Fishing Report

Boat anglers are catching lake trout when trolling in waters 100 to 120 feet deep. Large yellow perch measuring up to 13 inches have been caught in 45 feet of water off both the North Sunken Island and the South Sunken Island. Good numbers of rock bass along with some smallmouth bass were also caught.

Walleye fishing was definitely affected by the weather, but remained pretty good nonetheless. The fish were scattered from 10 to 45 feet deep. Crawler harnesses remained the lure of choice.

Fishing in the bay has slowed. Boat anglers trolling in 80 feet of water off Au Sable Point have caught some chinook, lake trout and the odd steelhead. Those trolling for walleye are running down towards Alabaster, although a couple large walleye were caught in 70 feet of water north of the Big Charity Island. Pier fishing is slow with only a few rock bass and smallmouth bass caught.

Salmon and lake trout can be found in waters 80 to 120 feet deep. Pier anglers caught walleye drifting crawlers on the bottom in the early morning.

Anglers reported fair catches of lake trout in waters 100 to 130 feet deep. Chinook, steelhead and pink salmon have also been caught.

Catch rates have increased especially during the evening hours when boat anglers are trolling just off the bottom in 15 feet of water around Grass Island. Some are using the body baits while others are using crawler harnesses. Smallmouth bass are hitting in all the usual places including Squaw Bay, Partridge Point, and North Point. Boat and shore anglers have caught catfish, bullhead and freshwater drum near the mouth of the river.

Fair to good fishing was reported with anglers taking chinook, brown trout, steelhead, lake trout, and even a few walleye and pink salmon. Fish were caught 40 feet down in 100 feet of water in Bell Bay and in 80 to 100 feet of water out near the Nordmeer Wreck. Good numbers of lake trout seem to be hitting on spoons about 40 feet down. Walleye can be found between Middle Island and the shoreline.

Good action was reported by boat anglers with most of them catching chinook followed by lake trout, steelhead and atlantic salmon. The chinook ranged 5 to 10 pounds. The fish are high in the water column and seem to be full of smelt and bugs. Try fishing the top 60 feet of waters 120 feet deep.

While the action has slowed, the best fishing for chinook, lake trout and steelhead continues to be north of the harbor around Forty Mile Point and past the light. The fish appear to be high in the water column so try fishing the top 60 feet of waters up to 120 feet deep.

Anglers will find less fishing pressure. Boats trolling to the north and out from the Biological Station are picking up some chinook and lake trout along with a few coho. Most are trolling with spoons and squid.

Most fishing is straight out from the river in 60 to 100 feet of water where some nice chinook salmon and lake trout have been caught.

Walleye fishing remained fair to good at most locations, with crawler harnesses still out-fishing the Hot-n-Tots. All the usual spots were producing some fish including the area off Linwood, off the Kawkawlin River, out by the Spark Plug, and the Callahan Reef. Anglers are dong well near North Island in 14 feet of water.

Boat anglers trolling in 90 to 100 feet of water have caught mostly lake trout along with a few chinook, coho and steelhead when fishing at all depths. A few walleye were caught in 30 to 40 feet of water. Pier anglers are catching mostly rock bass and a few smallmouth bass.

Yellow perch were caught south of the harbor in 20 to 30 feet of water. Try drifting with perch rigs and minnows until you find a school of fish, then anchor.

Good walleye fishing was reported in both the North and the South Channels, and from Marysville up to Port Huron. Anglers are jigging crawler harnesses, hand-lining with spoons, and vertical jigging with brown rubber worms.

Now that the mayfly hatch is almost done, fishing should only continue to improve. Good walleye fishing was reported off both 11-Mile and 12-Mile Roads, off Metro Beach and near the St. Clair Lighthouse. Those fishing near the mouth of the Clinton River have caught walleye and bass.

Walleye have been caught when drifting crawler harnesses with bottom bouncers or hand-lining at the mouth of the river down near Celeron Island. Other reports of fish caught have come from Wyandotte and the Trenton Channel. Good smallmouth bass fishing also continues.

Has excellent walleye fishing with limit catches reported in just a few hours of fishing. Anglers are drifting with crawlers or crawler harnesses, trolling with spoons, Wiggle Warts or Hot-n-Tots. Anglers are fishing in 25 to 30 feet of water just in front of the Fermi Power Plant or in 20 to 28 feet of water off Stony Point.

Walleye fishing in the central basin has been good. Fish have been caught three miles offshore from Vermilion to Lorain, five miles north of Cleveland in 42 to 48 feet of water, six miles north of the Wildwood State Park in 60 to 64 feet of water, two to four miles northeast of Fairport Harbor in 45 to 65 feet of water, and two to four miles northwest of Geneva in 50 to 65 feet of water. Fish have been caught on worm harnesses or bloody nose, watermelon, killer bee and copper back spoons trolled with dipsy or jet divers. Fish are suspended and anglers are fishing down 20 to 40 feet. Yellow perch fishing has been excellent less than one mile out of Lorain, two miles north of Willowick in 38 feet of water, two miles north of Bratenal in 32 to 35 feet, two miles northeast of Ashtabula in 24 to 36 feet of water, two miles north of Conneaut in 36 to 42 feet of water. Fish have ranged from seven to 11 inches. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish. Shore anglers are catching yellow perch at Mentor Headlands pier and Fairport Harbor pier. Anglers are using spreaders with shiners. Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent from Fairport Harbor to Perry in 10 to 24 feet of water. Fish have been caught on tube jigs, jigs tipped with minnows or leeches, or by trolling crankbaits. White bass fishing has been good 1/2 mile north of Eastlake CEI power plant. Anglers are using agitators with white jigs. Shore anglers are catching white bass at the Eastlake CEI pier using agitators with white/yellow twistertails and small spoons

Walleye fishing continues to be excellent with many limits being caught. Fishing has been best north of West Sister to the Canadian border near Middle Sister, two to four miles north of “B†can of the Camp Perry firing range, and along the Canadian border west of North Bass. Drifters are using mayfly rigs or worm harnesses with bottom bouncers, while trollers are using worm harnesses with inline weights or bottom bouncers and jet or dipsy divers with spoons. The best yellow perch fishing in the western basin has been around Ballast Island and east of Kelleys Island. Perch spreaders with shiners fished near the bottom produce the most fish.

Boat anglers continue to catch both chinook and atlantic salmon from the Shipping Channel to the #3 Green Can and around the Lighthouse. A few lake trout have been caught near Drummond Island. Most of the action is coming on green with white and green with blue spoons. Herring are being caught in Whitney Bay on wax worms and tear drops.

A fair number of boat anglers have been out trolling for lake trout. Most have been trolling north or east of Presque Isle in 140 to 200 feet of water. Some anglers reported currents to be strong which has made trolling deep water difficult.

Salmon and lake trout fishing has been slow. A few northern pike were caught off the Baraga Marina with minnows and crank baits. Perch fishing has been very good off the Baraga and Bucks Marina with crawlers and worms.

Fishing has been slow but there is a lot of bait in the harbor. Pier anglers have had no luck. Trolling anglers have had success catching chinook, steelhead and lake trout up the point and just south of it. Try working the shelf in 90 to 150 feet of water.

Salmon fishing has been good with some steelhead and lake trout being taken as well.