Saturday, March 24, 2018

Thursday, March 22, 2018, Michigan DNR Fishing Report



Southeast Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportSouthwest Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportNortheast Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportNorthwest Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportUpper Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportSouthwest Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportSoutheast Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportNortheast Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportNorthwest Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportUpper Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportUpper Peninsula Weekly Fishing Report
Click in the map above to find your weekly fishing report by region.

 Fewer anglers were out because of the cold temperatures and strong winds. Shore anglers will likely encounter ice in the cuts and canals with temperatures dropping down below freezing at night. Warmer temperatures next week should help improve the bite. Anglers are reminded that walleye fishing on the Saginaw River closed on March 15th and will not re-open until Saturday April 28th.
Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Erie: Boat anglers continue to take walleye including some limit catches in 15 to 20 feet in Brest Bay. Most were using husky jerks.

 Report From our friends at Jeffs Bait & Tackle: Most are trolling the coast line of the fermi power plant in 15 to 19 fow about 1 to 1.5mph. Looking for the mudlines and trolling just inside the mudd. They are also just outside of the sterling state park in 15 to 20 feet of water. The colors in the muddy waters are black and dark purple bandits. About 30 to 60 ft back. Bright colors in the cleaner water. White, orange and perch color bandits. A few reports of hair jigging around the river raisin and north of fermi. Black and purple 5/8 to 3/4 oz hairjigs

 Jeff's Bait & Tackle
1756 N. Dixie Hwy
Monroe, Mi. 48162
(734) 289-4901
  • If you're planning on fishing any of the canals near Lake Erie Metro Park or Point Mouillee State Game Area you can get all of your bait & tackle needs met at  Bottom Line Bait & Tackle. 
  • If you're planning on fishing out of Sterling State Park or the Brest Bay area you can pick up tackle from the nice people at Jeff's Bait & Tackle.
Detroit River: Some anglers were getting 2 to 4 walleye on jigs and minnows in the Trenton Channel. Boat anglers will still need to watch for occasional ice coming down the river.
Lake St. Clair: Fishing activity has been very limited due to cold temperatures and northeast winds. Most of the canals and marinas still have some lingering ice. Good reports came in from shore and a few boat anglers catching panfish and perch in the canals. As for boat launches, Harley Ensign is open with four docks in. Selfridge is open but no docks were in and anglers were still not able to launch at the Clinton River Cutoff. Fairhaven was still iced in.
  • For a more accurate report on Lake St. Clair I suggest reaching out to the people at Sportsmen's Direct  as their weekly LSC fishing report is usually far more in depth.  Phone: (586-741-6052)
St. Clair River: Also had limited fishing activity because of the cold and windy conditions. The launch in the North Channel had no docks in yet. At Marine City, the large tree was removed and crews were working on removing the root system. No docks were in yet as they cannot be put in until the buoys are in due to navigation hazards when exiting the launch. The buoys cannot go in until the large ice slabs clear the river.

Saginaw Bay: Perch fishing is still not underway in the cuts and rivers around the bay as it is still early and the water in the bay is still cold with lots of floating ice. Perch were caught inside the basin at Eagle Bay Marina at the end of Sagatoo Road but anglers should bring a spud. Floating ice continues to hamper those trolling. Boat anglers were getting perch and walleye around Spoils Island and around the range light just lake-ward of the river mouth. A few 6 to 8 inch perch were caught in the channel at Finn Road but most of the rivers and cuts may be iced over in the early mornings. The Thomas Cut and Allen Cut had a lot of fishing pressure but most of the fish caught were small. Fishing in the Sebewaing River and marina was slow with just a few perch and the odd crappie caught. The perch at Mud Creek were small. At Caseville, perch fishing was slow in the marinas and those casting hardware or still-fishing with minnows caught a few lake trout or the odd brown trout, steelhead, whitefish or burbot. No reports yet on the sucker runs but they should start soon.
  • For a more accurate report on Saginaw Bay I suggest taking a look at the weekly Saginaw Bay Fishing Report given to you by Saginawbay.com
Saginaw River: Anglers are reminded that the river is considered inland water and walleye season along the entire river closed on March 15th and does not re-open until Saturday, April 28th. Boat anglers fishing for perch in the lower river did well with 8 to 10 inch fish taken on perch rigs and minnows. Shore anglers near the cement plant in Essexville caught a few. Be sure to check the Exceptions to General Regulations by County in the Fishing Guide for seasonal gear restrictions for the river and its tributaries.
With the warming trend I'd suggest  reaching out to the local bait shops in southeast Michigan to verify what your best options are.  Below are links to bait shop listings organized by county:
Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
St. Joseph River: Water levels have dropped and the steelhead fishing should only get better as the weather improves and water temperatures begin to warm. Boat and shore anglers are getting some fish.

