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Water levels are low and clear in the rivers and streams. Cold weather pushed steelhead up into the rivers however warmer temperatures by the weekend could slow the bite. Walleye are moving closer to shore. Those fishing the inland lakes for large and smallmouth bass have caught a good number of fish.
Lake Erie: Is producing a few walleye for those trolling perch rigs in the early morning or late evening. For bluegill, perch and crappie, try the docks at the Metro Park Marina.
Huron River: Is producing steelhead downstream of Flat Rock. Those fishing below the dam are drifting spawn and wax worms or bouncing flies.
Detroit River: Perch were caught in the lower river. Try fishing near Sugar Island, the north end of Celeron Island or the Trenton Channel with shiners on perch rigs.
Lake St. Clair: Should still have some good perch fishing even though fishing usually drops off this time of year as most anglers have put their boats away.
St. Clair River: Was muddy after the rain and strong winds so it may take a few days for the water to clear up.
Harbor Beach: Still has one dock in for those that may want to fish for walleye or brown trout behind the Edison Plant.
Saginaw Bay: The walleye are moving in closer to shore so those trolling or drifting will want to fish shallow or near the mouth of the rivers especially at night.
Saginaw River: Walleye are being caught near Bay City. Some are fishing up near the confluence of the Tittabawassee and the Shiawassee River. Shore anglers caught perch in the lower river.
Tittabawassee River: Has walleye however boat anglers will need to watch for low water levels.
Kawkawlin River: Has walleye. Anglers may have to put in some time but they should catch some fish.
St. Joseph River: Continues to produce steelhead for those drifting spawn bags or casting plugs. Fish the deeper holes if it warms up. A couple brown trout were caught between Shamrock Park and the Berrien Springs Dam.
South Haven: Pier anglers caught steelhead in the early morning or late evening. Most are floating spawn or wax worms.
Kalamazoo River: Is producing steelhead all the way up to the Allegan Dam. Anglers are using spawn, spinners, plugs or yarn.
Grand Haven: Pier anglers and those surfcasting continue to target steelhead. Not much on whitefish as catch rates were slow.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Has a good number of steelhead. Off the east wall, try white jigs with a couple wax worms about three foot down or small spawn bags on a #10 or 12 hook. Some were also casting wobble glows. White jigs and wax worms caught fish near the Post Office. Off Fulton Street, try Hot-n-Tots or back bouncing spawn with bait casters. Walleye were caught off the east wall by those using bucktail jigs and three inch white twister tails.
Grand River at Lansing: Is producing the occasional steelhead but no big numbers yet. Walleye were caught near the Waverly Bridge by those using golden shiners or crawler harnesses.
Looking Glass River: Pike are being caught off Babcock’s Landing. Anglers are using shiner minnows or bluegills.
Muskegon River: Has more steelhead moving up into the river even though water levels are low. Anglers are floating spawn and wax worms, casting small spoons or fly fishing.
Cheboygan River: Leftover salmon were still being caught up near the dam. The better fishing for steelhead was early morning or late evening with spawn, yarn, small spinners or small spoons. Good colors are blue and silver, orange and silver, pink and chartreuse.
Rogers City: Pier anglers should find brown trout when casting cleo’s, bombers or small spoons.
Thunder Bay River: More steelhead were moving in as temperatures dropped. Most are floating spawn or casting rapalas and small spoons up near the dam. Good colors were orange, chartreuse, pink or silver.
Oscoda: Pier anglers targeting steelhead will want to try spoons or body baits.
Au Sable River: Steelhead coming in from the lake can be found all the up to Foote Dam. The numbers are increasing and the fish are good size. Spawn or small spoons have caught fish in all areas of the river.
Higgins Lake: This can be a good time of year to find perch. Try 25 to 40 feet of water around the Sunken Island or just off Big Creek.
Houghton Lake: Look for large and smallmouth bass in the canals. Those looking for walleye could try floating minnows or drifting crawler harnesses.
Tawas River: Still has a few leftover salmon. More steelhead were moving up into the river. Try spawn or wax worms.
Au Gres River: Should still have some good action for steelhead, brown trout and Atlantic salmon. The better action has been in the lower end of Whitney Drain and for those surfcasting near the Singing Bridge. Try spawn, spoons or plugs.
Petoskey: Pier anglers are out and trying for coho, Chinook or pink salmon with spawn, small spinners or small spoons. Try orange, pink or chartreuse.
Bear River: Anglers are now catching more steelhead. Try spawn, skein or yarn. Some are fly fishing.
Elk River: Is producing coho and steelhead. Try floating spawn and skein or casting small spoons and spinners.
Boardman River: Is producing coho and steelhead even with the lower water levels. Fish the deeper holes for now.
Frankfort: Steelhead have been caught in the surf and off the piers.
Betsie River: Is producing steelhead. Those fishing up near the Homestead Dam caught fish on spawn.
Manistee: Is producing some steelhead for those surfcasting as well as those fishing off the piers. Try early morning, late evening or during the day when the weather is nasty.
Manistee River: Water levels are low and clear again which makes steelhead fishing somewhat difficult. Conditions like this require light leaders and small stealthy presentations to get them to bite.
Ludington: Steelhead were caught in the surf and off the piers. Fish early, late or when the weather is nasty.
Pere Marquette River: Water levels were low and clear and could stay that way for a while. The low and clear water conditions require light leaders especially if fish are on the gravel. For now, try fishing the deeper holes.
Keweenaw Bay: Salmon and lake trout are still out there for those that have not put their boats away.
Fall’s River: Is producing coho and steelhead for those casting spoons and spinners or drifting crawlers and spawn bags.
Menominee River: Is a good spot to target walleye, steelhead or brown trout. Try drifting fresh spawn, small spoons or rapalas.
