The Family Friendly Fishing Waters map shows family-friendly fishing locations across the state that are easy to access and have a high likelihood of catching fish. You can filter the locations by what type of fish you want to catch, what kind of fishing you are looking for (boat, pier, shore), what amenities you would like (swimming, restrooms, etc.) and entrance fee. 

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lower Saginaw Bay: Walleye were caught 2 miles east of the sparkplug while trolling with crawlers in 20 to 23 feet of water. Anglers at Finn Road were trolling with crawlers in 7 to 10 feet of water. One to two miles north of the dumping grounds, walleye were being caught in 18 feet of water while trolling with crawlers. Near Buoy #1, anglers were trolling in 26 to 28 feet of water using crankbaits and crawlers. Shore anglers in Essexville who were still fishing with crawlers were catching freshwater drum and catfish.

Saginaw River: Walleye were caught by shore anglers at Veterans Park casting jigs. Reports of crappie from boat anglers around the marina docks in Bay City fishing with a small tube jig under a bobber.

Eastern Saginaw Bay: Fishing along the east side of the bay was good to very good for walleye when the weather allowed anglers to get out. Walleye were consistently caught in the slot from the south end all the way up past North Island. Anglers also began venturing farther out and found walleye along the edges of the bar and over the bar in 22 or more feet of water. Up by Caseville, anglers caught walleye around Sand Point in 16 to 18 feet of water. Those who ventured into deeper water off Caseville reported slower fishing. Crawler harnesses worked very well, but body baits also produced walleye. Nearshore anglers caught largemouth bass and a few northern pike on various artificial baits. A few catfish, freshwater drum, and the occasional panfish were also caught while fishing with worms.

Lake Huron: Fish began moving a little deeper, especially the lake trout, though they were still very much available inside 100 feet of water. This past week, the water warmed up, with surface temperatures nearing 60°F, though it remained cold below. When the weather cooperated, anglers were able to get out on the lake and found success. However, strong daily winds were still prevalent, which prevented conditions from settling into any consistent pattern.

Lake Erie: Walleye fishing was good this week. Anglers caught them in 22 to 25 feet of water east of Stony Point using crawler harnesses while bottom bouncing. Anglers also did very well farther south, on the Michigan side of Turtle Island and east of Halfway Creek, using chartreuse copper-backed spoons at varying depths. Walleye were found biting well in most parts of Michigan waters, in 19 to 24 feet of water, for those not wanting to burn the extra fuel to reach Turtle Island. Northern pike were biting near the Bartnik launch into Lake Erie on artificial lures.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

South Haven: Salmon fishing was a reported slow, but some fish were being caught. The best water was between 80 and 90 feet of water. Anglers caught a few coho salmon and Chinook salmon. Meat rigs, small rotators, and flies worked best. Pier fishing was very slow, with no steelhead and only a few sheepshead caught. Perch fishing was also on the slow side. Some fish were caught, but they were very spread out. Anglers were fishing in around 40 feet of water.

St. Joseph: Salmon fishing was reported slow. However, some nice catches were made in 75 to around 100 feet of water, with the best fishing reported in about 85 feet. Anglers caught a mixed bag of coho salmon and steelhead, with some Chinook salmon mixed in. Most fish were taken on spoons, small rotators, and flies. Pier fishing for steelhead was slow due to the warm water, but pier anglers made good catches of freshwater drum and some catfish using shrimp and nightcrawlers. Perch anglers had some success, with good catches reported in about 35 feet of water. Perch were caught both north and south of the piers.

Muskegon: Salmon action continues to be slow. Boat anglers are finding them scattered from 90 to 240 feet of water. Most success was on orange and green spoons 40 to 90 feet down. Pier anglers caught a few freshwater drum while casting spoons.

