Michigan Fishing Reports

[Rick]

LANSING, MI - The weekly Michigan fishing reports & hunting report from 7/12/13 are gathered by local DNR officials, angler creel surveys, county and state parks staff. They are compiled. There are always current Michigan Fishing Reports and hunting reports as well as outdoor reports in this forum. Enjoy.

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Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report

Lake Erie: Walleye fishing remains good for most with some reporting limit catches between Fermi and the Banana Dike in 18 to 20 feet of water with spoons. Expect to catch your fair share of freshwater drum and white perch. Those targeting perch are marking fish in 18 feet of water around Brest Bay and the River Raisin however they are not biting.

Washtenaw County: Bruin Lake was producing some decent size pike. White bass and white perch were caught in Ford Lake.

Detroit River: Is producing a good number of smallmouth bass and some walleye.

Lake St. Clair: Anglers caught smallmouth bass, walleye and some nice musky.

Port Sanilac: Perch fishing is hit-or-miss. Most were caught along the weed beds in 15 feet of water. On the good days, anglers caught 12 to 24 large perch per boat.

Harbor Beach: Had fair lake trout action in 80 to 120 feet north, south or straight out from the harbor. Try dodgers with spin glows or spoons near the bottom. Brown trout are closer to shore in 30 to 40 feet. Use long lines with bright colored spoons and body baits. Offshore boards will let you get in closer to shore. Salmon and steelhead were out deeper in 105 to 180 feet and hitting on spoons in the top 50 feet. Hot colors were orange and black, green and bright yellow or black and silver screwballs. A few walleye were caught on crawler harnesses in 25 to 40 feet of water between the wall and the shoreline.

Port Austin: Walleye action is picking up on the reefs to the west and out near the lighthouse. Fishing is good to excellent all the way around the tip of the Thumb to Lighthouse Park, southeast of Grindstone City. Anglers are trolling crawlers, body baits and spoons in 15 to 45 feet of water.

Saginaw Bay: Is producing limit catches of walleye at virtually every port. Everyone was bringing in fish even on the bad days. Surface water temperatures have warmed to the mid 70's and the walleye are hitting on body baits, spoons and crawler harnesses. One of the keys is to use planer boards for trolling. In-line planer boards are becoming more popular than the traditional large boards. Fish are being caught from the usual hot spots such as Linwood, the Spark Plug, the Slot between Quanicassee and Sand Point, the Bar, and the Callahan Reef. Weeds are starting to become a problem in many of the shallow areas but those fishing along the edge of the weeds in Wildfowl Bay caught good numbers of walleye. Freshwater drum, catfish and yellow perch are hitting on crawler harnesses. As the water continues to warm, there are signs that the walleye may be moving out deeper.

Saginaw River: Some limit catches of walleye are still coming from the lower river and the shipping channel out to Spoils Island.

Flint River: Had lots of boat and shore anglers fishing the Holloway Reservoir.

Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report

St. Joseph: Boat anglers caught a few salmon in 80 to 100 feet of water. Pier anglers caught steelhead when using shrimp under a bobber however water temperatures are on the rise so catch rates will slow. Perch anglers are drifting in 30 to 40 feet of water.

Branch County: Union Lake was producing some bass.

Calhoun County: Duck Lake was producing a few decent pike but the bluegill and crappie were small. Prairie Lake had some nice crappie along with a handful of bluegills. Graham Lake and Lee Lake had slow catch rates.

South Haven: Perch fishing was pretty good. Anglers should try drifting if the wind allows and target 30 to 40 feet. Salmon action was slower with only a few fish caught in 130 feet of water.

Kalamazoo River: Had shore and boat anglers. A nice pike was caught above the Marshall Dam.

Holland: Those fishing south of the port caught more fish than those heading straight out. Try 30 to 85 feet down in 160 to 180 feet of water with spoons, spinnies and flies. Good colors were orange, blue and green. Pier anglers were struggling to catch steelhead or perch.

Port Sheldon: Those fishing 40 to 120 feet down in 220 to 250 feet of water did well for chinook and steelhead. Try orange, blue and green spoons. Those using 150, 225 and 300 coppers worked well as did the 10 color lead core.

Grand Haven: Some are targeting lake trout but those heading south towards Port Sheldon did better. Pier anglers are struggling to get steelhead and perch.

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Is producing smallmouth bass and the occasional walleye. Those fishing with live or cut bait are taking channel cats and flathead cats.

Grand River at Lansing: Smallmouth bass were biting at Moore's Park and Fitzgerald Park in Grand Ledge. Those fishing at Moore's Park caught a few walleye and catfish. Try fishing below any of the dams.

Jackson County: Lakes are producing a light number of bass and panfish.

Maple River: Anglers have caught some nice bluegill and pike.