Little Bay De Noc: Walleye catches are getting better every week as water temperatures drop below 50 degrees. The fish are in so there is no better time than now. Fish were caught during the day but the better reports are still coming by those fishing at night. During the day, the best catches were taken between the Second and Third Reefs by those trolling stick baits in 25 to 30 feet of water. Night anglers reported good catches between the Center Reef and the Black Bottom. Most were trolling crank baits or stick baits in 10 to 28 feet of water. The fish were averaging 21 to 23 inches. Perch action was fair for those using minnows or crawlers in 10 to 25 feet of water off Kipling.
St. Mary’s River: This is a good time of year to target smallmouth bass. Try fishing around the points and the islands.
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The expected upcoming milder weather should bring good fishing across the state.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Walleye are being taken from Stony Point north to the Bell area. Most were caught in as close as 23 feet of water. Reports of perch being caught from the East Buoy and McDonald’s area. A few great catches of smallmouth bass in the Brest Bay and Bell area.
Detroit River: has been good for smallmouth bass.
Lake St. Clair: Walleye are being caught at the south end of the Dumping Grounds, Puce and Belle River area. Most successful anglers are using bottom bouncers and harnesses. Fish are being caught from the Clinton River Spillway in 12 to18 feet of water at first light in the morning using bottom bouncers. Nice perch and lots of reports of smallmouth bass being landed.
Port Sanilac: Perch are spotty but some good catches are still being made. Move from weed bed to weed bed to find active fish. Good catches for lake trout, steelhead, coho and a few chinook can be found in 80 to 130 feet of water. Pier fishing is slow at all locations, with a few small panfish and catfish taken.
Harbor Beach: Good walleye action from 40 to 50 feet of water north toward Port Hope. Good catches of steelhead and lake trout from 80 to 130 feet of water.
Caseville: Walleye action is still good, but you may have to move around to find active fish. Try fishing in 20 to 40 feet of water. Trollers after trout and salmon are doing well in 80 to 130 feet of water. Steelhead are in the top 40 feet and lake trout are near the bottom. A few chinook are also being caught. Smallmouth bass are being taken by shore anglers at the mouth of Bird Creek.
Saginaw Bay: Walleye were still being taken near Buoys 1 and 2 in 13 feet of water off Pinconning, and some from the weed beds between Maisou and Heisterman Islands. Perch fishing is starting up and they are being taken from 20 feet of water near the Spark Plug, east of the Spark Plug in 30 feet of water, from northeast of the Black Hole, and from certain locations in 12 to 14 feet of water on the west side of the Bar. Catches were averaging 10 to 20 large perch per boat per trip with quite a few 10 to 12 inch fish.
Tawas Bay: Trollers after walleye are either going around Tawas Point and then north to the area off Au Sable Point while fishing in 35 to 80 feet of water, or crossing Saginaw Bay and fishing the reefs between Caseville and Port Austin. Pier anglers are getting a few perch but have to sort a lot to get some 7 to 8 inch fish. They’re also getting an odd bass or two. The Tawas River is producing mostly catfish and drum.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph: Perch fishing has been really good in 35 feet of water north of Rocky Gap. Pier fishermen have been reporting a few on the north side. Steelhead from the pier has been very slow however. Trollers are doing pretty good in 50 to 80 feet of water on a west/southwest troll with small spoons that are blue in color.
St. Joseph River: Is producing walleye and a few steelhead in the creek mouths.
Saugatuck: The past week has produced consistent fishing in the 65 to 90 foot depth with limit or near limit catches of lake trout and chinook salmon and steelhead. The piers have produced pretty good steelhead fishing as well.
Holland: Has had a nice mix of decent sized steelhead and lake trout. Best depths were in 80 to 110 feet of water early, then 110 to 130 later in the day. Perch fishing was good when fishing in 30 to 35 feet of water
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Anglers have reported a few early browns along with catches of Skamania, coho and chinook. Crawlers, spawn bags, spinners #4 and #5 and body baits were the popular choice of bait. Smallmouth bass were caught on tube baits and pike on sucker minnows, spoons and body baits. Riverside Park saw crappie and bluegill.
Grand River at Lansing: Fishing is slower than usual because of the high water. At Brenke Fish Ladder anglers are catching catfish using crawlers and leeches. Moores Park Dam reports early morning anglers are limiting out with bluegill but it slows down considerably after 9 a.m.
Lake Delta: Anglers are catching limits on catfish and bass.
Jordan Lake: Is producing good bluegill fishing.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Rogers City: A mixed bag of salmon, lake trout and steelhead have been taken, along with an occasional walleye. Good depths have been from 45 to 90 feet of water. Anglers are achieving this using lead core, downriggers and dipsey divers. Good colors have been blue and silver, white and black, greens and some cut bait with flashers. Good places have been straight out from the harbor, north towards the State Park and Forty Mile Point and south towards Swan Bay and Adams Point.
Presque Isle: Anglers are reporting good catches of both salmon and lake trout, straight out of the harbor and south towards Stone Port and north towards the big lighthouse.
Rockport: Anglers have been taking walleye from the northeast side of Middle Island in depths of 30 to 35 feet. Anglers had luck while using crawler harnesses and body baits. Most of the trout and salmon action took place around the Nordimer Wreck. The fish are in 120 to150 feet of water. The salmon have been taken on lines running 60 feet down and the lake trout were caught off the bottom of the lake. Anglers had very good success while fishing for lake trout with spin glows. Salmon seemed to show no color preference this week.
Alpena: Warm temperatures have caused the walleye to spread out. Anglers caught only a few at various depths. Anglers fished waters as deep as 95 feet for walleye. Others ran into walleye at depths of 30 to 35 feet of water. Anglers using body baits seemed to be more successful this week. Anglers on the river have been catching catfish and smallmouth bass using leeches and crawlers.
