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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Yellow perch fishing remained relatively slow. Although some anglers found a few yellow perch around buoys 3 and 4, out from Bolles Harbor in 22 feet of water using minnows as bait and fishing near the bottom, most anglers did not catch more than 10 good-sized perch per boat. Water temperatures were around 70 degrees on the surface this past week. No boats reported coming back with more than 50 perch for the entire month of August. Many smaller perch were caught but were not worth keeping. Numerous white perch were also caught while fishing for yellow perch. A few walleye were still hanging around, but most had moved to waters outside the Michigan border.

Eastern Saginaw Bay: Fishing for walleye from Sebewaing to Caseville was slow due to windy weather that kept anglers off the water for several days. When anglers were able to get out, most boats had few walleye, with a few boats landing two to four. Anglers fished in waters ranging from 12 to 40 feet from the slot area out toward the center of the bay and into deeper water off Caseville. Fishing for yellow perch was also slow. Anglers fishing from shore dealt with heavy weed growth but managed to catch a few largemouth bass, northern pike, and an occasional walleye while casting artificial baits.

Lake Huron: Anglers reported catching a few pike from the breakwall and shore casting a variety of lures in both harbors.

Lenawee County: Small panfish were caught at Allen Lake.

Washtenaw County: Fishing activity was slow across Washtenaw County. A few bass were reported caught along the Huron River.

Monroe County: Anglers on Lake Erie had good success with yellow perch and white perch using perch rigs and minnows.

Macomb County: The lake was warm, and the weeds were getting taller. Anglers still caught bass, walleye, and pike from shore and trolling along the weed beds.     

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

South Haven: Boat anglers had a tough week. Some fish were caught, but overall, the fishing was slow. A few fish were caught in 95 feet of water, but the best action was beyond 100 feet. Most of the fish were caught on spoons. Pier fishing was very slow for all species. Perch fishing was good for one day, but the rest of the week was challenging. Anglers were fishing around 30 feet of water.

St. Joseph: Boat anglers experienced slow fishing this week. There were a couple of good catches around 120 feet of water. The fish were caught on a mixture of spoons and plugs. Pier fishing was very slow throughout the week for all species. Perch anglers had a few good days, but the weekend was slow. Anglers were fishing both north and south of the piers in 35 feet of water.

Muskegon: Boat anglers found the salmon to be scattered. The most success was found 70 to 120 feet down in 80 to 160 feet of water. Flasher-fly combinations and glow spoons were the most productive. Anglers casting from the piers found the salmon bite to be slow.

Grand Haven: The salmon bite slowed down over the past week with warmer water temperatures. Most of the salmon were found 70 to 120 feet down in 80 to 150 feet of water. Glow spoons worked best, along with green or white flies. Pier anglers caught a few coho salmon on glow spoons or while using bobbers with gizzard shad.

Eaton County: The bite slow throughout the county for all species. The only luck reported was with worms, which caught small bluegill.

Calhoun County: Bluegill were caught on local lakes in good numbers using live worms. Largemouth bass were also being caught using plastic baits.

Hillsdale County: Only small numbers of smallmouth bass and panfish were reported.

Ingham County: Northern pike were active in Grand River waters.

Ionia County: Nice messes of sunfish were reported at Jordan Lake and Sessions Lake by anglers fishing from boats. Anglers were still catching bluegill and crappie on most inland lakes.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: Anglers fishing Lake Huron targeted salmon off Lafayette Point using spoons, J-plugs, and flasher-fly combinations, with spoons producing the best results. These efforts yielded lake trout along with the occasional salmon. Those fishing the shipping channel between the Cheboygan County Marina boat launches in the river and the buoy markers in the lake trolled spoons and J-plugs between 15 and 20 feet deep. Anglers fishing from the Cheboygan pier caught salmon while casting spoons. Salmon anglers at the Cheboygan Dam used spawn, spoons, or stickbaits, with those drifting spawn being the most successful. Recently, the early morning bite was better than the evening bite. Due to many anglers switching their focus to salmon, there were fewer reports of walleye. Good areas to target bass and panfish 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.

Oscoda/Au Sable: A couple of coho salmon, along with a few Chinook salmon, were caught by anglers fishing from the pier early in the morning. Glow spoons, Arctic spinners, and jerkbaits took coho salmon. Anglers fishing offshore had a slow week, as water temperatures remained relatively constant from top to bottom until around 140 feet of water. A handful of walleye were taken on spoons, 30 to 50 feet down in 90 to 120 feet of water.

Harrisville: A handful of lake trout were taken in 160 feet trolling spoons tight to the bottom. A few steelhead were taken in 140 to 165 feet of water on spoons 40 to 60 feet down. Anglers casting in the harbor are starting to see a few coho salmon.

