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More anglers were out as catch rates improved with cooler temperatures in the early morning and evening. The inland lakes are producing panfish, bass, walleye and pike. Boats in Lake Michigan are trolling closer to shore early and late as salmon prepare to move into the river systems.   

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Few walleyes are being caught in Michigan waters, but the perch action was good, including a few limit catches. The better fishing was near the E Buoy, the Michigan side of the Toledo Light and off Luna Pier with minnows in 17 to 20 feet. Plenty of catfish were taken from the Hot Pond. A few smallmouth bass were caught near Point Mouillee. 

Ford Lake: In Washtenaw County had little activity, likely due to an algae bloom. 

Detroit River: Smallmouth bass action slowed, but fish still can be found around the rocks of the cross-dike off the southeast end of Grosse Ile, near Stoney Island and the Livingston Channel. A few fish were taken along the seawalls in the Trenton Channel and off Hennepin Point on the north end of Grosse Ile. 

Lake St. Clair: Walleye are still being caught near the South Channel and south of it when trolling harnesses and crankbaits. Yellow perch are starting to show up in better numbers, but no limits yet. Musky were caught when trolling or casting near the Dumping Grounds. Smallmouth bass were caught in 14 to 20 feet in Anchor Bay when using a drop-shot with a minnow imitation. Panfish were caught in Bouvier Bay. 

Saginaw Bay: Walleye fishing slowed, with only a few caught just north of Pinconning in 17 feet. Yellow perch fishing picked up straight out from Gambles Marina in 17 feet.  Average size was 10-13 inches. A few were taken in the old shipping channel. At Quanicassee, perch were starting to be caught straight out in 10 feet with minnows.  Though it is still a little early, yellow perch fishing will get a lot better by the end of the month. Walleye fishing on the east side netted 2 to 4 fish per boat, especially between Quanicassee and Sebewaing in 13 to 15 feet and just over the Bar in 18 feet. Those trolling along the Slot off Fish Point in 14 feet caught a couple with a crawler harness or flicker shad. Near Caseville, fish were found in 35 to 45 feet off Oak Point. 

Port Austin: Those trolling caught walleye, steelhead, lake trout and pink salmon.  Mornings were best with spoons 80 feet down in 130 to 150 feet.   

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: Good perch fishing continues north of the piers in 40 feet. Boat anglers caught lake trout in 110 feet and the occasional salmon well past 120 feet. Pier fishing was slow for steelhead, and most caught freshwater drum on shrimp.    

South Haven: Those targeting perch were south of the port; however, catch rates were slow. Salmon anglers reported good catches to the north where Chinook, lake trout and a few coho were taken in much deeper waters. Pier fishing was slow.

Holland: Pier anglers caught freshwater drum when casting spoons.

Lake Macatawa: The DNR boat launch remains closed due to high water.

Port Sheldon: A decent number of salmon were caught 65 to 130 feet down in 140 to 300 feet with glow plugs, flies and meat rigs. 

Grand Haven: The Harbor Island boat launch remains closed. 

Grand River near Grand Rapids: Continues to produce some bass for those using minnows, crawlers, leeches and spinners. A few nice catfish also have been caught. 

Grand River near Lansing: Had good smallmouth action in Eaton Rapids at the Smithville Dam. In the Lansing area, anglers reported a good bite for smallmouth bass, carp, redhorse suckers and a couple nice channel cats. 

Maple River: Had fair to good fishing for bluegill, sunfish, crappie, bass, channel cats and the odd walleye.    

Muskrat Lake: In Clinton County was producing bluegill and crappie. 

Lake Ovid: Was producing largemouth bass, including some master angler fish. 

Muskegon: Boat anglers found salmon and steelhead in 140 to 280 feet. The salmon were 60 to 120 feet down and hitting green and yellow meat rigs or glow plugs.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: For trout and salmon, try trolling spoons, spin-glo’s and meat rigs between Lighthouse Point and Lafayette Point off Bois Blanc Island. Depending on water temperature and wind, start at 40 feet and slowly move out to 100 feet. Shore anglers casting soft plastics in Duncan Bay caught smallmouth bass.  

Cheboygan River: Had two chutes open. Anglers caught smallmouth bass, rock bass, walleye and freshwater drum when bottom bouncing, floating or drifting worms at the dam, from the fishing piers at the walk-over bridge and near the DNR office. Those casting soft plastics at the mouth caught smallmouth bass. 

Rogers City: Those trolling caught trout, salmon and walleye in 50 to 120 feet. Most were running lines above and below the thermocline with spoons, J-plugs, meat rigs and dodgers with flies or squid. Chinook were caught before sunup and after sundown.    

Presque Isle: Is producing trout, pink salmon, walleye and the occasional Atlantic or coho throughout the water column in 60 to 150 feet. Most are using spoons and dodgers with flies and squid. Lake trout were hitting spin-glo’s. 

