6/21/2018 Upper Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report
Upper Peninsula
Overall: Brook trout fishing in the small streams was good. Mayfly hatches on some of the inland lakes have slowed catch rates.
Keweenaw Bay: Fishing was good before the storm. Those heading out to fish will have to be careful as there is a lot of debris in the lake and a lot of mud that washed in from the flood waters. Many roads in the area are washed out.
Lac Vieux Desert: Panfish angling has remained active with good numbers of bluegill, crappie and perch caught on crawlers, leeches, minnows and soft plastics with small jigs. Submerged vegetation seems to be the ticket but be prepared to do some sorting. Walleye were found in the deeper holes but the action was slower. A couple legal size musky were caught recently but most anglers were getting pike on crank baits and spinners in five to 15 feet. Largemouth bass were hitting on spinners and soft plastics in four to eight feet.
Little Bay De Noc: Walleye action was good at the Whitefish and Escanaba Rivers but many were undersize. Anglers were trolling crawlers and stick baits along the weed beds and near the mouth of the Whitefish River. The Escanaba River was best when trolling or drifting crawlers in 20 feet. Pier anglers on the Escanaba River caught undersize walleye, perch and smallmouth bass. Bigger walleye were caught in the “Black Bottom” area when trolling stick baits in 12 to 24 feet and off Breezy Point in 12 to 18 feet. Smallmouth bass fishing has been tricky this year as some were still on the beds while others were out deeper. The best catches were along the east bank weed line just south of Hunters Point with crank baits and plastics in 16 feet. A lot of small perch were caught throughout the bay and pike seem to be abundant.
Big Bay De Noc: Walleye reports were limited to the “Boot” area at the head of the Bay in 14 to 20 feet when trolling crawlers or stick baits. The smallmouth bass action was tricky here as well but the best areas were from Ogontz south to Martins Bay in four to 12 feet, near the Fish Dam Rivers in and around 10 feet and around Porcupine Point in six to 18 feet when trolling or casting plastics, spinners and crank baits. A few big perch were caught off Ogontz by walleye anglers trolling crawlers in 14 to 28 feet. At Fairport, a few boats targeting salmon had been out but no catches were reported. Water temperatures were still very cold. A few lake trout were taken 80 feet down in 130 feet.
Munising: Boat anglers continue to catch Chinook salmon. They also caught brown trout and the occasional steelhead or lake trout. The Chinook were 17 to 32 inches. Anglers have noted large schools of baitfish in both the east and west channels. Fish were present at all depths and mainly suspended between 40 and 60 feet. Coho fishing was also good with most taking between three and limit catches in both channels, in Munising Bay, near Sand Point and in Trout Bay. The fish are eating smelt which were still in the area. Lake trout anglers reported limit catches especially at Wood Island near the edges in 150 feet. Water flow from nearby creeks was dirty after the heavy rain. Surface water temperatures remain in the mid 40’s.
Grand Marais: Lake trout anglers were getting limit catches near the “Banks” and Five Mile Reef. Most fish averaged four to five pounds with a few bigger ones up to and over 10 pounds. Coho fishing was fair with most reporting two to three fish per trip when trolling east of the harbor in 40 feet. Pier fishing was very slow.
Manistique Lake: Walleye, bass and bluegills were caught in the south lake.
Detour: Atlantic salmon were stacking up off the rocky structure at the red buoy, on the Drummond Island side, just east of the lighthouse and Detour Reef. Anglers are trolling east to the next buoy then returning to the red buoy while fishing 15 to 25 feet down in 100 to 140 feet. Lead core lines work well this time of year, along with dipsey divers. Good colors are orange or gold and watermelon spoons. A few Chinook, steelhead and lake trout were also caught. The Chinook and steelhead were taken 35 to 60 feet down in 60 to 80 feet at the green buoy west of the lighthouse.
Cedarville and Hessel: Most fishing effort throughout the Les Cheneaux Islands has been for pike, large and smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass were found under most docks. Try casting spinners around them or along the weed beds in four to six feet. Smallmouth were caught off the rocky points with tube jigs in four to eight feet. For the kids, rock bas and sunfish were caught off Hill Island Road Bridge at the west end of Flower Bay. Fish were caught by boat and shore anglers using worms in four to six feet. Fair to good pike action at the Middle Entrance between Little La Salle Island and Peck Bay with creek chubs or frozen smelt just off the bottom in eight to 12 feet. Hessel had no reports of yellow perch at the finger docks. Wilderness Bay has been good for smallmouth bass when jigging tube jigs off the rocks and points. Hot colors were brown, orange or dark green. Fair pike catches when trolling large buck tail spinners with black and yellow blades. Try six to eight feet of water on the north side of Marquette Island, east of Haven Island and around Cube Pointe.
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