The County Press

FISHING REPORT

Slow warmup hampers fishing; Muskie season now open


Muskellunge season opened Saturday, June 1.

Muskellunge season opened Saturday, June 1.

The waters are warming slowly but we are still about two weeks behind when it comes to water temperatures especially in the Northern Lower and Upper Peninsula. Muskie season opens on the first Saturday in June.

All anglers 17 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license.

SOUTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Lake Erie: Limit catches of walleye have
come out of Brest Bay. Fish were caught
out from the beach at Sterling State Park
and out in front of the Edison Stacks near
Bolles Harbor. A few were in 14 feet, but
the majority were caught in 17 to 22 feet
when trolling or drifting a crawler harness or
using artificial baits. A couple yellow perch
along with a good number of white bass,
white perch and freshwater drum were also
caught. Largemouth bass and channel cats
were caught in the Fermi Hot Pond and in
the canals and marsh areas around Point
Mouillee.
Detroit River: Walleye are still being caught
but anglers are working harder to get them.
White bass are present but have not taken
over the river. Those targeting large and
smallmouth bass found fish in the canals
and near bridges.
Lake St. Clair: Warmer temperatures helped
to improve fishing however continuous rain
has kept the water high and a bit cloudy.
Walleye fishing is picking up. Anglers did
well when trolling along the day sail area
at the Metro Park and in front of the 400
Club. Body baits seemed to work better
than harnesses. Smallmouth are still close
to shore in 10 to 15 feet along the Mile
Roads. Many white bass and freshwater
drum have been caught by walleye and
smallmouth anglers. A good number of legal
and sublegal pike and muskie were also
caught along the Mile Roads.
Lexington and Port Sanilac: Those trolling
in 40 to 50 feet caught mostly lake trout
followed by steelhead, Chinook, Coho and
pink salmon. Most were using spoons, but
a few were running body baits.
Harbor Beach: Lake trout were taken with
spoons in 90 to 110 feet. A few walleye
and the occasional whitefish were taken in
25 to 35 feet with small body baits. Those
casting spinners, tube baits, leeches or
crawlers caught the occasional bass.
Port Austin: Had good catches of walleye west
of the harbor when trolling crank baits in 12
to 20 feet.
Saginaw Bay: Limit catches of walleye were
taken with a bottom bouncer and crawler
harness in eight to 12 feet near the
Pinconning Bar. A few yellow perch, catfish,
white bass or freshwater drum were also
caught. Walleye were caught off the State
Park, near the Dumping Grounds and the
Spark Plug near Buoys 1 & 2 in 20 to 23
feet with a crawler harness or crank bait.
Off Quanicassee, walleye were found in
eight to 10 feet straight out or in the south
end of the Slot. Catfish, carp, and longnose
gar were found near shore and in the cuts
and rivers. Walleye were caught in the Slot
and all the way up to North Island in 10 to
14 feet. From Quanicassee to Caseville,
largemouth bass and pike were hitting
artificial baits near shore.
Saginaw River: Had high water levels from the
recent rains. At Smith Park in Essexville,

catfish were caught on crawlers.
Tittabawassee River: Is running high, fast
and muddy. The launch at Center Road
was somewhat flooded. Fishing in these
conditions has been poor.

SOUTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA
Overall: Bass were on the beds in the
Kalamazoo area. Bluegills were starting to
move on the beds in the shallow lakes.
St. Joseph: Boat anglers continue to take
a decent number of Chinook salmon on
spoons in 100 to 130 feet. A mixed bag of
lake trout and Coho were taken on spoons
in 40 to 70 feet. Pier anglers caught
freshwater drum on alewife or when casting
spoons. Channel cats were caught on stink
baits. No perch to report.
South Haven: Boat anglers targeting salmon
caught a fair number in 85 to 120 feet.
Most were Chinook. Lake trout and the
occasional steelhead were also caught. Pier
fishing was very slow for all species.
Grand Haven: The salmon action is heating
up with good numbers of Chinook caught
throughout the water column in 40 to 120
feet with orange and green spoons or
with a white flasher/fly combo. Large and
smallmouth bass were caught on swim
baits.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: The water is still
high and muddy so very few anglers have
been out.
Muskegon: Boat anglers caught a decent
number of Chinook 30 to 100 feet down in
60 to 120 feet with orange spoons, green
and white flies and white meat rigs.
Muskegon Lake: Bluegills were coming up into
the shallows on the north end and were
starting to prepare the beds. Fish were
found in 3 to 10 feet. Walleye are still being
caught around the channel and near the
Coast Guard Station when casting rapalas.
High water continues to hinder fishing
efforts. The Hartshorn boat launch was
under water.
Muskegon River: Water temperatures were up
between the high 50’s and low 60’s. Water
levels were still high. A mayfly hatch is
currently ongoing. Trout could be found on
the gravel.
Mona Lake: Largemouth bass were caught
near structure. Crappie were caught off the
bridge.

