You can tell summer is almost here as fishing activity is heating up and most fish are following suite. Inland lakes are hot spots for panfish and bass right now while most rivers are offering walleye, northern pike and bass opportunities.  

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Overall: Inland lakes have been producing good bass fishing, but panfish opportunities have been hit-or-miss.

Lake Erie:  Many limits of walleye were caught, and those not catching their limit still brought in a good number of fish. Trolling orange and white crawler harnesses on the bottom 22 feet of water around the Dumping Grounds produced a good number of fish. Walleye were also caught while trolling with green Hot ‘N Tots 15 feet down in 20 feet of water or with pink rainbow spoons in 18 to 22 feet. While trolling from Stony Point to the Raisin River, walleye were caught in 20 to 24 feet of water on copper and green crawler harnesses. Anglers launching from Sterling State Park headed out to Brest Bay and beyond. Fish were marked in 20 to 30 feet of water and walleye were caught on crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers and spoons. Off Fermi, walleye were caught while trolling fire-tiger and hammered brass crawler harnesses in 26 feet of water. A large number of freshwater drum, white perch and white bass were also caught while targeting walleye. Yellow perch were caught off Fermi in 26 feet of water while using minnows. Channel catfish were caught in the Hot Ponds while still fishing with worms in 12 feet of water. Smallmouth bass were caught off Stony Point in 12 to 15 feet of water while casting goby colored tubes. Largemouth bass were caught in the canal at Sterling in four feet of water while casting spinnerbaits.

Detroit River:  Some white bass were being caught with good numbers reported all along the river from the Wyandotte boat launch south to Pointe Mouillee.     

St. Clair River: Good walleye fishing was reported with vertical jigging with dark colored plastic tipped with minnows working best. Fish were biting both day and night. 

Clinton River: White bass limit catches were reported by the mouth. 

Lexington to Port Sanilac:  Anglers who were trolling in 55 to 60 feet had success with lake trout. A few steelhead and walleye were also taken.    

Harbor Beach:  A few steelhead were caught from the shore and lake trout were caught in 80 to 100 feet. 

Saginaw Bay:  A few boats caught walleye out just beyond the Spoils Island. Limit catches were common from the Slot from Oakhurst north to Sunset Bay Marina, from the Callahan Reef area, and from deeper water between the Bar and the Spark Plug (buoys 11 and 12). Crawler harnesses were best. Purple, pink, chartreuse and brass were the best colors for crawler harness spinners.

Saginaw River: Anglers reported catching catfish, sheepshead and walleye. 

Tittabawassee River: This will be the last river report of the season. The fishery is now mostly for smallmouth bass; the walleye and white bass have tapered off for the summer. The river is high and muddy after recent heavy rains up the watershed.  

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

Overall: Panfish activity is really picking up, as is northern pike fishing. It appears salmon may be starting to move towards the northern Lake Michigan ports.

St. Joseph:  Salmon fishing was inconsistent. Most anglers were catching a mixed bag of lake trout, coho and Chinook. The best fishing was reported well past 120 feet of water. Pier anglers caught good numbers of catfish and lots of sheepshead. Most fish were caught on spoons and while still fishing with dead alewife. Steelhead were caught on shrimp. 

St. Joseph River: Walleye were being caught near the courthouse. 

South Haven:  Salmon fishing continued to be slow. Boat anglers caught a few lake trout and coho along with the occasional Chinook. The fish were scattered anywhere from 60 to 120 feet or more. Pier angler caught a couple steelhead on shrimp or freshwater drum when casting small spoons.  

Grand Haven:  Boat anglers reported fair salmon action 40 to 90 feet down in 110 to 180 feet with blue, green and orange spoons. Pier anglers caught a couple steelhead on shrimp. Good numbers of freshwater drum were caught in the channel when using worms or minnows.  

Grand River at Grand Rapids:  Water levels were up after all the rain.  Walleye were caught near the launch by the Rogue River and downstream of Johnston Park. A few catfish, including some large ones, were been caught throughout the river. Anglers were still getting smallmouth bass.    

Grand River at Lansing:  There were reports of rock bass being caught. 

Maple River:  Good catches of channel catfish were observed.          

