Fishing Michigan

Water levels on the rivers were high and muddy after the recent rains. Catch rates should improve as the waters recede. Anglers are reminded that November is a good time to fish if you do not like crowds. Fishing starts to take a back seat to hunting and that opens up space on the lakes, rivers, piers, docks and shorelines.

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie - Has been producing some good catches of walleye. Anglers were taking fish larger than 5 pounds when trolling crank baits in 11 to 14 feet of water between Stoney Point and the boat launch at Sterling State Park. Pier anglers at Luna Pier also caught fish. Perch fishing was day by day due to the weather. Try shallow waters 8 to 12 feet deep near Luna Pier, Stoney Point, Bolles Harbor, Lake Erie Metro Park and the north side of the Cross Dike. Try perch rigs with shiners.

Huron River - Is producing a few limits of steelhead even with the higher water levels. Try flies, spawn, wax worms or crank baits. Bluegills are in the backwaters.

Detroit River - Boat anglers are trolling large shad raps or handlining in the lower Trenton Channel for walleye. For perch, try around Sugar Island and Rat Island in 8 to 12 feet of water with perch rigs and shiners. Sort out the small ones.

Lexington - Those fishing in the harbor have caught perch however they are still sorting out the small ones. Steelhead were caught on a variety of things including crawlers, minnows, spawn or spoons.

Port Sanilac - Perch were caught in the harbor but anglers will need to sort out the small ones.

Saginaw Bay - Had some perch activity in the Eagle Bay Marina near Standish and off the beach at Linwood.

Saginaw River - Anglers are most likely fishing the lower river for perch and walleye but no reports have come in.

Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joe - Pier anglers are catching steelhead.

St. Joe River - Fishing was difficult with the high water levels. Anglers need to use caution. The salmon runs are essentially over. Steelhead were being caught up near the Berrien Springs Dam.

Dowagiac River - Had high water levels as well. Salmon are done and steelhead have become the main attraction.

Kalamazoo River - Had high water levels. Steelhead and walleye action should resume once the water levels recede.

Grand Haven - Pier anglers are catching steelhead and whitefish.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Water levels were up which means boat traffic should be able to go up near the Sixth Street Dam and the coffer dam. Good numbers of steelhead were reported up near the Sixth Street Dam. Try floating choker bags with yarn on top or wobble glos. Peach cobbler was a good color. Some are back bouncing spawn up and down the river or drifting flies and yarn off the east wall. A few walleye were caught off Fulton Street and the east wall. Try jigs with minnows, bucktails or plastic worms. Some nice crappie were caught in Felix Bayou and near Riverside Park.

Grand River at Lansing - Water levels are elevated here as well. Steelhead are on the move but have not made it up this far. Those fishing over at the Moore’s Park Dam and the North Lansing Dam have caught the occasional walleye and catfish on minnows and crawlers.

Reeds Lake - Boat and shore anglers were catching crappie, bluegill and perch.

Muskegon - Steelhead have been caught off the piers when using spawn. Those surfcasting have also caught steelhead along with a few catfish. Boats are still finding a few chinook and steelhead when trolling from the piers to 40 feet of water.

Muskegon Lake - Is producing some perch however the fish are small. Bluegills can be found in the marinas.

Muskegon River - Is running high and muddy.

Mona Lake - Bluegills have been caught in the southwest cove.

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Alpena - Regarding whitefish action, this is the time of year when some good fishing can be had near shore along the reefs. Most anglers use ice fishing jigs and small spawn rigs with light line and a bobber. Whitefish are now spawning and the action should peak in about a week or two. Spearing is now legal during November on the Great Lakes and can be very productive after dark with flood lights. It is too early to hang up the fishing gear because November is a great month for a mixed bag of game and fish.

Thunder Bay River - Some small perch are being caught in the river and around the marina. The first steelhead have shown up with the recent rains. Catch rates for whitefish should be good in the next week or two. Try floating spawn under a bobber for both. The best hook and line fishing on the piers is after dark, but in the rivers it seems to be good during the day as well.

