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.