Presque Isle: Anglers had difficulty due to the warm water nearshore. Heavy winds prevented them from getting out to the deeper, cooler water. When conditions allowed, anglers fished in 130 feet of water or more, targeting lake trout near the bottom. A few Chinook salmon were taken before daylight and after sunset between the lighthouses or south toward Stoneport. The best depths were 60 to 120 feet of water, with lines run throughout the water column. Spoons, flashers with flies, squids, meat rigs, and J-plugs all produced fish. Good colors included green, blue, white, black, and glow patterns early and late in the day.

Alpena: Anglers brought in less than limits for walleye and Chinook salmon via trolling. No lake trout catches were reported. Little to no smallmouth bass were caught on the lake, though anglers on the river reported several smallmouth and rock bass catches. River anglers also reported some success casting for walleye.

Rockport: There was no fishing activity at Rockport for most of the week due to adverse conditions on the lake with large waves and strong winds. Saturday, though, conditions were more favorable, and anglers brought in less than limits trolling for lake trout and walleye.

Rogers City: Salmon were staging off Swan Bay, but the warm water had them in a negative bite. The best bite was before sunrise and after sunset in the evening. Anglers were running lines throughout the water column for the best results. They were using spoons, flashers and flies, squids, meat rigs, and J-plugs. Good colors included green, blue, white, black, and glow patterns early and late in the day. Anglers were mostly catching Chinook salmon, lake trout, and walleye.

Au Gres: A few walleye were caught trolling straight out in 35 feet of water. Anglers worked hard to keep 3 to 6 per boat. Night crawler harnesses and hard baits are both catching some fish. Perch fishing has been slow.

Pine River: A few walleye and smallmouth bass were caught trolling night crawler harnesses in 17 to 19 feet of water.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Frankfort/Lake Michigan: This week’s weather proved good for landing Chinook salmon. Anglers reported excellent numbers of Chinook salmon out front in 80 to 100 feet of water, trolling the top 40 to 60 feet. The evening bite was a bit better, as plugs were successful. River anglers also reported Chinook salmon moving in most areas. Steelhead, coho salmon, and lake trout were reported as well. Coho anglers in Platte Bay reported some activity in the early mornings while trolling in 60 to 80 feet of water.

Leland: Strong winds this past week kept fishing pressure very minimal. A few anglers were able to fish the first bank in 100 to 150 feet of water, with baits set around 30 to 48 feet down, and found a few Chinook salmon. Effective baits included green, purple, and silver/red plugs

Suttons Bay: Anglers were able to take advantage of the nice weekend weather and caught salmon and lake trout while trolling near Suttons Bay. Pier anglers in Northport caught a few smallmouths while casting swimbaits.

Onekama/Lake Michigan: The Barrel and in front of the golf course were successful areas to land some nice Chinook salmon as anglers reported moderate numbers in the early mornings on glow spoons.

West Grand Traverse Bay: Salmon were caught in good numbers throughout the bay. Anglers trolling in front of the Boardman River caught fish between 45 and 70 feet down in 90 to 120 feet of water. Those who went north and fished by the Whitewalls in 100 to 140 feet of water also caught Chinook salmon, along with the occasional lake trout or coho salmon. The best baits were white and green trolling spoons or green flasher-fly combinations.

East Grand Traverse Bay: Anglers trolling in front of the East Bay Marina reported a good salmon bite in the mornings. The anglers who had the most success were trolling 50 to 70 feet down in 110 to 140 feet of water. White trolling spoons, as well as green and blue flasher-fly combinations, were effective baits. A few lake trout were also caught by those trolling north of Deepwater Point.

Charlevoix: Salmon anglers found success trolling. Targeting salmon anywhere near Medusa and the pier heads produced results. Fishing in the evening and early morning were the best.

Little Traverse Bay: Anglers targeting salmon in the bay reported good numbers of Chinook salmon and a few coho salmon. Trolling spoons, plugs, and flies have produced results. The Bear River in Petoskey has gotten a good push of salmon and anglers fishing from the piers have also found some success.

Manistee: Salmon were caught just outside the pier heads and in 90 to 150 feet of water, primarily in the top 50 feet, when using plugs and spoons in glow and green colors. Chinook salmon were also caught off the piers while casting and jigging spoons. Boat anglers caught Chinook salmon in the channel and Manistee Lake while jigging and trolling. Early morning and late-night bites were the best.

Ludington: Chinook salmon were caught at the pier heads and out to 50 feet, to the south in 80 to 120 feet of water, and at 60 to 150 feet around Big Sauble Point when trolling green and glow plugs and spoons in the top 50 feet. Chinook salmon were also caught off the piers by anglers casting and jigging spoons in the early morning hours and after dark. PM Lake also had decent catches of Chinook salmon while jigging, trolling, and using skein.

