From the DNR:
The bass opener was off to a good start. Anglers are reminded that bass season on Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River and the Detroit River does not open until June 17. Water temperatures are still cold especially on the large inland lakes and the Great Lakes.
Southeast Lower Peninsula
Lake Erie: Anglers at Bolles Harbor did best near the E-Buoy when trolling crawlers near the bottom at a low speed. Some limit catches were reported. At Sterling State Park, anglers did best in 18 to 23 feet but no limit catches. Many small fish are still being caught. White bass numbers have declined. Most anglers are using crawlers.
Wamplers Lake: Fishing slowed but bass were caught along the flats on the northwest end when casting spinners and crank baits. Panfish are transitioning from deeper water to their beds. Panfish were caught along the drop offs and sandy areas where beds were located, especially near the Condos along the north shore in five to 10 feet. Water temperature were 64 degrees.
Sand Lake: In Lenawee County was producing largemouth bass along the drop offs in 10 to 15 feet. Try crankbaits. They were also caught in four to eight feet while casting spinners, jerk baits, and a jig. Panfish are on their way to the beds in six to 10 feet and were caught on worms and wax worms. Try the north shore, south shore and around the orange buoy.
Detroit River: Is producing some walleye. Anglers are jigging a black Wyandotte worm tipped with a minnow. White bass are still hitting and a few perch were caught at the mouth.
Lake St. Clair: The walleye bite was good and some limit catches were taken in front of the Metro Park. Everything from trolling a crawler harness to jigging crawlers worked. Those trolling near Selfridge to the main shipping channel found walleye. The white bass action was hot near the Clinton River, Metro Beach and the Mile Roads. Fish were showing up in large schools near the breakwall in front of Harley Ensign. Smallmouth bass fishing was slower than average but fish were caught. Largemouth anglers continue to do well in the channels and marinas.
St. Clair River: Had excellent walleye fishing from Port Huron to the North Channel.
Lexington to Port Austin: Those trolling caught lots of lake trout along with some steelhead, Chinook and the occasional coho or pink salmon on downriggers with spoons in 40 to 60 feet. Pier anglers caught a few walleye at night when casting a jig and twister tail or rapala. Bass fishing was off to slow start due to cold water temperatures.
Saginaw Bay: Walleye were caught on a crawler harness in 17 feet off Linwood, the Black Hole, the Callahan Reef and two miles northeast of the Spark Plug. Spinner color did not seem to matter but many were using chartreuse, fire-tiger or antifreeze. Shore anglers on the lower Quanicassee River did well for catfish with crawlers and shrimp.On the east side, the south end of the Slot was producing fish but anglers were sorting out the small ones. Up near Bay Port, Wildfowl Bay was only giving up a few walleye but bass fishing was good. The Slot outside the islands was not producing yet.
Saginaw River: Some walleye were still being caught in the lower river from the Coast Guard Station downstream. Shore anglers at Smith Park caught bass, freshwater drum and catfish on crawlers.
Tittabawassee River: Boat anglers caught a couple walleye and a lot of bass up near the Dow Dam. A couple walleye were caught at Mapleton when drifting a crawler harness. Between M-46 and the mouth, anglers caught bass, pike, catfish, freshwater drum, white bass and the odd walleye bait fishing or casting and trolling artificials.
Southwest Lower Peninsula
St. Joseph: A decent number of trout and salmon were caught on blue and green spoons in 80 to 120 feet. Meat rigs were also taking fish. The odd steelhead was also caught. Pier fishing was inconsistent.
St. Joseph River: Walleye fishing was good in the lower river when drifting crawlers.
South Haven: Had good fishing with coho and the occasional Chinook caught. Most were taken blue spoons and meat rigs. A few were caught in 70 feet but most were found in 150 feet and deeper. Pier anglers caught the odd steelhead on shrimp.
Grand Haven: Boat anglers reported fair salmon action 30 to 120 feet down in 80 to 160 feet with white or green flies and pink, orange or green spoons. Pier fishing for steelhead and Chinook was slow but those casting spoons and alewife caught freshwater drum.
Grand River near Grand Rapids: Had good fishing for smallmouth bass, catfish, walleye and pike. Most anglers were using crawlers and minnows. This is a good section of the river for pike fishing.
