7/26/2018 Northwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Harbor Springs:  Boats were fishing Harbor Point and north for trout and salmon but only the odd lake trout was caught 100 to 120 feet down.  Anglers report smaller fish being caught including many under 15 inches.  Some boats were still heading out for smallmouth bass.  

Petoskey:  Boat anglers caught a few lake trout just off the bottom in 120 to 140 feet near Bay Harbor.  Some of the fish were good size.  Smallmouth bass were caught off the breakwall.  Water levels in the Bear River remain low even after the rain.  A good number of anglers fishing the mouth caught smallmouth, rock bass, bluegills and freshwater drum on crawlers and leeches.  

Charlevoix:  Continues to produce lake trout for those using spoons or spin-glo’s in 80 to 120 feet.  Some were suspended while others were just off the bottom.  A few salmon were caught south of the channel in 300 feet or deeper with spoons and meat rigs.  Smallmouth fishing in the channel was hit-or-miss for those using real and artificial worms and leeches.  

• 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:  Bass fishing was hit-or-miss in the East Bay.  Those caught were taken in 12 to 30 feet near Yuba Creek, along Bluff Road north of the M-37 launch, south of the launch, and north of the state park.  Lake trout were caught along the bank at the south end of the bay, along the west bank and on the north edge of Deepwater Point.  Anglers did well north of Old Mission when jigging in 60 to 120 feet.  A few Chinook were marked when trolling.  Those trolling or jigging out from the harbor at Elk Rapids caught lake trout.  The Elk River was slow, but anglers caught sub-legal bass, rock bass and small perch on crawlers, leeches or plastics.  In the West Bay, boat anglers were trolling out from Clinch Park in the early morning.  Bass were caught around Power Island and south of Bowers Harbor.  A couple small steelhead were caught in the Boardman River . 

• For a list of bait and tackle shops in the Traverse City area: Click Here!

Frankfort:  Rough weather had boat anglers trolling the harbor and in the channel.  They did manage to catch a few Chinook and steelhead.  The Chinook were hitting in the top 50 feet.  North winds are keeping cold water spread throughout the area.  

• For a list of bait and tackle shops in the Frankfort area: Click Here!

Onekama:  Cool water was reported throughout the area and anglers were having trouble finding temperatures over 46 degrees.  Lake trout in the “Barrel” were hitting spin-glo’s off the bottom.  Chinook were found up high.     

Manistee:  Surface temperature readings were about 70 degrees.  Chinook salmon fishing remains on the slow side but when anglers find them some nice big fish have been caught.  Steelhead and lake trout were caught 50 to 70 feet down in 120 to 180 feet off the “Shelf” with spoons and flies.  A few Chinook were caught by those trolling in the channel and around the pier heads.  Pier fishing was slow due to constant change in wind direction and water temperature.  

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

Ludington:  Fishing was still slow but anglers were still getting some Chinook, lake trout and steelhead 70 to 100 feet down in 140 to 220 feet with flies and spoons.  One Chinook weighed in at 28 pounds. 

Pentwater:  Chinook, steelhead and the occasional lake trout were caught 30 to 70 feet down in 70 to 140 feet.  Lake trout fishing was very good near the bottom when trolling a flasher/fly combo and spin-glo’s in 100 to 160 feet.  Smallmouth bass fishing between the pierheads was excellent. Try drifting crawlers, leeches, or minnows on a sinker rig. 

Pentwater Lake:  Boat anglers caught large and smallmouth bass as well as pike when casting body baits along the weed lines and drop-offs.  Some perch, pumpkinseed sunfish and bullhead were caught from Longbridge Road on a dropper-rig tipped with red worms.

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

7/26/2018 Upper Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

Wind and rain have made fishing difficult especially on the Great Lakes.  Walleye were found in deeper water in Saginaw Bay and Lake Erie.  The pike and muskie bite has picked up.  The inland lakes continue to produce panfish, bass, pike, catfish, bowfin and some walleye.  

