NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

Thunder Bay River: Anglers reported few walleye caught while trolling orange and purple crawler harnesses below the 2nd Avenue bridge. Those fishing near the 9th Avenue bridge caught a few walleye, catfish, freshwater drum, and smallmouth bass while drifting leeches. Nighttime anglers reported catching catfish while using crawlers throughout the river.

Thunder Bay: Water temperatures hit the high 70s and anglers reported walleye fishing as hit or miss. Crawler harnesses and crank baits fished in 25 to 40 feet of water were productive. Nighttime anglers had moderate success trolling 15 to 20 feet of water near Sulfur Island and South Point. A few fish were also taken from Whitefish Point to North Point. Purple, gold, orange, and chartreuse were all productive colors. Pier anglers reported decent catches of catfish and smallmouth bass while using crawlers and casting deep diving crankbaits.

Rockport: Those targeting walleye had moderate success while trolling crankbaits and crawler harnesses in depths of 20 to 40 feet of water. Fish were scattered from Stone Port to Potter Point. Purple, pink, and gold were all productive. Those fishing offshore reported good catches of lake trout, coho salmon, and pink salmon, with occasional Chinook salmon and steelhead, in 100 to 140 feet of water. Baits 40 to 80 feet down were most productive for salmon, while dodgers and Spin-n-Glos fished near bottom worked well for trout. The most productive colors were green/silver, blue/silver, watermelon, and orange.

Rogers City: Anglers reported catching few but good-sized Chinook salmon when conditions were favorable. Anglers targeting the entire water column also caught lake trout and walleye, along with an occasional pink salmon. Downriggers, dispels, lead cores, and coppers were used to fish the entire water column. Anglers also reported using spoons, flasher and fly/squid combinations, meat rigs, and j-plugs in red and white, green, blue, black and white, and purple, along with glowing lures early and late in the day.

Harrisville/Black River: Anglers fishing for walleye had some success trolling deep thunder sticks and reef runners in 20 to 30 feet of water. Lake trout were caught in good numbers using green and orange Spin-n-Glos in 110 to 150 feet of water, as well as limit catches in 140 to 160 feet of water. Atlantic salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead were reported using orange spoons 20 to 40 feet down in 90 to 115 feet of water. The mouth of Black River was recently dredged, allowing anglers to reach the big lake. Walleye, Atlantic salmon, and lake trout were taken offshore pulling spoons.

Alcona County: Anglers reported good walleye catch rates on Hubbard Lake in 90 feet of water, suspended down approximately 25 feet using body baits while trolling.

Cheboygan: Anglers hit limits on lake trout, as well as the occasional steelhead, walleye, and pink salmon. Anglers targeting Chinook salmon and lake trout reported them off Lafayette Point on Bois Blanc Island in about 65 feet of water. Anglers had success with flies with flashers, spoons, and j-plugs. Good colors were blues, purples, reds, whites, and chartreuse.Cheboygan River anglers caught rock bass, smallmouth bass, and the occasional walleye. The most successful anglers used nightcrawlers on a slip bobber.

Hammond Bay: Angler pressure was low last week. Anglers reported fishing straight out of the harbor, the trench, Nine Mile Point, or south towards the biological station. The best locations have been 60 to 120 feet of water, deploying lines throughout the water column. Success has been reported with spoons and colors green, blue, yellow, orange, black and white, and red and white, as well as glowing lures.