Harrisville: Harrisville has been spotty at best. Lake trout are out deep in 130 to 150 feet of water, north of the harbor past the lighthouse and south to the Greenbush Water Tower. Lake trout are from top to bottom using downriggers, lead core or dipsey’s. Colors vary, from blue and silver, green and silver, or whites with black. Dodgers and flashes are helping out. Steelhead catches are on the rise, with scum lines and thermal breaks holding them. Anglers are fishing dipsey’s, lead core and planner boards with and without lead core, in oranges, blues, and silvers. Walleye are hanging around the harbor wall and up north around the lighthouse. They are hitting on crawler harnesses and body baits off planner boards in fire tiger.
Houghton Lake: Walleye anglers reported tough trolling with all the weeds, but they still managed to catch a few. Try using leeches and crawlers in 6 to 10 feet of water. A few nice pike have been caught on large sucker minnows next to the weeds in the morning and evening but nothing during the day. Bluegill were being caught in the weeds in the 5 to 8 feet of water range with leeches, leaf worms and wax worms. Some nice perch being caught using leeches and minnows from anglers fishing in the middle grounds on the east side in 8 to 12 feet of water
Oscoda: Lake trout are in 90 to 130 feet of water on downriggers or planner boards. Most catches have been to the north by the Greenbush Water Tower. Steelhead and salmon are being caught in the same area as lake trout and on most of the same baits. Walleye are in the river in 25 to 50 feet of water, hitting on crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers and body baits off planner boards.
Au Gres: Best walleye success was actually south of Au Gres toward the end of the shipping channel, north of buoys 1 and 2.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Petoskey/Harbor Springs: Salmon action in Little Traverse Bay remains slow with only a few fish being caught. Salmon numbers should start to increase as we get closer to mid-August. Lake trout fishing has been good throughout the bay when fishing near the bottom with blue, green, and orange spoons, flasher and peanut, or flasher and spin glows.
Charlevoix: Salmon fishing has slowed a bit over the past week, with many anglers having limited success. The salmon that have been taken have been found scattered between Fisherman’s Island and North Point in 100 to 150 feet of water. Try fishing in 60 to 90 feet of water with green, blue, black, or orange spoons or for fish that won’t bite a big rotator or meat rig. Lake trout can be found in 100 to 150 feet of water, when fishing 10 to 30 feet off the bottom. Smallmouth bass action remains good in the Pine River Channel though the majority of the fish being caught are undersized.
Traverse City: The Bays have been slow for salmon but the West Bay has had some nice caches of lake trout both trolling and jigging. East Bay remains slow for trout and salmon but smallmouth fishing has picked up.
Elk Rapids: Has had some action around the dam with panfish and sublegal smallmouth.
Lake Cadillac: Bluegill and sunfish are showing up in deeper water. Best baits are leaf worms, crickets or wax worms. Walleye fishermen are catching a few in the deeper areas of the lake trolling crawler harnesses. Bass in the 14 to 18 inch class are consistently being caught on spinner baits and plastics. Pike are biting on white spinner baits as well.
Lake Mitchell: Bass and pike continue to provide good fishing for anglers. Crappie are biting best in early morning and evening. Try minnows or small jigs. The key is to keep moving until you find the schools. Bluegill and sunfish are showing up in deeper water. Best baits are leaf worms, crickets or wax worms.
Upper Peninsula
Traverse Bay: Anglers have enjoyed a good fish bite over the past week. Good success reported trolling for lake trout between Big Louie’s and Gay Points as well as 5 and 7 mile reefs. Best action is in 90 to 180 feet of water and bobbing in 240-260 feet of water.
South Portage Entry: Nice catches of lake trout off of big reef.
Marquette: Good action for lake trout was reported fishing the “clay banks” and Granite Island area in depths of 100 to 140 feet of water. Anglers report a hatch of adult flying ants on the surface near Granite Island where lake trout were feeding. Lake trout are averaging 3 to 4 pounds with a few reports of fish over 20 pounds. Best choices of baits were assorted spoons of silver/copper/melon colors. A few anglers did well on coho salmon and lake trout trolling outside the lower harbor breakwall in 40 to 50 feet of water which were feeding on large schools of stickleback. No reports of any chinook salmon. Good reports of lake trout from Stannard Rock with a few fish reported at 20 to 30 pounds.
Little Bay DeNoc: Walleye action picked up this week with fair to good reports throughout the Bay. Catches were spotty at times but good numbers of fish were marked from Breezy Point south to Round Island. Most trolled crawlers in 12 to 16 feet of water. First and second reef anglers trolled or drifted crawler’s w/harnesses in 12 to 20 feet of water. Good perch catches reported in Kipling out from the Power Plant in 12 to 24 feet of water and also off the northeast tip off Butler Island in 10 to 18 feet of water. Northern pike were very active all around the Butler Island area and into the Buckeye Bay. Most cast spinners and spoons in 12 to 18 feet of water with several 40 inch fish reported.
Big Bay DeNoc: Walleye anglers fished the Peninsula Point area into the Minneapolis shoals. Good smallmouth catches reported in Kate’s Bay in 3 to 12 feet of water and Porcupine Point in 6 to 14 feet of water casting plastics and cranks. Note: the Fish Dam launch will be closed for a few weeks for renovation.
Fairport: Salmon anglers reported fair catches out in the “Gap” trolling spoons in 80 to 125 feet of water and 40 to 80 feet down. Several nice catches of rainbow trout were reported trolling spoons or flies in 100 feet of water and 50 feet down. A 29 pound and a 31 pound chinook were reported caught here this week.
Au Train: Surface water temperatures have increased to the upper 60s this past week with the continued warm weather this summer. Lake trout success has slowed this past week with most anglers catch averaging three to five fish. Best success continues to be two to three miles north of Au Train Island and Wood Island in depths of 180 to 220 feet of water. No reports of any salmon.
Detour: Fishermen are trolling the shipping channel to the #3 green can and lighthouse area and the Drummond Island side to the #2 red can with some boats continuing 3 miles south for their lake trout limits. Anglers are fishing green flashers with flies, or white spoons with a red nose. Upstream on the St. Marys River at Munuscong Lake, walleye and northern pike are hitting in the channel on crawler harnesses with round or smiley V blades in red and gold or white and purple.
