Fishing isn't just something to do in Michigan — it's part of who we are. Students from Crawford School in Kalkaska County turned the region’s fishing culture into a project-based learning experiment that seamlessly blended science, art and economics with local tradition and inquiry-based education by making and selling fishing lures. Read more in this Showcasing the DNR story.

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

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Yellow perch fishing improved slightly, though overall action remained slow. Anglers caught a few perch east of Bolles Harbor in 18 feet of water using perch rigs tipped with minnows. Anglers targeting walleye found success trolling crawler harnesses east of Stony Point along the Michigan–Ohio state line. Largemouth bass fishing in the area channels was good on artificial lures, primarily soft plastics.

Lower Saginaw Bay: Walleye were caught off Finn Road in 7 to 10 feet of water while trolling with nightcrawlers. Yellow perch were caught at the Spark Plug and near the sailboat buoys.

Eastern Saginaw Bay: Strong winds kept anglers off the bay over the past few days, and fishing pressure dropped off. Prior to the wind, walleye anglers did well in Sebewaing trolling Flicker Shads over the bar in 14 to 15 feet of water. Aside from that, activity was minimal.

Lexington: The boat launch was partially closed, with one ramp in operation. Fishing was generally slow, as most watercraft on the lake were recreational boaters.

Port Sanilac: The bite was generally slow. Anglers had some success trolling for walleye with crawler harnesses and spoons in 100 to 120 feet of water, averaging 1 to 2 fish per boat. Lake trout and steelhead action picked up for anglers trolling spoons in 100 to 150 feet of water, with a few steelhead caught around 85 feet down. A few anglers also caught the occasional coho salmon and Atlantic salmon. Pier anglers targeting salmon had no success but did well when targeting northern pike and bass with inline spinners in the harbor.

Harbor Beach: Windy conditions throughout the week made boat fishing slow. Early in the week, anglers had success trolling spoons for walleye, steelhead, and lake trout in 100 to 140 feet of water. Pier anglers had some success targeting walleye in the harbor with jointed swimbaits.

Port Austin: Fishing was slow with no fish reported due to high winds. A few anglers caught smallmouth bass off the head of the pier using soft plastic baits.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

Muskegon: Boat anglers caught salmon from the breakwalls out to 80 feet of water. Glow plugs and glow spoons worked best. Pier anglers casting glow spoons caught a few Chinook salmon.

Grand Haven: Salmon were caught from the pierheads in 70 feet of water. Glow spoons, glow plugs, and white flies were all productive. Pier anglers caught salmon while casting glow spoons or using live bait like gizzard shad and alewives. Largemouth bass were caught on drop-shot rigs.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Tawas/Au Gres: Strong winds kept most boat anglers off the water. Those who ventured out returned with an average of five walleye per boat. A few anglers targeted yellow perch and caught a few keepers, but no limits were reported. Largemouth bass were caught out of the Tawas River and off the state dock, though fishing overall remained slow.

Alpena: Fishing activity was minimal over the past week. A few boat anglers targeted walleye in 30 to 50 feet of water, though anglers reported slow fishing with fish scattered across Thunder Bay.

Thunder Bay River: Catfish were caught in good numbers from the armory up to the 9th Street Dam. Cut bait and nightcrawlers fished on the bottom were productive. A few small smallmouth bass and northern pike were caught using spinners and crankbaits. Anglers reported no success targeting walleye.

Rockport: High winds reduced angler activity over the past week. Anglers had mixed results targeting walleye, with fish scattered throughout the water column in 20 to 100 feet of water. Anglers who found success reported the best results on deep-diving crankbaits in natural and green patterns.

Cheboygan: Low numbers of salmon were reported staging at the mouth of the Cheboygan River. Anglers cast glow spoons early in the morning and late at night. Smallmouth bass and rock bass, along with the occasional northern pike, were caught between the State Street drawbridge and the Cheboygan Dam spillway. Smallmouth bass and rock bass were caught while drifting nightcrawlers, and northern pike were caught using jerkbaits.

Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers trolling in 120 to 160 feet of water had fair lake trout fishing using spoons and Spin-N-Glos. Walleye were caught in 80 to 160 feet of water while trolling 20 to 40 feet down; small spoons and nightcrawler harnesses produced some fish. Anglers fishing from the pier and catwalk caught channel catfish using nightcrawlers on the bottom.

Harrisville: Anglers targeting lake trout did well in 180 to 200 feet of water while trolling spoons and Spin-N-Glos. A handful of steelhead were taken on spoons in 120 to 160 feet of water. Anglers casting spinners in the harbor reported catching a few northern pike.

