Fishing Report

Walleye are in the river but recent storms have churned things up and the water is muddy, making it hard to catch fish. Walleye fishing should be great if the storms hold off, the water clears up and the water temperature climbs. Wait for 2 to 3 days to fish after heavy winds and rainstorms have left the area. This gives the river time to clear up and the walleye can see the bait better.

Looks like steelhead fishing is starting to drop off. Water levels are getting back to normal. Suckers continue to take wax worms and flies. A few bluegills were also hitting on waxworms at Huron Park. Remember walleye season opens on inland rivers and lakes the last Saturday in April.

Conditions have not changed much in the river and flows continue to be high. Most areas remain unfishable but anglers are taking a few browns and steelhead from the harbor and behind the hotels. Egg sacs, nightcrawlers, stick-baits and buck-tail jigs are all working. It is not likely that conditions will improve much over the next week and in fact may get worse.

The water level has been running high but releases are expected to drop Friday night from 1,800cfs to 1,150 cfs and remain there at least through Wednesday. Wading anglers have primarily stuck to the upper end of the river near Altmar and have concentrated on the smaller side channels. Drift boat anglers are doing very well throughout the river. Overall the most productive techniques have been bottom bouncing with nymphs or egg patterns and float fishing with egg sacs (blue or white). Smaller streams such as Trout Brook, Orwell Brook Little Sandy and Grindstone Creek are all producing some nice steelhead. Egg sacs, wax worms, and meal worms are working well here.

The return of winter has shut down fishing activity. All launches and access points are either iced or snowed in. The ice forming at the head of the bay is not safe for ice fishing.

Is running fast and pushing ice. Anglers are hitting the river for steelhead but no word on catch rates.

Boat anglers are catching walleye.

Strong winds, cold and snow put a damper on fishing. Before the weather hit, anglers were taking a mixed bag of coho, chinook, brown trout and steelhead in both the Upper Harbor and the Lower Harbor when trolling or casting spoons or using lead jigs with cut bait.

Boat anglers trolling with bodybaits have caught some steelhead and brown trout.

The boat launch as well as the harbor entrance are currently being dredged. Brown trout and steelhead were taken off both piers when using spawn.

Steelhead fishing has been good and should only improve this week as the egg take is done. The weir is now open and any fresh fish coming up will have free run of the river.

Has good steelhead and brown trout fishing even with the recent cold spell. Most are fishing up near Tippy Dam. A good number of suckers are also in the river.

Pier anglers have caught steelhead off both the north and south piers when using spawn. Once the waters warm the brown trout should be back. Menominee are hitting on wax worms or a single egg. Boat anglers had some luck when trolling in shallow waters 7 to 12 feet deep between the water tower to the north and Gurney Creek to the south.

Good numbers of steelhead have been reported from M-22 up to the Homestead Dam. Anglers are having the most success using spawn or yarn.

Decent numbers of brown trout and steelhead have been caught by both pier and shore anglers, though snow and ice have again made the piers very slippery. The best fishing has been in the morning and early afternoon hours when using spawn.

Steelhead continue to bite, and some limits were reported.

Cold and windy conditions have limited access to most boats. Those able to get out reported spotty whitefish action in both bays.

Pier anglers have been catching a few brown trout and steelhead with spawn working the best. Boats are trolling in shallow waters 8 to 12 feet deep.

Good steelhead fishing continues. The water is clearing up so anglers are using long leaders with light line. Spawn bags and red Wobble Glows have caught fish. Those fishing the backwaters are catching crappie when using minnows.

Pier anglers have been catching a few brown trout and steelhead. Spawn has been working best. Perch and whitefish have also been caught.

Boat anglers caught steelhead and brown trout when trolling with planer boards and rapalas in 5 to 12 feet of water. Perch were taken on wigglers.

A few small boats are trolling in shallow waters along the shoreline and near the end of the piers.

Steelhead can still be found but the run is slowing down.

Some big brown trout have been caught on the channel side.

Steelhead can still be found in the river between the Sportsmen's Club and the dam at Berrien Springs.