7/9/2020 Southwest Lower Peninsula, Michigan DNR Fishing Report

Southwest Lower Peninsula

St. Joseph: Had very good perch fishing south of the piers, where limits were taken in 16 to 22 feet. Salmon anglers had slow fishing, with only lake trout caught in 100 feet. Pier anglers caught lots of freshwater drum on crawlers. 

St. Joseph River: A couple walleye have been caught.      

Note: At any time you can view the Berrien Springs fish ladder cam by go to this link or following their youtube channel. Subscribing to their channel helps fund the fish ladder cam. 

• For a list of Berrien County Bait Shops: Click Here!

South Haven: Perch fishing was very spotty, with most caught south of the piers in the early morning in 20 to 40 feet. Anglers seem to do very well one day and poor the next.  Salmon anglers caught a few Chinook and coho on spoons, but the fish were scattered in 75 to 125 feet. Pier fishing was very slow for all species.

Holland: Lake trout, along with a few salmon and steelhead, were caught 40 to 100 feet down in 100 to 180 feet with orange, green and blue spoons. Lake trout action continues to be good on the bottom with yellow or green spin-glo’s. A couple salmon were taken on green meat rigs. Yellow perch fishing was slow. Freshwater drum were caught by pier anglers casting spoons. 

Anglers on Lake Macatawa were catching decent amounts of channel catfish and drum on night crawlers.  While a few anglers were catching smallmouth bass on wacky rigs, tubes and inline spinners. 

Port Sheldon: Lake trout and the occasional salmon were caught 35 to 100 feet down in 100 to 180 feet. Lake trout on the bottom were hitting yellow spin-glo’s. 

Grand Haven: The Harbor Island boat launch remains closed.

Grand River near Grand Rapids: The catfish bite was good for those using minnows.  An occasional walleye was taken on crawlers. 

Grand River near Lansing: Fishing was slow, but a few anglers did manage to catch a couple catfish near the Portland Dam. Try large minnows, crawlers or leeches. 

• 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: Boats are finding lake trout, with the occasional salmon or steelhead, in 100 to 180 feet. Salmon and steelhead continue to hit orange spoons 45 to 100 feet down. Chinook also were hitting green or yellow meat rigs. Lake trout are on the bottom and hitting yellow spin-glo’s.

• 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)

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!