Steelhead regulations on several Type 3 and Type 4 streams have been slightly modified from last license year. Some streams no longer have a 20-inch minimum size limit on steelhead (the daily possession limit of which is one). See Pages 42-65 of the 2025 Michigan Fishing Regulations for more specific information.

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

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Eastern Saginaw Bay: Fishing along the east side of the bay for walleye was very slow this past week, with only a couple caught. The average catch was zero to two per boat, with no real ideal area to target, as walleye were caught from nearshore to out deep. Nearshore in 8 feet of water and less around weed beds produced more walleye than deeper water this week. Those targeting yellow perch mostly fished around the slot in 14 to 17 feet of water, with slow fishing reported 8 to 12 perch per boat. A few boats did better, but anglers were advised to put in longer hours for better numbers.

Lower Saginaw Bay: Some anglers had success catching yellow perch at the Spark Plug in 22 to 24 feet of water. The old shipping channel also produced a few yellow perch, as did the area out in front of the blue wall in Linwood. Walleye were starting to show up while trolling a couple of miles northeast of Spoils Island.

Lake Erie: Walleye were caught in Brest Bay on crawler harnesses. Yellow perch fishing remained hit or miss and was found to be on the slower side as water temperatures stayed in the 70s. Those who had most success targeting perch fished east of the Sterling State Park campground in 20 feet of water, moving constantly from spot to spot. Pink fly rigs with minnows were effective. Also, anglers fishing their minnows near the bottom had better success.

Wayne County: Fishing was slow in the Detroit River and Lake Erie. Few anglers have caught jumbo perch near the river mouth dumping into Lake Erie but the success has been limited to just a couple of fish. Walleye were caught in low numbers. Water temperatures remain high, while catches remain low.

Monroe County: Fishing continued to be slow on Lake Erie. Perch were located east of Bolles Harbor in 22 feet of water. Only a few perch were reported, but the ones caught were of decent size.

Eaton County: The bite was slow for panfish on worms and largemouth and smallmouth bass on plastics on inland lakes and the Grand River.

Ingham County: Anglers reported having good success with top-water lures in the Grand River.

Ionia County: Salmon activity in the Grand River picked up significantly in Ionia County, with a significant run of fish pushing through later in the week into the weekend.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

South Haven: Boat anglers reported fair fishing. Some fish were caught, but they were very scattered. Anglers fished from 50 to around 100 feet of water, with some boats fishing well beyond that. The best bite was still with spoons. Anglers mostly caught Chinook salmon, with some steelhead mixed in. Pier fishing was a little slow. There were a couple of salmon caught by anglers casting spoons. Perch fishing was slow.

St. Joseph: Boat anglers had mixed fishing this week. The fishing was very inconsistent. Boat anglers targeted fish from 80 feet of water to even deeper. The most common catch was Chinook salmon. Spoons continued to catch most of these fish, the piers were a little slow. Anglers caught a mix of coho salmon and Chinook salmon. The most productive method was casting spoons, but a few fish were caught on spawn. Perch anglers also reported good catches. Anglers caught fish from 40 to 70 feet of water, fishing both north and south of the piers.

St. Joseph River: The river temperature was still very warm. The warm water slowed the fish catching down. There were good numbers of salmon reported. Anglers saw salmon from the lower river up to the Berrien Springs dam.

Black River: Anglers fishing Black River reported slow fishing for salmon. The river was warm still, but few fish were reported in the system.

Grand Haven: Boat anglers found a mix of immature salmon and steelhead 30 to 90 feet down in 70 to 150 feet of water. Spoons worked best in either orange or green. Pier anglers targeting salmon found the action to be slow. A couple were caught casting glow spoons in low-light conditions.

Muskegon: Anglers trolling in the basin and just outside the breakwalls found the salmon action to be slow. A few were caught on glow or chrome plugs. Boats venturing farther out found a mix of immature Chinook salmon and steelhead. The best depths were 30 to 90 feet down in 70 to 150 feet of water. Green and orange spoons worked well. Pier anglers also found the salmon action to be slow.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan: Due to the warmer weather, anglers were less successful at catching salmon. Those fishing early in the mornings at the Cheboygan Dam spillway had the most success when floating or bottom-bouncing spawn. Anglers using stick baits also had some catches. Boat anglers trolled about 15 feet down between the Cheboygan County Marina and the buoy markers. J plugs and spoons in green and orange proved to be productive. It was hoped that cooler weather would make the fish more active and push more fish toward the dam.

