Fishing Michigan

Excellent walleye fishing continues all over in Saginaw Bay. Panfish and bass fishing on inland lakes has been good. Trout fishing on area streams is also very good due to the fly hatches. The forecast looks to improve just in time for the Fourth of July.

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie - Walleye have been caught in 15 to 20 feet of water between the Banana Dike and Fermi. Most are slow trolling with a crawler harness or spoons. Good colors were purple and copper. Some nice perch were caught near the shipping channel by those using perch rigs with shiner minnows.

Huron River - Some big catfish were caught on shrimp and bass on spinner baits.

Detroit River - Walleye were caught in the Trenton Channel by those handlining with spoons or small rapalas. Good smallmouth bass action on rubber worms or crayfish.

Lexington - Perch fishing is just getting started and some nice 10 to 14 inch fish have been caught. Anglers were catching fish along the weed beds in 15 to 20 feet of water south of the port. Most are drifting until they find an active school of fish. Pier anglers are catching rock bass, bluegill, and bass.

Port Sanilac - Perch fishing here has also begun. Just like Lexington, drift with minnows in 15 to 20 feet of water until you find fish and drop anchor. Pier anglers are catching bass and bluegills.

Harbor Beach - Has good steelhead action. Try color lines in 120 feet of water. Bright colors work best when trolling spoons about 100 feet behind the offshore boards. Lake trout have been caught just off the bottom in 50 to 65 feet of water straight out and north of the harbor. Try spoons or dodgers with Spin Glo’s. A few salmon were also caught. Bass fishing is still the best in years inside the harbor close to shore and along the weed beds both north and south of the harbor.

Port Austin - Walleye and some whitefish were caught off the reefs west of the port and out by the lighthouse in the early morning. Steelhead are hitting in the top 15 feet of waters 100 to 135 feet deep. Try spoons with a lot of orange on them. Lake trout, coho, and chinook were caught about halfway down. White was the hot color.

Saginaw Bay - Has very good walleye fishing in many areas including 28 feet of water near Buoys 1 and 2 and the Spark Plug, 6 to 8 feet off the Kawkawlin River, 8 to 10 feet off Finn Road, 7 to 14 feet on the Callahan Reef, 15 feet in the Slot between Quanicassee and Sand Point, and 8 feet of water along the edge of the weeds in Wildfowl Bay. You can catch walleye about anywhere you want to go. Not much at Caseville except for a couple pier anglers.

Saginaw River - A few walleye and some bass can sill be found in the lower river between Essexville and the mouth. Most are trolling crawler harnesses but some are starting to use Hot-n-Tots. Anything with chrome is catching fish.

Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joe - Good numbers of perch were caught by those still-fishing just off the bottom in 15 to 25 feet of water. Minnows worked best. Those fishing the river side off the pier have caught lots of catfish and freshwater drum when using live bait right on the bottom. Steelhead can be found around the piers and in the mud lines of the river.

South Haven - Has good perch fishing in 20 to 30 feet of water. Steelhead are showing up around the piers and the mud lines however most were caught off the north pier.

Grand Haven - Boat anglers are fishing 40 to 80 feet down in waters 120 to 150 feet deep but the fish are scattered. Blue, green, and orange are good colors. Lead core seems to be working best. Pier anglers have caught light numbers of perch on alewife, steelhead on shrimp under a bobber, and freshwater drum.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Anglers are catching some walleye, pike, bass, catfish and carp. Check out the shallows and the backwaters for bluegill.

Grand River at Lansing - Check out Moore’s Park Dam for walleye. Fair to good action for carp and catfish below the Moore’s Park Dam and the North Lansing Dam.

Muskegon - Boat anglers have caught fish in waters up to 150 feet deep. The fish are scattered so try 40 to 80 feet down with spoons or dodgers and flies. Good colors were green, blue and orange.

Whitehall - Catch rates were slow as the fish were scattered.

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Mullett Lake - Walleye were hitting during the warmer weather and catch rates were good for those trolling jigs, crank baits, crawler harnesses or Hot-n-Tots. Northern pike, perch, smallmouth bass and even some trout were also caught.

Rogers City - Catch rates for lake trout have slowed. A good number of fish caught have been sub-legal. Anglers are making the switch to salmon, steelhead, and brown trout. Steelhead fishing in the offshore waters has begun. Look for a scum line or a bug line in waters 130 to 190 feet deep. Anglers are trolling planer boards with up to five colors of lead core and small spoons. Good colors wee orange, red, pink, black or silver. The occasional chinook, coho and lake trout were also caught in the top 45 to 50 feet of waters up to 100 feet deep. Good colors were blue and silver, blue or green Dolphin, orange glow, blue glow or black and white. Anything that glows early and late should work as well.

Presque Isle - Lake trout are still being caught but anglers will need to sort out the small ones. Try Spin Glo’s with dodgers or cowbells just off the bottom in 30 to 60 feet of water. The salmon are scattered.

Rockport - Has good fishing with steelhead and lake trout caught around the Middle Island in 60 to 70 feet of water. The steelhead were about halfway down and the lake trout were on the bottom. Trout and salmon were also caught near the Nordmere Wreck in 120 feet of water.

Long Lake - Is producing walleye and bass.

Alpena - Walleye fishing has been good in the bay. Anglers are working 8 to 12 feet of water around the Grass Island Reef, Partridge Point or south of the river. Some limit catches were reported. A few were caught during the day but most were caught between dusk and midnight or just before dawn. Fishing should hold up as long as the water temperatures remain in the upper 60s and lower 70s. As the Bay warms, the walleye move out into deeper waters. Lake trout were caught about 10 miles out in 120 feet of water.

Thunder Bay River - A few walleye were caught by those still-fishing with leeches.

Fletchers Pond - Had good panfish and bass action. Catch rates slowed with the warmer weather.

Hubbard Lake - Walleye activity seems to be slowing but good numbers of smallmouth bass have been caught.

Harrisville - Anglers are targeting lake trout, salmon and steelhead but the reports coming in were mainly for lake trout. The fish may have moved out to waters 70 to 90 feet deep and are hitting on Wobble Glo’s, yellowtails, and peanuts.

Higgins Lake - Some nice perch were caught on the west side of the lake near the Veterans Lodge when using minnows just past the drop-off. Smallmouth bass were caught between the table top and the north end of Treasure Island. Some nice rock bass have been also been caught. Lake trout were caught in 80 to 100 feet of water when trolling rapalas and body baits.

Houghton Lake - Anglers are catching panfish. The walleye bite slowed but should pick back up by the weekend.

Oscoda - Lake trout and salmon have been reported in 60 to 80 feet of water.

Au Sable River - Walleye fishing has picked up with steady catches in the early morning or late evening when using crawlers, minnows or leeches.

Tawas - Boat anglers were still heading down Au Gres. Pier anglers were catching light numbers of smallmouth bass and rock bass.

Tawas River - Casual anglers were catching the odd bass, northern pike, catfish or freshwater drum.

Au Gres - Walleye fishing continues to be incredibly good in 30 to 47 feet of water. Mostly crawler harnesses but some spoons also caught fish. With over 200 boats heading out, every boat had fish and some had limits. Some nice yellow perch were caught in 15 feet of water off Pt. Au Gres.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Petoskey - Catch rates for lake trout did slow. Good smallmouth action in the shallows where anglers were catching and releasing up to 20 fish per trip in Little Traverse Bay.

Charlevoix - Lake trout moved out deeper and were caught about 95 feet down in waters up to 140 feet deep. Smallmouth bass were on the beds and cruising in the shallow waters of Lake Michigan.

Lake Charlevoix - Perch and rock bass have been seen near the docks in the main lake so now is a good time to take the kids fishing. Some pike and bass are there as well. Walleye fishing should still be good trolling alewife sized minnow plugs at night.

