NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA

Alpena: Anglers reported Thunder Bay fishing as slow. Anglers targeted chinook salmon but had very little success. Those who were successful trolled plugs and magnum spoons in green, purple, and chartreuse. A few walleye were caught near Sulfur Island while trolling crawlers in 25 to 35 feet of water. Copper, purple, and pink harnesses saw the best results early and late in the day. A few catfish and northern pike were caught throughout the bay. Pier anglers casting spoons for chinook salmon reported no success. Catfish were caught with crawlers after dark, along with the occasional walleye.

Thunder Bay River: Fishing pressure was low, with little success being reported. A few catfish and bullhead were caught throughout the river while using crawlers and leeches. Walleye anglers reported very slow fishing with only a few fish being caught after dark on small crank baits. While several salmon were seen in the river, anglers reported no success targeting them.

Rockport: Overall fishing improved over the past week. Anglers targeting lake trout had very good results in 110 to 140 feet of water near Stoneport and east of Middle Island. Spoons and dodgers/Spin-n-Glos were both productive, with white, oranges, and greens being good colors. A fair number of steelhead, chinook salmon, Atlantic salmon, and coho salmon were reported to have showed up recently. Spoons behind copper lines and dipseys in the middle of the water column were the most productive for silver fish. Walleye were reported to be very scattered and hard to locate. Crankbaits and small spoons ran 25 to 35 feet down over 50 to 60 feet of water saw the best results. The most productive colors were copper, pink, watermelon, and chartreuse.

Rogers City: Chinook salmon were reported to be in the area, and anglers were catching decent-sized fish, just not in high numbers. Boats were averaging one to two fish when conditions were favorable. Anglers targeting the entire water column were also getting a few lake trout, walleye, and an occasional pink salmon. Anglers were using downriggers, dipseys, lead cores, and coppers to fish the entire water column. Spoons, flasher and fly/squid combinations, meat rigs, and a few j-plugs were other common choices. Good colors to use were red/white, greens, blues, black/white, purples, and glow stuff early and late.

Harrisville: Good numbers of lake trout were caught in 140 feet of water by anglers trolling green Spin-n-Glos right above the bottom. Steelhead and Atlantic salmon were caught by anglers in 115 to 140 feet of water pulling spoons 20 to 70 feet down. Walleye fishing outside of the Harrisville Marina picked up, with limits of walleye caught while trolling plugs and crawler harnesses in 20 to 35 feet of water. Anglers mentioned that the fishing was much better when trolling north as opposed to trolling south.

Cheboygan: Boat anglers were targeting salmon near the buoy markers just outside of the mouth of the Cheboygan River in 55 to 70 feet of water and off the southeast side of Bois Blanc Island in 100 feet of water. Spoons, Spin-n-Glos, and j-plugs were all used. Anglers found trolling green and orange glow spoons to be the most effective for catching salmon off the lake early in the morning and late at night just outside the river mouth. Chinook salmon, coho salmon, pink salmon, and lake trout were all caught. During warm days, stick to fishing for salmon from the Cheboygan pier early in the morning or late at night for a better chance at catching one from shore. When fishing for walleye, stick to using leeches or night crawlers on slip bobbers near the Michigan Department of Natural Resources field office, the pedestrian walkway bridge, or at the dam. Anglers were catching bass, freshwater drum, and catfish using night crawlers.