Oscoda/Au Sable: Boat anglers fishing in 80 to 95 feet of water marked a lot of bait but experienced mixed success getting fish to bite. However, a handful of walleye, steelhead, and coho salmon were taken during the week on orange Super Slim spoons fished 30 to 60 feet down. Anglers fishing the pier head had a slow week for salmon, with a couple of coho salmon and a few Chinook salmon taken in the mornings. Orange and pink Arctic Spinners, as well as green/white glow K.O. Wobblers, produced a few bites.

Harrisville: Anglers fishing in the harbor had limited success with some mornings producing only a few fish. Skein under a bobber and pink or orange spinners took a couple coho salmon this week. Boat anglers trolling spoons in 80 to 90 feet of water reported multiple catches including walleye, steelhead and a few Atlantic salmon.

Presque Isle: Anglers reported catches of lake trout, Chinook salmon, steelhead, and coho salmon were caught when anglers could get out. When anglers found the bait fish, it produced the best results. The best depths were 40 to 80 feet of water. Running lines all over the water column yielded the best results. Good colors included greens, oranges, blues, white, black and white, and glow patterns early and late. The steelhead came up high in the water column, hitting orange spoons. Good places to fish were between the two lighthouses or south toward Stoneport and False Presque Isle.

Rogers City: Cold water was around, with a lot of baitfish. Anglers started by locating the bait, which was found in waters 40 to 70 feet deep. Bait was located straight out of the harbor, up towards the state park, at 40 Mile Point, and south in front of Swan Bay and off Adam’s Point. Anglers ran lines all over the water column, using a mix of spoons, flasher-fly combos, and a few meat rigs or J plugs for the adult Chinook salmon. Adult salmon were still staging off Swan Bay. Anglers used bombers and J plugs off boards in tight areas. Outside of Swan Bay, there was a mix of lake trout, young salmon, and an occasional steelhead. Anglers heading up the lake encountered this mix. Spoons, especially the regular or smaller sizes, were effective. The bait was about two inches in length, so matching the size helped. Good colors included greens, blues, whites, black and white, and glow patterns early and late. The steeliest anglers fished up high on one to three colors of lead with brightly colored spoons like orange and bright pink.

Tawas/Au Gres:  A few perch were caught straight out in 37 feet of water, but fishing was slow overall. A few walleye were caught north of the Charity Islands in 28 to 38 feet of water casting jigs near the reefs.

Alpena: Fishing in Thunder Bay finally improved. Anglers reported good numbers of steelhead, coho, lake trout, and a few kings. The majority of catches were near North Point and Thunder Bay Island in 40 to 70 feet of water. Medium-sized spoons in orange, gold, watermelon, and chartreuse produced fish throughout the water column. The shipping lane yielded coho, Chinook, and a few Atlantic salmon in 20 to 30 feet. Greens, oranges, and natural-colored spoons and stick baits were productive. A few anglers targeted perch with no success. A few walleye were taken throughout the day in 30 to 50 feet while trolling spoons and crankbaits.

Pine River: A few largemouth bass and northern pike were caught casting artificial baits in the shallows. Walleye were caught south around Saganing Bar trolling night crawler harnesses in 12 feet of water. Decent-sized perch were caught in 7 to 9 feet of water using minnows. Anglers caught perch in front of Pine River, but the bite remained tough, and many of the fish caught were small in size.

Thunder Bay River: Chinook salmon were caught throughout the river while casting spoons and crankbaits. White, chartreuse, and orange baits produced the best results. Near the 9th Street dam, anglers found success drifting spawn and casting spinners. A decent number of coho and Atlantic salmon were also reported but were difficult to catch.

