NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

Alpena/Thunder Bay River: Steelhead fishing slowed in the Thunder Bay River. A few were caught while drifting beads and floating spawn near the 9th Avenue Dam. A good number of walleye were caught using swim baits and crank baits, with natural colors yielding the best results. Anglers using large spinnerbaits and crank baits had success on pike, with white and chartreuse colors working best. A decent number of walleye were caught from shore around the yacht club and near the breakwall. White, green, and black plastic swim baits were productive, as well as crank baits in blue and silver, black, and silver, and fire tiger. Weather permitting, boat anglers had success on walleye when trolling shallow-running crankbaits from the cement plant to Grass Island. Lake trout fishing remained good in 40 to 60 feet of water. The waters near Thunder Bay Island were the most productive with flashers and Spin-n-Glows, as well as a wide variety of spoons. A few Atlantic salmon, chinook salmon, and coho salmon were caught in the outer bay in 50 to 90 feet of water on watermelon, orange, and green spoons.

Rockport: Anglers found good numbers of lake trout in 30 to 60 feet of water. The areas straight out and around the middle island were productive while trolling flashers and Spin-n-Glows mixed with spoons throughout the water column. A few Atlantic salmon were caught when running bright-colored spoons 10 to 15 feet below the surface.

Harrisville: Anglers were still finding a few Atlantic salmon and steelhead inside the harbor. Green/silver and blue/silver spoons were both productive. Boat anglers did well on lake trout in 30 to 50 feet of water. Flashers and Spin-n-Glows, as well as chartreuse, white, and orange spoons worked well. A few Atlantic and coho salmon were found south of the harbor in 50 to 60 feet of water.

Oscoda/Au Sable River: Pier anglers and those fishing the lower river did well on Atlantic salmon. Good numbers of fish were caught on minnows and spoons in blue/silver, orange/gold, and green/silver. Walleye were reported to have been caught with plastic swim baits and crank baits in low light conditions. Green, purple, and black/gold baits had the most success. Boat anglers did well on lake trout, Atlantic salmon and the occasional coho salmon. Standard to medium-size spoons in watermelon, orange, and green produced fish. Fish were reported to have been scattered in 20 to 50 feet of water. Below the Foote Dam, a few steelhead were still being caught when drifting beads, spawn, and plugs. Northern pike were caught throughout the mid- and lower stretches of river on large spinnerbaits as well as large body baits, with red/white, chartreuse, and pink baits having the most success.

Cheboygan River: Steelhead were reported to have slowed down, but some anglers were successful with either bottom-bouncing spawn bags or using nymphs near the bottom. Suckers were reported to have been dense in the river, with anglers having success anywhere downstream of the dam. A few anglers reported catching smallmouth bass, and walleye were caught when jigging the river.

Tawas: Few boats made it out due to weather, but those that did were able to get their limit of walleye. Shore anglers fishing the Tawas River mouth caught smallmouth bass and an occasional northern pike. Anglers also reported catching northern pike and some walleye off the pier.

Au Gres: Wind and rain kept many anglers off the water. However, some boats did manage to get out from the Au Gres launch and were able to bring home some walleye. There was little activity reported at the Pine River other than a couple anglers catching a few walleye and northern pike.