Lake Michigan: Chinook salmon were caught in front of Charlevoix, some starting to show up in front of Boyne City.

Antrim County: In Lake Michigan, a few lake trout and Chinook salmon were caught. 

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Upper Peninsula

Ontonagon River: Angling efforts on the river were low to fair over the past week. Walleye were reportedly caught in fair numbers by those jigging with natural baits.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Over the past week, Ontonagon saw a high amount of fishing effort. Effort from Union Bay and Silver City was also relatively high. Recent reports included catches consisting of large numbers of lake trout, along with occasional brown trout, coho salmon, and Chinook salmon. Some anglers reported having success when fishing at depths ranging from 65 to 100 feet.

Black River Harbor: The harbor saw a fair amount of angling effort over the past week. Reported catches consisted primarily of lake trout in good numbers. These catches also included brown trout, coho salmon, and chinook salmon in lesser numbers. Some anglers reported having success when fishing at depths ranging from 80 to 100 feet.

Little Bay de Noc: Anglers targeting yellow perch reported slow days this week. However, some were able to stay on a school long enough to enjoy a decent catch. Bass anglers reported good fishing, with some success on topwater baits as well as along the edges of weed beds. Walleye anglers had the most success during dawn or dusk, trolling crawler harnesses or casting jigs.

Big Bay de Noc: Anglers reported good bass fishing near offshore islands, as well as in areas with rocky bottoms. Some anglers casted lures that imitated gobies, while others had success using baits that resembled bugs or worms.

Fairport: Anglers caught small chinook salmon as well as steelhead. Most anglers are trolling spoons at minimum depths of 110 feet.

Keweenaw Bay/ Huron Bay: Anglers reported that lake trout fishing was fair while targeting them by trolling and jigging. They had success trolling spoons and flasher-fly combinations in waters deeper than 150 feet. Salmon fishing was reported as poor to fair, with coho salmon and Chinook salmon caught, although in low numbers.

Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers reported catching fair to good numbers of lake trout while trolling spoons and flasher-fly combinations. These were caught in 70 to 120 feet of water, with most fish taken near the bottom and around structure. Anglers also reported that salmon fishing improved, with more coho salmon and Chinook salmon caught in the past week.

Grand Marais: Lake trout fishing was very good this past week for boat anglers both trolling and jigging for them. A few coho salmon have been picked up by boating anglers trolling east of the breakwall.

St. Ignace: At the Carp River, anglers had a difficult time catching early-run salmon. Overcast days were the best times to fish. There was fishing pressure at Nunns Creek, but no reports of salmon caught yet. Anglers targeting salmon used spoons or spinnerbaits.

Munising: Boat anglers reported a few coho salmon and Chinook salmon in the bay and around Grand Island. The lake trout bite was reported as great, with boat anglers having success trolling and jigging for them West of Grand Island and out on Big Reef.

Marquette: Lake trout were still being caught consistently north of White Rocks in 120 to 200 feet of water. Anglers trolling from northwest of White Rocks out toward north of Granite Island continued doing well in both deep and shallow waters. Most of the fish came into shallow water as the water temperature decreased. Coho salmon were caught from the Upper Harbor Lighthouse out toward Black Rocks and by the Clay Banks west of Granite Island in around 60 feet of water. These fish were caught at various depths from 80 to 180 feet, depending on where anglers were fishing, but 120 feet was the most reported depth this week, especially for lake trout.

Au Train: Most anglers went northwest of Au Train Island out to the flats in around 120 to 160 feet of water. Anglers reported doing well for lake trout last week compared to the previous couple of weeks. Anglers either trolled for lake trout in around 120 to 180 feet of water or jigged off the flats in 80 to 100 feet of water.

Les Cheneaux/DeTour: Anglers in Hessel were waiting for the splake to come in. They caught a few perch off the Hessel marina docks using leeches. Some smallmouth bass were also being caught within the islands. Water temperatures were expected to start changing soon with cooler weather on the way. Anglers in DeTour did well heading north and catching good numbers of walleye, though they had to sort through sizes and throw back a significant number of undersized fish.

UP Counties: Salmon are still around in Lake Michigan and should be making their way inland within the next couple of weeks. Fishing for panfish and walleye was steady on inland lakes.

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Fishing tip: September fishing

As water temperatures begin to drop in September, fish like smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye become more active and start feeding aggressively to prepare for winter. Focus on shallower waters during early mornings and late afternoons, especially near weed edges, rocky points and drop-offs. Use natural-colored crankbaits, jerkbaits or jigs tipped with minnows to match the hatch. It's a great time to capitalize on the fall feeding frenzy before turnover hits later in the month.

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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.