NORTHEAST LOWER PENINSULA
Cheboygan: Those trolling spoons in 50 to 70
feet caught lake trout off Poe Reef. A few
limit catches were taken off Cordwood Point

with spoons and J-plugs in 60 to 80.
Cheboygan River: Two gates at the dam were
closed but water levels were still extremely
high. Fishing has been difficult, but anglers
have caught a few walleye, smallmouth
bass and pike when drifting worms, casting
crank baits or jigging a minnow imitation.
Boat anglers had the most success for
walleye when drifting a crawler harness.
Anglers could see steelhead in the shallow
areas near the dam.
Rogers City: The lake is warming and catch
rates will really pick up once the surface
water temperatures get closer to 50
degrees. Warmer water could be found
south of the harbor and that is where most
were fishing. Lake trout were scattered and
found in waters up to 70 feet deep. Try
spoons or attractors with spin-glo’s. Both
Chinook and Atlantic salmon were caught in
top 30 feet with gold and orange, green or
blue spoons. Body baits were working in 25
to 60 feet.
Presque Isle: Lake trout are being caught but
it still needs to warm up before the Atlantic
salmon start to hit. Lake trout were found
about halfway down in 50 to 90 feet with
dodgers or cowbells and spin-glo’s. Hot
colors were green, blue, orange, yellow and
chartreuse. Run a couple lines up high
when searching for Atlantic salmon.
Alpena: Lake trout along with a couple
Chinook salmon were caught in 50 to 70
feet when trolling spoons and spin-glo’s out
near Thunder Bay Island and to the north.
Walleye were taken in the bay when trolling
a crawler harness or body bait inside 25
feet. Pier anglers caught walleye in the
evening when casting body baits.
Thunder Bay River: A couple walleye and
the odd brown trout were caught by those
casting body baits or drifting crawlers.
Channel cats were caught when still-fishing
or drifting crawlers below 2nd Avenue.
Decent smallmouth bass were taken on
crawlers and crank baits.
Oscoda: Lake trout were caught when trolling
spoons, spin-glo’s and flies in 40 to 70 feet
between Three Mile Beach and Au Sable
Point. The occasional Chinook or steelhead
were also caught when trolling spoons.
Green, orange, purple and chrome were
hot colors. The walleye action was slow,
but a few were taken early morning or late
evening when casting body baits. Fire-tiger,
rainbow trout and clown were good colors.
Smallmouth bass were caught on crawlers
or minnows. Pier anglers caught carp,
freshwater drum, rock bass and a couple

nice channel cats on crawlers.
Au Sable River: Water temperatures are
approaching 60 degrees. Steelhead were
slow this week as most have dropped back
to the lake. Those drifting crawlers, flies
or beads as well as casting spoons in the
holes did catch a couple steelhead and
suckers. A few Atlantic salmon were up as
far as Foote Dam and were caught when
drifting wax worms or swinging streamer
flies. Walleye fishing was slow down near
the mouth, but a few were taken when
drifting crawlers or casting jigs and body
baits. On Foote Pond, a few pike were taken
when casting large crank baits and panfish
were taken when floating crawlers in
shallow water. Cooke Pond had smallmouth
bass hitting body baits and jigs with soft
plastics.
Higgins Lake: Had no word on lake trout but
the perch anglers were still getting some
fish near Treasure Island and the south
Sunken Island in 15 to 30 feet. Most were
using minnows. Surface water temperatures
were about 50 degrees.
Houghton Lake: Crappie were caught near the
weed beds in eight feet in the main part
of lake. Bluegills are coming up into the
shallows but were not on the beds yet.
Tawas: Lake trout, steelhead, and Chinook
salmon were taken on spoons in 40 to 60
feet near Tawas Point. Walleye were caught
on spoons or bottom bouncer with a crawler
harness in 25 to 35 feet.
Tawas River: Those fishing near Gateway Park
caught smallmouth bass, pike, catfish, or
the odd walleye in the evening. Most were
casting jigs and lures or still-fishing with
crawlers on the bottom.
Tawas Lake: Those casting a scented plastic
worm caught a few largemouth bass and
smaller pike. Some nice panfish including
perch were taken on crawlers under a
bobber.
Au Gres: Limit catches of walleye were taken
in 25 to 35 feet between Point Lookout and
Point Au Gres or between the Rifle River
and the Pinconning Bar. Some are using
a bottom bouncer with a crawler harness
while others are using a body bait. Perch,
freshwater drum and white bass were also
caught.

