Looking for a new fishing spot? Our fisheries management biologists have complied Better Fishing Waters — a list of locations that offer good fishing opportunities for the indicated species. Use the search feature to filter by county, waterbody, species, management unit or any combination of those characteristics.

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Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: High winds this week left the water murky, and algae blooms were reported moving out of the River Raisin. Surface water temperatures remained above 70 degrees. Fishing for both walleye and yellow perch was slow on the Michigan side. Yellow perch did not yet show up in large numbers, with catches dominated by smaller fish rather than keeper-sized perch. The three main areas off Stony Point, the River Raisin, and Luna Pier produced similar results. Walleye were found primarily in deeper water on the Ohio side. Smallmouth bass and largemouth bass fishing was productive, with underspin jigs fished around submerged cover yielding the best action.

Lower Saginaw Bay: Yellow perch fishing was hit or miss. When fish were biting, anglers caught high numbers of 5- to 7-inch yellow perch alongside an occasional 9- to 11-inch keeper, averaging 10 to 15 kept fish per boat. Most angling effort was concentrated around buoys A, B, C, 1, and 2. Walleye fishing remained very slow.

Eastern Saginaw Bay: High winds kept anglers off the bay for most of the weekend. A few yellow perch were caught mid-week off Fish Point in 17 feet of water, but overall fishing remained slow.

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Southwest Lower Peninsula

Muskegon: Boat anglers caught salmon from the breakwalls out in 80 feet of water. Glow spoons and plugs had the most success.

Grand Haven: A mix of coho salmon and Chinook salmon were caught from the pierheads out to 90 feet of water. Glow plugs, glow spoons, and green flies were all productive. Pier anglers caught both Chinook salmon and coho salmon on glow spoons, while largemouth bass were caught on drop-shot rigs.

South Haven: Boat anglers caught a few salmon, but overall fishing remained slow. Pier fishing was also slow, though a few salmon moved into the river. A few steelhead were caught on shrimp, but overall fishing was slow. Yellow perch fishing was also slow.

St. Joseph: Boat anglers experienced good fishing in around 100 feet of water. Boat anglers also caught a few salmon around the pierheads as well as in 40 feet of water. Pier fishing pressure was very high. Anglers caught coho salmon and Chinook salmon in the mornings and at dusk, with most fish taken by casting spoons. Yellow perch fishing slowed slightly, though a few fish were caught in 38 feet of water.

St. Joseph River: There were a few salmon in the lower river.  Anglers also caught some fish at the Berrien Springs dam.

Black River: Anglers who fished the black river caught a few salmon.  Most of the fish were caught when trolling the river.

Eaton County: Anglers fishing worms under bobbers reported success targeting panfish.

Calhoun County: Panfish were abundant across most local lakes, and smallmouth bass action was strong on the Kalamazoo River following recent storms.

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Northeast Lower Peninsula

Alpena: While a growing number of anglers targeted salmon, fishing remained slow. A handful of Chinook salmon were caught on J-plugs and spoons while trolling from the pierhead into the shipping channel. A few walleye were also taken in depths of 25 to 40 feet of water in those same areas. High winds hampered angler activity. Pier anglers reported only a few Chinook salmon caught on glow spoons during early morning and late evening hours.

Thunder Bay River: Only a few salmon were caught by anglers near the 9th Street Dam while drifting eggs and beads. White and green crankbaits also produced a few fish late in the evening. Anglers casting orange, gold, and green spinners reported catching smallmouth bass near the Holiday Inn. Trolling the river for Chinook salmon yielded slow action.

Rockport: High winds kept angler activity low. Anglers who ventured out reported good lake trout fishing in 50 to 80 feet of water. Flasher and Spin-A-Lure combinations as well as spoons were productive in the bottom half of the water column. Walleye anglers experienced some success trolling crankbaits 10 to 20 feet down in 30 to 40 feet of water. A few steelhead were also caught on brightly colored spoons fished in the top 20 feet. Shore anglers reported no success targeting salmon or bass.

Cheboygan: High water temperatures in the Cheboygan River limited salmon activity over the past week, with many fish dropping back into Lake Huron in search of cooler water. Shore anglers occasionally caught Chinook salmon or steelhead while bottom-bouncing beads or casting minnow-style crankbaits. Spoons were less effective but still produced fish. Anglers fishing the Cheboygan Dam spillway and pier reported similar results, with the best success occurring during low-light periods before daybreak and after sunset. Boat anglers trolling the mouth of the river worked hard for fish, with flasher-fly combinations and J-Plugs producing the best results. Anglers floating nightcrawlers in the lower river caught walleye, smallmouth bass, and rock bass.

Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers casting spoons, spinners, and body baits off the pier caught a few Chinook and coho salmon early in the morning and at dusk. Pink, orange, and blue/silver were effective colors for spoons and spinners, while clown and fire tiger patterns worked best for body baits. A few walleye were also caught off the pier. Boat anglers trolling spoons and plugs in 15 to 30 feet of water off the pierhead caught Chinook salmon and coho salmon, while trolling in 70 to 120 feet of water produced lake trout.