Upper Peninsula

Lac Vieux Desert:  Legal walleye were taken on natural baits in deeper water.  Perch anglers jigging in 10 to 15 feet caught sub-legal walleye.  Pike and largemouth bass were found in three to four feet along the weed beds with spinners, crank baits and top-water lures.  A couple muskie were caught here and there. Panfish anglers continued to catch limits of bluegills, crappie and perch but were doing a lot of sorting to get the keepers.  Natural and artificial baits did best in six to 12 feet over the weed beds.  

Little Bay De Noc:  Walleye anglers reported spotty catches with most targeting the Escanaba River area or south near Breezy Point.  Anglers are still reporting a lot of undersize fish in the Escanaba River but better reports in the “Black Bottom” when trolling or drifting a crawler harness in 14 to 26 feet and near Breezy Point in 16 feet.  Fair to good perch catches off the mouth of the Escanaba River with crawlers in and around 18 feet, and just south of the “Narrows” in 28 to 32 feet.  Smallmouth bass anglers reported fair to good catches from Hunters Point to Squaw Point using plastics or crank baits in 10 to 14 feet, Gladstone area near US-2 and south to the Escanaba River in eight to 16 feet.  Good catches near the Ford River but many were small.  Those targeting pike did well off the mouth of the Day's River trolling spoons, spinners or crank baits in and around 20 feet.  Salmon anglers reported a few catches 50 feet down in 100 feet near the Minneapolis Shoals.   

• A good source of up to date Little Bay De Noc Fishing reports is to follow the this page on facebook: Little Bay De Noc Fishing Reports

Big Bay De Noc:   Had all smallmouth anglers.  The Nahma area off the Golf course was good with plastics in eight to 10 feet along the weeds.  Ogontz was on fire with good numbers of large fish along the weed lines as far south as Martins Bay.  Several anglers caught and released as many as 40 large fish.  Most of the bass were still in shallower water.  At Fairport, salmon anglers were getting fish but not many limit catches when using spoons 50 to 60 feet down in 105 feet off Big Summers Island.  Some found fish 60 to 70 feet down in 140 feet.  A good number of fish were 20 pounds and more.  

Marquette:  Fishing pressure was down after the cold windy weather.  Before that, good numbers of lake trout were caught when trolling near Granite Island.  Orange was a good color.  The bite was good out near Stannard Rock however they were not getting the large fish that the reef is known for.  

Au Train:  The better fishing was along the east bank near Au Train Island in 160 feet.  The fish were suspended throughout the water column so troll multiple lines at different depths. 

Munising:  Had few anglers because of the weather.  Those heading out did catch a couple lake trout.  Pier fishing was slow.

Grand Marais:  Lake trout anglers did well taking limit catches off the breaks near Five Mile Reef.  Pier fishing was slow however when the northwest winds were favorable, anglers did manage to take a few limit catches of whitefish.  

St. Marys River:  Cisco catches were very good on the Drummond Island side where the best islands to fish were Big Trout, Little Trout, Maple, Butterfield and Burnt with brown or red tear-drops tipped with a wax worm or natural Cadis fly baits.  Focus on the south side of the islands and just two cranks off the bottom in 20 feet.  Lake whitefish and a few Menominee were also caught. No reports of cisco being caught at Lime Island or Round Island in Raber Bay.  Walleye were in eight to 12 feet on the north side of Lime Island and hitting crank baits early or late in eight to 12 feet.  Those trolling a crawler harness and bottom bouncer over the rock piles at Round Island caught walleye.  

Detour:  Continues to have excellent fishing at the Detour Reef and the lighthouse as water temperatures were holding steady compared to other areas in Lake Huron.  Anglers caught eight to 10 pound Chinook, seven to nine pound Atlantic salmon, and lake trout 24 to 29 inches.  Chinook and lake trout were caught 55 feet down in 80 feet with black and purple spoons and the Atlantics 20 feet down in over 60 feet with orange and gold spoons when trolling between 3-3.5 miles per hour.  The thermocline at the Detour Reef was 55 feet down in 80 feet.  