Rogers City: Salmon arrived in good numbers, though weather conditions dictated angler activity. The most productive bites occurred at first and last light, with anglers fishing primarily off Swan Bay. Anglers deployed lead core lines of varying lengths, downriggers, dipsy divers, and copper wire to cover the entire water column. The best depths were 40 to 90 feet of water. Salmon held in shallower water early and late in the day, moving deeper during midday. Anglers used an assortment of spoons, J-Plugs, flasher-fly and squid combinations, and flashers with meat rigs. Productive colors included green, blue, chartreuse, black, white, UV white, pearl, and glow patterns. While the focus remained primarily on salmon, activity also extended north along US-23 toward 40 Mile Point.

Presque Isle: Salmon and trout fishing remained slow, lake trout were caught deep at the hump. The most productive depths were 120 feet of water and deeper near the bottom using spoons or attractors paired with Spin-N-Glo lures or Spin-N-Glo flies. A few anglers targeted fish around Stoneport and False Presque Isle with some success. Walleye anglers did well during evening and after dark while trolling body baits or crawler harnesses. The best depths were 30 to 65 feet of water, with anglers targeting the top 35 feet.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Manistee: Anglers targeting salmon found them both north and south of the port while trolling in depths from 70 to 300 feet of water. Fish were typically caught 60 to 80 feet down and at depths of 100+ feet of water. Spoons, flies, and plugs worked best in the early mornings and late evenings. At the beginning of the week, a few Chinook salmon were caught off the pier, in the channel, and in Manistee Lake. Anglers trolling in front of the pier heads also caught Chinook salmon on plugs and spoons.

Ludington: Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and a few steelhead were caught straight out and south in 80 to 110 feet of water while trolling 35 feet down to the bottom, as well as northwest up toward Big Sable Point in 60 to 120 feet of water while fishing 40 to 80+ feet down or near the bottom. Plugs, spoons, and flies worked best. At the beginning of the week, Chinook salmon were caught while jigging or trolling in the harbor, in front of the piers, and in Pere Marquette Lake.

Charlevoix: Strong northwest winds kept angling activity to a minimum. Anglers who made it out reported low numbers of salmon. The temperature break was reported at 75 to 100 feet down, with anglers finding some success trolling in 150 to 200 feet of water. Spoons and meat rigs fished in the early morning produced better results than in the evening.

Little Traverse Bay: Strong northwest winds kept angling activity to a minimum. Anglers who made it out reported low numbers of salmon, primarily on the north side of the bay. Boat anglers staying out of the wind reported low numbers 60 to 90 feet down in 120 to 200 feet of water. Spoons and meat rigs fished in the early morning produced better results than in the evening.

East Grand Traverse Bay: Strong winds made conditions tough and limited fishing activity over the past week. Anglers heading south of the Center Road launch caught Chinook salmon while trolling in 110 to 140 feet of water. Water temperatures throughout the bay hovered between 70 and 73 degrees.

West Grand Traverse Bay: Strong winds made conditions tough and limited fishing activity over the past week. Anglers who got out caught a few lake trout along with an occasional Chinook salmon in 100 to 140 feet of water along the west bank just north of Elmwood Marina. Anglers trolling close to the mouth of the Boardman River also caught a few Chinook salmon, though the bite was slow. Water temperatures hovered between 69 and 73 degrees.

Leland: Boat anglers caught Chinook salmon and steelhead north of North Manitou Island while trolling in 150 to 300 feet of water with baits set 60 to 125 feet down. Green plugs, spoons, and flies produced well.

Anglers fishing around the Crib caught a few steelhead and coho salmon. A few fish moved closer to shore. Anglers trolling north along the first and second banks found success when targeting Chinook salmon. Pier anglers reported no signs of Chinook salmon yet, but caught yellow perch, bluegill, smallmouth bass, and a few catfish.

Frankfort: North winds rolled the lake over, bringing cooler water in. Chinook salmon responded by moving into the harbor, directly out front, and into the river. Breakwall anglers, jiggers, and open-water trollers reported strong numbers. Coho salmon also moved into Platte Bay.

Onekama: With the lake rolling over, anglers fishing the Barrel and in front of the golf course reported good numbers of Chinook salmon in the early mornings, mostly on spoons, though plugs had success as well.

Northport/Suttons Bay: Boat anglers targeting Chinook salmon had some success when trolling in front of Stoney point and Belanger Creek. Lake trout anglers were successful when jigging white, gold tubes or spoons near Stoney point and in Omena Bay.

