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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Eastern Saginaw Bay: Due to the very hot weather and some storms over the weekend, activity was limited, and fishing was slower than in previous weeks. Those fishing around Caseville were able to catch a few walleye off Oak Point in 30 to 40 feet of water and out by the Charity Islands. In the eastern inner bay around Quanicassee, anglers were still getting walleye straight out and off Callahan Reef in 11 to 13 feet of water. Those who headed out deeper between the bar and the shipping channel were also able to find a few walleye. Crawler harnesses performed better than body baits during the week, although both caught fish.

Lake Erie: Walleye appeared to have moved to very deep waters, with anglers catching fewer than they had earlier in the month. Some walleye were still hanging around directly east of Stony Point near the Michigan–Ohio border. Anglers caught them by bottom bouncing crawler harnesses. Yellow perch remained elusive. A few more anglers targeted them in Michigan waters but without much luck. The catfish bite was reported good.

Lower Saginaw Bay: Walleye were caught two miles east of the sparkplug while trolling with crawler harnesses in 22 feet of water. Trolling just north of the black hole in 20 feet of water with crawlers also produced fish. Buoys 1 and 2 produced some walleye as well, with trolling in 24 to 26 feet of water being effective. A few smallmouth bass were caught around Spoils Island by casting crankbaits along the rocks.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

South Haven: Salmon fishing was productive this week, with anglers primarily catching Chinook salmon alongside a few coho salmon and steelhead. The most successful fishing occurred around 95 feet of water, though some anglers also experienced good results near 115 feet. The bite was predominantly on spoons, while some of the larger salmon were caught using meat rigs. Pier fishing was slow across all species, and perch fishing remained sluggish as well.

St. Joseph: Salmon fishing was decent this week, with the fish spread out across a wide range, as anglers targeted waters from 90 to well beyond 110 feet. Rotators tipped with flies or meat rigs proved to be the most productive methods. The catch consisted of a mixed bag of Chinook salmon and coho salmon. Early mornings and late evenings were the most productive times to fish. Pier fishing remained slow for all species, while perch fishing was highly inconsistent.

Muskegon: Salmon action was good for boat anglers. The best action was 60 to 100 feet down in 100 to 160 feet of water. A mix of glow plugs, glow spoons, green rotator/fly combinations, and meat rigs all worked well. Pier anglers caught a few freshwater drum on casting spoons.

Grand Haven: Boat anglers found good numbers of salmon in 100 to 160 feet of water. Glow plugs, meat rigs, and rotator/fly combinations worked best 50 to 90 feet down. Pier anglers caught a fair number of bass on drop shot rigs and live bait.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: Anglers targeting salmon in Lake Huron trolled along the northeast and southeast points of Bois Blanc Island. Salmon anglers primarily used various combinations of flashers or dodgers with spoons or flies. Meat rigs had higher success rates. In the Cheboygan River, anglers caught walleye, freshwater drum, bass, and panfish. Shore anglers targeting walleye used drop-shot rigs with worms or jigged soft plastics. Worms were used to catch drum, bass, and panfish, while spinnerbaits were also successful for bass fishing. Productive areas for targeting these species included the area beside the pedestrian walkway bridge by the baseball fields, the State Street drawbridge near the Cheboygan DNR field office, and along the parking lot by the Plaunt’s Transportation ferry.

Tawas/Au Gres: In Tawas, bad weather at the beginning of the week kept people away. However, once conditions improved, fishing picked up, with limits caught in about 60 to 80 feet of water using artificial baits. Yellow perch, catfish, and freshwater drum were also caught while trolling for walleye. Walleye fishing remained relatively slow due to very hot weather and rough waves. In Au Gres, those who went fishing had some luck, averaging about four fish per boat, with some anglers getting close to their limits. In addition to walleye, anglers caught freshwater drum, catfish, a few yellow perch, a white perch, and a steelhead.

Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers targeting lake trout picked up fish in 150+ feet of water and around the second set of humps. Spin-N-Glos, flasher flies, and spoons were effective while targeting the bottom 50 feet of the water column. A handful of coho salmon and steelhead were caught in 100 to 170 feet, with most being taken on spoons trolled higher in the water column. Anglers fishing from the catwalk or pier caught smallmouth bass, freshwater drum, and the occasional channel catfish. Cut bait or crawlers on the bottom were effective for catfish, while leeches on a drop shot rig were popular for smallmouth.

Harrisville: Lake trout were being caught in 150 to 220 feet of water, with limits being taken. Green Spin-N-Glos and spoons were productive while targeting the bottom 30 feet. A few Coho and Steelhead were caught in 120 to 150 feet while trolling orange or bright spoons 20 to 60 feet down. Occasionally, walleye were caught while targeting salmon and trout.

