Opening weekend followed tradition as it was wet in most areas. Extensive rainfall has many rivers flooded. It could take a minimum of seven to ten days for the watersheds to return to near normal conditions. Avoid standing near the edge of riverbanks because the ground is saturated and could pull away at anytime. Anglers hard-bitten by the fishing bug are encouraged to try inland lakes that are not connected to any river systems, because they were least affected by recent rains. Southeast Lower Peninsula Lake Erie – Bad weather has kept anglers on shore. When they can get out, anglers were still finding fair catches of walleye near the Dumping Grounds between Bolles Harbor and Luna Pier. Most were jigging in 8 to 12 feet of water however water clarity has been poor due to runoff after the storms. Good numbers of catfish have been caught in the Hot Ponds off Bolles Harbor. The catch and immediate release bass season was off to a good start with good numbers of fish caught in the marinas. Huron River – High water levels have bought the white bass in and anglers are catching their limits on minnows or jigs with tails. Good numbers of walleye were caught on minnow wraps or flies. Detroit River – Walleye are stacked up in the river. Anglers are doing well along the entire river when jigging or trolling. Humbug Marina off Gibraltar was a local hot spot. Good walleye action on the Canadian side. St. Clair River – Has good walleye fishing along the entire river. Hot spots were Marine City and the Middle Grounds. Look for steelhead and salmon off the mouth of the Black River. Lexington – Possibly the better fishing for Great Lakes anglers will be off the Thumb ports where good catches of coho, chinook and even some walleye were taken on downriggers with long lines in 10 to 25 feet of water. Try spoons or body baits. Port Sanilac – The better catch rates were north and south of the port when trolling. Harbor Beach – Should start producing chinook, coho and walleye. Saginaw Bay – Angler will want to seek out areas of clear water far away from river mouths, or fish along the line where clear and muddy waters converge. Walleye were hitting good on crawler harnesses fished off planer boards. Saginaw River – Had a good walleye opener but the river is now flooded. It will take a week or more for the Saginaw River watershed to recede enough for anglers to start fishing again. Tittabawassee River – The walleye opener was absolutely incredible, by all reports….for Saturday only. Central Michigan received a lot of rain and the river is not fishable at this time. Southwest Lower Peninsula St. Joe – Boats trolling in the channel caught brown trout and coho. St. Joe River – Is high and muddy. There were reports of steelhead at Berrien Springs, Buchanan, Niles and Mishawaka. Look for pike and crappie in the backwaters. Grand Haven – A brown trout was caught off the north pier when using spawn. Perch are still biting south of the pier in the 60 foot hole. Minnows, wigglers, spikes, and mousies are all working. The fish were a little smaller than last week. Grand River at Grand Rapids – The walleye opener was a good one however the river is high and muddy at this time. Those looking to wade should wait until the water levels come back down. Grand River at Lansing – Is running high and fast so use caution. The steelhead fishing is pretty much done but the pike and walleye action has been good over at Moore’s Park Dam. Carp were also caught. The Portland and Lyons area have also been good for pike and walleye. Chartreuse would be a good color to use with the muddy water. Looking Glass River – Is not fishable due to high water levels. Maple River – Is not fishable due to high water levels. Muskegon – Pier anglers were catching fish but the boat anglers were not able to get out due to storms and strong winds. Muskegon Lake – Perch were still being caught however anglers may need to move around to locate a school of fish. Muskegon River – Anglers were catching steelhead and suckers before the water levels went up. Northeast Lower Peninsula Rogers City – Fishing was slow however recent rains have brought the rivers up and the run-off will help warm up the shoreline waters. Boats trolling for salmon and brown trout had little luck, the waters are too cold. With a warm up, look for fish in Calcite Harbor or Swan Bay. Those fishing off the breakwall had limited results when casting spoons in chartreuse, blue and silver, green and silver or fire-tiger. Alpena – Boats are trolling just off the mouth of the river for walleye and brown trout. Thunder Bay River – Anglers are catching steelhead, walleye and suckers. Steelhead and walleye can be found up near the dam and suckers are throughout. Harrisville – Anglers fishing both sides of the wall were catching walleye. Boats out trolling picked up some fish on body baits. Good colors were fire-tiger, blue and silver or red and silver. Steelhead and brown trout were scarce. Lake trout were also caught but the season does not open until May 1st. Higgins Lake – Perch have been caught on minnows and wigglers. Boats trolling cowbells just off the bottom in 80 feet of water have caught some lake trout. Houghton Lake – Opening weekend was wet however anglers did manage to catch fish. Boats trolling in shallow waters 6 to 8 feet deep found walleye and northern pike. Bluegills and crappie can still be found in the canals. Oscoda – Walleye fishing picked up and the fish were most active from the early afternoon until well after dark. Pier anglers were using crawlers or body baits. Atlantic salmon and brown trout were also caught. Au Sable River – Steelhead have been seen all the way up to the dam. Tawas – Walleye action was good when trolling planer boards and body baits. Pier anglers caught walleye and brown trout. Au Gres – Good walleye fishing off the mouth of the river. Boats are trolling a crawler harness or vertical jigging. Au Gres River – Steelhead are still in the river. Anglers are surfcasting with spawn or small spoons near the Singing Bridge. Walleye have been caught at night. Chippewa River – In Isabella County has high water levels. Northwest Lower Peninsula Petoskey – Bad weather and