 Kalamazoo River: Anglers caught steelhead and walleye up near the Allegan Dam. A fair number of suckers have also been caught.
Kalamazoo County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Grand Haven: Pier anglers were getting the occasional steelhead. Boat anglers caught some perch south of the piers in 50 to 55 feet.

 Grand River at Grand Rapids: Water levels are back to normal and anglers are still getting some steelhead. Some perch were caught in Felix Bayou near Spring Lake.
  • For a more accurate report on the Grand River at Grand Rapids I suggest reaching out to the people at Al & Bob's Sports. Phone: (616-281-0777)
Rogue River: Water levels are low. Steelhead anglers caught fish one day and none the next.


 Grand River at Lansing: Did not have much to report. The odd steelhead was caught but the fish are scattered and catch rates were not consistent. A couple fish were spotted at the North Lansing Dam.
Report From our friends at Grand River Bait & Tackle: Not much going on in the Lansing area fishing-wise. A few Steelhead have been seen and caught in town, and there have been some caught in Prairie Creek (Ionia), but they're not in thick. The daily temperature roller-coaster has kept everything else off the feed. Theoretically, Carp, Crappie, and bass should be coming into the shallows right now, but we haven't had many reports and my own fishing has been really non-productive.

Muskegon: Pier anglers caught some steelhead and brown trout but the action was not fast and furious by any means.
Muskegon Lake: Perch have been caught along the west side in 42 to 45 feet just south of the channel. Anglers were using minnows or wigglers. Not many but a few anglers managed to take limit catches.
Muskegon River: Steelhead numbers are slowly picking up but will remain on the slow side until it warms up. Some perch were caught above the Davis Bridge.

  • For a more accurate report on the Muskegon Lake & the Muskegon River I suggest reaching out to the people at Snug Harbor Outfitters. Phone: (231-719-0759)
Northeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Cheboygan River: Had a couple anglers fishing at the dam but the bite was poor and no fish were seen.

 Mullett Lake: Still had some people on the ice but the pressure cracks are opening up. Extreme caution needs to be used.

 Black Lake: Had no reports for the week. There is still ice but the thickness is unknown. Most access sites are usable but caution needs to be used. Anglers should also be cautious of open water around the lower Black River.

 Higgins Lake: Between Point Detroit and Flag Point which is the area that becomes very narrow and divides the north and south basin; there are currents that chew the ice up quickly. Anglers should avoid the area. Watch the ice out from Big Creek because of the current. Lake trout anglers were still out. Smelt were caught on the north end or in front of Cottage Grove during the day. Some decent size perch were caught in 20 to 30 feet on the south end of the Sunken Island.

 Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops: 
Higgins Lake Sport & Tackle: (989) 821-9517 

Sports Barn: (989) 821-9511

Houghton Lake: No one was out fishing. There is open water in many areas now with more opening up. Any remaining ice will most likely not be safe. It is time to get ready for open water fishing.

 Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops:


Au Sable River: Is running low and clear. Those using streamers in the lower river should find a small number of steelhead in the late morning or afternoons when it warms up.
Report From our friends at the Au Sable River Store: There are few steelhead moving into to the lower Au Sable river despite the windy conditions hurting things. Fishing has been spotty with steelhead being caught in the deeper holes and at Foote Dam.  For steelhead we recommend fishing with spawn or waxworms. 
680 River Rd.
Oscoda Twp. Mi 48750
(989) 739-5332

Tawas: Pier anglers did catch some Atlantic salmon and lake trout with large minnows or when casting various lures. Boats trolling and vertical jigging down near Alabaster were getting both lake trout and walleye in 10 to 20 feet.

 Tawas River: Shore anglers fishing downstream of US-23 did catch a couple steelhead and a few suckers.

 Au Gres: Walleye were staging just off the river mouth and those trolling were doing well including some that were taking limit catches.

 Au Gres River: Those fishing down at the Singing Bridge (Whitney Drain) caught some steelhead and one Atlantic salmon in the lower river and in the surf.

 Pine River: Perch fishing in the lower river was slow and the fish were small.
Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Fishing conditions were not ideal. The rivers are low, clear and cold which is making it tough for anglers to target steelhead. While the inland lakes still had some ice, the thickness is variable and
those planning to head out will need to use extreme caution.
Lake Charlevoix: The ice was holding. Perch anglers were doing okay along the South Arm in the morning hours.

 Boardman River: Was producing some steelhead for those using spawn, a jig and wax worm or small spinners.

 Manistee: When they can get out, boat anglers are finding some coho and brown trout when trolling in shallow waters along the beach. Pier anglers were picking up a couple steelhead and brown trout as well.