Rogers City: There was a lot of wind last week, which frequently changed the water temperatures. Anglers paid close attention to wind directions that brought in cooler water and took advantage of those conditions while the cold water was present. The fish bite improved when that occurred. Salmon began coming in on a regular basis. The evening bite was much better than the morning bite. Anglers caught salmon to the south, near Swan Bay and Adam’s Point, and reeled in a few near Forty Mile Point. The best depths were between 65 and 120 feet of water, with lines running throughout the water column producing the best results. Spoons, flasher-flies, and meat rigs all caught fish. Productive colors included green, blue, orange, white, and black, with glow patterns working well early and late in the day. It was a late salmon bite overall.

Presque Isle: The water was warm, and the thermocline dropped deeper. Lake trout were hitting in water 120 feet and deeper, with anglers fishing near the bottom. Walleye were taken in 30 to 60 feet of water using crankbaits. Anglers ran lines throughout the water column, with the most productive depths ranging from 80 to over 150 feet. Most anglers fished between the lighthouses, Black Point, the farm, and the humps. Spoons, flashers, and flies were the primary baits used. Productive colors included green, blue, orange, white, and glow patterns early and late in the day.

West Grand Traverse Bay: Anglers targeting smallmouth bass reported the bite as tough the past week. A few bass were caught by anglers fishing near structure in 20 to 30 feet of water while casting swim baits or tube jigs. Those targeting Chinook salmon found success in the early morning while trolling in 100 to 140 feet of water. Most fish were suspended at roughly 60 to 70 feet. Lake trout and occasional steelhead were caught in front of the whitewalls while trolling in 100 to 130 feet of water. Water temperatures hovered between 74 and 78 degrees throughout the bay.

East Grand Traverse Bay: Smallmouth bass were caught by those casting tube jigs or drop shot rigs in 10 to 25 feet of water. Finding shallow breaks with larger boulders provided anglers with the best success. Those targeting lake trout in Elk Rapids had success while trolling in 90 to 120 feet of water. Anglers reported Chinook salmon being caught suspended at roughly 50 feet in the northern areas of the bay. Smallmouth bass were caught in the Elk River, but anglers reported the bite to be slowing down as water temperatures increased. Temperatures throughout the bay ranged between 73 and 76 degrees.

Port Austin: Walleye fishing was decent, although there were few limits; catches of five to eight fish per boat were common. Anglers found walleye while fishing Osceloa Reef in 30 feet of water, Flat Rock Reef in 35 feet, and east of the lighthouse in 40 feet. Both nightcrawler harnesses and body baits produced fish, with a slight edge going to the nightcrawler harnesses.

Grindstone: Walleye fishing was slow, with a few being caught straight out in 30 to 40 feet of water.

Harbor Beach: Some walleye had just started to be caught straight out in 35 feet of water while trolling with body baits. Smallmouth bass were also caught in decent numbers in the harbor by casting various artificial baits.

Port Sanilac: Anglers reported steelhead being caught, along with some incidental walleye, trolling in 90 to 140 feet of water.

Lexington: Slow fishing overall; some anglers reported walleye early in the week but but fishing became slow over the weekend.

Alpena: Tournament fishing for the festival brought in many walleye from Thunder Bay. Lake trout numbers were low, although it appeared most tournament anglers were targeting walleye. Very few steelhead came in, and only two brown trout had been caught, according to the tournament results. Many anglers trolling were still unintentionally catching freshwater drum.

Rockport: Very little tournament fishing out of Rockport with a couple walleye reported. A few shore anglers were trying to cast for a few minutes but not getting any bites.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Manistee: Chinook salmon, steelhead, and a couple of coho salmon were caught while trolling at various depths both north and south of town. As of Sunday, the bite had slowed down and the fish were scattered. Chinook salmon were found in 70 to 90 feet of water, 100 to 180 feet of water, and 200 to 250 feet of water when fishing 60 to 100 feet down with spoons, flasher-fly combos, and plugs; the meat rig bite was very spotty. Warmer water around the harbor pushed the chinook salmon out. Bass and sheepshead were caught off the piers.

Ludington: Chinook salmon were caught at Big Sable Point and north of the point in 115 to 140 feet of water when fishing 40 to 80 feet down, and off the projects in 120 to 160 feet of water, but it was hit or miss. A few steelhead and a couple of coho salmon were brought in as well. Spoon and flasher fly bites were good, but a few plugs and meat rigs also took fish. A few smallmouth bass were caught in the harbor off the piers while using live bait.

Frankfort/Lake Michigan: The bite was good in the early morning and dusk, as anglers reported Chinook salmon in 120 to 180 feet of water while working the top 80 feet. Plugs, spoons, and flashers-n-flies all got hits. Steelhead and lake trout were in the mix as well. Anglers jigging the harbor picked up some moderate catches on jigs. Lake trout bites were good at Six Mile Hole and in the Platte Bay area.

