7/15/20 Southwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan DNR Fishing Report

Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: Had very good perch fishing both north and south of the piers in 15 to 22 feet. With the good perch fishing, few boats were salmon fishing. Charter boats caught lake trout and the occasional salmon or steelhead in 80 to 120 feet. Other than all the freshwater drum being caught, pier fishing was slow.

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 decent, with most caught south of the piers. The fish were scattered in 20 to 50 feet. Salmon fishing was slow, but a few lake trout and smaller Chinook were caught in 100 feet or so. Pier fishing was slow for all species. 

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

Holland: Salmon and trout action was slow. 

Lake Macatawa: Catfish and freshwater drum are being caught. Walleye and perch were caught on a harness with crawlers and leeches.    

Port Sheldon: Salmon and trout were caught 30 to 80 feet down in 90 to 140 feet when trolling green and blue meat rigs. 

Grand Haven: The Harbor Island boat launch is still closed. Pier anglers caught a couple steelhead on shrimp. 

Grand River near Grand Rapids: Fishing was slow, with mainly small catfish and the occasional keeper walleye.

• 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)

Ottawa County: Anglers trolling for crappie in the Bass River area caught some good-size fish. 

Ionia County: Panfish are being caught on inland lakes. Some with limits and some with none. Bass and catfish on the rivers. 

Lake Ovid: Was producing some bass for those using crawlers or casting.

Muskegon: Salmon and trout action was slow, with only a few caught 20 to 80 feet down in 90 to 160 feet. Try spoons or meat rigs. 

Muskegon Lake: Was producing some walleye.

• 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)

Muskegon River: Trout are difficult to find due to warm water temperatures. Walleye were caught on Hardy Pond. Smallmouth and suckers still were biting near Hersey. 

White Lake: Was producing walleye, bass and bluegills.

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

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

Branch County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Barry County Bait Shops: Click Here!
Kalamazoo County Bait Shops: Click Here!
Kent County Bait Shops: Click Here!

Your area may not 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!