Fishing Report

Shore anglers continue to catch fish when drifting spawn bags below the Weir.

Those fishing below the dam have caught salmon on spawn bags fished on the bottom or drifting under a bobber during the day. At night, glow-in-the-dark spoons seem to produce more fish.

In the East Bay, shore anglers have caught salmon near the mouth of Mitchell Creek. On the West Bay, anglers have caught perch in 45 to 50 feet of water near the Gravel Pit. Boat anglers trolling or anchoring near the mouth of the Boardman River have also caught chinook and coho. Bowers Harbor is producing a few perch in 60 feet of water when fishing wigglers near the bottom.

The better fishing seems to be when the skies are overcast and it is raining. Anglers casting lures in the early morning and late evening near the Cement Plant have caught fish. Try using slip bobbers with spawn throughout the day.

Good salmon fishing continues all the way up to the Hesperia Dam. Spoons, thundersticks, and spawn have caught fish. Those fishing the North Branch of the river have caught salmon up near Arthur Road which is the upstream limit.

Salmon along with the occasional steelhead have been caught. Greater numbers of steelhead should start moving into the river system in the next week or two.

Warm water temperatures near 62 degrees have made fishing difficult. Boats are trolling 80 to 125 feet down in waters 100 to 200 feet deep. Most of the steelhead have been caught high in the water column. No word on pier fishing.

Anglers are catching coho along with the occasional chinook and steelhead. Fewer fish are being caught at the point where the Grand meets the Red Cedar, as the fish are moving on up to Sycamore Creek. Anglers should also try fishing above and below the North Lansing Dam or below the Moore's Park Dam for salmon.

Has good numbers of salmon in it. Those fishing up near the Childsdale Dam have caught all males as the females are downriver on the beds.

Those fishing up at the Sixth Street Dam reported that 90% of the salmon caught have been males. The females can be found down river on the gravel beds. A few brown trout were caught up near the dam, so look for some of the best brown trout fishing to take place in the next few weeks. Steelhead were also caught when fishing the deeper holes up near the dam and off the bridges. Try one or two drifts with egg flies, spoons, spinners or Hot-n-Tots. Those fishing off the Fulton Street and Pearl Street Bridges caught fish on chrome Hot-n-Tots or thundersticks.

Rain along with windy conditions have kept many off the big lake. Boat anglers have caught very few steelhead or coho salmon. Those fishing off the pier have managed to catch light numbers in the early morning or late evening.

Chinook salmon have been caught from the mouth up to the Allegan Dam when trolling or drifting spawn or small spoons. Some are floating a single egg or a wax worm under a bobber.

Water levels are very high and extremely dirty. Anglers need to use caution as trying to wade the river right now would be a challenge. Good numbers of salmon have been hooked up near the dam when drifting spawn or flies.

Though fishing has been a little slower, anglers are starting to catch more steelhead as the salmon run is beginning to wind down. Fish are still hitting on spawn but the boat anglers are catching more than the shore anglers.

Conditions have not been good for boat anglers. Those able to get out reported few fish taken. Pier anglers have managed to catch a couple coho and steelhead when fishing in the early morning or late evening.

Perch continue to bite in good numbers along the west end of the lake. Some are trolling with crawler harnesses or perch rigs while others are floating small minnows or wax worms under a bobber. Those casting off the J-Dock have caught a few coho on spoons.

Has really good perch fishing with limit catches reported. Fish up to 14 inches have been caught on crawlers and crayfish in 35 feet of water along the east shore and off Inspiration Point.

The cooler weather always brings in more walleye reports. Conditions have changed from a few years ago, so anglers will need to change their method of fishing as well. The fish are now holding in and along the weed beds.

A few chinook salmon were caught when fishing with spawn at night.

Anglers have seen the best action early in the morning. Pier anglers had better luck on the north pier using body baits or glow spoons. Boat anglers had fair success when trolling chrome or green J-plugs in front of the pierheads.

Had slow fishing. The successful anglers have been fishing in the harbor using spoons or floating spawn under a bobber.

There has been a significant increase in fishing effort. Anglers are working the entire river from the Ninth Street Dam down to the mouth. The most popular spot for shore fishing has been at the dam when drift fishing right off the current from the turbines. Try a single egg on a treble hook with a full ounce of weight. Those fly fishing seem to be doing a little better than those using eggs. Boat anglers trolling seem to be catching more fish than the shore anglers. The run appears to be on the slow side with peak times in the early morning, late evening or around noon.

One angler trolling for walleye around North Point was surprised to catch some monster bass. No walleye were caught. Boat anglers are launching on the river and fishing the mouth for salmon.

Pier anglers are casting body baits for salmon. Action has been hit-or-miss with the better catches coming in the very early morning.

Overall fishing effort has slowed. Most of the boat anglers concentrated in Swan Bay reported taking just a few salmon each. Pier anglers have also landed a few fish.