Cedarville and Hessel: Anglers fishing Hessel Bay for northern pike and yellow perch are having excellent results. Northern pike are hitting in 8 to 13 feet of water while anglers still fish with chubs. A limited number of anglers are venturing out to 60 to 70 feet of water for salmon. Musky Bay and Government Bay are also good locations for pike. Anglers are fishing in 10 to 15 feet of water. Perch catches are great out of Hessel Bay along the south shore, off the Marina dock, Haven Island and the 1st cut of Snows Channel. Anglers are fishing minnows or crawlers in 8 to 13 feet of water.
St. Ignace: Saw an increase in fishing pressure with anglers going out for chinook salmon, lake trout, rainbow trout and steelhead. Salmon are averaging from 5 to 15 pounds. Anglers are fishing from the Coast Guard area across the bay to the old four fuel tanks and the NE and SW corners of Mackinac Island. Common colors include silver or green flashers with flies, orange crush and watermelon. The primitive launch east of the Mackinaw Bridge remains a good opportunity for northern pike, small and largemouth bass. Anglers fishing along the bull rushes are casting weedless hooks with night crawlers, or casting spinner baits. Early morning or early evening is the best.
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]]>Anglers continue to catch trout, salmon and walleye in the Great Lakes. Catfish, carp and bass fishing is good right now in the river systems. Catch rates have been good for pike. Perch and crappie will most likely be found in deeper water.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Those launching out of Sterling State Park were taking good numbers of walleye straight out from Stony Point in 24 feet of water with crawler harnesses or spoons. Hot colors were bright pink, yellow or purple. Ideal trolling speed was 1.5 to 2 mph. Good numbers of perch were caught out from Toledo Beach, the Dumping Grounds and in 24 feet of water near the channel buoy.
Huron River: Had few anglers but catch rates should pick up when water temperatures start to come back down.
Detroit River: Is producing a fair number of smallmouth bass. A few walleye were caught in the lower river in 8 to 14 feet of water. Perch and rock bass were caught near the south end of Celeron Island in 4 to 6 feet of water. Caution needs to be used here as the bottom is covered with large rocks.
St. Clair River: Walleye have been caught mostly at night.
Lexington: Perch fishing was generally good from south of Lexington and north of Port Sanilac along the weed beds. Anglers are drifting until they find an active school of fish then anchoring.
Harbor Beach: Those trolling have done well for trout and salmon. For steelhead, try 40 feet down in 70 feet of water and for lake trout, fish near the bottom in 70 to 145 feet of water. Walleye fishing is starting to get better as the water warms up. Try north of the harbor and north of Port Hope while working close to shore in 30 to 65 feet of water with small spoons or crawler harnesses. Bass and pike are still being caught close to shore or inside the harbor near the weed beds. Try spoons or body baits. For perch, try south by the cemetery or inside the harbor along the channel when using minnows.
Grindstone City: Walleye were hitting in 30 to 40 feet if water. Those trolling have also caught a few whitefish.
Port Austin: The deeper waters northeast of Big Charity Island and around the reefs between Caseville and Port Austin were the hotspot for walleyes. Some were trolling as deep as 50 feet while others were in water 30 feet or less around the Hat, Flat Rock and the Osceola Reefs. The bigger fish were in deeper water. Crawler harnesses and small spoons were catching fish.
Saginaw Bay: Hot weather appears to be driving walleyes to cooler and deeper water though some fish were still being caught along the inner bay. Anglers will need to move to the outer parts of the bay and adjust their methods accordingly. Surface water temperatures along the inner bay were running in the low to mid 80’s. A few walleye were caught in 3 to 10 feet of water off Finn Road by troller’s long-lining crawler harnesses over the top of the weed beds. No one was using bottom bouncers. Fish were also caught in the Slot off Sebewaing, Bay Port, and Linwood in 19 feet of water or on the west side of the Coryeon Reef and beyond Buoys 1 and 2 in 10 to 19 feet of water. Crawler harnesses worked best and the hot colors were purple, red and silver or blue and silver blades. Black and white Hot-n-Tots were also producing a few fish.
Saginaw River: Shore anglers fishing at Essexville caught catfish, freshwater drum and a few bass.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph: Catch rates slowed for those trolling and for pier anglers. A few perch were caught in 30 feet of water and there are still plenty of freshwater drum.
South Haven: Most of the fishing pressure is for perch. Boat anglers are doing very well in 15 to 40 feet of water north and south of the piers.
Grand Haven: Boat anglers were struggling to catch trout or salmon as the fish were scattered due to warm water temperatures. Try 110 to 140 feet of water or deeper with downriggers 40 to 100 feet down. Orange baits were best at 40 to 50 feet down while green and blue were best 50 to 100 feet down. Pier anglers are still getting alewife for bait but they are small. Catfish and freshwater drum were caught.
Grand River at Lansing: Those fishing below any of the dams are getting smallmouth bass, catfish and carp. Channel cats were caught at Moore’s Park and the North Lansing Dam after dark when using dead sucker minnows. The Smithville Dam south of Eaton Rapids was good for smallmouth bass. Try crawlers, spinners, or curly tail grubs.
Park Lake: Located near Bath is producing pike and bluegill.
Looking Glass River: Was producing some nice sunfish and the largemouth bass should be active as well.
Lake Ovid: Is producing bluegill, crappie, bass and even a few catfish.
Muskegon: Salmon fishing was a challenge but a few fish were taken on downriggers 40 to 100 feet down in 80 to 100 feet of water with spoons or spin/fly combos. Orange, green and blue were good colors for spoons and flies but green and white spinnies worked best.
Muskegon River: Some nice walleye were caught in the Hardy Dam Pond. Trout fishing was fair to good in the early morning before the recreational activities start.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Cheboygan River: Is producing some walleye and bass.