Lake Bellaire - Walleye pressure has remained steady. Evening and early morning were the best times to catch fish between 13 and 20 inches. Anglers are trolling a crawler harness and spoons or jigging with leeches in 10 to 50 feet of water in the northwest arm or near the Grass River. Bass anglers are casting top water lures, spinners, tube baits, stick baits or crawlers in 4 to 15 feet of water. Target the flats or the drop-offs. Some perch were found in 4 to 15 feet of water. Try minnows, leaf worms or a piece of crawler.

Traverse City - Smallmouth bass are hitting on crank baits and plastics in the East Bay. The hot spots were in front of the State Park and along US-31. Lake trout and whitefish were scattered. In the West Bay, smallmouth are cruising the shallows. Carp are still in close to shore near the weed beds. Those fly fishing are using crayfish or Hex patterns.

Elk River - Smallmouth, freshwater drum, carp and suckers can be found between the dam and the mouth.

Boardman River - Carp, suckers, and rock bass are abundant just below the Union Street Dam. For the best smallmouth action, try crawlers or leeches near the mouth in the early morning.

Leland - Catch rates for salmon slowed but the lake trout are hitting just as strong as ever in 65 to 80 feet of water near the 45th Parallel and on the east side of the Manitou Islands. Nice steelhead were caught by those that ventured about 30 miles due west. The boat ramp should be open with parking by the end of the week.

Glen Arbor - Early morning anglers had the best luck catching 12 to 14 pound chinook along the slopes around Canners Point and Pyramid Point. Lake trout are active The Lake trout are active with fish weighing in at 4 to 6 pounds.

Platte Bay - Fishing has switched to warm water species with no baitfish in the bay. Those fishing the mouth have caught smallmouth on tube baits or plastic crawlers. Carp, redhorse suckers and gar can also be found.

Frankfort - Had good chinook action from the piers to the north when trolling 30 to 60 feet down in waters 130 to 210 feet deep. Many were heading out 13 to 18 miles and catching good numbers of steelhead. Orange, blue and green spoons were hot along with purple, aqua or gold flies. Pier anglers were only catching smallmouth bass and rock bass.

Arcadia - The fish are scattered but some were caught 60 to 80 feet down on green spoons. Some success on glow baits before sunrise.

Onekama - Good fishing for chinook and steelhead was reported by those trolling in 180 to 300 feet of water straight out from the piers and up near the Barrel. Chinook and lake trout were caught on the northwest end of the Barrel.

Portage Lake - The panfish action was a little slow however some nice bluegills and sunfish were found in about 15 feet of water. It looks like smallmouth bass are off the beds however some largemouth were starting to bed on the north and east side of the lake. Those trolling at night for walleye were taking a few fish on small rapalas and spoons. Northern pike have been caught on a crawler harness during the day.

Manistee - Catch rates were hit-or-miss. A few salmon were caught when trolling along the Shelf. Steelhead were caught on orange spoons near the surface.

Little Manistee River - Has very good trout fishing. The fly hatch is in full swing.

Ludington - Boat anglers have caught light numbers of trout and salmon. Try 100 to 200 feet of water between the Bathhouse and Sable Point. Steelhead were hitting on orange spoons.

Pere Marquette River - Also has good trout fishing.

Pentwater - There was a weak temperature break in 80 to 100 feet of water where anglers caught some fish. Some were heading out deeper to waters 300 feet or more and running high lines for steelhead and lake trout.

UPPER PENINSULA

Ontonagon River - Is producing some walleye.

Portage Lake - Anglers have caught some big walleye along the drop-offs and the weed beds. Try minnows or leeches.

Copper Harbor - Has good splake action with nice fish caught on jigs and cut bait. Anglers will need to sort through the small ones.

Eagle Harbor - Has good fishing for lake trout, brown trout and steelhead when trolling or bobber fishing in the lower half of waters 75 to 150 feet deep.

Lac La Belle - Smallmouth fishing has been good for those casting. Pike are still active and hitting on spoons or body baits however the fish are were small. Walleye and crappie fishing were slow.

Keweenaw Bay - The bite was slow but chinook and coho were caught. Early morning was best 35 to 80 feet down in waters 40 to 90 feet deep with spoons. Lake trout were caught when jigging in 220 to 240 feet of water off Pequaming. Good catch rates for those trolling between Gay Point and Big Louie’s Point. Try spoons or dodgers and flies in 130 to 150 feet of water. Slow trolling is the trick. Anglers were also picking up lake trout jigging off of Big Louie’s Point in 220 to 250 feet of water. Those trolling for lake trout reported spotty catch rates on the Mud Bank and the Farmers Reef.

Marquette - Water temperatures moved up between 50 and 56 degrees. Lake trout fishing was fair to good with some limit catches reported near the White Rocks and Shot Point. Target waters 140 to 200 feet deep. A few chinook were caught in 35 to 50 feet of water a mile or two from the harbor. Fishing at Stannard Rock was good for lake trout.

Menominee - Anglers are starting to get chinook when trolling near Chambers Island. Most are staying south of the Island, but some caught fish to the north as well. Dipsey divers with shiners or flies were taking fish. Walleye were caught on crawler harnesses south of the port in 15 to 25 feet of water. Smaller brown trout and some perch were caught off the pier at the marina.

Menominee River - Those fishing the deeper holes from the mouth to the first dam are picking up good numbers of walleye, but many were small. Try jigging crawlers or trolling a harness. Plenty of freshwater drum and some smallmouth bass have been caught. Catch rates were slow from the Cat Walk and the Hattie Street Dam.

Cedar River - Smallmouth bass are still being caught between the mouth and the first dam but many are sub-legal. Catfish are hitting at night on crawlers or plugs.

Little Bay De Noc - Even with the Mayfly hatch, walleye were caught and the better action was from Portage Point south to the Ford River. Anglers are trolling crank baits along the break in 17 to 25 feet of water. Fair to good action reported in 25 feet of water out from the Terrace Bay Inn when trolling crank baits or crawlers. Several nice perch were taken off the mouth if the Whitefish River in 8 to 13 feet of water. Good smallmouth action especially near the mouth of the Ford River in 4 to 12 feet of water. Chinook and steelhead were caught out by the Ford River buoy by those trolling spoons or fly’s about 20 feet off the bottom in waters 80 to 100 feet deep.

Big Bay De Noc - Walleye anglers are trolling crank baits or crawlers in 25 feet of water off Ansels Point. Anglers reported good smallmouth action along the head of the Bay and near Ogontz when casting crank baits, crawlers or tube baits in 4 to 12 feet of water. Lots of small perch were caught in Garden Bay. At Fairport, more anglers are showing up for salmon. Chinook and steelhead have been caught but the fish were scattered in waters up to 130 feet deep. Most are trolling spoons or artificial bait. Good smallmouth bass fishing around the Summer Islands.

Au Train - Had fair catches of lake trout in 140 to 180 feet of water but salmon fishing was slow.

Munising - Is still producing limits of lake trout.

Grand Marais - Whitefish action was hit-or-miss but catch rates for lake trout were good with limit catches taken in the early morning or late at night in waters 90 to 290 feet deep.

St. Mary’s River - Is producing walleye all the way down to Raber Bay. Boats were trolling in 12 to 14 feet of water just in front of the Raber Bay boat launch and the Lime Island dock.

De Tour - Is producing chinook and atlantic salmon, lake trout, and steelhead however; anglers need to use extreme caution and watch for nets. Some anglers have lost lines, lures and poles. Try 10 to 50 feet down between the shipping cannel and the lighthouse.

