Weekly Fishing Report Apirl 21

Spring fishing was once again pushed back because of the cold and windy conditions. Catch rates should pick up once the weather stabilizes.

 

Southeast Lower Peninsula

 

Lake Erie: – The daily possession limit for walleye in the Michigan waters of Lake Erie will be as follows: April 1 through April 30, 2011 the limit will be five (5) walleye. Beginning May 1, 2011 through April 30, 2012 the limit will be six (6) walleye. High winds, fluctuating water levels, and heavy rains have kept most anglers off the lake. Once the weather stabilizes, try fishing the Dumping Grounds near Bolles Harbor and Turtle Island.There was some nice fish also taken in Brest Bay before the wind set in.

Huron River: Is still producing some steelhead along the entire river, but the better catches were up near the dam at Flat Rock.Suckers are starting to show up in greater numbers.

Detroit River: Had good walleye fishing before the storms.

Clinton River: Is producing steelhead and suckers.

St. Clair River: Shore anglers at Port Huron have caught steelhead and brown trout. A few smelt were taken near the Bluewater Bridge.

Saginaw Bay: Strong winds blowing water out of the bay have kept anglers from heading out.

Saginaw River: Is producing some perch in the lower river.

 

Southwest Lower Peninsula

 

St. Joseph: Coho fishing has been fantastic from St. Joe up to Grand Haven when weather permits. Lots of limit catches being reported. Anglers are catching them off the piers and when trolling along the shoreline.

St. Joseph River: Limits of Chinook and Coho were being taken in 50′ of water south of the piers. Kings and browns were beginning to show up as well.

Grand Haven: Pier fishing success has been good when the weather was decent. Brown trout have been caught on spawn. Perch fishing has also been good but more fish were caught when the winds were light, which makes it easier to feel the bite.

Grand River at Lansing: Catfish were hitting near the dam at Moore’s Park before the cold front moved in. Try crawlers and stink baits when warm temperatures return. Steelhead were caught on spinners or crawlers under a bobber at the North Lansing Dam. Good crappie action near the Waverly Bridge. Near Ionia, steelhead action was good in Prairie Creek. Try floating spawn bags or wax worms.

Whitehall: Pier anglers managed to catch a couple steelhead and brown trout or the occasional walleye.

White Lake: Perch fishing has been good near the channel mouth.

 

Northeast Lower Peninsula

 

Ocqueoc River: Water levels are up with all the rain and snow melt. The steelhead run is just getting started with bright silver fish being caught. Most are floating spawn under a bobber but a few were also using small spinners and fishing the deeper holes.

Rogers City: Is ice free and the docks are in. Windy conditions have kept boat anglers on shore. Pier anglers should be able to catch some brown trout or Atlantic salmon once the weather clears up. Try casting small spoons or body baits in silver and chartreuse, silver and orange, silver and blue or fire-tiger. Boat anglers should target the stained water when trolling.

Rockport: The main harbor and marina are ice free but few boats have been out due to the weather.

Alpena: The launch is ice free but the docks were not in yet. A couple anglers were trying to Atlantic salmon but catch rates were very slow.

Thunder Bay River: One chute at the Ninth Street Dam has been wide open for the past week which has made fishing difficult. Anglers are catching a good number of steelhead and brown trout however landing them has been difficult due to the higher water levels near the rapids. Try spawn bags or flies. Pink and white are hot colors.

Harrisville: Strong winds have kept fishing down. The ice is gone and one skid pier is in so the launch site is open. Water temperatures are still on the cold side.

Oscoda: Pier anglers are casting body baits.

Au Sable River: Steelhead were caught from the dam to the mouth but one of the hot spots was between the dam and launch at Rea Road. Some nice fish were caught but they were darker which means those fish have been in the river for quite some time. Water levels are high and the current is fast. Most anglers are floating spawn or wax worms.

Tawas: Pier anglers caught a few lake trout and walleye. Boat anglers were not doing very well for walleye.

Au Gres: Boats out trolling did manage to catch some walleye straight off the mouth of the river before the storms hit.

Au Gres River: Was producing some perch from shore along the lower river. Those trolling near the mouth of the river caught some walleye.

Rifle River: Anglers continue to catch a good number of suckers. Spearing season opened last Friday but the river is turbid from recent rains so spearing is difficult.

 

Northwest Lower Peninsula

 

Elk River: Though catch rates are low, good numbers of steelhead can be seen in front of the power dam.