NORTHWEST LOWER PENINSULA Overall: Inland lakes were starting to produce some better panfish action as the lakes

slowly warm up. We are still two weeks
behind in terms of water temperatures.
Harbor Springs: A couple lake trout were
caught up around Harbor Point and to
the north in 100 to 120 feet. Fish top to
bottom as the fish were suspended. Fish
were also caught on the Harbor Springs
side of the bay. The midge hatch is getting
worse.
Petoskey: A limit of lake trout were caught in
50 to 60 feet. The fish were suspended
throughout the water column as surface
water temperatures were in the high 30’s.
Spoons and spin-glo’s were the ticket.
The Bear River still has high water levels.
A couple steelhead were noted but the
numbers are dropping. Anglers were using
spawn, beads or flies. Rumor has it pike
and smallmouth bass were caught down
past the mouth.
Charlevoix: Water temperatures were still a bit
cold and catch rates were slow. Few if any
boats had been out but the number of pier
anglers picked up. A couple smallmouth
bass and cisco were caught. Anglers
continue to target walleye in the channel
after dark. The midge hatch is getting
worse.
Lake Charlevoix: The Charlevoix Ironton
boating access site will close for
construction beginning June 3rd. The
project has an anticipated completion date
of August 16th. Until then, anglers can

use the launch in Dutchman’s Bay or the
municipal launches in Charlevoix and East
Jordan.
Traverse City: On the East Bay, cisco were
caught just south of the marina in Elk
Rapids, along the peninsula in shallow
waters and around Deepwater Point in 20
to 50 feet. A few bass were caught at the
south end of the bay when the weather
warmed. The bass opener on the Elk River
was slow but a few nice ones were caught
on plastics near the dam. Suckers and carp
were found at the dam and the mouth. On
the West Bay, a few perch were caught in
Northport. Cisco were caught in the morning
north of Bryant Park. Bass anglers fishing
near Power Island and along the peninsula
did not have much luck. Bass fishing was
slow on the Boardman River. Carp and
suckers were caught at the mouth. At the
dam, steelhead were observed at the tubes
and there were plenty of suckers.
Frankfort: Water levels are up after all the rain.
Lake trout have been caught in the harbor
and when trolling along the shoreline. There
were rumors of young Chinook salmon
caught in the Herring Hole.
Onekama: Anglers were trolling the shoreline
and the “Barrel” with spoons and spin-glo’s.
With water temperatures near 48 degrees
the bite was a bit slow, but lake trout were
caught by those trolling body baits in 20 to
25 feet in the early morning.
Portage Lake: Perch anglers caught a good
number in the early morning, but many were
small. Bass anglers did well for largemouth.

The fish were staging and not on the beds
yet.
Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell: Were producing
some panfish.
Manistee: Surface temperatures reached
45 degrees and the Chinook salmon have
finally showed up and some big fish are
coming in. The best fishing was 60 to 80
feet down in 100 to 120 feet with spoons.
Good lake trout fishing continues when
bouncing the bottom in 40 to 80 feet. Pier
fishing is slow, but anglers did manage to
get a couple Chinook salmon or a couple
walleye at night.
Manistee River: Trout fishing remains strong
with higher flows. We are starting to hear of
some good fly hatches and dry fly fishing.
Hamlin Lake: Anglers caught a good number
of crappie when drifting minnows or soft
plastics in front of Indian Pete’s Bayou and
the Boy Scout camp. Bass anglers did well
with a good number of largemouth taken.
Bluegills were not on the beds yet but
should be shortly. Water temperatures were
between 59 and 63 degrees with some
warmer water in the bayous.
Ludington: Surface temperatures were about
45 degrees. Anglers are getting Chinook
salmon here as well when trolling spoons
and flies 60 to 80 feet down in 100 to
140 feet. Lake trout fishing has been on
fire when bouncing baits off the bottom
in 60 to 100 feet. Small pods of baitfish
have showed up in the channel and some
managed to catch a couple Chinook salmon
when trolling in the basin.

Pere Marquette River: Also had some higher
flows but anglers were still catching some
trout. The river is starting to see some good
fly hatches.

UPPER PENINSULA
Overall: High water levels continue to hamper
fishing efforts on the trout lakes. Rivers and
streams were at their banks and it does not
look like they will be dropping anytime soon.
Copper Harbor: Pier anglers caught a few
splake. Some nice pike were caught in
Eagle Harbor.
Keweenaw Bay: Fishing has been good the
past few days. Those trolling throughout
the water column in 20 to 50 feet caught
Chinook, Coho, lake trout, brown trout
and splake with spoons, stick baits or a
flasher/fly combo. Mornings were best
with trolling speeds between 2.2 mph and
3 mph. Finding the warmer water is key.
Temperatures were ranging between 36
and 49 degrees. Coho were found near the
scum lines. Schools of smelt have kept
bigger fish in the area.
Marquette: The fish cleaning station is back
up and running for the season! Boat
anglers were picking up Chinook, Coho,
brown trout and steelhead near shore.
Those targeting pike near the old ore docks
did not have any luck.
Chocolay River: The upstream waters were still
very high making it difficult for anyone trying
to target brook or brown trout. Boat anglers
fishing near the mouth did manage to pick
up a few trout and salmon.