fishing started to pick up again in the Les Cheneaux area. Anglers were catching good numbers of perch within the channel using minnows, leeches, and crawlers. They also were starting to pick up some larger smallmouth bass when fishing with tube jigs and other plastics, as well as live bait. Anglers tried their luck trolling in the west entrance for splake and Chinook salmon, but they seemed to be a little tougher to find compared to the previous few weeks. At the marina, the perch and northern pike bite picked up as well, with anglers using worms and leeches to catch perch and live bait off the outer wall for pike in the early mornings.

DeTour: Anglers still had luck catching lake trout out in the flats. They were also able to catch a few pink salmon and walleye by the lighthouse. The night bite for walleye to the north was steady for the anglers willing to fish into the early morning hours.

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Fishing tip: The basics of using downriggers

Are you familiar with using downriggers? This tool is ideal when fishing the Great Lakes, as it allows for controlled-depth fishing and targeting species suspended in the water column. Here are three things to keep in mind if you’re considering using a downrigger in the future.

Manual vs. electric

Making a choice between manual and electric depends on how much you want to spend, how often you fish and how big your boat is. Manual downriggers are less expensive than electric but require more work on the part of the angler.

Cannonballs

This is the weight lowered by the downrigger that is attached to your lure. These weights usually range from 4 to 14 pounds; make your selection based on how deep you intend to fish (the deeper you go, the more weight you need).

Leads

This is the amount of line between your cannonball and your lure. It also determines how your lure acts in the water. The deeper you fish, the shorter the lead needs to be.

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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.