Cedarville and Hessel:  There were no reports of any yellow perch caught in Cedarville Bay recently.  Pike fishing was good in the early morning until about 9 a.m.  Try Musky Bay, Conner’s Point to Little La Salle Island and Urie Bay when trolling copper colored crank baits just off the weed beds in eight to 12 feet.  Snows Channel was good early morning or late afternoon until dark when trolling black bucktail spinners with yellow spotted blades.  Fish were taken on creek chubs in four to six feet along the weed beds in Duck Bay.  A few yellow perch were caught from the finger docks in the Hessel Marina with a piece of crawler and slip bobber.  A couple splake were caught along the southwest side of Marquette Island at Coates Pointe when trolling or jigging a hammered copper spoon in 12 to 14 feet.  For splake, look for rocky structure in water that is between 48 and 55 degrees.  

7/26/2018 Southeast Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

Wind and rain have made fishing difficult especially on the Great Lakes.  Walleye were found in deeper water in Saginaw Bay and Lake Erie.  The pike and muskie bite has picked up.  The inland lakes continue to produce panfish, bass, pike, catfish, bowfin and some walleye.

Southeast Lower Peninsula Lake Erie:  Walleye were caught off Luna Pier in 16 to 18 feet.  Anglers were getting two to four fish on spoons and bandits.  In Brest Bay, a few fish were taken off Buoys 1 & 2 when trolling a crawler harness.  Anglers across the lake were marking perch but catch rates were zero to five fish.  Largemouth bass were caught in the canals at Luna Pier with surface baits.  In the channels out of Sterling and Detroit Beach, anglers caught bluegills, channel cats and a few perch when casting spoons, spinners or crawlers.   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:  Anglers were still taking some yellow perch around the islands including Sugar and Belle Isle. If you are searching for crappie on Belle Isle this time of year, make sure you're targeting wood piles and fallen trees with small dark colored hair jigs that resemble insect larvae.  For more public lakes to fish in Wayne County: Click Here!  Wayne County Bait Shops: Click Here Ford Lake: Walleye have moved into deeper water and are being caught by trolling minnow crankbaits in 12 to 16 feet of water.  Trolling crawler harness is producing alot of bycatch by way of white perch.  Smallmouth bass are being caught on spinnerbaits along rocky shorelines and in weeds. White bass are suspended 12 feet of water just below pods of bait fish.  For more public lakes to fish in Washtenaw County: Click Here!  Washtenaw County Bait Shops: Click Here! Lake St. Clair:  Smallmouth bass were hitting on everything from tube baits to hard plastic in Anchor Bay.  Water clarity was down slightly but fish were still biting.  If you’re heading out for muskie try either Anchor Bay or directly out from the Clinton River Spill Way.  A couple walleye were caught in Michigan waters out near the St. Clair Light when trolling a crawler harness and bottom bouncer.     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) Macomb County Bait Shops: Click Here! St. Clair River:  Is producing walleye in the Middle and South Channels.  Most anglers are jigging or trolling a crawler harness.  The average catch was one to two fish.   Lexington to Port Sanilac:  Fishing effort was almost non-existent at Lexington.  Perch anglers at Port Sanilac caught fish south of the harbor in 19 feet.   Harbor Beach:  The fish are a little scattered right now because of the recent winds and storms.  Best place to start for lake trout would be in 80 feet straight out and north of the harbor. Try some dodgers with spin-glo’s near the bottom or clean spoons from top to bottom and work your way out to deeper water until you find fish.  For steelhead, use bright colored spoons and offshore boards with 3, 5, 7 and 10 colored lines.  For walleye, try closer to shore when trolling small spoons, a crawler harness or Hot-n-Tots throughout the water column.  Bass were caught close to shore when casting small spoons and body baits. Huron County Bait Shops: Click Here! Saginaw Bay:  Walleye and some perch were found near the Spark Plug (Buoys 11 & 12) in 25 feet or so.  A few perch were caught off Linwood around Sailboat Buoy F.   Most of the walleye trollers from the east side from Quanicassee to Bay Port were crossing the Bar and fishing in 25 to 30 feet out in mid-bay north of the Spark Plug toward buoys 1 & 2.  From Caseville, anglers were either working the north end of the Slot off the tip of Sand Point, out north of Big Charity Island, off Oak Point or the reefs between Caseville and Port Austin.  Evenings were best.  Many used a crawler harness, but some were using spoons and body baits to avoid catching freshwater drum which are hitting on crawlers.  Most of the effort from Port Austin is for walleye right now and those boats are going west and south and fishing off Hat Point and the Flat Rock Reefs in 35 to 45 feet.  Success was hit-or-miss with an average of six walleye per boat for a half-day trip.  One boat went way out and came back with one steelhead and one walleye taken about halfway down in 125 feet.    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:  Shore anglers in the lower river caught bass, catfish and freshwater drum on crawlers.  With summer in full swing there are ample opportunities to get out and fish.  With that in mind I 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:   Wayne County Click Here! Washtenaw County Click Here! Bay County Click Here! Monroe County Click Here! Livingston County Click Here! Ingham County Click Here! Genesee County Click Here! Your area may not be listed within this fishing report so below is a list of links to pages in Southeast Michigan to help guide you to public lakes in your county. Clinton County Public Lakes: Click Here! Genessee County Public Lakes: Click Here! Hillsdale County Public Lakes: Click Here! Jackson County Public Lakes: Click Here! Lapeer County Public Lakes: Click Here! Lenawee County Public Lakes: Click Here! Livingston County Public Lakes: Click Here! Oakland County Public Lakes Page 1: Click Here!  Oakland County Public Lakes Page 2: Click Here! Washtenaw County Public Lakes: Click Here! Wayne County Public Lakes: Click Here!