Burt Lake & Mullett Lake: Were both producing good numbers of bass along with a few walleye.
Rogers City: Fishing was good before the water warmed up. Steelhead were high and hitting on lead core in 3 to 5 colors with spoons in orange, pink, green glow or bright green fished in the top 30 feet of water. Chinook were caught in the early morning on green spoons or anything that glows worked early or late in the day. The bigger chinook were caught about one hour before the sun comes up. Try 55 to 115 feet of water and look for the temperature break. A fair number of Atlantic salmon were caught along with the occasional lake trout or brown trout.
Presque Isle: Chinook and steelhead were caught straight out of the harbor, north between the lighthouses and off Big Lighthouse Point. Chinook, steelhead, Atlantic salmon, lake trout, brown trout and walleye were caught off Stoneport. Try shallow early in the morning and find the thermocline as the sun comes up. Early morning seems to produce more fish.
Rockport: Trout and salmon were caught northeast of the launch toward Stoneport, and around the Nordmeer Wreck in 150 feet of water. Salmon ad steelhead were about 60 feet down. Blue and red were hot colors for salmon. Walleye were caught around Middle Island in 30 to 40 feet of water. Smallmouth bass and walleye were seen along the shoreline and near the launch.
Alpena: Walleye were caught around Sulfur Island and Grass Island. The fish were up high so anglers were trolling planer boards 30 to 60 feet back. Those looking for lake trout and salmon traveled 20 to 30 miles out to the “Humps” and fished in 150 to 200 feet of water. Lake trout were on the bottom, salmon and steelhead 60 to 80 feet down. Metallic blue and silver were the hot colors for trout and salmon. Pier anglers caught catfish on rapalas.
Thunder Bay River: Had little to no action. Smallmouth bass and freshwater drum were caught on crawlers.
Harrisville: Lake trout are hitting south of the harbor and down to the last set of nets off Greenbush in 100 to 130 feet of water. Try cowbells, hot-n-tots or white and green spoons. Steelhead are near the top in 60 to 80 feet of water where planer boards, dipsy’s and lead core worked best. Blue, silver and orange were good colors. Walleye were caught outside the breakwall and north of the harbor off the lighthouse when trolling or drifting crawler harnesses or body baits.
Lake Margrethe: Is producing some perch.
Houghton Lake: Is producing some nice large and smallmouth bass.
McCollum Lake: Was providing good panfish opportunities.
Oscoda: Lake trout were caught north of the river in 85 to 120 feet of water. To target steelhead, try fishing closer to shore with planer boards, lead core and high lines. Try orange and blue spoons or cut bait.
Au Sable River: Has been slow with only a few walleye caught each day. No big numbers of catfish in the river yet.
Tawas: A few walleye were caught around the artificial reef in 15 to 25 feet of water and out near Buoy #2 in 30 to 35 feet, but a lot of boats are going south to deeper water off Alabaster where they’re picking up walleye in waters as deep as 60 to 70 feet. Pier fishing is slow with only bass and panfish caught.
Tawas River: Is producing some catfish and freshwater drum.
Au Gres: Had more fishing activity especially north of Big Charity Island in waters 12 to 60 feet deep. A few fish were still being caught straight off the mouth of the river and south of Pte. Au Gres. Good bass fishing was reported in Wigwam Bay.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Petoskey: Lake trout fishing was decent for those trolling near the bottom between the pier and Nine Mile Point in 100 to 150 feet of water. Salmon are slowly starting to show up in the bay however the better action could be found between Seven Mile Point and Good Hart when fishing in deep water.
Charlevoix: North Point remains the best location to find salmon when fishing 70 to 120 feet down in waters 150 to 300 feet deep. Lake trout can be found near the bottom. Try a variety of spoons and flies.
Pine River: Smallmouth bass and walleye are still being caught in the channel when using crawlers, leeches or blue and silver spoons.
Frankfort: Has produced several chinook over 20 pounds. Fish have been caught by those staying closer to shore and fishing 50 to 65 feet down in 90 to 120 feet of water as well as those heading out deeper and fishing 75 to 85 feet down in 200 to 250 feet of water. Try spoons or j-plugs.
Onekama: A good number of fish have been caught to the north along the Shelf when trolling 40 to 65 feet down in 90 to 140 feet of water.
Portage Lake: Panfish are still hitting on worms and perch were found in deeper water. Anglers are catching lots of rock bass at the moment.
Lake Missaukee: Some nice pike have been caught.
Lake Cadillac: Is producing a fair to good numbers of largemouth bass in the early morning or late evening with crawlers, spinners or curly tail grubs. Fish the weed beds or places with structure. Panfish are there but may be in deeper water.
Lake Mitchell: Is producing panfish, bass and pike.
Manistee: Chinook salmon have been caught up near the piers and out to waters 150 feet deep. Try to find the thermocline when trolling green and orange spoons with flies. Look for steelhead near the surface.
Manistee River: Look for brown trout and smallmouth bass below Tippy Dam.
Pere Marquette River: Fishing was slow but those still interested have caught a few resident brown trout on streamers in the fly’s only section.
Pentwater: Had good fishing with a mix of trout and salmon caught by those trolling off Sable Point in 80 feet of water. Hot colors for deep water were green and blue but orange worked best in the top 15 feet of water.
Upper Peninsula
Copper Harbor: Splake have been caught on small minnows hooked through the nose so they can free swim. Strong winds have limited fishing on Lake Superior.
Keweenaw Bay: The bite has slowed for those trolling or jigging. Anglers are putting in a lot time to catch a coho or lake trout. Fish were caught in Traverse Bay when trolling for lake trout between Big Louie’s and Gay Point as well as Five Mile and Seven Mile Reefs. Some caught fish near the Huron Islands when trolling in 90 to 180 feet of water.
Gratiot Lake: The walleye bite was good between 5am and 8am and again in the evening between 8pm and 2am. Some are slow trolling with crawlers with lindy rigs in 19 to 26 feet of water while others are still-fishing with minnows.