Grand River near Lansing: Continues to produce smallmouth bass and some catfish. Those looking for panfish will want to target the backwaters.
Morrison Lake: Bluegill and crappie anglers were doing well.
Muskegon: Anglers found Chinook and coho 25 to 100 feet down in 70 to 140 feet when trolling green or white flies behind a white flasher with orange and green spoons.
Whitehall: Chinook and coho fishing were good 20 to 50 feet down in 40 to 70 feet or 35 to 70 feet down in 110 to 160 feet. Spoons with combinations of orange and green have done well. Pier anglers caught coho, steelhead, and freshwater drum when casting spoons or still-fishing with alewife and shrimp.
White Lake: Panfish anglers caught perch, bluegill, and sunfish in two to 10 feet on perch rigs tipped with wax worms or red worms under a float. Bass anglers caught fish with soft plastics in the shallows.
Northeast Lower Peninsula
Cheboygan: Anglers were taking limit catches of lake trout averaging six pounds when trolling in 45 to 60 feet off Cordwood Point.
Cheboygan River: Had very good smallmouth fishing with limit catches for those using soft plastics, crank baits, worms and leeches. Perch, rock bass, freshwater drum and suckers were also caught when drifting worms on the bottom. Walleye anglers were jigging and drifting worms or casting crank baits but did not have much luck.
Rogers City: Lake trout fishing picked up with limit catches reported. Fish between 20 feet down and the bottom in 40 to 60 feet with green, yellow, silver and blue spoons. Dodgers and cowbells with chartreuse or green spin-glo’s also caught fish. Some days they would hit right away and on other days anglers had to look for them in areas with a rocky bottom such as Seagull Point, Adams Point, and Forty Mile Point. Atlantics were caught by those trolling faster and running small walleye spoons higher in the water column. Pier anglers caught a few Atlantic salmon, lake trout or pike when casting spoons and body baits.
Rockport: Had very good lake trout fishing throughout the water column in 35 to 60 feet with dodgers and cowbells with spin-glo’s or spoons straight out and out near Middle Island. Shore anglers casting or floating a minnow have taken the occasional Atlantic salmon.
Alpena: Walleye were found in Thunder Bay when trolling rapalas or using a crawler harness in up to 20 feet near the Thunder Bay River and Thunder Bay Island. Lake trout were caught when trolling spoons, peanuts, and flashers near the bottom in 40 to 90 feet around Whitefish Point and North Point. Atlantic salmon have also been caught near Thunder Bay Island. Pier anglers caught a few walleye and freshwater drum on crank baits.
Thunder Bay River: Anglers casting crank baits and jerk baits or jigging and drifting leeches and crawlers caught walleye, smallmouth bass, pike and freshwater drum. Most walleye were caught in the early morning or evening. If fishing from shore, try Lamarre Park or the 9th Street Bridge. Rock bass and channel catfish were also caught on crawlers and leeches. A few perch were spotted near Mill Island and the Holiday Inn. Those casting spoons from the 9th Street Dam caught a couple small steelhead.
Oscoda: Anglers trolling spoons caught lake trout and a couple steelhead in 40 to 90 feet. Walleye and freshwater drum were caught when trolling rapalas and crawler harnesses in 10 to 20 feet. Pier anglers caught channel catfish, carp, and a few white suckers when still-fishing with crawlers on a three way swivel.
Au Sable River: Anglers have picked up a few walleye when drifting crawlers or casting glow crank baits in the evening. Channel catfish, white suckers, rock bass and carp were caught on crawlers.
Higgins Lake: Is producing some good size rock bass. Lake trout anglers were using weighted jigs and taking a few fish.
Houghton Lake: Walleye were caught near the drop-offs when using live bait near the weed beds during the day and switching to crank baits up near shore at night. Crappie have moved out into the lake and the bite has slowed. Bass are hitting on artificial worms. The pike are smaller right now but fun to catch as they are hitting on anything. Panfish anglers were taking lots of sunfish.
Tawas: Walleye anglers were trolling in five to 15 feet on the north side of Big Charity Island or down near Alabaster in somewhat deeper water. Several limit catches were reported. Fish were also taken in 30 to 40 feet off Tawas Point. A couple steelhead were taken on body baits in 60 feet. Pier fishing was limited to bass and carp.