7/19/2018 Upper Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

Upper Peninsula

Little Bay De Noc:  Walleye anglers reported fair catches at best.  High numbers of undersize fish are still being reported throughout the Bay with the southern most part being best for the bigger fish.  Anglers trolled crawlers or stick baits in 14 to 18 feet off Breezy Point, south of the Ford River near Round Island in 10 to 20 feet and along the “Black Bottom” in 18 to 25 feet.  Perch fishing was fair to good with crawlers in 20 to 28 feet in the Gladstone Beach area.  The smallmouth bite was good near Garth Point, Hunters Point, between Aronson Island and Portage Point and the mouth of the Escanaba River with plastics or crank baits in eight to 14 feet.   Good size salmon were caught south near St. Martins Island with spoons 45 to 60 feet down in 105 to 130 feet.  

• A good source of up to date Little Bay De Noc Fishing reports is to follow the this page on facebook: Little Bay De Noc Fishing Reports

Big Bay De Noc:  Had lots of smallmouth anglers.  Nahma was best with good catches of large fish taken in 12 to 18 feet off the golf course and north of the launch along the weeds in eight feet with plastics, crank baits or spinners.  Garden Bay, Kates Bay and Puffy Bay all reported good catches in 18 to 20 feet.  Ogontz reported lots of fish but most were smaller.  Several large northern pike were caught off Ansell’s Point when trolling crank baits in 17 to 22 feet.  Off Fairport, there seems to be fewer salmon but the fish caught were bigger overall.  Try 40 to 60 feet down in 105 to 130 feet near St. Martins Island and in the “Gap”.  

Marquette:  Surface water temperatures warmed into the low to mid 60’s.  A fair number of lake trout were caught by those trolling around Granite Island and the “white rocks”.  The fish were two to five pounds and seem to be scattered throughout the water column so anglers are using downriggers, dipsey divers and high-lines.  The odd coho was caught but very few Chinook have come in.  

Au Train:  Fishing slowed here as well.  Many boats were only getting a few coho and lake trout per trip.  Most were trolling spoons along the east side of Au Train Island or near Laughing Fish Point in 160 feet.  Run lines at various depths.    

Munising:   Boat anglers continue to catch lake trout off the edge of Wood Island Reef in 150 to 160 feet, from the Grand Portal Reef east of Grand Island and towards Twelve Mile Beach.  The fish are feeding on smelt.  Anglers are using assorted spoons and flies tipped with cut bait.  Those trolling high-lines with dipsey divers caught the occasional coho or Chinook.  Boat anglers reported a few splake but overall catches were very slow.  Surface water temperatures were in the upper 50’s.   