 Big Manistee River: Anglers are trying and catching a few trout but fishing conditions have not been angler friendly. Those fishing the lower river reported decent fishing. Catch rates should improve in the next few weeks.

 Ludington: A few hardy anglers trolling or pier fishing caught steelhead and brown trout. Those trolling were in 10 to 20 feet along the beach.

 Pere Marquette River: Water temperatures in the 30's have slowed fishing. A warm up next week should help to get the bite going again. Anglers were using spawn, wax worms, and beads.

Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops:
Don's Sporting Goods: (231) 723-5028
Tangled Tackle Co.: (231) 887-4242
Pappy's Bait & Tackle: (231) 848-4142

Andy's Tackle Box: (231) 477-5737

Upper Peninsula Fishing Report
Keweenaw Bay: Fishing has been slow. Those targeting lake trout had limited success. A few coho were caught in 10 to 15 feet. A couple nice brown trout were caught in 50 to 60 feet. Smelt fishing was very good both day and night on the Baraga side of the bay.
Little Bay De Noc: Ice remained in most areas but that will change fast in the coming weeks. A few were still taking vehicles out however it is not recommended especially now that the shoreline ice will break-up fast. With walleye season closed, anglers are targeting perch or whitefish. The best perch catches were near Kipling between the Second and Third Reefs in 24 to 30 feet when jigging wigglers or minnows right on the bottom. For whitefish, the best area was off Sand Point when using minnows or spawn in and around 80 feet.


Marquette: Ice was still present at the Upper Harbor bubblers. Those fishing the open water did well for coho but were dragging boats across the ice to get to the open water. This is very dangerous and is not recommended. Fishing on the Carp and Chocolay Rivers was very slow as the water levels are low and clear and the steelhead have not shown up yet. Only a couple brown trout were caught.
Au Train: Fishing pressure was very light as few have been out. Those fishing the Au Train River caught a couple coho but no steelhead.
Munising: The bay still had ice. Coho salmon catches have increased the last few days with a few limits reported. Smelt are still schooling in large numbers with catches varying up to two gallons. Trout Bay had some shove ice but was still fishable. Splake and whitefish action was very slow. Night anglers targeting burbot did well with most fish averaging 22 to 24 inches.
Cedarville and Hessel: Those fishing around the Les Cheneaux Islands reported good pike and splake fishing with splake up to eight pounds taken on minnows in 18 feet and pike 24 to 36 inches taken in 10 to 15 feet. Perch fishing was a bit harder as most fish were only 5 inches. Anglers were using minnows, spikes, and wigglers. The area still had ice however always be cautious.
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Thursday, March 22, 2018

Check Out This Huge Bull Shark Caught From a Kayak

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Saturday, March 17, 2018

Bass Fishing Newburgh Lake With Lipless Crankbaits

Here is a quick video of one of my early spring days kayak fishing.  I'm using a Bass Pro Shops XTS Vibrator lipless crankbait.  I started out with a texas rigged craw and a chatterbait but the bass only wanted to the lipless crankbait.

Thanks for watching and feel free to like and subscribe.

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Friday, March 16, 2018

Thursday, March 15, 2018 Michigan DNR Weekly Fishing Report


Southeast Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportSouthwest Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportNortheast Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportNorthwest Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportUpper Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportSouthwest Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportSoutheast Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportNortheast Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportNorthwest Lower Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportUpper Peninsula Weekly Fishing ReportUpper Peninsula Weekly Fishing Report
Click in the map above to find your weekly fishing report by region.

Fishing slowed once again with the return of cold temperatures and snow. Walleye, pike and muskellunge season on the Upper Peninsula Great Lakes, inland waters, St. Marys River and all the Lower Peninsula inland waters will close at midnight on March 15th. Walleye and pike season is open all year on the Lower Peninsula Greats Lakes, Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River and the Detroit River.
Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Erie: Boat anglers have caught walleye when trolling crank baits in Brest Bay. Shore anglers caught perch in the cuts and canals.
  • If you're planning on fishing any of the canals near Lake Erie Metro Park or Point Mouillee State Game Area you can get all of your bait & tackle needs met at  Bottom Line Bait & Tackle. 
  • If you're planning on fishing out of Sterling State Park or the Brest Bay area you can pick up tackle from the nice people at Jeff's Bait & Tackle.

Huron River: Anglers were still getting some steelhead up near the dam at Flat Rock when using fresh spawn or a jig tipped with a wax worm. Those fishing the deeper holes downstream were using crank baits.
  • 7.6 Miles North of Huroc Park there is a Dicks Sporting Goods
  • 7.6 Miles North of Huroc Park there is also a Meijer which carries fishing tackle and some live bait
  • 7.6 Miles North of Huroc Park there is also a Petsmart which carries crawlers, wax worms, mealworms and red wigglers
  • 5.3 Miles south east of Huroc Park the people at Bottom Line Bait & Tackle can help with any bait and tackle you need whether you're chasing bass, steelhead or walleye. 