Rockport: Anglers targeting Chinook salmon fished 20 to 40 feet of water straight out and north to False Presque Isle. J-plugs and spoons were effective early and late in the day, with green, blue, white, and chartreuse being good colors. Decent numbers of steelhead and lake trout were found near Middle Island in 50 to 90 feet of water. Fish were scattered throughout the water column, so spreading out lines was the most productive approach.

Au Sable River: Coho salmon started to enter the river in low numbers.

Tawas River: A few anglers had limited success with salmon near the river mouth at Gateway Park.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Frankfort/Lake Michigan: Anglers reported Chinook salmon out front and off the piers. Trolling out front and moving to deeper water as the sun came out produced immature Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead, hitting on spoons in the top 60 feet of water. Pier anglers casting glow spoons in the evening and early morning hours landed late-run Chinook salmon.

Leland: Pier anglers had success while drifting skein during early mornings through the mid-day hours, and glow spoons after sunset for Chinook salmon and coho salmon.

Northport/Suttons Bay: Angler have switched gears to perch fishing. Boat anglers found success jigging wigglers and small plastic minnows for perch throughout the entirety of Suttons Bay. The perch bite was better in the morning.

West Grand Traverse Bay: Salmon were caught by those trolling in the hole out in front of the Boardman River. A mix of Chinook salmon and a few coho salmon were caught on green and blue flasher-fly combinations about 60 to 80 feet down in 90 to 120 feet of water. Salmon were also caught in the lower Boardman by those drifting skein.

East Grand Traverse Bay: Lake trout were caught by those jigging around deepwater point in 100 to 130 feet of water. A few cisco were also being caught although the bite was slow. Smallmouth were caught throughout the bay by those casting swimbaits or drop shots in 15 to 30 feet of water.

Charlevoix: Boat anglers trolling spoons, body baits, and plugs found very few Chinook salmon and coho salmon bites. The occasional lake trout was caught. Pier anglers reported smallmouth bass using natural bait, sitting on the bottom of the channel.

Little Traverse Bay: Anglers fishing the Bear River reported limited numbers of Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and some pink salmon. Drifting beads, spawn, and flies produced results. Boat anglers reported very limited action trolling spoons, plugs, and body baits.

Manistee: Anglers caught salmon straight out, both north and south of town, in 130 to 200 feet of water while trolling 25 to 75 feet down with spoons, plugs, and flasher-fly combos. The piers were slow for salmon.

Ludington: Anglers trolling Lake Michigan reported salmon and steelhead at Big Sauble Point in 80 to 140 feet of water while fishing 40 to 60 feet down with plugs, flasher-fly combos, and spoons. Staging Chinook salmon were also caught in 20 to 40 feet of water at the point early in the mornings, using plugs. There was no action to report from the piers.

Onekama/Lake Michigan: Anglers reported traveling out to deeper waters to pick up a few Chinook salmon and Coho salmon. Heading to 130 to 180 feet of water and setting up in 60 to 90 down with spoons. The evening bite was more productive.

Benzie County: Salmon were caught in the Betsie and Platte Rivers.

Grand Traverse County: In the Boardman River, a fair number of fish were caught.

Leelanau County: In Shald Creek, anglers had success with salmon.

Newaygo County: There were some reports of salmon in the rivers, but not many.

Oceana County: Fishing was very slow on the White River, with reports of older fish in the system.

Mecosta County: Some fish were caught on the Muskegon River and inland lakes.

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Upper Peninsula

Ontonagon River: The river saw very low angling effort over the past week. Reports suggest that walleye were caught in very low numbers. Anglers had the best luck when fishing in the early morning hours.

Marquette: Anglers reported another great week of weather and success, both trolling and jigging for lake trout from northwest of the White Rocks out toward north of Granite Island. Anglers did well in both deep and shallower waters. Numerous boats caught their limit or came close to it for lake trout, which were still being caught consistently north of the White Rocks in 120 to 160 feet of water. Anglers also found coho salmon at depths of around 120 feet while trolling for lake trout. Anglers reported catching coho salmon off the break wall this week. Chinook Salmon and Steelhead were caught at the mouths of some rivers by surf fishermen. Lake trout fishing continued to be very productive, but the increasing salmon numbers appeared to draw more interest from anglers, both in the lake and in the rivers this week.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Ontonagon saw low amounts of angling efforts over the past week. Union Bay and Silver City saw more effort, respectively. Reported catches consisted primarily of lake trout. Catches of brown trout and coho salmon were also reported less frequently. Reports suggest that anglers had the best luck when trolling in water depths of approximately 60 to 80 feet.

