Action has been good on many lakes but no fisherman as most are in the woods or somewhere warm. Cooler temperatures and rain should push steelhead up into the rivers. Those fishing the inland lakes are finding pike, walleye, bluegills and bass. Catch rates increase during the month of November because fish go on a feeding frenzy before winter comes.
Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Bear River: Should have more steelhead moving up towards the dam. Try spawn, yarn, crawlers or a jig and wax worm.
Elk River: Is producing the occasional coho and some steelhead. Anglers are floating spawn or casting spoons and spinners.
Boardman River: Is producing steelhead between the mouth and Sabin Dam. Recent rain helped to bring more fish into the river system.
Frankfort: The steelhead action has been very good. Boat anglers are trolling the shoreline with orange spoons and pier anglers are using spawn.
Betsie River: Is producing a good number of steelhead.
Manistee: Pier anglers and those surfcasting are taking steelhead when the winds allow. Most are floating spawn or casting small spoons and spinners.
Manistee River: Rain helped to bring the water levels back up. Anglers will find a good number of steelhead in the river. Some are drifting spawn while others are casting small spoons or flies.
Ludington: Pier anglers and those surfcasting are catching steelhead.
Pere Marquette River: Rain has brought some fresh steelhead into the river.
Upper Peninsula Fishing Report
Fall’s River: Is producing some steelhead. Try drifting crawlers and spawn or casting small spoons and spinners.
Cedar River: Is producing smallmouth bass for those fishing in the deep hole under the Interstate Bridge. Casting crank baits and drifting crawlers were the ticket. Those trying for trout and salmon near the first rapids had little success.
Menominee River: Those trying for trout and salmon near the rocks on the Michigan side said the bite was slow. Walleye have finally made it up into the river. Anglers were casting rapalas off the Cat Walk. Yellow perch fishing was good for shore anglers behind the City Campground and near the Mystery Ship boat launch.
Little Bay De Noc: Walleye fishing picked up especially for those fishing at night. Most are trolling stick baits in 10 to 23 feet along the reefs near Kipling. Daytime anglers fished the reefs in the early morning then moved out to deeper waters while trolling stick baits or crawler harnesses in 19 to 30 feet. Perch fishing was fair for those using minnows or crawlers in 10 to 25 feet around Butler Island. The Escanaba Yacht Harbor opened up again but watch for more dredging in the future.
Northeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Rogers City: Still has some fish to catch. Anglers are reporting chinook between 3 and 5 pounds and also some lake trout that must be released immediately. Fish were caught off the point south of the port in 85 to 100 feet. Anglers will also want to try north off the State Park when the weather permits. The key is to find the baitfish.
Thunder Bay River: Should have more steelhead moving into the river by the weekend.
Harrisville: Salmon were caught by those floating spawn or casting body baits. Look for steelhead to start making their way into the harbor. Try spawn, small spoons or body baits.
Oscoda: Pier anglers have caught steelhead. Walleye were caught late at night.
Au Sable River: As the salmon wind down, steelhead are hanging out around the mouth and making their way up into the river. Anglers have caught fish from the pier all the way up to the dam. Those scouting the holes can them flashing on the beds. Spawn, flies and small spinners are producing fish. There have been reports of walleye being caught late at night between the pier and the bridge. Small glow spoons or body baits worked best.
Au Gres River: Watch for steelhead to be moving up into the river. Those fishing the East Branch will want to try casting near the Singing Bridge.
Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Erie: Perch have been caught off Stony Point, the Fermi Plant and Rat Island, which is the smallest island off the mouth of the Huron River.
Huron River: Is producing some steelhead in the lower river.
Detroit River: Continues to produce a fair number of walleye in the lower Trenton Channel. Perch have been caught on minnows and crawlers around Sugar Island.
Lake St. Clair: Boat anglers are catching muskie when they can get out on the lake. Perch anglers were targeting the waters near the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.
Port Sanilac: Pier anglers caught a few brown trout and steelhead when casting spoons and spinners in the harbor.
Saginaw Bay: Trolling for large walleye off the mouth of the Saginaw River could be productive when the weather allows. For those looking for perch, start hitting the river mouths around the opener of deer season and keep at it until ice forms. The better fishing is usually between dawn and 11 AM.
Kawkawlin River: Anglers are just starting to target perch. Some were fishing off the bridge on State Park Drive.
Saginaw River: Had anglers fishing for perch or walleye near Veterans Park.
Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
St. Joseph: Pier anglers are catching some steelhead and a few whitefish.
St. Joseph River: Steelhead fishing should be good by the end of the week as rain will help bring water levels up.
Kalamazoo River: Has a fair to good number of steelhead all the way up to the Allegan Dam. Those casting spinners or flatfish have done well.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: Is producing a few walleye for those fishing off the wall and off the bridges. Steelhead are in the river and hitting on spawn, Hot-n-Tots or a jig and wax worm. Boat anglers were back bouncing with spawn.
Looking Glass River: Those using minnows or small bluegills caught the occasional pike off Babcock’s Landing.
Muskegon River: Water levels were up and steelhead are being caught. Try spawn, flies or flatfish.