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Upper Peninsula

Little Bay de Noc: Anglers targeting yellow perch reported good fishing while using perch rigs baited with worms and minnows on light-action rods. Walleye anglers reported slow-to-fair fishing, with most targeting the bottom of drop-offs. Anglers trolling typically ran crawler harnesses behind bottom bouncers or inline weights. Anglers casting reported using snap-style jigs or jigs paired with soft plastics. Coho salmon fishing was slow over the past week.

Munising: Weather conditions limited fishing activity over the past week, but boat anglers who made it out caught a few coho salmon and splake while trolling in the bay and around Grand Island. Boat anglers targeting lake trout found success at Big Reef and around Grand Island. Anglers fishing the mouth of the Anna River caught a few splake. Spawn and casting spinners were the most productive baits.

Ontonagon River: Angling effort on the river was good over the past week. Walleye were caught in fair numbers by anglers jigging. Trolling was much less effective, with fishing in the morning hours yielding the best success.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Ontonagon saw fair amounts of angling effort over the past week. Effort from the Silver City and Union Bay access sites remained much lower than from Ontonagon. Angler reports included catches of lake trout in fair-to-low numbers. Anglers trolled across depths varying from 60 to 150 feet to find fish.

Black River Harbor: Angling effort remained low from the harbor over the past week. Anglers caught lake trout in low-to-fair numbers while trolling in depths of 60 to 160 feet. Shore anglers fishing within the harbor boundaries reported catches of smallmouth bass and white suckers in low numbers.

St. Ignace: Early salmon began to show, with low numbers moving into the Carp River and a handful staging at Nunns Creek. Anglers targeting their first fall-run salmon of the season cast spoons and drifted spawn.

Grand Marais: Weather conditions limited fishing activity. When weather permitted, boat anglers reported doing well when targeting lake trout trolling and jigging at deeper depths.

Manistique: Anglers reported good Chinook salmon fishing from the "green can" buoy located south of Manistique to Fairport. Anglers had good success trolling in water depths of 100 to 150 feet of water. Magnum-sized spoons were productive. Anglers who fished near the mouth of the Manistique River reported slow fishing, as did pier anglers.

Marquette: Most anglers continued to troll north of White Rocks out toward Granite Island and the Clay Banks in 80 to 160 feet of water targeting lake trout. Anglers reported catching fish throughout the water column with no clear pattern. A few anglers reported catching salmon and brown trout near Little Presque Isle and the Clay Banks area around Granite Island and the Little Garlic River in 60 to 100 feet of water. Few anglers headed out to the Sand River or Shot Point, with lower numbers of lake trout reported. Coho salmon were caught in 60 feet of water between the Lower Harbor Lighthouse and the Chocolay River, with lines set 25 to 30 feet down.

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers reported catching lake trout, along with a few coho salmon, splake, and Chinook salmon, while trolling spoons and flasher-fly rigs over the past week. Anglers jigging for lake trout reported a fair bite, finding success on both natural and artificial presentations. Fish were caught in 100 to 140 feet of water.

Lake Independence, Big Bay: Fishing activity remained slow with most anglers targeting Walleye and Yellow Perch. Anglers did best jigging in 10 to 15 feet of water using natural bait.

Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers reported fair-to-good fishing for lake trout while trolling spoons and flasher-fly rigs near the bottom in 90 to 120 feet of water and around structure. Coho salmon, steelhead, and a few brown trout were also caught in low numbers while trolling. Anglers jigging for lake trout reported a fair bite when using natural and artificial baits, with most fish caught between 100 and 140 feet of water and some caught in depths near 200 feet.

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Fishing tip: Looking for some fun? Go fishing this fall!

Ask many anglers and they’ll tell you fall is a wonderful time to go fishing as fish prepare for the colder months by ramping up their feeding efforts. Most will target salmon, walleye, perch, panfish and bass and see much success when doing so.

Salmon

Many fish will return very hungry to their natal streams throughout this month. Check out Michigan.gov/FishID on the DNR’s website for tips on spots to locate them.

Walleye

Large schools of this species will move from the Great Lakes inland. By the end of September these fish will really be biting. Visit Michigan.gov/Walleye to learn more about techniques for targeting them.

Perch

Both Lake Michigan and Lake Erie provide great opportunities for perch fishing during the fall as the large schools head to shallow water. Check out Michigan.gov/FishID to find some great spots to fish for them.

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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 nearly 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.