Drummond Island - Limits of walleye were caught in Scott Bay on the northwest side of Peck Island when trolling a 28 inch crawler harness with a bottom bouncer in 10 to 14 feet of water. A few limits of herring were taken in 16 feet of water around Howard Island by those using Swedish Pimples or natural fly’s just off the bottom.

Cedarville and Hessel - Fishing for northern pike continues to be excellent for those casting in 4 to 12 feet of water or those still-fishing with chubs. Yellow perch are starting to hit on crab tails or minnows in Cedarville Bay. For herring, some limit catches were taken in McKay Bay when using wax worm sin 7 to 12 feet of water. As the fish continue to come in, try the east end of the Moscoe Channel.

Pine River - Anglers are still-fishing for suckers. Try leeches

St. Ignace - A few small boats are launching from the primitive launch in St. Ignace and targeting pike in the bull rushes. Try casting weedless stick baits in fire-tiger or chartreuse. Boats trolling from the old fuel tanks across the bay to the Coast Guard Station have caught chinook and atlantic salmon along with steelhead. The hot spot for chinook was the west side of the bridge when trolling 15 to 45 feet down with spoons. Good colors were blue or green spoons with white or a white spoons with orange, pink or green stripes.

The fireworks and fishing will both be booming this holiday weekend. As a note, new sturgeon tags can only be acquired from license vendors and are available as of today. Before heading to your fishing destination, visit www.AAATraffic.com for the latest traffic, construction, weather and road conditions that may affect your route.

Upper Peninsula:

Lake Gogebic has a Mayfly hatch taking place and fish are suspended off the bottom. Try using slip bobbers with Rapalas. Perch seem to be active in the weed beds.

As the weather improves so does the fishing in the L’Anse area and anglers can expect good fishing opportunities for the holiday weekend. Crappie and blue gill are just starting to bed and anglers are working hard for salmon. Lake trout activity is good and pan fish is also decent. Worms and wax worms are working well on the majority of inland lakes.

Escanaba fishing has been quiet this week, however by the weekend the action will start booming as better weather moves in. Pike activity is on the rise, particularly in the weeds and when anglers use spinner and crank baits.

Rain and wind has plagued the area all week so anglers are really looking forward to nice weather over the weekend. A few bass and walleye are hitting in the Manistique River on stick baits and crawler harnesses. Lake Michigan is giving up a few salmon and activity is on the rise, most salmon have been caught closer to Fairport. Indian Lake has been slow overall.

Fishing activity has improved around the Sault Ste. Marie area. Whitefish and Atlantic salmon can be caught behind the Power House and near the ferry docks. Spoons, flies and Rapalas seem to work well. Walleye is rated fair and often times hit or miss, the fish seem to be going deeper. Try crawler harnesses and crawlers.

Near the Munuscong Bay area Raber Bay and the St. Mary’s River is giving up walleye and pike on hard baits and crawler harnesses. Bass are biting on everything. Off of Cedarville herring activity is good when using tear drops and wax worms. Pike are also biting in good numbers. Lake trout, Atlantic salmon and a few King salmon are hitting off of Detour.

Drummond Island anglers dealt with rain and cool temperatures this week and overall slow fishing. The weekend forecast is expected to bring warmer temperatures and much better angling activity.

St. Ignace anglers fishing Brevort Lake are finding a few walleye and the pan fish are moving on to their beds.

Information Providers: Johnson’s Sports-Drummond Island; Bay View Bait & Tackle-Escanaba; Top O’ Lake Sport-Manistique; Hank’s Sporting-Sault Ste. Marie; Wilderness Treasurers-Munuscong Bay; ACE Hardware-St. Ignace; Indian Country Sports-L’Anse and Gogebic Grocery-Bergland.

Northwest:

Near the Alanson area Burt and Crooked lakes are producing some fish after dark and in the early morning hours with pike hitting in good numbers. Minnows seem to be working on pike for anglers fishing on Douglas Lake.

Long Lake in the Traverse City area continues to be a good source for walleye.

Anglers fishing in Frankfort are doing well with the river bustling. Crystal, Duck and Loon lakes are giving up plenty of pan fish and bass. Drake and Hex hatch is taking place. Salmon seemed to have moved in from 20 miles out to about five miles. The Alewives have also moved in.

Skegemog Lake near Kalkaska is giving up good numbers of small mouth bass and trout activity is decent. Blue gill are starting to move on to their beds. Popular baits include flies, flatfish for trout and small mouth bass.

Fishing continues to be very good around the Gaylord area. The Black, Manistee and Sturgeon rivers are giving up nice numbers of Brook trout as well as the upper Pigeon near the impoundment area. The Hex hatch is moving north. During the day anglers will find Sulfur, Drake and Caddis hatches while the evening Hexogenia hatches.

In the Cadillac area anglers are doing well despite rain and cooler temperatures this week. Pike and bass are consistent on both Mitchell and Cadillac lakes. On the west side of Lake Mitchell the walleye are hitting in good numbers on leeches and crawlers. Also crappie action is good on the south side in 12-15 feet of water using little minnows and beetle spinners. On both lakes sunfish and blue gill are starting to bed.

Information providers: Backcast Fly Shop-Frankfort; Alphorn-Gaylord; Jack’s Sports-Kalkaska; Pilgrim’s Village-Cadillac and Young’s Bait Shop-Alanson.

West:

In Ludington anglers are finding good perch fishing off of the north break wall using wigglers and minnows. Hamlin Lake is giving up a little of everything including bass, northern pike and pan fish. Salmon anglers are finding action is 100-120 feet of water and when fishing between 50 and 60 feet down. Spoons continue to work well with the most popular the Blue Dolphin and Wonder Bread. Not much activity in the river this week.

Around Baldwin anglers are finding excellent bass fishing on Wolf Lake. Small mouth bass are ranging 5-7 pounds. Big Bass Lake and Howe’s Lake are both giving up nice catches of blue gill on wax worms and wigglers. The Little Manistee and the Pere Marquette rivers have some very good trout fishing taking place in the non-fly zone and anglers are using wigglers and leaf worms. In the fly only zone tiny stone flies, Hex and nymph patterns are working well. Fishing for the holiday weekend is anticipated to be very good thanks to high pressure.

In the Muskegon area anglers are starting to get back out on Lake Michigan after a few days of windy conditions. The mid-day seems to be the best time to fish and in waters 200-240 feet with the best action in the top 40. Steelhead and small size salmon are hitting in schools on dark green and glow in the dark spoons. Pike action can be found along the weed edges on crank baits. Muskegon Lake is giving up nice numbers of blue gill as well as most inland lakes. On the smaller lakes blue gill are starting to get off their beds. White Lake blue gill are just getting on the beds. Night crawlers and crawlers seem to be popular.

Blue gill activity is great on Chippewa Lake using night crawlers, plenty of hot spots. Pike action is decent with most fish caught on minnows.

Around the Grand Rapids area the majority of inland lakes are giving up plentiful blue gill catches. Bass are also hitting in good numbers. Rapalas are very popular.

Information providers: Wolf Lake Resort & ATV Rental-Baldwin; King Sports-Baldwin; East Bay General Store-Chippewa Lake; Shoreline Bait & Tackle-Muskegon; P.M. Sports-Ludington and Gander Mountain-Grand Rapids.

Southwest:

Windy conditions in the New Buffalo area slowed angling activity a bit in the past few days, but anglers can still find some nice perch fishing around the Pumping Station and near Red Roof in 16-30 feet of water and using minnows.

Kalamazoo and South Haven anglers are finding good fishing conditions. A few blue gill remain on beds on a few select inland lakes, Portage being one of the, but overall it seems fish are moving out towards deeper water. Try trolling with Blue Gill Busters on Saddle, Little Fish, and Scott lakes. Off the pier in South Haven anglers are pulling in nice numbers of steelhead when casting spoons. Perch are also active around South Haven in 40-60 feet of water when using perch rigs with minnows.

