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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lower Saginaw Bay: A few boat anglers managed to catch walleye in 17 feet of water when trolling out of Linwood.  

Eastern Saginaw Bay: Windy conditions kept most anglers off the east side of the bay this past week and over the weekend. What few boats were able to make it out from Quanicassee for yellow perch reported 0 to 5 fish per person. Walleye fishing was also slow with only a few caught in the slot from 12 to 15 feet of water. Shore fishing around the east side of the bay was very slow.

Lake Erie: Shore fishing from Sterling State Park, along the main road coming into the park, was good for largemouth bass, sunfish, catfish, and freshwater drum. Anglers reported using worms to catch these species. For Lake Erie fishing, yellow perch fishing was still very slow with the persisting high water temperatures and the strong winds. Some anglers caught a few out from the River Raisin on minnows in 20 feet of water, but overall, it was slow. Walleye were reported to be extremely hard to find, unless fishing in very deep water. Shore fishing was good at the docks of Bolles Harbor boat launch where anglers caught similar species to those at Sterling State Park.

Lake St. Clair: Muskie anglers caught fish from the spillway to the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. Those casting were more successful than those trolling. Smallmouth bass fishing was still reported as very slow, but anglers were catching fish near the 9 Mile area. Other anglers had some luck with smallmouth bass in Anchor Bay. On inclement days, anglers had no problem catching largemouth bass in any of the canals. Perch anglers were catching fish near the dumping grounds and the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club while drifting or anchored with perch rigs. Walleye angers did best in the mouth of the south channel. Most were using crawler harnesses, but occasionally those jigging with artificial bait had fair success.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

Grand Haven: Salmon were caught in the channel out to 60 feet of water. Chrome with a red head and pearl plugs worked well. Pier anglers caught a mix of coho and Chinook salmon on alewives or while casting glow spoons. The morning bite was reportedly the most productive.

Muskegon: Anglers trolling the channel and near the break arms found a few Chinook salmon. Chrome and glow plugs seemed to work the best. Anglers casting off the break arms caught a few salmon on glow spoons. Overall, anglers reported that the morning bite was more productive.

South Haven: Salmon fishing slowed due to high waves. The few boat anglers that ventured out saw slower fishing. Most anglers were forced to fish in 70 feet of water or less. A few Chinook salmon and steelhead were caught while trolling spoons. Perch fishing was reported as decent prior to the wavy conditions. Anglers were fishing inside 40 feet of water. Pier fishing for salmon was on the slow side. Anglers fishing the Black River caught an occasional salmon when casting spoons.  

St. Joseph: Weather hampered fishing quite a bit this week. Prior to the high waves, there was very good perch fishing. Anglers made good catches between 40 and 50 feet of water. Salmon anglers who were able to make it out saw slower fishing; however, there were a few salmon and lake trout caught. Pier anglers were catching good numbers of salmon and an occasional steelhead. Most fish were caught by casting spinners and spoons. Anglers fishing the St. Joseph River made good catches of Chinook and coho salmon. Most fish were caught trolling or casting spoons.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: Salmon anglers fishing an hour before sunrise and just after sunset using glow-in-the-dark presentations had the best results. Boat anglers were trolling between the Cheboygan County Marina boat launches and just past the channel markers (green & red buoys) outside of the river mouth. Anglers trolling the shallow water were using dipseys or boards with spoons, j-plugs, or a flasher fly combination in between 10 and 25 feet of water. Good colors were blue/white, orange/chartreuse, and orange/white. Salmon anglers at the Cheboygan Dam caught Chinook salmon, pink salmon, and coho salmon in the early morning using spawn, glow spoons or crank baits. When fishing for salmon from shore during warm days, try fishing from the break wall off the Cheboygan pier. Pier anglers produced at least one salmon per group in the morning or at night using glow spoons. 

Bass anglers reported using night crawlers, crank baits, or soft plastics that were white, pink, or chartreuse. Walleye fishing has declined since anglers switched to salmon fishing. Walleye and perch anglers used night crawlers or leeches on slip bobbers. Go to where the current is or go near bridges when fishing for walleye. Common areas anglers tend to fish for walleye and bass are the Cheboygan Dam, near the pedestrian bridge by the city boat launch, and near the drawbridge by the DNR field office. 

Alpena: Those willing to brave the high winds and rain saw good catches of coho and Chinook salmon. 20 to 30 feet of water throughout the shipping lanes was productive while trolling spoons and plugs. Good numbers of coho salmon were caught while trolling short lead cores 10 to 15 feet below the surface. Black, chartreuse, and orange were all productive colors. A few walleye were found in the same waters. Crank baits in purple, copper, gold, and green saw the best results. Pier anglers had some success on coho and Chinook salmon when casting heavy spoons in green/silver, blue/silver, and orange. Glow spoons worked well for Chinook salmon after dark.

