Let’s hope it quits raining, the wind stops blowing and the rivers go down so anglers will be able to get out and fish. Water levels in the rivers could be down by the end of the week which would improve catch rates. The walleye and trout opener were slow but should pick up once the weather stabilizes.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Beginning May 1, 2011 through April 30, 2012 the limit in Michigan waters will be six (6) walleye. Water levels were fluctuating about 4 feet overnight due to changing wind directions which has caused havoc at some of the boat launches. Fishing remains slow as the lake is very muddy. Boaters need to use caution and watch for floating debris that may be hard to see from a distance. Fish were marked near the mouth of the River Raisin and Sterling State Park, but catch rates were slow.Some smallmouth bass are being caught also.
River Raisin: Had high water levels.Some Catfish were taken in the Hot Ponds.
Huron River: Had high water levels near Huroc Park and Flat Rock but anglers were out fishing and they are working hard for every fish they catch. High water is preventing access to some fishing spots.
Detroit River: Poor water conditions mean low catch rates for walleye.
Lake St. Clair: Shore anglers are catching rock bass. Several are targeting large and smallmouth bass now that the catch and immediate release season is open.
Lexington: Had good catches of chinook and coho in 10 to 30 feet of water. A couple steelhead and brown trout were also taken. Try body baits or spoons.
Port Sanilac: Fishing was good here but Lexington remained the better port.
Harbor Beach: Fishing was good with chinook, coho and even a few Atlantic salmon taken south of the harbor in 25 to 40 feet of water. Try spoons off downriggers 6 to 15 feet down or dipsey divers out 22 feet. Hot colors were green, blue and orange. Try offshore boards with a big lip bomber on the bottom and a spoon over the top for more action. Fish the mud lines as that is where the fish are. If you move out to clear water, get your lures back away from the boat. Lake trout are close to shore and brown trout are south of the harbor, but close to shore. Get your lines back but watch for rocks. Try spoons and body baits in blue, yellow, or green. For perch, try inside the harbor, along the channel and near the lighthouse.
Saginaw Bay: Walleye anglers had a bit of difficulty with not only turbid waters, but floating debris such as trees. Walleye were caught along the Pinconning Bar. A few walleyes were taken by those jigging off the mouth of the Saginaw River near the east end of the Spoils Island. The Callahan Reef was also producing some fish. Start out shallow and work your way out to about 14 feet of water.
Tittabawassee River: Water levels are finally coming down but the water is muddy. Walleye were caught below the Dow Dam.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph: Strong winds have kept perch and steelhead anglers on shore.
Grand Haven: Pier fishing has slowed but a few were still using spawn or cut baits for brown trout and walleye. Boat anglers are trolling along the shoreline for brown trout, some as far south as M-45. Try orange or yellow rapalas. Perch anglers are having a hard time as it appears the fish have moved out to the 72 foot hole.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Steelhead and suckers are still in the river and catch rates will improve once the water levels come down. Riverside Park was a good spot to catch crappie.
Grand River at Lansing: Moore’s Park is giving up steelhead and catfish. Crappie were caught near the Waverly Bridge.
Lake Ovid: Is producing crappie.
Muskegon: Pier anglers are jigging for walleye along the channel. Boats are trolling around the piers for walleye and brown trout. One boat made it out to 150 feet of water and caught a chinook about 40 feet down. No perch to report.
Muskegon Lake: Had a slow walleye opener due to water conditions.
Muskegon River: Had high water levels and low angler participation.
White Lake: Had a slow walleye opener.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Ocqueoc River: Look for peak steelhead runs over the next couple of weeks as the water recedes. Anglers are getting a few fish when drifting spawn under a bobber.
Rogers City: Was slow. For lake trout, try fishing the shallows when trolling body baits or cowbells with spin glows. Look for structure such as a rocky bottom.
Presque Isle: Lake trout and splake season is open. The minimum size limit is 22 inches. Look for fish suspended in 30 to 70 feet of water. Try cowbells with spin glows or spoons.
Alpena: Walleye were caught along the shoreline behind the Yacht Club. Try casting bright green, orange or red body baits or still-fishing with large grey minnows.
Thunder Bay River: Had few anglers at the Ninth Street Dam because of all the water that was released. A couple steelhead and walleye were caught on flies. The suckers are in.
Heart Lake: Located in Otsego County between Old US-27 and I-75 south of Gaylord is producing trout.
Harrisville: Those able to get out have caught walleye north and south of the harbor in 10 to 30 feet of water. Try body baits, crawler harnesses or small spoons run off planer boards or downriggers. Some are long-lining. A few lake trout were also caught as they should be in close to shore right along with the walleye.
Bright Lake: Located in Hartwick Pines State Park is also a good place for inland trout fishing.
Shupac Lake: In Crawford County is producing some trout.
Oscoda: The pier was slow but those casting spoons or body baits at the mouth caught steelhead and walleye. Boats trolling around the pier caught a few lake trout.
Au Sable River: Water levels were still high. The North Branch was producing some fish. Steelhead are finally making their way up the river, hitting on spawn, wax worms and body baits.