Good action for blue gill and perch around the Three Rivers area. Long Lake, Kaiser Lake and Bear Lake are all producing when anglers use Red wigglers.

Information providers: Captain Cook’s-New Buffalo; D.& R. Sports-Kalamazoo and Fisherman’s Luck-Three Rivers.

Northeast:

Angling activity has been busy in the Oscoda area, thanks to good weather and an influx of out-of-state visitors. Steelhead and sucker runs are pretty much done for the season, with some catfish and walleyes to appear in the Au Sable River. Cooke and Foote Dam ponds continue to see blue gills on their beds this week. Minnows, crawlers, leeches and wax worms are the baits of choice. Van Etten Lake once again has some decent pike and perch fishing. Local waterways overall have produced a small salmon run but better numbers of lake trout.

The Hex Flies are in full swing in Grayling, and that’s great news along the Manistee and Au Sable rivers. Brook and brown trout fishing is rated good to great this week. Walleye activity has picked up on Lake Margrethe, while the crappie run is holding its own on Manistee Lake. Anglers in the market for bass are finding varying numbers on Brighton, Glory, Section 1 and Bear lakes. Scattered trout fishing is reported in Bear Lake while the shallow ends of all inland waters are giving up good numbers of blue gills.

Spawning is behind schedule on Higgins Lake where male perch are more abundant in 10 feet of water. A variety of bass have a taste for crawlers and leeches at North and South Sunken islands. Rock bass and small mouth bass are popular there as we head into the weekend.

On Higgins Lake the lake trout are active in 90 to 130 feet of water. Anglers are getting good results using jigs and Swedish Pimples.

Fishing activity has been slow the last few days in Au Gres due to cloudy, cool and windy conditions, but better weather is in the forecast for the weekend. Heading out along the Rifle River and into Saginaw Bay, decent amounts of walleye are being reeled in. Anglers are using crawler harnesses, inline sinkers, weighted lures, as well as bottom bouncers with body baits.

Information providers: Skips-Grayling; Sports Barn-Higgins Lake; Wright’s Sport Shop-Au Gres; The Dam Store-Oscoda and Lyman’s-Houghton Lake.

East:

Saginaw Bay near the Standish area continues to be a good location for walleye. Anglers fishing in 15-16 feet and deeper in 25-27 feet are doing well with crawlers, harnesses with spoons. Purple, Chartreuse and bright colors seem to be best. Plenty of rain and windy conditions for anglers around Bay City but the weather is improving and the walleye continue to bite around Finn Road. Linwood to Quanicassee is producing fish in 8-10 feet of water. Most anglers trolling are running quarter to half ounce in-line weights on crawler harnesses trolled 10-20 feet behind planer boards. Gold blades with Chartreuse beads continue to work well. A few anglers are starting to pick up fish casting crank baits around the weeds. Pan fish are good all over.

Bay Port anglers continue to do well for walleye around North Island with crawlers. Bass activity is very good and the fish are good size as well several five pound fish have been caught right off the docks. Pike action is decent.

Perch are in the harbor and are overall small in size at Harbor Beach. There is a few bigger fish in the mix and the best bait is worms.

Information providers: Frank’s Place-Harbor Beach; 1st & Main-Bay Port; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; Gander Mountain-Saginaw and Eagle Bay Marina-Standish.

Central:

In the Mount Pleasant area despite some cooler temperatures, anglers are doing well on small mouth bass using crawlers.

Good fishing for anglers all around the Lansing area. A variety of species are being caught from the Little Maple River. The water is high and murky but small mouth bass, crappie and bass are biting. Below the Lansing Dam fish are abundant close to the wall drifting with worms under a bobber. Expect to lose a lot of rigs though. Nice Rock bass at the dam below Moores Park, nice size too. Morrison Lake is giving up crappie on minnows and night crawlers. Blue gill are nice size in the deeper waters and crickets, Red worms and wax worms are working well. The Grand River between Moores and Dimondale the catfish and walleye fishing is good. Big Flathead catfish can be had north of Lansing. Lake Ovid is producing keeper size catfish on live bait and chicken livers. Park Lake is providing a smorgasbord of fish giving up a bass, crappie, catfish and pike.

Wamplers Lake in Brooklyn and Sand Lake in Irish Hills both are providing nice numbers of walleye on leeches. Blue gill are off the beds and in approximately 15-feet of water with crickets working well at this point. Bass action is good on the majority of inland lakes in the area during the evening hours and using top water baits.

Information providers: Jake’s outdoors-Mt. Pleasant; Knutson’s Live Bait-Brooklyn and Grand River Bait and Tackle-Lansing.

Southeast:

Off of the Fair Haven area the bass are just about everywhere and anglers are finding good results using golden shiners and spinners. Walleye activity is good around Decker’s Landing and around Marine City. Grass Island is producing nice numbers of perch near the Baltimore cut. Walleye action is good off of Algonac in the Middle and South Channels and a lot of bass are being caught in Lake St. Clair.

Anglers fishing around the Harrison and Metro Beach area are doing well for perch out at the St. Clair Light and near Buoy 27. Walleye are in the same line. Crappie action is good behind Metro beach and walleye great behind Gino’s. Small mouth bass are hitting in Lake St. Clair. Musky action is good using trolling baits, jointed body baits or Buck Tail Spinners.

Windy weather slowed up fishing in the past few days, but conditions are improving off of the Ecorse, River Rouge and Melvindale areas where walleye fishing is decent on the Detroit River. Shore fishing is good off Delray and Belanger parks. Bottom bouncers and harnesses are working well. Hand lining is working but drifting seems to be better.

In the downriver area, thunderstorm threats and high winds kept many anglers off the waters the last few days in the Trenton, Riverview, Wyandotte and Grosse Ile areas. Anglers getting out are getting some fish in various locations. Try the Livingston Channel starting near Turtle Bay and work your way up the shoreline towards the Hole-in-the-wall and lots of fish can be had, including walleye in 25-30 feet. Night crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers are working well. Perch fishing is good all over and perch rigs, minnows and Emerald Shiners are doing the job. South of Celeron has good perch fishing as well as near the shipping channels and Rat Island. Small mouth bass are biting on tubes drifting bobbers and leeches. The Silver bass are gone in the Detroit River but now anglers are dealing with plenty of weeds that have moved in. Walleye activity is decent hand lining from the lower Trenton Channel to the mouth of Lake Erie but the white perch fishing is actually better at this point. The Amherstburg Channel is also good for jigging walleye. The Huron River near Rock Wood is giving up lots of small and large mouth bass catches.

Off of the Monroe area just north of the Fermi Plant plenty of fish are active in 20-22 feet of water particularly near the Bell Buoy. Weeds, murky waters and plenty of Mayflies are making trolling difficult. Off of the River Raisin fish are active just outside of the muddy water in 18-23 feet. Crawler harnesses are working well and trolling less than 1.5 mph. Anglers are getting results using one ounce in-line weights about 25-35 feet behind planer boards. Purple is a popular color. Stoney Point and Brest Bay producing an abundance of fish on crank baits and spoons in 18-20 feet of water. Anglers are getting results fishing half way down the water column. Walleye activity is also good off the Banana Dyke in 15-feet of water. The average size fish is ranging from 16 to 22 inches long, many undersized. Luna Pier is giving up nice numbers of perch. Worms and minnows are working well on perch and trolling is working better than drifting.

Out on Lake Erie walleye fishing is good in the shipping channels, near the Detroit Light, Sputnik and E-Buoys. Perch action is good off the E-Buoy, C-Can, Toledo Beach, in 21-feet of water around Holiday Beach, near Colchester and off all of the Islands. Ohio waters continue to produce fish three to five miles northwest of West sister Island and just east of Buoy 1 in the Toledo Shipping channel. Spoons and crawler harnesses are both working well.

Again this week anglers are doing very well on both Belleville and Ford lakes for good numbers of walleye using Fathead minnows, wax worms and night crawlers. Blue gill action is also good on both lakes and the Huron River particularly near Le Forge Road and Huron River Drive where the old Crown Vantage Paper Mill use to stand in Ypsilanti.

Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fairhaven; WalleyeKid.com; Lance Valentine’s Walleye 101; Mackie’s Bait & Tackle-Algonac; Pro-Fishing & Archery-Harrison Township; South Street Tackle-Belleville; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rock Wood; Erie Party Shop-Monroe; Andy’s Tackle Box-Melvindale; Gander Mountain-Taylor and The Bait & Tackle Box-Trenton.

Western Basin
 
Walleye fishing was slow in the western basin during the week of June 22.  The best fishing has been five to 10 miles E of Kelleys Island shoal up to the Canadian border.  Farther west the best fishing has been between West Sister Island, the turnaround buoy of the Toledo shipping channel and the gravel pit.  Drifters are using bottom bouncers with worm harnesses or are casting mayfly rigs.  Trollers were catching fish on worm harnesses fished with inline weights or bottom bouncers, and also on spoons fished with dipsy divers or jet divers.
 
Yellow perch fishing has been best around Green Island and between Kelleys Island and Marblehead.  Perch spreaders or crappie rigs with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Some rivers in the Lower Peninsula are running high and fast. Catch rates will improve once the waters clear up. Warmer weather has improved fishing conditions so more anglers are out.

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie - Has fair walleye fishing. Even though recent storms have left the lake muddy once again, the walleyes are coming in closer to shore because the Mayfly hatch is in full swing. Anglers have caught fish in 18 to 20 feet of water when using crawlers and spoons. Perch fishing remains fair with most fish caught just off the River Raisin or Stoney Point. Good numbers of white perch were caught. Catfish were caught off Pte. Mouillee. Crawlers and shrimp were the best bait.

Huron River - Water levels are up but the river was fishable. Anglers are catching fair to good numbers of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and pike.

Detroit River - Perch have been caught around Celeron Island and Sugar Island when using minnows along the weed beds. A few walleye were caught in the lower river near the mouth.

Lexington - Lake trout, coho, chinook and a few walleye were caught when trolling in 30 to 80 feet of water. Pier anglers did well catching a mix of bluegills, rock bass, bluegills, crappie, smallmouth bass and small perch.

Harbor Beach - Steelhead action is good in waters up to 110 feet deep. Try trolling bright colored spoons about 100 feet behind the offshore boards. Some nice lake trout were caught in 80 to 110 feet of water using spoons or Dodgers with spin and glows fishing close to the bottom. Try gold, green camo, and orange. Salmon fishing is slow but some were caught. For walleye, try casting spoons and body baits or trolling Hot-n-Tots or crawler harnesses in 20 to 50 feet of water. Bass fishing is the best it has been in a long time with good numbers caught around the weed beds inside the harbor. For perch, try closer to shore with minnows.

Port Austin - Boat anglers out trolling for walleye have caught whitefish on a crawler harness. Perch anglers are just getting started but they are not catching a lot of fish. Most are drifting in 20 feet of water until they find fish, then drop anchor.

Saginaw Bay - Walleye were caught in 5 to 7 feet of water on the Callahan Reef, 4 feet off Linwood, 10 feet off the Kawkawlin River and 7 to 17 feet in the Slot off Sebewaing and Bay Port. Try the weed beds south of the tower on Sand Point. Good catches of channel cats in 3 to 4 feet of water off Sebewaing. Caseville anglers are taking their boats to Sebewaing or Bay Port.

Saginaw River - Shore anglers are taking walleye in the lower river between Smith Park and Essexville. Smallmouth bass and rock bass were caught.

Southwest Lower Peninsula

Small trout streams are fishable. The medium to large warmwater streams are not wadable but boat anglers might be able to fish. Anglers should check local conditions before traveling. Inland lakes are good for panfish and pike.

St. Joe - Pier anglers fishing on the river side were taking good numbers of freshwater drum when using live bait.

Kalamazoo River - Water levels were up but fish were caught, especially carp and smallmouth bass.

Grand Haven - Boat anglers have caught some trout and salmon about 40 to 70 feet down in waters 120 to 150 feet deep. Blue has been a good color. Pier anglers were catching freshwater drum and catfish.

Grand River at Grand Rapids - Water levels are high and muddy. Fish near the dam for catfish. Fish the weeds in shallow waters for bass and pike.

Grand River at Lansing - Is high and muddy but good numbers of carp and catfish have been caught below the Moore’s Park Dam and the North Lansing Dam.

Looking Glass River - Has high water levels.

Lake Ovid - Continues to produce some good catfish action.

Morrison Lake - Has been good for crappie and bluegills.

Muskegon - Boat anglers are fishing in the top half of waters 120 to 150 feet deep. Few fish were caught and many were small.

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Mullett Lake - The weather and the fishing have improved. Anglers trolling for walleye have been using a crawler harness with leeches or crawlers, crank baits or Hot-n-Tots. Anglers are taking good catches of perch, pike, bass and even some rainbow trout.

Rogers City - Lake trout action slowed however fish can still be found in 35 to 70 feet of water off Adams Point, Seagull Point, and the State Park. Chinook, steelhead and atlantic salmon were caught between Seagull Point and Forty Mile Point when fishing the top half of waters 45 to 90 feet deep.

Presque Isle - Lots of small lake trout caught off Big Lighthouse Point.

Rockport - Catch rates were slow except for a few lake trout taken around the Middle Island. Chinook and coho were taken around the wreck on daredevils. The wreck is about ten miles south of the Rockport launch.

Alpena - Walleye have been caught on the reefs and along the north shore near the Cement Plant. Blue and orange were hot colors. Pike and walleye were caught by shore anglers behind the Yacht Club when using spinner baits.

Thunder Bay River - The bite has been slow due to the fly hatch. A few pike were caught down near the mouth. Those trolling for walleye caught smallmouth bass.

Harrisville - Fishing is steady with lake trout the main catch along with a few salmon or walleye. Lake trout are moving out deeper to waters 70 to 90 feet deep and the walleye are in 20 to 30 feet of water.

Higgins Lake - Perch have been caught in 40 feet of water and rock bass can be found in 25 to 40 feet of water.

Houghton Lake - Bluegills are finally on the beds. Anglers are catching walleye, pike and bass in 4 to 8 feet of water near the weed beds and along the drop-offs.

Oscoda - Catch rates for trout and salmon have slowed however boats are still venturing out and fishing 60 to 80 feet down in waters up to 100 feet deep. Silver and green are productive for both the salmon and lake trout.

Au Sable River - Walleye were slow but still caught on crawlers and body baits.

Tawas - Most boat anglers are still towing their rigs down to Au Gres where walleye fishing was red-hot. Pier anglers caught walleye, smallmouth bass and rock bass.

Tawas River - Shore anglers have caught the occasional walleye, smallmouth bass, rock bass or channel cat.

Au Gres - Walleye fishing here continues to be spectacular with all boats bringing in some fish and some boats bringing in limit catches. Trollers are going straight off the river and fishing in 35 to 40 feet of water. Most of the fish are hitting on crawler harnesses but a few were taken on spoons or crank baits.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Petoskey - Lake trout have been caught in 80 feet of water. The fish have been suspended and can be found in the lower 20 feet.