Tawas River: Shore anglers caught a mix of bass, pike, catfish and freshwater drum.
Au Gres: Walleye anglers going south to fish off the Saganing and Pinconning Bars in 10 to 15 feet did well. Others were fishing south of Pointe Au Gres around the “Humps” or trolling between Pointe Au Gres and Point Lookout in 25 to 40 feet. A couple Atlantic salmon were taken in 15 feet near the mouth of the river.
Au Gres River: A mix of bass, pike, yellow perch, catfish and freshwater drum were taken in the lower river.
Northwest Lower Peninsula
Overall: Warmer weather helped the inland lake fishing. The bass bite picked up, and many were on the beds. Bluegills and pumpkinseed have started to spawn. Trout fishing is good. The hex hatch should be right around the corner.
Harbor Springs: Boat anglers were targeting lake trout in 50 to 100 feet around Harbor Point but catch rates were hit-or-miss. The area is still in the middle of a midge fly hatch. Water temperatures were 45 degrees.
Petoskey: Boat anglers were fishing the Harbor Springs side of the bay. The area at the mouth of the Bear River should be a good place for smallmouth bass, pike and carp. Try worms, stick baits, jigs and spoons. The Bear River had few anglers.
Charlevoix: Those targeting lake trout were still fishing around North Point where fish were found in 45 to 60 feet. Most are using spoons and spin-glo’s. Water temperatures are still very cold so the fish can be found in shallow waters. Lake trout are still in the channel and a few lake herring are starting to show up. Anglers are jigging and casting spoons. A few smallmouth bass were also seen in the channel. Walleye anglers fishing after dark have taken a few fish.
Traverse City: The East Bay was producing lake trout and lake herring south of M-37, north of Deepwater Point and north of Yuba Creek when trolling or casting. Bass fishing was good off the State Park and south of the Acme launch in shallow water. The Elk River had a good bass opener. Leeches and minnows were the ticket. Rock bass and perch were also caught. In the West Bay, lake herring were caught near Lee Point.Bass anglers caught fish south of Bowers Harbor. Those fishing the Boardman River caught some good size smallmouth bass near the mouth and below the dam.
Leland: Good numbers of lake trout were caught in Harbor Bay, along the First Bank and out on the Second Bank. Most fish were taken on cowbells with spin-glo’s or spoons. There were still a lot of alewife and some shiners in the harbor.
Platte Bay: Those trolling the shallows caught lake trout, brown trout and the occasional lake herring on spoons, body baits and spin-glo’s in 10 to 30 feet.
Frankfort: Boat anglers trolling the top 30 feet in 60 to 80 feet caught Chinook salmon on spoons. Chinook were caught by pier anglers using alewife. Early morning was best.
Onekama: Those trolling in 80 to 100 feet were marking baitfish and landing Chinook salmon in the early morning. Green and blue spoons worked best.
Portage Lake: Anglers were taking good catches of large and smallmouth bass and bluegills. A few walleye and perch were also caught.
Manistee: Surface water temperatures were still cold at 52 degrees. Boat anglers caught a good number of Chinook on meat rigs and artificial baits. Steelhead and lake trout were also caught. Pier anglers caught Chinook and brown trout.
Ludington: Boat anglers here had good Chinook salmon fishing 40 to 70 feet down in 120 to 200 feet. A good number of coho and steelhead were also caught but the lake trout bite was slow. Baitfish were in the harbor and outside the piers.
Pentwater: Chinook and coho salmon fishing were good 40 to 80 feet down in 90 to 150 feet between the dunes and Little Sable Point with green, blue and orange spoons.
Pentwater Lake: Large and smallmouth bass were caught in the channel and near Longbridge Road when jigging soft plastics. Those targeting panfish from Longbridge Road caught yellow perch and sunfish when floating red worms. Crappie were taken in six to 15 feet with minnows and a slip bobber.
Upper Peninsula
Keweenaw Bay: Had slow fishing as there are smelt everywhere and with this much to eat, the fish are just not active. Huron Bay was also slow because of all the baitfish. At the South Entry, a few small coho and Chinook were caught between the piers in the early morning. Lake trout were caught in 120 to 140 feet. A light number of steelhead could be found in the Falls River.
