Ice fishing is done and steelhead are running the rivers, but we need warm weather. The ice is good north of Gaylord and still lots od snow so we need a warm up to get the ice out for opener the last saturday in April. Houghton Lake the canals are not open yet so no gills or crappie, but south of US 10 the lakes have opened up finally
Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Traverse City: A few boats have been out jigging for lake trout and cicso. Catch rates were fair in 100 to 150 feet of water. Those surfcasting have caught a couple steelhead on spawn bags.
Elk River: Is producing the occasional steelhead. Try spawn bags or small jigs tipped with wax worms.
Boardman River: Is producing the occasional steelhead and brown trout. Steelhead fishing is slow but steady with spawn bags or a jig tipped with a minnow. Some were caught on flies.
Platte Bay: Steelhead are starting to show up. Try surfcasting with spawn bags.
Frankfort: Those fishing before the elbow on both piers caught steelhead in the morning. Orange spawn bags with chartreuse floaters seem to work best however the hits were light. A couple brown trout were caught off the south pier when using body baits.
Betsie River: Should have good steelhead fishing by the weekend.
Onekama: Pier anglers caught a couple steelhead or brown trout when using spawn or casting spoons and body baits.
Portage Lake: The Ice is nearly gone but watch for flow ice. The boat launches have open water but no docks.
Manistee: Boat anglers caught steelhead and brown trout on orange body baits. Catch rates for pier anglers were hit-or-miss. They are using orange or chartreuse spawn bags.
Manistee River: Has steelhead however it appears the run will be more drawn out this year as we wait for a good spring push. Water temperatures were not getting out of the 30’s so fish the deeper holes.
Lake Cadillac: Still has ice however the shoreline is deteriorating. Rain this week will most likely put an end to the ice fishing season.
Ludington: Pier anglers caught steelhead on spawn bags. Boat anglers caught steelhead and a few brown trout when trolling around the piers with small body baits.
Pere Marquette River: Successful anglers were fishing the deeper holes. While some have started spawning, this week could bring a good push of fresh fish.
Pentwater: Pier anglers caught steelhead especially off the South Pier. Those fishing in the channel and off the Long Bridge also caught fish.
Northeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Rogers City: The ice is just about gone however some big sheets were still blocking the launch ramp. Anglers were casting off the wall but no fish were caught.
Ocqueoc River: Had lots of angler activity but few fish were caught. Anglers were drifting spawn and yarn flies. We need warm weather and rain to kick the steelhead run into high gear.
Rockport: No docks were in yet as there is still a little bit of ice at the launch site. The gate is locked for the parking area in front of the old dock.
Alpena: Has ice in the marina. Boat anglers can launch from the river.
Thunder Bay River: Is producing the occasional steelhead below the Ninth Street Dam. Try spawn, wax worms, flies or rubber eggs.
Au Sable River: Steelhead were caught from the mouth to the dam. Skid piers at the mouth were still on shore so unloading and loading will be difficult. Access sites upstream are open with ample parking. Spawn, flies and wax worms are best for those drifting and those casting are using small spoons, body baits or spinners. Most of the fish caught seem to be fresh and the signs are good for a long consistent run.
Higgins Lake: Has no one fishing. The shoreline ice is deteriorating rapidly. Anglers are now waiting for open water fishing.
Tawas: Pier anglers casting along the outside of the harbor have caught lake trout, steelhead, brown trout and the occasional whitefish. Those wading off the mouth of the river caught a few walleye on rapalas. Ice inside the harbor is finally breaking up.
Au Gres: A couple boats trolling off the mouth of the river caught a few walleye.
Au Gres River: Had very good steelhead fishing near the Singing Bridge and about a half mile upstream. Most are drifting fresh spawn. Steelhead can be found as far up as M-55. Surfcasting at the Singing Bridge was not as good as the river fishing.
Rifle River: Steelhead have been caught from Selkirk Road downstream to Greenwood Road. Many were float fishing in canoes or wading near access points. The sucker run is finally underway at Omer for both hook and line anglers and those with dip nets.
Pine River: Near Standish had excellent perch fishing with limit catches of fish ranging 7 to 10 inches for those that put in the time. Anglers were fishing upstream from the boat ramp. The launch was not usable due to an ice jam.
Upper Peninsula Fishing Report
Keweenaw Bay: The Ice at Big Reef, Mud Banks, Newton’s Reef and Farmers Reef is all busted up and is floating pack ice now. Do not attempt to head out to these locations or you will be swimming. Lake trout fishing was spotty. Anglers are still getting out from Pequaming, Whirl-I-Gig Road and Old Mission and fishing in 100 to 265 feet of water. Coho and lake herring is slow but anglers are reporting big schools of herring. Salmon are being caught on tip-ups with live minnows out from the Falls River in L’Anse.
Falls River:Is producing rainbow trout as water levels are on the rise.
Marquette: Anglers reported fair catch rates for coho and steelhead off the Carp River and the “Bubblers”. They are using crawlers, spawn or small crank baits. Ice between the Chocolay River and Shot Point is slowly deteriorating. There is a slight increase in runoff at the Carp River and Dead River and the bank is still ice and snow covered. The Upper Harbor is free of snow but the Lower Harbor is still iced in. Some were trying for coho and splake off the coal docks but no fish were taken.
Menominee: The bay was still frozen.
