Fishing Report

Anglers are catching salmon, but most are releasing their catch due to their poor condition.

Anglers are catching salmon, but most are releasing their catch due to their poor condition.

Some steelhead have been taken off the docks using spawn sacs and single eggs. Cold, windy conditions have kept most anglers from going out.

The best spots for steelhead are from US-31 down using chartreuse spawn bags or hot-n-tots, and flatfish in orange and gold. Walleye fishing has been slow. Reedsburg Dam up near Houghton Lake is producing good catches of pike using minnows.

Steelhead are still being taken off the piers on spawn.

Salmon fishing is done and the steelhead have not made it up this far, so try for crappie and bluegill near brush piles and bridge pilings.

Lots of steelhead action in the river. A few brown trout were also caught. Steelhead are hitting on choker bags, jigs tipped with wax worms, hot-n-tots, thundersticks and glow-in-the-dark wobble glows with pink dots. When the water is clear, try size 8 to 10 hooks with 6 to 8 pound fluorocarbon. Walleye are being taken on the east side of the river with walleye minnows. Glow-in-the-dark or white and pink bucktail jigs are also being used. Good crappie and bluegill fishing in the early morning at Riverside Park. Bluegills are hitting worms fished on the bottom near the sunken island. Anglers are reminded that the drop-shot fishing method may not be used on any river or stream. At Millenium Park, large bass are being taken on big shiners and crappies are hitting on fathead minnows and shiners.

A few steelhead have been caught on spawn from both piers. Menominee are still being taken.

There are still some salmon in the river but most of the fish are gone. Steelhead fishing is slow due to high water and falling leaves. Fishing should improve greatly as water conditions improve.

Boat anglers continue to do well for steelhead with spawn working the best. Shore anglers are catching a few fish as well, but the fishing is hampered by high water and falling leaves.

Some steelhead and whitefish are being taken off the piers, but with all the wind it is almost impossible to fish.

Fishing has slowed with little steelhead action in the lower stretch of river. Walleye are being taken at the mouth of the river by casting rapalas in the evening or early morning before daylight.

A few anglers have been out targeting whitefish, steelhead, salmon and brown trout, with only a few whitefish being taken.

Fishing activity has increased due to the possible chance of hooking a steelhead up river. Anglers drift fishing the dam using spawn or flies are having little to no luck for steelhead. A few dark salmon are still being caught. The best spot for perch is the bend above Jepettos using small perch minnows. Other areas for perch include the gas dock at the marina, the river launch, Mill Island and below the Second Street Bridge. All were using small perch minnows for bait and most were still-fishing or fishing from the bank while using perch rigs. The catch rate has been consistent and steady all day. A couple whitefish were also caught as more fish should be coming up into the river shortly.

The docks have been pulled and the bathrooms are locked for the season. Salmon fishing is over for the year. A few perch were taken off the end of the pier still-fishing 3 feet down using minnows under Some 5 to 10 inch fish have been caught. Perch are also being found in the lagoon area by the tribal boats. Try outside the middle boat in the deep hole with the low weeds.

Fishing conditions have been poor most days this past week with cold, rain and high winds. Those braving the elements have reported slow success on coho, splake and rainbows. Most anglers have been using spawn bags and casting spoons from shore. Very few boats have been out. Whitefish have been slow to fair with most fish on the small side.

Walleye are moving up river with catches taking place from Stephenson Island upstream to the First Dam. The best time to fish is in early morning hours using rapalas off Hattie Street Bridge. Fair brown trout and salmon fishing off shore drifting spawn or yarn. Angling pressure is down due to high winds.

Fishing off the Lower Harbor breakwall has started to improve. A few whitefish, menominee and splake have been taken but fishing has been slow. Fair to good lake trout fishing was reported when trolling off the end of the breakwall.

Angler participation was down again in Traverse Bay. Fishing was fair for boat anglers trolling for lake trout out from the Gay Stacks on Buffalo Reef. Some nice lake trout and rainbow trout are being taken in 30 to 50 feet of water with a variety of 'Township Park. Try using 3/4 ounce jigs with sucker cut bait in 210 feet of water.

At the Marysville boat launch, perch and steelhead are being caught on emerald shiners. Perch fishing is good from Nine Mile Road down to Alter Road. Muskies are being taken around the dumping grounds. Walleyes and perch are being taken at the mouth of the North Channel. Most are jigging with large minnows for walleye and the perch are hitting on minnows.

Steelhead are being taken at Pinegrove Park on redeye spoons, bombers and large emerald shiners. Those fishing for walleye are using bombers and large emerald shiners.

Anglers are handlining for walleye in the Delphine Channel.

Steelhead are being fished at Bow Park and the Spillway.

Perch are being taken above Sugar Island, Powder Island and East Celeron Island in 9 feet of water. Perch in Brest Bay near the state park. Bass anglers were taking largemouth from the hot hole south of the River Raisin.

With the salmon run winding down, anglers are starting to catch steelhead off the piers and when trolling the mouth of the river. Spawn bags have worked the best.