Detroit River: Yellow perch have been caught in the cuts and canals. Walleye were not up in the river yet.
Wayne County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Lake St. Clair: Most of the canals and marinas still had some lingering ice. As for the boat launches, Harley Ensign was wide open with a few skid piers in. Selfridge was getting skim ice overnight but opens up midday but no piers were in yet. No boats could launch at the Clinton River Cutoff and Fairhaven was still iced in. Perch anglers were using minnows and spoons with a red bead 6 to 8 inches off the bottom.
  • For a more accurate report on Lake St. Clair I suggest reaching out to the people at Sportsmen's Direct  as their weekly LSC fishing report is usually far more in depth.  Phone: (586-741-6052)

Clinton River: A decent number of yellow perch were caught from the mouth to the bike path at 16-Mile Road. Further upstream, anglers were catching suckers.
Saginaw Bay: It's possible to get a boat out of Pinconning, but there was no fishing activity there. From Pinconning to the Saginaw River mouth, floating ice has prevented anglers from launching boats. At the mouth of the Saginaw River, boats could not go out any further than the range lights due to floating ice jams. It was not possible to get out to Spoils Island. Moving east, the Finn Road cut was iced over. Fishing in the lower Quanicassee River was very slow. All of the cuts up the east side of the Bay from the Thomas Cut northeast to Bird Creek at Port Austin re-froze and had skim ice which made shore fishing next to impossible. One highlight on the east side was the very good lake trout fishing off the pier at Caseville when using either live minnows or casting with cleo's and other spoons. Walleye fishing on Saginaw Bay remains open year round.
  • For a more accurate report on Saginaw Bay I suggest taking a look at the weekly Saginaw Bay Fishing Report given to you by Saginawbay.com

Saginaw River: The walleye hotspot was in the lower river from the mouth upstream through Bay City and as far as James Clements Airport with limit catches (8 fish per angler) common. Most were taken when vertical jigging from boats, either anchored or drifting, with heavy jig heads and stinger hooks baited with minnows. Moving upstream between Bay City and through Saginaw to the confluence, fishing slowed quite a bit which indicates the run is just now entering the lower river from Saginaw Bay. Anglers were getting walleye throughout this reach but they had to work harder for them. Anglers are reminded that the inland walleye season, which includes the Saginaw River will close at midnight on Thursday March 15th and will re-open on Saturday, April 28th.
Tittabawassee River: Both boat and shore anglers caught some walleye along the entire length of the river. Heavy jigs baited with minnows or plastic twister-tails fished right along the bottom were the ticket. The inland walleye season which includes the Tittabawassee River will close at midnight on Thursday March 15th and will re-open on Saturday, April 28th.
Shiawassee River: Was producing some walleye.
Flint River: Was also producing some walleye.
  • For a more accurate report on fishing the Flint River I suggest joining the Michigan Fish Slayers group on facebook.  There are always quite a few people giving updates on Flint River fishing. 
With the warming trend I'd suggest  reaching out to the local bait shops in southeast Michigan to verify what your best options are.  Below are links to bait shop listings organized by county:
Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Coho salmon and brown trout fishing was picking up in the waters south of St. Joseph. Most of the action came when trolling along the beach but some anglers were going out to 200 feet when the weather allowed.
St. Joseph River: Although river levels are still higher than normal, steelhead action was good as the fish ladders are open and steelhead could be seen. Boat anglers were doing best but shore anglers caught a few.
Dowagiac River: Anglers caught a couple steelhead up near the Pucker Street Dam.
Kalamazoo River: Water levels were still a bit high but anglers have caught steelhead and walleye up near the Allegan Dam.
Kalamazoo County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Although river levels are still higher than normal, steelhead action was good with a number of fish observed at 6th Street. Walleye were also being caught at a slower pace but they are definitely in the river. Steelhead are being caught in Prairie Creek in Ionia County.
  • For a more accurate report on the Grand River at Grand Rapids I suggest reaching out to the people at Al & Bob's Sports. Phone: (616-281-0777)

Rogue River: Is also producing some steelhead.
Grand River at Lansing: All the fish ladders along the Grand are now open. A few anglers have caught walleye.
  • For a more accurate report on the Grand River at Lansing I suggest reaching out to the          people at Grand River Bait & Tackle. Phone: (517-482-4461) 