Grand Marais:  Had light fishing pressure.  Most were targeting lake trout with good results.  Those jigging did fair but those trolling did better near the Five Mile Reef near the shipping lanes and off Au Sable Point with spoons or flies tipped with cut bait.  

Manistique Lake:  Anglers were getting some walleye on the big lake.  

St. Marys River:  Those fishing in Raber Bay caught cisco about 100 yards west of the boat docks at Lime Island.  Anglers are jigging brown and gold artificial fly baits or a teardrop tipped with a wax worm two to three feet off the bottom in 12 to 20 feet.  

Detour:  Had good reports of cisco and whitefish caught in and around Big Trout Island, Maple Island, and Butterfield Island.  The water warned up and more fly hatches are occurring so cisco and some nice whitefish are being caught.  Try brown or red tear drops tipped with wax worms or a natural fly.

Cedarville  and Hessel:  Cedarville anglers were fishing Prentiss Bay and McKay Bay but no cisco or whitefish were caught.  There were no fly hatches morning or mid-day.  A few walleye were caught on crank baits in 12 feet near Connors Point.  Hot colors were orange, chartreuse and white.  Some 28 inch pike were caught on red and white spoons between Islington Road and La Salle Island.  Rock bass were caught throughout the Les Cheneaux Islands.  Both large and smallmouth bass were hitting spinners in four to eight feet.  Yellow and black were good colors.  At Hessel, Chinook and lake trout were caught around Goose Island.  Chinook were hitting black and purple spoons 52 feet down in over 90 feet of water.  Lake trout were suspended in 35 to 40 feet.  Atlantic salmon were hitting orange and gold spoons 12 to 15 feet down.  Pike were caught off the Hessel Pier in the early morning.  Yellow perch action off the finger docks was slow.  Schools of perch seem to move in and out of the Hessel Marina.  Try vertical jigging between the weed beds.   

7/19/2018 Northwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Overall: The rivers are low and very clear with warm water temperatures.  Bow fishing has been good in these conditions, as well as catfish and bullhead numbers.  Bass fishing has been good.  

Harbor Springs:  A couple lake trout, steelhead and even one cisco were caught 50 to 60 feet down in deeper water north of the Harbor Point.  

Petoskey:  Those out trolling did manage to get a few lake trout.  There were a lot of anglers fishing the mouth of the Bear River for smallmouth bass, rock bass, walleye, catfish, bluegill and carp.  Try worms and leeches.  

Charlevoix:  Those trolling are starting to pick up a few Chinook, some lake trout and cisco.  Smallmouth bass fishing in the channel is starting to pick up for those fishing the bottom with real or artificial worms and leeches.  Lots of freshwater drum were also caught.  

• For a more accurate report on Lake Charlevoix I suggest reaching out to the people at Tom's Bait & Tackle. Phone: (231-536-3521)

Kalkaska County:  A few walleye were caught in front of the DNR boat launch on Manistee Lake.  Some nice panfish were caught on Fife Lake in the early morning and afternoon.  

Traverse City:  Lake trout were caught in the East Bay when trolling along the western bank, north and south of the M-37 launch and north of Old Mission when jigging. Elk Rapids was also good when jigging or trolling straight out from the marina.  Bass were caught north of the State Park and north of Deepwater Point in 15 to 25 feet.  In the Elk River, lots of small bass and freshwater drum were caught at the dam and on the rocks at the end of the sidewalk.  Most were using crawlers.  In the West Bay, lake trout were caught when trolling off Northport, south of the M-22 launch and south of Power Island or when jigging and trolling south of Bowers Harbor. Bass were caught in 10 to 20 feet around Power Island.  A couple small salmon were caught at the south end of the bay.  Perch were found around Lee Point and Bowers Harbor but the fish were small.  The Boardman River was still slow but a couple steelhead were caught.  Panfish and small bass were caught at the dam and near the mouth.  

• For a list of bait and tackle shops in the Traverse City area: Click Here!

Glen Arbor:  Those heading out are taking limit catches of lake trout.  Salmon are starting to show up including one 33 pound fish that was caught recently.  