Marquette: Water temperatures 30 feet down were in the upper 40’s. Lake trout fishing was scattered with only a few limit catches reported. Most were fishing towards Granite Island, Little Presque Isle or just north of the White Rocks. Jigging was slow with only a few fish caught 180 to 220 feet down north of the White Rocks and near the Sand Hole. Those fishing around Stannard Rock had good reports of lake trout averaging 8 to 15 pounds, with a few over 20 pounds.
Menominee: Had a large die-off of alewife between the port and the Ford River. Boat anglers are trolling for salmon near Chambers Island and Green Island but no fish were caught.
Menominee River: Is good for a mix of walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish, freshwater drum and rock bass. Water levels were down some so most anglers were drifting crawlers.
Little Bay De Noc: Walleye anglers fishing in the evening caught fish just off the mouth of the Escanaba River when trolling or drifting crawler harnesses in 12 to 20 feet of water. Fair catches were reported between Breezy Point and Round Island in 12 to 16 feet of water. Good perch fishing on the Second and Third Reefs when still-fishing with crawlers in 14 to 25 feet of water. Walleye and salmon anglers reported large numbers of alewife combined with a large mayfly hatch.
Big Bay De Noc: Had fair to good smallmouth bass fishing around Porcupine Point, Kates Bay, Ansell’s Point and Garden Bluff when casting tube baits in 12 to 15 feet of water. Walleye anglers seem to be targeting the southern waters near Round Island. Anglers report a large number of alewife in this area. Fairport seems a bit slower than previous years however a good number of fish over 20 pounds have been harvested. Most were trolling 40 to 80 feet down in 70 to 100 feet of water in the “Gap.” Try spoons or artificial cut bait.
Au Train: Catch rates were spotty as the lake trout were suspended 70 to 90 feet down in 160 to 180 feet of water. Most are using spoons and flies tipped with cut bait. No salmon or steelhead to report.
Munising: Fishing was slow and few anglers were out except for a couple targeting lake trout out near Wood Island. Pier and dock anglers did mange to catch splake.
Grand Marais: Pier fishing for whitefish is pretty much done with only a few smaller fish caught in the morning. More boats are heading out for lake trout. Fish were caught from the shipping channel to five or seven miles out in water 70 to 300 feet deep. Some limit catches were reported however the fish continue to run on the small side. Pike were caught by those trolling the shoreline. Coho were caught when trolling east and west just outside the bay.
Manistique: Chinook and steelhead were caught by those going out over 10 miles and fishing in waters 120 to 150 feet deep. On average, anglers were netting 0-3 fish per boat when trolling different size spoons with flies. Evenings were best.
Manistique River: Is producing a mix of pike, smallmouth bass, walleye, carp and freshwater drum. Fish have been caught from the mouth to the first dam. Those fishing from the docks are using crawlers and leeches while boat anglers are using spoons, crank baits or rapalas.
St. Mary’s River: Some Atlantic salmon were caught at the powerhouse in Sault Ste. Marie. A few walleye were also caught in the channel near Munuscong Lake by those using a red crawler harness and bottom bouncer. Herring and whitefish activity has picked up off the north end of Butterfield Island, the north side of Maple Island, and between Butterfield and Macomb Islands. Anglers are fishing pink or red teardrops with a wax worm. In Raber Bay, walleye were caught trolling bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses near the Canadian rock pile on the north side of Lime Island.
De Tour: Boats are targeting Atlantic and chinook salmon, rainbow trout and lake trout. The better catches came from the shipping channel to the #3 Green Can, off the lighthouse, the #2 Red Can and three miles south for limits of lake trout. For spoons try purple with pink dots, green and gold or white with orange dots. Walleye were caught near Drummond Island when trolling or long-lining crawler harnesses in Scott Bay or the north side of Peck Island. A few perch and sunfish were caught off the Yacht Haven pier when using minnows.
Cedarville and Hessel: Hessel remains excellent for pike while still-fishing with chubs or casting in 8 to 10 feet of water. Perch fishing in Hessel Bay and Snows Channel was good using minnows or crawlers in 8 to 12 feet of water. For perch, try Musky Bay, Moscoe Channel and the Middle Entrance in 12 feet of water. Pike fishing along the south shore was good and Government Bay was good.
St. Ignace: Boat anglers are catching chinook, steelhead and lake trout between the Coast Guard Station and the four tanks as well as the northeast and southeast corners of Mackinac Island. Try spoons in watermelon, green with white stripes or black with white glow. Check out the primitive launch on the east side of the bridge for pike and largemouth bass. Try weedless hooks with crawlers or spinner baits.
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]]>Bass and panfish action is in full swing on the inland lakes. The walleye bite has slowed with the extremely warm weather. Some of the rivers are low and clear which makes trout fishing much more of a challenge.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Walleye anglers coming from Sterling State Park are fishing straight out from Stony Point in 24 to 28 feet of water and catching lots of freshwater drum. Those launching from Bolles Harbor and fishing around the E Buoy have caught some nice yellow perch. The Dumping Grounds out from Toledo Beach are still producing a good number of perch.
Huron River: Has bass, carp, catfish, bluegill, crappie and the occasional walleye.
Lake St. Clair: Walleye fishing has been good in waters over 15 feet deep when using crawler harnesses. Bass fishing has also been good, but mostly in deep water.
St. Clair River: Walleye fishing was spotty but fish were caught up near Port Huron.
Lexington: Perch fishing was good. It is best to drift fish until you find an active school of perch then anchor. Boats looking for trout and salmon were trolling in 60 to 90 feet of water.
Port Sanilac: Look for perch along the weed beds. Pier fishing is slow.