Muskegon: Pier anglers were getting the occasional steelhead.
Muskegon Lake: Anglers were getting a few walleye on blade baits near the river mouth but the season closes at midnight on March 15th. When they can get out, boat anglers caught yellow perch on the west half of the lake when using minnows and wigglers.
Muskegon River: Water levels continue to drop and the water clarity was still stained. Steelhead fishing was good but the cold and snow will slow the bite.
  • For a more accurate report on the Muskegon Lake & the Muskegon River I suggest reaching out to the people at Snug Harbor Outfitters. Phone: (231-719-0759)

White River: Steelhead were caught but the cold spell slowed the bite.
Northeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Black Lake: Still had a few anglers but fishing pressure has slowed. Many of the access sites will no longer be accessible and anglers need to stay away from any open river mouths. Harvest numbers were low with only a few small perch taken on spikes and minnows. Those spearing reported undersize pike.
Sturgeon River: Some steelhead were starting to run.
Ocqueoc River: Had steelhead fishing.
Au Sable River: Was producing some steelhead.
  • For a more accurate report on Au Sable River I suggest taking a look at the weekly Old Au Sable Fishing Report given to you by http://www.oldausable.com/

Higgins Lake: The best access site continues to be off the North State Park but caution needs to be used. Perch were hitting on minnows and wax worms in 20 to 40 feet but anglers are still doing a lot of sorting. Smelt were also in 20 to 40 feet and were hitting on wax worms or spikes. Rainbow trout can be found in shallow waters about a foot deep near Big Creek and the Conference Center. Most were caught on wigglers.
Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops: 
Higgins Lake Sport & Tackle: (989) 821-9517 
Sports Barn: (989) 821-9511

Houghton Lake: Has open water in the North Bay, the East Bay and at various other points around the lake. Few anglers have been out. A couple were targeting bluegills and crappie in shallow waters along the south shore weed beds. Those anglers are walking out and fishing in shallow waters only. Walleye anglers were fishing in open water near the rivers.
Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops:

Tawas: Boats launching into Tawas Bay and trolling south of the bay off the "Crib" which is about a mile straight out from Alabaster were getting lake trout in 10 to 20 feet.
Tawas River: Fishing was generally slow with just a couple walleye, pike and steelhead picked up.
Au Gres: A few boats were trolling not too far offshore between Point Lookout and Point Au Gres but angler success varied.
Au Gres River: Shore fishing on the lower river was slow. Fishing pressure at the Singing Bridge was light as anglers were not having much luck.
Pine River: Anglers were trying to shore fish on the lower river near Standish but catch rates for perch were poor as the fish are not in the river yet.
Rifle River: Steelhead were caught in the lower river.
Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
The return of winter has slowed things down. River steelhead fishing is decent in the lower stretches. Water levels were low and clear which makes fishing a little more difficult. Ice on the inland lakes is unpredictable. Caution needs to be used.
Bear River: In Emmet County had reports of some steelhead starting to run.
Traverse City: In the northern part of the West Bay, both Suttons Bay and Omena Bay are open water and the perch anglers were out.
Betsie River: Steelhead are being caught.
  • For a more accurate report on the Betsie River I suggest reaching out to the people at Frankfort Tackle Box. Phone: (231-352-7673)
  • For a quick list of Benzie County Tackle Shops: Click Here!

Lake Leelanau: The north end of the North Lake was producing a few whitefish but no smelt. The south end of the South Lake produced a few walleye and lake herring.
Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell: While the cold nights were making ice, it is not recommended that anglers go out ice fishing.
Manistee: Coho salmon and brown trout fishing is picking up for those trolling along the beach. There is one dock in at the First Street launch. Pier anglers caught a couple steelhead and brown trout.
Big Manistee River: Steelhead fishing is decent in the lower river.
Ludington: A few hardy anglers trolling or pier fishing caught steelhead and brown trout. Those trolling were in 10 to 20 feet along the beach.
Pere Marquette River: Steelhead fishing picked up from the Twin Bridges at US-31 to Lake County but cold temperatures have once again slowed the bite.
Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops:
Don's Sporting Goods: (231) 723-5028
Tangled Tackle Co.: (231) 887-4242
Pappy's Bait & Tackle: (231) 848-4142
Andy's Tackle Box: (231) 477-5737

Pentwater River: Has steelhead for those braving the cold weather.
Upper Peninsula Fishing Report
Michigamme River: A few anglers caught good size pike near the Way Dam.
Sawyer Lake: In Dickinson County had good pike fishing for those using tip-ups or rods with fathead minnows.
Menominee River: Anglers are starting to catch brown trout near the Hattie Street Dam.
Little Bay De Noc: The ice has held up for the most part although areas with moving water or surrounding rocky areas had begun to thaw. Anglers will need to use caution. Some walleye were caught at the head of the Bay when jigging rapalas or using tip-ups in 10 to 27 feet. Perch fishing was fair with most targeting the Kipling flats and north to Garth Point. The few fish taken were caught on wigglers or minnows in 16 to 30 feet. Whitefish moved north into the Bay and were caught between the Second and Third Reefs by several perch anglers.

Marquette: Limits or near limit catches of coho were taken on the bubblers. A mix of brown trout, splake, herring, and a couple kings were also taken but the ice moved back in and locked up access to the bubblers once again. Rivers in the Marquette area had very little fishing pressure.
Au Train: Anglers need to use extreme caution on the ice as the thickness is variable. Some coho, lake herring and Menominee were caught at the mouth of the Au Train River. Anglers are catching them both through the ice and while drifting spawn bags in the river.
Munising: Overall catch rates were lower for coho and smelt. Some managed a few good catches while others reported none. Best time for coho was in the morning with assorted jigging rapalas or Swedish pimples. Few were targeting whitefish as the bite was poor. The occasional splake was caught when jigging for coho. Those spearing reported slightly better action for lake herring when schools of fish were moving through.
Grand Marais: Still had ice within the harbor but low fishing pressure. Anglers were fishing for Menominee in shallower water. A few coho and steelhead were caught in the upper part of the marina.
Cedarville and Hessel: Perch fishing picked up around the Les Cheneaux Islands for those using minnows, wigglers, spikes and mousies. Most of the fish caught were around 8 inches but some did manage to find a few fish up to 14 inches. Smaller pike 22 to 25 inches were caught on minnows. Anglers saw some splake but only a few were caught. Anglers and recreational riders need to be extremely cautious near the island points and high current areas that have opened up or have poor ice.
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Saturday, March 10, 2018

Thursday, March 8, 2018 Michigan DNR Fishing Report

Thursday, March 8, 2018
Weekly Fishing ReportRead below or call: 1-855-777-0908
Click in the map above to find your weekly fishing report by region.


A reminder that walleye, pike and muskellunge season on the Upper Peninsula Great Lakes, inland waters, St. Marys River and all the Lower Peninsula inland waters will close at midnight on March 15th. Walleye and pike season is open all year on the Lower Peninsula Greats Lakes, Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River and the Detroit River.

Southeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Lake Erie: Boats were out trolling for walleye but anglers will need to watch for floating ice. Fish were caught on crank baits in 13 to 21 feet. Shore anglers caught perch in the cut on the north end of the Metro Park.
  • If you're planning on fishing any of the canals near Lake Erie Metro Park or Point Mouillee State Game Area you can get all of your bait & tackle needs met at  Bottom Line Bait & Tackle. 
  • If you're planning on fishing out of Sterling State Park or the Brest Bay area you can pick up tackle from the nice people at Jeff's Bait & Tackle. 
Huron River: Was producing some steelhead up near the dam. Anglers were using fresh spawn or a jig tipped with a wax worm.
  • 7.6 Miles North of Huroc Park there is a Dicks Sporting Goods
  • 7.6 Miles North of Huroc Park there is also a Meijer which carries fishing tackle and some live bait
  • 7.6 Miles North of Huroc Park there is also a Petsmart which carries crawlers, wax worms, mealworms and red wigglers
  • 5.3 Miles south east of Huroc Park the people at Bottom Line Bait & Tackle can help with any bait and tackle you need whether you're chasing bass, steelhead or walleye. 
Detroit River: Shore anglers were getting some perch in the cuts, canals and marinas when using minnows, worms, red spikes and wax worms.
Wayne County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Flint River: Shore anglers are catching walleye with jigs tipped with twister tails, paddle tails, minnows and worms throughout the river.   
  • For a more accurate report on fishing the Flint River I suggest joining the Michigan Fish Slayers group on facebook.  There are always quite a few people giving updates on Flint River fishing. 
Saginaw Bay: Boat fishing along the west and south end of the bay was not possible due to ice that blew back in, although a few boats did get out by Spoils Island and took some walleye by vertical jigging in the ship channel. Shore anglers fishing the lower Kawkawlin River near Castaways and the cuts at Thomas Road and Kirk Road were taking a few small perch. There was not much happening on the lower Quanicassee River except for the odd crappie or a few perch caught from the Old State Road Bridge. Shore anglers caught a few perch and a couple pike in the lower Sebewaing River. The cut at Bay Port also produced a few perch. At Mud Creek, a few fish were still being caught in the early morning but tapered off quickly. A few walleye were also caught while perch fishing. Anglers are reminded that the inland walleye regulations call for a minimum size limit of 15 inches (not 13) and a daily bag limit of 5 fish (not 8). Shore anglers at Caseville were taking a few perch in the marina by poking a hole through the soft ice and fishing from the docks.
  • For a more accurate report on Saginaw Bay I suggest taking a look at the weekly Saginaw Bay Fishing Report given to you by Saginawbay.com