Frankfort:  Some nice Chinook salmon have been caught including several fish in the mid to upper 20 pound range.  Most are trolling 60 to 90 feet down in 120 to 350 feet with spoons, flies and meat rigs.  

• For a list of bait and tackle shops in the Frankfort area: Click Here!

Arcadia:  A mix of Chinook and lake trout were caught out from the piers in 100 to 150 feet.  A cisco was also caught.  

Onekama:  Anglers were trolling north in 100 to 160 feet and working the top 70 feet with blue spoons and flies.  Good numbers of lake trout were reported in the “Barrel” by those bouncing cowbells along the bottom.   

Portage Lake:  Bass and panfish were found in deeper water because of the warm temperatures.  The number of fish caught was low but those taken were good size.  

Manistee:  Surface water temperatures were still up near 70 degrees.  Fishing had picked up a little as anglers were coming in with a mixed bag of Chinook, lake trout and steelhead.  The fish were hitting on spoons and a flasher fly combo 60 to 100 feet down in 130 to 200 feet.  Pier fishing was spotty but a couple steelhead where taken on shrimp or spawn in the early morning.  

Manistee River:  Brook trout were caught on flies and spinners on the North Branch.     

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

 

Hamlin Lake:  Catch rates for panfish, pike, and walleye were average.  

Ludington:  Had slower fishing but a few lake trout, Chinook or steelhead were taken in 120 to 200 feet with spoons and a flasher fly combo.  

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

Pere Marquette River:  Those trolling spoons have caught Chinook.  

Pentwater:  Boats trolling from the dunes down to Little Sable Point caught good numbers of Chinook salmon and steelhead 50 to 70 down in 100 to 130 feet.  Blue or green spoons and flies took the most fish while cut-bait fishing was slow. Lake trout fishing in the same depths was excellent in the bottom half of the water column with spoons, flashers and flies. Pier anglers caught smallmouth bass when still-fishing or drifting minnows and leeches in the channel. 

Pentwater Lake:  Anglers fishing from Longbridge Road caught rock bass, sunfish, and smallmouth bass when floating red worms or crawlers under a bobber. Boat anglers caught good numbers of smallmouth bass working jigs tipped with soft-plastics along the drop-offs. 

7/19/2018 Northeast Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Cheboygan:  Boat anglers trolling out near Bois Blanc Island were still getting a mix of Chinook and lake trout in 80 to 110 feet off Lafayette Point.  Most were using spoons and meat rigs.  Chinook were caught in 80 to 105 feet around Mackinac Island.  The fish were nine to 15 pounds.  

Cheboygan River:  Is producing smallmouth bass, rock bass, catfish, walleye and freshwater drum when drifting worms or casting crank baits and jigs with leeches.  Most of the walleye and smallmouth were undersize.  The catfish were between 10-18 pounds.  

Hammond Bay:  Chinook salmon and steelhead were caught on spoons in 80 to 100 feet off Nine Mile Point.  The Chinook were eight to 10 pounds and the steelhead were about six pounds.  

Rogers City:  Fishing had started to improve but a cold front this week will change things up again.  Anglers caught a mix of Chinook, Atlantics, lake trout, steelhead and a few coho in 50 to 140 feet depending on where the temperature break was.  Anglers were running lines throughout the water column.  Steelhead were taken up high around the bug slicks.  Lake trout were taken near the bottom.  The best Chinook action was early morning or late at night with anything that glows.  Dodges or flashers and flies have caught a few fish.  Anglers were marking lots of three to four inch smelt.  

• For more public lakes in Presque Isle county: Click Here!

Grand Lake and Long Lake:  Were producing some nice perch, bass and the occasional walleye.  

Alpena:  Had good fishing with a mix of salmon and trout caught in 65 to 120 feet.  Run lines throughout the water column and focus on the bottom 15 feet with big flashers and spin-glo’s for lake trout.  The Chinooks are coming around the thermocline while the steelhead and Atlantics are coming up high.  Spoons were a good choice in green, blue, orange, blue and green, red and white or glow.  Walleye were caught in the main part of the lake including the southern part of the bay, around Thunder Bay Island and off Rockport with a crawler harness or body bait.  