Tawas: Pier and boat anglers are finally starting to catch a fair to good number of walleye when casting or trolling rapalas. Fish were caught by those casting at night from the pier or wading behind the State Police Post.
Au Gres: Is producing walleye in 10 to 20 feet of water around Point Lookout. Most are trolling body baits.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Lake Charlevoix: Good numbers of yellow perch are being caught on the west end.
Medusa Creek: Though late, some trout were starting to show up.
Boyne River: Had an excellent run of steelhead.
Intermediate River: Near Bellaire had a few walleye.
Traverse City: A decent number of lake trout have been caught in the East Bay just south of the Center Road launch in 140 feet of water. Cisco and lake trout were marked a few miles out from the Elk Rapids launch in 120 feet of water. There was a good number of fish in the Elk Rapids bypass pond where wigglers and wax worms caught more fish than spawn. In the West Bay, those jigging in 140 feet of water just south of the island caught lake trout. Those surfcasting near the mouth of the Boardman River caught steelhead and lake trout.
Boardman River: Steelhead fishing was a bit slow but a few fish were caught mid-day. Walleye are also in the river.
Frankfort: When the weather cooperates, boats out trolling were starting to catch chinook and brown trout along the shoreline.
Onekama: Those fishing off the north breakwall caught brown trout at first light.
Portage Lake: Perch were still biting but the females were close to spawning so the run may soon be over. Wrigglers still are favored on small jigs for the bigger fish. Walleye were caught the north shoreline after dark.
Lake Cadillac: Was producing a good number of pike but not many walleye. Some are using live bait while others are using artificial. A good number of large and smallmouth bass have also been caught and released.
Lake Mitchell: Is also producing pike, walleye, crappie and bass.
Manistee: Boats trolling along the shoreline have caught chinook and steelhead. Try small spoons in orange or green. Pier anglers were still picking up a few brown trout when casting spoons or floating spawn.
Manistee River: Steelhead fishing will most likely be done by the time water levels come back down.
Ludington: Due to dredging, the dock at the Loomis Street launch has been pulled. Those trolling the shoreline were still taking a few chinook and brown trout on small spoons or body baits and pier anglers caught steelhead and brown trout on spawn.
Pere Marquette River: Steelhead fishing is done as there have been no fish caught and there are no fish on the gravel. A few brown trout were caught on flies in the no-kill section of the river.
Pentwater: Brown trout fishing is hit-or-miss. Pier anglers using spawn have caught a few fish as well as those trolling south of the port.
Upper Peninsula
Eagle Bay: Shore anglers casting spoons or cut bait have caught whitefish and splake. The docks are in but no boats had been out yet.
Copper Harbor: Had good splake fishing for those jigging cut baits such as sucker or smelt. Menominee were caught off the mouth of the Fanny Hooe River when floating leaf worms or wax worms.
Keweenaw Bay: The bite was slow but anglers did manage to catch a few chinook and coho.
Fall’s River: Had a good number of steelhead as water levels come down.
Marquette: Those trolling caught a few coho, steelhead and brown trout on crank baits from the Lower Harbor to the Chocolay River. The fish were in shallow on the windy days however boat control was difficult. The Upper Harbor was still producing a few coho for those jigging with twister tails near the bubblers. Slow fishing for shore anglers near Mattson Park and the coal docks. Lake trout have been caught out near the White Rocks in 130 feet of water and out near Stannard Rock where the fish were a little bigger.
Menominee: Boat anglers are trolling the Michigan and Wisconsin shoreline for walleye and brown trout. Try crawler harnesses for walleye or spoons and rapalas for brown trout.
Menominee River: Those wading and shore anglers caught walleye but brown trout were few. Those targeting suckers caught a good number of fish.
Little Bay De Noc: Water temperatures are warming up and perch fishing has been good for those using wigglers and crawlers in 20 to 30 feet of water just off the Day’s River. The Narrows had mixed results in the same depths when using crawlers. Rivers in the area have all crested after the heavy rains. The high and fast current made trout fishing a bit more challenging.
Big Bay De Noc: Had good perch fishing just off the Fishery in Garden Bay in 8 to 10 feet of water. Most are still-fishing with minnows or crawlers. For the bigger fish, try off Ansell’s Point.
Au Train: Catch rates have improved with coho taken by those jigging twister tails or trolling crank baits from Shelter Bay to the Brownstone launch in 10 to 20 feet of water. A few lake trout, brown trout and whitefish were also caught. Steelhead and coho were still being caught near the Rock River in the early morning.
Manistique River: Has plenty of white suckers along with some steelhead being caught. Most are using yarn, flies and spinners for steelhead.
De Tour: Yellow perch are still being caught off the Bayside Resort Dock, where anglers can fish at the very end of Tourist Road. Boat anglers are taking perch and a few bluegills in Maxton Bay and Scott Bay. Small minnows were the secret.
Cedarville and Hessel: The marina pier at Hessel had excellent splake fishing and several Atlantic salmon were also caught. No sign of perch yet.
Carp River: The water is cloudy and fast which has caused some flooding. Smelt appear to be done but white suckers are starting to come in.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks