The openers last weekend were slow but catch rates should pick up as warmer temperatures push into the state. Water levels are low in some of the rivers and inland lakes so use caution especially at the boat launches.
SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Lake Erie: After strong winds and rain, water clarity was muddy and poor. Before conditions worsened, anglers did well when trolling or drifting bottom bouncers with purple or gold crawler harnesses in 14 to 16 feet of water in Brest Bay. Those launching out of Bolles Harbor found good numbers of walleye between the launch and the Dumping Grounds. For smallmouth bass, try the Hot Pond or shallow waters near the mouth of the River Raisin.
Huron River: Is producing white bass.
Detroit River: Continues to have good walleye fishing for those jigging. Limit catches were reported. Anglers caught a few walleye during the day and at night when hand-lining in the lower river. White bass are starting to show up.
Lake St. Clair: The catch and immediate release bass season is now open. Catch rates were slow but warmer weather this week should help as the fish will move into shallow areas along the Mile Roads and Anchor Bay.
St. Clair River: Had good walleye fishing near Algonac and Marine City for those jigging during the day or casting after dark.
Lexington: Those trolling were finding trout and salmon scattered anywhere from 15 to 60 feet of water. A mix of lake trout, chinook, coho, nice steelhead and the occasional brown trout were taken on both planer boards and downriggers with body baits in shallow waters or spoons out deep. Pier fishing was slow.
Port Sanilac: Was also producing trout and salmon for those trolling in waters up to 60 feet deep. Try shallow in the morning then head out to deeper waters.
Harbor Beach: Fishing pressure has been light but a few boats were out. Some walleye were caught at night off the breakwall or the Edison Channel.
Port Austin: The boat ramp is closed for most of the summer to allow for renovations. Pier anglers were catching some walleye off the north wall at night.
Saginaw Bay: Walleye fishing was concentrated near the mouth of the Saginaw River and Spoils Island. A few boats were also fishing in seven or eight feet of water off the Bay City State Park and near the mouth of the Kawkawlin River. Those fishing the Hot Pond channel caught mostly bass or pike. Boats heading out of Quanicassee were fishing in six to 11 feet of water off Finn Road and caught a few walleye on crank baits or crawler harnesses. One coho was also caught. Panfish action in Sunset Bay and the marinas should pick up soon. Catch and release bass anglers were fishing off Bay Port and Caseville.
Saginaw River: Boat anglers are trolling or vertical jigging between the mouth and the Independence Bridge. Limit catches were reported however anglers had to work for them.
Tittabawassee River: The walleye opener was pretty good until the invasion of boats began to take its toll. Water levels were low and clear so some anglers dinged up their props. Even though a good number of fish have already dropped back down to the bay, there are still fish in the river. Those wanting to walleye fish should do so very soon because the rest of the fish will also leave before long.
Sebewaing River: Those casting in the lower river caught a mix of bass, pike, and a few walleye.
SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
St. Joseph: Salmon fishing is starting to pick up with limit catches reported.
Saugatuck: Salmon fishing was steady with a few decent catches of chinook and coho in 60 feet of water. Spoons worked best.
Kalamazoo River: Had lots of anglers targeting walleye.
Holland: Fishing remains very good. Boat anglers trolling spoons caught chinook and coho in 150 feet of water. Pier anglers caught white perch on minnows or worms.
Grand Haven: Boat anglers caught chinook and coho in 150 to 220 feet of water. Set downriggers 85 to 155 feet down and divers 200 to 250 feet back. Add white paddles with green or blue flies or blue spoons. Pier anglers have caught trout and salmon. Most are catching alewife in cast nets and using them for bait. Perch anglers are struggling.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Catfish were caught at Fulton Street and Bridge Street by those using suckers and bluegills. Pike were also hitting on suckers and bluegills. Walleye were caught on jigs and crawlers. Bluegill and crappie hit wax worms, leaf worms and minnows.
Grand River at Lansing: Moore’ Park is producing catfish and the occasional walleye. Carp are active throughout the river and the bluegill action should pick up with the warmer weather.