Thunder Bay River: A few Chinook salmon were found from the dam down to Lamar Park. Nighttime anglers had the most success with glow spoons and shallow running crank baits. A few large pike were caught throughout the river on crank baits and bright colored spinnerbaits. Those drifting crawlers had some success on smallmouth bass and a few walleye near the walking bridge and the Holiday Inn on and off throughout the day.

Rockport: Very little fishing pressure was seen due to recent high winds. When anglers were able to make it out, lake trout were plentiful near Middle Island in 70 to 100 feet of water. With cold water in the area, fish were found all through the water column. Watermelon, white, chartreuse, and orange spoons were all productive off lead core and dipsy divers. A few Chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, and Atlantic salmon were caught off Bell Bay and Stoneport in 50 to 90 feet of water. Magnum spoons had the best results with orange, greens, and black/whites being most productive. 

Rogers City: Chinook salmon were staging off Swan Bay. The best depths were anywhere from inside of the bay out to 70 feet of water. The shallow water anglers were running boards with j-plugs and bombers with regular monofilament line. Anglers fishing the deeper waters in depths of 45 to 90 feet of water were running a full spread throughout the water column. Anglers reported using spoons, attractors with flies and squids, j-plugs, and meat rigs. Good colors to use were greens, blues, whites, white/black, purples, red/white, and glow stuff early and late. The adult Chinook salmon bite was best before sunup and after sundown. Anglers not wanting to fish the adult Chinook salmon had success fishing from the marina straight out and up towards 40 Mile Point. The best depths were wherever the bait fish were located within 50 to 90 feet of water. Anglers were getting a mix of pink salmon, coho salmon, lake trout, young Chinook salmon, and an occasional walleye and Atlantic salmon. Spoons, both regular size and smaller, worked well. Good colors were greens, blues, white, oranges, and glow stuff early and late. Anglers fishing off Swan Bay were getting the same kind of catch, as well as a few adult Chinook salmon in deeper waters.  

Oscoda/Au Sable River: Anglers fishing the big lake had success catching lake trout in 140 feet of water. Those that were looking for salmon and steelhead found fish in 70 to 90 feet of water, 30 feet down, while trolling spoons and j-plugs. It appeared that the Au Sable River was starting to hold some coho and Chinook salmon. There were coho salmon along with a few Chinook salmon caught off the pier by anglers casting spoons such as Little Cleos KO wobblers, or moonshines in the early hours of the morning. A few salmon were also caught by anglers fishing spawn bags on the bottom. Some Chinook salmon were hooked on skein throughout the lower river and at the Foote Dam. 

Harrisville/Black River: Anglers caught a few coho salmon out of the Harrisville harbor when fishing with spawn/skein under a float, as well as with inline spinners. Walleye were caught off the breakwater at night using rattle traps and jerk baits. Black River saw its first push of salmon for the fall. There were a couple Chinook salmon caught by anglers casting flicker shads. Coho salmon were reported to be present in the river, and anglers were catching a few when casting Little Cleos.

Tawas: Windy conditions the last few days kept most boat anglers off the water. Anglers reported catches of Chinook salmon at the Tawas River mouth in the evening after dark. The best spot to fish was reported to have been right at the mouth, casting diagonally towards the lake. Anglers also reported that spoons and spinners seemed to have worked well.

Au Gres: Boat anglers were trying their luck for walleye in Au Gres, but catches were few and far between with 0 to 1 walleye per boat being caught. Anglers were beginning to head out of Au Gres targeting perch and were able to bring some home. However, there were not many limits caught. Catfish were reported to have been caught from the Au Gres pier. In Standish, out from the Pine River perch were caught along with a few walleye that were still hanging around in the weeds. Those fishing off the shore at the Pine River caught perch, big and small, however not in large numbers. At Eagle Bay Marina, bluegill, a few crappies, and a few small perch were caught. 

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Frankfort: Winds were reported to have pushed cold water in, which brought the Chinook salmon into the harbor and close to the pier heads. Pier anglers reported very good numbers when casting Cleos in the early morning hours. Anglers trolling the channel/pier heads reported the same good numbers when using j-plugs, thunder sticks, and body baits. Coho salmon were also reported just outside the walls.

Notice: Anglers are reminded to be considerate of private property when accessing rivers and streams while targeting salmon. Conservation officers in Benzie County have responded to numerous complaints of recreational trespass along the Betsie River. The private lands adjacent to Homestead Dam and west of the Village of Elberta’s Waterfront Park located on the south side of Betsie Lake at the end of Furnace Street have been two locations officers have been issuing citations for trespass at the landowner’s request.

Charlevoix: Anglers fishing near Medusa reported on and off success for Chinook salmon. Trolling plugs, floating spawn/skein, and casting spoons produced some results. Salmon boats reported numbers of fish moving into Lake Charlevoix. Windy weather kept fishing pressure to a minimum. 

Little Traverse Bay: Anglers fishing the Bear River reported slow but steady numbers of Chinook and coho salmon making their way into the river. Bottom bouncing beads, spawn, and flies all produced the best results. Fishing from the Petoskey breakwater and the marina produced limited results while casting artificial baits. Boat anglers reported consistent numbers of coho salmon on both the north and south side of the bay when the weather cooperated. 