Grand Haven: Boat anglers found the salmon action to be slow. The best water was 40 to 90 feet down in 90 to 150 feet of water. A mix of glow spoons and white flasher-fly combinations worked well. Pier anglers caught largemouth bass on crankbaits. Freshwater drum action remained on the slower side, though some were caught on crankbaits and silver spoons.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: Lake Huron boat anglers had to search for lake trout while trolling near the northeast side of Bois Blanc Island or Poe Reef. Those who made the trek to Reynold’s Reef had an easier time finding fish. Lake trout hit best on Spin-N-Glos with silver, white, or chartreuse attractors. In the Cheboygan River, walleye fishing was best at sunrise and after sunset. Boat anglers targeting walleye were drifting nightcrawlers under bobbers. Shore anglers were either floating nightcrawlers or leeches, or casting nightcrawler harnesses. Shore fishing for walleye focused on the Cheboygan Dam spillway, near the Cheboygan DNR field office beside the drawbridge, and along the parking lot of the Plaunt Transportation ferry for Bois Blanc Island. Anglers also caught panfish, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum, and the occasional catfish.

Tawas/Au Gres: Fishing in Tawas started off slow, as bad weather kept many boaters and anglers away. However, those who went out after the weather cleared had some luck using artificial lures near Charity Island. In Au Gres, walleye fishing remained very good, with boats having success in 20 to 40 feet of water using nightcrawlers on bottom bouncers. The occasional yellow perch was caught while fishing for walleye, along with catfish, northern pike, bowfin, freshwater drum, white bass, and white perch. Boat anglers also had success catching largemouth bass and walleye on artificial lures along the weed beds.

Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers fishing offshore were picking up a few lake trout in 60 to 90 feet of water, while some lake trout were taken over 100 feet down, trolling spoons in the bottom 10 to 15 feet of water. A handful of steelhead and a few Atlantic salmon were caught in 90 to 110 feet of water off the first set of humps, using 3 to 5 colors of leadcore while trolling bright spoons. Anglers targeting channel catfish and freshwater drum off the catwalk and pier head did well that week using perch rigs tipped with crawlers or cut bait.

Harrisville: Lake trout fishing offshore remained decent with boat anglers still being able to find the occasional limit. Coho salmon were taken in 90 to 110 feet of water on higher lines, 3 to 7 colors of lead core. Spoons were producing for both lake trout and Atlantic salmon as well as steelhead.

Rogers City:  Wind and unfavorable weather conditions did not allow any kind of consistency for fishing. Lake trout were caught, but the waters started to warm and the fish moved out into deeper water. An occasional coho salmon was caught, along with Chinook salmon, steelhead, and Atlantic salmon. The most successful depths were 65 to 100 feet of water. Lake trout were mostly caught in 55 feet of water and deeper. They were caught on flashers and attractors with Spin-N-Glos or Spin-N-Glo flies and some spoons. Some days, they seemed to be all over the water column. The coho salmon were caught running lines in the top 50 feet of water using downriggers, leadcores, copper lines, and Dipsey divers. Spoons caught most of the fish, though some were taken on flashers or attractors with flies. Good colors included greens, blues, yellow, orange, white, and black glow patterns early and late. Oranges and bright colors worked well higher in the water column. Anglers fished up the lake between the state park and past 40 Mile Point. Those fishing south found the best results around Adam’s Point. The hump straight out of the harbor also produced good catches of lake trout.

Presque Isle: Anglers caught plenty of lake trout, but also saw coho salmon, Chinook salmon, steelhead, and Atlantic salmon in their catches. The fish moved out deeper now that the water had warmed up. The best depths were 60 to 90 feet. Anglers targeted edges and drop-offs, with structure proving very important. Anglers fished between the two lighthouses or past the big lighthouse toward Black Point. Fishing south toward Stoneport and False Presque Isle was also productive. Lake trout came on the lines fished near the bottom with flashers, flies, and Spin-N-Glos. They were also caught suspended about halfway down, around 55 to 65 feet, using flashers, flies, Spin-N-Glos, and spoons. Coho salmon were caught on lines fished from about 55 feet up to the surface. Regular-size and super slim spoons worked best. Anglers used downriggers, leadcore, dipseys, and copper lines, running these scattered from 50 feet to the surface. Good colors included greens, blues, oranges, white, and black glow patterns early and late. Oranges and bright colors worked very well higher in the water column. A few Chinook salmon came on spoons, but also on flashers or attractors with flies or squids.

