For those fishing or paddling in the 12-county disaster area encompassing Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle counties, please be aware that waterways may contain new obstructions, including downed trees and branches. Please also be aware of possible boating access site closures.

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lower Saginaw Bay: The weekend saw slow fishing due to weather. Some walleye were caught jigging 1 mile north of Spoils Island using a regular jig head with a soft plastic blue ice minnow. Some black crappie were caught in the marinas next to the Patterson boat launch.

Saginaw River: Largemouth bass were caught and released by boat Anglers casting various artificial baits around Zilwaukee. Shore anglers in Zilwaukee had success catching catfish on live bait.

Eastern Saginaw Bay: Fishing on the east side of the bay was very good around Callahan reef, Quanicassee, and the southern end of the slot when the winds allowed.  Most anglers found good fishing from 10 to 14 feet in stained water. A few anglers fished in the middle of the slot as well as out past 22 feet of water with success as well.  Fishing out from Sebewaing was slower with clear water over the weekend, those running both crawler harnesses and body baits did well. Anglers caught largemouth and smallmouth bass around nearshore areas on a variety of artificial baits along the east side of the bay.

Tittabawassee River: Drum and catfish were caught around Center Road Boat Launch fishing live bait.

Lake St. Clair: Anchor Bay saw an improved number of smallmouth this week. Ford Cove and Metropark beach also saw reports of a fair number of catches. All colors were reported as working well along with red rigs. Walleye numbers slowed greatly with storms, wind, and cooler temperatures. Anglers reported catching fish between Metropark and Memorial Park with most anglers using crawler harnesses and crank baits. Reports of muskie picked up as many bass anglers reported muskie being caught. Anglers reported perch being caught near the St. Clair light by anglers fishing with minnows.

Lake Erie: Anglers found good success walleye fishing in 20 feet of water straight east of Sterling State Park. Anglers found success trolling or drifting at 1.6mph with crawler harnesses on bottom bouncers. Anglers ran them at 35 feet back with chartreuse standing out for harness color. Many largemouth bass were caught in the Bolles Harbor Channel on soft plastics.

Lake Huron/Port Austin: Smallmouth bass were reported being caught from the break-wall casting swim baits as well as a variety of artificial lures. Boat anglers caught walleye trolling with jerk baits in about 20 feet of water to the west of the harbor. Anglers were found targeting smallmouth at the Willow River wading and casting artificial baits with reports of fly fishing being successful.

Lake Huron/Harbor Beach: Boat anglers trolling for salmon and trout were fishing in 30 to 60 feet of water using planer boards, dipsey divers and downriggers. Anglers have reported few salmon and trout with high winds and tough weather conditions.

Lake Huron/ Port Sanilac: Smallmouth bass were reported caught casting from the north break-wall in Port Sanilac as well as inside the harbor in Lexington. Anglers used artificial lures and night crawlers. Anglers trolling for salmon and trout reported catches in between Lexington and Port Sanilac anywhere from 20 to 60 feet of water using downriggers and spoons.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

South Haven: Boat anglers reported a good number of catches for Chinook salmon and coho salmon. Anglers reported 120 feet of water and deeper as the most successful.

St. Joseph: Boat anglers saw another good week of fishing. Fish were caught around 50 to 70 feet of water. Anglers fishing the piers caught coho salmon and Chinook salmon. Most fish were caught on alewife being fished under a bobber or by casting spoons.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: The cleaning station is open for use at the Cheboygan County boat launches. In the Cheboygan River, anglers were catching Steelhead while floating beads at the Cheboygan Dam spillway. Anglers targeting walleye in the river found most success between the drawbridge and the pedestrian walkway bridge, as well as at the dam spillway at night. Walleye boat anglers were drifting night crawler harnesses with oranges, reds, and golds. Shore anglers targeting walleye floated night crawlers or leeches, as well as jigged soft plastics. Smallmouth bass were caught in the mix when anglers were targeting steelhead or walleye.

Oscoda/Au Sable River: Anglers fishing offshore reported lake trout in 50 to 60 feet of water. Atlantic salmon were reported by shore anglers in the lower river. Casting smaller spoons and drifting minnows was popular. Walleye fishing in the lower river and off the pier was reported as decent. Dusk and dawn continued to produce the best bite. Drifting a crawler, jigging plastics and casting deep crank baits was found to be effective. Anglers fishing in the upper part of the river near Foote Dam reported catching steelhead bottom bouncing beads and flies along with fishing beads under a float.

Harrisville: Many lake trout were reported this week by anglers fishing in 60 to 100 feet of water with spin-n-glos and spoons reported as working well. Coho salmon and steelhead were caught on high lines. Smaller coho salmon were caught in the harbor by anglers casting small spoons.

Tawas/Au Gres: In the Tawas area, largemouth and smallmouth bass were being caught by boat anglers, but shore anglers had luck as well. Anglers had the most success using artificial lures, but night crawlers had success as well. Few pike were caught by boat and shore anglers with artificial lures. Walleye fishing remained slow with a couple being caught this week on artificial lures and natural bait. Perch fishing remained slow as well with only a few being caught by shore anglers using natural bait. Bowfin, freshwater drum, carp, and catfish were also caught. In the Au Gres area, largemouth and smallmouth bass were being caught by boat Anglers, but shore Anglers were having luck as well. Artificial lures seemed to be working best for the Anglers in this area. Both shore Anglers and boat Anglers were having luck catching pike using artificial lures. Perch and walleye fishing was still slow with few walleye being caught on artificial lures and perch being caught on natural bait. Bowfin, catfish, and drum were reported as caught as well.