cold water temperatures made for slow fishing. Bear River – Steelhead anglers caught some fish that came in with the rain. Most were using spawn, wax worms or flies. A few did well but most were disappointed. Lake Charlevoix – Steelhead anglers are working the rivers while perch anglers are targeting the lake. As the waters warm, anglers will be out looking for lake trout in the shallows. Suckers are still running in area streams. Lake Bellaire – Few anglers were out. The boat launch at Fisherman’s Paradise is in and ready for use, however, the construction at the access site is still not finished. For walleye, anglers were drifting jigs with crawlers and leeches or trolling a crawler harness or rapalas between Intermediate River and the Grass River outlet in 10 to 25 feet of water. Some targeted the river but no walleye were caught. Traverse City – Strong winds have hampered fishing efforts. When boats can get out, lake trout were caught in the West Bay when jigging. Boardman River – Steelhead action was slow due to cold water temperatures. Crystal Lake – In Benzie County is producing light numbers of steelhead for those surfcasting in the weeds off Cold Creek. Early morning is best. Platte Bay – Shore anglers using spawn were not catching anything but those trolling near the outlet were taking a few brown trout. Frankfort – Good numbers of brown trout were caught when trolling in the harbor. A few browns were caught between Frankfort and Point Betsie in 8 to 16 feet of water. Pier anglers caught fish when casting small spoons or using spawn. Betsie River – Once the water levels start to drop, target the area between Benzonia and the Homestead Dam for steelhead. Fish will still be in the river. Arcadia – Had fair fishing when there is warm water near shore. Boats trolling spoons around the Herring Hole have caught a few brown trout. Onekama – Pier fishing has been somewhat slow with the windy weather. A few walleye were caught when casting body baits after dark. Portage Lake – Good numbers of perch are still being caught in front of the channel, though a few smaller fish are now mixed in. Try in front of the channel and fish with minnows, wigglers, or wax worms. Pike were caught along the south shoreline. Manistee – Pier anglers targeting brown trout picked up a few fish when there was a nice chop on the water. Boats trolling in the harbor and along the shoreline have caught brown trout on body baits. Perch fishing off the pier has slowed. Manistee River – Steelhead and suckers can still be found however the river is high. Ludington – Pier fishing was slow but those trolling along the shoreline were catching some brown trout. Body baits in fire-tiger and clown patterns have been producing most of the fish. Pere Marquette River – Water levels are high and fast. Once the levels come down, good fishing should continue. UPPER PENINSULA Pilgrim River – Near Chassell, had a smelt run late last week. Anglers were getting their two gallon limit. Keweenaw Bay – Chinook, coho and steelhead have been caught from the Baraga Marina to the head of the Bay when fishing 30 to 55 feet down in waters 40 to 60 feet deep. Coho and steelhead were caught off the pier and when shore fishing near Linden Creek, which is across from the V.F.W. Hall in L’Anse. There were reports of smelt in Linden Creek and at the first bridge next to the Baraga State Park. Fall’s River – Steelhead fishing was fair and there were reports of a smelt run. Marquette – Fishing was slow except for the few fish caught by those trolling in front of the Carp River. The rivers are running high and fast. Menominee – Those trolling and jigging caught some nice walleye in the 18 to 21 inch range. Try a jig and minnow or plug 10 to 12 feet of water. Menominee River – Some nice walleye were seen in the river however catch rates were slow. Most were casting rapalas. There are lots of suckers in the river. Cedar River – Those trolling the shallows just off the mouth have been averaging one fish per boat of either brown trout or splake when using different colored plugs in 7 to 15 feet of water. Little Bay De Noc – The docks are in at Kipling and Ford River. The Rapid River Launch is the only one not installed. The rivers are high and fast. Shore anglers caught brown trout off Sand Point in Escanaba when casting crank baits or spoons in the harbor. Perch anglers are still anticipating the seasonal catches off Saunders Point, but no good reports as of yet. Ford River – Steelhead have been caught 4 to 8 miles upstream. Day’s River – Most anglers are fishing between old US-2 and the Golf Course. Big Bay De Noc – The docks are in Fayette, Garden and Ogontz. Several anglers headed out to Kate’s Bay where the late ice season was good, but few catches were reported. No smelt to report. Au Train – The ice is gone and the boat launch is in. The fishing has been exceptional with nice catches of coho and brown trout when casting or jigging near the mouth of the rivers. Munising – Pier anglers caught coho on spawn sacks or Cleo’s. The docks are in at the Municipal launch and boats are venturing out as the ice finally blew out. Extreme caution needs to be used because of floating ice. Out near Grand Island, boat anglers will need to watch for shelf ice. Boats in Trout Bay seem to be doing better than those trolling around in Munising Bay. Grand Marais – Pier anglers are catching coho. Boat anglers are taking a mix of steelhead, brown trout, coho, chinook and lake trout when fishing in the shallows along the shoreline or in front of the rivers and creeks that empty into Lake Superior. Drummond Island – Yellow perch fishing has been excellent. Limits of perch are being taken off the Bayside dock, the pier and also in Scotts Bay when using a crappie spreader with live minnows. De Tour – Some are fishing Albany Creek for steelhead. Most are using spoons and catch rates were limited. Cedarville and Hessel – Perch fishing has declined, perhaps due to low angler pressure. Splake have been caught off the Hessel Marina pier however the season does not open until May 1st. Carp River – A few anglers are still targeting steelhead. They are fishing spawn near the McDonald rapids.