Menominee River: Is starting to break up just downstream from Boom Landing and upstream to the first Dam at Hattie Street. Anglers can launch without a dock at Boom Landing and Stephenson Island. Anglers caught a few walleye, brown trout, steelhead, and whitefish near the Hattie Street Dam. They are casting different colored rapalas with or without a piece of live bait. Overcast days, late afternoon or early morning seem to be the best time to fish.
Little Bay De Noc: Remains iced over but no anglers were fishing south of the “Narrows”. Snow and rain have weakened the ice along the edges so taking vehicles out on the ice is no longer safe. Fishing has turned to perch especially near Kipling where catch rates were good in 30 to 45 feet of water with wigglers, minnows and spikes. Smaller fish were caught in shallow waters. Rivers in the area were still iced over except for the mouth of the Ford River and the Escanaba River which had open water up to the First Dam for shore anglers.
Big Bay De Noc: Had few anglers. Garden Bay had ice but no anglers. Fairport had partial ice cover but no activity. Most rivers are iced over with the exception of some areas on the Ogontz River.
Au Train: Had light ice fishing activity with the bay still iced in. A few anglers were jigging for coho off the Brownstone Launch but no fish were caught. The launch still has almost two feet of snow. While there is still ice, watch the pressure cracks.
Au Train River: Is open at the mouth. Those jigging for coho had no luck.
Munising: Still had ice between Christmas and Sand Point. Those walking were still heading out to fish. Use caution near the mouth of the Anna River as strong currents were taking out some of the surrounding ice. Shoreline ice is starting to open up. Catch rates were slow. A few whitefish were caught in shallow waters by those jigging a single egg or wax worm. A few small perch were caught near Sand Point. Smelt action was fair at Sand Point. Try jigging about halfway down with a wax worm. Trout Bay had no fishable ice. Small boats were starting to fish for coho.
Grand Marias: The bay and boat launch are iced in. The pier and parking areas were buried in snow. There is open water between the pier and breakwall.
Cedarville and Hessel: Still have ice however anglers need to use caution and pay close attention to the weather. Hessel Bay is producing some nice perch in the middle and along the east end in 5 to 10 feet of water. Perch were also caught along the west end of Musky Bay in 6 to 8 feet of water.
Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Erie: A few docks have been put in at Bolles Harbor and Sterling State Park. Anglers are targeting walleye in 12 to 18 feet of water in Brest Bay when trolling body baits a few feet off the bottom. Those jigging around Turtle Island are picking up a few but overall fishing was slow.
Detroit River: Walleye fishing picked up in the Trenton Channel and the mid-river.
Lake St. Clair: Had very little fishing activity. The docks are in at the DNR launches but low water levels have created some launching issues especially for larger boats at the Selfridge, Fairhaven and Clinton River Cut-off sites.
St. Clair River: Shore anglers at Port Huron have caught steelhead and brown trout. A few walleye were caught in the lower river near Algonac.
Lexington: Pier anglers caught steelhead, brown trout, and a few coho when casting small spoons or live minnows. Only small perch were caught off the dock. Boat anglers caught trout and salmon when trolling body baits in 10 to 20 feet of water north and south of the harbor.
Port Sanilac: Pier anglers are catching steelhead and brown trout.
Harbor Beach: Pier anglers caught steelhead and brown trout.
Port Austin: Pier anglers caught steelhead off the gas dock when casting small spoons. Late afternoon and early evening were best.
Saginaw Bay: Had excellent walleye fishing off the mouth of the Saginaw River. Walleye were hitting pretty much anything thrown at them including jigs and minnows. Some channel cats were caught in the Hot Ponds. Perch fishing near the Pigeon River has not yet started because the water is colder north of Sand Point.
Kawkawlin River: Perch fishing was good off the bridge at State Park Drive.
Saginaw River: Had good perch fishing between the mouth and Essexville. Fish ranging 10 and 11 inches were caught on minnows.
Quanicassee River: Had good perch fishing but the action has tapered off as it appears the season may have already peaked. Rain may bring in some fresh fish, but don’t wait too long to get out there.
Sebewaing River: Also had good perch fishing but has tapered off.
Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
St. Joseph: Overall fishing is pretty good. Pier anglers were doing best with a good number of coho taken with spawn fished on the bottom. A few whitefish were caught. Boat anglers caught coho and brown trout when trolling small spoons or body baits.
South Haven: Windy conditions have kept most boats off the lake. Pier anglers caught a few whitefish or brown trout but overall fishing was slow.
Holland: When the lake is calm, anglers trolling close to shore caught brown trout. Be careful of low water levels at the boat launch.
Port Sheldon: Those trolling have caught brown trout on body baits. Orange and yellow were hot colors. Water levels are low at the boat launch.
Grand Haven: Both piers were hit-or-miss for steelhead and brown trout. Shore anglers caught a few on spawn or skein. Boats using planer boards with body baits caught fish along the shoreline. Orange and yellow were good colors. Boat anglers need to use caution due to low water levels at the launch.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Rain this week could bring the final push of steelhead. Suckers are starting to move in. Bluegill, crappie and perch were caught at Riverside Park.
Grand River at Lansing: Anglers are hoping the rain will push steelhead up into the Lansing area. Suckers are being caught near Lowell and Lyons. Try crawlers or red worms on the bottom.
Reeds Lake: Was producing bluegill in the channels, crappie in 15 to 20 feet of water and perch in 5 to 10 feet.
Whitehall: Pier anglers caught steelhead when still-fishing with spawn.
White Lake: Boat anglers were starting to catch some steelhead.