Bear River - Dock and shore anglers are catching a variety of fish.

Charlevoix - Lake trout and a few chinook salmon have been caught. Smallmouth bass were on the beds in Little Traverse Bay.

Lake Charlevoix - Perch have been showing up in shallow waters. Walleye anglers did well on cloudy days or at night when trolling minnow baits.

Lake Bellaire - Walleye pressure remains steady with anglers catching fish ranging from 14 to 18 inches. Early morning and evening were best when trolling near the Grass River, drop-offs on the north end of the lake or between the Narrows and Eckertly Road. Try a crawler harness, jig and leech, or rapalas in 10 to 50 feet of water. For bass, try casting spinners, tube baits, stick baits or crawlers in 3 to 31 feet of water along the west side of the lake. Perch were caught in 4 to 15 feet of water in the northwest arm and near the Intermediate River. Rock bass are hitting on crawlers in 3 to 5 feet of water.

Traverse City - In the East Bay, smallmouth can be found in the shallows and are hitting on plastic baits. The southern portions of the bay have received a good deal of angler pressure so the fish are easily spooked. In the West Bay, smallmouth are starting to show up on the beds.

Elk River - Smallmouth bass and freshwater drum are hitting on crawlers or leeches.

Boardman River - Bass fishing is starting to heat up with good action in the morning near the mouth and steady action throughout the day just below the Union Street Dam when using leeches, crawlers or plastic baits.

Lake Leelanau - Bluegills are finally on their beds and bass fishing has picked up. Look for pike along the weed beds in shallow waters. Anglers are catching walleye and this is a good time of year to catch rock bass.

Leland - Afternoons were slow but the early mornings are producing some good catches of chinook in 90 to 100 feet of water on the north and northwest sides of South Manitou Island. Lake trout seem to be scattered now that the warm weather is finally here. A few fish were picked up in 50 to 70 feet of water. A couple steelhead have also been caught. The boat launch is open but parking is limited.

Glen Arbor - Fishing has picked up with some nice chinook over ten pounds caught in the early morning. Locations vary from Canners Point to the southwest side of South Manitou Island.

Platte Bay - Salmon fishing was slow in both bays but those fishing near the mouth of the Platte River were catching some nice smallmouth bass, carp and suckers.

Frankfort - Chinook and lake trout were caught 40 to 90 feet down in 100 to 310 feet of water along the Shelf. Fishing was slow down near the Herring Hole but a few fish were caught by those trolling around the piers. Good lures have been spoons such as the Angry Gnome, Monkey Puke, the Blue Dolphin or chrome plugs.

Arcadia - A few chinook were caught 40 to 140 feet down in waters 100 to 400 feet deep as the fish are scattered. Green spoons were the ticket.

Onekama - Reported decent catches of chinook caught 35 to 60 feet down in 80 to 180 feet of water up near the Barrel. Most are trolling orange, green, yellow or red spoons. Early mornings produced the most fish.

Portage Lake - Has good bass fishing near the sailboats and the channel. Those trolling are picking up a mix of small walleye and pike. Lots of small perch, rock bass and some crappie have been caught in 15 to 22 feet of water. The panfish bite is still slow, but the Mayfly hatch is done so look for catch rates to improve.

Lake Cadillac - Anglers were catching good numbers of crappie and a few pike.

Manistee - Salmon and trout are being caught along the Shelf in the early morning. Try 40 to 80 feet down with green or blue spoons. Those venturing out to deeper waters have caught smaller chinook and some steelhead on the temperature breaks.

Manistee River - The Hex hatch should be going this week on the upper river.

Ludington - Boats fishing between the Bathhouse and Sable Point have found trout and salmon in 100 to 180 feet of water. Try green or blue spoons with green flies. A few fish were still hanging around the harbor.

Pere Marquette River - Those looking to go fly fishing will want to check out the river because the Hex hatch should be going on here as well.

UPPER PENINSULA

Copper Harbor - Splake fishing has slowed but fish were still caught around the docks in the harbor with live bait or stick baits.

Eagle Harbor - Is producing a mixed bag of lake trout, steelhead and splake when trolling in 75 to 120 feet of water.

Lac La Belle - In Keweenaw County has good smallmouth bass action for those casting artificial crawlers. The walleye and crappie bite was slow.

Keweenaw Bay - Anglers trolling for salmon caught some limits between Sand Point and Carla’s Restaurant. Try spoons just off the bottom in 30 to 80 feet of water. Good lake trout action in Traverse Bay when trolling spoons in 130 to 150 feet of water. Good colors were green and brass. Some are jigging in 220 to 240 feet of water near Big Louie’s.

Marquette - Surface water temperatures are ranging from 48 to 51 degrees. Lake trout action has been fair to good off the White Rocks and Shot Point in 140 to 180 feet of water. A few coho were caught but no reports of any chinook. Catch rates were moderate around Stannard Rock when jigging cut bait in the morning.

Menominee - Walleye here are out deeper in waters 25 to 30 feet deep. Anglers are trolling both in the Michigan and Wisconsin waters. Strong winds have stopped anglers from fishing near Green Island. Up near the Cedar River, walleye fishing slowed from where it was but a few were still caught when trolling in 7 to 10 feet of water both north and south of the river. The fish caught had alewife in their bellies. Boats trolling for chinook have marked fish however none were caught.

Menominee River - Those fishing from the mouth upstream to the first dam have caught good numbers of catfish and freshwater drum. A lot of small walleye are in the river but a few bigger ones were caught when trolling a crawler harness or jigging with crawlers. Smallmouth and rock bass were also caught. A couple muskie were caught by those trolling the deeper holes with large spoons.

Cedar River - Those fishing from the mouth to the first rapids were mainly catching smallmouth bass and most were sub-legal. A few channel cats were caught.

Little Bay De Noc - Walleye catches were still down in the upper parts of the Bay but getting better south of the Ford River. Those trolling at night near the Second Reef caught fish, but the better fishing was the area around the “Fingers” when trolling crank baits and crawler harnesses in 14 to 38 feet of water. Smallmouth bass were caught near the Ford River, Garth Point and the Terrace Inn. Most were casting crank baits or tube baits in 4 to 8 feet of water.

Big Bay De Noc - Fish are starting to become more active and walleye anglers are catching them from the “Boot” south to Ansell’s Point. They are trolling or drifting crawlers in 14 to 30 feet of water. Good smallmouth action around the Bay when casting crank baits and jigs along the weeds. At Fairport, the better fishing has been in the evening when trolling artificial cut bait about 85 feet down in waters 125 feet deep. They have caught chinook and steelhead.

Au Train - Has fair lake trout fishing in 70 to 300 feet of water, as the fish seem to be scattered. A few lucky anglers did manage to catch their limit.

Munising - Limits of lake trout have been caught but it appears the salmon have headed out to deeper waters.

Grand Marais - Catch rates for whitefish were sporadic with a few caught in the early morning and at night. Lake trout action was good with limit catches reported.

St. Mary’s River - Those fishing upstream have caught walleye at the Bell Buoy when trolling. Good walleye fishing in the lower river on the north side of Lime Island and near Round Island. Most are trolling bottom bouncers with a 28 inch crawler harness in 8 to 12 feet of water.

Munuscong Bay - Walleye are in the Bay, upstream in the channel and south of the launch in Raber Bay. Try crawler harnesses in black, purple, silver and orange.

De Tour - Water temperatures are improving and so are catch rates. Lake trout and the occasional chinook or atlantic salmon have been caught just off the bottom.

Drummond Island - Slow walleye action in Scott Bay and Maxton Bay but a few walleye were caught on the northwest side of Peck Island when trolling bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses in 8 to 14 feet of water. Northern pike are hitting blue and chrome crank baits in and around James Island.

Cedarville and Hessel - Has excellent pike fishing. The water has begun to warm and the pike are hitting on stick baits in 5 to 12 feet of water. Perch and smallmouth bass are hitting in limited numbers. The fish are scattered throughout Cedarville Bay, Moscoe Channel and the east end of Hessel Bay. Herring are in McKay Bay in 10 to 15 feet of water. Anglers are using flies or wax worms.

St. Ignace - Anglers are trolling between the old fuel tanks and the Coast Guard Station for chinook or the backside of Bois Blanc Island for lake trout. When fishing around the island, use caution and watch for nets.

It’s hot outside and the bite is hot in several locations. Before heading to your fishing destination, visit www.AAATraffic.com for the latest traffic, construction, weather and road conditions that may affect your route.

Upper Peninsula:

Anglers fishing L’Anse and Keweenaw Bay’s are finding good numbers of walleye using jigs and crawler harnesses in 5-15 feet of water. Pan fish are on beds and the numbers are nice, while the salmon activity is rated fair. Lake Superior is producing good quantities of lake trout.

Anglers fishing in Escanaba are finding best results jigging outside of the weeds for some fair walleye action. Overall walleye seems to be spotty. Salmon is very slow at this point.

In the Manistique area it seems as if once the warm weather rolled in the fishing slowed down on Indian Lake where only a few perch and walleye are biting. Lake Michigan is rated fair to good for salmon action and the bass fishing is very good.

Sault Ste. Marie anglers are catching a few fish, but overall no great action taking place. Higher water levels are allowing anglers to fish in some areas that were too shallow in previous years however.

Very good walleye fishing is taking place once again this week for anglers on Gogomain River and Munuscong Lake. Crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers are working well.

A mayfly hatch around Drummond Island has slowed the walleye fishing. Fair angling action for bass and pike on Scott and Maxton Bay’s while fair to good fishing for Atlantic salmon can be found near the lighthouse southwest of the Island.

Fair walleye fishing is taking place for St. Ignace anglers on Brevort Lake and the same story for anglers fishing St. Martin’s Bay, only fair counts of salmon biting.

Information Providers: Johnson’s Sports-Drummond Island; Bay View Bait & Tackle-Escanaba; Top O’ Lake Sport-Manistique; Hank’s Sporting-Sault Ste. Marie; Wilderness Treasurers-Munuscong Bay; ACE Hardware-St. Ignace and Indian Country Sports-L’Anse.

Northwest:

Douglas Lake around the Alanson area is producing great numbers of pike and bass. Anglers are using crawlers with good success.

Traverse City anglers are finding good walleye fishing on Long Lake for walleye but sorting is necessary. Fair to good action is taking place for perch and blue gill are on their beds and the fishing is good. On Little Traverse Bay and Grand Traverse Bay the whitefish and trout action is rated fair.

Off of Frankfort charter boats are reeling in some very large fish from Lake Michigan. Crystal Lake is producing good numbers of bass, rock bass and pan fish. Platte Lake is giving up good counts of walleye, bass and pan fish. Most area streams and rivers are producing good quantities of Rainbow trout as well as Brown trout.

Good blue gill and bass fishing on the majority of inland lakes around Kalkaska. Trout activity seems to be scattered.

Great fishing in Gaylord with the Manistee, Sturgeon and Au Sable rivers producing nice trout fishing especially around 7 a.m. and 2 a.m. Brown Drake hatch taking place now. Otsego Lake anglers are doing well for walleye, bass and pan fish trolling, bobber fishing and when using Rapalas.

Good activity in Cadillac where blue gill and sunfish are on their beds in the shallows of Mitchell Lake. Cadillac Lake is producing good crappie counts in 4-10 feet of water. Overall, both lakes are providing very good fishing for large size Rock Bass, pike, bass, crappie, blue gill and sunfish. Walleye action is only rated fair.

Information providers: Gander Mountain-Traverse City; Backcast Fly Shop-Frankfort; Alphorn-Gaylord; Jack’s Sports-Kalkaska; Pilgrim’s Village-Cadillac and Young’s Bait Shop-Alanson.

West:

Lake Michigan off of the Ludington area is producing good salmon fishing in 100-120 feet of water. Blue Dolphin and Wonder Bread spoons are hot. All area inland lakes are producing good fishing with good bites on blue gill, bass, pike and crappie.

Good angling taking place all around the Baldwin area. Howes and Big Bass lakes are producing good blue gill numbers on wax worms, wigglers, crickets and Hula Poppers. Big Bass Lake is also giving up good counts of perch on minnows. Anglers are pulling in good numbers of small mouth bass in the 5-6 pound range consistently and Jitterbugs and Hula Poppers are popular. The Pere Marquette, Manistee and Muskegon rivers are providing nice trout action for fly fishing in the early morning and late evening hours.

On Muskegon Lake the blue gill are bedding and the bass are in the channels. Lake Michigan is producing plentiful perch in 30-feet of water. Salmon are biting all over and in all depths and the activity is rated fair.

Good fishing is taking place out on Chippewa Lake where Yellow Spiders are working well on good numbers of pike and blue gill. Blue gill are bedding.

Information providers: Wolf Lake Resort & ATV Rental-Baldwin; King Sports-Baldwin; East Bay General Store-Chippewa Lake; Shoreline Bait & Tackle-Muskegon and P.M. Sports-Ludington.

Southwest:

Very good fishing is available around the Benton Harbor area where perch are hitting on minnows in 25-30 feet of water. Lake trout activity is very good but the salmon action has slowed. Off of the pier a few steelhead are still hitting and decent numbers of catfish and small mouth bass are biting.

Great perch fishing continues around the New Buffalo area in 16-20 feet of water particularly near the Pumping Station with anglers using minnows. The fish are a variety of sizes ranging from small to large. In the river the catfish and Rock bass are hitting on night crawlers in good numbers.

In Three Rivers, the fishing is very good on all inland lakes surrounding the area for blue gill, bass and crappie. Crickets are the hot bait but Red Wigglers and wax worms are working too.

Information providers: Tackle Haven-Benton Harbor and Captain Cook’s-New Buffalo.

Northeast:

Alpena anglers are finding good luck out on Hubbard and Long Lake for fair to good catches of walleye and bass. Crawler harnesses and leeches are working well. Thunder Bay River is giving up fair amounts of walleye on crawler harnesses and Rapalas.

Near Grayling Big Bear Lake is great for lake trout and thanks to the Hex hatch should be good for the next week or so. The Au Sable and Manistee rivers are both producing nice numbers of trout and the Hex hatch is helping anglers there as well. Frog, Section 1, Bradford and Blue gill lakes are all producing fair amounts of blue gill within the shallow waters. Manistee Lake has some nice crappie fishing taking place and Bear Lake is fair for bass and trout. Anglers on Lake Margrethe are pulling in some nice numbers of blue gill while the walleye activity has slowed because of the Hex hatch.

Overall great fishing is taking place around the Oscoda area. Cooke and Foote Dam ponds are producing good numbers of pike, perch, blue gill and bass. Anglers fishing in 150-feet of water and about two miles out on Lake Huron are getting good results with salmon. Perch, walleye, steelhead and sucker fishing is good on the Au Sable River. Van Etten Lake has some nice numbers for perch and pike.

Anglers fishing Houghton Lake are pulling in good numbers of walleye and bass, fair counts of pike and blue gill action is good with fish on their beds.

Nice fishing on Higgins Lake for small mouth bass, Rock bass using crawlers. Minnows are working well in 50-feet of water for perch and big Swedish Pimples are doing the trick on nice numbers of lake trout.