Otsego Lake - Had fair walleye fishing.

Fletchers Pond - Was giving up some big northern pike.

Harrisville - Salmon are still moving into the harbor. Most of the fish are being caught on spawn, body baits and spoons. Blue and silver were the best color combinations. Following the salmon are some steelhead and the occasional brown trout. Spawn has been the bait of choice. A few walleye are being caught off the harbor wall when using body baits.

Oscoda - Pier anglers targeting walleye had good success when using spawn and crawlers.

Au Sable River - A few salmon are left in the river and the steelhead are making their way up and hitting on spawn. Look for whitefish in the lower river.

Higgins Lake - Better weather by the weekend should have anglers out targeting perch. Look for the big perch along the drop-offs in 15 to 25 feet of water.

Houghton Lake - Fishing was slow due to the cold however a warm-up by the weekend could improve catch rates.

Tawas - Pier anglers managed to catch some walleye. Look for whitefish off the dock at Tawas. Try small ice fishing jigs and small spawn rigs with light line and a bobber. No word on perch this week.

Au Gres River - Steelhead are still hitting on spawn bags. Anglers are surfcasting near the Singing Bridge.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Torch Lake - Whitefish spearing has begun as the season opened November 1st.

Traverse City - Whitefish action was slow in both the East Bay and the West Bay. Try perch rigs with minnows just off the bottom.

Boardman River - Some steelhead have been caught however water levels are up. Lake trout have also been caught in the river. Anglers are reminded that lake trout season in the Bays closed on September 30th.

Big Glen Lake - Perch have been caught but anglers will need to sort out the small ones. Smallmouth bass fishing was good in about 20 feet of water.

Platte River - Steelhead are being caught on spawn. Higher water levels will make fishing more of a challenge.

Crystal Lake - Perch have been caught but anglers will need to sort out the small ones. Smallmouth bass fishing has been very good.

Manistee - When the conditions are right, boats are catching salmon and steelhead in 50 to 150 feet of water. Pier and shore anglers are catching steelhead on spawn.

Manistee River - Salmon are basically done and steelhead fishing has been hampered by high water levels. When the waters come down, fishing should be very good with fish distributed throughout the watershed.

Ludington - Boat anglers are still taking salmon and steelhead in 100 to 200 feet of water. Pier and shore anglers are also catching steelhead.

Pere Marquette River - High waters levels slowed the action but catch rates should improve once the water levels recede.

Pentwater River - Anglers were catching steelhead.

UPPER PENINSULA

Keweenaw Bay - Anglers trolling for salmon picked up some nice lake trout in front of the Fall’s River in 30 to 70 feet of water. The salmon bite was slow but anglers did manage to catch coho, steelhead and lake trout at the head of the Bay. Spoons and spinners were the ticket. Traverse Bay was producing lake trout near the Buffalo Reef and Gay Point. Anglers were trolling in 15 to 30 feet of water near the bottom but the bite was not consistent.

Fall’s River - Coho, steelhead and even some lake trout have been caught near the Sucker Hole. Anglers had more success on spoons and spinners than spawn or crawlers. Orange, gold and green were good colors.

Marquette - Lake trout action has picked up off the lower harbor breakwall and when trolling between the breakwall and the Carp River. Try 40 to 50 feet of water with orange spinners and green spoons. A few chinook and coho were caught in the harbor but the action was slow. Light numbers of menominee and splake were caught on eggs.

Menominee - Those fishing off the Cedar River at night did well for walleye. Anglers were trolling in 18 to 25 feet of water with a variety of stick baits and rapalas.

Menominee River - Shore anglers are doing well catching walleye up near the Hattie Street Dam. Some limit catches were reported by those using jigs, zip lures, and rapalas. Those targeting trout and salmon had a slow week. The chinook are getting sluggish and not biting and the brown trout were jumping but not biting. Steelhead were close to shore however only a few of those caught were landed. Try yarn with a small hook, spawn or spoons.

