The Family Friendly Fishing Waters map shows family-friendly fishing locations across the state that are easy to access and have a high likelihood of catching fish. You can filter the locations by what type of fish you want to catch, what kind of fishing you are looking for (boat, pier, shore) what amenities you would like (swimming, restrooms, etc.) and entrance fee.

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Eastern Saginaw Bay: Windy conditions kept most anglers off the bay. What few anglers made it out perch fishing reported slow conditions, with only a few small throwback yellow perch caught. Shore fishing in the area was also slow with anglers also reporting only a few small perch to throw back. 

Port Sanilac: Pier anglers caught an occasional coho salmon when casting spoons and spinners.

Harbor Beach: A couple pier anglers were trying for coho salmon; however, fishing was slow.

Lake Erie: Fishing was slow due to poor weather conditions. Most anglers were targeting bass or catfish closer to shore and in the channels. A few yellow perch were caught out on the lake, as well as from the docks at the Sterling State Park boat launch and at Bolles Harbor. The perch were biting on ultralight set ups with light line (4- to 6-pound test), on spinners with soft plastic baits, on smaller artificial lures, and on night crawlers. No walleye were caught. Largemouth bass were biting on swim baits. 

Lake St. Clair: Smallmouth bass fishing was fair in the New Baltimore area in shallow water. Top water baits worked well. The perch action was reported as decent near the dumping grounds and the Grosse Point area, with some caught in the metropark area as well. Gull Island and the St Clair light area seemed to be picking up for perch with the cooler temperatures. Walleye were caught in the mouth of the middle channel and straight out from the metropark area in 13 to 15 feet of water. Most anglers were trolling with crawler harnesses, but some jigged with artificial baits.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

Grand Haven: Decent numbers of steelhead and immature Chinook salmon were caught 30 to 90 down in 90 to 140 feet of water. Orange spoons worked the best. Pier anglers casting spoons for mature salmon found the action to be slow.

Muskegon: Anglers were catching a few immature Chinook salmon and steelhead 30 to 90 down in 90 to 200 feet of water. Spoons worked the best in green and orange.

South Haven: Fishing pressure was very low. The pierswere very inconsistent for salmon. Anglers were catching salmon (mostly coho) by casting spoons. Boat anglers had slow fishing for salmon and trout.  

Black River: Anglers reported slow fishing for salmon. There were a few fish in the river, but anglers had a hard time getting them to bite. 

St. Joseph: Fishing pressure was low. Pier fishing was on the slow side for salmon, however there were a few fish caught.  Boats anglers had decent luck catching salmon in the near pier areas.  Most of the fish caught were on spoons. 

St. Joseph River: Anglers fishing the St. Joseph River caught quite a few salmon in the lower river. Anglers were using spawn as well as casting and trolling. Anglers were catching fish at the Berrien Springs dam.  

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: Anglers targeting salmon had minimal success in getting fish to bite due to them running upriver to spawn. Boat anglers, who had some luck, did the best trolling glow spoons on dipseys or planer boards within 25 feet of water between the Cheboygan County Marina boat launches and just past the channel markers (green & red buoys) outside of the river’s mouth. Those fishing the pier were primarily casting spoons but did not have much luck. Anglers at the dam were catching a couple salmon a day using spawn, spoons, or minnow crank baits. Lake trout anglers caught a few off Reynold’s Reef when trolling spoons throughout the water column. 

Alpena: A good number of boat anglers were targeting Chinook and coho salmon. Anglers reported success from the pier head throughout the shipping lanes while using plugs and spoons. Black/white, greens, and chartreuse were all good color choices. A few steelhead and Atlantic salmon were caught in 30 to 50 feet of water with orange, golds, and green/silver colors being productive. Early and late in the day seemed to be the best times, with only a few fish caught throughout the day. Those targeting walleye reported that fish were difficult to find. Those casting from the pier reported decent catches of salmon while using body baits and spoons. Green, chartreuse and glow baits were productive late in the day and after dark. A few smallmouth bass were also caught while casting crank baits.

Thunder Bay River: Anglers were targeting salmon through the river with moderate success. Those drifting spawn had better results at the 9th Street dam and below the 9th Street bridge. Spoons and body baits worked well for those casting. Orange, greens, and glows were all productive colors. Boat anglers had the best luck while trolling spoons, plugs, and deep diving body baits from the pier head to the walking bridge. No walleye action was reported.

Rockport: Anglers reported fishing as very good over the last week. Lake trout were found in 45 to 70 feet of water along with Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, Atlantic salmon, and the occasional walleye. Fish were all throughout the water column, so covering all depths was key. Orange, greens, silver/ blue, and watermelon were all good colors. Anglers reported that spoons were most productive. Walleye anglers reported fish to be difficult to locate. Those who were successful trolled crankbaits 10 to 20 feet down over 40 to 60 feet of water. 

