Greg Alsip fromLake Leelanau Narrows Resort caught these nice walleye on Lake Leelanau.
Northeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Rogers City: Anglers are getting a few chinook, steelhead or lake trout but they are working to get them. Try straight out from the harbor, south towards Swan Bay and Adams Point or north and west near the State Park and Forty Mile Point. Most are fishing halfway down in waters 40 to 150 feet deep with spoons, plugs and flashers with squid or flies. Good colors were blue and silver, orange and silver, orange and green, black and white, purple, green or chartreuse.
Presque Isle: The better fishing was straight out from the red can and north between the two lighthouses in 45 to 130 feet of water.
Rockport: Walleye were caught however anglers need to move around to find them. Most are using crank baits but crawler harnesses may also be a good choice. The fish are scattered throughout the water column. Salmon were caught 40 to 70 feet down in 100 to 200 feet. Spoons worked best.
Alpena: Most of the walleye were caught both north and south of the bay. The fish are scattered throughout the water column. Lake trout were caught out near the Humps. Anglers are trolling deep with spin-glows behind flashers.
Thunder Bay River: Gave up a few smallmouth bass and rock bass.
Harrisville: Few anglers have been out. A couple chinook were caught by those casting spoons in the harbor. This seems a bit early but the cool water temperatures may jump start the pier fishing. Walleye seem to be moving in from deeper water. More boats are fishing north of the harbor and near the Black River. Late night was best for walleye in 25 to 100 feet when using spoons, crawler harnesses and body baits.
Oscoda: Catch rates were slow as the fish were scattered.
Au Sable River: Steelhead should be making their way in especially with the cooler water temperatures. Catfish have been caught in good numbers in the late evening. Crawlers and minnows worked best. Walleye catches were slim and most of the fish were on the small side. A good number of smallmouth bass are in the river.
Higgins Lake: Those trolling spoons, body baits, cowbells and rapalas continue to catch lake trout. Those jigging Swedish pimples, sand kickers and small spoons just off the bottom have also caught fish. Perch anglers are still taking some fish around Treasure Island and the Sunken Island. Rock bass are everywhere.
Houghton Lake: Catch rates were slow but a few walleye were caught. Cooler water temperatures have the bluegill in 6 to 8 feet.
Tawas: Those trolling are heading out past Buoy #2 to waters 35 to 45 feet deep. Some are fishing around Tawas Point and up near Au Sable Point in 80 feet. Walleye were suspended 25 to 50 feet down. In Tawas Bay, a few walleye were caught on crawler harnesses in 20 to 25 feet off Jerry’s Marina.
Au Gres: Still has a good number of walleye anglers. A few limit catches were taken by the die-hards. Some are heading straight out from the mouth of the river to waters 25 to 35 feet deep but catch rates were slow. Others are traveling anywhere between 2 and 9 miles south of Pointe Au Gres. A few were perch fishing in 35 to 40 feet off the hotel but most of the fish caught were small.
Au Gres River: Is producing a good number of catfish and some freshwater drum.
Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Harbor Springs: Most of the boat anglers were fishing around Harbor Point in 180 to 200 feet of water. The salmon were up higher in 60 to 80 feet but the lake trout were deeper at 100 to 120 feet. Spoons were the ticket.
Petoskey: Few fish were seen or caught off the breakwall, the D-Pier, or at the Bobber Hole. A couple salmon were caught between the pier and the water treatment plant. Salmon and lake trout were caught 90 feet down in 120 feet of water with spoons, flashers and flies. One angler managed to land a 27 pound salmon.
Bear River: Chinook and steelhead can be found up near the dam however the big push of fish has not yet occurred. The fish being caught are the typical early ones that come in every year.
Charlevoix: Boat anglers are getting a few salmon but catch rates were still low. The fish caught were over 20 pounds and taken 80 to 100 feet down in 90 to 120 feet between North and South Point. Fish were caught on spoons without dodgers, dipseys and green flies. Salmon, lake trout and cisco were caught off Fisherman’s Island. Lake trout were 70 to 85 feet down in 120 feet and cisco were 80 feet down. Pier anglers caught rock bass and sub-legal smallmouth bass on crawlers, minnows and leeches.