Harbor Beach: Steelhead fishing has picked up again, use color lines for best results. Keep your line up high as the fish are feeding on the current bug hatch. Use boards with regular or magnum bright colored spoons while fishing north of the harbor in 75 to 120 feet of water. A couple salmon were caught 20 to 50 feet down. Fair lake trout fishing north of the harbor using dodgers with spin glows near the bottom. Try spoons off downriggers 50 feet down. Start out in 110 feet of water and work your way out to deeper water until you find them. Walleye fishing has picked up north of the harbor and north of Port Hope in 30 to 65 feet of water. For pike and bass, fish along the weed beds close to shore with spoons or body baits. For perch, try the cemetery or inside the harbor with minnows.
Grindstone City: Did not have much activity as most anglers are launching at Port Austin where the walleye bite was much better.
Port Austin: Walleye fishing was excellent in 20 to 40 feet of water. Most fish were caught by those trolling west to Hat Point and the Flat Rock Reefs. A couple steelhead and walleye were also caught.
Saginaw Bay: Walleye fishing was good throughout most of the bay however extremely hot weather this week may push the fish out to cooler waters. Anglers should be prepared to move and change tactics if conditions warrant. Catch rates were good in 13 feet of water off the Pinconning Bar, two miles northeast of the Black Hole, and the Slot from Fish Point to Sand Point. Some limit catches were reported. Mid-summer weed growth has made fishing more difficult in the area immediately north of Knight and Finn Roads. Lots of catfish, freshwater drum, and a few large yellow perch have been caught by walleye anglers. Try crawler harnesses, crank baits or small spoons. Good walleye fishing between Caseville and Port Austin.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph: Perch fishing has slowed. They are still catching a few fish but the size and numbers are down. The lake has turned over which means there is cold water near the shoreline. It may not take long for hot temperatures this week to warm the water back up. Steelhead were caught when trolling orange spoons or body baits while pier anglers are using shrimp.
South Haven: Perch fishing was slow.
Grand Haven: With the warm water, fishing is a bit more difficult. Try downriggers 45 to 85 feet down in 220 to 300 feet of water or 10 and 13 color lead core 150 to 300 feet deep for salmon. Spoons are the bait of choice and the hot colors were green, orange or blue. Pier anglers were catching freshwater drum. A couple boats tried for perch but had no luck.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Look for steelhead up near the dam. Those drifting crawlers or small body baits caught walleye early or late. This is a good time of year for catfish and carp. Try crawlers or cut bait for catfish and corn for carp.
Grand River at Lansing: Catfish, carp and a few walleye have been caught over at Moore’s Park Dam. Try live bait for catfish and walleye or corn for carp. Some nice pike have been caught on live bait at the North Lansing Dam. Look for catfish near Dietrich Park.
Whitehall: A turn over caused the fish to move in closer to shore where they were caught 30 to 50 feet down in 70 to 90 feet of water. The majority of fish are still coming off downriggers with spoons, although 3 to 5 colors of lead core is also working. A few walleye were caught off the pier but no perch.
White Lake: Is producing a few walleye.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Rogers City: Catch rates improved with anglers taking chinook, steelhead, lake trout, brown trout, walleye and the occasional Atlantic salmon. More chinook salmon are showing up however the fish were still a bit scattered. Try 60 to 130 feet of water. Set downriggers between the surface and 45 feet down as the fish are up high in the water column. Good colors were green, pink and orange, green and copper, chartreuse, blue, black and white or anything that glows early and late. An excellent thermocline is developing.
Presque Isle: What locals call the “Farm” has been very productive. The area is five to six miles northeast of the big lighthouse. Fish up high and cover the top 45 feet of the water column with downriggers or lead core with 3, 5, or 7 colors and dipsey or slide divers set in the top 30 feet.
Rockport: Some have caught salmon, steelhead and lake trout in 120 feet of water. The fish were scattered so try trolling between the launch and the Nordmere Wreck or from the launch to Stoneport.
Alpena: Walleye fishing on the bay was good especially during the evening hours when using crawler harnesses. Anglers were trolling clown rapalas around Grass and Sulfur Islands. Fish were found in 10 to 12 feet of water or as deep as 35 feet. Some anglers did manage to catch chinook or pink salmon, lake trout and steelhead when using high lines in 120 feet of water.
Thunder Bay River: Fishing was a bit slow with only a couple catfish taken by those still-fishing with leeches or crawlers.
Harrisville: Lake trout have moved out to 150 feet of water. Fish near the bottom with white, silver or green glow spoons behind dodgers. Steelhead could be found around the scum lines in 60 to 80 feet of water however catch rates were hit-or-miss. Walleye were in 25 to 45 feet of water off the lighthouse and north of the harbor. Try crawler harnesses or body baits.
Higgins Lake: Is producing a good number of rock bass. Lake trout are deep so try trolling crank baits, rapalas or bombers. Those jigging sand kickers, Swedish pimples or cast masters found lake trout in 80 to 110 feet of water.
Oscoda: Lake trout have moved out into 80 to 150 feet of water. Some are using glow flies with cut bait behind dodgers while others are using white and silver spoons.
Au Sable River: Walleye fishing has slowed. Try outside the mouth in 20 to 40 feet of water while drifting or trolling crawler harnesses or body baits.
Tawas: Most anglers are still towing their boats down to Au Gres for walleye.
Au Gres: Had good walleye fishing north of Big Charity Island and straight off the mouth of the river in 12 feet of water.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Traverse City: Fishing has been slow in both bays and no chinook salmon yet. In the East Bay, a few lake trout were caught by those jigging. Good smallmouth bass action near Elk Rapids when using live bait.
Frankfort: Anglers are catching fish 20 pounds or more before daylight in 110 feet of water when heading west and trolling 60 to 85 feet down with glow spoons. After daybreak, meat rigs produced some nice catches. Coho and steelhead were caught in the top 50 to 60 feet. Lake trout were active 80 feet down in the early morning. After daylight, try flashers and peanuts just off the bottom.
Onekama: Fish have been caught by those starting out in 120 feet of water and heading north when trolling meat rigs.