Rogers City: Anglers targeting Swan Bay for adult Chinook salmon had minimal success. Those who were able to get them to bite were trolling inside 40 feet of water and using j plugs and/or bombers off planer boards in the early morning or late at night for the best results. Fishing from the marina up to 40 Mile Point and past was reported to have been excellent. Anglers caught good numbers of coho salmon, steelhead, lake trout, young Chinook salmon, along with an occasional Atlantic salmon and walleye. The best depths were anywhere from 50 to 130 feet of water. Finding where the bait was and covering the entire water column seemed to produce the best results. Regular or walleye-sized spoons, as well as white flashers and flies worked well. Good colors to use were green, blue, white, yellow, silver, and orange, along with glow stuff both early and late. The steelhead were reported to have been high in the top 25 feet of water and orange, green and blue were all good colors for them.

Oscoda/Au Sable River: Salmon fishing from the pier seemed to slow down due to warm weather. However, there were still some salmon in the river and around the pier head. Anglers targeting salmon from shore found most of their luck using spoons such as little Cleos, Ko wobblers and moonshines. Gold and orange were hot colors and fishing in the early hours of the morning seemed to produce the best results for anglers. Channel catfish were caught in the lower Au Sable River using crawlers and cut bait on the bottom. A few Atlantic salmon were caught at Foote Dam when casting in line spinners and spoons. Smallmouth bass were caught throughout the river by anglers using minnow presentations such as a weightless fluke or a jerk bait. 

Harrisville: Walleye, coho salmon, and Chinook salmon were caught by anglers targeting 40 to 60 feet down in 125 feet of water while pulling spoons. Coho and Chinook salmon were also caught inside the harbor. Skein under a float and casting spoons produced the best results inside the harbor. Casting Rapalas after dark off the rocks produced walleye as well. 

Black River: Offshore from Black River in 40 to 60 feet of water anglers did well on coho salmon, Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon, and a few pink salmon when targeting halfway down the water column. Trolling spoons and flasher flies seemed to produce the best results. Walleye were also caught in 40 to 60 feet of water while trolling spoons. In Black River there were a few coho salmon caught on little Cleos, along with a few Chinook salmon caught on flicker shads and rattle traps.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Frankfort: Anglers reported that there were still a few mature, fresh Chinook salmon hanging around out front staging in 40 to 60 feet of water, 25 to 35 feet down, hitting on plugs and spoons. Pier anglers off the south pier were reporting Chinook and coho salmon hitting on glow spoons in the late hours and very early mornings. Anglers fishing Platte Bay and the mouth of the Platte River reported catches of coho salmon when the weather cooperated. 

Onekama: Coho salmon were caught from the pier and out front in 100 to 140 feet of water and trolling the top 50 feet of water. Numbers were not high, but the fish were there. Anglers reported that spoons seemed to work well.

Charlevoix: Anglers trolling for salmon reported very slow numbers of Chinook and coho salmon. Those having any success found fish close to Medusa while fishing between 5 and 30 feet down. Anglers targeting smallmouth bass on the piers reported slow but steady catches of legal sized bass. Sitting crawlers and bait fish on the bottom of the channel produced the best results. Reminder that lake trout season closed September 30.

Little Traverse Bay: Anglers targeting salmon out in the bay reported slow numbers of Chinook and coho salmon. Trolling shallow near the end of the break wall in Petoskey produced some results. Those fishing in the Bear River reported coho, Chinook, and pink salmon throughout the week. Bottom bouncing beads, flies, and spawn produced the best results. The occasional brown trout and steelhead were also reported. Reminder that lake trout season closed September 30.

Manistee: Fishing started to slow down. Boat anglers trolling just outside the pier heads caught limited numbers of dark Chinook salmon. Steelhead and a few young salmon were caught straight out and south in 120 to 220 plus feet of water while fishing 30 to 70 feet down. The piers produced a few dark Chinook salmon when casting and jigging spoons.

Ludington: Steelhead and a few young salmon were caught both north and south in 70 to 220 plus feet of water when fishing 30 to 50 feet down, however fishing was starting to slow. The piers and Pere Marquette Lake were slow, but a couple nice northern pike were caught when casting artificial swim baits. 

Leland: Fishing efforts were low. Anglers reported catching a fair number of smaller Chinook salmon and coho salmon around the North and South Manitou Islands in various depths. Anglers that focused their efforts on lake trout found great success off the first bank. Lake trout season came to an end as of October 1. 

West Grand Traverse Bay: Few anglers went out to the bowl in front of the Boardman River and found a couple Chinook salmon, however, anglers reported the fishing as tough. A lot of the Chinook and coho salmon were reported to have moved into the river system.