Marquette: Limits of lake trout were caught near the white rocks and Granite Island in 200 feet or more. A few coho and brown trout were taken at Shot Point. Water temperatures were still very cold at 38 degrees.
Menominee River: The musky bite was fair to good with one 54 inch fish being caught and released. The river continues to be high and dirty.
Little Bay De Noc: Water temperatures remain cold in the mid 50’s. Walleye anglers were fishing the northern bay up near the Whitefish River and caught good numbers of undersize fish when trolling or drifting a crawler harness in 18 to 24 feet. Fish were also caught along the “Narrows” and near the Escanaba River when trolling or drifting in 20 to 35 feet. Perch anglers reported a few good catches in the Kipling area out near the green buoy when still-fishing with crawlers or minnows. The bass opener was good in the Ford River area but no limit catches and the fish were smaller than previous years. Smallmouth were caught on plastics and spinners in the shallows around Hunters Point and Garth Point.
Manistique River: Had very good walleye fishing for boat and shore anglers using leeches. The better fishing was between the mouth and the US-2 Bridge. A few boats were out looking for salmon but none were reported. This is a good fishery for walleye, brown trout, steelhead and salmon. The Municipal Launch has been paved.
Au Train: The Brownstone boat launch is finally open. Limit catches of lake trout were taken off the flats near Shelter Bay. A few Chinook and brown trout were caught in 40 feet near the mouth of the Au Train River.
Munising: Very few coho but the occasional Chinook were caught by those trolling within the bay and Trout Bay towards Miner’s Beach. For lake trout, try north of Grand Island, near Wood Island Reef and Big Reef. Pier anglers reported slow catch rates for splake off the Anna River dock but a few fish over three pounds were caught. Surface water temperatures are in the low 40’s.
Grand Marais: Had few boat anglers and those that did make it out were lucky to get couple coho. Boat anglers will need to use caution as there are commercial fishing nets just outside the breakwall. No lake trout reports but anglers might want to try 150 feet between Woodland Beach and Au Sable Point.
Tahquamenon River: Musky fishing was quite slow. Some pike were caught by pier and boat anglers at the Dollarville Flooding. Rock bass and some perch were caught at the Dollarville Dam. Anglers were using worms, minnows and artificial baits.
St. Marys River: Walleye fishing was slow around Sault Ste. Marie and Sugar Island. Pike fishing was consistent in Lake George and Little Lake George along the weed lines in eight to 12 feet. A couple Atlantic salmon were caught near the rapids. In the lower river from Neebish Island to Sweets Point, water temperatures were in the low 50’s and clarity was decreased. Only a few walleye, smallmouth bass and pike were caught in Munuscong Bay when trolling stick baits or a crawler harness in bright colors such as fluorescent green and orange.
Detour: Atlantic salmon and lake trout were caught by those trolling from Fry Pan Island to the green buoy northwest of the lighthouse. Fish were caught on dodgers with spoons 15 feet down in 60 to 80 feet. Atlantic salmon were caught on spoons 15 to 25 feet down from the lighthouse to the red buoy.
Drummond Island: Walleye fishing was slow but fish over 20 inches were caught when drifting a crawler harness near the bottom in six to 12 feet. Casting or trolling crank baits have also taken fish. Hot colors were bright green, orange and fire-tiger. Bass fishing was good as smallmouth were in four to eight feet and were hitting top-water lures, soft plastics, spinners and weedless jigs in Scott Bay near McCormick Marsh, Maxton Bay near the Sportsmen’s Club, and near Paw Point.
Cedarville and Hessel: Pike were caught at the east end of Snows Channel when still-fishing with chubs in eight to 10 feet near Buoys 8 and 10. Fish were caught on orange and gold spoons at the Middle Entrance in six to eight feet in the morning or evening. Anglers reported excellent smallmouth bass fishing in Duck Bay when casting white twister tails or still-fishing with crawlers in four to six feet. Near Hessel, smallmouth bass were caught outside the pier when casting crank baits or floating a crawler three feet off the bottom in eight feet of water. Pike were caught along the east side of Hessel Bay when trolling red and white spoons in eight feet. A couple steelhead were taken on small spoons on the east side of Hessel Bay and around Echo Island.