Black River Harbor: Angling efforts from the harbor were low over the past week. Reported catches consisted primarily of lake trout in low numbers. Coho salmon and brown trout were reportedly caught on lesser occasions. Anglers had the best luck when trolling in water depths of 60 to 80 feet of water.

Little Bay de Noc: Anglers who targeted perch reported scattered schools in the upper bay. Some anglers caught perch near Escanaba Harbor, mostly jigging perch rigs baited with minnows, although some use of bobbers was also reported.

Big Bay de Noc: Some smallmouth bass anglers targeted bass near the Fayette Bluffs, although fishing was slow. Anglers fishing Ogontz Bay reported fair fishing. Anglers still caught bass at shallow depths, although some reported bites deeper.

Keweenaw Bay/ Huron Bay: Anglers reported fair to good numbers of salmon caught. Coho salmon, pink salmon, and the occasional Chinook salmon were caught while trolling spoons, crankbaits, and flasher/flies in the upper portion of the water column. Anglers also reported fair to good lake trout fishing while jigging in waters deeper than 150 feet.

Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers reported good lake trout fishing, as well as a few coho salmon being caught. Lake trout were caught by anglers trolling near the bottom in 80 to 120 feet of water, with spoons and flasher/flies being the most productive. Anglers noted that targeting depths of 25 to 50 feet around river mouths yielded the most success when fishing for salmon.

Grand Marais: Fishing activity was low, anglers reported a few coho salmon at the mouth of the Sucker River casting spoons and using spawn.

Munising: Boat anglers trolling the bay did very well on coho salmon. Anglers also caught a mix of coho salmon and splake off the fishing pier at the mouth of the Anna River, doing well casting spoons or using spawn. A few coho salmon had also started making their way up the Anna River.

St. Ignace: At Nunns Creek, salmon anglers floating spawn in the early morning were the most successful. Stick baits, spoons, and spinners were also good options. Productive colors included silver/blue, gold/red, and green/silver. Glow lures were used in low-light conditions. The fish had started moving closer to the mouth of the creek, with low numbers beginning to make the run upstream. The Carp River experienced limited fishing pressure, but those who did fish it casted spoons at the cement footing pier near the mouth.

Au Train: Anglers reported doing well when targeting Lake Trout, weather permitting. Most anglers went northwest of Au Train Island out to the flats, fishing in around 120 to 160 feet of water. Both trolling and jigging were effective. Anglers reported better catching Lake Trout this past week compared to the previous couple of weeks. Anglers were either trolling or jigging for Lake Trout in 120 to 180 feet of water, north to northwest of Au Train Island. Salmon and brown trout fishermen were working depths of around 60 to 100 feet between Au Train Island and the Rock River.

Les Cheneaux/DeTour: Anglers in Hessel caught a few smallmouth bass outside of Hessel; however, fishing was tough due to the warm water temperatures. A few splake were caught within the Hessel Marina, but small schools that came in were not cooperative. Perch were also caught in and around Cedarville Bay. A few pike were caught in the Hessel Marina as well. In DeTour, fishing pressure slowed, but some perch were caught north around the islands.

U.P Counties: Salmon were stacked up in the Manistique and Milakokia Rivers getting ready to spawn. Perch and walleye were caught on Indian lake.

Inland lakes showed mixed reports, with lakes near the northern Alger County/Schoolcraft County line showing more success for pike, bass, and panfish than southern lakes. Coho salmon were caught in the Escanaba River. Perch fishing was reported as decent on the St. Mary’s River.

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Fishing tip: Watch the wind

Pay close attention to wind direction and how it affects water movement. Wind blowing into a shoreline can push baitfish into those areas, attracting predator species like walleye, bass, and pike. Fishing the windblown side of a lake or structure—especially points, breaks, or weed lines—can dramatically increase your chances of hooking active fish.

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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.