Muskegon:  Chinook salmon were caught 30 to 100 feet down in 100 to 180 feet with green and orange spoons with white flies. There was no pier report.

Muskegon River:  Good walleye, pike and bass fishing was reported. 

Whitehall:  Boats trolling 30 to 70 feet down in 120 to 180 feet caught salmon and steelhead. Meinert Park to Stony Lake was a productive trolling path with spoons in blue and green enticing most fish.  

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan:  Had some anglers fishing smallmouth bass in the bay. Those using soft baits and crank baits did catch some fish.   

Cheboygan River:  The water flow has slowed and there was one chute open on the dam. Walleye fishing slowed but a few were taken early or late when drifting worms or jigging soft baits. Those using crank baits, spoons and spinners had little to no luck.  Pike were caught on spinners and crank baits and most were around 26 inches. Anglers also caught carp, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, suckers and a few catfish when drifting worms.  

Ocqueoc River:  Those using worms and flies at the access site caught large and smallmouth bass as well as carp.  

Rogers City:  Lake trout fishing picked up with a few limit catches reported. Most were fishing cowbells or dodgers with spin-glo’s near the bottom or spoons up higher in 50 to 70 feet. Chinook salmon should be around. Try the top half of the water column in 60 to 120 feet. A couple Atlantic salmon were caught recently. Try the top 20 feet with bright spoons like orange or chartreuse.  

Alpena:  Boats did well with a mixed bag of lake trout, Atlantic salmon and the occasional Chinook or steelhead being caught straight out in 60 to 90 feet, around Thunder Bay Island and off the Nine Mile Can. Anglers were running lines throughout the water column and closer to the bottom for lake trout. Spoons, as well as dodgers or flashers with flies or spin glo’s, were good in green, blue and chartreuse. Use bright colors up high. Walleye anglers were fishing in 25 feet off the city beach, Grass Island, Northshore and North Point. Crank baits worked best usually in the late evening and throughout the night.  

Thunder Bay River:  Fresh water drum appear to be in and anglers have caught them on an assortment of tackle, including live bait. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and bowfin were also caught. Boats trolling or jigging in the turn basin caught a few walleye early in the day. Most were jigging leeches or trolling a crawler harness.    

Black River:  A couple large channel cats were taken at the mouth by those still-fishing with crawlers.  

Harrisville:  Those trolling spoons and spin-glo’s between the harbor and Sturgeon Point found lake trout, Atlantic salmon and steelhead in 65 to 90 feet. Lake trout were taken from the bottom half of the water column while steelhead and Atlantic salmon were up higher. The fish were feeding on emerald shiners, gobies and a few smelt.  

Oscoda:  Anglers trolling spoons in 60 to 90 feet had good catches of lake trout near the bottom and a few pink salmon up high.  Lake trout were taken as far out as 150 feet and around the Hump in the bottom 20 feet.  Pier anglers still-fishing with crawlers caught channel cats up to 10 pounds.  Walleye and smallmouth bass were taken when drifting or still-fishing with crawlers, twister tail jigs and body baits.  Lots of rock bass, carp and freshwater drum were taken on crawlers.  

Au Sable River:  Anglers were finding decent numbers of walleye from River Road down to the mouth when drifting night crawlers from a boat or under a bobber. A few steelhead were still present in the river, with a few caught on drifted flies. Nice sized smallmouth bass have been taken by anglers drifting the river and stripping streamer flies. Anglers still fishing night crawlers near the mouth of the river have had good catches of channel catfish. 

Tawas:  When they could get out, boats trolling in Tawas Bay did pretty good for walleye around Buoys 4 and 6 in the inner bay and out as far as Buoy 2, south of Alabaster and out near the Charity Islands. Bass anglers working the shallows caught a lot of smallmouths on tube jigs. 

Tawas River:  Smallmouth, catfish and freshwater drum were caught in the lower river.    

Au Gres:  When they could get out, boats heading in all directions were catching a lot of walleye on crawler harnesses in 28 to 35 feet. Limit catches of eight fish per angler were common.  

Au Gres River:  A lot of catfish and freshwater drum were caught in the lower river.   

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Overall: Good bass and bluegill fishing has been reported on most inland lakes.