Manistee: Boat anglers trolling plugs and spoons just outside the pier heads caught good numbers of Chinook salmon and a couple coho salmon. Salmon were also caught off the piers while casting/jigging spoons and using alewife. Chinook salmon were caught in the channel and in Manistee Lake from boats trolling and jigging. 

Ludington: Cooler waters made salmon fishing off the piers and around the harbor much better this past week. Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and a few brown trout were caught while trolling, jigging, and casting from boats and the piers. Anglers also caught these fish by drifting spawn and using an alewife under slip bobbers. Spoons, plugs, and flasher fly combos all worked well.

Leland: Weather conditions limited boating activity. Only a few anglers tried their luck and found some Chinook salmon around the north side of the North Manitou Island. A few coho and Chinook salmon were caught heading north on the first bank as well. Shore angler catches consisted of smallmouth bass and yellow perch, all of which were non-harvestable sizes. 

West Grand Traverse Bay: The weather this past week permitted little boat activity. Few boat anglers were trolling and jigging around the Boardman River mouth and found fishing to be slower than usual. Shore/pier anglers on the Discovery pier, Northport pier, Clinch Park pier, as well as the pier behind Northwestern Michigan college reported little to no fish activity. The occasional bass was caught, but they were nothing of harvestable size. 

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Upper Peninsula

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Poor weather majorly limited fishing activities this last week, however the few who were able to make it out found both lake trout and rainbow trout while trolling. These fish were reported to have been mostly caught near the upper half of the water column. 

Big Traverse Bay/South Portage Entry Canal: Anglers had a bit of luck during decent weather days trolling in shallow water and high in the water column. Most of the catch consisted of lake trout with some Chinook and coho salmon caught as well. With the weather continuing to change, look for cooler water temperatures and bait fish, the bigger fish will follow!

St. Ignace: Shore anglers at the Carp River cement footing pier caught a few salmon during the cooler days. They reported using glow spoons in the early morning or after sunset, and spinners. Fishing for walleye at the Pine River drastically slowed as anglers did not see many within the past week. Salmon shore anglers at Nunns Creek caught fish in the early morning using spawn, spoons, or spinner baits.

Little Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers fishing the upper bay reported slow fishing. There were reports of some success near the east bank, Minneapolis Shoal, and near the mouth of the Escanaba River. Little success was had by coho salmon anglers in the Escanaba River and around the mouth. Anglers reported fish sightings in the area, although getting them to bite proved challenging. 

Manistique: Anglers targeting Chinook salmon in the river reported slow fishing. Some anglers reported catching a few on skein near the paper mill; however, bites were few and far between. Anglers targeting pink salmon had success drifting beads in runs that were holding pink salmon.

Marquette: Lake trout were still being caught consistently, with the most successful boats making their way out towards the clay banks west of Granite Rock. Reports also show that there were excellent numbers of lake trout still being caught jigging or trolling around the northeast side of White Rocks and out towards Granite Island. A few anglers reported catching a couple salmon near Granite Rock. Steelhead were reported to be around, in approximately 40 to 60 feet of water. Watermelon and fire tiger, along with green and orange Spin-n-Glos or green/silver flasher fly presentations performed well for lake trout. Chartreuse and silver jigs worked well around the northeast side trolling between White Rocks towards Granite Rock or the clay banks in around 130 to 160 feet of water was a popular depth range. 

Au Train: Poor weather conditions kept most anglers off the water, but those who made it out did well on lake trout. These fish were caught by anglers jigging in approximately 160 feet of water north to northeast of Au Train Island, especially with cut bait. Most anglers trolling reported lake trout being caught while in waters around 130 to 180 feet north to northwest of the Au Train Island in the flats or out towards the Laughing White Fish Clay Banks. Wonder Bread, multicolored glow spoons or green/silver flasher flies were all good color combinations. A little bit of cut bait jigging or trolling with Wonder Bread or chartreuse cowbells seemed to work very well at deeper depths of 130 to 180 feet of water

Ontonagon River: Fishing on the river was somewhat slow over the past week. Common catches consisted of walleye in low numbers. Anglers reportedly had the best luck when fishing early mornings. Fish were caught by those trolling and jigging alike.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Fishing efforts from these ports were strong over the past week. Reports show that lake trout were caught in good numbers, along with some occasional coho salmon. Anglers had success in finding these fish when trolling across a variety of water depths.

Black River Harbor: Over the past week, fishing efforts from the harbor were low. Strong winds limited reasonable lake access on occasion. Anglers reported catches of lake trout in good numbers. These fish were caught by most when trolling in deeper waters.

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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. Learn more about Michigan’s salmon here.

Walleye

Large schools of this species will move inland from the Great Lakes. By the end of September, these fish will really be biting. Visit our walleye page 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 large schools head to shallow water. Check out the perch page 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 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.