Portage Lake: Perch, bluegills, pumpkinseed, and rock bass are hitting on worms. Large and smallmouth bass can be found along the drop-offs and under the docks.
Lake Cadillac: The walleye bite has slowed. Those casting caught pike and bass. Perch were caught just off the bottom but anglers will need to move around as the fish keep moving. Fish deeper water for bluegill and crappie.
Lake Mitchell: Is producing some nice pike. Those fishing the coves are catching a variety of species including bluegills, bass, bullhead, rock bass and bowfin.
Manistee: Boat anglers were catching chinook in 50 to 150 feet of water. Try running green flies or spoons. Coho and steelhead were also caught off shore when fishing the top 50 feet with orange spoons. Pier fishing was slow.
Manistee River: Is producing some brown trout below Tippy Dam. The warm water fishery such as pike and bass is starting to improve below the dam.
Hamlin Lake: Was good for bluegill, crappie and perch especially in the North Bayou and Indian Pete’s Bayou. Look for bass along the drop-offs and structure.
Ludington: Orange body baits were the ticket for boat anglers targeting salmon in 60 to 120 feet of water. Steelhead and coho were caught.
Pere Marquette River: Water levels are low and clear. Fly fishing is hard at this time. Deerfly season is just getting started so bring your bug spray.
Upper Peninsula
Keweenaw Bay: Chinook and lake trout were picked up between Sand Point and Carla’s Restaurant but over all the bite is slow. Anglers jigging for lake trout did well off Pequaming Point as well as Koski Flats and the south end of Big Reef. Those trolling the South Portage Entry caught some fish near Farmers and Newton Reef or the Mud Banks but the bite was hit-or-miss. In Traverse Bay, try Five and Seven Mile Reefs as well as between Big Louie’s Point and Gay Point.
Marquette: Surface water temperatures are in the low 60’s. Lake trout were scattered but fish were caught near Granite Island, Little Presque Isle, and the Sand Hole which is four to five miles east of the port. Try flies and spoons in 180 to 220 feet of water.
Menominee River: Is producing walleye, smallmouth bass, rock bass, catfish, and freshwater drum throughout the entire river.
Little Bay De Noc: Walleye catches were typically slow this month. For more fish try the southern waters when drifting crawler harnesses in 8 to 14 feet of water near Breezy Point and 12 to 20 feet of water near the “Fingers.” Good numbers of perch were caught around Butler Island when using worms or crawlers in 10 to 12 feet of water but many small ones were released. The bigger perch can be found just north of the Narrows when still-fishing with crawlers in 18 to 23 feet of water. Lots of freshwater drum have been caught around the Second and Third Reefs. Chinook were starting to show up in the channel off Aronson Island. Try 40 to 60 feet down in 80 to 90 feet of water.
Big Bay De Noc: Continues to have good smallmouth action in Kate’s Bay and off Garden Bluff when casting crank baits or tube baits in 12 to 20 feet of water. Perch were caught in Garden Bay when still-fishing with worms about 150 yards west of the launch in 8 to 12 feet of water. Off Fairport, chinook were caught in the Gap and off Point Detour when trolling 60 to 80 feet down in 80 to 120 feet of water.
Au Train: Warm air has pushed the surface water temperatures into the low 60’s. A few lake trout were caught north of Au Train Island in 180 to 220 feet of water when using flies and spoons. No large schools of bait fish were reported. Few fish were caught near the shipping channel.
Munising: Catch rates were extremely slow. Those willing to put in a great deal of time did manage to catch a few lake trout 70 to 170 feet down near Wood Island when trolling spoons, dipsies and flies. Pier and dock anglers said the splake action was slow with only a few legal size fish caught.
Grand Marais: A few boats are still heading out for lake trout and fishing the shipping channel, five to seven miles north of the bay in a variety of depths from 40 to 300 feet deep. The fish are running on the small side and fewer limits have been caught by those trolling meat rigs and assorted lures. Even the pike action was slow around the boat launch.
Manistique: Chinook and steelhead were caught four to five miles out when trolling east and west. Surface temperatures were 58 to 61 degrees. Catch rates were slow but most of the fish caught were steelhead hitting on spoons and flies.
Manistique River: A couple walleye and smallmouth bass were caught off the pier when using crawlers or casting rapalas.
St. Mary’s River: Anglers did the best on Atlantic salmon and lake trout when fishing the shipping channel to the #3 Green Can and the lighthouse or the Drummond Island side to the #2 Red Can. Limits of lake trout were caught about three miles south of the Red Can. Hot colors were purple, pink, orange, green or yellow. Perch were caught around Sweets Point however watch out for the rocks. Walleye anglers are fishing Raber Bay, the east side of Round Island and Munuscong Lake with purple, watermelon or chartreuse crawler harnesses.
De Tour: Had a lot of activity with anglers targeting trout, salmon and herring. Try Big Trout, Little Trout, Long and Burnt Islands for herring. For Drummond Island, walleye were caught off Peck Island which is in Scott Bay by those trolling crawler harnesses in 7 to 10 feet of water. Try early morning or late evening between Paw Point and Peck Island in 2 to 4 feet of water.
Cedarville and Hessel: Catch rates for lake herring were spotty in McKay Bay however Prentice Bay was producing a good number of fish. Try casting Swedish pimples or a red teardrop tipped with a wax worm. Yellow perch were good one day and shut down the next. Try the east end of Hessel Bay with crawlers or shiners. Good northern pike action in 8 to 12 feet of water in Hessel Bay. Try minnows or chubs under a bobber. The occasional smallmouth bass was also caught.
St. Ignace: Anglers are harvesting chinook and lake trout from the Coast Guard Station to the old fuel tanks as well as the northeast and southeast corners of Mackinaw Island. Most are trolling spoons such as black and white glow or green with white stripes. The primitive launch east of the bridge is a good spot for pike and bass. Try weedless hooks with crawlers or spinner baits in the bull rushes.
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