Northeast Lower Peninsula

Tawas

Anglers reported catching walleye and steelhead straight out past Buoy 2 and toward Alabaster in 40 to 50 feet of water while trolling spoons and body baits. Some walleye were caught near buoys 4 and 6 while trolling crawlers and body baits in 10 to 20 feet of water. At Gateway Park on the Tawas River, fishing was good for Chinook salmon, and a few steelhead were caught while drifting spawn and casting body baits and spoons.

Au Gres and Pine River

Some walleye were caught between Lookout and Au Gres points while trolling crawlers and body baits between 20 and 30 feet of water. At the Pine River access site, some yellow perch were caught straight out from the river mouth and south toward the Saganing and Pinconning bars while fishing with minnows between 6 and 20 feet of water. Walleye were caught in the same areas by those using perch rigs and trolling crawlers and flicker shad crankbaits.

Oscoda

Chinook salmon were caught by anglers near the mouth of the Au Sable River while using spoons. Walleye and northern pike were also caught by anglers fishing the lower river using crankbaits. Yellow perch and walleye fishing was good in Van Etten Lake. Bluegill fishing was picking up on inland lakes by anglers using red worms.

Houghton Lake

Anglers were doing well fishing for walleye before the recent storm front arrived. Bluegill fishing was also starting to pick up for anglers fishing with small leeches.

Rogers City

Chinook salmon fishing slowed while many of the fish moved up into the bay and river. Anglers fishing straight out of the harbor and up toward 40-mile Point caught Chinook, steelhead, coho salmon and lake trout. Anglers who located and fished near schools of baitfish caught fish. Fish were caught at various depths while using spoons. Good lure colors to try included white with UV, blues, greens, silvers mixed with other colors, and glow lures during early and late times.

Cheboygan River

Anglers reported catching some salmon, though success has been variable. Anglers were fishing from the pier and below the dam at the spillway. Fishing the spillway was more productive recently. Successful anglers were drifting large chunks of skein or casting minnow-profile crankbaits.

Alpena

Anglers reported good catches of steelhead, Atlantic salmon and coho salmon from Thunder Bay fishing between 40 and 60 feet of water. Successful anglers increased their odds by using their fish finders to fish near baitfish. Green, blue and silver spoons were catching the most fish.

Thunder Bay River

Atlantic and coho salmon were caught in the river by anglers casting spoons or body baits or drifting with fresh spawn.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Grand Traverse Bay

A few coho and Chinook salmon were caught in East Bay. The fish appeared to be scattered. The thermocline was 80 to 90 feet down, with surface temperatures around 64 degrees. Cisco were schooled up near the thermocline; however, they were not actively biting. Cisco located in deeper water, ranging from 140 to 180 feet, were biting better. Lake trout fishing from 100 to 140 feet of water was good. Bass fishing was good, with actively biting bass in 30 to 35 feet of water. In West Bay, a few Chinook and coho salmon were caught in the hole in front of the Boardman River mouth by anglers trolling and jigging.

Manistee

Fishing was slow as the bad weather kept anglers off the water. A few young Chinook salmon were caught along the shelf while fishing 70 to 90 feet down in 140 to 170 feet of water. Anglers who fished the harbor and outside of the pierheads did not have much to report.