Saginaw River: Had a lot of activity at the Rust Avenue ramp and at the Zilwaukee ramp. Boat
anglers did well for walleye upstream from the Zilwaukee Bridge in 15 feet when vertical jigging and near the St. Mary's Health Building in downtown Saginaw. Boats from Rust Avenue were going upstream to the confluence of the Shiawassee and Tittabawassee rivers and did fairly well. Most were vertical jigging with a chartreuse jig tipped with a blue, purple ice or black ice plastic tail. Boats trolling for walleye in the lower river were not doing very well. The bite slowed with the cold temperatures but should pick back up as the weather improves.

Tittabawassee River: Fishing was slow but a few were taken while casting jigs or vertical jigging from boats. The water was still a little high and a little dirty but very fishable. The better walleye fishing was centered around Gordonville Road and upstream to the Dow Dam. Shore anglers did pretty well casting jigs with minnows or twister tails in the area from the Gordonville Road access site upstream as far as the train bridge. Boats were working both upstream and downstream. Almost all the walleye caught were smaller males; as the spring run has not yet started.

With the warming trend I'd suggest  reaching out to the local bait shops in southeast Michigan to verify what your best options are.  Below are links to bait shop listings organized by county:

Southwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Coho salmon were starting to show up in the southern portion of Lake Michigan. New Buffalo and St. Joseph would be good places to start. Steelhead movement was good in the large river systems. The inland lakes were ice free for the most part.
St. Joseph River: Staff cleaning out the fish ladders reported good numbers of steelhead using the ladders at Berrien Springs and Niles.
Kalamazoo River: Had good steelhead movement.
Kalamazoo County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Grand River at Grand Rapids: Water levels are coming down and the river is fishable. Anglers were getting a good number of fish up near the Sixth Street Dam. Steelhead were hitting on spawn and a couple walleye were taken on a jig with a rubber tail, minnows, or flatfish.
  • For a more accurate report on the Grand River at Grand Rapids I suggest reaching out to the people at Al & Bob's Sports. Phone: (616-281-0777)
Rogue River: Was also producing some steelhead.
Grand River at Lansing: Very few anglers were out. The walleye bite slowed. A few pike were caught on minnows or crank baits in the downtown area.
  • For a more accurate report on the Grand River at Lansing I suggest reaching out to the          people at Grand River Bait & Tackle. Phone: (517-482-4461) 
Muskegon Lake: Is ice free except for the area off Cottage Grove. The State Park launch on the north end and most of the city launches on the south end are open. Boat anglers were getting some perch in 40 to 50 feet on the west end. A few walleye were caught in the channel and near the river mouth.


Muskegon River: Water levels continue to drop. Anglers will need to watch for debris coming down which is hard to see when the water is stained. Those casting have caught some very nice steelhead.

  • For a more accurate report on the Muskegon Lake & the Muskegon River I suggest reaching out to the people at Snug Harbor Outfitters. Phone: (231-719-0759)
Mona Lake: A few perch were caught near the Henry Road Bridge.

Northeast Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
Burt Lake: Fishing pressure slowed as some were having a hard time finding fish. A few walleye were taken in 7 to 18 feet. Some perch were caught but many were small. Spear anglers were seeing small pike along the weeds in 8 feet. Ice at the access sites was showing some damage and there was open water. Ice thickness varies. Anglers need to use caution near the river mouths and near the pressure cracks which have started to buckle.

Higgins Lake: With the shoreline ice broken up, the North State Park access site is the only place to get on the lake now. Avoid the area around Treasure Island and off Point Detroit. Smelt anglers are walking out from the State Park. The fish were hitting in 20 to 30 feet in the late afternoon and after dark. Lake herring were also caught. Lake trout were found in 100 feet or more. Perch were caught in 20 to 30 feet but many were small and keepers were few.
Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops: 
Higgins Lake Sport & Tackle: (989) 821-9517 
Sports Barn: (989) 821-9511

Houghton Lake: Still has ice fishing. Be sure to watch for old spearing holes which may not be visible because of snow cover. Use caution near the pressure cracks, the Middle Grounds and near any inlets. The bluegill, sunfish and crappie bite were good with limit catches reported for those using tear-drops. Green, white and purple were good colors. Walleye fishing slowed so anglers downsized and were using anything small such as a small Swedish pimple. Pike fishing continues to be good.
Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops:

Tawas: Boats launching from the lower river were heading down off Alabaster and catching lake trout in 10 to 20 feet when trolling spoons.

Tawas River: Shore anglers in the lower river caught a couple walleye or steelhead.

Au Gres: Boat anglers were heading out but no walleye were caught.