Reeds Lake: Perch were caught on minnows in 5 to 15 feet of water. Pike were hitting on suckers and bluegills.
Muskegon: Salmon were caught 70 to 130 feet down in waters 150 to 250 feet deep. Try blue and green spoons or white paddles with blue or green flies.
Whitehall: Chinook salmon seem to be hitting on just about anything. Anglers had good results when fishing right on the bottom in 140 to 160 feet of water. Green, white and black were the hot colors.
White Lake: The walleye and pike opener was good with lots of fish caught. Anglers were using all types of stick baits.
NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Cheboygan River: Is producing steelhead, suckers and small yellow perch. Anglers are using fly rods or spinner rods with black flies, fresh spawn or small spinners in red, orange, green, yellow or black.
Indian River: Anglers caught a light number of walleye.
Burt Lake: Was producing a fair number of walleye.
Pigeon River: Steelhead and brown trout were caught even though the trout opener was slow.
Rogers City: Fishing has been difficult with the unstable weather. When boats can get out, those trolling did manage to catch a couple Atlantic salmon and lake trout. Those fishing around the piers should find a fair to good number of lake trout.
Presque Isle: Look for nglers should find lake trout in waters 50 feet deep or less. Try fishing just off the bottom with cowbells or dodgers with spin glows off Big Lighthouse Point or the North Bay. Pier and boat anglers should find Atlantic salmon. They like bright colors such as yellow, chartreuse, blue, red and orange.
Rockport: Lake trout season in northern Lake Huron is now open. There should be a fair to good number of fish close to shore as they are eating smelt which are spawning along the near-shore reefs.
Alpena: Perch fishing has tapered off, but walleye fishing is starting to improve as the fish migrate northward from Saginaw Bay. Walleye fishing here will improve steadily through the month of May. Trolling should continue to produce some steelhead, brown trout, and the occasional Atlantic salmon near the mouth.
Thunder Bay River: Anglers are fishing the 9th Street Dam for steelhead and brown trout. Try artificial spawn or spoons. Perch fishing slowed at the 2nd Street Bridge.
Harrisville: Windy conditions have kept anglers inside the harbor walls, but fish were coming in. Early morning and late evening produced good catches of walleye for those using body baits, small spoon and spinner baits. Hot colors were orange and silver or blue and silver. Most fish were caught off the north wall. Steelhead and Atlantic salmon still making their way into the harbor so try fishing the boat channel on the launch side or the outer most wall.
Oscoda: Atlantic salmon were caught off the pier. Good colors were orange and silver, blue and silver or fire-tiger. Walleye are making there way out of the river and back to the mouth so catch rates are starting to increase. The fish look healthy and are good size.
Au Sable River: The Hendrickson hatch is just about over on the South Branch however the hatch was still present below Mio. Brown trout were caught on caddis and streamers. The river is still full of steelhead between the mouth and the dam.
Tawas: Those trolling in 15 to 20 feet of water near Tawas Point caught a few walleye when using planer boards with body baits. Inside the harbor, perch anglers were sorting through a lot of fish but still getting some keepers. Pier anglers fishing outside the wall were not doing so well.
Au Gres: Most boats were trolling in 20 feet of water between Point Lookout and Point Au Gres. They caught walleye using deep diving crank baits. Those casting off shore were also getting a few walleye. Steelhead, salmon and brown trout were also caught on occasion off Point Lookout.
Au Gres River: Steelhead fishing near the Singing Bridge is probably about over for this spring.
NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
Elk River: Still has light numbers of steelhead hitting on spawn bags or wax worms. A good number of suckers have also shown up right along with some smallmouth bass for the catch and immediate release season.
Traverse City: Boat anglers in the East Bay and the West Bay had good success when jigging for whitefish and lake trout. A few cisco were also caught. Boats trolling in the southeastern portion of the West Bay caught lake trout in 20 to 40 feet of water. Shore anglers at the mouth of the Boardman and the Maritime Academy are picking up a few lake trout and smallmouth bass.
Boardman River: Steelhead fishing is all but over as the spawned-out fish will be returning to Lake Michigan with the warmer temperatures. A fair number of brook trout were caught. There is an abundance of suckers in the river, a few carp and some smallmouth bass.