Anglers switched targets and were finding success fishing for cisco. These fish were found when trolling around Mission Island. When trolling, anglers were using smaller baits to imitate small alewives. The lake trout bite was on as anglers found fair numbers of fish around whitewalls and Mission Island. Anglers were trolling in around 100 feet of water. Reminder that lake trout season closed as of October 1. 

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Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers saw consistent lake trout catches through the last week. Most fish were found in colder water which were depths of over 60 feet of water. A few trolling trips led to coho salmon catches. Water temperatures were slowly beginning to fall, and with those falling temperatures more salmon and trout should be moving into the bays to begin their fall spawning runs.

Big Traverse Bay/South Portage Entry Canal: Anglers were consistently reporting lake trout catches during both trolling and jigging events. Most fish were caught during trolling events and were found in depths at or around 100 feet of water. Some anglers reported catching salmon, however, they were few in number. Those who did report salmon found them early in the mornings and in deeper water than expected.

St. Ignace: Shore anglers at the Carp River cement footing pier were occasionally catching a Chinook salmon or pink salmon when casting spoons. Most anglers who traveled upstream between the rapids and the bridge reported better numbers. At Nunns Creek, anglers were wading out between 50 to 70 yards from the mouth of the creek. Those using natural baits, such as spawn, had greater success in catching Chinook and pink salmon. Spoons were reported to be another good option to try. 

Little Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers reported a relatively slow bite. Some were using sonar to locate fish and then casting at them with jigs or snap jigging-style lures while others were trolling crank baits. A few anglers found success south of the Ford River. Yellow perch anglers reported slow fishing, although some had sufficient success to make the trip out worthwhile. Anglers were using minnows and worms on perch rigs.

Manistique: Anglers fishing the river reported catching pink and Chinook salmon. Anglers were either drifting natural baits like spawn or beads. Some anglers were casting lures including crank baits for the pink salmon. Anglers fishing for northern pike trolled the river with success.

Marquette: Lake trout were caught consistently with the most successful boats making their way out toward the clay banks west of Granite Rock. Upper harbor still seemed to be the harbor that most anglers left from on days that the weather cooperated. Excellent numbers of lake trout were caught jigging or trolling around the northeast side of White Rocks and out towards Granite Island. Anglers reported catching a few salmon out by Granite Rock and creeping up into the rivers around Marquette. Coho salmon were also reported to have been caught by anglers. Increasing numbers of steelhead were caught out by White Rocks. Watermelon and fire tiger were still very good, along with green and orange Spin-n-Glos or green/silver flasher fly presentations for lake trout. Chartreuse and silver jigs worked well around the northeast side of White Rocks, especially with a little cut bait. Trolling between White Rocks towards Granite Rock or the clay banks in around 130 to 160 feet of water was a popular depth range for lake trout, but throwing out a high line caught some steelhead.

Au Train: Lake trout were caught by anglers jigging in approximately 160 feet of water north to northeast of Au Train Island, especially with cut bait. Most anglers trolling reported lake trout being caught when in around 130 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 Wonder Bread or chartreuse cowbells produced very well at deeper depths of 130 to 180 feet of water.

Ontonagon River: Fishing on the river was extremely slow, as angling efforts remained low over the past week. Reports show that very few fish were being caught.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Over the past week, these ports yielded great numbers of fish being caught, and angling efforts remained strong. Common catches consisted of limits of lake trout along with an occasional coho salmon. Anglers reportedly found the most success when trolling in deeper waters.

Black River Harbor: Over the past week, the harbor saw low fishing efforts. Reports show that recent common catches consisted of lake trout in fair numbers. These fish were caught by those trolling in deeper waters.

DeTour: Anglers in DeTour were starting to target and catch a few perch as well as some smallmouth bass and northern pike to the north around the island. Lake trout were still being caught in the flats, but the season officially came to a close for the year as of October 1^st.

Les Cheneaux: Splake were very tough to come by with only few seen in the Hessel Marina as a result of warmer water. Anglers reported catching a few northern pike and smallmouth bass within the Hessel area.

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Fishing tip: What to do when you’re looking for crappie in the fall

This time of year can yield some of the best results when it comes to fishing for crappie. Want to target these panfish when you head out in the coming days or weeks?

These fish often stay in deeper water longer than other panfish — and they also tend to move around more as they target large schools of baitfish. If you use baits that imitate a crappie’s food of choice, you’ll be more likely to find them.

Keep in mind that crappie will become less and less active as the water cools off and they slow down. You’ll then want to slow your presentation and offer smaller baits to keep seeing success.

Try your luck at some great crappie fishing this fall. For more information on this species, visit the crappie page on the DNR's website.

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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.