Alpena: Anglers caught lake trout, pink salmon, walleye and the occasional steelhead when trolling spoons and spin-glo’s in 100 to 150 feet off the Nordmeer wreck, Thunder Bay Island and near the first set of “Humps.” Most were found near the thermocline, with a few pink salmon, walleye and steelhead coming up higher. Lake trout were near the thermocline or on the bottom. 

Thunder Bay River: Was producing rock bass, smallmouth bass and channel cats when floating or drifting crawlers. The occasional smallmouth and northern pike were caught in the harbor when casting spinners, chatter baits and soft plastics. 

Hubbard Lake: Was producing walleye at night. 

Oscoda: Boat anglers caught lake trout, steelhead, walleye and the odd coho, Chinook or Atlantic salmon in 100 to 150 feet straight out from the river and north off Greenbush.  Fish were also caught further out at Yankee Reef. The thermocline was 70 to 80 feet down, and most fish were taken 20 to 80 feet down. Lake trout were on the bottom and hitting spin-glo’s. 

Au Sable River: Those using crawlers caught a few rock bass, undersized smallmouth bass and a few nice channel cats in the evening. 

Higgins Lake: Had good smallmouth bass fishing in 15 to 20 feet. Rock bass have been caught around the lake. Those targeting big trout reported slow catch rates as the fish were not as aggressive. A few good-size pike were caught along the edge of the drop-off in the early morning. The perch are running small, but a few were caught here and there. 

Houghton Lake: Those trolling crawler harnesses and crankbaits over the weed beds caught a couple walleye. Panfish were caught on slip bobbers with crawlers or leeches.   

Tawas: Atlantic salmon, steelhead and coho were caught out near Au Sable Point with spoons in 80 to 100 feet. Slower walleye action, with some caught inside the bay in 15 to 20 feet near buoys 4 and 6 with crawlers and body baits. Some good-size perch were caught when trolling for walleye. Those using minnows caught smaller fish. Walleye were caught near Buoy #2 and south toward Alabaster with crawlers and body baits in 25 to 60 feet. 

Tawas River: Those using crawlers caught a few rock bass and some bluegills at Gateway Park.  

Au Gres: Walleye fishing slowed, but a few were caught out near the Charity Islands and south of Eagle Bay Marina in 15 to 35 feet with crawlers and body baits.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs: Those fishing this side of the bay continue to head north toward Seven Mile and Cross Village, where they did well for lake trout 50 to 125 feet down in 85 to 150 feet, though some were deeper in 240 feet. Fish were caught around Harbor Point and west. Those targeting smallmouth bass are picking up a few.   

Petoskey: A few boats were picking up Chinook salmon. The thermocline dropped back down over 100 feet after warm water blew back into the bay, and salmon were deeper at 100 to 110 feet down. Spoons, meat rigs and flasher/fly combos worked well. On the Bear River, a couple anglers were fishing at the dam but did not have much luck. The “Bobber Hole” at the mouth continues to be slow. 

Charlevoix: With word of salmon in the area, most boats were fishing out between North Point and the cement plant, where some good-size fish were caught. Anglers are still targeting smallmouth bass in the channel. Most were undersize, but a few keepers were taken with crawlers and leeches on the bottom. The channel is very warm right now at 74 degrees. 

Lake Charlevoix: Anglers caught a decent number of smallmouth bass. Those trolling caught walleye. 

Lake Skegemog: Fishing at first light is yielding the best results. Topwater crankbaits were taking both largemouth and smallmouth bass close to the narrows by Elk Lake. 

Manistee Lake: In Kalkaska County was producing walleye just above the legal length when drifting a spotted minnow rapala.  

Leland: Lake trout were out deeper when the lake rolled over. Chinook salmon were caught, but the fish were smaller. 

Lake Leelanau: Walleye were caught south of the narrows.

Frankfort: Big Chinook salmon are starting to arrive in Betsie Bay and are staging in 75 to 100 feet. Fish are hitting spoons and J-plugs in a variety of colors. Trolling in the top 25 feet has produced several fish 25 pounds or bigger. Lake trout and coho were caught on spoons. 

Onekama: Those fishing out near the “Barrel” are beginning to see a bit of Chinook salmon activity in the early morning when trolling the outer edge in the top 75 feet with spoons. 

Portage Lake: Bluegill, perch and bass numbers are starting to pick up. 

Manistee: Fishing was hit or miss. Chinook were found 30 to 60 feet down in 60 to 200 feet. A few more coho and a couple steelhead were caught. Spoons worked best for Chinook, but a few were taken on meat rigs. Fishing was better south of the port along the Shelf. 

Manistee River: Brown trout were caught in the evening when using white flies. The late summer fly hatch is just getting started and should carry through the rest of the season. More anglers were out, with the cooler evenings.   

Ludington: Salmon were caught to the south or north near Big Sable Point and were 35 to 75 feet down in 50 to 160 feet. A few salmon were found out deeper in 240 to 290 feet to the northwest. Most were hitting spoons and meat rigs, though a few were also taken on a flasher/fly combo and J-plugs. Pier anglers caught rock bass, a couple pike and freshwater drum. 

Pere Marquette Lake: Those trolling caught a few salmon on spoons and crankbaits.

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Upper Peninsula

Inland lakes in this region were good for panfish, fair for walleye and very good for pike and bass. Rivers with brook trout had good catch rates. 

Keweenaw Bay: Anglers had success trolling and jigging for lake trout. A few lucky anglers picked up a couple Chinook and steelhead; however, it took time and effort. 

Marquette: Limits of lake trout were caught, and fishing pressure has increased. Most were out in the early morning or evening, and the average fish was 2-3 pounds. Fish near the White Rocks, “Sand Hole,” Granite Island, “Clay Banks,” Stannard Rock and Granite Loma Farms. A few coho, steelhead or brown trout were taken. Catch rates out near Shot Point were getting a little better in 120 to 180 feet. 

Little Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers reported spotty catches, with fish taken off Breezy Point with crawlers in 16 to 18 feet and at the Minneapolis Shoals with crawlers and stick baits in 30 feet. In front of the Terrace Bay Inn, fish were found in 25 feet of so when using a crawler harness. Fish were also found at the mouth of the Whitefish and Escanaba rivers with crawlers in and around the weed beds. Fair to good perch catches by the ship docks in Escanaba with crawlers in 30 feet. Just off the Ford River, smallmouth bass were caught when casting jigs or plastics around the weeds and rocky areas in 5 to 10 feet. A couple salmon were caught near the Ford River Buoy when trolling spoons and flies in 80 feet. 

Manistique: Anglers are starting to target fish heading to the river. Boats going out 3 to 6 miles looking for fish had little to report.

Manistique River: Chinook salmon are starting to show up, so many will start trolling the river or shore fishing. 

Munising: Anglers are catching primarily lake trout out near the White Rocks, West Channel, Wood Island Reef, Trout Bay and Grand Portal in 120 to 160 feet.  A few were suspended, but most were near the bottom. Anglers were putting in five hours or more to get fish. There were various bug hatches in the area. Big Reef was also producing some lake trout, either trolling or jigging. Anglers reported young smelt in some of the fish caught. 

St. Marys River: Anglers are fishing the shipping channel for walleye. Lake George was producing good numbers of northern pike. Behind the Powerhouse, some Atlantic salmon were caught, but very few whitefish. 

Raber: For walleye, try near the mouth of Carlton Creek when trolling just off the weed beds in 8 to 12 feet with a black and chrome crankbait or crawler harness, early or late.  For musky, try trolling the north shore of Raber Bay to Point Aux Frenes with a black bucktail spinner or a large chrome spoon with a red eye just off the weeds in 8 to 12 feet. 

Detour: Reported some nice catches of Chinook, lake trout and Atlantic salmon along the Detour Reef. Try fishing along the east side of the lighthouse to the first red buoy.  Target 100 feet of water with good rocky structure and baitfish. The thermocline was 55 to 58 feet down in over 100 feet. Salmon were hitting flashers with orange and gold spoons with a black ladder back. 

Cedarville and Hessel: Northern pike were caught on creek chubs in 18 to 22 feet at the Middle Entrance in the Les Cheneaux Islands. Try off Little LaSalle Island in 18 to 22 feet near the weed beds. Good pike action in Musky Bay when trolling a large black bucktail spinner with black and yellow spotted blades in 6 to 8 feet in the early morning.  A few perch were caught in 8 to 12 feet off Connors Point. Good smallmouth action in Duck Bay when casting gold spinner blades. Young anglers will find bass, pike and panfish from the fishing platform off Hill Island Road. For Hessel, yellow perch are still being caught within the finger docks at the marina.  Pike are hitting early morning. Try large minnows or creek chugs two cranks off the bottom in 8 feet. 

St. Ignace: Anglers caught pike in St. Martins Bay when casting spoons, spinners and crankbaits. Those casting and trolling crankbaits caught smallmouth bass. Fishing pressure on the Pine River slowed, as those trolling a harness or crankbait up near the rapids had little success for walleye. Those fishing at the sea wall on the Carp River have taken a few perch and walleye when bottom bouncing worms or leeches. Those casting spinners and crankbaits had no luck.

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Fishing Tip: Catching big pike in the summer

Most anglers consider winter the best time to catch a trophy-sized pike, but following a few key pointers can make summer pike fishing worthwhile.

When it’s very warm out, think about where pike will hide – places with cooler water. These spots include along the thermocline (the layer of water between the deep and surface water), where cold-water streams/rivers flow into lakes or around springs.

Look for bodies of water that aren’t densely populated with pike, so the ones there may have a chance to grow fairly large. Also consider locations that have special regulations like size limits.

Lastly, focus on bodies of water that have a good base of fish that pike feed on – particularly other species that prefer cooler water.

Learn even more about fishing for northern pike.

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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.