South Lake Leelanau: Anglers have caught walleye.
Frankfort: Anglers heading straight west of the lighthouse and fishing 60 to 80 feet down in waters 140 to 160 feet deep caught a couple chinook salmon on spoons, flashers and flies. Alewife were seen around the piers.
Portage Lake: A few walleye were caught on body baits. Pike anglers did well with a few keepers. Catch rates for bass were slower as the fish were holding in deeper water until it warms up.
Manistee: Salmon are being caught in 150 to 250 feet of water. Try 60 to 160 feet down with meat rigs and flasher-fly combos. A few fish were caught on orange or green spoons. Those trolling the shoreline caught some brown trout and lake trout. A few small perch and some walleye were caught off the piers.
Manistee River: Steelhead fishing is slow but fish are still being caught.
Ludington: Boat anglers are catching salmon 70 to 160 feet down in waters 150 to 300 feet deep. Meat rigs or flasher-fly combos were the ticket. Those trolling along the shoreline caught a few lake trout and brown trout on small orange and green spoons or body baits in natural colors.
Pere Marquette River: Still has opportunities to catch a steelhead.
Pentwater: Pier anglers were catching brown trout and the occasional coho on spawn. Boat anglers caught chinook salmon in 150 to 200 feet of water. Some were using horseflies and flashers but the bite was slow.
Pentwater Lake: Anglers were looking for panfish but catch rates were few.
UPPER PENINSULA
Good brook trout fishing in the rivers and streams however caution needs to be used as water levels are lower than normal for this time of year and conditions have cost boat owners a few props. Steelhead and suckers continue to be active in most area streams even though the trout opener was a little slower this year.
Ontonagon: Fishing was good especially in the morning. Chinook, coho and brown trout were the majority but lake trout and steelhead are also being caught by those trolling in eight to 12 feet of water with stick baits and body baits. Green, purple and orange were the hot colors.
Black River Harbor: The boat launch is closed this week for maintenance. A few coho were still being caught off the breakwall in the morning when still-fishing with crawlers.
Keweenaw Bay: Fishing was spotty with a few chinook, coho, and lake trout caught by those trolling from the Head of the Bay northward to Sand Point. They were 25 to 45 feet down in waters 30 to 50 feet deep with spoons or body baits. Best colors were green, orange, gold and white. Those fishing off the rock dock near the L’Anse Marina caught a coho and steelhead. For Traverse Bay, lake trout were caught when jigging in 170 feet of water with white jigs and cut bait. Lake trout were also caught in 160 to 180 feet of water along Farmers Reef, Newtons Reef and the Mud Banks.
Falls River: Water levels are low and catch rates were slow.
Marquette: Catch rates were slow with only a few lake trout taken in 150 to 180 feet of water north of Granite Island and near the Little Garlic River. No report from Stannard Rock and no salmon to report.
Menominee: There were a few boats going out from the Cedar River and trolling spoons or stick baits along the shoreline for brown trout and walleye. Shore anglers caught suckers. Those fishing off Stony Point were trolling spoons and stick baits for trout or rapalas and crawler harnesses for walleye, but catch rates were slow. The flies were and still are very thick.
Menominee River: Boats were trolling up to the Hattie Street Dam while shore anglers and those wading were found between Stephenson Island and Hattie Street. Catch rates for walleye were fair in the early morning or late evening. Those drifting yarn caught trout on the Michigan side. Suckers can still be found in the river.
Little Bay De Noc: Is producing some perch.
Big Bay De Noc: Perch were caught in Garden Bay.
Au Train: Harvest rates for coho declined this past week. Water temperatures ranged between 40 and 42 degrees near Shelter Bay and the near shore waters of Au Train Bay. Those casting stick baits or trolling spoons did manage to catch a few fish however no chinook or lake trout were caught.
Cedarville and Hessel: Atlantic salmon, brown trout and steelhead were caught off the pier at Hessel. Try minnows or casting with stick baits.
St. Ignace: Fishing was slow however steelhead can still be found in the Carp River.