Leland: Lake trout and Chinook salmon were caught at various locations, including North Manitou Island, South Manitou Island, whale back, and second bank. Anglers targeting Chinook salmon found the most success fishing north of North Manitou Island in 100 to 400 feet of water. The Chinook salmon bite was most consistent at 75 feet. Spoons, paddles with flies, and meat rigs produced the most fish. Pier anglers fished for smallmouth bass and rock bass using bobbers and worms.

Suttons Bay: Anglers who targeted smallmouth bass found minimal success fishing offshore in 15 to 30 feet of water around Suttons Bay and Omena Bay. Suckers and smallmouth bass were seen and caught by shore anglers in front of the marina in Northport.

Charlevoix: Fishing pressure increased, with reports of lake trout, smallmouth bass, and Chinook salmon. Chinook salmon were caught while trolling around Medusa with flies at 80 to 120 feet. More Chinook salmon were caught at night. Smallmouth bass were caught off the pier while still fishing with worms. Lake trout were caught trolling in 120 to 150 feet of water.

Little Traverse Bay: Anglers fishing the Bear River reported some smallmouth bass and lots of small panfish while drifting worms. Anglers fishing on the bay reported success trolling for Chinook salmon toward the Harbor Springs side of the bay in 65 to 100 feet of water.

Onekama/Lake Michigan: Anglers trolling in 160 to 200 feet of water reported some Chinook salmon in the top 80 feet of water in the early mornings. Trolling the barrel was also picking up with the occasional lake trout.

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Upper Peninsula

St. Ignace: Anglers on Lake Huron successfully caught lake trout using spoons and flashers on downriggers off the east side of Mackinac Island. At the Carp and Pine rivers, walleye fishing pressure continued to decline, with most anglers targeting them primarily catching undersized fish. Walleye anglers employed various techniques, including floating leeches, casting small spinner baits, jigging soft plastics, and trolling nightcrawler harnesses.

Ontonagon River: Fishing efforts on the river have been low over the past week. Angler reports show that walleye were being caught in low numbers. Anglers had luck finding fish when jigging and trolling.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Ontonagon saw a fair amounts of angling efforts. Efforts were lower from Union Bay and Silver City. Recent reported catches consisted of lake trout in low numbers. Anglers found success when trolling across a variety of water depths.

Black River Harbor: Angling efforts from the harbor were low over the past week. Fishing conditions were described by anglers as tough and very slow. Recent catches consisted of lake trout in low numbers. Anglers reported having to troll across a variety of water depths to find fish.

Little Bay de Noc: Anglers reported slow fishing for walleye. Some caught fish south of Gladstone Beach, as well as at black bottom during low light hours of the day. Other walleye anglers fished deep water in the outer portion of the bay. Yellow perch anglers reported fair fishing but limited success at the bottom of drop-offs using minnows and worms.

Big Bay de Noc: Smallmouth bass anglers reported good fishing with lots of fish being caught on night crawlers. Other anglers used soft plastics that resemble baitfish or gobies.

Fairport: Salmon fishing was good; anglers reported catching limits or at least multiple catches per person. Anglers were trolling with dipsy divers, down riggers, and rods on planer boards. Spoons and flasher-fly combos were common presentations.

Keweenaw Bay/ Huron Bay: Anglers reported that lake trout fishing was fair to poor. They saw limited success while trolling and jigging with both natural and artificial presentations in 100 to 200 feet of water. Salmon fishing was reported as slow, with an occasional splake being caught.

Marquette: Anglers started to see bait balls on their graphs, and the number of lake trout being caught was consistent. Anglers trolling from northwest of the white rocks out toward north of Granite Island reported good success, but it seemed they were moving into deeper water before they started catching fish. The clay banks fishing was very slow. Only lake trout were caught last week in Marquette at depths ranging from 140 to 180 feet of water.

Au Train: Warm, windy weather pushed lake trout fishing out deeper this past week, but anglers still picked up a few both trolling and jigging. They trolled for lake trout in around 150 to 180 feet of water northwest of Au Train Island, out in the flats toward the clay banks, or near Wood Island in about 200 feet of water. Anglers were warned to watch out for the many tribal fishing nets around Au Train Bay, as several anglers got caught up in the nets this week.

Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers reported catching fair to good numbers of lake trout when trolling spoons and flasher/fly combinations around structure. Very few coho salmon and Chinook salmon were caught, and those were taken on spoons fished 30 to 50 feet down.

Munising: Boat anglers reported doing well when targeting lake trout trolling out at Big Reef and near Grand Island at deeper depths. Boat anglers also caught some splake trolling in Munising Bay.

Grand Marais: The lake trout bite was consistent for boat anglers trolling and jigging out at deeper depths. Boat anglers reported picking up a few coho salmon trolling east of the break wall.

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Fishing tip: Targeting smallmouth bass

For smallmouth bass, concentrate on casting tube jigs or drop shot rigs around shallow breaks with larger boulders. These areas provide good cover and feeding opportunities, especially during low-light periods like early morning or dusk.

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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.