Harbor Springs:   Lake trout were caught along the drop-off around Harbor Point. A few cisco were also caught around that area as well.  

Charlevoix:   Lake trout seemed to be scattered as some were caught around the cement plant in deeper water while others were found in shallow water. A few cisco were also caught in shallow water in front of the hospital. Despite a lot of angler pressure, fishing in the channel was hit-or-miss as water temperatures have dropped.  Smallmouth bass were also in the channel. Carp were up in the shallows which can be fun for those fly fishing. A couple lake trout were caught off the end of the piers.  

Petoskey:   Surface water temperatures were 48 degrees. Some lake trout were caught near the drop-off between the breakwall and Bay Harbor. Near the mouth of the Bear River, anglers will find smallmouth bass, rock bass, bullhead, suckers, freshwater drum and carp. Those fishing the beach, breakwall and D Pier were using worms, spinners or crank baits. Angler pressure was low on the Bear River but a couple steelhead were caught up near the dam.  

Traverse City:  Lake trout were caught at various depths around Deepwater Point and along the west shoreline. Anglers were casting and jigging. Cisco were also caught when jigging around Deepwater Point, north of the M-37 launch and off Elk Rapids. Bass fishing was generally good along the south end between Acme and the State Park as well as north of Yuba Creek.  On the Elk River, bass fishing was very good with smallmouth caught down from the dam and near the harbor mouth. Crawlers and tube baits worked best. A few perch and rock bass along with some big carp were also caught. In the West Bay, lake trout and cisco were caught around Lee Point and south of the island. A few perch were caught near the M-22 launch. Bass were caught in Suttons Bay, south of Bowers Harbor, near Power Island and near the mouth of the Boardman. Those fishing up near the dam on the Boardman River caught rock bass and suckers. Bass were caught on crawlers and soft plastics near the mouth.    

Frankfort:   The Chinook seem to have moved to deeper water this week with anglers reporting good early morning catches of them, steelheads and lake trout in 120 to 150 feet. Steelhead were hitting on two color with orange crush, lake trout near the bottom with spin-n-glows, and Chinook were hitting blue and green spoons and flies 40 to 80 feet down. 

Arcadia Lake:  Pike anglers were doing very well with many getting limit catches when trolling or casting body baits. Some very large bowfin were also been caught. Bass anglers have done well especially between the breakwalls going out to Lake Michigan. A few perch and some bluegills have also been caught.   

Onekama:  Anglers trolling north and south were getting Chinook salmon 40 to 80 feet down in 120 to 150 feet with green flies and spoons. The early morning bite was producing some big Chinook and good catches of lake trout in and around the “Barrel”.

Portage Lake:  As of June 4 the mayflies had not shown up yet so the fish were hungry and the bite was good. Bass anglers reported respectable sizes and numbers throughout the lake. Perch were reported out near the buoy in 18 to 25 feet. Bluegill were on the beds along the west end.

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell:  Continue to have good bass fishing for those using both live and soft plastic baits.  Bluegills are in the shallows.  Boat anglers are still getting the occasional walleye when trolling a crawler harness or rapala.      

Manistee:  Surface temperatures dropped to 50 degrees. Boat anglers were still getting a fair to good number of Chinook on spoons in 130 to 250 feet. A small number of steelhead and lake trout were also caught. Pier fishing was very slow because of the large number of baitfish in the harbor. The south pier remains closed.  

Ludington:  Surface water temperate readings were at about 51 degrees. Some anglers had success trolling in the harbor. Chinook, browns and steelhead were caught trolling using spoons. Off shore Chinook fishing slowed but many anglers were catching big healthy fish in 130 to 250 foot of water. Steelhead, lake trout and browns also came in at those depths. Spoons were the most successful bait.

Pentwater:  Boats trolling 25 to 70 feet down in 120 to 180 feet caught salmon and steelhead from the dunes down to Little Sable Point. Green flies and orange, blue or green spoons all caught fish. 

Pentwater Lake:  Anglers floating red worms caught bluegills and sunfish in three to 10 feet. Those fishing from Longbridge Road caught smallmouth bass and sunfish with crawlers under a bobber.   