Port Sanilac: A few walleye were caught by anglers looking for trout and Salmon in 70 to 90 feet of water. Anglers caught some Lake Trout jigging in 100 feet of water near bottom. Anglers caught a few steelhead and lake trout trolling in 120 to 140 feet of water.

Alpena/Rockport: Rockport fishing was slow, but some lake trout were caught while trolling. Anglers reported many lake trout and walleye coming out of the lake in Alpena. Anglers caught walleye both casting and trolling. A couple steelhead and freshwater drum were caught as well.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Little Traverse Bay: Fishing pressure along the Bear River slowed down, with limited reports of smallmouth bass, freshwater drum, and various panfish species. Bass and drum were caught early in the morning while drifting worms down the current. Panfish were caught while casting worms under a float. Boat anglers reported limited success fishing for smallmouth bass. With rising water temperatures in the low 60s, bass were found in shallow water and were caught using bottom-oriented rigs and deep-diving swimbaits.

West Grand Traverse Bay: Smallmouth bass were caught on dropshots and tube jigs in 10 to 25 feet of water. Water temperatures ranged from 60 to 67 degrees with warmer water found in the southern areas of the bay. Those trolling around Power Island reported seeing most fish in 40 to 70 feet of water.

East Grand Traverse Bay: Smallmouth bass fishing continued to improve as the water temperature rose to roughly 64 degrees throughout the bay. Anglers had the most success using dropshots and casting goby imitation swimbaits. A few lake trout were caught by anglers fishing out of Elk Rapids in 40 to 90 feet of water. Smallmouth bass were also caught in the Elk River by anglers drifting leeches or casting swimbaits.

Manistee: A few Chinook salmon, lake trout, and coho salmon were caught straight out, both north and south of town, in 120 to 220 feet of water while fishing 50 to 80 feet down. The early morning bite was best, and the fish were deep. Sizes varied, but most were small. On the pier, the bass bite was good while casting spinners and jigging soft plastics such as tubes and worms.

Ludington: Coho salmon and a few Chinook salmon were caught straight out and south in 220 feet of water while fishing 75 feet down. At Big Sable point, fish were found in 120 to 170 feet of water while fishing 70 to 120 feet down. Depths varied and spoons, flies and meat rigs all worked. Bass were caught on the piers while using crawlers and lures. 

Leland: Fishing pressure in the area slowed. With several weeks of inconsistent conditions, fish scattered. Water temperatures were reading 54 degrees from the surface down to 120 feet of water. Anglers had minimal success, catching a few Chinook salmon in the 2- to 5-pound range. Chinook salmon were found around North Manitou Island while trolling, along caught with divers and downriggers set deep, from 120 to 250 feet down. Lake trout fishing was still producing good numbers around First Bank, in front of the islands, and at Whaleback. Using spoons and cowbells early in the morning and right before dusk proved successful for trout anglers. Cisco fishing was reported to be good in 25 to 30 feet of water in front of Whaleback while jigging small spoons.

Charlevoix: Fishing pressure along the Pine River channel continued to decrease, with limited reports of cisco and smallmouth bass. Anglers reported success for smallmouth bass drifting worms down the current. Cisco were caught early in the morning casting 1 ounce bronze/gold/silver spoons. Boat anglers reported success trolling for Lake Trout in 150 to 200 feet along elevated structure.

Frankfort/Lake Michigan: Alewife numbers significantly increased as winds have pushed in warmer water. Good numbers of Chinook salmon and lake trout hit on spoons and meat rigs. Trolling in 120 to 210 feet of water and working the top 70 feet had the most success straight out while trolling north.

Onekama/Lake Michigan: Anglers trolling in 90 to 120 feet of water reported Chinook salmon and lake trout in the early morning hours on spoons. Working the Bait pods has been working best.

Northport/Suttons Bay: Fishing pressure was low. A few lake trout anglers went out of Suttons Bay and found success jigging spoons before sunrise. Smallmouth bass anglers found success in the Northport marina as well as Omena Bay.

