Fishing Report

Boats are fishing north up towards Duck Lake for chinook and coho. Most fish were taken 50 to 70 feet down in waters 90 to 120 feet deep. A couple brown trout were also caught. Those fishing off the pierheads in the early morning have caught salmon, and most of the fish taken so far have been males.

There are currently a few coho salmon moving through the fish ladder at the Webber Dam. No fish to report in Lansing at this time, but they are heading this way. Bluegills are hitting on wax worms and leaf worms over at Moore's Park. Channel catfish have also been caught on crawlers, shrimp, or small bluegills.

Anglers fishing up near the Sixth Street Dam continue to catch chinook and coho salmon on spawn bags. A few walleye were taken in the deeper holes, but the action was slow.

Boats are trolling right in front of the pierheads just before sunrise. Fish have also been caught between the piers and in the mud lines. Fair to good perch fishing continues when using small alewife for bait.

Has fair to good salmon fishing when trolling in waters 40 to 80 feet deep. Perch fishing continues in 30 to 50 feet of water. Pier anglers have caught a few salmon in the early morning. Smallmouth bass and freshwater drum were taken on crawlers and small spoons off the South Pier.

Chinook salmon and steelhead fishing is good. Boat anglers have done well up near the Berrien Springs Dam when using crankbaits or spawn. Those wading have caught fish when drifting flies and Wobble Glows. Boat anglers seemed to be catching more fish. Walleye and bass fishing have dropped off as everyone is now fishing for salmon.

Fishing over the last week has been off and on. Boats are trolling in front of the piers with spoons and small J-plugs. Pier anglers have caught chinook along with the occasional coho and brown trout. Perch can still be found out in deeper waters.

Salmon have been observed and caught at the mouth and up near the Singing Bridge. Try casting spoons or drifting spawn bags on the bottom.

Perch fishing has been very good when boats can get out. The better fishing has been in 25 to 45 feet of water off the mouth of the river, near the Hotel and the Shipping Channel. The perch are running 7 to 12 inches or bigger

Salmon were spotted and caught in light numbers near the mouth.

Most of the fishing activity was on the pier, with anglers catching perch, smallmouth bass, and the occasional walleye. Boat anglers have caught a lot of small perch near the pier and in the weed beds off Jerry's Marina. There was very little effort targeted on walleyes, but a few were caught down near Alabaster.

Chinook salmon have been caught by boat anglers fishing just in front of the piers and out to waters about 40 feet deep while trolling with J-plugs in a variety of colors. Pier anglers did best early or late when using glow spoons.

Anglers are starting to catch some chinook salmon at the mouth of the harbor when using pearl or chrome J-plugs. Those casting spoons in the harbor are using silver and blue or silver and green Cleo's.

Most of the boat anglers in Alpena are sticking to the river and hoping to catch a couple early run salmon when trolling cut bait, J-plugs, dodgers and spoons. While some are starting at the mouth of the river and heading up to Fletchers, others are going out early in the morning to the First Buoy in the Bay. The Ninth Street Dam is still under major repair with a great deal of construction activity in the area. It appears that Fletcher Street and Second Street will also be closed for a while which means the launch site will most likely be closed as well.

Fishing shallow waters 30 to 60 feet deep has been the most productive right now. Good places to try are straight out and south towards Stoneport, off North Bay and between the two lighthouses. Fish planer boards, leadcore dipseys and downriggers with a variety of spoons and J-plugs. Good colors have been green, white, black, purple or anything that glows.

Shallow water fishing has been the name of the game. Best spots have been from Calcite all the way down to Adams Point. Fish waters up to 60 feet deep and run lines at least 100 feet behind the planer boards. Good lures have been J-plugs in green with black, blue, silver and pearl. Use anything that glows when fishing early or late. Spoons have been used in deeper waters, fish them about 50 feet down. The salmon are hitting in the early morning before sunrise and well after the sun goes down.

Anglers who got out before the latest cold front arrived did pretty well on perch out by the Spark Plug, at Buoy 22, and in 8 to 10 feet of water just north of Spoils Island. Once the weather starts to settle down, the perch fishing should improve.

Salmon are just starting to show up in the harbor, so pier anglers are starting to catch a few fish. Boat anglers are trolling for chinook, lake trout and brown trout just off the pierheads in the early morning. Pier anglers have caught northern pike, smallmouth bass and rock bass.

Salmon have started to move in towards the harbor. Boats trolling straight out or just north of the harbor have caught light numbers of chinook and lake trout with dodgers and flies or J-plugs. Pier anglers are starting to catch salmon in the early morning or late evening when casting spoons or drifting spawn.

Salmon have started to move in closer to shore. Boat anglers have managed to catch salmon and trout when trolling just inside the harbor. Smallmouth bass, rock bass and perch have also been caught.

Coho are moving into the Bay in slightly larger numbers. Boat and shore anglers had fair catches of coho and splake. Flies and spoons seem to work best. Lake trout fishing has ranged from fair to good on area reefs and banks. Cool nights and brisk afternoon north winds are cooling the waters down.

Now has salmon in the river. Good catches were reported when casting from the Lighthouse Pier. Sturgeon season is underway and angler pressure seems to be down from past years. Walleye catch rates were listed as fair by boat anglers jigging or still-fishing with worms near the Train Bridge.

Lake trout fishing remains fair for some while others have found them hard to come by as most fish were taken in waters 200 feet deep. Salmon anglers are trolling in 40 to 70 feet of water near the harbors.

Walleye fishing continues to improve with the rain and cool weather. Boat and shore anglers are still taking fish up near Port Huron when trolling crawler harnesses or rapalas between the Black River and the Blue Water Bridge. A couple salmon were taken when trolling glow spoons or J-plugs just past the bridge.

Boat anglers have taken a few walleye when trolling in 10 to 15 feet of water with crawler harnesses and bottom bouncers between Grass Island and Strawberry Island. A few musky were also taken. Fair to good bass fishing was reported with the fish hitting on spinners, tube baits or crawlers.