Muskegon River: Walleye fishing was good near the Hardy Dam and Hardy Pond. The bluegill bite has been good. Trout have been caught in the lower river.

Whitehall: Catch rates were slow. Some reported fish in 120 to 200 feet of water however baitfish could also be found. Anglers might want to try using cut bait. Not much for pier anglers besides catfish and freshwater drum. Water temperatures are just too warm.

White Lake: Continues to produce a good number of bass. Hot colors were green, white and gold.

Northeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report

Rogers City: Catch rates have improved for chinook, lake trout and steelhead. Some even caught the occasional coho, pink or Atlantic salmon. Try heading north towards the State Park and Forty Mile Point while fishing the top half of waters 60 to 120 feet deep. Try downriggers and lead core up to 10 colors. Steelhead are hitting orange spoons on high-lines. Salmon fishing was best in the early morning or late evening when trolling glow spoons. Other hot colors were green, blue, chartreuse or a combination of green and blue.

Presque Isle: Fishing has picked up with a mixed bag of trout and salmon caught. The better action was straight out of the harbor and fishing between the Red Can and the two lighthouses in 60 to 120 feet of water. Use the same colors and methods as Rogers City.

Rockport: Catch rates were 2 to 4 fish consisting of chinook, steelhead and lake trout. Boats are starting out in shallow water in the early morning and moving out to 100 to 120 feet as the day progresses. Try orange and silver spoons.

Alpena: Walleye fishing in Thunder Bay has slowed. Those catching fish did so around Sulfur Island when trolling or drifting crawler harnesses. Hot colors were pink, purple and brass. After dark, anglers were switching to crank baits.

Thunder Bay River: Was slow for those shore fishing. A few have caught walleye on leeches. Smallmouth bass, white bass and freshwater drum were also caught.

Harrisville: Is producing salmon, lake trout, steelhead and walleye. Lake trout were suspended in 70 to 90 feet. Steelhead and salmon were closer to the surface. Walleye have started to hit south past the State Park and to the north. Early morning and late night were best.

Oscoda: Lake trout have been abundant, but steelhead are picking up. Lake trout have moved out deeper so try 100 to 150 feet. Steelhead are in 60 to 80 feet.

Au Sable River: Walleye are still moving up into the river but catch rates have dropped and the fish were smaller.

Tawas: Was experiencing a large mayfly hatch. Those trolling south toward Alabaster continue to catch walleye in 30 to 50 feet of water when using body baits. Fish were also caught about a mile beyond Buoy #2. Pier anglers caught the occasional smallmouth bass.

Au Gres: Everybody is bringing in walleye. Most of the action was in 25 to 35 feet of water between Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres however a few boats were heading as far south as the Saganing Bar.

Au Gres River: Shore anglers caught catfish and freshwater drum.

Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report

Harbor Springs: Lake trout are being caught but no sign of salmon. Lake trout were caught around the point however some were on the small side. Try spoons 65 to 70 feet down. Smallmouth anglers continue to do well on tube baits or soft plastics on the Harbor Springs side of the State Park. A few crappie were caught on worms near the marina.

Petoskey: Lake trout action continues to get better with anglers catching fish averaging 20 to 25 inches. Most are fishing in 60 to 70 feet but a few fish were also caught in shallow waters. Those trolling for lake trout have caught Cisco. Smallmouth were caught near the breakwall and carp were jumping near the D Pier.

Bear River: Anglers were catching steelhead on spawn near the dam but catch rates fell. Some caught bullhead.

Charlevoix: Boat anglers reported slow catch rates for chinook and lake trout. Salmon were caught 50 feet down near the cement plant. A few walleye are still running through the channel after dark.

Traverse City: The East Bay is producing lake trout for those trolling or jigging in 50 to 100 feet. A few whitefish were also caught. Smallmouth bass are still hitting in the shallows and along the drop-offs. In the West Bay, lake trout were a bit deeper in 80 to 110 feet and smallmouth bass were in 20 feet.

Elk River: A good number of smallmouth bass have been caught but many were sub-legal. Try crawlers, leeches, or plastics.

Boardman River: Fishing continues to be slow with only a few smallmouth bass or rock bass taken on crawlers or leeches.

Frankfort: Water temperatures are still on the cool side which makes salmon fishing a bit slower. Some have been caught 65 to 120 feet down on chartreuse and blue spoons. For lake trout, anglers are heading north and bouncing spin-glows off the bottom in 60 to 80 feet.

Onekama: Chinook salmon have been caught in 18 to 22 feet of water out near the Barrel. Limits of lake trout were caught on cowbells and spin-glows along the bottom.

Portage Lake: Bass fishing was slow but some nice largemouth weighing four pounds or more have been caught around the docks and drop-offs. Warm water temperatures have the panfish in deeper water.