Harrisville: Anglers trolling spoons in 60 to 85 feet of water caught a few steelhead. Lake trout were caught in 70 to 120 feet of water by anglers trolling spoons and Spin-N-Glos in the bottom 10 to 30 feet of the water column. A few Chinook salmon and coho salmon were caught in the harbor by anglers casting spinners, spoons, and body baits.

Rogers City: Mature Chinook salmon staged off Swan Bay. Anglers targeted them inside 45 feet of water, trolling J-plugs and Bombers very early or very late in the day. Anglers targeting juvenile Chinook salmon, steelhead, lake trout, coho salmon, and walleye fished in 45 to 90 feet of water. Locate baitfish to find the most productive areas and deploy lines throughout the water column for best results. Standard and slim-profile spoons were effective. Productive colors included green, orange, blue, white, and UV glow patterns during low-light hours. Anglers reported success trolling straight out from the marina south toward Swan Bay and Adams Point, or north toward 40 Mile Point.

Presque Isle: A mixed bag of Chinook salmon, steelhead, and lake trout, along with an occasional walleye and coho salmon, were caught over the past week. A few Chinook salmon were caught south toward Stoneport and between the lighthouses. The most productive depths were 45 to 90 feet of water, with lines set throughout the water column for best results. Spoons were the most effective bait, with both standard-size and slim profiles yielding fish. Productive colors included orange, green, blue, white, and UV glow patterns during early morning and late evening hours.

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Northwest Lower Peninsula

Manistee: Anglers targeting Chinook salmon found fish in deep water past the shelf in 140 to 150 feet of water, trolling 80 to over 100 feet down with plugs and flasher-fly combinations. Pier fishing was slow.

Ludington: Pier fishing was slow. Most of the boat activity was in evening with many anglers reporting slow fishing.

Charlevoix: Anglers reported warm water temperatures with limited success over the past week. Anglers who found success caught salmon 100 to 125 feet down in 125 to 150 feet of water. Anglers fishing near the Medusa cement plant shoreline reported a few fish moving into shallow water.

Little Traverse Bay: Boat anglers reported warm water temperatures with no distinct thermocline until reaching depths greater than 100 feet of water. Anglers fishing the Bear River reported an occasional Chinook salmon and small steelhead moving into the system. Drifting beads and flies produced fair results.

West Grand Traverse Bay: High winds limited fishing activity over the past week. Anglers trolling near the mouth of the Boardman River caught salmon in 90 to 130 feet of water using spoons and plugs. A few lake trout were caught by anglers trolling the West Bank in 120 to 150 feet of water. In the Boardman River, anglers drifting skein reported taking a few salmon.

Leland: Windy conditions kept fishing effort low. Boat anglers were limited to fishing the first bank, where water temperatures were reported at 68 degrees. Anglers trolling in 150 to 200 feet of water set baits 90 to 100 feet down, though catches along the first bank shelf were low. A few Chinook salmon moved into the harbor.

Northport/Suttons Bay: Fishing effort was very low. Anglers targeting lake trout had successful trips while trolling throughout Suttons Bay and jigging near Stony Point. Chinook salmon were observed swimming near the Northport pierheads.

Martiny Chain of Lakes: Panfish fishing was good on all the lakes with multiple anglers catching limits of very large bluegills from shore and on the water.

Tri-Lakes: Fishing for bass and panfish was very good. Multiple anglers reported good bass fishing after sun rise in the morning. Some limits of good bluegill were also caught.

Muskegon River: Walleye fishing was good in the late evening.

Newaygo County: Anglers reported success catching smallmouth bass on the Muskegon River downstream from Croton Dam. Chinook salmon were not yet reported on the Muskegon River due to warm water temperatures.

Oceana County: Lake Michigan was productive, with anglers catching near limits of Chinook salmon in 100 to 140 feet of water. Increased water temperatures slowed the movement of Chinook salmon into the rivers. Chinook salmon did not push up the White River due to warm water temperatures.

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Upper Peninsula

Little Bay de Noc: Anglers targeting walleye reported fair to good fishing over the past week. In lower Little Bay de Noc, anglers found fish around deep structure, including points and humps. In the upper bay, anglers reported success along weed edges and the eastern shoreline. Casting anglers caught fish using artificial reaction baits retrieved near the bottom with a fast-snapping motion, tied to braided line with a clear leader. Anglers trolling or drifting ran crawler harnesses or crankbaits, while a few jigging live bait on jigheads reported limited success.

Yellow perch fishing was generally slow near the Escanaba River and in the upper bay. Anglers reported inconsistent catches near the Escanaba harbor due to shifting winds. Anglers targeting coho salmon near the Escanaba River reported active bite windows, catching fish in the river and near the mouth. Anglers trolling near the river mouth had the best success with brightly colored crankbaits, while casting spoons produced limited results.