Lake Michigan/Frankfort: Water temperatures were into the low 50s for the first time this past week as brown trout was still being reported being caught on body baits. Lake Trout were moving close, in 40 to 60 feet of water in the early morning and feeding on goby.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Little Traverse Bay: Anglers on the Bear River reported a limited number of steelhead. Very few boat anglers were seen, with no reports of lake trout or salmon.

West Grand Traverse Bay: Poor weather conditions made getting out on the bay tough. Water temperatures increased slightly to roughly 40 to 45 degrees throughout the bay. Anglers who targeted smallmouth bass reported having good success in 5 to 30 feet of water. Steelhead were caught on the Boardman River drifting wax worms and beads below a float.

Manistee: Brown trout were caught off the piers while fishing with spawn bags and spoons. Anglers trolling for chinook salmon reported very slow fishing, the few that were caught were out deep in 200 feet of water. Lake trout were also reported in 100 feet of water.

Ludington: Continued to see little salmon activity with water temperature remaining cold. Lake trout were reported at Big Sable Point in various depths past 50 feet. No action to report from the piers.

Leland: Due to colder weather and storms throughout the week, there was minimal boat activity. Pier anglers found some success catching smallmouth bass throughout the harbor docks. Soft plastics were found to be the bait of choice.

Charlevoix: Fishing pressure continued to stay relatively low, occasional catches of cisco and smallmouth bass were seen in the Pine River Channel. Cisco were caught on casting spoons while boat anglers reported minimal lake trout.

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Upper Peninsula

St. Ignace: At the Carp River, anglers targeting walleye floated night crawlers as well as jigging soft plastics or used casting spoons. Those targeting walleye had good success catching smallmouth and suckers. At the Pine River, boat anglers targeting walleye were trolling nightcrawler harnesses with combinations of oranges, reds, and golds.

Grand Marais: Anglers fishing the break-wall reported many whitefish with round whitefish mixed in. Spawn was reported as working best, boat anglers have been catching fair numbers of coho salmon and Chinook salmon trolling east of the break-wall. Both trolling and jigging were reported as good for boat anglers targeting lake trout at deeper depths. Shore fishing has since slowed at the mouth of the Sucker River.

Munising: Boat anglers did well trolling for coho salmon in the bay while also reporting some Chinook salmon. Boat anglers trolling around Grand Island reported catching Chinook salmon and lake trout. Anglers who fished off the pier on the Anna River reported catching an adequate amount of splake. 

Ontonagon River: The river saw a great rise in angling efforts over the past week. Reports suggested that walleye were caught in low numbers. Occasional incidental catches of lake sturgeon were also reported.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Inclement weather over the past week limited angling opportunities from these ports. Despite this, angling efforts in these locations were fair. Anglers reported catches consisting of coho salmon, Chinook salmon, lake trout, and brown trout. These fish were caught in fair numbers by those trolling shallow waters. The Silver City boat launch dock is now in the water.

Black River Harbor: The harbor saw a low number of anglers over the past week. Recent inclement weather has limited reasonable angling opportunities. Boat anglers trolling shallow waters reported mixed catches consisting of coho salmon, Chinook salmon, brown trout, and lake trout.

Little Bay de Noc: Walleye fishing was found to have been good. Anglers reported catching walleye either trolling or using jigs tipped with natural bait or soft plastics. Anglers fishing near Breezy Point, the mouth of the Escanaba and Whitefish Rivers, and near Gladstone reported good fishing. Anglers targeting smallmouth bass reported a large quantity as well as a high number of large fish being caught. Anglers caught fish on beds and in the shallows. Perch anglers report mixed results.

Big Bay de Noc: Anglers targeting smallmouth bass reported fair success while producing multiple catches, and large fish. Anglers targeted fish on their beds, in the shallows, and near structures. Walleye anglers reported fair to good fishing with quality fish being reported. Most anglers found success trolling crawler harnesses or deep diving crank baits.

Les Cheneaux Islands: Anglers in Hessel caught an adequate number of smallmouth bass, pike, and perch along with splake. Anglers pier fishing saw success along with anglers in the boats casting and trolling. Hill Island produced some small bass and pike.  Fishing was tough and the weather was not cooperative. In De Tour, most anglers were trolling up in Scott’s Bay for walleye. There were reports of boats trolling for salmon by the lighthouse with little success.

Keweenaw Bay/ Huron Bay: Anglers reported catching coho salmon while trolling crankbaits, spoons, and flies in the upper 40 feet of the water column. Anglers also reported catches of lake trout while trolling and jigging.

Marquette: Weather in Marquette was poor the last week resulting in few days that anglers were able to make it on the water. The water temperatures have continued warming up and the coho bite around Marquette has continued to increase. East of the Chocolay river was reported best for chinook salmon. Brown trout were reported out towards Sand River and Shot Point in 40 to 50 feet of water.

Au Train: Few boats were reported this week due to weather. The coho salmon and brown trout fishing in Au Train was reported as good this week with decreased number of catches but increase in size of fish. Several boats trolling around the river mouths or near shoreline points found chinook salmon and coho salmon at 40 to 50 feet deep. Lake trout were reported caught in water around 40 to 50 feet deep.

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Fishing tip: Spring lure colors

In the spring and early summer, try using chartreuse, red, and white colored lures and bait as these colors mimic forage such as shad, crawfish, and bluegill.

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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.