By The Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Anglers were battling algae blooms and strong winds outside of Fermi. Fish were scattered; however, a few people were still catching them on crawler harnesses in 18 to 21 feet of water. Silver for the harness blade was popular in that area. Those going south to the dumping grounds out from Luna Pier saw mild successes running crawler harnesses still, but with the weather fishing was slow. Yellow perch fishing has yet to pick up in mass, but early anglers were catching them on minnows closer into shore, around 10 to 12 feet. Smallmouth bass fishing has been steadily picking up with anglers catching them on artificial lures.

Saginaw Bay: Anglers were catching walleye at Linwood while trolling with crawlers in 18 to 21 feet. Anglers were also catching fish near A-B buoy while jigging with blade baits in 17 feet of water and at Finn Road while trolling with crawlers in 10 to 12 feet of water. Anglers reported excellent walleye fishing in the vicinity of the spark plug buoy in the shipping channel. Some limits were caught while trolling both night crawler harnesses and body baits. Anglers were catching walleye off Callahan reef in 8 to 12 feet of water, out from Quanicassee in 10 to 12 feet of water, and in 12 to 14 feet in the slot. A few walleye were caught out deeper, but fishing was inconsistent. Crawlers, body baits and spoons all produced when anglers found active walleye.

Harbor Beach: Anglers were trolling in 80 to 110 feet of water using downriggers, lead core and spoons. They were getting a mix of lake trout, steelhead, cohos and a few walleye out in deep water. Steelhead were coming from the top 30 feet.

Southwest Lower

Peninsula

Grand Haven: Salmon fishing was slow for boat anglers. A few were caught 45 to 120 feet down in 100 to 180 feet of water. A mix of flies, spoons, and meat rigs have all produced. Pier anglers continued to catch freshwater drum while casting body baits or silver spoons. Steelhead action has been very slow. Lake trout were caught on bottom in 100 to 180 feet of water. Spin-N-Glos worked best.

Muskegon: Boats anglers were finding the salmon action to be slow. The best action was 45 to 100 feet down in 100 to 200 feet of water. Spoons in blue and green performed good. Pier anglers were catching a few freshwater drum while casting spoons. Lake trout were caught on the bottom in 100 to 140 feet of water. Yellow Spin-N-Glos worked best.

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Tawas: There were some steelhead, brown trout, lake trout, Chinook salmon and walleye caught out past buoy 2, south towards the Charity Islands in 30 to 70 feet while trolling spoons, crankbaits and crawlers. At Gateway Park on the Tawas River, a few largemouth bass, bluegill and catfish were caught while still fishing with crawlers and casting spinners, plastics and body baits.

Alpena: Lake trout fishing was steady with limits reported. Best places to fish were near Thunder Bay Island, Nordmeer Wreck and at the humps. The best depths were in 60 to 90 feet of water. Anglers were running a couple of lines deep while scattering their other lines up higher. Some silver fish were caught on the higher lines. An occasional steelhead, pink salmon, coho, Atlantic and Chinook were caught on the lines higher in the water column. Spoons were catching silver fish. Good colors were greens, orange and silver, orange, blues, and glow stuff early and late. The lake trout were coming in on flashers with spin glo flies. The walleye fishing was on the slow side because of cold water. A few walleye were caught in the very southern part of the bay near Sulphur Island and Scarecrow Island. The best depths were in 15 to 30 feet of water. Anglers were using harnesses and crankbaits.

Thunder Bay River: Anglers were still fishing with live bait and/or casting with an assortment of spinners, spoons and body baits. They were catching smallmouth bass, rock bass, freshwater drum, catfish, bowfin and pike. Walleye fishing was slow.

Au Gres: Walleye fishing was good with limits caught out near the Charity Islands and east across the Shipping Channel in 12 to 35 feet while trolling crawlers and crank baits. Fishing was also good south of the shipwreck in 20 to 30 feet while trolling crawlers and crank baits. At the Pint River Access, there were some crappie, pike and largemouth bass caught while casting plastics, spinners, body baits and crawlers. Walleye fishing was good there as well, while casting in the weeds with crawlers and body baits and trolling in 15 to 30 feet with crawlers and crank baits.