Cedar River - There has not been much activity to report. The water was shallow up near the rapids and no fish were visible.

Little Bay De Noc - Is producing fair to good catches of walleye between the Black Bottom and head of the Bay. The better catch rates came when trolling crank baits in 20 to 35 feet of water off the southern end of the Black Bottom or 30 to 40 feet of water off the Second Reef and the Terrace Inn. Evening anglers faired best on the reefs in Kipling when trolling crank baits in 10 to 28 feet of water. Good numbers of large walleye were caught. Good northern pike action off the north end of Saunders Point when trolling in 10 to 23 feet of water.

Big Manistique Lake - Was producing some walleye and perch.

South Manistique Lake - Was producing a few perch and lots of small pike.

St. Mary’s River - Steelhead were caught when trolling. A few small perch were caught around the islands.

Salmon are still being found in some locations however it is getting harder to find fresh fish. The rivers have started to fill up with steelhead and whitefish are being caught in the waters of Lake Michigan.

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie - Fishing was good when the weather was good, but poor when strong winds were present. Perch fishing was good near Stoney Point, Bolles Harbor, out near the shipping channel and the Sputnik buoy in 11 to 15 feet of water. Perch were still being caught in 8 feet of water along the edge of the channel near Metro Park Marina. The marina will open up on Sunday. Anglers are advised to come up Lee Road. Walleye fishing continues to improve with fish caught from Sterling State Park to Stoney Point and in Brest Bay when trolling crank baits. Good bass fishing in the Hot Pond near the Monroe Power Plant.

Huron River - Has more steelhead and fish have been caught up near the coffer dam and the Flat Rock Dam. Try a jig and minnow or spawn. Bluegills were hitting on wax worms in the backwaters.

Detroit River - Walleye have been caught off Gibraltar when using a jig and minnow or trolling with floating rapalas. Some perch were caught along the shoreline and the canals around Grosse Ile.

Lexington - Steelhead were hitting on a variety of artificial lures or crawlers floated under a bobber near the bottom. Perch were hitting on minnows but anglers will need to sort out the small ones.

Port Austin - Shore anglers are catching a few perch in Bird Creek.

Saginaw Bay - Reported some decent catches of perch along the shipping channel, near buoys 17 and 18 and out by the Spark Plug. Some were 9 to 10 inches but a few were closer to 12 inches. Shore anglers caught perch in the Linwood Marina and the Eagle Bay Marina. Though sorting is necessary, anglers were taking enough fish to keep it interesting. Activity on the east side of the Bay was slow except for a few perch caught in the marina and the river at Sebewaing.

Southwest Lower Peninsula

New Buffalo - Is producing whitefish off the piers. Limit catches were reported.

St. Joe - Reported limits of whitefish caught off the pier when using a small hook with a single egg.

St. Joe River - Steelhead and lake trout were caught up at the Berrien Springs Dam.

Paw Paw River - Steelhead have been caught below the Watervliet Dam.

Grand Haven - Pier anglers are catching steelhead on spawn. Fair to good numbers of whitefish were also caught.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Anglers are catching good numbers of steelhead along with an occasional chinook on spawn bags and choker bags. Some are back bouncing spawn off the Pearl Street walk bridge while others are floating spawn under a bobber off the Fulton Street Bridge. Water flow is good so jet boats should be able to go over the coffer dams. Good walleye action off the Fulton Street Bridge. Try Twister Tails or bouncing small jigs with shiners off the bottom. Riverside Park has been a good spot for bluegills and crappie.

Grand River at Lansing - A few leftover coho have been caught over at the Moore’s Park Dam and the North Lansing Dam but the action is winding down. Try spoons or spinners. A few pike were caught on spinners.

Muskegon - Pier fishing has been slow. Look for steelhead and whitefish movement in the next week or so.