Average summer fishing overall is taking place throughout the Au Gres area. However, very good walleye action can be found in the Bay area.

Information providers: Clem’s-Alpena; Skips-Grayling; Lyman’s-Houghton Lake; Sports Barn-Higgins Lake; Wright’s Sport Shop-Au Gres and The Dam Store-Oscoda.

East:

Off of Standish walleye action is good in 25-27 feet of water and best results are found using crawlers, harnesses and spoons.

Saginaw Bay, the fish are hitting off of Linwood in deeper waters around 20-24 feet on crawler harnesses and Hot-N-Tots. Take part in the Scottish Rite 1st Annual Walleye Tournament at Linwood Beach Marina. Anglers need to be registered prior to 6:30 a.m., call 989-832-3360 for details.

Near Bay City the walleye fishing is phenomenal everywhere from Oakhurst to Au Gres. Water depths range from 3-20 feet. Crawler harnesses are popular as well as Hot-N-Tots for deeper waters. Catfish and Gar pike are hitting on crawlers, dough balls or dried shrimp around Finn Road.

Callahan Reef is a hot spot for limits of fish on Saginaw Bay. Try using quarter or half ounce in-line weights and crawler harnesses trolled 10 to 20 feet behind planer boards. Anglers are doing best in 7-9 feet of water using gold blades with chartreuse beads. Mid-day seems to be most productive and trolling at low speeds less than 1.3 mph.

A few larger fish are hitting in 5-6 feet of water. Hot weather has heated up the walleye fishing and Bay Port anglers are heading straight out to fish around North Island and using crawlers with very good results.

Anglers fishing in Port Austin are finding that the walleye are moving in and some good fishing is taking place for King and Coho salmon.

Kings, Coho and lake trout are abundant near Harbor Beach. Anglers are doing well on Lake Huron fishing in waters 80-110 feet with a variety of spoons. Bass are active in 12-feet of water on leeches, while walleye are found in 45-feet. Perch action is good fishing 18-25 feet and using minnows.

Perch are starting to move in to Port Sanilac and around Lexington in good numbers.

An overload of walleye has anglers limiting out quickly in Port Huron. Anglers drifting the river are finding walleye three deep with crawler harnesses working well. Out on Lake Huron anglers are whipping and hand lining with good results. Shore fishing is very good for walleye and even an occasional Brown trout, Coho and steelhead. Thanks to the silver bass, they brought a lot of fish to the area.

The mouth of the Black River is loaded with silver bass and minnows on crappie rigs on the bottom are working well. The Black River has small mouth bass and pike everywhere and hitting just about everything.

Mill Creek is good for small mouth bass. All of the ponds in the area are giving up plenty of bass on spinners and even a few pike. Anglers will have to deal with plenty of weeds though.

Information providers: Frank’s Place-Harbor Beach; 1st & Main-Bay Port; Michigan Sportsman-Bay City; Eagle Bay Marina-Standish; Anderson’s Pro Bait-Port Huron and Frank’s Great Outdoors-Linwood.

Central:

Mount Pleasant anglers are doing well for pan fish and walleye near the Hubsher Gravel Pit when using crawler harnesses and leeches. Overall, most ponds feeding from the Chippewa River are producing great numbers of Blue gill.

Lansing anglers are doing well on a variety of fish. Catfish are hitting near Sleepy Hollow State Park and near Moores Park during the mid-day. Carp and catfish action is hit or miss on the Grand River. Try casting close to shore so that you stay out of the heavy current. Chicken liver, small blue gill, stink baits and corn all work fairly well. As the water levels recede the pan fish are returning and the weekend should be terrific. Near the Lansing Dam red worms under a bobber are working well on Rock bass. Walleye, pike and crappie are hitting at the south end of the river near Waverly Road.

Near the Brooklyn area, Sand and Clark lakes are producing a few walleye off the bottom with leeches. Good blue gill action as fish move towards waters 14 feet deep. Anglers are doing well fishing 7-8 feet down with crickets.

Information providers: Jake’s outdoors-Mt. Pleasant; Knutson’s Live Bait-Brooklyn and Grand River Bait and Tackle-Lansing.

Southeast:

Fairhaven anglers are doing well out near the shipping channel near Buoy 28 for perch on minnows. Perch action also good northeast of Grass Island around the cut, 10-feet out in front of Selfridge and in the reeds on Goose Bay. Walleye are hanging in the river and good action is taking place from Marine City to Algonac using crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers.

Off of the Harrison area bass and blue gill are being caught around Gino’s Surf and the 400 Club in 8-12 feet of water. Bass are active near Masonic Boulevard in eight feet of water. Out in the shipping channels near Buoy 26 and around the St. Clair Light the perch and walleye are hitting in 18-feet of water.

The Detroit River between Melvindale and the Ambassador Bridge seems to be turning back on for walleye. Could be that since the silver bass have slowed tremendously the walleye are just easier to catch. Near the Ambassador Bridge on the Canadian side hand liners are doing well at night typically getting limits. Anglers fishing around Fighting Island are pulling in decent size walleye on crawler harnesses generally getting limits.

Perch fishing on the Detroit River is decent north of Grassy Island and on the north side of Grosse Ile, the south side of Sugar Island, around the Cross-Dyke and south of Celeron. Shiner minnows on perch rigs work well. Lots of yellow perch caught at the mouth of the Detroit River and ranging 12-15 inches. The Trenton Channel is slow for walleye but the fish are moving back in and up the river and anglers are trolling with spoons, hand lining and averaging 6-10 fish per boat. Walleye that are in the river are larger this time around. A Mayfly hatch seems to have triggered the fish to eat. The Detroit River is slow for bass and the fish are small.

Anglers fishing Lake Erie and out by the Detroit Light and Buoy 10 are pulling in a few good size walleye on minnows and some perch are biting on shiner minnows on perch rigs.

Off of Rock Wood shore fishing is good for catfish on shrimp and crawlers, while bass are hitting in good numbers on spinner bait. The Huron River is producing a few bass and some catfish near the mouth of the river.

Near Monroe Lake Erie is producing nice numbers of perch near Toledo Beach, Sputnik and E-Buoys, off the Banana Dyke, near the Dumping Grounds and around Luna Pier. Walleye activity is good at Stoney Point, Estral Beach and out in front and north of Fermi in 13-20 feet of water using crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers with purple and pink the best producers. Anglers also are using whites and blades with some gold in them and Erie Deeries. Weeds are a problem pretty much all along the shoreline. Mayfly hatch is heavy in several areas.

Out deeper anglers are getting walleye in 24-30 feet of water near the shipping channels, near the Michigan and Ohio line. Walleye are on fire near Middle Sister Island, northwest of West Sister Island, east of Buoy 1 in the Toledo shipping channel and near Holiday Beach and Colchester. Crawler harnesses, spoons and Hot-N-Tots are all working well.

Belleville and Ford lakes are producing nice numbers on a variety of fish including walleye, bass, crappie and blue gill. The bass bite is particularly good. Four Mile Lake near Chelsea has great fishing. The Huron River near the paper mill is great for bass and walleye fishing. Several baits are working well including Golden Shiners 2 ½ inches long, pan fish worms, night crawlers, wax worms and leeches.

Information providers: Bluewater Bait-Fairhaven; Lakeside Fishing Shop-St. Clair Shores; Pro-Fishing & Archery-Harrison Township; South Street Tackle-Belleville; Bottom Line Bait & Tackle-Rock Wood; Erie Party Shop-Monroe; Andy’s Tackle Box-Melvindale;WalleyeKid.com-Canton; Gander Mountain-Taylor; The Bait & Tackle Box-Trenton and Lance Valentine’s Walleye 101.

www.autoclubgroup.com/michigan