Northeast Lower Peninsula

Harrisville: Lake trout fishing remained strong when wind and weather allowed. Trolling Spin-N-Glos in 150 to 200 feet of water, while targeting the bottom 20 feet, produced limits. A handful of Atlantic salmon were caught in 70 to 100 feet of water by trolling spoons 55 feet down. Steelhead were caught by anglers trolling bright spoons high in the water column and at faster speeds, along with the occasional coho salmon.

Rogers City: Wind and mixed-up weather conditions were not allowing any kind of consistency for fishing. Lakers were still being caught, but as the water started to warm up, the fish began moving out a little. Occasionally, silver salmon were caught as well as Chinook salmon, steelhead, Atlantic salmon, and coho salmon. The best depths were 65 to 100 feet of water. The lake trout were coming mostly from 55 feet and down, sometimes a little higher. They were caught on flashers and attractors with Spin-N-Glos, Spin-N-Glo flies, and some spoons. Some days, they seemed to be scattered throughout the water column. The coho salmon were caught running lines in the top 50 feet of water using downriggers, leadcores, copper lines, and dipsey divers. Spoons took most of the coho salmon, though some were caught on flashers or attractors with flies. Good colors included green, blue, yellow, orange, white, and black glow patterns early and late, while oranges and bright colors worked well up high. Anglers fished up the lake between the state park and past 40 Mile Point. Anglers fishing south found the best results around Adam’s Point. The hump straight out of the harbor was also good for lake trout.

Presque Isle: Anglers caught plenty of lake trout but were also seeing coho salmon, Chinook salmon, steelhead, and Atlantic salmon. The fish had moved out a little deeper as the water warmed up. The best depths were 60 to 90 feet of water. Anglers targeted edges and drop-offs, with structure proving very important. Anglers fished between the two lighthouses, past the big lighthouse toward Black Point and what they called the farm. Fishing south toward Stoneport and False Presque Isle was also good. Lake trout were caught near the bottom with flashers, flies, and Spin-N-Glos. They were still caught suspended as well, from about halfway down or 55 to 65 feet down, using flashers, flies, Spin-N-Glos, and spoons. Coho salmon were caught 55 feet up to the surface. Regular and super slim-sized spoons worked best. Anglers used downriggers, leadcore, dipseys, and copper lines, running them scattered from 50 feet to the surface. Good colors included green, blue, orange, white, and black glow patterns early and late. Oranges and bright colors worked very well up high. A few Chinook salmon were caught on spoons, but also on flashers or attractors with flies or squid.

Cheboygan: Lake trout anglers had the most success around the ledges of Raynold’s Reef using Spin-N-Glos with dodgers or flashers. Other productive rocky structures included Poe Reef and the northeast points of Bois Blanc Island. Effective colors were green, blue, orange, and chartreuse. There were no reports of salmon, but it was considered worth targeting them along the north side of Bois Blanc Island while trolling spoons, as nearby ports were catching decent numbers of Chinook salmon. In the Cheboygan River, anglers caught walleye, freshwater drum, smallmouth bass, and panfish. Walleye anglers used a variety of techniques, including bottom bouncing nightcrawlers, floating nightcrawlers under a bobber, drifting nightcrawler harnesses, or using minnow-like deep-diving crankbaits. Anglers targeting freshwater drum primarily bounced nightcrawlers. Those fishing anywhere from the Cheboygan Dam spillway to the Cheboygan DNR field office had success when targeting walleye and freshwater drum.

Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers targeting lake trout reported fishing the second set of humps, where Spin-N-Glos were productive. Decent numbers of steelhead and a handful of coho salmon were taken in 100 to 150 feet of water. These fish appeared to still be scattered throughout the upper water column. Two to five colors of leadcore, wire divers, and sliders were successful. Anglers occasionally found walleye schools while trolling offshore. Anglers targeting walleye in the river reported a slower bite this week, although a handful were still caught by drifting crawlers along the bottom. Freshwater drum remained abundant in the lower Au Sable River and off the pier head.

Tawas/Au Gres: Fishing in the Tawas area was pretty slow, with walleye and a few freshwater drum being caught on nightcrawlers and artificial lures. Fishing in the Au Gres area remained good, with boaters continuing to catch walleye mostly on nightcrawlers, though Flicker Shad also worked. A few yellow perch, catfish, freshwater drum, and white bass were caught while anglers were fishing for walleye.