Manistee: Salmon fishing is slowly picking up with a few fish taken 50 to 110 feet down in 100 to 160 feet of water. Glow spoons were best in the morning but switch to green and orange later in the day. Green meat rigs and flies have worked deeper in the water column.

Ludington: Salmon fishing here has been somewhat difficult but catch rates are improving. Try 40 to 100 feet down in 120 to 240 feet of water with orange spoons and green flies. Lake trout were caught by those bouncing cowbells or dodgers off the bottom.

Pentwater: Anglers caught primarily lake trout but rumor has it chinook were caught. With warm water in the channel, the only species caught were freshwater drum and the occasional catfish.

Upper Peninsula Fishing Report

Keweenaw Bay: Salmon have been caught by those trolling 25 to 100 feet down in 150 to 240 feet of water between Sand Point and Carla's. Try flies and spoons. Those fishing the South Portage Entry caught a few lake trout when trolling or jigging near Farmers Reef, Newton's Reef or the Big Reef. A couple coho, chinook and lake trout were caught from the Entry south to the Red Rocks near the Roadside Park or the white breakwall in the early morning. Salmon were caught 30 to 140 feet down in 150 to 170 feet of water near the lighthouse. Those jigging for lake trout in Traverse Bay did well near Hermits Cove, the Gay Stacks, Big Louie's Point and the reefs when trolling spoons in 130 to 160 feet or using jigs with cut bait in 130 to 220 feet.

Marquette: Those targeting lake trout had success in waters less than 100 feet deep near Shot Point. Fish were also caught near the "White Rocks, Granite Island and the "Sand Hole" in 180 feet. A few salmon were caught but catch rates were down. Near shore surface water temperatures were in the low 60's and the offshore waters were in the mid to upper 50's.

Menominee: Those fishing Green Bay have marked baitfish along with some bigger fish but catch rates were very slow. Off the Cedar River, boat anglers are targeting trout, salmon or walleye but catch rates were not good.

Menominee River: Had fair catches of walleye, smallmouth bass, rock bass, channel cats and freshwater drum. Anglers are jigging with crawlers and minnows or trolling crawler harnesses and rapalas.

Cedar River: Had fair to good smallmouth bass fishing and fair northern pike action. A lot of fish were small however some bigger ones were caught by those drifting crawlers or casting crank baits.

Little Bay De Noc: Angler participation was low due to the alewife and mayfly hatch contributing to the food supply. Walleye reports were spotty at best with a few catches reported off the Second Reef when jigging or drifting crawlers in 18 to 25 feet. Walleye and some perch were caught off Gladstone Beach in 14 to 23 feet. Catch rates were spotty between the mouth of the Escanaba River and the "Black Bottom" in 8 to 25 feet. South winds produced some walleye around Breezy Point for those trolling or drifting crawlers in 10 to 16 feet. Lots of freshwater drum have been caught. Some are heading out for salmon but few fish have been caught. Fair catches of smallmouth bass off Hunters Point, the west side of Gladstone Bay and south of the Ford River. All are trolling or casting crank baits or plastics in 10 to 12 feet of water.

Big Bay De Noc: Walleye catches slowed however the best area to fish was Sand Bay off Nahma when trolling crawler harnesses in 14 to 20 feet. Smallmouth bass fishing slowed in Garden Bay and Kate's Bay. Several northern pike were caught near Ansell's Point. Try trolling crank baits in 15 to 20 feet. Salmon off Fairport is still slow. Surface temperatures out deeper were as low as 41 degrees.

Au Train: Most anglers are targeting lake trout or using high-lines for salmon outside Au Train Island and along the east shoreline near Au Train Point. Catch rates were slow. Surface water temperatures are now in the low 60's.

St. Mary's River: Walleye fishing was good near Raber Point when trolling planer boards and crawler harnesses just off the weed beds in 4 to 6 feet of water and near the mouth of the Gogomain River when trolling or jigging crank baits and twister tails in 3 to 4 feet. Closer to Barbeau, a few musky were caught near Teacup Island when trolling large crank baits in 8 to 10 feet. Atlantic salmon and herring are showing up in Sault Ste. Marie.

DeTour: Early morning is the best time for trout and salmon when trolling spoons. Hot colors were green, orange, watermelon and gold. Fish are being caught between the launch and the #3 green can, around the lighthouse and over near the #2 red can by Drummond Island.

Drummond Island: Catch rates for lake herring were very slow. Good smallmouth action around Harbor Island for those using crawlers or jigging dark green and brown tube baits.

Cedarville and Hessel: Hessel Bay is very good for northern pike. Try still-fishing with chubs along the south shore, the east end of Hessel Bay or the south shore of Musky Bay. Perch fishing was slow in Musky Bay, the Middle Entrance and Cedarville Bay. Prentice Bay is usually the hot spot for lake herring however no fish were reported.