Muskegon Lake - Anglers are going out and trolling for walleye however few fish were caught. Fall perch fishing has not started yet. Those fishing in the channel have caught the occasional steelhead.

Whitehall - Pier anglers caught a few steelhead but the fish were small.

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan River - The Forks DNR dock has been removed.

Mullett Lake - A few anglers were still catching perch on minnows when fishing around Dodge Point or between Parrott Point and the Indian River. All public docks including the Mullett Lake DNR dock, Aloha State Park dock, and the Jewell Road DNR dock have been pulled for the season.

Rogers City - Brown trout should start showing up around the breakwall soon. Anglers will want to try casting minnow type baits, Cleo’s or Crocodiles in chartreuse, blue and silver or green and silver. Try body baits that look like smelt and emerald shiners. Boat anglers are pretty much done.

Harrisville - Salmon continue to move in. Some of the fish have turned dark however there is still a lot of silver fish making their way into the harbor. Floating spawn and body baits worked best however blue and silver spoons also caught a few fish. Steelhead and brown trout were caught outside the harbor. Those fishing off the breakwall in the early morning and late evening caught walleye on jointed body baits. Blue and silver, fire-tiger and clown were good colors.

Oscoda - Steelhead, brown trout and walleye are being caught off the pier.

Au Sable River - Fish are slowly moving into the river. Some are dark but fresh fish are still being caught up near the dam when casting spoons. Brown trout and walleye have also been caught.

Houghton Lake - A few walleye and pike were still being caught in the shallows for those fishing late evening and into the night. Most are using stick baits.

Tawas - Has mostly pier or shore fishing. Perch fishing picked up some inside the harbor but anglers will need to sort out the small ones. Walleye were caught by those casting lures or still-fishing with large minnows. Try behind the State Police.

Au Gres - Had rumors of perch out near the shipping channel in 40 feet of water but the reports say perch fishing was slow.

Au Gres River - Those fishing the East Branch near the Singing Bridge have caught a fair number of steelhead when drifting spawn bags.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Burt Lake - Is providing some perch action but no big numbers.

Bear River - Recent rain did bring in additional salmon.

Charlevoix - Small steelhead were caught off the docks and piers when using spawn.

Lake Charlevoix - Perch anglers are finding fish but catch rates were hit-and-miss.

Lake Bellaire - Surface water temperatures are now between the mid and high 40’s, so few anglers were out. No walleye were caught but boats were trolling crawler harnesses and stick baits near Fisherman’s Paradise and the Northwest Arm. For bass, they are trolling in 10 to 50 feet of water with crawler harnesses or casting tube baits and spinners in the same locations. A few perch were taken near the mouth of the Intermediate River and along the western shoreline when using crawlers in 3 to 25 feet of water. Sizes ranged from 5 to 10 inches.

Elk River - The chinook run is over but the coho salmon are just starting to show up. Try using spawn, spoons or spinners.

Boardman River - The salmon run is winding down though there are still a few decent fish below the Union Street Dam. Steelhead and lake trout are starting to show up in the river. Spawn bags have been the most effective.

Platte River - Those using spawn are catching steelhead at the mouth.

Frankfort - Pier fishing and surfcasting have been pretty good for the last week. Good numbers of steelhead in various sizes along with a few whitefish have been caught on spawn. Boats trolling from the piers to Pt. Betsie have also caught decent numbers of chinook, brown trout and steelhead. Try orange or blue spoons or a white flasher/fly combination 45 to 50 feet down in waters 80 to 160 feet deep.

Betsie River - The salmon run is pretty much done however anglers were still taking a few fish up near the dam. Light numbers of steelhead were caught from Betsie Bay to the US-31 Bridge.

Arcadia - Had good steelhead fishing for those trolling orange or white spoons in the top 20 feet of waters 30 to 100 feet deep. Surf and pier anglers are also doing well when using spawn about 100 feet from shore.