Traverse City: Chinook have been caught in the East Bay. Most were running about 80 feet down, but the fish were scattered. Some were caught just 50 feet down. Numbers are low, but the salmon are very good size, up to 30 pounds. Lake trout and the occasional whitefish were caught. Smallmouth bass fishing was decent in 40 to 50 feet. Try drop-shotting with plastic baits. In the West Bay, salmon were caught by those trolling along the west shore. Try spoons or a Hoochie Mama 50 to 90 feet down in 90 to 200 feet of water. A few lake trout were caught. Those looking for smallmouth bass will want to fish the drop-off in 30 to 50 feet.
Elk River: Anglers have caught smallmouth bass and rock bass on plastics, crawlers, and leeches. There has been rumor of salmon or steelhead being spotted near the power dam.
Boardman River: Fishing was slow with only a few smallmouth bass or rock bass taken. A couple steelhead and salmon were in the river but they will not stay long with the warmer temperatures.
Frankfort: Has good fishing with several chinook salmon weighing in between 22 and 30 pounds. Anglers are heading straight west of the lighthouse to waters 180 to 220 feet and then trolling 55 to 110 feet down while heading north. Fish were caught on splatter back plugs, meat rigs, UV ladder back spoons in green or blue and flies. Coho and steelhead were also caught. Early morning is best.
Onekama: Is producing some fish. Anglers are trolling 60 to 90 feet down in 180 to 220 feet with J-plugs. Those trolling north to the “Barrel” reported lots of baitfish right along with trout and salmon in 60 to 70 feet.
Portage Lake: Those looking for bass and panfish will want to look for an area where the fish are moving in and out of the shallows. Those moving around seem to catch more fish.
Lake Cadillac: Is producing some bluegills along the weed beds. Those fishing near the High School did well for pike and bass. Crappie were a bit scattered but some have taken limit catches.
Lake Mitchell: Has good pike fishing. Try spoons or live bait. Panfish are being caught along the weed beds.
Manistee: Boat anglers found trout and salmon 40 to 90 feet down in 60 to 220 feet of water with glow spoons, plugs or meat rigs. Hot colors were green, red or purple.
Manistee River: Continues to provide very good smallmouth bass fishing. A light number of salmon were reported in the lower river.
Ludington: Trout and salmon were caught anywhere from 60 to 400 feet of water. Early morning was best. Coho and steelhead were taken on glow spoons, plugs or meat rigs. Good colors were green and orange, black and white or red. Freshwater drum were caught but pier fishing is slow.
Pere Marquette River: Has a light run of salmon moving into the lower river, but no big numbers yet as it is still a bit early. Anglers continue to catch a fair to good number of brown trout when casting small spoons or flies.
Pentwater: Fishing was good as salmon and trout moved in closer to shore. Some caught fish in 60 to 80 feet while others did well in 200 feet or more when trolling 50 to 70 feet down with red, orange and glow spoons. Pier fishing was slow.
Upper Peninsula Fishing Report
Keweenaw Bay: Catch rates were hit-or-miss but anglers did manage to catch chinook, coho and lake trout. Fish were caught between Sand Point and the red rocks when using spoons 25 to 75 feet down in 30 to 80 feet. Trolling speeds were between 1.2 and 2.6 mph. Those jigging for lake trout did best out from the pine tree on Pequaming Point. Boats trolling near the Lighthouse, Farmers, Newton’s and the Big Reef took a fair number of coho and lake trout 25 to 70 feet down in 30 to 90 feet. Traverse Bay anglers are jigging for lake trout in 170 to 220 feet off Gay Point and Big Louie’s Point or trolling 60 to 145 feet down in 80 to 150 feet. Fish were also caught near Five Mile and Six Mile Reef.
Marquette: Surface water temperatures are averaging 60 degrees. Most anglers are targeting lake trout because few salmon were caught. They are heading north towards Presque Isle and the Clay Banks and using spoons or flies tipped with cut bait. Lake trout were averaging 4 pounds but a few were up to 12 pounds. A large fish weighing in at 34 pounds was caught last week! Some lake trout were caught out near Stannard Rock.
