8/2/2018 Southwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan Fishing Report

Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: Perch fishing is slow as the fish seem to be scattered in 25 to 50 feet. A few lake trout were caught in 100 feet but salmon fishing was on the slow side as it seems the fish had moved out to deeper water. Pier fishing for steelhead was slow but lots of freshwater drum were caught.  

Nearby Bait Shops Include: 

Fishin Hole (269) 982-3474

Tackle Haven (269) 925-0341

Great Lakes Tackle  (269) 208-6178

Fishing Hole 2 (269) 468-7522

South Haven: Perch fishing was not consistent. When fish were located they were usually caught in 40 to 50 feet. Boats trolling in 90 to 120 feet caught a mix of salmon and lake trout on spoons and meat rigs. Pier fishing was slow with only a few freshwater drum and catfish taken.    

• For more places to fish in Van Buren County: Click Here!

Grand Haven: Boat anglers continue to catch decent numbers of lake trout on the bottom in 100 to 160 feet. Chinook numbers are slowly picking up with fish taken 55 to 95 feet down in 90 to 160 feet with a white flasher-fly combo and green or yellow meat rigs. Pier fishing for steelhead has slowed.    

Grand River at Lansing: Smallmouth bass were caught with worms, spinners and fly imitations near Grand Ledge and Eaton Rapids. Bluegills were caught below the dams when using a jig tipped with a wax worm.  

• 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)

Jackson County: Panfish were caught in Wamplers Lake.    

Hillsdale County: Anglers caught panfish on Baw Beese Lake and Long Lake. Most were using worms or crickets along the deeper weed lines.  

Maple River: Anglers were getting a good number of bass and some big catfish.  

Muskegon: Salmon action is slowly picking up for boat anglers fishing 60 to 100 feet down in 85 to 150 feet with white flies or green meat rigs. Pink and white or pink and silver spoons were taking a few fish. Pier anglers continue to catch large and smallmouth bass on gobies.

Muskegon Lake: A few walleye are still being taken by those trolling with a crawler harness. Anglers may want to try jigging in 15 to 20 feet on the north end near the state park. Bass have been caught around structure and off the channel wall with a jigging spoon.  Bluegills were caught on wax worms and red worms in 10 to 12 feet off the beach at Fisherman’s Landing.  

• 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)

Whitehall: Chinook, lake trout and the odd steelhead or coho were caught 40 to 65 feet down in 80 to 130 feet with green or blue spoons and flies in the early morning. Lake trout were also caught near the bottom in 90 to 150 feet with spoons or spin-glo’s. Pier anglers caught largemouth bass,

freshwater drum, and the occasional walleye when casting body baits between the pier heads.

For more bait shops in the southwest lower peninsula follow the links below:

Kalamazoo County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Berrien County Bait Shops: Click Here!
Allegan County Bait Shops: Click Here!
Ingham County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Your area may be listed within this fishing report so below is a list of links to pages in Southwest Michigan to help guide you to public lakes in your county.

Allegan County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Barry County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Calhoun County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Cass County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Clinton County Public Lakes: Click Here! 

Jackson County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Kalamazoo Public Lakes: Click Here! 
St. Joseph County Public Lakes: Click Here!

Van Buren County Public Lakes: Click Here!