Onekama - Chinook and steelhead were caught in 100 to 150 feet of water when trolling south to the Bar Lake outlet or north to the Barrel. Small spoons or flasher/fly combinations in orange, blue, or green worked the best. Pier action was slow.

Manistee - Steelhead and salmon have been caught in 100 to 200 feet of water. Try fishing the top 30 feet with orange and red spoons. Pier and surf anglers are catching steelhead on spawn.

Manistee River - Salmon are fewer but steelhead numbers are improving, especially in the lower stretches.

Ludington - Boats are doing well on steelhead when the weather allows. Try 75 to 150 feet of water between the Point and the Bath House with orange spoons. Steelhead can be found off the piers and in the surf.

Pere Marquette River - Steelhead numbers are improving but most fish were still being caught in the lower river.

Pentwater - Pier anglers were taking good numbers of steelhead.

Pentwater Lake - Those out trolling have caught steelhead.

Pentwater River - Steelhead have been caught by those drifting spawn.

UPPER PENINSULA

Keweenaw Bay - Pier anglers in L’Anse have caught light numbers of coho and steelhead when casting Cleo’s or spinners. Gold, orange and green were good colors. Some lake trout were caught near the mouth of the Falls River, the pier in Traverse Bay and also by those trolling in 15 to 30 feet of water on Buffalo Reef.

Fall’s River - Anglers have caught a few coho and steelhead.

Marquette - Anglers have caught lake trout, splake and whitefish off the lower breakwall when using spoons or spinners. Those targeting whitefish caught a few small splake. Boats trolling off the breakwall in 40 to 50 feet of water caught a few lake trout in the 3 to 5 pound range.

Dead River - Anglers were catching a few coho and chinook.

Chocolay River - Anglers were catching a few coho and chinook.

Menominee - A couple walleye were caught south of the Cedar River in 20 feet of water. Try rapalas and different colored stick baits.

Menominee River - Most anglers are wading or shore fishing near Stephenson and Boom Island, the Cat Walk or the platform near the Hattie Street Dam. Fishing did pick up for those targeting trout and salmon near the rocks on the Michigan side near the dam and under the bridge on the Wisconsin side. Chinook, steelhead and brown trout were caught on spawn, yarn and spoons. Walleye action was fair off the Cat Walk when jigging zip lures or casting rapalas at night or in the early morning.

Little Bay De Noc - Good numbers of fish were marked in the northern Bay however catch rates were slow. The better action remained off the Center Reef when trolling rapalas in 8 to 23 feet of water. Night anglers were fishing the same area including the Second Reef. Fair to good pike action off the coal piles in Kipling when trolling bucktails and large crank baits in 10 to 20 feet of water. Smallmouth bass were caught off Hunter’s Point on tube baits or minnows in 15 to 20 feet of water.

Day’s River - Some steelhead have been caught by those using spawn and yarn.

Big Bay De Noc - Fall bass anglers are doing well when drifting or casting sucker minnows along the break. Several limit catches were taken in 10 to 25 feet of water. Salmon season off Fairport is pretty much done.

Munising - Salmon were caught near the mouth of the Anna River when boats could get out. Pier anglers also caught fish when casting Cleo’s or floating spawn.

Grand Marais - A few salmon and some steelhead have been caught near the mouth of the Sucker River. Shore anglers caught steelhead when floating spawn near the mouth of the Sucker River or the creeks in and around the harbor.

De Tour - Did not have much activity. Anglers targeting smallmouth bass and pike should try the coal docks north of the city launch. Perch anglers might want to try fishing around James and Ashman Island.

Cedarville and Hessel - Anglers were catching a fair number of perch in Musky Bay when casting or drifting with minnows. The West Bay and the east shore near Middle Entrance were producing some fish in 6 to 14 feet of water.

Carp River - Anglers are targeting steelhead at the mouth. They are still-fishing with spawn or fly fishing with a single artificial egg drifting in the current. Water levels were elevated and muddy.

St. Ignace - Pier anglers are casting for chinook as fish are still inside the rocks.