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Upper Peninsula

St. Ignace: Lake trout anglers were trolling Spin-N-Glos along the northwest and west sides of Mackinac Island. The fish were scattered, so some anglers tried trolling along Round Island. Shore anglers at the Carp and Pine Rivers floated leeches while targeting walleye. Boat anglers targeting walleye at the Pine River drifted leeches or nightcrawlers under bobbers. Deep-diving crankbaits were another effective option for walleye. Rock bass and bullheads were also caught in the mix.

Grand Marais: Boat Anglers have found good success on lake trout, trolling and jigging for them east and west of the break wall. Anglers fishing off the breakwall reported Round Whitefish early in the morning with spawn and worms working the best. Brown Trout have been reported being caught in West Bay and off the breakwall trolling and casting.

Ontonagon River: Fishing efforts on the river were low the past week. Recent storms left the river very cloudy. These conditions have reportedly hindered fishing efforts for most. Walleye were caught in low numbers.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Angling pressure from Union Bay and Silver City were very low. In contrast, Ontonagon has seen a fair amount of fishing effort. Recent catches have consisted of lake trout in low numbers. These fish were caught by those trolling a variety of water depths.

Black River Harbor: Over the past week, fishing efforts from the harbor were low. Recent inclement weather conditions limited reasonable access to the lake. Angler reports indicated that fishing was extremely slow. Some anglers reported catching lake trout, but in low numbers. Reports stated that, to catch fish, anglers had to shift to trolling in much deeper waters.

Little Bay de Noc: Walleye anglers reported catching smaller fish in the head of the bay. Anglers fishing further south, in the outer bay caught some large fish near drop-offs. Anglers casted reaction lures and jigs with soft plastics or live baits. Fish were also caught by those trolling or drifting crawler harnesses.

Big Bay de Noc: Smallmouth anglers reported good fishing. Northern pike catches were also reported.

Fairport: Anglers caught salmon in a variety of sizes, reporting plenty of smaller salmon around. Bigger fish were reported caught as well. Anglers had success trolling spoons and using flasher fly combinations.

Keweenaw Bay/ Huron Bay: Anglers reported catching good numbers of coho salmon as well as an occasional Chinook salmon. These were caught trolling spoons and flasher/flies from 40 to 80 feet of water. Those fishing for lake trout were successful when trolling and jigging both natural and artificial presentations in 50 to 150 feet of water.

Marquette: There was a very limited number of anglers around Marquette this week due to heat, wind, and thunderstorms. The coho salmon and Chinook salmon bite remained very slow. Lake trout were found trolling from northeast of White Rocks out toward Granite Island.

Au Train: There were only a few anglers in Au Train this week. They were both trolling for Lake Trout in around 150 to 180 feet deep Northeast of Au Train Island out in the flats.

Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers reported catches of lake trout and whitefish while jigging in 100 to 200 feet of water. Greater success was noted when using natural bait. Anglers trolling spoons and flasher/flies caught lake trout as well as coho salmon and Chinook salmon. Most success occurred in 60 to 90 feet of water, with most fish caught suspended in the water column.

Les Cheneaux Islands/DeTour: Anglers in Hessel caught perch using worms, minnows, and leeches. Smallmouth bass were also caught off the pier. Boat anglers reported good numbers of smallmouth bass and pike in the shallows of Cedarville and Hessel. In DeTour, anglers had success with lake trout while jigging and trolling in the shallows at depths of 80 to 120 feet. Atlantic salmon and Chinook salmon were targeted by trolling near the lighthouse. Atlantic salmon were caught on 3-color lead core lines and in the top 20 feet of the water column.

Munising: The salmon bite slowed down, boat anglers trolling picked up some lake trout around Grand Island and in deeper waters outside of the bay. Boat anglers targeting yellow perch did well around the bay, with the bite being best early in the morning. Anglers also caught some splake off the fishing pier at the mouth of the Anna River, with spinners working best.

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Fishing tip: Beat the heat!

During the summer in Michigan, mid-day heat and bright sun can push fish into deeper, cooler water or heavy cover. For better results, plan your trips early in the morning or around sunset when water temps are lower, and fish are more actively feeding. Target shaded shorelines, weed edges, drop-offs, or deeper holes during the day. Using natural bait like leeches or nightcrawlers can also help during slower midday bites.

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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.