Munising: Weather conditions limited fishing activity for boat anglers over the past week. Anglers fishing off the mouth of the Anna River reported a slow bite, catching only a few splake and coho salmon. Successful baits included spawn and spinners.

Ontonagon River: Anglers reported slow overall fishing effort on the river over the past week. Anglers jigging caught fair-to-low numbers of walleye, while trolling remained less effective. Heavy rain throughout the week created poor fishing conditions.

Ontonagon/Silver City/Union Bay: Angling effort from Ontonagon, Silver City, and Union Bay decreased over the past week due to high winds and rain limiting lake access. Anglers trolling in depths ranging from 40 to 150 feet of water caught lake trout and coho salmon in low-to-fair numbers.

Black River Harbor: Angling effort in the harbor decreased over the past week as high winds and rain limited lake access. Anglers trolling in 40 to 150 feet of water reported low-to-fair catches of brown trout, steelhead, coho salmon, and lake trout.

St. Ignace: Anglers spent considerable time targeting salmon over the past week as water temperatures remained in the high 60s. Wading anglers at the mouth of Nunns Creek caught fish on spoons and spawn, while anglers casting minnow-style crankbaits off the footing pier near the mouth of the Carp River had the best results. The most productive fishing occurred before daybreak and after sunset, particularly with glow lures. Water temperatures dropped into the high 50s by the end of the week.

Grand Marais: Fishing activity was low due to weather conditions. Anglers fishing off the breakwall had little luck targeting coho salmon.

Manistique: Anglers reported slow-to-fair Chinook salmon fishing in the river. Anglers reported seeing pink salmon and Chinook salmon in the river, but overall catch rates were low. Anglers anticipated a fresh push of salmon after warm, dry conditions over the past week. Anglers caught fish using crankbaits and by drifting skein and other spawn presentations.

Marquette: Most anglers continued to troll north of White Rocks toward Granite Island and the Clay Banks in 80 to 160 feet of water for lake trout. Anglers reported catching lake trout throughout the water column, primarily near the bottom on downriggers. A few anglers trolling out of Lower Harbor caught Chinook salmon and brown trout at depths around 30 feet down in 60 feet of water. Anglers fishing the Carp and Chocolay rivers reported catching Coho salmon and brown trout as fish began moving into the tributaries.

Au Train: Angler effort increased out of Au Train on days with favorable winds. Following low fishing pressure over the summer, catch rates improved. Anglers continued finding lake trout in 140 to 180 feet of water near the flats northeast of Au Train Island and west of Wood Island Reef, with most fish caught near the bottom. Anglers targeting brown trout and salmon in 40 to 60 feet of water marked numerous fish, though few strikes were reported. Activity is expected to increase over the next several weeks as salmon and trout move toward river mouths, with the waters off Scott Falls and local tributaries offering the best opportunities.

Keweenaw Bay/Huron Bay: Anglers reported poor to fair fishing, with catches consisting mostly of lake trout. Coho salmon and splake were taken in small numbers, alongside a few larger Chinook salmon caught by anglers trolling spoons and flasher-fly combinations. Anglers jigging in depths around 200 feet of water reported a fair bite for lake trout when using both natural and artificial baits. Shore fishing remained slow.

Lake Independence, Big Bay: Fishing activity increased with most anglers targeting walleye and yellow perch. Anglers did best when trolling in 10 to 15 feet of water using natural bait.

Traverse Bay/Portage Entry: Anglers reported good fishing for lake trout while trolling spoons and flasher-fly combinations around structure in 50 to 100 feet of water. A few Chinook salmon and coho salmon were caught while trolling, though numbers remained very low. Anglers jigging for lake trout reported a fair bite on natural baits in 80 to 120 feet of water.

Les Cheneaux/DeTour: Anglers caught lake trout while trolling and jigging out of the West and Middle entrances in the Les Cheneaux Islands. Anglers also caught a few yellow perch in the Hessel Marina and off Island 8. Northern pike catches were common in Hessel, though most fish were small. Smallmouth bass fishing was good for anglers casting around rock piles. In DeTour, anglers caught a few pink salmon but mostly caught lake trout while trolling through the Flats.

Alger County: Anglers found a high success rate for lake trout near Au Train Bay.

Schoolcraft County: Few salmon were caught in the river.

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Fishing tip: Tips for targeting steelhead this fall

If you decide to target steelhead on Michigan’s rivers while in a boat, there are two options you can turn to. Consider offering bait underneath a centerpin style reel. The line will come off smoothly, allowing for float-suspended baits to work long distances downstream, plus it offers drag-free drifts.

If you’re not confident on a centerpin style or you’re a novice angler, try a level-wind reel. It allows you to drop the float behind the boat and wait for the strike. It will take care of the hard work while reeling in your catch by guiding the line on properly.

Now is the perfect time to target steelhead! For more information, visit the Michigan.gov/FishID!

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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 nearly 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.