Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Harbor Springs: Boat anglers were focusing their effort between Harbor Point and Five Mile Point. Try 65 to 70 feet down in 180 to 190 feet for salmon or 100 feet down for lake trout.
Petoskey: Is producing a light number of salmon for those trolling between the Hospital and the Water Treatment Plant. Anglers are using spoons and flies. Green was the hot color. Meat rigs with cut bait caught fish. The occasional lake trout was also caught. Pier anglers caught smallmouth bass and rock bass.
Bear River: Water levels were low. Very few fish were seen jumping at the dam but some anglers were still trying for a steelhead or coho when still-fishing with spawn, flies, or rubber eggs. Those using crawlers at the dam caught a couple small brown trout and one nice brook trout.
Charlevoix: Salmon are starting to show up in greater numbers but some boat anglers are still getting skunked. Many of the chinook were over 20 pounds. Try 50 to 80 feet down in 100 to 230 feet with spoons, dipseys, flies, squid and dodgers or meat rigs. Pier anglers are still catching smaller bass on leeches, crawlers or minnows.
Traverse City: The East Bay is producing chinook about 80 to 100 feet down. The bite was slow but those using meat rigs and flies seem to do best. Don’t rule out the occasional lake trout or whitefish. Smallmouth bass were deep in 20 to 50 feet. In the West Bay, salmon were caught 80 feet down in waters 100 to 150 feet deep. Most are running spoons, flies, and meat rigs. Those jigging in 100 to 150 feet caught whitefish and lake trout.
Elk River: Anglers caught panfish and sub-legal smallmouth bass on live baits.
Boardman River: A couple salmon and steelhead were spotted near the Union Street Dam however they will not be there long with the warmer temperatures.
Frankfort: Anglers caught a good number of salmon between the Herring Hole and Platte Bay. Several large chinook were caught right along with coho ranging 10 pounds or more. They are trolling plugs 40 to 80 feet down in 100 to 180 feet. Fish were caught on magnum spoons 30 to 100 feet down in 200 to 240 feet. Steelhead were up near the surface. West Platte Bay has been very good for coho. Anglers are using high lines or boards. Fish were caught just in front of the piers when using blue, pearl or chartreuse plugs or spoons that glow. Pier anglers casting blue and glow wobblers or Cleo’s caught a mix of chinook, coho and brown trout.
Betsie River: Has a few salmon and steelhead but no big numbers, it is too warm.
Onekama: Those fishing the “Barrel” have done well for lake trout and the occasional chinook or coho salmon. Those heading north to waters between 150 and 200 feet and trolling 40 to 80 feet down had some luck when they found bait fish. Early morning was best.
Portage Lake: Had good bluegill fishing along the weed beds in 12 to 18 feet. A few nice perch were also caught. Water temperatures were a bit cool in the early morning but anglers will want to head out to deeper water as the sun comes up.
Lake Cadillac: Is producing crappie, bluegills and bass. Walleye fishing was hit-or-miss. Some are trolling crawler harnesses or crank baits while others are still-fishing with a leech and slip bobber. Crappie were caught on the east end in the early morning.
Lake Mitchell: Is producing some nice bluegills in 8 to 12 feet of water. Try crickets, leaf worms, wax worms or butter worms.
Manistee: Fishing was slow but some large salmon over 25 pounds have been caught on glow spoons or plugs in the early morning. Salmon and steelhead were also caught 40 to 90 feet down in 80 to 200 feet. Try green flies and meat rigs as well as orange or green spoons. Pier anglers caught a couple salmon on spoons.
Manistee River: Was producing a decent number of summer steelhead up near Tippy Dam but warmer temperatures this week will once again slow catch rates.
Manistee Lake: Those trolling did catch some salmon however south winds this week will slow catch rates.
Ludington: The fish are scattered. Salmon can be found anywhere from 45 to 80 feet down in 50 to 300 feet. Try glow spoons and plugs or red and green meat rigs. Pier anglers caught the occasional salmon or freshwater drum when casting spoons.
Pere Marquette River: Has salmon but no big numbers yet.
Pentwater: Anglers caught salmon close to port. Some were taken 50 to 70 feet down in 80 to 90 feet or deeper in 150 to 180 feet. They are using green flashers and blue flies. Pier anglers were trying but few fish were caught. Smallmouth bass were hitting on live bait in the channel.
Grand River at Lansing: Continues to produce bass and channel cats for those using live bait. A few limits of panfish were reported. Try the backwaters for bluegill. Anglers might find a walleye or two near the Moore’s Park Dam.
Clinton County: The inland lakes had mostly small bluegills.
Muskegon River: Water levels continue to be low and clear. This may be good for bass fishing but not good for salmon and steelhead. Fish the weed beds for bass but try the deeper holes for trout.
Whitehall: Catch rates slowed. Many were fishing around Minor Park but some traveled as far as Stoney Creek. The water near shore is very warm but seemed to be cooler near Stoney Creek. The bite was better in the early morning with fish caught on anything that glows before daylight. Try 50 to 70 feet down in 150 feet of water with green flashers and blue flies. Pearl J-plugs on lead core worked well. Pier anglers caught freshwater drum.