Fishing Report

Pier anglers continue to catch steelhead. Even with all the rain and wind, those willing to stick it out have been getting fish. Spawn off the piers and beach has worked best but a few fish were also taken on orange spoons.

Salmon fishing is pretty much done for the most part. There might be a few around, but they're probably in pretty bad shape by now. Steelhead fishing should only get better as more fish move up into the river. Water levels are a bit high and may hamper fishing efforts.

Pier fishing and surfcasting have been very good in the last week or so. Both piers are producing fish, but the North Pier continues to produce more. More steelhead have started to show up around the piers. Whitefish were caught on a single egg fished just off the bottom.

A few nice catches of chinook and coho have been caught in 175 to 190 feet of water when boats can get out. Good colors have been orange and green, and spoons seem to be working the best. The piers and the beach have been slow, but a couple steelhead were caught on spawn.

Steelhead have been caught by both pier anglers and those surfcasting with spawn. Depending on wind conditions, both the Elberta side and the Frankfort side have been producing fish. Boat anglers caught steelhead inside Betsie Bay.

Steelhead have been caught by both pier anglers and those surfcasting with spawn. Depending on wind conditions, both the Elberta side and the Frankfort side have been producing fish. Boat anglers caught steelhead inside Betsie Bay.

A few salmon remain in the river but the fishing action was slow. A few steelhead were caught near the mouth when still-fishing with spawn on the bottom.

The salmon action has slowed while the steelhead bite is beginning to pick up. Most of the steelhead were caught when drifting spawn bags along the bottom or still-fishing with spawn bags off the dam.

Whitefish action on the East Bay was a bit slow due to the weather. Some fish were caught by the Wall in 60 feet of water on jigs or when still-fishing a single egg near the bottom. On the West Bay, perch were caught on wigglers near the mouth of the Boardman River and the Gravel Pit in 50 to 60 feet of water.

The salmon run has slowed to a trickle, but steelhead are now being caught off the piers. Spawn bags have been the favorite.

Still has some salmon and the steelhead are making their way into the river. Further inland, those fishing in Missaukee County up near Houghton Lake reported catching some nice northern pike on minnows when fishing above or below the Reedsburg Dam.

Steelhead have been caught off the South Pier. Those surfcasting have also taken steelhead along the beach and near the Water Treatment Facility. Spawn has been the bait of choice.

Salmon fishing is pretty much done. With good numbers of steelhead reported at Grand Rapids, anglers are hoping the fish make it up this far. Anglers are buying minnows for crappie. Try fishing areas with deep holes and good cover, such as downed trees. No reports on northern pike.

Anglers have caught a few fresh salmon, but the majority of fish are now in pretty bad shape. Good numbers of steelhead are in the river and some limit catches have been reported. Those fishing along the Sixth Street Dam are using spawn, flies or jigs tipped with wax worms. Below the Fulton Street Bridge, anglers are using Hot-n-Tots or thundersticks. The better fishing was during the first 4 to 5 hours of light. Those night fishing off the east side wall have caught walleye using shiner minnows, bucktail jigs or power grubs. Chartreuse and white have been good colors. Good crappie fishing up near Riverside Park and below the Post Office.

Steelhead have been caught on spawn off both the North and South Piers. Those surfcasting have also taken steelhead on spawn off the beach near the State Park. Whitefish and menomiee have been caught off the South Pier.

The salmon run is pretty much done here as well. Weather permitting; anglers have started to catch steelhead around the piers.

The salmon run is done in the lake and around the piers. Anglers are now catching steelhead and whitefish around the piers, but the whitefish are running on the small side.

A few salmon are still being caught on spawn, but the run is basically over. Steelhead fishing is picking up. Fair to good numbers of fish have been taken with spawn working the best. Boat anglers are catching more than shore anglers at this point.

Walleye have been caught after dark when fishing around the shoreline. The trick is to look for minnows during the day, then come back to that area after dark as the walleye will come in to feed.

Those fishing along the drop off caught a few brown trout on rapalas or stickbaits. Some nice yellow perch have also been taken on perch minnows.

Anglers are starting to catch an occasional steelhead, as the fish have started to move into the river. Try floating spawn or flies. Bass anglers have caught good numbers of fish in the Foote Dam Pond and the Cooke Dam Pond. The fish are hitting on tube baits, spinners or a piece of crawler.

Night anglers fishing off the pier have caught a few salmon, steelhead and walleye. A couple menominee were caught off the North Pier. Some lake trout have also been caught and released as the season is closed.

Most of the fishing activity has been up near the Ninth Street Dam where a limited number of salmon have been caught. The salmon are deteriorating at this point, so few are active enough to bite. Those fly fishing for steelhead are not having much luck. Most are hooking into small salmon especially when drifting flies in the rapids which are located between the bridge and the turbines. Perch action has been slow.

Make sure to bring your waders if you plan on launching your boat, as the final dock was scheduled to be pulled on Tuesday of this week. The restrooms will be closed as well. Boat anglers trolling in the bay and between the shoreline and Middle Island are going after walleye. Try fishing the Shelf or in shallow water near the Humps. Pier anglers and those surfcasting are throwing a variety of lures. Try casting south between the pier and the parking lot.

When boats can get out, yellow perch can still be found in 20 to 25 feet of water out near the Black Hole. Perch rigs and shiner minnows were the ticket. A few perch have also been caught near the mouth of the Saginaw River. The occasional walleye have been caught in 10 to 15 feet of water.