Trout and salmon fishing has picked up now that boats are able to get out on the Lake Huron, Saginaw Bay. River fishing is good with the low water levels. Look for panfish activity to improve now that we have some warmer temperatures.
Alpena – Walleye were caught in 20 to 30 feet of water behind the Cement Plant. Crawler harnesses were the ticket. Catch rates were spotty between North Point and Thunder Bay Island. Steelhead and lake trout were caught in 90 to 100 feet of water.
Au Gres – The walleye bite was a little slow but anglers heading south toward Linwood or the Great Lakes Marina did catch some fish. A few nice perch were caught in 30 feet of water near the hotel.
Au Sable River – Walleye were caught throughout the day. Anglers are fishing crawler harnesses and drift rigs early and late.
Harbor Beach – Walleye fishing picked up north of the harbor. Start in 25 feet of water and head deeper as the sun comes up. Fish were caught on long lines about 50 feet down in waters 130 feet deep. Good colors were copper, orange, green, yellow or blueberry muffin, some with small blades. Lake trout can be found in waters 80 to 150 feet deep straight out and north of the harbor. Try silver dodgers with green body baits close to bottom. Steelhead were hitting spoons 150 feet back in waters 125 to 150 feet deep. Good colors were bright pink and orange. The bass bite was good but perch fishing was slow.
Harrisville – Fishing has started to pick up for lake trout, salmon and walleye. The fish are hitting out deep in 130 to 200 feet of water. Watermelon and gold/green combinations have been productive.
Grindstone City – Had good walleye fishing on good weather days. Fish were caught on crawler harnesses in 20 to 40 feet of water. Boat anglers are finding lake trout, steelhead and the occasional salmon in waters up to 150 feet deep.
Lexington – Those trolling in 110 to 160 feet of water have found steelhead near the surface, chinook about halfway down, and lake trout at the bottom. Perch have been caught on various weed beds south of the port. The fish appear to be moving daily so anglers will need to move around to find them in 15 to 25 feet of water. Pier fishing was slow with only a few pike, smallmouth bass or chinook caught. Some are night fishing for channel cats.
Oscoda – Salmon and lake trout were taken straight out in 50 feet of water.
Port Austin – Walleye were caught in 20 to 45 feet of water when trolling or drifting crawler harnesses along the reefs between Sleeper State Park and Port Crescent State Park. Lake trout and steelhead were caught in waters up to 160 feet deep.
Port Sanilac – Boat anglers have caught chinook, lake trout and steelhead. Perch fishing was hit-or-miss in waters up to 25 feet deep. The perch are moving so anglers will have to keep moving to locate schools of fish. Pier anglers were taking a few pike, bass and bluegill.
Rockport – Salmon and steelhead were caught long the north end of Middle Island in 120 feet of water. White and black were good colors.
Rogers City – Finally has some large adult chinook salmon showing up. No big numbers yet, but fish were caught near the baitfish and structure. Try straight out and south towards Swan Bay and Adams Point while fishing the top half of waters 45 to 90 feet deep. Plugs and spoons along with flies or squid were taking fish. Good colors were green, blue and orange.
Saginaw Bay – Walleye were caught off Linwood in 15 to 20 feet of water and a couple miles northeast of the Callahan Reef when using crawler harnesses. Quanicassee had limit catches in 5 to 8 feet of water straight out from the mouth of the river. Good fishing was noted in 14 feet of water in the Slot. Sebewaing was good between Fish Point and The Slot in 16 feet of water. Shore anglers managed to catch some bluegills and a few pike in the marina. Bay Port had good walleye action around North Island. At Caseville, a few walleye were caught near Oak Point.
Saginaw River – A few walleye and some bass were caught near Essexville.
Tawas – Walleye were caught 20 to 40 feet down in waters 50 to 60 feet deep when trolling Hot-n-Tots, spoons or crawler harnesses. Boats trolling in 160 to 170 feet of water off Au Sable Point caught lake trout. Pier fishing was slow.
UPPER PENINSULA
Cedarville and Hessel – Pier anglers at Hessel are catching pike and smallmouth bass. Perch were hitting on minnows in 10 to 14 feet of water. Snows Channel was good for pike and bass while Musky Bay and Middle Entrance were excellent for pike when casting or trolling along the south shoreline in 6 to 12 feet of water. Salmon anglers are heading out towards Goose Island and fishing halfway down in waters 60 to 90 feet deep. Cedarville Bay has been excellent for pike and fair for perch and the Moscoe Channel is also producing some perch in 4 to 6 feet of water. Catch rates for lake herring were very good in McKay Bay, Prentice Bay and the Moscoe Channel.
De Tour – Boaters fishing around Drummond Island are reminded to use caution and watch for the areas with dangerous rocks.
St. Ignace – Chinook and lake trout have been caught around Mackinaw Island. The better fishing was off the north point and the southwest section of the island when trolling a gold spinner fly with a flasher or spoons.
St. Mary’s River – Walleye can be taken in 5 to 8 feet of water at the mouth of the Gogomain River using bottom bouncers trailed with small black and chrome crank baits. Target the edge of the weed beds and the bull rushes in the early morning. Good walleye action around Hart Island which is just north of Lime Island.