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Upper Peninsula

Lac Vieux Desert:  Crappie were moving off the beds and were caught with less frequency. Bluegill and sunfish were in the shallows around the weed beds and hitting on natural or artificial plastics. Be ready to sort out the small ones. Some perch were caught including some bigger ones taken on minnows and other natural baits along the breaks. Those targeting perch have also caught a couple walleye. A few muskie anglers were getting out but catch rates were slow.   

Little Bay De Noc:  Walleye fishing slowed with most activity at the mouths of the Whitefish or Escanaba rivers. At the Whitefish most trolled or jigged crawlers in 10 to 18 feet while at the Escanaba they drifted or jigged along the weed lines in 20 feet. Fair catches of perch were reported out from the Gladstone beach area in and around 25 feet using minnows or crawlers. Most smallmouth anglers reported fair catches at best. Best catches were in and around 12 feet using plastics or cranks. South of the Ford River was best along the reeds in 8 to 12 feet. Northern pike were active throughout the bay with several large fish reported caught off the mouth of the Day’s River trolling stick baits in 14 to 18 feet.

Big Bay De Noc:  Walleye catches were still good here between the Ogontz Launch and Indian Point trolling stick baits or crawlers w/harnesses in 14 to 21 feet. At the head of the bay by Valentines Creek  anglers trolled crawlers harnesses or stick baits in 10 to 16 feet. Some walleye were also reported up by the Little Fish Dam River. Smallmouth bass were active throughout the bay. Near Ogontz good catches came along the weeds casting cranks, spinners or plastics in four to eight feet. Martins Bay had fish also, mostly northern pike. Fish Dam area was best while trolling or casting cranks or plastics in four to 10 feet. South River, Puffy Bay and Garden Bay area all reported smallmouth catches using the same in four to 12 feet.

Munising:  Boat anglers took fair catches of Chinook and coho salmon in Trout Bay and west of Grand Island. Most are trolling in shallow waters less than 20 feet deep between 2 and 2.5 mph. A few lake trout were caught in 130 to 150 feet around Wood Island. Water temperatures remain in the mid 40’s. Pier and shore fishing were slow. 

Grand Marais:  Those trolling have caught lake trout along with a few coho and steelhead. Lake trout anglers did well straight out and along the “Banks” and towards Sable Point. Salmon anglers did best a few miles east of Grand Marais in less than 20 feet. Pier anglers did well for lake whitefish with most taking limit catches, however the fish were small averaging 11 to 12 inches. A single egg worked best. 

Detour:  Chinook salmon were suspended about 58 feet down in over 80 feet between the lighthouse and the red buoy on the Drummond Island side of the river. Hot bait was a black and gold 6-inch spoon trolled at 2.2 mph. A couple Atlantic salmon were taken on 4-inch spoons 15 feet down in 60 feet between Fry Pan Island and the green buoy. Good lake trout action when trolling from the lighthouse east to the red buoy at 35 to 40 feet down in 80 to 100 feet with orange and white or plain hammered chrome spoons. 

Cedarville and Hessel: No reports of yellow perch yet, but northern pike fishing has been good throughout Musky Bay and at the mouth of Duck Bay by trolling with red and white spoons in six to eight feet of water along the shorelines and docks. Good catches of pumpkinseed were reported while anglers fished with worms from shore, off Hill Island Road, and the bridge leading to Hill Island. At Hessel the best place for pike has been in and around Haven Island and Cube Point. Anglers saw success by still fishing with live chubs or drift fishing with frozen smelt in six to eight feet of water.     

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Fishing Tip: Fish for FREE this weekend (among other things)

Don’t forget that all Michigan residents and non-residents can fish without a license this Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10! Please note all other fishing regulations still apply.

Saturday and Sunday make up the summer Free Fishing Weekend – an annual effort to promote Michigan’s numerous fishing opportunities. While many individuals and families will head out to fish for free on their own there are numerous organized events scheduled throughout the state to celebrate the weekend as well. 

Additionally this weekend is the DNR’s “Three Free” Weekend where you can also ride off-road trails and visit any Michigan state park for free! The ORV license, trail permit and Recreation Passport fees are also waived this weekend!!

Want to do something fun to celebrate? Visit Michigan.gov/dnr to learn more!  

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Note: 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.