 Au Gres River: Shore anglers targeting walleye were not having much luck. A few did manage to catch the odd pike.

Northwest Lower Peninsula Fishing Report
There was still some ice fishing taking place however those heading out need to use extreme caution. Steelhead fishing was so-so. Anglers are catching a few winter fish, but the main spring run has not showed up yet. Reports have come in of brown trout caught off the piers along Lake Michigan.

 Lake Charlevoix: Still had anglers fishing the South Arm. Perch fishing was decent in 20 to 30 feet.
  • For a more accurate report on Lake Charlevoix I suggest reaching out to the people at Tom's Bait & Tackle. Phone: (231-536-3521)
Traverse City: Anglers were getting a few perch along the south end of the West Bay.

 Betsie River: Was producing some steelhead.
  • For a more accurate report on the Betsie River I suggest reaching out to the people at Frankfort Tackle Box. Phone: (231-352-7673)
  • For a quick list of Benzie County Tackle Shops: Click Here!
Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell: Ice fishing season is over. Any remaining ice should not be considered safe.

 Manistee: When they could get out, boat anglers trolling for trout and salmon caught brown trout. A few coho were also mixed in. Those vertical jigging in the channel caught a few walleye.

 Big Manistee River: Some chrome colored steelhead were taken in the lower section of the river.

 Ludington: Boat anglers were getting some nice catches of brown trout and a few coho when trolling along the beach in 10 to 15 feet. Pier anglers caught brown trout.

 Pere Marquette River: Anglers were getting steelhead though the return of cold weather will slow the bite. Try fishing the deeper holes until it warms back up.
Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops:
Don's Sporting Goods: (231) 723-5028
Tangled Tackle Co.: (231) 887-4242
Pappy's Bait & Tackle: (231) 848-4142
Andy's Tackle Box: (231) 477-5737

Upper Peninsula Fishing Report

 Keweenaw Bay: The ice stops a few miles out near Pequaming and over to the red rocks. Lake trout fishing was slow with limited success off of the Whirl-I-Gig. Some were fishing near the edge of the ice however anglers should not go that far because the ice could break free at any time. A few coho and splake were caught out from the Falls River. Smelt fishing has been very good. Anglers were taking fair catches off the Baraga Marina and Sand Point during the day but the catch rates go up after dark when using a light in the water. Try a small spoon with a teardrop jig tied above it and wax worms.

 Little Bay De Noc: Still had ice in many areas but was also showing signs of receding and areas of open water have appeared in various spots. Anglers will need to use caution as some vehicles have broken through the ice in shallow areas. Walleye anglers reported few catches. Those fishing the Ford River reported stained water with no visibility. The best reports came from the head of the Bay in 14 to 22 feet and out from the Escanaba ship docks just south of the Escanaba River in 30 feet when jigging rapalas or using tip-ups. Perch catches were low for those targeting the Kipling flats in 23 to 30 feet with minnows and wigglers. Those looking for the large perch were using small rapalas in deeper water. Several anglers caught whitefish while jigging for perch. Pike were the most caught fish whether targeting them or not. Spearing around Butler Island was good with many fish in shallow waters 4 to 10 feet deep. If anglers plan to head up for the last weekend of walleye season, it would be a good idea to ask the locals about ice conditions before venturing out.





 Marquette: When the bubblers were free of ice, good numbers of coho along with the occasional brown trout or splake were caught. The ice blew in last Saturday afternoon and anglers were no longer able to access the bubblers by boat or the ice as it was not safe to walk on.

 Au Train: Had very little fishing pressure around the area.

 Munising: Ice fishing pressure was high on the weekends. Catch rates for coho and smelt were slightly less than the previous week but anglers continue to do well overall. Catches varied from group to group with some reporting no fish while others reported fair catches. For coho, they are using a Swedish pimple or assorted jigging spoons. Schools of smelt were more prevalent late afternoon into the evening but a couple anglers did well during the day. The best option for smelt is a Hali jig or a tear-drop jig tipped with wax worms. Whitefish catches remain low however most anglers were targeting coho and smelt. Most fish appear suspended anywhere from 10 to 40 feet depending on where the schools of smelt are. Night anglers reported fair catch rates for burbot with most running 22 to 24 inches.

 Brevort Lake: The bite slowed but anglers were still finding some perch and walleye.

 Cedarville and Hessel: Fishing had picked up some around the Les Cheneaux Islands with perch anglers getting 8 to 16 inch fish on spikes, mousies, wigglers and minnows in 12 to 18 feet. Some 26 to 34 inch pike were also taken on minnows. One 44 inch musky was harvested. Anglers need to use caution where there is a strong current and around the island points which had open water or bad ice.

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