Menominee: Those heading out to the Whalesback and Green Island for salmon have not had much luck. Many were switching to walleye fishing. They are trolling north and south along the first drop off.
Menominee River: Those trolling crawlers or rapalas have caught smallmouth bass, walleye, pike, catfish and freshwater drum.
Cedar River: Anglers caught some nice smallmouth bass right along with the small ones when drifting crawlers, artificial shad or crayfish.
Little Bay De Noc: Walleye fishing was slow. Anglers were trolling or drifting crawler harnesses or rapalas in 18 to 23 feet of water near the mouth of the Escanaba River. When the weather allows, boats were heading south to Round Island, the “Fingers” or the Minneapolis Shoals. Those trolling crank baits in the early morning caught fish in 10 to 18 feet. A few nice perch were taken in 18 to 25 feet off the mouth of the Escanaba River. Perch fishing was fair to good around Butler Island but the fish were smaller. Try minnows or crawlers in 6 to 23 feet.
Escanaba River: Has had the most consistent walleye fishing. Anglers are trolling or drifting crawler harnesses or rapalas.
Big Bay De Noc: Bass fishing was fair off Ansell’s Point and Garden Bluff. Anglers were fishing 6 to 28 feet of water with crawlers and minnows. Some were trolling or drifting crank baits, spinners or plastic baits along the weeds. Ogontz had smaller fish. Perch anglers in Fayette reported several nice catches in the harbor when using crawlers along the weeds in 8 to 14 feet. Those salmon fishing at Fairport picked up the occasional large fish. Some are fishing out deep but most were trolling spoons 60 feet down in 80 to 120 feet of water along the “Gap”.
Au Train: Those targeting lake trout had poor results as few fish were caught. Those salmon fishing had no luck. Anglers were fishing off the Shelter Bay Flats and just east of Au Train Island in 140 to 180 feet.
Munising: Windy conditions have kept anglers at bay. Surface water temperatures were in the low 60’s. Boat anglers targeting lake trout reported slow catch rates while those fishing for chinook and coho reported fair catches. Small splake were also caught. Try Murray’s Bay or Trout Bay in 100 feet of water or less. There was a mixed catch of bass, pike, and perch in the bay and around Grand Island. Those still-fishing off the pier for splake had poor results.
Grand Marais: Also had windy conditions. Boat anglers targeting lake trout were fishing five to seven miles north in the shipping channel in 150 to 250 feet of water. The fish range 2 to 5 pounds. Those targeting coho were fishing east and west of the bay, about halfway down in 50 to 60 feet. Pier anglers targeting whitefish reported very slow catch rates and small fish. Try a single egg in the early morning.
St. Mary’s River: Had good walleye fishing in the shipping channel between the north end of Lime Island and the old Bell Buoy. Most are using crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers. Gold beads and gold spinner blades worked best. Walleye were caught across from the Neebish Island Ferry Dock. Try minnows or small worms just off the weed beds in 8 to 12 feet.
DeTour: Anglers are catching chinook, Atlantic salmon and lake trout between Frying Pan Island, the lighthouse and the #2 red can near Drummond Island. Good colors were white, green or any other color with some white on it.
Drummond Island: Yellow perch are good outside Harbor Island in 8 to 10 feet. Smallmouth bass have been caught near Peck Island. Most are trolling crawler harnesses in 12 to 14 feet.
Cedarville and Hessel: Catch rates for perch picked up around Haven Island in 8 to 12 feet. Some nice catches were reported from the marina dock, the east end of Hessel Bay, Musky Bay, the Middle Entrance and Moscoe Channel. Good pike action in Hessel Bay, Snows Channel, the west end of Musky Bay and Government Bay. Salmon were caught in Yacht Entrance in 70 feet.
St. Ignace: Boat anglers are fishing from the city launch to the flats and over to the Coast Guard Station. Chinook salmon were caught on spoons in white with multi-color strips, blue and white, black and white or green.