Traverse City: The East Bay has been good for lake trout and whitefish out from the Center Road launch. Those fishing north of Elk Rapids have caught lake trout and cisco in 120 feet of water. In the West Bay, anglers were jigging along the south side of the island for lake trout and whitefish.

Boardman River: Anglers are doing well at the mouth of the river using spawn at first light. A good number of steelhead were reported at the Union Street Dam.

Frankfort: Cooler temperatures have slowed catch rates for brown trout and steelhead. A couple fish were caught off the south breakwall when using spawn.

Onekama: Walleyes can be seen along the breakwalls during the day. Those targeting brown trout were not able to land many fish.

Portage Lake: A few nice perch are being caught after sorting out the small ones. Most are hitting on wigglers and minnows. Surface temperatures were 42 to 50 degrees.

Lake Cadillac: Gave up some decent catches of crappie before the area was hit with another blast of winter.

Lake Mitchell: Was good for crappie. Try minnows or wigglers when it warms up.

Manistee: Boats anglers casting orange spoons and body baits have caught steelhead and brown trout. Perch and trout fishing were slow off the pier.

Manistee River: Is still good for steelhead.

Ludington: Browns have been caught by those while trolling around the piers and those fishing off the piers.

Pere Marquette River: Steelhead fishing was at its peak. Fish were on the gravel at M-37 and Gleason’s Landing. A few suckers were also caught.

Pentwater: Boat and pier fishing were hit-or-miss. Most of the steelhead have moved up into the river. A few brown trout were caught.

 

Upper Peninsula

 

Keweenaw Bay: Those trolling did mange to catch a few chinook, coho or steelhead. Pier fishing was also slow. An ice flow has blocked off the bay near L’Anse.

Fall’s River: The bite was very good until the cold weather returned.

Marquette: Both the Upper and Lower Harbor are ice free. Ice has left the shorelines and access is possible from the Carp River, Mattson Park and the coal docks. Catch rates for coho were not good. Some did report catching light numbers of chinook, whitefish and splake when trolling or jigging. For trolling, try 20 to 30 feet of water near the bubblers and just past the Chocolay River. Daybreak is best when using crawlers, a single egg or assorted crank baits and Cleo’s. Water temperatures are in the mid 30’s.

Menominee: The bay is now clear of ice but most anglers are fishing the river.

Menominee River: Anglers are concentrated between the mouth and Stephenson Island. The launches are open but the Lighthouse launch does not have its dock in yet. Boat anglers are jigging minnows in the deep holes for walleye. Shore anglers are also catching fish when casting rapalas. The shoreline is busy with anglers on both the Michigan and Wisconsin side and the Cat Walk at Hattie Street is busy. Trout fishing was slow but a few were drifting yarn or spawn near the dam.

Little Bay De Noc: Is ice free but had few anglers due to the weather.

Day’s River: Those fishing the river said the steelhead run was underway with several fish caught between the mouth and US-41.

Big Bay De Noc: Several perch anglers were fishing in Garden Bay but few fish were caught.

Au Train: Fishing was difficult but steelhead were caught off the mouth of the Rock River when using spawn. Most of the males caught were spent and the females were still holding some eggs. The docks were not in at the Brownstown launch. Water temperatures were in the upper 30’s.

Munising: Flow ice remained in the bay so anglers were not able to use the city boat launch. Water levels on the Anna River mouth remain high which allows small boats to launch. Boat anglers reported slow catch rates for salmon and steelhead. Some say there are still whitefish to be caught when jigging a single egg in 15 to 30 feet of water. Shore anglers continue to see a mix of coho, steelhead and splake.

Grand Marais: Reports a slow start to the spring fishing season. The pier has experienced substantial melt-off and is offering more room for anglers. Those fishing reported slow catch rates.

Manistique River: A few boats are trolling spoons from the mouth to US-2. Steelhead are moving up into the river and those wading or shore fishing near the dam are taking fish. Most are drifting peach colored yarn or spawn.

DeTour: There is no activity at the city launches. Albany Creek had a nice steelhead run early in the week before the cold spell.

Cedarville and Hessel: All of the ice is gone. There are great perch and Atlantic salmon opportunities off the Hessel marina pier. Anglers are still-fishing with minnows, or casting crank baits and spoons.

Nunn’s Creek: Is experiencing a good run of smelt. Fish averaged 5 to 7 inches and some limits were reported however the return of cold weather did slow the run.

Carp River: Both the steelhead and smelt runs have slowed with the cold weather.