Northeast Lower Peninsula

Alpena/Rockport: Rockport fishing was slow, but some lake trout were caught while trolling. Anglers reported many lake trout and walleye coming out of the lake in Alpena. Anglers caught walleye both casting and trolling. A couple steelhead and freshwater drum were caught as well.

Harrisville: Lake trout fishing offshore remained decent with boat anglers still being able to find the occasional limit. Coho salmon were taken in 90 to 110 feet of water on higher lines, 3 to 7 colors of lead core. Spoons were producing for both lake trout and Atlantic salmon as well as steelhead.

Rogers City: Wind and unfavorable weather conditions did not allow any kind of consistency for fishing. Lake trout were caught, but the waters started to warm and the fish moved out into deeper water. An occasional coho salmon was caught, along with Chinook salmon, steelhead, and Atlantic salmon. The most successful depths were 65 to 100 feet of water. Lake trout were mostly caught in 55 feet of water and deeper. They were caught on flashers and attractors with Spin-N-Glos or Spin-N-Glo flies and some spoons. Some days, they seemed to be all over 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 caught most of the fish, though some were taken on flashers or attractors with flies. Good colors included greens, blues, yellow, orange, white, and black glow patterns early and late. Oranges and bright colors worked well higher in the water column. Anglers fished up the lake between the state park and past 40 Mile Point. Those fishing south found the best results around Adam’s Point. The hump straight out of the harbor also produced good catches of lake trout.

Presque Isle: Anglers caught plenty of lake trout, but also saw coho salmon, Chinook salmon, steelhead, and Atlantic salmon in their catches. The fish moved out deeper now that the water had warmed up. The best depths were 60 to 90 feet. Anglers targeted edges and drop-offs, with structure proving very important. Anglers fished between the two lighthouses or past the big lighthouse toward Black Point. Fishing south toward Stoneport and False Presque Isle was also productive. Lake trout came on the lines fished near the bottom with flashers, flies, and Spin-N-Glos. They were also caught suspended about halfway down, around 55 to 65 feet, using flashers, flies, Spin-N-Glos, and spoons. Coho salmon were caught on lines fished from about 55 feet up to the surface. Regular-size and super slim spoons worked best. Anglers used downriggers, leadcore, dipseys, and copper lines, running these scattered from 50 feet to the surface. Good colors included greens, blues, oranges, white, and black glow patterns early and late. Oranges and bright colors worked very well higher in the water column. A few Chinook salmon came on spoons, but also on flashers or attractors with flies or squids.

Cheboygan: Lake Huron boat anglers had to search for lake trout while trolling near the northeast side of Bois Blanc Island or Poe Reef. Those who made the trek to Reynold’s Reef had an easier time finding fish. Lake trout hit best on Spin-N-Glos with silver, white, or chartreuse attractors. In the Cheboygan River, walleye fishing was best at sunrise and after sunset. Boat anglers targeting walleye were drifting nightcrawlers under bobbers. Shore anglers were either floating nightcrawlers or leeches, or casting nightcrawler harnesses. Shore fishing for walleye focused on the Cheboygan Dam spillway, near the Cheboygan DNR field office beside the drawbridge, and along the parking lot of the Plaunt Transportation ferry for Bois Blanc Island. Anglers also caught panfish, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum, and the occasional catfish.

Tawas/Au Gres: Fishing in Tawas started off slow, as bad weather kept many boaters and anglers away. However, those who went out after the weather cleared had some luck using artificial lures near Charity Island. In Au Gres, walleye fishing remained very good, with boats having success in 20 to 40 feet of water using nightcrawlers on bottom bouncers. The occasional yellow perch was caught while fishing for walleye, along with catfish, northern pike, bowfin, freshwater drum, white bass, and white perch. Boat anglers also had success catching largemouth bass and walleye on artificial lures along the weed beds.

Oscoda/Au Sable: Anglers fishing offshore were picking up a few lake trout in 60 to 90 feet of water, while some lake trout were taken over 100 feet down, trolling spoons in the bottom 10 to 15 feet of water. A handful of steelhead and a few Atlantic salmon were caught in 90 to 110 feet of water off the first set of humps, using 3 to 5 colors of leadcore while trolling bright spoons. Anglers targeting channel catfish and freshwater drum off the catwalk and pier head did well that week using perch rigs tipped with crawlers or cut bait.

Port Sanilac: A few walleye were caught by anglers looking for trout and Salmon in 70 to 90 feet of water. Anglers caught some Lake Trout jigging in 100 feet of water near bottom. Anglers caught a few steelhead and lake trout trolling in 120 to 140 feet of water.