• For more Alpena County Lakes: Click Here!
• For a list of Alpena County bait and tackle shops: Click Here!

Thunder Bay River:  Those using live bait near the bottom caught freshwater drum, a few walleye and lots of rock bass, smallmouth bass and even a few largemouth bass.  Some were casting artificial baits but the live bait worked best.  

Black River:  Anglers were targeting walleye at night between Black River Island and South Point when trolling body baits or a crawler harness with bottom bouncers. 

Harrisville:  A few lake trout were caught by those trolling spoons and spin-glo’s in the bottom 10 feet or 50 feet down in 70 to 110 feet.  Steelhead were caught on 5-10 colors of lead core with spoons at the thermocline.  A couple coho were taken in the top 40 of 150 to 160 feet between here and Greenbush.  Those trolling body baits at night caught walleye off Harrisville State Park and Sturgeon Point.   

• For more Alcona County Lakes: Click Here!
• For a list of Alcona County bait and tackle shops: Click Here!

Oscoda:  Salmon, trout and walleye were scattered throughout the water column.   Lake trout were taken on spoons, dodgers with spin-glo’s, and meat rigs with flashers in the bottom 20 or 40 to 50 feet down in 85 to 120 feet.  Lake trout, steelhead, Atlantics, coho and small Chinook were caught on spoons and meat rigs with flashers 30 to 50 feet down in 140 to 160 feet around the “Humps”. Walleye were caught in the top 30 feet.  Pier anglers caught freshwater drum, channel cats, rock bass, smallmouth bass and a couple walleye when still-fishing with crawlers.  Crappie and channel cats were taken on jigs with minnows at night.  

• For more Oscoda County Lakes: Click Here!

Au Sable River:  A couple small walleye were caught between the railroad trestle and the mouth by those drifting crawler harnesses through the holes.  Try night fishing or target the deep, shaded holes in the early morning or evening.  Channel cats, carp, smallmouth bass, freshwater drum, and rock bass were caught by those still-fishing or drifting crawlers. 

Au Sable River Store

680 River Rd.

Oscoda Twp. Mi 48750

(989) 739-5332

Higgins Lake:  Lake trout anglers continue to catch fish just off the bottom in 90 to 100 feet especially when jigging sand kickers and Swedish pimples.  Smallmouth bass were caught in eight to 12 feet.  Perch anglers were getting enough fish for a meal.  Most were seven to 12 inches and were caught in 40 to 50 feet.  Look for all the boats or try the northeast side of the Sunken Island and out from the South State Park.  

Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops: 

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

Sports Barn: (989) 821-9511

• For more Roscommon County Lakes: Click Here!

  

Houghton Lake:  Anglers are still catching walleye, pike, bass, rock bass, bluegill and some perch.  Look for the weed beds and drop-offs.  

Nearby Bait & Tackle Shops:

Lymans On the Lake Resort: (989) 422-3231

H&H Fireworks, Guns & Sporting Goods: (989) 366-0126

Tawas:  Walleye fishing was good on the right day in 35 to 65 feet from Buoy #2 south to the Crib off Alabaster and out around Big Charity Island.  Some perch were caught near Buoys 4 & 6 in 15 to 20 feet.  Smallmouth bass fishing was good with soft plastics.  Pier fishing was slow.  

Tawas River:  Fishing is summer slow with only the occasional carp, freshwater drum or bass taken.    

• For more Iosco County Lakes: Click Here!

Au Gres:  Walleye anglers are fishing in 15 to 40 feet between Point Lookout and Pointe Au Gres or are going out to the Charity Islands.  Boats fishing off the mouth of the Pine River in 10 feet were getting a few perch.  Catfish anglers were doing well at night off the wall along the Au Gres River. 

Your area may not be listed within this fishing report so below is a list of links to pages in Northeast Michigan to help guide you to public lakes in your county.

Alcona County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Alpena County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Clare County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Crawford County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Gladwin County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Iosco County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Montmorency Public Lakes: Click Here! 
Ogemaw County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Oscoda County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Presque Isle County Public Lakes: Click Here!